National

Tinubu’s Ministers Paid Cash for their Ministerial Portfolios – El-Rufai Alleges

Published

10 months ago

March 15, 2025

Eric

A former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has alleged that ministerial appointments in President Bola Tinubu’s administration were secured with cash payments.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, El-Rufai dismissed claims that he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a result of being denied a ministerial position.

“But did I even look for the ministerial position? I know those who even paid money to be appointed as ministers.

“Yes, I was at the screening because the President begged me. It was in the public glare, not just between the two of us, for him to say he had never begged me.

“It was in Kaduna where he begged me to come and work with him. Even then, I did not agree until we sat down and he told me what he wanted. That the problem of electricity had hindered the country’s progress. He said he would like to be the President that would finally resolve the power problem and begged me to come and help him achieve that.

“I told him that I would look at the challenge he gave me and would consider working with him. I thought he meant it,” El-Rufai added.

He revealed that some individuals paid for their appointments, insisting he was not interested in the role despite Tinubu’s personal appeal.

El-Rufai further criticised the APC, stating that the party had abandoned its founding principles and become driven by self-interest and financial gain.

He claimed governance has been commercialized, adding that those who worked for the party were sidelined in favour of cronies.

He also disclosed that he informed former President Muhammadu Buhari before leaving the APC, seeking his blessing and support.

According to El-Rufai, the APC had strayed from its original vision, prompting him to sever ties with the party.

He said: “The APC has derailed; the party is no longer abiding by its founding principles. Everyone is working for themselves, looking for money. The government is commercialized; everything has a price tag.

“Justice has been kept at bay; those who worked for the party were ignored instead of being compensated. If there is any position or appointment, they give it to a Lagos boy, etc.

“That is why we’ve been speaking. We said this is not the party we know. The party is dead. I said the only option is for me to meet Pastor Tunde Bakare because he dragged me into APC. He took me to Buhari. I did not join the APC because of Buhari; it was Pastor Bakare who brought me into APC, and courtesy demands I should let him know.”

“Buhari too, I told him I was leaving the party. I sought his blessings and prayers. He said he has given me his blessings and prayers. We are the ones in politics, while he (Buhari) is now the father of the land and has been praying for us, so what remains?

“I’ve publicly denounced my membership of the party. They can go and hold on to the party; they can eat the party alone like food. We’ve given up.”

Asked if he decided to leave the party to avoid being expelled, El-Rufai said it would have been much better for him to be expelled from the APC.

“That would’ve been much easier for me, but look at it, as I kept on saying, I did not leave the party; it’s the party that dumped me. Why did it leave me? First of all, I was marginalized, not involved in all party activities. Not that I was invited and refused to honor the invite – I was completely sidelined.

“Secondly, what we had planned to implement when we formed the government is not what’s being implemented,” he further alleged.

National

ICPC Vows to Continue Probe As Dangote Withdraws Petition Against Ahmed Farouk

Published

3 days ago

January 8, 2026

Eric

Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Wednesday, said that Aliko Dangote has withdrawn his petition against Ahmed Farouk, the former head of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum regulator, even as investigations into the allegations continue.

Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group, submitted the petition to the ICPC in December 2025 through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, accusing Farouk of corruption and financial impropriety. The petition called for Farouk’s arrest, investigation and prosecution.

In the filing, Dangote alleged that Farouk lived beyond his means as a public official, claiming he spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland over six years without lawful income to support such expenses.

ICPC spokesperson Okor Odey said the withdrawal was communicated in a letter from Dangote’s lawyer. He added that the petition was withdrawn in full and that another law enforcement agency had taken over the case.

However, Odey said the ICPC would proceed with its own investigation despite the withdrawal.

“The petitioner has withdrawn the petition dated 16 December 2025… in its entirety,” the statement said.

“Nevertheless, in line with sections 3(14) and 27(3) of the ICPC Act, investigations have already commenced and are ongoing.”

He said the commission would continue its inquiry in the interest of transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption.

Farouk resigned as chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority less than 24 hours after the petition was submitted, following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

National

Egbetokun Rejigs Police Hierarchy, Redeploys DIG, 17 CPs

Published

4 days ago

January 7, 2026

Eric

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has approved a major redeployment of senior officers, posting a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) and 17 Commissioners of Police to key operational departments and State commands across the country in what the Force described as a move to strengthen leadership and service delivery.

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin, the redeployments are aimed at reinforcing intelligence gathering, improving operational efficiency and enhancing public safety nationwide.

“The deployments are intended to strengthen operational capacity, effective leadership, enhance public safety, and improve service delivery,” Hundeyin said in a Tuesday post on the Nigeria Police Force’s official X handle.

Under the new arrangement, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Usaini Gumel has been assigned to head the Force Intelligence Department, placing him at the centre of the police’s intelligence coordination and analysis.

At the command level, Commissioner of Police Aina Adesola has been posted to Delta State, Umar Mohammed Hajedia to Kebbi State, and Iyamah Daniel Edobor to Bayelsa State, as part of efforts to reinforce leadership in strategic states.

Several commissioners have also been deployed to specialised units and formations.

Osagie John Agans-Irabor was assigned to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit at the FCID Annex in Lagos, while Johnson Ayodeji Babalola will head the Special Enquiries Bureau at the FCID in Abuja. Adepegba K. Adetoye was posted to the Marine Unit at Force Headquarters, Abuja, and Tabitha Bako and Umar Ali Fagge were appointed deputy commandants at the Police Colleges in Kaduna and Ikeja respectively.

Others include Audu Garba Bosso to General Investigation at the FCID Annex in Kaduna, Edwin Esiunnoh Ogbeghagha to Community Policing at Force Headquarters, Arikpo Ofem Ikpi to the Investment Office of the Department of Logistics and Supply, and Cyril Uchenna Obiozo to the Maritime Command in Lagos. Samuel Yerima was named Coordinator of Courses at the Police Staff College, Jos, while Alhaji Mohammed Danlandi was deployed to the X-Squad at the FCID Annex in Kaduna.

Further postings saw Richard Bala Gara assigned to the Inspectorate Department of Training and Development, Lasisi A. Titilola to the Railway Command in Lagos, and Obuagbaka C. John to the Safer Highway Unit in the Department of Operations at Force Headquarters, Abuja.

Egbetoku urged the redeployed officers to justify the confidence reposed in them, charging them to draw on their experience to deliver results. He emphasised the need to “uphold professionalism, integrity, and ethical standards” and to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

The redeployment comes amid ongoing efforts by the police leadership to reposition the Force for more effective crime prevention, intelligence-led policing and improved engagement with the public.

National

Tinubu Strips Finance Minister Edun of Critical Powers

Published

3 weeks ago

December 23, 2025

Eric

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, may have been stripped of critical powers in the nation’s financial activities in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s latest directive.

The president’s decision to strip Edun of certain responsibilities was contained in a State House memo to the Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume, dated December 4, 2025.

The memo is titled: “Re: Updated Responsibilities of the Honourable Minister of State for Finance” and signed by the Private Secretary to the President, Mr. Damilotun Aderemi, was, according to reports, personally delivered by the SGF, Senator George Akume, to the Minister of Finance.

The memo read: “I write on the directive of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to forward the attached document on the above subject matter to you and to request that you issue a necessary memorandum implementing same as updated responsibilities of the Honourable Minister of State finance.”

The attached document, referenced supra, entitled “UPDATED Responsibilities of the Honourable Minister of State for Finance” reads in extenso: “The office will be specifically responsible for domestic finances of the Federation including revenue generation, revenue distribution and all domestic debt management.

“Additional specific mandates and oversight: in addition to the existing mandate of the office: (a) Home Finance, (b) Technical Services, (c) Cash Management, (d) Revenue Sharing amongst the tiers of Government and Federation Account, (e) All Domestic Debt Management, (f) Nigerian Customs Service, (g) Development Finance.”

The directive is meant to take immediate effect.

There are insinuations that the minister is displeased with the development, but that claim could not be independently verified.