Author: Daily Post Nigeria

Ghana will host the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, DAILY POST reports.

It is the second time the West African country will be hosting the tournament.

Ghana previously staged the U-20 AFCON in 1999, where the host nation lifted the trophy in front of home supporters.

The Black Satellites defeated Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 2-0 in the final.

Twelve teams will participate in the competition that will also serve as the qualifier for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

South Africa are the defending champions of the biennial tournament.

Ghana to stage 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations

A governorship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, Laja Adeoye, has reacted to recent endorsement of the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Adeoye described the endorsement as part of internal political realignments within the ruling party, urging stakeholders to prioritise governance and policies that directly impact residents.

He noted that political manoeuvres ahead of future elections should be guided by service delivery, accountability, and efforts to improve the welfare of Lagosians.

Adeoye emphasised the need to tackle pressing issues confronting the state, including traffic congestion, flooding, housing deficits, healthcare challenges, and the rising cost of living.

The PDP chieftain, who has been active in Lagos opposition politics, also called for a more inclusive and responsive approach to governance, stressing that citizens expect tangible improvements in infrastructure and social services.

He added that political competition should be driven by ideas, programmes and policies capable of advancing sustainable development in Lagos State.

Lagos: PDP guber aspirant, Adeoye reacts to Hamzat’s endorsement by APC

Governor Adebayo Adeleke of Osun State has dethroned the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area of the state, His Royal Highness, Oba Gbenga Joseph Oloyede, with immediate effect.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, indicated that the decision followed due consultation, legal review, and approval by the State Executive Council.

The statement emphasized that the action was taken in accordance with the Osun State Chiefs Law, as amended, and other relevant legal provisions guiding traditional institutions in the state.

The Commissioner said that the Staff of Office and all instruments of authority earlier issued to the monarch have been withdrawn, and the stool of the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu has been declared vacant.

The deposed royal father, who is a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko to four years in prison on August 26, 2025.

He was convicted of leading a conspiracy to exploit COVID-19 emergency loan programmes intended to support struggling small businesses.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the deposed monarch forfeited his Medina, Ohio home, purchased with proceeds of the scheme, and an additional $96,006.89 traced to fraud.

He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution.

Former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, has presented his All progressives Congress (APC ) governorship nomination form to former Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

He made the presentation at the former governor’s office in Abuja.

Adamu will contest the Nasarawa State APC governorship ticket in a direct primary against Senator Aliyu Wadada, who has the backing of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Nasarawa: Ex-IGP Adamu presents APC guber nomination form to Al-Makura

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, has said that about six out of every 10 students are involved in internet fraud, otherwise known as ‘Yahoo-Yahoo’.

Olukoyede made the disclosure during the 8th Biennial Conference of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities in Nigeria held in Kano State, where stakeholders gathered to discuss the theme, “Unlocking the Potentials of Artificial Intelligence: University Governance, Internationalisation and Rankings.”

Describing the trend as alarming, the EFCC boss said findings from the commission’s investigations and field operations indicate widespread student involvement in cybercrime and related offences.

According to him, “My research in the last one year has shown that about six out of 10 students in our universities are into cybercrime. It is a very disturbing situation.”

He explained that many suspects arrested in recent operations were undergraduates, adding that some had allegedly compromised academic standards by placing lecturers on their payroll.

He lamented that the development underscores deeper systemic issues, including weak institutional oversight and administrative vulnerabilities within universities.

Olukoyede also cited a major operation in Lagos, where 792 suspects linked to a transnational cybercrime syndicate were arrested.

He said a significant number of those apprehended were students, explaining that the operation was powered by artificial intelligence tools, which exposed the scale and sophistication of cybercrime networks operating both within and outside Nigeria.

The EFCC chairman further warned about the growing trend of “Yahoo Plus,” where internet fraud is combined with fetish practices, describing it as a dangerous evolution of cybercrime.

He called on university authorities and governing councils to take urgent steps to curb the menace by strengthening internal controls and collaborating more closely with law enforcement agencies.

Olukoyede urged pro-chancellors to deploy artificial intelligence-driven governance systems to improve transparency, detect fraud, and enhance financial accountability across tertiary institutions.

He observed that many universities still rely on manual processes, making them susceptible to fraud, including ghost workers, inflated contracts, and diversion of funds.

He stressed that a university that lacks financial accountability cannot credibly train future professionals, as the integrity of universities is a matter of national security.

The EFCC boss advocated the use of AI in key areas such as fraud detection, payroll management, procurement monitoring, and safeguarding academic integrity, saying that such tools can help flag suspicious transactions, identify irregular salary payments, and strengthen real-time auditing processes.

He added that the EFCC has already integrated AI into its investigative processes, including digital forensics and financial tracking, improving efficiency in tackling financial crimes, and cautioned that artificial intelligence should complement—not replace—human oversight and must be deployed in line with existing legal frameworks, including data protection and procurement laws.

He also stressed the need for capacity building in cybersecurity, machine learning, and digital governance across university systems, urging institutions to invest in digital infrastructure such as broadband connectivity and cloud-based platforms.

He further called for stronger collaboration between universities, regulatory bodies, and anti-corruption agencies to effectively address emerging threats in the digital space.

Six in 10 university students engaged in cybercrime – EFCC Chairman Olukoyede

A prosecution witness, CP Eloho Okpozikbo, on Tuesday told an Abuja High Court that $6.23m was fraudulently taken from the coffers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) while Godwin Emefiele was governor of the apex bank.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Emefiele with criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence and obtaining money by false pretence.

The EFCC accused Emefiele of obtained by false pretence the sum of 6,23 million dollars purportedly meant for international election observers for the 2023 general election.

He however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

At the resumed hearing in the case, the witness was taken in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Rotimi Oyedepo SAN.

Okpozikbo said; “ the money was fraudulently taken because some of the suspects we interrogated confessed to that.

” The office of the Secretary General of the Federation (SGF) denied ever requesting the payment.”

“There was a letter from the SGF, purportedly approving a presidential directive for $6.23million for the elections observers ” the witness said.

The witness who testified as the 14th prosecution witness (PW 14), said he lead a team of officers in the investigations that led to Emefiele’s interrogation.

Oyedepo, directed the witness to the document and asked him to disclose his findings; the defence opposed the style of the prosecution proceeding.

Emefiele’s counsel, Matthew Burkaa SAN, accused the prosecution of asking the witness to read from the documents already in court.

Responding, Oyedepo said he asked the witness to explain.

Justice Hamza Muazu, cautioned parties to make the best use of judicial time.

Thereafter, the witness explained that the document was a directive “purported to have come from the then president (Muhammadu Buhari) to the SGF to release the sum.”

He said it was addressed to Emefiele as the governor of the CBN, and “the request was honoured, it was treated and the money was paid.”

Also, the witness told the court how some documents were recovered from the branch of CBN (Abuja) where the money was cashed.

According to Okpoziakpo, the documents include details of the amount of money that was paid out on Feb. 8 2023 and a memo from the Director of Banking Services Department to the Bank Controller, Abuja branch.

The purpose of the memo was to gain approval and instruct the bank to pay the 6.23 million dollars, he said.

While Oyedepo asked the witness to make some confirmations from the documents, Burkaa again objected.

He said the prosecution was providing the witness evidence despite being an Investigative Police Officer (IPO) who led the investigation.

Oyedepo responded, “We take exception to the aspersion that the defence is casting on the prosecution.”

He urged the judge to refuse Burkaa’s objection and see it as a ploy to prevent the prosecution from discharging its duty.

“The witness without documentary support is merely telling tales,” he said.

Intervening in the exchange, the judge said, the witness was providing evidence but requested that the prosecution not ask details of the contents of documents already before the court.

Justice Muazu then adjourned the matter until July 2 for continuation.

$6.23m Fraudulently Taken From CBN Under Emefiele, Says EFCC Witness is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

There is growing concern in Rivers State following the alleged abduction of a local politician, Mr Richard Ogidi, whose whereabouts remain unknown more than four days after he was reportedly taken from his residence in the Rumuekini area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

Mr. Ogidi, identified as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was said to have been abducted in the early hours of April 23 by yet-to-be-identified assailants, sparking anxiety among his family, political associates, and residents of the area.

The incident has drawn criticism from Prof. Henry Ugboma, the immediate past Chief Medical Director of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and a governorship aspirant under the ADC in Rivers State.

Ugboma expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the silence of authorities in the face of the incident.

He questioned the absence of official statements or visible action from both state and local government officials, particularly in Obio/Akpor and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas, noting that such inaction could erode public confidence in governance and security structures.

According to him, the lack of prompt condemnation or updates from relevant authorities has further heightened fear and uncertainty among residents.

“The responsibility of government is first and foremost the protection of lives and property,” Ugboma stressed, urging authorities to demonstrate urgency in addressing the situation.

As of the time of filing this report, the Rivers State Government has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the abduction, a development that continues to fuel criticism and speculation.

Ugboma also called on security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the abducted politician, warning that failure to act decisively could embolden criminal elements and worsen the already fragile security situation in parts of the state.

Outrage Trails Abduction Of ADC Chieftain In Rivers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

President Bola Tinubu has taken a formal step toward seeking a second term, with the purchase of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The forms were obtained on his behalf by the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, during a ceremony held on Tuesday in Abuja. The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, presented the documents after declaring the process open.

Faleke, who also leads the Tinubu Support Groups, completed the purchase of the forms valued at N100 million, signalling the early stages of the President’s re-election bid within the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027. Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are to follow on February 6, 2027.

The electoral body said party primaries, including the resolution of disputes, will hold from April 23 to May 30, 2026. It added that campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly contests will commence on September 9, 2026.

Officers of the Hisbah Board in Kebbi State have arrested four adults in two hotels for alleged involvement in immoral activities.

The director of the agency, Surajo Usman, disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi, stating that the operation was carried out on April 25, 2026, in line with its mandate to promote moral conduct and social order.

According to him, the suspects, two men and two women, were arrested during raids on two hotels, adding that one of the women is a married mother of four children.

“The Kebbi Hisbah Board raided two hotels and arrested four individuals involved in immoral activities,” he said.

He urged members of the public to uphold moral values, respect the sanctity of marriage, and avoid acts capable of attracting social and spiritual consequences.

Usman also revealed that similar operations were carried out in Birnin Kebbi and Makera, where additional individuals were reportedly found engaging in immoral acts.

He further stated that during other interventions, the agency rescued and reunited missing persons, including children found wandering, a mentally unstable woman from Zuru who had been missing for three years, and a girl brought back to her family following a dispute.

According to him, the board also resolved several domestic and community disputes, including marital disagreements and debt-related issues, as part of its conflict resolution efforts.

Usman warned that the agency would not tolerate repeated violations, stressing that anyone found engaging in or facilitating immoral behaviour would face strict legal action without leniency.

Hisbah raids hotels in Kebbi, arrests four for immoral acts

Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the National Assembly, has strongly denied a report by The Sun Nigeria alleging that she was “dragged” to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over a purported N100m kickback linked to a fake contract.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kingibe described the publication as “entirely false,” questioning both its accuracy and timing, and insisting she has had no dealings whatsoever with the anti-corruption agency regarding any such allegation.

“The publication… is entirely false and raises serious questions about motive, particularly given its suspicious timing,” she said.

The report had claimed that the senator was linked to an alleged kickback tied to a so-called “fake contract,” an assertion Kingibe firmly rejected.

“Let it be stated categorically and without ambiguity, I have never been invited, queried, or contacted by the ICPC on this or any related matter,” she said. “At no time has the Commission written to me or sought any explanation regarding any allegation whatsoever.”

Kingibe further dismissed the premise of the allegation, arguing that it reflects either a misunderstanding or deliberate misrepresentation of the role of lawmakers in contract execution.

“Even more fundamentally, as a Senator, I do not award contracts, not even for constituency projects,” she stated.

“All such projects are executed strictly by relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government in line with established procedures.”

She added that “any attempt to associate me with contract awards reflects either a fundamental misunderstanding of how the government functions or a deliberate act of misinformation.”

The senator also drew attention to what she described as the “coincidental” timing of the report, noting that it surfaced shortly after her appearance on ARISE Television, where she spoke critically about governance and national issues.

“What is most telling, however, is the timing. How coincidental that this publication surfaces the very morning after my interview on ARISE Television, where I spoke candidly on the state of the nation and held the government accountable,” she said.

According to Kingibe, the development points to a broader pattern in which outspoken public officials face backlash.
“This pattern is not lost on discerning observers. It is becoming increasingly evident that those who choose to speak truth to power must now contend not only with resistance but also with calculated attempts at intimidation and character assassination,” she said.

Despite the controversy, the lawmaker maintained that she remains undeterred in her duties and public stance.

“Let it be made clear, I will not be silenced,” she declared. “I remain resolute in my commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible governance.”

Kingibe said she anticipates further attacks but insisted they would not distract her from serving her constituents and advocating for good governance.

“I fully expect more of such attacks. They will not deter me, because the Nigerian people deserve leaders who will speak boldly, not those who shrink from the truth,” she added.

ICPC Probe Claim Against Me False, Says FCT Senator is first published on The Whistler Newspaper