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Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the Kaduna Central Senatorial District seat in the 2027 elections.

The move signals his formal entry into the race as political activities gather momentum within the ruling party ahead of the next electoral cycle.

Sani, a rights activist-turned-politician, previously represented Kaduna Central in the Senate and remains an influential figure in Nigeria’s political space.

Observers say his return to the contest is likely to reshape the dynamics of the race, given his political experience and grassroots support base.

Party stakeholders also note that his ambition could intensify competition among aspirants seeking the APC ticket for the senatorial seat.

According to earlier details released by the party, the sale of forms runs from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms is expected to close on May 4.

Screening of aspirants is scheduled for May 6 to May 9, covering State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship and presidential hopefuls.

Primary elections are set to commence on May 15 with the House of Representatives, followed by Senate, State Assembly, governorship and presidential primaries, concluding on May 23, 2026.

2027: Shehu Sani Obtains APC Senatorial Form is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nollywood actor, Saga Adeolu has shared his opinion about kissing in movies, revealing that if he had his way, he would avoid it.

Speaking in an episode of the Nolly Icons podcast, the reality star said contrary to the assumption that actors enjoy kissing each other, most actors don’t but just doing it for better script interpretation.

Saga said he has never had a good onscreen kiss despite featuring in several romantic movies.

“It is not easy to kiss another actor. It is weird. I have not really had any good onscreen kiss. It is weird having people invade your mouth with saliva.

“It is not something we enjoy. People think we enjoy it, but we don’t. We are just doing it for the story most times. If I had my way, I won’t kiss anyone in a film… There was a day I kissed four different girls on set,” he said.

He added that actors should be commended for kissing in movies instead of being judged.

‘I’ve never had any good onscreen kiss’ – Actor Saga Adeolu

Some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State chapter, have petitioned the National Chairman of the party, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda over the ambition of the National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the party, Issac Kekemeke, to contest the ticket of the Ondo South Senatorial District.

According to the leaders from Agadagba-Obon, in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state, which is the same axis as the party’s national vice-chairman, Kekemeke’s intention is ill-timed and ill-conceived.

Kekemeke had, a few days ago, declared his ambition to secure the ticket following the recent appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as the Nigerian permanent representative to the United Nations.

While expressing concern over the development, the concerned chieftains of the party emphasised that it will be morally wrong for Kekemeke to contest the ticket, particularly since he hailed from the same local government area as Ambassador Sola Iji, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, and also the same federal constituency as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

In the petition, they maintained that Kekemeke’s quest contradicts the Electoral Act, Sections 84 and 88, which state that political appointees must resign before pursuing elective positions.

According to the leaders of the party, Kekemeke, as of present, is still holding office as both the zonal chairman of APC and the chairman of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST).

The petition read in parts, “It is also on record that during the last governorship election, Hon. Kekemeke did not resign from his position before contesting, allegedly under similar protection.” This pattern must not be allowed to repeat itself.

“We therefore insist that Hon. Kekemeke must publicly present his resignation letter and proof of acknowledgement from both his role as Chairman of NIPOST and as APC South-West Zonal Chairman. This is necessary not only to ensure compliance with the law but also to safeguard the integrity of our party and prevent avoidable litigation.

“We call on the national leadership of the APC to uphold the party’s constitution, principles and the provisions of the Electoral Act.”

Zoning: Ondo APC leaders oppose Kekemeke’s senatorial bid

The National Universities Commission has granted full accreditation status to six undergraduate programmes at Sule Lamido University, strengthening the institution’s academic standing.
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‎The approval was conveyed in a letter dated April 4, 2026, and signed by the Director of Accreditation, Abraham Chundusu.
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‎ According to a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations of the university, Sadiq Lawal and Issued to newsmen on Tuesday, the accredited programmes include B.Sc. Agriculture with specialisations in Crop Science, Soil and Land Management, Animal Science, and Agricultural Economics and Extension under the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resource Management.
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‎ Also granted full accreditation was B.Sc. Cyber Security, B.Sc. Information Technology, and B.Sc. Software Engineering in the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology.
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‎In the Faculty of Education, B.A. (Ed.) History secured full accreditation, while B.Sc. Political Science in the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences also received the approval.
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‎The Director of Academic Planning, Abdullahi Haruna Birniwa, said the latest development means that all 36 academic programmes currently offered by the university now enjoy full accreditation status.
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NUC grants full accreditation to six programmes at Sule Lamido University

Former Super Eagles skipper, Mikel Obi, has tipped former Chelsea teammate, Filipe Luís, to replace Liam Rosenior as manager at Stamford Bridge.

Rosenior was dismissed last week after a run of poor results.

Following his sack, the Blues have appointed Calum McFarlane on an interim basis.

Although Chelsea are being linked with names like Cesc Fabregas and Andoni Iraola, Mikel Obi has advised the club to bring back Luis.

He said on his podcast: ““I think for me, it’d be too early for Fabregas.

“On Filipe Luis, he is a fantastic manager and his team played fantastic football in the Club World Cup and had an objective of how they wanted to play.

“There was a clear structure, playing with purpose, that’s how you know someone can become a top manager.

“Maybe it’s too early, but of all the three managers mentioned, if they go with any of them, I’ll probably say Filipe Luis.”

EPL: Mikel Obi tips former team-mate to replace Rosenior at Chelsea

Lagos State Council of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Nigeria is currently grappling with a leadership crisis following disagreements over the conduct and outcome of its recent delegates’ conference.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, the council’s Public Relations Officer, Kabiawu Gbolahan, described the situation as a significant internal dispute that extends beyond a struggle for positions.

He explained that the contention revolves around differing interpretations of the role played by the TUC National Secretariat in the lead-up to the conference and in its aftermath.

According to Gbolahan, the National Secretariat had initially authorised the Lagos State delegates’ conference and issued guidelines to govern the exercise.

He said the conference was later held in Yaba under the supervision of a caretaker committee, with participation from affiliate unions and other stakeholders.

The process, he noted, produced an executive council led by Aladetan Abiodun Emmanuel, which he said represents the position of a segment of members within the state council.

However, he acknowledged the existence of rival claims over the legitimacy of the exercise, with another faction backing a different leadership structure.
Gbolahan warned that the unresolved disagreement could undermine unity within the union if not properly addressed.

Meanwhile, the National President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, maintained that the organisation’s constitution clearly outlines the procedures for conducting elections in state councils.

“Our process and constitution in TUC specify that the Secretary-General is responsible for conducting elections in all state councils, and Lagos State is no exception,” he said.

Osifo further noted that eligibility to contest positions is determined by compliance with union regulations, including financial obligations to affiliate unions.

He insisted that the national leadership recognises a duly elected executive for the Lagos State council, adding that the matter has been resolved in accordance with the union’s established procedures.

Leadership crisis rocks Lagos TUC over delegates’ conference

 

The fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Bawa Usman Kaltungo, in the trial of former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru, and others over an alleged N76bn ($31.5m) fraud, told Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, that Arik Air Nigeria Limited had paid 38 percent of its foreign loan to creditors before it was taken over by AMCON.

Kuru, alongside Kamilu Alaba Omokide, Captain Roy Ilegbodu, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, and Super Bravo Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, and abuse of office.

One of the counts reads:

“That you, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, sometime in 2011 or thereabouts, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with the intention of causing and/or inducing the unwarranted sale of Arik Air loans and bank guarantees with Union Bank, made false statements to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) regarding Arik Air Limited’s performing loans, following which you transferred a bogus figure of N71,000,000,000.00 (Seventy-One Billion Naira) to AMCON.”

Another count reads:

“That you, Ahmed Lawal Kuru, Kamilu Alaba Omokide (as Receiver-Manager of Arik Air Limited), and Captain Roy Ilegbodu (Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air Limited in Receivership), sometime in 2022 or thereabouts, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to the use of NG Eagle Limited the total sum of N4,900,000,000.00 (Four Billion, Nine Hundred Million Naira only), property of Arik Air Limited.”

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Kaltungo, an EFCC investigator and currently the Acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ikoyi, continued his examination-in-chief led by prosecution counsel Wahab Shittu, SAN.

When asked to speak on Exhibit P52, the witness said it was a letter recovered during the investigation from Union Bank to the Executive Chairman of Arik Air Limited, dated October 4, 2010, and addressed to the then Managing Director of Arik Air.

“The letter is titled ‘Advice on Maturing Quarterly Repayment Obligations Second Airbus A240/500/MRM 912.”

He stated that the repayment for the loan obtained by Arik from foreign lenders was quarterly.

According to him: “When the loan was near its due date, they sent a letter as a reminder. This was for the last quarter. This letter is evidence showing the last quarter of 2010-an advice was issued for repayment. 

Investigation revealed that payment was made in December of the same year. However, Union Bank illegally converted the guarantee into a loan and sold it to AMCON, claiming it was a non-performing loan. This letter shows that the foreign loan was performing optimally.”

The witness said that at the time AMCON took over Arik, Union Bank had converted the airline’s N51bn guarantee, sold it, but failed to pay the foreign creditors.

Investigation revealed that Union Bank, as the guarantor of the loan, withheld Arik’s N51bn and abandoned its obligation to the foreign creditors.

“Arik has paid 38 percent of its loan to foreign creditors. 

“However, when Union Bank converted the Arik guarantee of N51bn, it did not pay the foreign creditors from the funds. 

“Union Bank withheld the N51bn. With this amount, Union Bank was supposed to pay the foreign creditors. 

“Our investigation revealed that Union Bank still owes Arik 38 percent of the paid loan,” he added.

Kaltungo also told the court that Union Bank did not provide any loan to Arik, noting that the facility was foreign credit obtained from institutions including HSBC, which the airline serviced until June 2010.

The witness further told the court that a letter recovered during the investigation and addressed to the former Chairman of Arik Air Limited, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, showed that the loan was performing.

When asked how much was paid to service the foreign loan throughout the period of takeover, he replied that receivership took effect from March 8, 2016.

“However, the only payment seen in the bank was over N2bn. This was realized from the sale of Arik shares. 

“Arik shares were revalued for three aircraft at $105,718,000, which is about N32bn. 

“Investigation revealed that only N9.2bn was applied to the Arik loan, while the balance of over N28bn was unaccounted for. 

“The exact figures are captured in my investigation report before the court.”

Under cross-examination by Prof. Taiwo Osinpitan, SAN, counsel to the first and third defendants, the witness said no money was traced to the accounts of the first and third defendants during the investigation.

When asked why the document admitted as P51 was tendered, he said it was to prove that investigation was conducted professionally without any bias.

The case was adjourned to May 18, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.

The trial of the former Taraba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku alongside the former permanent secretary in the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, before Justice S. C. Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Abuja, continued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting the Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Taiwo Johns against them.

The EFCC is prosecuting both defendants on a 15-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-seven Billion Naira).

The testimony of the PW3, followed the conclusion of the cross-examination of the Second Prosecution Witness, PW2 Prince Emmanuel Onwuzulike, by the counsel to the second defendant, Samuel Fagade during the proceeding.

In his cross-examination, the PW2 told the court that he had a father and son relationship with Yero, the second defendant, disclosing that it was the second defendant that phoned him and asked him to disburse funds to one Lawal Damilare.

The PW2 also informed the court that he did not report to any law enforcement agency as he received some money from Johns, the PW3 who is a cashier assistant in Taraba State’s Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, disclosing also that he collected some of the money for his personal use.

“The sum of N3 million deposited is for my business; the sum of N2 million, deposited is for my business; the sum of N10 million, dated November 4, is for my business,” he said.

Further in the cross-examination, he said, “Everything I did was on instruction.”

Following the conclusion of the cross-examination, the PW3 was led in his testimony by prosecution counsel, O. A. Atolagbe. He disclosed that his duty was to assist in the raising of day-to-day vouchers; raising of payment schedules; preparing staff payroll; assisting the cashier in writing payroll cheques and accompanying the cashier to the bank for cashing of money.

 

Others he disclosed include, “Payment of emirs and ‘ardos’ and disbursement of cash, if there is a courtesy call and any other duty assigned to me by my immediate bosses, Mr. John Columba, chief cashier Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Babangida Hassan, Director, Finance, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero.”

 

The PW3 further informed the court that the duty of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was to take care of all the 16 local governments of the state, pay salary and allowances to emirs and chiefs, take good care of the emirs and chiefs, purchase cars for them and handle their medical requirements.

Others are, “Payment of teachers’ salaries, assisting flood disaster victims if it arises, beefing up security in the communities and local governments’ chiefdoms and if there is any other thing pertaining to local government activities,” he said.

Asked by the prosecution counsel if he participated in the disbursing of money, he replied in the affirmative. “Yes, sometimes I give it to the ALGON Chairman, or a local government chairman, depending on where the case arises. The name of the ALGON chairman is Agya and further disclosed that the account name from which the money is disbursed is “2.5 Percent Contingency Account, domiciled in the United Bank of Africa, UBA. The signatories to the account, he said, are the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bello Yero and Director of Finance, Babangida Hassan.

Justice Oriji adjourned the matter till April 30 for the continuation of the examination of PW3.

The federal high court in Abuja has restrained MTN Nigeria and Airtel Networks Limited from suspending or restricting services provided to Nairtime Nigeria Limited pending the determination of a substantive suit challenging regulatory actions linked to digital lending operations.

In a ruling delivered on April 24, the court granted an interim injunction following an ex parte application filed by Nairtime Holdings Limited and Nairtime Nigeria Limited over what they described as a threatened disruption of their business operations by the telecom operators.

 

Datti Baba-Ahmed, vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, says he is set to leave the party and join the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Tuesday, Baba-Ahmed said his decision followed the internal crises and disagreements within the LP, noting that the party has drifted from its original ideals.

“I am leaving the Labour Party tomorrow [Wednesday]. There is more to it. When there was real peace in the Labour Party, was when they posted back,” he said.