Featured – Page 5 – National Daily Newspaper

Experts call for security overhaul as rising kidnappings expose gaps in Nigeria's anti-crime strategy

Experts call for security overhaul as rising kidnappings expose gaps in Nigeria’s anti-crime strategy

Security experts and policy analysts have called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture amid rising cases of kidnapping and banditry across the country, warning...

Atiku Calls for Gbajabiamila's Suspension Over Alleged ₦400m Bribery Scandal ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations of bribery and irregularities surrounding the 2026 federal budget. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Atiku Media Office, the former vice president urged the President to order an independent and transparent investigation into allegations that Gbajabiamila received ₦400 million through a proxy and demanded an additional ₦200 million in exchange for facilitating a federal appointment. The allegations were made by Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Adeyemi also alleged that the Chief of Staff requested a 48 per cent kickback from the agency's proposed ₦27.4 billion take-off allocation after he refused to comply with the alleged demands. However, Gbajabiamila's office has strongly denied the allegations, insisting that the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council does not exist under the current administration. The office further maintained that Adeyemi was never appointed to any position within the Presidency and described the allegations as false and unfounded. The controversy deepened after Atiku questioned how ₦27.4 billion could allegedly be appropriated in the 2026 budget for an agency the Presidency says does not exist. "If the Chief of Staff's position is correct, then serious questions must be asked about the credibility of the budget process. An allocation of ₦27.4 billion to a non-existent agency cannot be ignored," Atiku said, adding that the allegations warrant an impartial investigation and that public officials should be held accountable. He argued that the claims raise broader concerns about transparency in the implementation of the 2026 Appropriation Act and urged President Tinubu to demonstrate his administration's commitment to accountability by allowing the matter to be thoroughly investigated. Meanwhile, pro-government groups have dismissed Atiku's demand, describing it as politically motivated. The Arewa Youth Integrity Forum (AYIF) accused the former vice president of attempting to exploit unverified allegations for political advantage ahead of the 2027 general elections. The group also questioned Atiku's anti-corruption credentials, citing previous controversies during his tenure as vice president between 1999 and 2007. Similarly, some public affairs commentators and civil society organisations cautioned against drawing conclusions before the allegations are investigated, stressing that while transparency in public finance is essential, allegations should be verified through due process. The Presidency has yet to announce whether it will initiate a formal investigation into the allegations. The controversy is expected to fuel further scrutiny of the 2026 national budget and intensify political debate in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

Featured2 months ago

Atiku calls for Gbajabiamila’s suspension over alleged ₦400m bribery scandal

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his Chief of Staff,...

Featured2 months ago

‘Olodo Uprising’: Ycee’s remarks ignite national debate on education, success and Nigeria’s digital economy

A comment by Nigerian rapper Ycee during a podcast appearance has sparked a nationwide conversation about the value of education, intelligence and success in an era...

Featured2 months ago

Lagos floods submerge homes, disrupt power supply as residents call for urgent drainage reforms

Widespread flooding triggered by heavy rainfall has submerged homes, disrupted electricity supply, and crippled movement across several parts of Lagos, with residents renewing calls for improved...

Featured2 months ago

Insulate state police from governors’ control, Agbakoba tells National Assembly

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has backed the proposed establishment of state police but...

Obi, Kwankwaso lead NDC appeal against court ruling on party registration

Featured2 months ago

Obi, Kwankwaso lead NDC appeal against court ruling on party registration

Opposition leaders Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso have launched a legal challenge against a Federal High Court ruling that set aside the registration of the...

Over 700 Nigerians remain stranded in South Africa as deadline loom

Featured2 months ago

Over 700 Nigerians remain stranded in South Africa as deadline loom

More than 700 Nigerians remain stranded across South Africa as delays in the release of government-approved funds continue to stall evacuation efforts ahead of a June...

Two feared dead in Owerri drainage explosion as police launch bomb investigation

Crime2 months ago

Two feared dead in Owerri drainage explosion as police launch bomb investigation

Two suspected scrap metal scavengers have died following a powerful explosion inside a drainage channel along Old Nekede Road in Owerri, the Imo State capital, prompting...

Brexit at 10: UK marks a decade outside the European Union amid mixed economic, political legacy

Featured2 months ago

Brexit at 10: UK marks a decade outside the European Union amid mixed economic, political legacy

Ten years after British voters narrowly backed leaving the European Union, the United Kingdom is taking stock of one of the most consequential political decisions in...

Doctor, patients among 22 killed in horrific Bokkos Village raid

Crime2 months ago

Doctor, patients among 22 killed in horrific Bokkos Village raid

The death toll from a deadly attack on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area has risen to 22, following a late-night raid...