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Sowore defiant as SSS demands suspension of X account over anti-Tinubu post

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Sowore defiant as SSS demands suspension of X account over anti-Tinubu post

THE State Security Service (SSS) has petitioned X Corp, seeking the urgent suspension of the verified handle of rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, over a post it described as “misleading, offensive, and a threat to national security.”                 

But the rights activist has vowed not to remove the controversial post.

In a letter dated September 6, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman and CEO of X Corp in Bastrop County, Texas, the SSS alleged that Sowore, through his verified handle @YeleSowore, published a post disparaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a manner capable of inciting unrest.

The agency pointed to a post made on August 25, 2025, at 11:38 pm WAT, where Sowore wrote:

“This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”

According to the SSS, the statement—directed at the president’s official handle, @officialABAT—has “attracted widespread condemnation,” with some presidential supporters allegedly taking to the streets in protest. The agency warned that the post was capable of creating political tension and threatening Nigeria’s national security.

The SSS further stated that Sowore’s comment contravenes multiple Nigerian laws, including Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act, Sections 19, 22, and 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2025, and Section 2(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“It is not in doubt that the words employed by Omoyele Sowore is misleading information, online harassment and abuse, willful intention of furthering an ideology capable of serious harm, hate speech, and disunity. It has the potential to damage the image of Nigeria and cause serious threat to national security,” the SSS said.

The agency therefore demanded that X  immediately ban or deactivate Sowore’s account, warning that both the author and the platform could be held criminally liable under Nigerian law.

But Sowore, reacting on Sunday morning, confirmed that X Corp had officially contacted him about the DSS request and vowed not to comply.

“This morning, X (formerly Twitter) officially contacted me about the despicable threat letter they received from the lawless DSS over my Tweet on Tinubu. One option I will NOT be taking is deleting that Tweet. Thank you, @X,” he wrote.

In its notice to Sowore, X Corp said while it had received the legal complaint, it had not taken any action on the reported content.

“As X strongly believes in defending and respecting the voice of our users, it is our policy to notify our users if we receive a legal request from an authorised entity (such as law enforcement or a government agency) to remove content from their account. We provide notice whether or not the user lives in the country where the request originated,” the company said in the email.

X further advised Sowore to seek legal counsel if necessary and directed him to its transparency portal, where government takedown requests are documented globally.

Obi suspends public activities to embark on medical rest

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Obi suspends public activities to embark on medical rest

FORMER Anambra State governor and the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has announced that he will be taking a short medical break, resulting in the suspension of his planned engagements both in Nigeria and abroad this weekend.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday September 6, Obi revealed that he took ill while participating in a tourism event in Enugu on Friday.

“Earlier in Enugu, I was not feeling well. I visited the hospital where the doctor gave me some medication and advised me to take a day or two days rest.

“In obedience to the doctor’s advice, I will not be able to meet up with all my scheduled engagements this weekend.

“I sincerely apologise for any inconveniences this might cause and humbly plead for understanding,” he wrote.

The former governor explained that after his event in Enugu, he visited the Good Hope Specialist Hospital in Isulo, Orumba South LGA, Anambra State, and afterwards he proceeded to Owerri.

“I proceeded to Owerri to honour an invitation from Barrister Nnaemeka Maduagwu for a dinner held in honour of his former boss, former Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai,” he said.

The ICIR reported that the former presidential candidate donated N10 million towards its acquisition and revitalisation by the Aguata Diocese of the Church of Nigeria in Isulo, Anambra State during his visit and commended the diocese’s plans to transform the facility into a full-scale health complex with a School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Technology.

“Healthcare remains one of the most meaningful investments we can make. Together, we can build a healthier Nigeria,” he stated.

We expelled Jibrin over anti-party, unpaid dues-Kano NNPP

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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We expelled Jibrin over anti-party, unpaid dues-Kano NNPP

THE New Nigeria People’s Party, Kano State chapter, has expelled the member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, over alleged anti-party activities and failure to remit his financial obligations.

According to Daily Trust, the state chairman of the party, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Kano on Saturday.

He said Jibrin’s expulsion followed his persistent media attacks on the party and its leadership.

Dungurawa’s announcement came barely 24 hours after Jibrin hinted at the possibility of leaving the NNPP, declaring that he was old enough to take independent political decisions.

Reacting, Dungurawa described the lawmaker as a “weak politician” who only secured electoral victory through the Kwankwasiyya movement and NNPP platform.

“If he was politically strong, he would have won his election under the APC, but he failed. It was when he joined NNPP through Kwankwasiyya that he became a Reps member. Now he is deceiving himself, thinking he is strong,” he said.

The chairman explained that a reconciliation committee had earlier been set up to engage Jibrin after his controversial interview with Channels Television but noted that his subsequent media outings proved he had crossed the line.

“Instead of embracing dialogue, he went further to work against our interest, openly declaring loyalty outside the party. That is why we expelled him. He has no value to add,” Dungurawa added.

He also accused the lawmaker of defaulting in the payment of mandatory dues, vowing that the party would seek legal action to recover the funds.

“We will drag him to court to recover what he owes the party. It is a constitutional requirement for every member to pay dues, but he has consistently failed to do so,” he said.

On speculations that Jibrin may return to the APC, the NNPP chairman maintained that such a move would not affect the strength of the party, stressing that the Kwankwasiyya movement remained firmly behind its leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Jibrin had earlier said he might leave the NNPP.

The lawmaker, who visited President Bola Tinubu on August 11 — his second meeting with the president in just two weeks — said his political decisions remain personal and independent.

“Anything can happen, I can leave NNPP and I can stay, and I can also return back to APC, PDP, ADC, PRP or anywhere I want,” Jibrin had earlier stated.

Name change debate: Temi Otedola sets social media abuzz, drops dad’s name after wedding

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Name change debate: Temi Otedola sets social media abuzz, drops dad’s name after wedding

TEMI Otedola, actress and daughter of billionaire Femi Otedola, has stirred social media reactions after updating her surname to “Ajibade” across all social media. She has now adopted the last name of her husband, Nigerian singer Mr. Eazi, whose real name is Oluwatosin Ajibade as her display name. 

The ICIR reports that Temi updated her Instagram and X handles after she and her husband marked their union in a lavish wedding in Iceland on August 9 2025, with global sophistication.

However, it is not clear whether she has officially updated her name on her legal documents. She also did not change her username/handles.

The couple had earlier hosted two other wedding ceremonies, one in Monaco on May 9, which coincided with Mr. Eazi’s late mother’s birthday, and a Yoruba traditional wedding at the Otedola family home in Dubai in July.

A feminist commentator Rachelle (@omo_kosoko) sparked waves on name change after wedding on X in August. 

“To every girl who is considering getting married, you can absolutely keep your name after marriage, and I think you should. Four years married now, I have relocated, had a baby, held a joint account, travelled solo with my child and not one issue. Don’t let anyone lie to you,” she said.

Her statement drew reactions, with some challenging the sentiment, asking whether if she were married into the family of a Dangote, Adenuga, Otedola, Adeleke, or so, would you prefer to still keep your father’s name as surname, and others sharing different opinions.

However, Temi’s recent public adoption of her husband’s surname on social has, reignited a long-standing debate over whether women should take their husband’s name or retain their maiden name.

A user on X, Mohh sultan says “Feminists are in tears” under the post.

Another user, Dice asked “Just like that name changed from Otedola to Ajibade…. God is great, if you could send a copy of your book to me sir ?” 

Davebanks asked  “@grok was she right to adopt his surname ?”

Virgin Boy on X asked in pidgin English: “She no go drop am before ? Or were you expecting Eazi to drop his name for her?.”

The leaf Guy hilighted that, “She hasn’t changed her username to Ajibade sha, it should be @TemiAjibade instead of @TemiOtedola.”

Bobby says “Double standards are such a cliché. We’re celebrating the norms as if it wasn’t expected of her.”

Echoes of Nigeria says “She is not supposed to change her name, what is the big deal about that?”

However, Betty argued that, “Like it’s a big deal… Legally/spiritually, nothing says it’s a must for a woman to drop her surname after marriage. It’s all a personal decision and  shouldn’t be forced on anyone. Congratulations to the couple”

African Echoes says “It’s a European import via colonialism and Christianity, not an indigenous Nigerian (or African) tradition. Traditionally, African women kept their family names and identities, even in marriage.” 

Reacting to Otedola’s  post of  a photo congratulating the couple, captioned: “Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Ajibade,” a user on X Esen replied “Billionaire has endorsed the name change, y’all are there crying.”

A video of a heartfelt moment at the wedding, surfaced on social media early Saturday, showing Temi’s billionaire father, Femi Otedola, sharing words of advice with his daughter, urging her to prioritise her marriage above all else.

“You found a great guy, very great, blessed guy. He’s come from a very decent family. One thing I’ll advise you… you have to succumb to the whims and caprices of your husband. Okay? He’s your husband, he’s your boss. There’s no more dad, don’t call me up.

“One thing I like about both of you and I’ve observed is, you’re in love with each other. Truly, truly in love with each other. Temi is an entrepreneur. Tosin is an entrepreneur. So you match each other.

“You have to succumb to your husband; he’s your boss. Temi, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. You found a great guy from a very decent family,” he said.

Update: The report was updated to reflect that display name is what she changed and not  username/handle. 

‘We are no longer in uniforms’: Retired soldiers defy DHQ order to end protest

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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‘We are no longer in uniforms’: Retired soldiers defy DHQ order to end protest

RETIRED soldiers protesting over unpaid entitlements have vowed to continue their protest at the Ministry of Finance in Abuja, defying a directive from the Defence Headquarters to leave the premises.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Emmanuel Momodu who is retired condemned the directive as unlawful, emphasising that as civilians, they are no longer bound by military law and therefore have the constitutional right to stage peaceful demonstrations.

“When you are in uniform, you are bound by both military and civil law. Once discharged, you are only under civil law. It is our right to protest,” Momodu said.

The ICIR reports that a good number of retired soldiers who voluntarily left the Nigerian Army in 2024 returned to the streets following August protest over unpaid benefits.

The ex-servicemen, who have held several protests in recent months, alleged that military authorities diverted funds allocated for their allowances and gratuities.

Their demands include parking allowance, advance payments, and four months of unpaid security deployment allowances, remain outstanding.

Momodu in his recent remarks accused government officials of stalling efforts to resolve the matter, alleging that for decades soldiers have been shortchanged in payment processes, with senior officers diverting funds.

“They know, and we know, that the money has been siphoned. To refund it is the problem. We are not asking for what is not due to us. We only demand our rightful benefits. If they feel embarrassed, then they should come out and address us rather than use threats or force.

“For over four decades, the system has been the same. The Army presents a chart to the Finance Ministry, receives the full allocation, then pays soldiers whatever they choose. Many retired soldiers don’t even realise how much has been deducted from them over the years,” Momodu said.

While recounting losing a kidney during his deployment in Borno State, the ex-soldier noted that beyond financial hardship, many ex-soldiers are battling health conditions sustained during service and can no longer afford medical care.

“People don’t deserve this kind of treatment after giving their lives to the nation. Officers get flown abroad for treatment when injured, but ordinary soldiers are left behind to struggle. Is human life not equal?” he queried.

Also speaking to reporters during the demonstration at the Ministry of Finance yesterday, the leader of the protesters, who identified herself simply as Mama Gee, said: “We are again here because the promises made to us were never fulfilled.”

“This is the third time we are coming to the protest ground because the first time we came, they promised us and did not fulfil the promise. Second time too, they did not keep to their promises too.

“This time, we don’t want promise. We want to see (bank) alerts. We have served this country with all our hearts and all our minds. Twenty years is not 20 days. My youthful age, I used it in the army. What do I want to use N3.7 million to do? And these are ex-soldiers, people that fought the war and went to Maiduguri, they don’t know anything apart from weapons. Do they want them to go and join bandits?” 

Another retired soldier, Uche Igweze, lamented that the DHQ had ignored the legitimate demands of the retirees and instead resorted to using power to intimidate them.

“We feel bad because it seems like they are using power to oppress us, and that is very wrong. The benefits they owe us, benefits they are well aware of, have not been paid. These are our rights. They should allow an independent body to look into our demands and verify whether what we are saying is true or not.

“Four months’ salary arrears have not been paid. Parking allowances have also not been settled, yet they are sending people out of the barracks. Is it a crime to serve in the Nigerian Army?,” Igweze asked.

Similarly, Obinna Onyami said:  “They told us relocation allowance is N77,000. How can that take a family from Lagos to the East? The chart we know says a sergeant is entitled to over N400,000.”

The ICIR reports that the Defence Headquarters manages the Security Debarment Allowance, which is paid to ex-servicemen to discourage them from using their military training against the state, while the Military Pension Board is responsible for handling the gratuities of retired personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

However, the Defence Headquarters ordered the retired soldiers protesting at the Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters to vacate the premises, warning that their continued action was disrupting government activities.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Markus Kanye, told journalists that the agitation arose from the introduction of two separate salary structures for military personnel in 2024 after the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“A pre-minimum wage chart was in effect between January 1 and July 28, 2024, while the “minimum wage chart” took effect from July 29, 2024, and remains applicable.

“While the Defence Headquarters acknowledges the right to legitimate protest, the veterans are strongly advised to tread with caution and vacate the premises of the Federal Ministry of Finance to allow government functions to continue seamlessly.

“This is the message we have been directed to pass on, so that through your medium, our veterans and the Nigerian public can be properly informed.

“Let me reaffirm that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to their constitutional mandate of defending the territorial integrity of our great nation, supporting civil authorities in maintaining internal security, and ensuring peace and stability across all regions,” Kangye said.

Kangye explained that gratuity and security debarment allowance for retired personnel are determined using the salary chart that was in effect at the time of their retirement.

Mass layoff fuelling theft in Nigeria oil and gas sector-NEITI boss

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Mass layoff fuelling theft in Nigeria oil and gas sector-NEITI boss

 PERSISTENT layoff of skilled workers in the oil and gas sector are fuelling crude oil theft in the country, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Internatio al (NEITI), has warned.

Executive Secretary of NEITI, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, disclosed this during an exclusive interview with The ICIR.

According to him, investigations revealed that many of the retrenched workers, who possess rare technical skills in pipeline management and welding, often turn to illicit networks that steal crude from pipelines and offshore facilities.

“You can’t steal oil without skill. The pipelines are sometimes deep underwater. Nigerians trained in welding and pipeline management get laid off, and when they are jobless, they become available to those who want to steal crude,” Orji said.

He explained that oil theft requires extraordinary expertise and is not the work of “ordinary people in the creeks,” stressing that most of those involved were once trained by the same industry they now undermine.

According to him, many retrenched workers have formed consortia and offer their services to oil thieves, further complicating efforts to secure production facilities.

“This is why we told the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to take this seriously. The laying off of skilled labour in oil and gas must stop,” he added.

While noting that oil theft has reduced in recent times due to tighter security coordination, Orji warned that the failure to address its root causes including unemployment among technically trained oil workers will continue to expose the country to losses.

Between 2021 and 2023, Nigeria lost 687.65 million barrels of crude to theft, according to NEITI’s latest report cited by him. Orji said though theft dropped by 73 per cent in 2023, with 7.6 million barrels stolen compared to 36.6 million barrels in 2022, the figure still translates to billions of dollars in lost revenues.

Orji emphasised that beyond revenue, crude oil theft also undermines national security, as proceeds are used to finance terrorism and money laundering.

“It’s more expensive to keep losing crude than to build the kind of monitoring infrastructure Saudi Arabia has. Nigeria has what it takes to do the same,” he said.

Oil theft has long been one of Nigeria’s most pressing economic and security challenges. Decades of pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, and collusion between criminal networks and corrupt officials have cost the country billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Successive governments have launched military operations and technical interventions to curb the menace, but theft persists both in the Niger Delta creeks and in offshore facilities.

AFRICMIL challenges FG after Senegal passed whistleblower protection law, says it’s Nigeria’s turn

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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AFRICMIL challenges FG after Senegal passed whistleblower protection law, says it’s Nigeria’s turn

THE African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has urged the Nigerian government to emulate Senegal, a neighbouring West African country that has just passed a whistleblower protection law.

The AFRICMIL Coordinator, Chido Onumah, in a statement described the move by Senegal as a milestone for transparency and accountability in West Africa.

Onumah noted that Nigeria’s whistleblower policy, launched in 2016 under the Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA), initially led to significant recoveries of stolen funds and assets.

However, public interest has declined over time because of the lack of legal safeguards for whistleblowers, he said.

“Despite nine years of advocacy by civil society and other stakeholders, Nigeria is yet to move from policy to law. The enactment and enforcement of whistleblower protection laws are not just legal instruments but foundations of good governance, accountability, and public trust,” he added.

The ICIR reported in 2022 that AFRICMIL and other stakeholders highlighted the importance of whistleblower protection legislation as a mean to advance the fight against corruption and other wrongdoings in the country.

The groups restated their commitment to the passage of the bill into law by working with relevant agencies of government.

A year later, in 2023, AFRICMIL and other stakeholders restated the call. They sought an urgent and effective whistleblower law to protect citizens who volunteer information on wrongdoings, noting that they had been on the bill for a long time, and it couldn’t scale through the Ninth National Assembly.

With the end of the Ninth Assembly in June that year, the stakeholders were unrelented, as they continued to appeal to the new government, headed by President Bola Tinubu.

The reiterated their conviction that the passage of the whistleblower protection bill into law would help eliminate corruption in the country.

Urging the government and other West African countries to emulate Ghana and Senegal which now have the whistleblower protection law, Onumah commended the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) for its advocacy in driving the legislation and urged the Senegalese government to work with civil society organisations to ensure its effective implementation.

“We congratulate the people of Senegal, legislators, and civil society champions whose determination made this milestone possible. 

“With this law, West Africa moves closer to a future where corruption is exposed, whistleblowers are protected rather than persecuted, and transnational crime is curtailed,” he added.

He noted that Senegal’s adoption of the law reinforced anti-corruption reforms in the region and strengthened the resolve of the Whistleblowing Advocacy Coalition of West Africa (WACOWA), established at the Abuja conference in November 2024.

The ICIR reports that Senegal becomes the first francophone country in sub-Saharan Africa to enact such a law by its National Assembly on August 26, 2025, joining Ghana as the only ECOWAS members with established legal frameworks for whistleblower protection. 

The new law allows whistleblowers to report corruption and financial crimes anonymously and safely, either within their institutions or to designated authorities.

It also offers incentives, including a 10 per cent reward from recovered illicit funds or an amount determined by the relevant authorities. 

CBN names department for financial crime, counter-terrorism financing monitoring

Harrison EDEH
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CBN names department for financial crime, counter-terrorism financing monitoring

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said its newly established Compliance Department would focus on financial crime supervision and monitoring of counter-terrorism financing.

The department also focuses on enhancing regulatory oversight and strengthening surveillance across the banking and financial services sector.

According to the CBN, the creation of the department is part of broader structural reforms aimed at consolidating regulatory effectiveness, clarifying institutional responsibilities, and strengthening oversight of non-prudential and emerging risks within the financial system.

The apex bank disclosed this in a letter referenced /DIR/PUB/CIR/001/002, dated September 4, 2025, addressed to all banks, payment service banks, and other financial institutions, as defined under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020.

The letter was signed by Olubunmi Ayodele-Oni for the Director of the Compliance Department.

The apex bank, in the letter, informed regulatory institutions that the Compliance Department was officially established in the first quarter of 2025.

Upon the commencement of operations in the second quarter, supervisory responsibility for non-prudential risk areas was officially reassigned to the department.

“The department has assumed oversight of financial crime supervision, encompassing anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, counter-proliferation financing, and sanctions compliance,” the letter stated.

“It is also responsible for market conduct supervision, covering disclosure practices, complaints management frameworks, and advertising standards,” it added.

The department oversees enterprise security supervision, including cybersecurity, data protection, and third-party risk management.

It further takes charge of corporate governance and oversight, including board effectiveness and environmental, social, and governance risks considerations.

Accordingly, the CBN directed that all regulatory reports, correspondence, and inquiries related to these areas should be addressed to the Director, Compliance Department, through the established communication channels.

The apex bank also stated that financial institutions would receive further details directly from the department regarding specific contact points and submission procedures for inquiries.

It expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation of all institutions in ensuring a smooth transition and in upholding the highest standards of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

EFCC declares Sujimoto CEO wanted over alleged money laundering

Mustapha USMAN
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EFCC declares Sujimoto CEO wanted over alleged money laundering

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the chief executive of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Olasijibomi Suji Ogundele, wanted for alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.

In a notice issued by the agency’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Friday, September 5, the EFCC said Ogundele, a 44-year-old indigene of Ori-Ade Local Government Area of Osun State, was being sought in connection with financial crimes. 

According to the anti-graft agency, his last known address is G29, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.

”The public is hereby notified that OLASIJIBOMI SUJI OGUNDELE of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Diversion of Funds and Money Laundering.

“Ogundele is a 44 year-old indigene of Ori-Ade Local Government of Osun State, and his last known address is G 29, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos State,” the notice read.

The commission urged Nigerians with useful information about his whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices across the country or reach out via its official hotline and email.

Ogundele is known as the founder and chief executive of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, a Lagos-based real estate company that built its brand around high-end architectural designs and luxury projects in several parts of Nigeria’s commercial hub – Lagos. 

Over the past few years, Sujimoto has been associated with luxury residential buildings and branded real-estate developments marketed toward high-net-worth individuals. 

Ogundele has previously faced legal scrutiny. In October 2024, he was detained by the Force Criminal Investigations Department in Abuja following a petition by a lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who alleged that Ogundele obtained US$325,000 in November 2020 from a client as half-payment for a three-bedroom flat in a Sujimoto site marketed as “Leonardo” by Sujimoto Homes.

According to the client, the project never materialised.  

In addition, a report by Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ, indicates an earlier complaint in which Sujimoto was alleged to have withheld an investor’s capital of N90 million.

The investor reportedly invested in a Sujimoto-offered scheme promising a high return, but alleged that repayments did not materialise. 

Transport fare conundrum: Between broken promises and the law

Bankole ABE
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Transport fare conundrum: Between broken promises and the law

A REPORT recently trended on social media whereby a young woman, Jennifer, was reportedly fined ₦450,000 by a Magistrate Court for collecting ₦30,000 as transport fare from a man named Emmanuel but refused to show up at his house.

It started like a typical online gist; the type that is meant to amuse and outrage Nigerians.

According to the viral report,  Jennifer was dragged before a Magistrate Court after allegedly collecting ₦30,000 as transport fare from a Emmanuel, who expected her to visit him.

Jennifer allegedly did not show up and cut off all communication with Emmanuel.

In a dramatic twist, the court reportedly found her guilty of obtaining money under false pretences and ordered her to pay ₦450,000 in damages, a fee fifteen times the amount she had allegedly collected.

The story forced a national debate, making Nigerians ask if relly transport fare can become a legal matter.

Public reactions

On social media, especially X, Nigerians have taken the Jennifer matter as both a joke and a cautionary tale.

A former senator, Shehu Sani, commenting on the matter, tweeted, “Jailing ladies for collecting transport fare and failing to ‘show up’ is weird. Show up’ for what; is it a concert?”, he asked.

An X user, @Mr_DaveChigozie, joked, “If you collect transport for an agreed plan, deliver your pooling unit. Don’t collect money from a guy and feel you can disappear with his money.”

Another X user, @TheHappyMan, applied a mathematical technique to explain the matter.

“Ask yourself first, collect transport fare for what? X = what transport fare was collected for. If you find X, you find what showing up was for,” he posted.

But underneath the jokes and laughter lies a serious conversation because in a country where fraud like romance scams and fake promises is rampant, stories like this force people to ask whether everyday betrayals should be taken more seriously.

A story that resonates

What made this story spread fast is that it touches on a deeply familiar Nigerian reality. The “T-Fare” syndrome among Nigerians, where men/boys send money to women/girls to facilitate a visit. The culture has long been the subject of online jokes and relationship disputes.

Some women see it as a courtesy or a necessary incentive, while some men see it as an investment with the expectation of face-to-face intimacy.

But when anticipation meets reality, what happens? Another critical question to ask is, can romance become fraud?

Legal intervention

To answer the questions, The ICIR turned to two lawyers, Moshood Ibrahim and Marvellous Ini-Obong Monday, to seek answers

“The law doesn’t joke with dishonesty; if someone collects money under false pretence, such as promising to come visit but never intending to, then it may amount to fraud under Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act,” Ibrahim explained.

That means Emmanuel or anyone else in his shoes could theoretically drag the offender before a court.       “It’s obtaining by false pretence, and it is punishable,” Ibrahim said.

The legal practitioner also warned that, though the law allows it, the reality of Nigerian courts, filled with cases of corruption, armed robbery, and other crimes, makes it unlikely that a magistrate would want to spend much time on “transport fare issues.”

As for Monday, he argued that the “transport fare” scenario is unlikely to constitute a legally binding case, except that fraud can be proven. He stressed that casual social arrangements, such as a promise to visit, do not automatically translate into enforceable contracts.

According to him, while a victim could seek a refund of money if fraudulent intent is established, damages for breach of contract would not ordinarily apply since the arrangement lacks contractual elements like consideration.

Promises and the law

Still, the Jennifer-Emmanuel saga opens up a lot of questions. It  brings about drawing similarities to other promises that are made, broken, and left to die.

Consider the following scenarios: A man who promises marriage but backs out at the last moment; a lover who invests heavily in a partner’s education or business, only to be dumped for someone else, a landlord who promises to fix a leaking roof but never lifts a finger, and an employer who dangles a promotion or salary increase but never delivers.

Are all these promises justiceable in court?

According to Ibrahim, a breach of promise to marry is actionable under Nigerian law. He cited Ezeanah v. Atta (2004), where the Supreme Court held that a broken engagement, under certain conditions, could warrant compensation.

He added that promises that involve money, property, or enforceable duties can also be litigated upon. If a service provider collects payment but fails to deliver, the case lacks ambiguity.

Ibrahim said if friends pool money together for a joint business and one absconds with the funds, the courts can intervene. Even children can sue parents for neglect under Section 14(2) of the Child Rights Act.

Promises and obligations

According to Ibrahim, not all promises can stand in court. For instance, if someone promises to ‘dash‘ (give) another person money and later fails, it is a mere gift, not a contract. He said no matter how disappointed the expectant receiver feels, the law won’t help.

Similarly, spending on a lover by paying tuition, buying a car, or setting up a business in hopes of marriage is a risky bet unless there is a firm promise by evidence to wed before the offer of the gifts or assistance. Without that, the courts may dismiss it as a private arrangement.

This, Ibrahim argued, is where emotion and law separates. “The law deals with evidence, contracts, and obligations. Heartbreak and disappointment alone are not actionable,” he stated.

On his part, Monday submitted that breach of promise to marry is legally enforceable, provided there was an unambiguous promise backed by concrete preparations.

“Sponsorship of education with the mere “hope” of marriage is not enforceable unless backed by a written agreement.

“A child cannot directly sue a parent, though the Child Rights Act imposes obligations on parents, with the state intervening in cases of neglect.

“An employer’s failure to honour promotion or salary promises can only be challenged if they formed part of a formal contract.

“Tenants can sue landlords who fail to make promised repairs, while service providers who default can also face lawsuits.

“Money paid to secure jobs cannot be recovered because such contracts are illegal and contrary to public policy.

“In romantic relationships, money or property given is generally treated as a gift, unless it can be proven that it was a loan or based on a binding agreement.”

While Ibrahim took a stricter interpretation, leaning on statutory provisions, Monday emphasised the difference between enforceable contracts and casual social promises. Both, however, agreed that promises involving illegality, such as job racketeering, cannot be enforced by Nigerian courts.

Between story and reality

The reason the story refuses to die is that it mirrors a bigger truth: Nigerians live in a society where trust is fragile, and broken promises often cost money, time, or dignity. Whether in romance, business, or governance, people are wary of being taken for a ride.

Jennifer and Emmanuel may never have stood before a magistrate. The fine may be fictional. But the story is symbolic because it is about the everyday betrayals that Nigerians endure and the thin line between misconduct and crime.

To many, the Jennifer saga is not all about transport fare but more about the timeless clash between expectation and reality, affection and obligation, and love and law.

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