SOME chieftains of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) have renewed their allegiance to the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration ahead of the 2027 poll.
The group led by the former governor of Nasarawa State, Tanko Al-Makura, stated that their position is fuelled by speculations and misinformation that their group has abandoned the APC.
Al-Makura, who spoke at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, May 8, spoke against the backdrop of trending issue of the resolution by a fragment of the CPC block led by the former governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, to join a coalition of opposition politicians led by the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
Al-Makura recalled the formation of the APC, which brought together the CPC, ACN, ANPP, APGA, DPP, and nPDP to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and ushered in President Muhammadu Buhari. He emphasised that as founding members, they remain committed to supporting President Tinubu’s administration.
Al-Makura, flanked by top members of the CPC bloc, stated that they were there to reaffirm their commitment to the ideals that brought them together in 2013.
He added that they aimed to set the records straight and send a clear message to Nigerians that the former CPC majority stakeholders remained strong, united, and deeply loyal to the APC and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are very much here, standing tall, proud, and standing firm within the party that we helped to found through sweat, sacrifice, and patriotic commitment. We remain part and parcel of the APC family,” the group stated.
The former governor of Nasarawa State urged aggrieved bloc members to seek redress within the APC through dialogue, patience, and perseverance.
Also speaking, Farouk Adamu Aliyu, a former House of Representatives minority leader, assured that former President Buhari fully supports President Tinubu, contrary to the impressions created by El-Rufai.
The briefing was attended by notable figures including Katsina State Governor Umar Dikko Radda, former Governor and ex-House Speaker Aminu Bello Masari, and former Lagos State military Governor Buba Marwa, now NDLEA chairman.
Other attendees included APC North West National Vice Chairman Garba Datti Muhammed, Babale Ila, Lanre Tejiosho, Okono Obla, Osita Okechukwu, Abu Ibrahim, and Umaru Kurfi.
The ICIR reportedrecently that the presidency had responded to the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC by mocking former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor El-Rufai, and other opposition leaders over their planned coalition to unseat President Tinubu in 2027.
The ICIR reported that the Delta State governor, his predecessor and PDP members in the state defected from to the APC on Wednesday, April 23.
Oborevwori announced the defection through his Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu.
Responding to the defection on X, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, wrote that the coalition, which also has a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Tinubu’s former Special Adviser on Political Matters, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who has resigned, was bound to collapse.
Also, in his reaction on X, a presidential aide, Tunde Rahman said the future looked so bleak for Abubakar’s coalition.
A FEDERAL High Court (FHC) in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by Multichoice against the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for preventing it from implementing a price increase.
The judge, James Omotosho, in a ruling on Thursday, May 8,maintained that the suit constituted an abuse of the process of the court, having been filed after a similar suit was filed on the issue by one Festus Onifade, with Multichoice and FCCPC as parties in the suit.
The judge held that an earlier suit filed by Onifade before the same court in Abuja, in which Multichoice is a party, was still pending before Multichoice decided to file another separate suit.
Omotosho said MultiChoice could escalate the issues in the suit filed by Onifade by simply filing a counterclaim rather than filing a separate suit.
The judge went ahead to deny jurisdiction and dismissed the suit.
However, the judge proceeded to determine the case on merit and held that since Nigeria runs a free market economy, the FCCPC lacked the power to meddle in the decisions of private companies to fix their prices.
Omotosho stated that under Section 88 of the FCCPC Act, it is only the president of Nigeria who can regulate prices in a regulated industry and for essential goods, not the kind of services being offered by Multichoice, where consumers have choices.
Omotosho maintained that the FCCPC has no business questioning how companies fix their prices in a free market economy.
The judge further dismissed the FCCPC’s claim that MultiChoice held a dominant market position, calling the argument untenable.
The ICIR reported in February 2025 that the FCCPC directedMultiChoiceNigeria to maintain the current prices of its subscription packages until the ongoing investigation into its proposed price hike is concluded.
The commission said in a statement on Thursday, February 27, by its director of corporate affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.
“Maintaining the status quo on pricing is essential to prevent any potential consumer harm during this period,” Ijagwu stated.
The directive followed MultiChoice Nigeria’s request for an extension concerning its scheduled appearance before the commission,which it granted.
Multichoice Nigeria, the parent company of DStv and GOtv, has revealed plans to increase the prices of its packages effective March 1, 2025. The ICIR also reported.
It made the known in a message to its customers on Monday, February 24, titled ‘Price Adjustment on DStv and GOtv packages.’
The pay television blamed the price increase on the Nigerian macroeconomic conditions.
It said this includes increasing operating costs, currency depreciation, and high inflation.
THE Nigerian Senate passed two of the four tax reform bills sent to it by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, May 7.
It passed the two bills following a clause-by-clause consideration during the Committee of the Whole and their subsequent third reading on the Senate floor.
The bills are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill.
The bills mark a significant milestone in the ongoing overhaul of Nigeria’s tax administration framework.
Commending the bills, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said they would add immense value to governance and transform how taxes are collected and shared in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that the reform bills would not only enhance governance but also revolutionise tax collection and distribution across the country.
“These bills will add immense value to governance and transform how taxes are collected and shared in Nigeria,” Akpabio said.
He assured that the remaining two bills would be finalised on Thursday, May 8, even if it required extended sitting hours.
“We are committed to concluding the outstanding bills tomorrow, even if we have to stay here until 10 p.m.,” Akpabio said.
The ICIR reports that the two remaining tax bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, which is expected to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes.
On his part, the House of Representatives had on Tuesday, March 18, passed the four tax reform bills.
The passage of the bills by the lower chamber followed the consideration and approval of its Committee on Finance’s report on the bills submitted on Thursday, March 13.
Tinubu had in October 2024 transmitted the four tax reform bills to both chambers for consideration and passage.
A wave of discontent is brewing within the student community of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), following what many have described as a clear double standard in the university’s disciplinary procedures.
The ICIR reported that the recent dismissal of three lecturers for various forms of misconduct including result tampering, sexual harassment, and absenteeism has sparked widespread discussion, not because of the offences, but because of how the university handled the announcement.
Unlike previous cases involving students, where information like matriculation number were publicly disclosed, the lecturers’ identities were withheld.
This disparity in treatment has sparked mixed feelings even as students are questioning why the university is quick to publicise student infractions yet chooses to cloak staff misconduct in anonymity.
The outrage has spilled onto social media platforms and the university community with many calling for transparency across all levels.
Back in 2018, UDUS made headlines when it expelled 12 students from the department of Medical Laboratory Science. Their matriculation numbers as well as the reasons were published in the department. The justification was academic failure, and some were identified for overstaying the allowed years of study or falling short of minimum performance benchmarks.
Nigerian universities have, in recent years, adopted a notably public approach to student disciplinary actions, often releasing detailed information including names and offences through official channels or media reports.
For instance, theFederal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) expelled five students and suspended 152 others in August 2024, with the announcement identifying those affected and circulating widely in the media.
Similarly, theFederal University Gusau (FUGUS) in July 2023 published the names of seven students it expelled, and six others rusticated for misconduct, sparking a mix of reactions.
AtNnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), the expulsion of a 300-level student, Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious, in February 2025 made headlines after she allegedly attacked a lecturer while recording a TikTok video with her identity openly revealed in multiple reports.
Double standard?
In contrast, during its 171st regular meeting on March 12, 2025, the university’s Governing Council confirmed the dismissal of three staff members for gross misconduct. While the offences were disclosed, no names or departments were revealed. The announcement was carefully worded, offering just enough detail to inform but not enough to hold anyone publicly accountable.
The ICIR gathered that also, inJune 2017,Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) dismissed a lecturer for altering students’ results, but the institution declined to name the individual, only noting the action as a deterrent.
This inconsistency has fuelled claims of preferential treatment and a lack of institutional fairness. Critics argue that if students can be publicly sanctioned, staff particularly those whose actions could directly affect students should be held to the same standard.
A representative of the university, the PRO Mallam Ismail Muhammed Yauri, was contacted for comment, and promised he would get back in a week’s time.
However, he did not, and this reporter tried contacting him several times afterwards but failed. As at the time of filing this report, he was yet to respond to our inquiries on the matter.
As the backlash grows, the institution faces renewed calls to apply its transparency policies evenly not just to students, but to all members of the academic community.
POPULAR rights activist Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after spending days in detention.
His lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the release of the activist in a poston X on Wednesday, May 7.
“VDM released to us on bail. Special thanks to @DAPLawFirm, especially the head of our firm, @Marvin_Omorogbe. Thank you, Nigerians, for speaking up for him. Thank you, Egbon @YeleSowore. Thank you, HE Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Davido, opposition lawmakers, etc.
“I must also thank the chairman of the EFCC for indulging and listening to all my concerns since Friday last week, and his team. The struggle continues,” Adeyanju posted on X.
An activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, also confirmed VDM’s release in an update on his official Facebook page on Wednesday evening. “VDM Released!” he posted.
VDM has been in the custody of the anti-graft agency since he was arrested in Abuja on Friday, May 2.
His arrest led to an uproar across the nation, with youths demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Protesters gathered near the EFCC headquarters in the Jabi district of Abuja, carrying placards and chanting slogans such as “He’s not a thief!” and “Release VDM!”
The protest caused significant traffic disruptions, drawing the attention of motorists and bystanders.
“We are here because VDM speaks truth to power. He shouldn’t be punished for using his voice,” said one protester who declined to be named. Others accused the authorities of attempting to silence Otse over his outspokenness on social and political issues.
“This is not just about Martins. It’s about freedom of expression,” said another demonstrator. “Arresting someone without clear charges sends a dangerous message,” the protester added.
The ICIR reported on Tuesday, May 6, that his arrest followed a series of petitions against the activist. The EFCC claimed that several invitations were sent to him, but he failed to honour them.
“We arrested him (VDM) to respond to a series of allegations raised against him by some petitioners. We will release him once he meets the bail conditions, and we will take the case to court as soon as possible,” the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated.
FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has warned against the consequences of Nigeria dovetailing into a one-party state.
He said any nation practising it must do so carefully and with a well-planned process and projected outcome.
He stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, May 7, while paying tribute to the late elder statesman, Edwin Clark, at a memorial lecture and day of tribute.
Jonathan warned that any attempt to create a one-party state through political machinations to soothe only personal aspirations would be detrimental to the country.
The former president also called on the family of the late former federal commissioner to, among other things, set up a yearly memorial lecture in his honour to continue to push his ideas and what he stood for, which is a united, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria.
On his part, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, lamented that the labour of Nigeria heroes past, which he said was already in vain.
The former Anambra State governor highlighted the endemic poverty in rural areas, the state of insecurity, and the rising cost of living.
He maintained that the labour of people like Pa Edwin Clark had not paid off, and the sacrifices they made were in vain.
The chairman on the occasion and former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, said that the task of ensuring that Nigeria remained united and indivisible must be ensured by all, as the nation could only make progress if national interest was put before any personal interest.
This is not the first time former President Jonathan has lent his voice to the state of the nation.
In March 2025, The ICIR reported that Jonathan criticised the suspension of elected officials in Rivers state, following the emergency rule declared by Tinubu on Tuesday, March 18.
The suspended officials include the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all House of Assembly members in the state.
Recall, Edwin Clark died aged 97 on the night of Monday, February 17, according to a statement signed by C. C. Clark, for the family.
THE National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tunde Massey Ojo, said up to 30 per cent of Nigerians suffer from one form of mental health condition during their lifetime.
Ojo disclosed this at the annual Secure The Future (SDF) Counselling Summit in Abuja on Wednesday, May 7, with the theme “From Policy to Practice: Counseling as a Framework for Addressing Nigeria’s Mental Health Gap and Challenges.”
According to Ojo, who was represented at the occasion by an assistant director in the Ministry of Health, Grace Ogunleye, mental health conditions have emerged as one of the greatest health and development challenges of our time.
He stressed that in Nigeria, the treatment gap exceeds 80 per cent, meaning that the vast majority of affected individuals do not receive any form of professional support.
He pointed out that mental health services are often inaccessible, especially in rural and underserved communities, as mental health professionals are in short supply.
He listed stigmatisation and discrimination as significant barriers, discouraging help-seeking behaviour and reinforcing myths and human rights abuses.
The Signing of a working agreement between SDF and CPCN on the occasion
“The economic, social, and developmental costs of untreated mental health conditions are enormous, affecting not just individuals but families, communities, and the nation at large.
Until recently, mental health in Nigeria received limited institutional attention. The Mental Health, Alcohol, and Substance Use desk, located within the Non-Communicable Diseases Division of the Department of Public Health, was led by a desk officer and operated without a robust structure,” he stated.
According to him, Nigeria relied on the Lunacy Act of 1958, a colonial-era law that did not reflect current human rights standards or global mental health priorities.
He said that while the 2013 National Policy for Mental Health Service Delivery existed, it primarily emphasised treatment in specialised institutions, neglecting prevention, psychosocial support, and community-based approaches.
According to Ojo, more than 970 million people are living with mental health conditions globally.
Ojo stated that depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy over $1 trillion each year in lost productivity.
He quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that say one in every eight people in the world lives with a mental disorder, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people aged 15–29 years.
He added that despite the statistic, mental health continues to receive less than 2 per cent of health budgets globally and even less in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
In her opening remark, the founder of SDF, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Saadatu Adamu, said her organisation has reached thousands of young people with interventions through the Mental Health School Club, providing a safe space for students to explore and strengthen their mental well-being.
She said the annual mental health conferences bring together professional practitioners and experienced people to share knowledge, expertise, and coping mechanisms around mental health issues.
“We remain committed to our vision of having a country where mental health issues are normal conversations to highlight and be comfortable to discuss,” she said.
She added that the establishment of the SDF Support Home has transformed so many lives and has been impactful.
In her speech at the occasion, the president of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Edna Azura, said mental health is the foundation of a thriving community, but for too long it has been shrouded in stigma, silence, and ignorance, particularly from men, young people, and minority groups.
She said the unveiling of the SDF Guide to Effective Mental Health Counselling will empower professionals with culturally sensitive strategies to address trauma, anxiety, depression, and the unique physiological challenges faced by Nigerians today.
She added that the guide will serve as a beacon of hope for many who are silently struggling.
“Women and girls often bear the brunt of emotional and psychological stress due to societal expectations, economic pressures, and systemic inequalities,” Azura stated.
She said NWCS is committed to advocating for policies and programs that address challenges historically and recognise mental wellness, which is inseparable from national development.
There was an unveiling of the SDF Guide to Effective Mental Health, which is a publication of the Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (CPCN) and the SDF, at the event.
The publication aims to bridge the mental health gap in Nigeria.
THE Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has revealed how some companies in the food and beverage industry use a sophisticated web of marketing strategies to get Nigerians, especially children and young adults, hooked on ultra-processed foods.
CAPPA said the practice by these companies harmed Nigerians’ health, undermined public health policies, and cost the Nigerian healthcare system billions of naira.
The pan-African non-governmental organisation (NGO) said this in a report, ‘Junk on Our Plates: Exposing Deceptive Marketing of Unhealthy Foods Across Seven States in Nigeria’, unveiled on Wednesday, May 7, in Lagos.
Presenting this to the media and other stakeholders on Wednesday, CAPPA said the report detailed a systematic, profit-driven assault on public health by the food and beverage industry.
According to the NGO, the findings showed that through “aggressive marketing, cultural co-optation, celebrity endorsements, and deceptive labelling, the corporations had entrenched ultra-processed, high-sugar, and high-sodium products in Nigeria’s food environment—targeting children, youth, low-income communities, and cultural identities to drive sales.
It accused the industry of leveraging extensive advertising, cultural trends, pricing strategies, and distribution networks to influence food culture and dietary habits, often prioritising highly processed, calorie-dense, and nutrient-poor foods due to their profitability and long shelf life.
This, it said, was the cause of the slow disappearance of healthy, natural, indigenous foods from Nigerians’ menus.
CAPPA acknowledged the Nigerian government’s “bold steps” to confront the challenge by, for example, introducing the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax of N10 per litre on SSBs aimed at discouraging their excessive consumption and reducing the risk of diet-related diseases.
It noted that in 2023, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) followed up with regulations on transfats and pre-packaged food labelling, while in March 2025, the government launched the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction, a strategic policy meant to tackle the excessive salt content in packaged foods, a major driver of high blood pressure and heart disease in the country.
“All of these are good steps,” CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said.
He, however, noted that the food and beverage industry continues to exploit loopholes.
“They use covert marketing, target children, and take advantage of weak enforcement of existing regulations to flood the market with unhealthy products — tactics reminiscent of the deadly strategies long used by the tobacco industry. In some cases, they also take advantage of weak border controls and ignore product standards altogether,” Oluwafemi maintained.
The NGO warned that the widespread promotion of these foods, high in saturated fats, salt, and sugar (HFSS), is increasingly redefining global dietary patterns and impacting public health.
As HFSS foods become dominant in markets worldwide, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions linked to their excessive consumption have also risen, highlighting the need for stronger public health interventions to balance the food industry’s influence with consumer well-being, the NGO said.
R-L: Zikora Ibeh, Assistant Executive Director Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director CAPPA; Humphrey Ukeaja, Industry Monitoring Officer CAPPA; Adebayo Adenike, member Healthy Food Policy Youth Vanguard (HFPYV); and Opeyemi Ibitoye, Programme Officer Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax Campaign CAPPA, during the Media Presentation and Launch of “Junk on Our Plates: Exposing Deceptive Marketing of Unhealthy Foods Across Seven States in Nigeria” at CAPPA’s office in Lagos on Wednesday.
Stressing what its NGO has described as deceptive marketing strategies by companies in the food industry, Oluwafemi said, “These tactics undermine existing public health policies,” adding that the industry takes advantage of policy gaps to create an illusion of choice, while denying people the right to accurate information and healthier options.”
A look at the report made several recommendations, including a call for stronger rules on marketing, particularly for children.
“We need clear and readable front-of-pack warning labels on processed foods. We need limits on salt and sugar content. And we need public awareness campaigns and food policymaking that are state-led, free from corporate sponsorship or influence,” Oluwafemi said.
Other recommendations include strengthening regulations on the marketing of unhealthy foods, particularly to children; increasing Nigeria’s SSB tax from N10 to N130 to make sugary beverages less cost-attractive; and implementing national sodium reduction programs.
“Nigeria can take impactful steps toward promoting healthier dietary habits, reducing the crippling burden of non-communicable diseases and safeguarding the well-being of its population,” he added.
The CAPPA’s Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, corroborated, “We have discovered that the food environment in Nigeria these days is changing, but for the worse. Increasingly, we are consuming items that are unhealthy. We are taking too much salt, sugar, fat, and too many processed items that are harmful.
“Nobody is saying these corporations should be shut down. We’re saying that the government needs to step up enforcement and regulations on these products so that people can look at products and clearly understand immediately what is bad for eating and how much they are not supposed to consume.”
She urged the country to also invest in food systems that prioritise the health of its people over the profit margins of multinationals.
“This means direct public investment in local food production, expansion of agroecological farming systems, and a reversal of trade policies that allow unhealthy foreign products to flood the market,” Ibeh added.
On his part, an industry monitoring officer at CAPPA, Humphrey Ukeaja, said the report established the ongoing trend of false narratives and the tactics of intentional misinformation deployed by the food and beverage industry in Nigeria to promote unhealthy diets.
“These strategies, including extensive advertising, exploitation of cultural trends, and strategic pricing, contribute to the increased consumption of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods, driving a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“In Nigeria, the prevalence of NCDs has risen sharply over the past decades, with these diseases accounting for at least 30 per cent of all deaths annually, and the urgency for effective policy interventions has never been greater,” Ukeaja said.
The CAPPA’s Programme Officer SSB Tax Campaign, Opeyemi Ibitoye, further harped on the need to protect children from the industry.
She added, “If there’s a restriction on how these SSB products are marketed, especially to kids around school, within their schools, this will curb how children request most of these drinks and products. It will also promote public health, which is our target for this advocacy.”
Appraising the efforts of its young advocates under the umbrella of the Healthy Food Policy Youth Vanguard (HFPYV) and the CAPPA Digital Media Volunteers (CAPPA DMV), who conducted this offline survey, CAPPA further commended the technical support and guidance provided by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) team, which birthed the report.
The ICIR had, in an investigation published on April 7, 2023, beamed a searchlight on why NAFDAC’s weak regulations and the opacity in implementing the 10 per cent SSB tax meant to discourage Nigerians from excessive consumption of the products pose a threat to consumers.
THE Labour Party has suspended Abia State Governor Alex Otti and Senator Ireti Kingibe indefinitely over alleged anti-party activities.
The suspension also extended to Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowumi.
A statement signed by the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, on Wednesday, May 7, stated that the party’s National Executive Council made the decision after reviewing recommendations from a five-man Disciplinary Committee set up on May 2, 2025, to investigate allegations of anti-party conduct.
It noted that the suspension takes immediate effect, barring the affected members from participating in any Labour Party activities.
“Recall that last Friday, 2nd of May 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party set up a Five man Disciplinary Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr.Ayo Olorunfemi, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary and three others to investigate Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti and any other party members over allegations of anti party activities,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the committee completed its investigation and presented its findings to the party leadership, which the NEC accepted the committee’s recommendations.
“The Disciplinary Committee has concluded their assignment and has submitted their report to the party leadership. The National Executive of the party met today May 7th, 2025 and after exhaustive deliberation in line with powers donated to it by the Party Constitution has ratified the recommendation as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
“Consequent upon that, the following members of the party have been suspended from the party and all its activities, indefinitely and with immediate effect. 1. Dr. Alex Otti; 2. Senator Ireti Kingibe; 3. Senator Darlington Nwokocha; 4. Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; 5. Hon. Amobi Ogah; 6. Hon. Seyi Sowunmi,” the statement added.
The Labour Party clarified that Nenadi Usman was not included in the suspension list because she is not a registered member, but rather a supporter of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
The party also questioned Usman’s moral standing to speak on corruption, citing her alleged plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and reported asset forfeitures.
“She should also tell Nigerians how she acquired her radio station in Kaduna, all her properties all over Nigeria and abroad, her companies in Cameroon, including her plantations. Nenadi Usman lacks the moral capacity to commence any probe or even talk about corruption,” the statement added.
The party reiterated its stance on political alliances, stating that it would not enter any coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suspension followed a series of recent events within the party, which have sparked divisions in the party.
On April 9, 2025, Labour Party stalwarts, including Peter Obi and Governor Otti, endorsed a new National Caretaker Committee led by Nenadi Usman.
This move came after the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the leadership of Julius Abure, setting the stage for the caretaker committee’s formation.
However, the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led faction, Obiora Ifoh, has disputed the interpretation of the Supreme Court verdict, claiming it didn’t state that Abure’s leadership had lapsed or that the Usman-led committee should take over.
Ifoh insists the Supreme Court respected the party’s autonomy and right to appoint leaders, upholding the precedence of lower court decisions recognising Abure’s leadership.
This was as Lamidi Apapa declared himself the party’s leader following the Supreme Court’s judgment sacking Abure as National Chairman.
Apapa cited the apex court’s ruling as his reason for taking over, stating that all court pronouncements have nullified Abure’s actions and decisions since April 2023.
THE National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has attributed the cause of Herbert Wigwe’s helicopter crash to “pilot disorientation” and deficiencies in safety protocols by the operating company.
It disclosed this in its final aviation investigation report published on Tuesday, May 6.
It revealed that the probable cause of the crash was the pilot’s decision to continue the flight under visual flight rules into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
“We determined the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: the pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of control,” NTSB stated.
The ICIRreported that the former group chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and other crew members, died in an ill-fated helicopter crash on February 9, 2024.
An Airbus helicopter with registration number EC 130B4 crashed near Halloran Springs, California, killing Wigwe, three other passengers, and two pilots on board.
The helicopter was operated by Orbic Air, LLC, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135 on-demand flight.
It explained that contributing to the accident was the “company’s inadequate oversight of its safety management processes,” including ensuring the pilots were accurately completing and updating the flight risk analysis, logging maintenance discrepancies, and ensuring the helicopter met Part 135 regulations before departure.
NTSB is an independent agency charged by the US Congress to investigate every civil aviation accident and significant accidents in other modes of transportation across the United States of America.
Commenting further on its findings, the NTSB said that in the days preceding the helicopter accident last year, the helicopter had been undergoing routine maintenance that involved work on the radar altimeter, which was a required instrument for Part 135 flight operations.
“About 1727 on the day of the accident, the accident pilot and a company mechanic/pilot repositioned the helicopter from the maintenance facility to the company’s flight operations base, and during the flight, the accident pilot noted the radar altimeter was not functioning,” it said.
According to the investigative bureau, during the return flight, the pilot texted the director of maintenance (DOM) about the issue, and after arriving at the company’s flight operations base, the pilot discussed the issue with the company flight follower (who was also the company’s president).
“According to the flight follower, who also held operational control of the charter flight, during the discussions, he told the pilot that the flight could not depart if the radar altimeter was not functioning.
“A company mechanic performed some troubleshooting on the radar altimeter; however, he was unable to rectify the issue, and the radar altimeter remained non-functional,” the investigators’ report partly read.
It asserted that the mechanic reported that the pilots and the DOM were aware that the radar altimeter was not functioning, yet they departed at 18:22 on the positioning flight to pick up the passengers.
NTSB findings further revealed that about two minutes before the accident, the helicopter’s airspeed and altitude increased, with a slight deviation to the south of the freeway.
“It is unclear if the pilot was attempting an inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) recovery manoeuvre. The helicopter continued the right turn for about 10 seconds when the helicopter began a rapid descent into terrain while maintaining the right turn,” it also stated.
It noted that witnesses who were travelling in their vehicles reported observing a fireball to the south of the freeway, and that the witnesses reported that the weather conditions in the area were not good, as it was raining with a snow mix.
The report established that the search and rescue efforts at the time were difficult due to weather conditions that included low visibility, rain, snow, and high winds.
“The helicopter wreckage, which was highly fragmented and not survivable, was located about 1 hour and 40 minutes after the accident,” NTSB stated.
The report also included that post-accident examination of the airframe, engine, rotor blades, flight controls, rotor drive, main rotor, and fenestron components identified no evidence of pre-impact malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
The engine displayed rotational damage signatures and resolidified metal deposits consistent with powered operation at impact, the report said, stressing that all recovered instruments, avionics, and portable/personal electronic devices sustained damage that prevented data extraction.
The NTSB maintained that the helicopter wreckage was consistent with a high-energy, right-side-low attitude impact with terrain.
Although the two pilots, aged 25 and 22, with “commercial flight instructor certification”, were properly trained, the NTSB said the pilot might have been susceptible to the Coriolis illusion when maintaining a constant turn if he moved his head, for example, to look from inside the cockpit to outside the cockpit.
The report added that the helicopter began to accelerate as it descended, which could have resulted in a somatogenic (false climb) illusion that led the pilot to believe the helicopter was climbing.
“The pilot likely experienced spatial disorientation while manoeuvring the helicopter in IMC, which led to his loss of helicopter control and the resulting collision with terrain,” it added.
