Two leaders of the Accord Party in Lagos State have called on Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to clarify his loyalty to the party following his reported appointment as coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign in Osun.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The leaders, Oke Sewedo, a party chieftain in Lagos West Senatorial District, and Oladeji Oluwatosin, the Lagos State chairman of the Accord Party, made the demand in an open letter addressed to Adeleke and the party’s national leadership.

They warned that Adeleke’s reported involvement in Tinubu’s re-election campaign could undermine the electoral prospects of Accord candidates in Osun and other parts of the country ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In the letter, the duo reminded the governor that he contested and won the Osun governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party.

“Your Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, contested and won the Osun State governorship election on the platform of the Accord Party.

“That victory was not merely a personal achievement; it was also a significant moment for our party and its members, who believed that Accord could provide a fertile and credible platform for grooming great political minds and careers, good governance, exemplary leadership and political change that will birth the new Nigeria of our national dream.

“However, the recent announcement naming Your Excellency as the Osun State coordinator of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign has understandably raised serious questions among party faithful,” they stated.

The party leaders questioned how a governor elected under the Accord platform could lead the presidential campaign of a candidate from another political party while Accord was preparing to field its own candidates for the same elections.

They cautioned that the development could jeopardise the party’s chances, particularly in Osun, where its candidates would be contesting for seats in the Senate, House of Representatives and other legislative positions.

“The concern is straightforward: how can a sitting governor elected under Accord simultaneously coordinate the presidential campaign of a candidate belonging to another political party, while Accord itself is preparing its candidates and supporters for the same general election?

“This portends grave danger to the electoral aspiration and prospect of Accord candidates in Osun State and Nigeria at large,” the letter read.

Sewedo and Oluwatosin further argued that Adeleke’s reported role could deprive Accord candidates of the electoral advantage they might otherwise gain from the governor’s political influence and support.

They emphasised that their concerns were not driven by personal grievances or disrespect for the office of the governor. Instead, they said the matter raised questions about the obligations of elected officials to the political parties through which they secured their mandates.

“These concerns are not accusations of wrongdoing. They are legitimate political questions that deserve a clear response from both the governor and the party leadership,” the letter added.

The Lagos Accord leaders subsequently urged Adeleke to state his political position clearly and demonstrate his commitment to the party if he still considered himself a member.

The Abia State Government has directed permanent secretaries, heads of parastatals and non-ministerial departments to identify civil servants approaching retirement and ensure they commence the mandatory three-month pre-retirement leave.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The directive was contained in an internal memorandum signed by the state Head of Service, Benson Ojeikere.

According to the memorandum, the affected officials are required to compile the names of eligible workers and ensure they comply with the pre-retirement leave policy.

The policy applies to civil servants who have attained the statutory retirement age of 60 or completed 35 years in service. It also covers directors affected by the eight-year tenure limit for the position.

The state government cited the existing Public Service Rules and circulars issued on June 6, 2017, and July 18, 2017, as the basis for enforcing the directive.

Consequently, heads of ministries, departments and agencies have been instructed to identify all workers due for retirement, including directors affected by the tenure limit, and ensure they begin their leave in line with the approved schedule.

They were also directed to expedite the processing of retirement and pension documents within the stipulated timeframe to prevent unnecessary delays for workers leaving the public service.

Ojeikere further instructed the heads of the relevant institutions to report any difficulties encountered in implementing the policy to his office for prompt intervention.

Speaking on the directive, the Head of Service confirmed that the government had issued the memorandum but noted that some workers expected to retire were reluctant to begin the process.

He explained that the three-month pre-retirement leave was designed to give civil servants sufficient time to prepare their retirement documentation while they continued to receive their salaries.

According to Ojeikere, the state government is working to ensure that retired workers begin receiving their pensions as quickly as possible, rather than waiting for months after their salaries have stopped.

He observed that pension payments had sometimes taken two, three or even four months to commence after workers retired, a delay he said could damage the reputation of the state public service.

Ojeikere said the government intended to tackle the problem by ensuring that retirement and pension arrangements were initiated before workers officially left their positions.

He added that civil servants covered by the directive would continue to receive their salaries throughout the three-month pre-retirement leave while the necessary pension arrangements were completed.

A banker and seven other individuals have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged ₦710 million fraud involving bank accounts and disputed financial documents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The suspects were brought before the court by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, on a 12-count charge relating to the alleged release of ₦710 million from eight bank accounts that had been restricted from withdrawals and transfers.

The defendants are Elvis Osazee Eghile, Egharevba MaryJane Osarieyekemwen, Precious Omonigho Irbhogbe, Aghatise Kelvin Uhuenkpoewen, Nweke Nnamdi Emmanuel, Obinyan Esther, Egharevba Emmanuel Osagioduwa and Emmanuel Obinyan Osenonome.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the unit, Eloho Edwin Okpoziakpo, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 14.

According to him, the investigation began after the unit received a petition concerning the alleged release of the funds.

Okpoziakpo alleged that Osenonome, a banker and Senior Relationship Officer, collaborated with Emmanuel Egharevba to obtain the personal information of other individuals and use the details to open bank accounts.

Investigators suspect that the accounts were subsequently used to facilitate the movement of funds connected to the alleged fraud.

The police commissioner said an analysis of the transactions revealed that substantial sums were transferred to accounts allegedly associated with individuals close to the principal suspect.

Those linked to the accounts reportedly included Nweke Nnamdi Emmanuel, Obinyan Ebehiemen Doris, identified as Osenonome’s sibling, Egharevba Emmanuel Osagioduwa and Esther Olohitare Obinyan, described as Osenonome’s wife.

The police further alleged that forged or disputed proof-of-funds documents, alongside other banking records, were used to facilitate the transactions.

Police Identify Assets Linked To Alleged Fraud

As part of efforts to trace and recover the missing funds, investigators reportedly identified several assets suspected to have been acquired with proceeds from the alleged fraud.

The assets include a 2020 Lexus RX 350 valued at ₦25 million, two Toyota Camry vehicles estimated at ₦8 million each, and a plot of land in Magodo Phase I, Lagos, reportedly purchased for ₦40 million.

Okpoziakpo also alleged that some of the funds were used to settle personal expenses and finance gambling activities.

He further claimed that ₦40 million was invested in CIBEX trading, while approximately ₦60 million was spent establishing and furnishing a spa and beauty business.

The police commissioner said the Special Fraud Unit would continue investigating the case, alongside other financial crimes involving the suspected abuse of banking procedures.

He added that investigators would ensure all relevant evidence was properly gathered and documented for presentation before the court.