The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised an alarming trend: some politicians are now resorting to what the agency calls “anticipatory looting”, declaring assets they’ve not yet acquired even before taking office.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the disclosure during the launch of a virtual tool on the Code of Conduct for Public Officers in Abuja. According to him, this trend came to light during routine investigations.

“There was a matter we investigated… We discovered a property valued well over N3bn declared in the CCB form,” he recalled. “The address on the form didn’t match the actual location.”

As he dug deeper, Olukoyede added that the address actually corresponded to a site, number 44, not number 39 as declared, linked to a grand mansion the official planned to build.

“He declared what he intends to acquire by the time he gets into office,” Olukoyede said.

“He designed the mansion he wanted before being sworn in. It’s terrible… we felt this is a bit odd.”

He challenged the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to be more vigilant.

Also speaking at the event, Didi Esther Walson‑Jack, Head of Service of the Federation explained that the virtual tool aims to raise ethical standards in the civil service.

Senator Uche Ekwunife, Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the upcoming Anambra State election, has issued a bold message to Governor Charles Soludo, asserting that the Anambra Government House is not his personal inheritance and that power must change hands in the November 8 poll.

Speaking at a gathering of APC members in her hometown of Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, Ekwunife harshly criticized Governor Soludo’s administration, labeling it a failure in both development and security.

“Governor Soludo and I have no personal feud. The truth is that what he currently holds, the governorship, is what we are contesting for,” Ekwunife said.

“The Nigerian Constitution provides a four-year term for elected governors. If you perform well, you’re re-elected. But in Soludo’s case, he’s clearly lost control of governance.”

According to her, Soludo has shifted focus from delivering good governance to engaging in personal attacks.

“Instead of concentrating on leadership, the governor has been crying all over the place and dragging my name into everything,” she said. “But we’re not bothered by his tantrums.”

She further accused Soludo of lacking achievements significant enough to justify a second term.

“The last four years have been like an autopilot regime, no direction, no impact. He even rushed to occupy the yet-to-be-completed Government House, which shows how desperate and nervous he is about losing,” she added.

Ekwunife emphasized that governance is not permanent for anyone and that transitions are natural.

“Government is not a private enterprise. When one tenure ends, another begins. That’s why APC is offering a credible alternative to Ndi Anambra,” she declared.

Also addressing party members at the event, former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh, underscored the importance of the upcoming election, stating that it presents an opportunity to align Anambra with mainstream Nigerian politics.

“This is a critical moment. Anambra must connect with national leadership, and the APC provides that path,” Ikoh said.

He urged massive voter support for the APC’s ticket of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Ekwunife.

He expressed optimism that with growing grassroots mobilization and backing from key stakeholders, the APC is well-positioned to win the November election and usher in new leadership in Anambra State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Peter Ogbonna Eze as the Federal Character Commission (FCC) Commissioner representing Enugu State.

The announcement was made by the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, alongside the appointment of 36 other commissioners from across Nigeria.

Peter Eze is widely recognized as a driven economist, public administrator, and business leader with extensive international experience in management, leadership, and strategic partnerships.

A native of Aji in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Eze has built a reputation for fostering organizational growth, implementing innovative solutions, and championing sustainable development.

Eze’s academic journey demonstrates his commitment to excellence.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, earning Second Class Upper Honors from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 2014.

During his time at UNN, he held various leadership roles and received multiple awards for outstanding service.

He further advanced his education at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, China, where he earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration between 2017 and 2019.

He was recognized as the Most Outstanding Student at UIBE in 2019.

Eze’s early education began at The Lord’s Foundation Nursery/Primary School in Nnewi and continued at Federal Government College, Nise in Anambra State, where he completed his secondary education.

Throughout his career, Eze has garnered numerous accolades, including the Rotary International Leadership Excellence Award (2023) and the China-Nigeria Friendship Award (2022) bestowed by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria.

He has also represented Nigeria on the international stage, notably participating as a delegate in the NASPAA-Batten Student Simulation Competition in 2018, focusing on pandemic crisis management and global health security.

Professionally, Eze’s career spans multiple sectors.

He started as a Senior Programme Officer at the Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation (2014–2015), overseeing development initiatives.

During his National Youth Service Corps year, he worked as a Special Correspondent for The Sun Newspapers (2015–2016), covering significant beats such as government, education, and foreign affairs.

His international experience includes serving as Head of the International Desk for the Chinese CEO Group in Beijing (2017–2019), where he led Africa market expansion strategies and improved operational efficiency.

Back in Nigeria, Eze has held key leadership positions including Director of Procurement and Logistics at Slok Nigeria Ltd (2018–2020), Director of Strategy, Policy, and Document Control at The Sun Publishing Ltd (2020–2022), and Director of Operations at The New Telegraph (2022–2023).

He currently leads Bullion Standard Nigeria Limited, managing operations across importation, mining, production, and services, while fostering strategic international partnerships.

Peter Eze has long collaborated with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, serving as his Special Assistant and contributing significantly to political, developmental, and philanthropic efforts.

Senator Kalu is believed to have played a role in facilitating Eze’s appointment, acknowledging his dedication and leadership potential.

With a wealth of experience in journalism, corporate management, policy development, logistics, and international business, Eze is expected to bring strategic insight and robust leadership to the Federal Character Commission.

The Labour Party has condemned what it termed the selective application of justice in Nigeria, comparing the starkly different responses to two recent aviation-related incidents involving Ms. Comfort Emmanson and Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1 De Ultimate).

In a statement issued by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser to the Acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party decried the inconsistency in how justice is applied based on social or political connections.

“Last week, Nigerians were stunned by the disturbing report that a popular Fuji musician, K1 De Ultimate, a personal friend of President Bola Tinubu, allegedly endangered the lives of hundreds of passengers aboard a Value Jet aircraft by attempting to stop a taxiing plane,” the statement read.

“This flagrant violation of established aviation safety regulations was conveniently glossed over by the relevant authorities, apparently because of the musician’s proximity to the President.”

In sharp contrast, the party highlighted the rapid and harsh treatment of Ms. Emmanson, who was accused of refusing to switch off her phone, though reportedly in flight mode, on an Ibom Air flight, and allegedly assaulting a crew member.

“What followed was a swift and shocking sequence of events: Ms. Emmanson was stripped naked by aviation security, arraigned, imprisoned at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, banned for life from flying Ibom Air, and placed on the Airline Operators of Nigeria’s ‘No-Fly’ list, all within 24 hours. Who knew Nigerian justice could move with such lightning speed?” the party said.

While acknowledging that Emmanson may have breached in-flight safety rules, the LP criticized what it called her “inhumane treatment,” describing it as a clear violation of her constitutional rights.

“The message from these two episodes could not be clearer: if you are connected to those in power, you can flout the law with impunity. If you are not, the system will come down on you with crushing force. This selective application of justice is not justice at all, it is the most insidious form of pretended justice.”

The Labour Party also accused stakeholders in the aviation sector of defending K1 De Ultimate instead of addressing the serious nature of his alleged misconduct, which, they argue, could have endangered lives.

Referencing the recently reinstated national anthem, which President Tinubu signed into law, the LP reminded the government of the ideals it professes to uphold.

“Stanza two declares that ‘our flag shall be a symbol that truth and justice reign,’ and stanza three prays to the ‘God of creation’ to ‘help us to build a nation where no man is oppressed,’” the party stated.

The statement called on President Tinubu to ensure equal treatment under the law for all Nigerians, regardless of their social standing.

“What is good for the goose must also be good for the gander,” the party said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using anti-corruption agencies as political tools to pressure opposition figures to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday, Atiku expressed concern that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has become a tool for political intimidation.

The EFCC on Monday detained former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal over alleged financial misconduct.

It also invited former Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha over corruption allegations during his brief time in office.

Reacting to Tambuwal’s detention, Atiku said the move was politically motivated, noting:

“The only reason the EFCC has detained the former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is because he is a member of the opposition Coalition. It is a continuation of the Tinubu-led administration’s agenda to harrass, intimidate, and decimate the opposition.”

He added: “The reality unfolding before us today is that the Tinubu administration, as with other aspects, has objectified the fight against corruption as a political tool to coerce opposition leaders into the ruling party.”

Atiku lamented that the government is turning anti-corruption efforts into a form of bullying, saying: “We are living witnesses to a growing trend where the state and its operators have assumed the roles of a bully by making corruption and the fight against it a political agenda.”

He emphasized that this was not the purpose for which he helped establish the EFCC:

“Certainly, that is not the objective for which I worked hard during our administration to create the EFCC.”

While underscoring the importance of fighting corruption, Atiku called on civil society and Nigeria’s international partners to condemn the politicization of anti-corruption efforts. He stated:

“It is as though today, anyone who associates with the opposition is a target for phantom corruption allegations and, it is as though, as soon as they are coerced into the political agenda of President Tinubu, their ‘sins’ are forgiven.”

He warned that this approach undermines institution-building and actually encourages corruption, explaining:

“That, definitely, is not how to build institutions. That, certainly, is not how to fight the monster of corruption. Indeed, such tendencies provide the stimulant for corruption to thrive.”

Atiku further accused the EFCC of being used to weaken opposition governors and force defections to the ruling party:

“We have seen how the EFCC has been used to empty opposition state governors into the ruling party, and the tea party is not about to end anytime soon.”

He concluded by pledging that opposition leaders would stand firm against any attempts to undermine Nigeria’s democracy:

“While the genuine fight against corruption is a matter that requires the total support of all Nigerians, the objectification of it as a political agenda should be roundly condemned by all in civil society spaces and friends of Nigeria in the international community.”

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has denied endorsing any political coalition, describing recent reports linking it to a new alliance of opposition parties as false and misleading.

The rebuttal follows claims that Afenifere had backed a coalition effort led by several political parties, reportedly involving a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta residence over the weekend.

In a statement issued Tuesday by Jare Ajayi, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, the group firmly stated that it neither sent a delegation to Obasanjo nor made any public declaration aligning itself with the coalition movement.

“We are not denying the fact that at least two of the people in the delegation are notable Afenifere chieftains. They are Sola Ebiseni and Akin Osuntokun,” the statement read.

Ajayi clarified that both individuals were heavily involved in the Peter Obi 2023 presidential campaign, and their participation in the recent coalition visit was personal, not representative of Afenifere.

“It is on record that Osuntokun was the person who took over as Campaign Director of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Council when late Doyin Okupe resigned from that position.
Ebiseni was the South-West Coordinator of the same council,” he added.

He further emphasized that the presence of other individuals at the meeting, such as John Ughulu and Folaseye Adabayo, the Lagos State Coordinator and Secretary of Peter Obi’s Campaign Council respectively, made it clear that the delegation was not acting on behalf of Afenifere.

“The principal, Obi, has been reported to be in the ADC Coalition presently. It is therefore logical that his supporters would be justifying the coalition,” Ajayi stated.

The group reaffirmed its non-partisan stance, noting that while it may occasionally support certain political viewpoints, it remains a broad-based Yoruba interest group that represents all Yoruba people, not just those involved in partisan politics.

“Afenifere is not against any political group. But it is not in cahoots with any political party since it is non-partisan politically. Afenifere is for all the Yorubas. As we all know, not all Yoruba people are in politics.”

“Even those who are in politics do not necessarily belong to the same political party. As such, Afenifere cannot afford to be politically partisan,” the statement read.

However, Ajayi noted that Afenifere continues to support any political or social direction that aligns with its values, especially those that promote national unity and progress.

“But since it has a political view, it can support a (socio-political) standpoint that aligns with its own position at any given time.”

He added that the organisation remains focused on nation-building efforts and supports the Federal Government’s initiatives aimed at improving the country.

“Talking about coalition or no-coalition is, therefore, a distraction that we cannot afford,” Ajayi concluded.