Senator Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai, representing Yobe South Senatorial District, has dismissed allegations of irregularities concerning the execution of constituency projects in his district.

The senator reacted after officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), led by Mr. Laban Emmanuel, visited the site of a borehole project and a 300KVA/11KV transformer facilitated under his constituency initiatives.

According to the ICPC team, the borehole, supposedly located in Sabongari, Nangere Local Government Area, and the transformer donated to the College of Administration, Potiskum, might have been stolen.

Responding through his Legislative and Media Aide, Abubakar Madu Bukar, Senator Bomai maintained that he bore no responsibility for any alleged irregularities.

‘‘For the avoidance of doubt, a handover note shows the Contractor Giohen Global Concept Nig. Ltd. that handled the ICT Project at CAMTECH Potiskum has duly supplied and delivered the 300 KVA/11KV transformer facilitated by Senator Ibrahim Mohammad Bomai.”

‘‘However, after the delivery of the transformer, the College realizing that its capacity was not compatible with the power supply to its ICT Centre agreed with the Yobe State Rural Electrification Board (REB) to exchange the transformer with one that is compatible with the power supply to the ICT Centre.

‘‘The decision and action on the exchange of the transformer were solely between CAMTECH and the Yobe State REB, and Senator Bomai was not either involved or privy to this arrangement.

‘‘On the borehole-related issues regarding the report by the paper on incomplete work, installation of under-capacity generators (6.5KV instead of 12.5KV), and misplacement of project locations, are the responsibility of the contractor and that has also nothing to do with the Senator.

‘‘It is therefore spurious to link the irregularities on those water projects to Senator Ibrahim Bomai as those projects were awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works and have nothing to do with constituency projects of the Senator and he bears no responsibility for these irregularities’’ Senator said.

Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ari Muhammed Ali, who left the Nigeria Police Force in March 2025, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and is preparing to contest for a Senate seat in the 2027 general elections, DAILY GAZETTE has learned.

Until his retirement, Ari Muhammed served as the DIG in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

His exit came under the leadership of the embattled Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Sources confirmed that DIG Ari Muhammed has pitched his tent with the APC and is already strategizing to contest for the Nasarawa South Senatorial District.

“Ari Mohammed is equally contesting for Senate under APC in the Nasarawa South,” a source said on Saturday.

DIG Ari was among several senior officers—including DIGs Dasuki Galandachi, Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Jonathan Towuru (representing the South-South geopolitical zone), Suleiman Yusuf, Banji Lawal Badru, and Bala Ciroma—who were retired over allegations of age falsification and violations of service regulations.

In pursuing his political ambitions, Ari Muhammed appears to be following in the footsteps of former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.

Adamu, who retired in 2021, has also declared his intention to run for Nasarawa State governor in the 2027 elections under the APC platform.

DAILY GAZETTE earlier reported that Adamu made his declaration during a meeting with the APC State Working Committee in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

Speaking at the meeting, Adamu said his decision to join the race was motivated by a “clarion call” from the people of Nasarawa.

“I am answering the call of my people who believe I can serve and move Nasarawa forward,” Adamu stated.

He further pledged, “My administration, by the grace of God, will be inclusive, transparent, and focused on delivering tangible development across all sectors.”

The Labour Party’s Directorate of Mobilization and Integration (DMI) has appealed to Nigerian leaders to embody the spirit of unity and moral leadership that the late Pope Francis represented.

As world leaders gather in Rome to pay tribute to Pope Francis, who was widely celebrated for his leadership across religious, political, and cultural divides, Nigeria’s delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, is present at the solemn event in Vatican City.

Also part of the delegation are Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.

The funeral ceremonies, held from April 23 to 25, saw millions of mourners, including heads of state, diplomats, and dignitaries, gather in Rome to celebrate the life of Pope Francis — hailed not just as a shepherd of faith but also as a moral compass for humanity.

During his tribute, Marcel Ngogbehei, Director General of the Labour Party’s DMI, called on Nigerian leaders to learn from the example of the late pontiff, whose influence was felt across different races, religions, and political landscapes.

He said, “Last week was for the masses. Today belongs to the world stage, to the leaders of nations, the stewards of policy, and the architects of the global future.”

Ngogbehei praised Pope Francis as a rare kind of leader whose authority did not stem from political power but from the ability to touch lives worldwide through compassion, humility, and bravery.

“In him, we found not a pope of convenience, but a pope of conscience. The kind of leadership we yearn for in our dear country Nigeria,” he stated.

Highlighting the pope’s advocacy on global issues, Ngogbehei recalled, “Pope Francis courageously spoke at climate conferences, challenged economic systems that marginalized the poor, and addressed world parliaments with urgency rather than platitudes.”

He stressed that Pope Francis’ message of justice, humility, and humanity was not reserved for Catholics alone but offered guidance for the entire world.

Governor Yusuf, 

The Kano State government has uncovered a massive payroll fraud involving 247 ghost workers who had been receiving salaries under the local government system.

According to a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Faruq, the discovery was made by a special committee set up by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to review the payroll system.

The investigation revealed that some of the ghost workers listed on the payroll were either deceased or had retired from service.

The committee’s findings come after widespread public complaints over illegal deductions from workers’ salaries and cases where some employees’ payments were entirely withheld.

In a statement signed by the Press Secretary, Cabinet Office, Mallam Musa Tanko Muhammad, the government confirmed that the sum of ₦27,824,395.40, previously allocated for the ghost workers’ salaries for March 2025, has been successfully blocked.

“In a prompt and effective response, and while further due diligence is being conducted to determine the extent of this apparent fraud and the perpetrators, the monies recovered will be returned to the Local Government Treasury,” Musa stated.

He emphasized the government’s determination to clean up the payroll system, warning that individuals found guilty would be held accountable.

“The Government remains resolute in its commitment to purging the payroll system of irregularities.”

“Individuals found to be involved in this fraudulent activity will be identified and held fully accountable in accordance with the law,” he said.

The statement also noted that the committee, tasked with considering the reintroduction of the Pay Parade system, has begun preparations for its full implementation.

“Consequently, the Committee printed the March 2025 payroll vouchers and requested all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and Local Government Councils to study the Payrolls and make necessary observations as a prelude to a comprehensive Pay Parade scheduled to be flagged off on Monday, the 28th of April,” the statement added.

Minister Nnaji, 

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has dismissed allegations made by some individuals claiming to be stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, accusing him of instigating a leadership crisis within the party.

In a statement released on Saturday in Enugu, Nnaji described the accusations as unfounded and the product of “desperate utterances by persons who no longer have any recognised standing within APC.”

The Minister clarified that those making the allegations neither represent the authentic leadership of the APC in Enugu State nor speak for the party.

Reaffirming his position within the APC, Nnaji emphasized his longstanding role as a respected leader, stating that he remains “a founding member and pillar of the party in Enugu State and a critical voice for the advancement of progressive ideals across the South-East.”

He also highlighted his unwavering loyalty and substantial contributions to the growth and stability of the APC at the state, regional, and national levels, noting that they are “well-documented and widely acknowledged.”

Backing the current leadership of the APC in the state, Nnaji expressed full confidence in Chief Ugo Agballa, stating that “Agballa remains the duly recognised and authentic Chairman of the APC in Enugu State.”

Addressing the legitimacy of a recent stakeholders’ meeting, Nnaji said “It is necessary to state unequivocally that those who convened and attended the so-called stakeholders’ meeting; their purported gathering holds no legitimacy, and their pronouncements are of no consequence to official activities, leadership, or direction of APC.”

He described the gathering as an attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary confusion within the party.

“Their claims should be disregarded by the public,” he said, calling their actions “calculated attempts to cause confusion and mislead party members and the general public.”

Nnaji also urged true members of the APC in Enugu State to remain steadfast, focused, and committed to efforts aimed at repositioning the party for greater success.

He called on the national leadership of the APC and the general public to ignore the activities and statements of individuals who “have no mandate to speak for or represent the party.”

Nnaji reaffirmed his dedication to the APC and his responsibilities as Minister, emphasizing that he would not be swayed by “orchestrated campaigns of calumny and mischief.”