Author: The Whistler Newspaper

There is a fine line between vigorous oversight and reckless grandstanding. Last week, Senator Adams Oshiomhole bulldozed that line with a wrecking ball, describing the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) as “a house of thieves” and “a bunch of criminals and thieves”. The outburst came during a session of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, as the country gears up for a game‑changing Initial Public Offering (IPO) of NNPC Ltd.

Yet the 10th Senate did not abandon its corporate sanity. It swiftly disowned Oshiomhole’s remarks, nullified an illegal arrest warrant, and reaffirmed that due process – not sensationalism – must guide legislative oversight. For that, the Senate deserves praise. Oshiomhole, on the other hand, is proving that his trademark rudeness and unearned arrogance make him unworthy of the red chamber.

The trigger was a 10 June 2026 hearing of the Senate Public Accounts Committee. Oshiomhole, in a heated exchange with former NNPC Chief Financial Officer Umar Ajiya, declared: “I listened and heard you say that people want their children to be employed in NNPC. Yes, because it is a house of thieves, and they want their children to benefit from it”. Not content, he added: “NNPC has no reputation, your reputation is for fraud”.

When Ajiya apologised for his own intemperate remarks, the committee accepted the apology and moved on. But Oshiomhole had already crossed a dangerous threshold. The Senate leadership immediately stepped in. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion, citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, and reminded the chamber that “the power to issue a warrant affecting the liberty of a citizen is an extraordinary statutory power which must be exercised strictly in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law”.

The Senate consequently nullified the arrest warrant issued against former GCEO Mele Kyari and formally distanced itself from Oshiomhole’s comments. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin stressed that committees “are subordinate organs of the senate and could only make recommendations”.

Senator Adamu Aliero did not mince words: he called Oshiomhole’s remark “reckless” and warned that it could damage NNPC Ltd’s integrity and discourage foreign direct investment – particularly damaging for a company that accounts for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

This was not a defence of NNPC Ltd’s every action. It was a defence of fairness, of presumption of innocence, and of the institutional integrity required to conduct credible oversight. As the Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno, argued: “The senate, being the highest law‑making body of the country, should not only be above board but should be seen manifestly to be above board”.

At a time when NNPC Ltd is preparing to list on the Nigerian Exchange – a move that could unlock billions in market capitalisation and give ordinary Nigerians a stake in their national oil company – such incendiary language is economic sabotage masquerading as accountability. The Senate chose the national interest. That is the kind of oversight Nigeria needs.

What makes Oshiomhole’s “house of thieves” comment so difficult to stomach is not that it is a one‑off outburst. It is that it fits a long, documented pattern of public disrespect, cruelty and arrogance that spans more than a decade. Consider his conduct as governor of Edo State. In August 2013, he randomly picked a primary school teacher, Mrs Augusta Odemwingie, and forced her to read her own age declaration certificate in public.

After twenty years of service, the woman could not read it fluently. Rather than handle the matter with dignity behind closed doors, Oshiomhole made her a national spectacle – an exercise in raw power that served no pedagogical purpose. That same year, on a routine road inspection in Benin City, he encountered a widow, Mrs Joy Ifijeh, selling goods by the roadside. When the woman knelt to beg for mercy, the governor exploded: “You are a widow. Go and die!” The video went viral and the nation was horrified.

He later apologised and gifted her some money, but the damage to his humanity was already done. These are not the actions of a statesman. They are the actions of a man who confuses public office with a licence to humiliate.

Oshiomhole’s rudeness is not confined to vulnerable citizens. In May 2026, he engaged in a heated confrontation with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over amended Senate rules, demanding that Akpabio resign. Akpabio was forced to issue a stern warning: “Oshiomhole, if you become unruly, we will use the rules to take you out of the Senate”.

That warning was neither the first nor the last. His relationship with his successor as governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, soured spectacularly, with Oshiomhole vowing to “erase” Obaseki from the political space. The bitter feud that followed remains emblematic of his “my way or the highway” style of politics. And in the labour movement, where he once rose to become President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, he has since been accused of betraying the workers who once cheered him.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) strongly condemned his remarks against striking petroleum workers, saying his statements were “the prattle of an apostate, intoxicated by the opium of power and dollarised into betraying the cause of the downtrodden Nigerian workers”. The union declared him persona non grata among oil and gas workers.

Then there is the uncomfortable question that Oshiomhole has never adequately answered: where did the money for his private jet lifestyle come from? In February 2026, a viral video showed a man resembling Oshiomhole aboard a private jet, rubbing a woman’s feet inside a luxury aircraft. The woman later confirmed the video was authentic, contradicting Oshiomhole’s claim that it was AI‑generated. Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju did not hold back: “A former textile worker living like Pablo Escobar.

No evidence he inherited money from rich parents or that he is a successful businessman or actively doing anything progressively as at today aside politics”. Oshiomhole’s known career path is humble. He started as a factory hand at Arewa Textiles Mill in Kaduna, earning five shillings and three pence a month. He later rose through the labour movement. He served as governor of Edo State from 2008 to 2016 and now serves as a senator.

But can the remuneration of those offices – or the famously generous pensions for former governors – plausibly fund a private jet lifestyle? The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) disagrees. The suspicion, therefore, is not prurient; it is a legitimate demand for transparency. If the goal of Oshiomhole’s theatrical outburst against NNPC Ltd is simply a shakedown – a loud performance designed to make the company “play ball” with him – then he should know that Nigerians are watching. A senator who cannot explain his own ostentatious lifestyle has no moral standing to call others thieves.

When a senator routinely abuses vulnerable citizens, picks fights with fellow presiding officers, labels a strategic national asset a “house of thieves” without a shred of judicial determination, and lives a lifestyle that far outstrips his disclosed earnings, he does more than tarnish his own reputation. He degrades the entire institution of the Senate.

That is why the 10th Senate’s swift and decisive dissociation was not just proper; it was necessary for the preservation of its own legitimacy. By nullifying the illegal arrest warrant and publicly distancing itself from Oshiomhole’s comments, the Senate sent a clear message: no single senator, no matter how combative, speaks for the chamber. And no committee may usurp the authority of the full Senate. That is the difference between oversight and chaos. That is the difference between a hallowed chamber and a boxing ring.

Senator Oshiomhole has a right to ask tough questions about NNPC Ltd’s audited accounts. The Senate has every right to investigate the N210tn audit queries that have been raised. But accountability must be grounded in facts and restraint – not in the unchecked fury of a lawmaker who has made a career out of public insults.

The Senate has taken the first step by drawing a clear line. The next step must be a full ethics review. If Oshiomhole cannot behave like a statesman, he should be asked to step aside – not because he is a “former comrade” who has lost his way, but because the Nigerian people deserve a Senate that is a forum for reasoned debate, not a stage for recycled scandals. The Senate chose Nigeria’s future over one man’s tantrum. Now it must choose its own future over one senator’s unchecked arrogance. That is the common sense and fairness that Nigerians expect. And that is why, for once, the Senate deserves not criticism but praise.

–Monguno is a constitutional lawyer. He writes from Abuja.

OPINION: The Senate Chose Nigeria’s Future Over One Man’s Tantrum is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Paris Saint-Germain forward, Bradley Barcola, has handed in a transfer request after interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.

The French international was a regular for PSG last season.

The 23-year-old scored 13 goals in all competitions as he won the UEFA Champions League and the Ligue 1 with the Parisians.

However, Barcola was dropped for the Champions League final against Arsenal as Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia started ahead of him in attack.

According to talkSPORT, Barcola had asked to leave PSG following interest from the Premier League duo.

Barcola normally plays on PSG’s left flank, and that is the same area Arsenal are looking to strengthen in the transfer window.

It’s yet to be seen if Barcola will end up joining the Premier League champions in the coming season.

Transfer: Barcola decides to leave PSG after interest from Arsenal

Kogi State government has announced fresh security measures, including a ban on night travel and restrictions on commercial motorcycle operations in parts of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, following renewed efforts to tackle banditry in the area.

The measures were contained in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, after a review of ongoing security operations in Bunu District.

According to the government, the decision followed intelligence reports and security assessments conducted after a recent attack on Iluke community, which authorities said was successfully repelled by security forces.

The statement said: “Several of the attackers have been confirmed neutralised, while many others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently trapped within forested areas across the district as security clearance operations continue.”

To prevent the movement of supplies to criminals hiding in forests, the government approved “the immediate ban on the use of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, within designated hinterland corridors of Bunu District.”

The affected routes include communities stretching from Idoyi Bunu through Illah Bunu, Iluke Bunu and Kiri, as well as other major hinterland corridors across the district.

Authorities explained that intelligence reports showed that some motorcycle operators were being used to transport food, water, drugs and other logistics to bandits.

The government also alleged that criminal elements sometimes use motorcycles to gather information on communities before carrying out attacks.

“Consequently, any motorcycle rider found transporting passengers, goods or supplies along the designated routes shall be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Kogi State Anti-Terrorism Law,” the statement added.

The government directed the Motorcycle Operators Association of Nigeria (MOAN) to immediately sensitise its members on the directive, which took effect on June 13, 2026.

In addition to the motorcycle restrictions, all markets located along the affected corridors have been ordered closed until further notice. Mobile medicine vendors have also been directed to suspend the transportation and sale of drugs on motorcycles within the affected areas.

The government further announced a ban on the sale of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel in jerry cans throughout Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

As part of broader efforts to strengthen security across the state, the government also imposed a statewide restriction on night travel.

The statement said: “All movements on state roads must cease by 7 pm daily until further notice. Any person found travelling on a state-owned road after 7 pm shall be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

Kogi bans night travel over banditry concerns

Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has canvassed support for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Oluwole Oluyede, describing him as a competent, experienced and people-oriented leader who possesses the vision needed to move the state forward.

The senator made the remarks during the grand finale of the PDP governorship campaign held opposite Eagle Hall, Ikere Road, Ado-Ekiti, on Saturday, June 13, 2026, ahead of the June 20 governorship election.

Addressing thousands of party supporters, women groups, youths and members of the Ebira community, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she had spent several days across different towns and settlements in Ekiti State mobilizing support for the PDP candidate.

According to her, Oluyede deserves the mandate of Ekiti people because of his commitment to good governance, youth empowerment, women inclusion, educational development and economic growth.

She stated that the PDP candidate has consistently demonstrated genuine concern for the welfare of ordinary people and has remained accessible to the grassroots.

“Dr. Oluwole Oluyede is a leader who understands the needs of the people. He is not disconnected from the grassroots. He has listened to the cries of market women, youths, civil servants and community leaders across the state,” she said.

Akpoti-Uduaghan further described Oluyede as a unifying figure who believes every resident of Ekiti State deserves equal opportunities irrespective of tribe or background.

She noted that one of the major reasons she decided to campaign vigorously for the PDP candidate was his promise to run an inclusive government where all ethnic groups residing in Ekiti State, including the Ebira community, would be fairly represented.

“He has assured our people that his administration will carry everyone along. He believes in unity, fairness and equal representation. That is the kind of leadership Ekiti needs at this critical time,” she added.

The senator also praised the educational standard and political consciousness of Ekiti people, expressing confidence that voters would make wise decisions during the election.

“Ekiti people are proudly educated and politically enlightened people. I believe they know who truly has the capacity, compassion and experience to govern the state effectively,” she stated.

Speaking on her mobilisation efforts, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan disclosed that she had visited several communities including Ikole-Ekiti, Ilasa and other settlements with large populations of Ebira residents to canvass support for the PDP candidate.

She said her mission in Ekiti was to encourage women and the Ebira community across the state to come out massively on June 20 and vote for Oluyede.

“We have moved from settlement to settlement speaking to our people. We are encouraging them to support a candidate that will prioritize development, inclusion, peace and prosperity for all,” she said.

The campaign grand finale attracted party leaders, traditional supporters, youth organizations and women groups from across the state, all expressing optimism that the PDP would emerge victorious in the June 20 governorship election.

Ekiki Guber Poll: Sen Natasha rallies support for PDP candidate, Oluyede

American tennis player Robin Montgomery emerged as the champion at the WTA tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Libéma Open), capturing her first-ever WTA-level title.

The 21-year-old was set to face the defending champion, Barbora Krejcikova, in the final, but the Czech player withdrew from the match due to an upper respiratory illness. As a result, Montgomery was awarded the title without having to step onto the court.

Though much of the attention this week has been on the HSBC Championship, quality tennis has been played at the WTA 250 Libema Open.

At the time of the tournament, she was ranked just 484th in the world, making her one of the lowest-ranked players ever to win a WTA title.

The talented left-hander , a native of Washington DC, turned pro in 2019. Montgomery has long been considered a rising star in the sport particularly after winning the girls’ singles and doubles’ titles at the 2021 US Open.

She defeated Australians Daria Kasatkina and Ajla Tomljanovic in the earlier rounds. Kasatkina is the 2018 Wimbledon quarterfinalist and former Top Ten player. Tomljanovic is a two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist and a former US Open quarterfinalist.

Montgomery was also a recent doubles partner for Coco Gauff at the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open. The duo advanced to the Round of 16.

Montgomery Clinches Prestigious WTA 250 Title is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has demanded allowance parity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in ongoing renegotiations with the Federal Government.

Mr Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU, made the position of the union known while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Geneva, Switzerland.

Adeyemi who spoke on the sidelines of the just concluded 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) insisted that non-academic workers deserve equal welfare benefits. Specifically, he said the union was seeking parity in allowances following the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 per cent increase in allowances for ASUU members.

According to him, NASU members perform critical roles in universities and should not be treated differently in the allocation of welfare benefits and negotiated entitlements.

“We are demanding that whatever is given to ASUU should also be given to us because we face the same economic realities,” Adeyemi said.

He added that the union had rejected an earlier offer of 30 per cent increase in allowances, insisting that it fell short of what was granted to ASUU.

“Government offered us 30 per cent and we said no. Though they are our senior colleagues, but, we all go to the same market and buy the same fuel,” he said.

Adeyemi said landlords and service providers do not discriminate between academic and non-academic workers when determining rents and charges.

“The cost of living affects all workers equally. We cannot accept a situation where one group receives significantly better allowances than another,” he said.

The NASU general secretary said that negotiations with the federal government had progressed substantially and were nearing conclusion at the university sector level. He said that the outcome of the university negotiations would influence discussions covering polytechnics and colleges of education where NASU also represents workers.

“We are almost reaching the end of the renegotiation process for universities. Once we conclude that, the other sectors may not be as difficult,” he said.

Adeyemi said that the government was delaying the implementation of agreements reached with unions, saying such actions often fuel industrial disputes across tertiary institutions. He noted that sincere collective bargaining remained essential to industrial harmony and urged government representatives to negotiate in good faith.

“When agreements are freely entered into, they should be implemented. Failure to do so only creates avoidable crises in the education sector,” he said.

Adeyemi expressed hope that the ongoing discussions would yield positive outcomes capable of improving the welfare of non-academic staff across federal tertiary institutions.

He said NASU was commitment to dialogue but stressed that workers expected fair treatment and equitable compensation in line with prevailing economic realities.

‘We Buy The Same Fuel’ — NASU Demands Equal Pay With ASUU is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) has admitted an additional 303,059 units of the Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF) to its Daily Official List, increasing the fund’s total outstanding units to approximately 1.197 billion.

The listing followed the implementation of the fund’s first-quarter 2026 scrip dividend programme, according to a market bulletin issued by the Exchange.

With the admission of the new units, the total number of issued units in the infrastructure-focused fund increased from 1,196,654,417 units to 1,196,957,476 units, further strengthening the fund’s presence on the Nigerian capital market.

NGX notified Trading Licence Holders of the development, stating that the additional units arose from the distribution of scrip dividends to eligible investors who elected to receive additional units in lieu of cash dividend payments.

The NIDF, managed by Chapel Hill Denham Management Limited, is Nigeria’s first and largest listed infrastructure debt fund. The fund was established to mobilise long-term capital for financing critical infrastructure projects across sectors including power, transportation, energy, and industrial development, while providing investors with stable income and capital preservation opportunities.

Market analysts note that scrip dividend issuances are increasingly being utilised by collective investment schemes and listed entities as a means of rewarding investors while preserving cash resources for future investment and portfolio expansion.

The latest listing is expected to enhance liquidity in the fund’s units on the Exchange and reflects continued investor participation in infrastructure-linked investment vehicles amid growing interest in alternative asset classes.

As one of the flagship infrastructure investment products in Nigeria’s capital market, the NIDF has continued to attract institutional and retail investors seeking exposure to long-term infrastructure assets backed by predictable cash flows and relatively stable returns.

The increase in the fund’s outstanding units also underscores the growing role of the capital market in mobilising domestic savings for infrastructure development, a key priority in Nigeria’s efforts to bridge its significant infrastructure financing gap.

The Nigerian Exchange said the newly listed units are now available for trading, enabling investors to buy and sell the additional units through the secondary market alongside existing holdings.

NIDF: NGX Lists Additional 303,059 Units, Holdings Hit 1.197 Billion is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Oyo State Government and stakeholders in the education sector have called for stronger collaboration between government, alumni bodies, and

The post Oyo govt, stakeholders seek stronger partnership to improve education appeared first on Tribune Online.

Israel has struck a building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing at least one person and injuring four others, after accusing Hezbollah of launching three projectiles towards northern Israel in what it described as a blatant ceasefire violation.

The Israeli military said Hezbollah’s projectiles violated the ceasefire, coming hours after Israel issued forced displacement orders for residents of more than two dozen towns in southern Lebanon.

Israel said it was responding to Hezbollah missiles and drones.

The Israeli military carried out the strike on Beirut after three Hezbollah drones hit northern Israel earlier in the day.

The strike targeted an apartment that the Israel Defense Forces said served as a Hezbollah command centre. Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that at least one person was killed and four were injured in the strike.

A senior Iranian parliament member reacted sharply to the strike, with Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the parliament’s foreign policy and national security committee, writing on social media: “If you seek an agreement or understanding, you must discipline the Zionist regime. If this rabid dog is not controlled, it will bite your leg before the ink is dry on the agreement.”

Tehran has said that any Israeli attack on Beirut would violate its ceasefire with the U.S. and could trigger an Iranian response.

Israel continues to attack Lebanon despite Iran saying the country is included in a proposed memorandum of understanding with the U.S. to end the war in the region.

The escalation follows Hezbollah’s rejection last week of a ceasefire proposal agreed between Israel and Lebanon after U.S.-led negotiations.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group was “concerned only with a comprehensive cessation of aggression, a ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israel,” rejecting the proposal as fulfilling “the enemy’s objectives.”

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military would continue “its fire and activity in the area at this stage” and would “remain in the security zone in Lebanon… without the return of the Lebanese population.”

The latest exchange comes amid a broader pattern of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in recent days.

Hezbollah said it repelled two Israeli ground incursions and carried out 19 attacks targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon on Friday and Saturday.

Israel Accuses Hezbollah Of Ceasefire Violation, Strikes Beirut is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Sunday announced the suspension of the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course for prospective corps members deployed to Niger State.

NYSC disclosed this on its official X handle, stating that the suspension was due to ongoing renovation work at the orientation camp.

It further stated that affected prospective corps members would be informed later of new arrangements for the exercise.

“This is to notify the General Public and Prospective Corps Members (PCMs) deployed to Niger State for the 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation Course that their Orientation Course Exercise is suspended for now due to ongoing renovation work at the Orientation Camp,” the statement on X read.

It added, “PCMs affected should note that they will be contacted at a short notice on where and when to report for their Orientation Course.

“The Management regrets all inconveniences to the affected PCMs and their parents.”

This makes it the second time this year. The scheme’s suspension of orientation activities in Niger is linked to infrastructure challenges.

Earlier in 2026, a severe windstorm damaged key facilities at the State camp in Paiko, Paikoro Local Government Area, including male hostels, the multi-purpose hall, kitchen, and staff quarters.

Reacting, Governor Mohammed Bago directed immediate repairs.

The 2026 Batch B Stream I orientation exercise which commenced on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, was scheduled to run through Tuesday, June 30, 2026, nationwide.

NYSC Halts 2026 Batch B Stream I Orientation In Niger is first published on The Whistler Newspaper