Fresh corruption investigations involving senior officials who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari have thrown renewed attention on the governance record of his eight-year administration, with alleged financial infractions estimated at about N3.47 trillion.

The unfolding probes, coming against the backdrop of Nigeria’s heavy debt burden, have reignited national debates around accountability, fiscal discipline and the real cost of governance during Buhari’s tenure.

Those under investigation include former ministers, top government officials and the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, many of whom were regarded as key figures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

At the centre of the investigations is former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, whose tenure coincided with expansive monetary interventions and large-scale use of Ways and Means financing.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused him of allocating foreign exchange worth about $2 billion, estimated at N3 trillion, without due process or competitive bidding, allegedly favouring associates.

Investigators also allege that Emefiele operated hundreds of bank accounts across multiple jurisdictions, illegally acquired a large housing estate in Abuja and mismanaged more than N16 billion in public funds.

Court documents further indicate that between 2019 and 2022, billions of naira were allegedly funnelled through proxy accounts linked to private companies, with additional claims involving forged requests for the payment of millions of dollars to foreign election observers.

Beyond the financial sector, the EFCC is pursuing cases against several former ministers.

Chris Ngige, a former Minister of Labour, is being investigated over an alleged N2.2 billion fraud.

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has been declared wanted over claims of a N21.4 billion fraud, while former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika is facing charges linked to an alleged N2.7 billion aviation contract scandal.

Also under prosecution is former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who is standing trial for alleged money laundering amounting to N33.8 billion.

Similarly, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, under former minister Sadiya Umar-Farouk, is accused of laundering N37 billion meant for social intervention programmes.

In direct naira terms, allegations against Buhari-era officials amount to about N471 billion.

When the disputed foreign exchange allocations are included, the figure rises to an estimated N3.47 trillion, underscoring the scale of the cases now confronting anti-graft agencies.

The investigations have drawn attention to Nigeria’s debt profile under Buhari.

When he assumed office in 2015, the country’s total debt stood at about $65.4 billion.

Although there was a slight decline in 2016, borrowing accelerated thereafter.

By 2019, total debt had risen to over $84 billion, reaching nearly $96 billion by mid-2021.

By the end of 2022, Nigeria’s debt had climbed to N46.25 trillion, with estimates suggesting Buhari handed over a total debt burden of roughly N77 trillion in May 2023.

Analysts argue that the corruption allegations cannot be separated from the borrowing spree.

While loans were justified as necessary for infrastructure and economic stabilisation, critics say weak oversight, opaque monetary policies and politicised spending created opportunities for abuse.

Supporters of the former administration, however, contend that many of the EFCC’s actions are politically driven and aimed at undermining Buhari’s anti-corruption credentials.

Economists and governance experts have raised broader concerns about Nigeria’s public finance architecture.

Professor Emmanuel Nwosu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said allegations running into trillions of naira point to deep failures in accounting and auditing systems.

According to him, corruption on such a scale should be impossible if public financial controls were effective.

He also questioned the narrative surrounding fuel subsidy removal, noting the lack of transparency over how savings are being deployed despite persistently high petrol prices.

Public finance expert Prof. Chiwuike Uba warned that corruption involving borrowed funds places a long-term burden on citizens through inflation, higher taxes and declining public services.

He noted that despite increased revenues from subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms, government borrowing continues to rise.

Similarly, Prof. Segun Ajibola, a former president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, urged anti-corruption agencies to focus on large-scale financial crimes rather than minor offences, calling for tougher laws and citing China’s zero-tolerance approach as a model.

Other analysts, including Prof. Godwin Oyedokun, described the allegations as evidence of systemic failure rather than isolated misconduct, warning that future generations would bear the cost of debts incurred without corresponding development.

Legal practitioner Ameh Madaki criticised the EFCC for what he described as selective prosecution, arguing that many high-profile cases amount to media spectacles that rarely end in convictions.

Experts insist that Nigeria must move away from reactive, post-office investigations and adopt preventive mechanisms, including real-time auditing, transparent procurement processes and stronger institutional independence.

Without these reforms, they warn, the cycle of corruption, debt and underdevelopment will persist.

Suspected bandits have killed one person and abducted several worshippers, including a pregnant woman and children, during an attack on a church in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The attack occurred on Sunday at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Aiyetoro Kiri, where over 50 armed men reportedly stormed the church premises and opened fire indiscriminately.

One worshipper was killed in the process, while more than 20 others were kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination.

Residents said the incident was the second attack on the community in recent weeks.

Bandits had earlier invaded Aiyetoro Kiri, abducting about 50 persons and looting several mobile phones from a business centre, forcing many residents to flee the area for safety.

In a related development, gunmen also launched coordinated attacks on Oke-Agi and Ilai communities in Mopamuro Local Government Area of the state on Monday, leaving several people injured and others abducted.

Eyewitnesses said the attacks began around 4 am and lasted for over an hour, with the assailants striking multiple locations almost simultaneously.

Distress calls made by residents during the attacks were reportedly answered late.

One of the attacks took place in the Jamroro settlement, located between Oke-Agi and Takete Isao, an area largely populated by members of the Tiv ethnic group.

Casualties were recorded, while those injured were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.

Another attack occurred near Ilai Grammar School, less than one kilometre from Ilai town, where one person was killed and three others abducted.

Confirming the incidents, the Chairman of Mopamuro Local Government Area, Hon. Ademola Bello, expressed concern over the scale of the violence and the delayed response from security agencies.

Traditional rulers and community leaders also condemned the attacks, calling for urgent and decisive action to curb the growing insecurity in the area.

As of the time of filing this report, security agencies were yet to issue an official statement, as efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Kogi State Police Command, SP William Ayah, were unsuccessful.

The senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe, is set to leave the Labour Party on Thursday, DAILY GAZETTE reports.

Although details surrounding her planned defection remain unclear, it was gathered that the decision follows prolonged internal disagreements within the party and ongoing consultations with key political stakeholders.

Senator Kingibe won the FCT senatorial seat on the platform of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election.

Details shortly…

The Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutional powers of the President to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country and to take extraordinary measures, including the suspension of elected officials, to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

In a split decision of six to one, the apex court ruled that while the President may suspend elected state officials during an emergency, such action must be for a limited period and strictly aimed at restoring normalcy.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris held that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the President to declare a state of emergency and adopt extraordinary measures where there is a threat of chaos or anarchy.

He noted that the provision does not clearly define the scope of such measures, thereby granting the President discretionary powers in responding to emergency situations.

The judgment arose from a suit filed by Adamawa State and 10 other states governed by the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

The emergency proclamation had resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected state officials for six months.

Justice Idris also upheld preliminary objections raised by the defendants, the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Assembly, who argued that the suit was incompetent.

He ruled that the plaintiffs failed to establish a cause of action capable of invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Consequently, the court struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction but went further to consider the substantive issues and dismissed the case on its merits.

However, Justice Obande Ogbuinya dissented from the majority view, holding that while the President has the authority to declare a state of emergency, such power does not extend to the suspension of democratically elected officials, including governors, deputy governors and members of legislative assemblies.

According to him, emergency powers should not be used as a mechanism to undermine constitutional democracy.

Stay tuned for more..

Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, Matthew Ashimolowo, has expressed strong doubts about the chances of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, securing significant votes in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ashimolowo, speaking during an interview on Outside the Box, said Obi’s electoral appeal in the North remains extremely weak, arguing that deep-seated national divisions have not healed.

According to him, it would take an extraordinary outcome for Obi to secure up to five per cent of votes in the core northern states.

“The possibility of Peter Obi getting five per cent in 12 core northern states would be a miracle,” he said.

“He is a fantastic and gifted man, and he has proven capacity, but the reality is that he cannot win five per cent in the North.”

Obi contested the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party candidate, finishing third behind President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Despite his defeat, Obi retained strong backing among young voters and urban populations nationwide, with his supporters maintaining that he remains a viable contender for future elections.

As political activities towards 2027 gather momentum, Obi has indicated interest in contesting again, though uncertainty surrounds the platform he may adopt.

He is currently associated with a broader opposition coalition that includes Atiku Abubakar and other political figures seeking to unseat President Tinubu.

The coalition has adopted the African Democratic Congress as its platform, but questions remain over whether Obi will contest under the ADC or return to the Labour Party.

The ADC has acknowledged internal challenges regarding the alignment of key presidential aspirants.

Party spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking on Arise Television, said reconciling the ambitions of Atiku, Obi and other aspirants poses a challenge but does not threaten democratic stability.

He explained that the party is currently focused on building its structures nationwide rather than discussing presidential tickets.

According to Abdullahi, several aspirants have already indicated interest in contesting under the ADC, and the party may seek consensus when the time comes or allow a competitive primary if consensus fails.

Meanwhile, Obi has previously raised concerns about unresolved issues within the coalition, including zoning and rotation arrangements.

While Atiku has formally joined the ADC, Obi is yet to register with the party, leaving his political pathway to the coalition’s ticket unclear.

The senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has disclosed that she has received several overtures from the ruling All Progressives Congress to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party, but insists she has no intention of leaving her party.

Akpoti-Uduaghan said the approaches came from individuals within the Presidency as well as some of her colleagues, noting that she has consistently turned down the offers despite the internal challenges currently facing the PDP.

She made the disclosure during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, which was shared on YouTube on Saturday.

Responding to questions on whether she would consider joining the APC if the crisis in the PDP persists, the senator said she was not interested, stressing that she had no reason to return to a party she once briefly belonged to.

“I was in the APC at the beginning of my political journey. I don’t see why I should go back. I don’t follow the bandwagon or succumb to pressure or inducement,” she said.

According to her, the most recent approach came just a day before the interview, adding that she is comfortable with her current political space and has no motivation to defect.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also revealed that discussions are ongoing about her possible re-election bid, although she noted that no final decision has been taken.

She dismissed speculations that the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, poses a threat to her political future, should he decide to contest for the Senate in 2027.

“If after consultations with my family, constituents and party I decide to run again, and my name appears on the ballot against Yahaya Bello, then it is a contest I am ready for,” she said, adding that she defeated Bello’s candidate in 2023 despite the odds.

The senator, a first-term lawmaker in the 10th National Assembly, recalled that she won the Kogi Central senatorial seat on the PDP platform after the election tribunal nullified the earlier declaration of the APC candidate.

She noted that although her preference is to contest again under the PDP, she may consider another platform if the party fails to resolve its leadership crisis before the next general election.

“If the PDP has not put its house in order by the time I make up my mind to contest in 2027, I will explore other options. My people will stand with me,” she added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has dissociated itself from a governorship primary reportedly conducted by a faction of the Accord Party in Osun State ahead of the August 8, 2026 governorship election.

A faction of the party was said to have organised a parallel primary election in Osogbo on Sunday, which produced Bamigbola Clement as its candidate.

The exercise reportedly commenced with the accreditation of delegates and was conducted amid heavy security presence, including armed police operatives at the venue.

However, INEC denied any involvement in or knowledge of the exercise.

The commission’s Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Musa Olurode, said INEC only monitored the officially recognised Accord Party primary held a few days earlier.

“We monitored the only Accord Party primary conducted some days ago and have submitted our report. INEC is not aware of any other primary conducted by the party,” Olurode said.

The officially recognised primary, held last Wednesday in Osogbo, produced Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke as the party’s candidate. Adeleke was the sole aspirant in the exercise.

Announcing the result, the Secretary of the party’s electoral committee, Abdulazeez Salaudeen, said Adeleke secured 145 votes out of 150 delegates drawn from the state’s 30 local government areas, with five votes declared void.

According to Salaudeen, the process was conducted transparently and witnessed by party agents as well as INEC officials, leading to Adeleke’s emergence as the winner.

Reacting to the factional primary, Accord Party chairman in Osun State, Victor Akande, dismissed the exercise as inconsequential, describing it as a “joke of the year.”

He urged residents of the state to disregard it, insisting that Adeleke remains the party’s only authentic governorship candidate for the 2026 election.