Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Daniel Onjeh has finally broken his silence after losing out in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election, describing the outcome as a case of “pure horse trading” while clearing Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, of any blame.

Even with the setback, Onjeh reiterated his loyalty to the governor, applauding his style of governance and expressing readiness to support his second-term ambition.

Reacting to the APC primary exercise, Onjeh said the circumstances surrounding his defeat were products of political negotiations that were outside Governor Alia’s control.

In a statement released shortly after the primaries, the former aspirant explained that after reviewing the entire process, he came to the conclusion that the outcome was driven by political interests rather than the governor’s direct involvement.

“The APC primaries have come and gone. I have come to realize that what happened to me was purely horse trading and truly beyond His Excellency, Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia,” he stated.

Although he expressed disappointment over the conduct of the primaries, Onjeh insisted that the governor had remained focused on governance and development in the state.

He noted that while the APC may have fallen short politically, Governor Alia’s commitment to delivering good governance had remained intact.

According to Onjeh, his backing for the governor has always been rooted in personal conviction and confidence in the administration’s efforts to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

He stressed that the outcome of the primary election would not affect his support for the governor’s leadership and political future.

“My support for him and his administration has always been completely out of conviction,” he said, while also pledging continued support for Governor Alia’s re-election bid.

Onjeh also congratulated the governor ahead of the APC governorship primary election.

Benue: APC defeat won’t change my support for Alia — Onjeh

Biodun Oyebanji on Thursday reaffirmed his strong commitment to ensuring peace before, during and after the June 20 governorship election in the state.

Governor Oyebanji made the pledge in Ado-Ekiti during the signing of a peace accord alongside 11 other governorship candidates of political parties participating in the June 20 governorship election.

The peace pact was organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the signing of the document was witnessed by the National Chairman of the body, Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was represented by Martin Luther Agwai; Convener of the NPC, Matthew Hassan Kukah; the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu; and INEC Chairman, Ojo Amupitan, among others.

Addressing the gathering shortly after appending his signature to the document, Governor Oyebanji noted that his party had just concluded its local government campaign tour across the state without any record of violence, a development he said reflected the commitment of the All Progressives Congress to peace, as well as his administration’s resolve to ensure harmony in the state.

Ekiti 2026: Oyebanji, other guber candidates sign peace accord

 

United Kingdom authorities have launched an investigation into the death of three Nigerian-British sisters who were found in the sea near Brighton Beach on May 13, 2026.

The sisters, Rebecca Walter (31), Jane Adetoro (36), and Christiana Walter (32), were from the Uxbridge area of West London.

Local authorities were alerted by emergency responders after the bodies were recovered from the sea.

The authorities have stated there is no indication of foul play, no evidence of criminality, and no third-party involvement.

Coastguards believed the women may have gone into the water, and the rough sea conditions made it difficult for them to return to shore.

This tragic situation has stirred reactions both within the Nigerian and British communities, with many expressing shock and grief over the incident.

In an emotional statement, their father, Joseph, described his daughters as the family’s “strength, joy and beautiful light.” He said losing all three children at once had left him heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief.

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto have unanimously affirmed Ahmed Aliyu as the party’s governorship candidate for

The post 2027: Sokoto APC affirms Gov Aliyu as guber candidate appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction and sentence of Obadofin Daniel Bamise and Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu, before Justice A.A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna for theft.

 Both convicts are former officials of a new generation bank.

They were prosecuted on separate one-count charges of theft.

Obadofin’s charge reads: “That you, Obadofin Bamise Daniel sometime between the 5th of November, 2024 and 23rd of January, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being an employee of Access Bank Plc did in your capacity as an employee committed theft in the sum of N433,000.00 (Four Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand Naira only) being property in possession of Access Bank Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 274 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under same Law.”

That of Yakubu reads: “That you, Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu sometimes between the 5th of November, 2024 and 23rd of January, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being an employee of Access Bank Plc did in your capacity as an employee committed theft in the sum of N806,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira only) being property in possession of Access Bank Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 274 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under same Law.”

They pleaded “guilty,” following which the prosecution counsel, Moses Arumemi urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly. 

Justice Bello, thereafter convicted and sentenced both of them to seven years imprisonment each or to pay N50,000 ( Fifty Thousand Naira) fine, respectively.

Investigations showed that the convicts performed unauthorised withdrawals on the accounts of 305 customers of the bank, who were beneficiaries of the federal government’s Palliative Scheme, totaling N7,842,700.00 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira). They posted the unauthorised withdrawals to the Palliative Scheme’s coordinators’ accounts.

 

A Second Prosecution Witness,  PW2,  Michael Eyo,   in the trial of Victor Ekpong Thompson has told a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo,  Akwa Ibom State  and presided over by Justice Maurine Adaobi Onyetenu that the defendant forged his mining licence and used the forged document to defraud three American investors: Tammy Jenson, Kenneth  Blad, and Peter Jensen to the tune of $525, 276.

Thompson was first arraigned on January 29, 2026 on eight-count charges bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and stealing, to which he pleaded ‘not guilty’.

One of the charges read: “That you Victor Ekpong Thompson, on or between January, 2025 to June 2025 in Nigeria, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with the intent to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the total sum of One Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand and Thirty United States  Dollars ($123,030 USD) from Tammy Jensen, Peter Jensen, Kenneth Blad and others(joint unsuspecting investors), under the pretense of investing the money in mining of Mineral Resources and Deep Sea Port Business, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act , 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3)of the same Act.

While addressing the court,   Eyo stated that he owned a mining site located in the Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.  He further stated that the defendant tricked him into releasing his mining licence to him,  photographed it and used it as his own licence to defraud unsuspecting investors.     

 “The fraudster asked me to bring the originals of my licence to verify the authenticity. Thereafter, he snapped the licence not knowing that he was doing it to forge and convince the investors,  ” he said.

Defense counsel,  Madu Uwem Amamko, had earlier moved a motion for bail on health grounds, which the prosecution counsel Joshua Abolarin opposed on the grounds that the defendant’s health was not in any danger. 

After listening to the arguments canvassed by both counsel,   Justice Onyetenu reserved her ruling on bail till  June 8, 2026.

Earlier in the  course of the trial, on March 26, 2026, while giving her evidence-in-chief, one of the defrauded investors,  Tammy Jensen recounted how she met Thompson on Facebook in August 2022, and how he represented himself as a dealer in precious stones. 

She stated that he persuaded her and other investors to fund a mining project under the proposed company, Arch Royale Projects Limited, to be situated in Iwuru Community, Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

She further told the court that Thompson also introduced an additional investment opportunity in a Deep Sea Port project in Akwa Ibom State, which promised  substantial returns on investment.    

According to her, between 2023 and 2025, an aggregate sum of $525,276 was transferred to Thompson’s bank account. She said her observation on arrival at the site made her realize that the entire arrangement was a bogus scheme aimed at defrauding her and other investors.

Thompsons’ arrest stemmed from a petition dated October 18, 2025, filed on behalf of a team of foreign investors from the United States of America, namely, Tammy Jensen, Kenneth Blad, Peter Jensen, Beth Southwick, and Angie Craven.

According to the petitioner, Thompson allegedly contacted Tammy Jensen on August 20, 2022, via Facebook, presenting himself as a legitimate businessman involved in the exploration of precious stones such as emerald, ruby, and sapphire. He reportedly gained the trust of Jensen and her associates by presenting false credentials and convincing them to invest in a mining venture and a purported Deep Sea Port project.

In the mining scheme, Thompson allegedly introduced Arch Royale Projects Limited as an operational company, despite knowing that it was not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission at the time. He claimed to have secured a mining site at Iwuru Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State. Investigations showed  that he inflated operational costs, withheld funds meant for workers, and used staged photographs alongside fabricated updates to sustain the deception.

Similarly, in the Deep Sea Port scheme, Thompson allegedly claimed involvement in a $6.7 billion project, invoking the names of senior government officials to mislead investors. He reportedly requested $110,000 as documentation fees, falsely claiming that other required funds had already been provided by government officials.

In total, the petitioners allegedly transferred $525,276 (Five Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy-Six United States Dollars) to Thompson between June 2023 and August 2025 through Wells Fargo Bank, Chase Bank, WorldRemit, and into accounts linked to him. 

Suspicion intensified when Jensen visited Nigeria in June 2025 and discovered inconsistencies in Thompson’s claims.

Investigations had shown  that substantial portions of the funds were diverted for personal use.   Assets traced to Thompson include a two-storey duplex at Shelter Afrique Estate, Uyo, a Toyota Hilux, and a grey Lexus RX350.

The mother of five disclosed the development in a post shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday, saying

The post Vanessa Trump diagnosed with breast cancer appeared first on Tribune Online.

Nigeria’s solid minerals sector has attracted more than $2.6 billion in mining-related investments within the last two years, a development the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, says reflects the country’s gradual shift from oil dependence to industrial production under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Speaking at a joint stakeholders sensitisation meeting […]

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American singer Akon has described his collaboration with late pop icon Michael Jackson as one of the proudest moments of his career.

Speaking during a recent episode of the We Need To Talk podcast, the singer said meeting and working with Michael Jackson remained a memorable experience because of the admiration he had for the legendary entertainer while growing up.

According to Akon, despite already being an established global star when they worked together, he still felt like “a child” in Jackson’s presence.

“My photo with Michael Jackson is my proudest photo. I was already a full-blown celebrity at the point the photo was taken, but I am a child compared to this man,” he said.

The ‘Oh Africa’ crooner added that he was excited to collaborate with the late singer because Jackson had long been an inspiration to him and millions of music lovers around the world.

“He is like everybody’s idol,” Akon stated.

The 53-year-old singer also reflected on his involvement in the growth of African music, particularly Afrobeats, noting that he previously worked with Nigerian artistes including P-Square and Wizkid.

He further praised Nigerians for their contribution to the global success of Afrobeats, describing them as highly intelligent people who have played a major role in expanding the genre’s international appeal.

“Nigerians are the most intelligent people on the planet. They have done amazingly well with Afrobeats,” he added.

Akon Hails Michael Jackson, Praises Nigerians Over Afrobeats Success is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie has sparked widespread reactions online after being unveiled as brand ambassador for Girls Tag, a menstrual care product said to retail for N25,000.

Girls Tag, described as an all-in-one period care pack designed for girls aged nine and above, recently launched with Mercy Johnson and her daughter, Purity Okojie, as ambassadors. Actress Regina Daniels was also later unveiled as a face of the brand.

However, the product’s reported price has triggered outrage on social media, with many Nigerians describing it as unrealistic and insensitive amid the country’s economic hardship.

Millions of women and girls already struggle to afford basic sanitary products, with some reportedly missing school or resorting to unsafe alternatives during menstruation.

Reacting online, an X user, @Lai, defended the brand, saying: “Not everyone is a philanthropist. Nigeria’s problems are not everybody’s problem. She knows who her customers are. This is business.”

Another user, @MsJorji, wrote: “Mercy Johnson, you are an embarrassment to women. In a country where women are struggling to afford sanitary pads, you want to charge 25k for a sanitary pad.”

Others questioned why menstrual products, considered essential items, were being positioned as luxury products.

“The target audience had to be baddies,” @ATallEdoGirl posted.

@kenny added: “Nigeria is a poor country. Elitism should never extend to the basic rights and dignity of girls and women. Sanitary pads are not luxury items.”

Another user, @bidemi criticised supporters of the brand, saying: “In a country where sanitary pads are meant to be free, someone is selling them for 25k and people are defending it because of packaging.”

Several users also stressed that menstrual hygiene products should be affordable and accessible, especially for young girls.

Mercy Johnson Under Fire Over Costly Menstrual Care Product is first published on The Whistler Newspaper