Nasiru Musa Idris has accused Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi of withholding his Moroccan wife for approximately 11 months after she was brought to him for counselling, though Gumi has strongly denied the claims and threatened a defamation lawsuit.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • The Husband’s Claims: Idris stated in an RFI Hausa interview that he introduced his wife—whom he legally married in Morocco with parental and embassy approval—to Gumi for counselling out of trust. He alleged that Gumi refused to return her, blocked communication, and insisted on obtaining an unnecessary new marriage certificate from a Malali Sharia Court despite existing official paperwork from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian embassy in Morocco. He also disputed accounts that the woman’s mother took her back to Morocco, calling on Gumi to cooperate with police investigations.

  • Gumi’s Response: Refuting the allegations, Gumi told Daily Trust that the woman is no longer in Nigeria and has safely returned to Morocco to live happily with her parents. While declining to elaborate on the dispute due to an active court case, the cleric confirmed he intends to sue Idris for defamation.

  • Aide’s Defense: Malam Nasiru Ayuba, Gumi’s personal assistant and Chairman of the Volunteers of Sultan Bello Mosque, also rejected Idris’ version, asserting that the woman independently sought out Gumi’s intervention for a personal problem rather than being kept by him. Ayuba accused Idris of trying to ruin the cleric’s reputation on social media and warned that their camp holds recorded evidence they are prepared to release if necessary to protect Gumi’s image.

The Rivers State House of Assembly scrutinized accountability and fund management surrounding PAMO University of Medical Sciences during deliberations on the 2026 Appropriation Bill.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Budget Adjustments and Speaker’s Stance: Speaker of the Assembly Martin Amaewhule stated that lawmakers adjusted the budget after expressing dissatisfaction with the university management’s transparency regarding historical fund allocations.

  • Demands for Transparency: While clarifying that the move was not an attack on the medical institution, the Speaker emphasized that public funds allocated to a private entity require strict legislative oversight, tracking of beneficiary numbers, and proof that the program is effectively expanding the state’s medical workforce.

  • No-Show at Budget Defense: Amaewhule revealed that the university snubbed an invitation to appear before the Assembly during the budget defense to account for billions received in taxpayers’ money.

  • Reallocation of Funds: Concerns over the institution led the House to slash its proposed allocation, redirecting a portion of the funds to the Primary Health Care Management Board to rehabilitate local health facilities.

  • Political Context: PAMO University was established by former Governor Peter Odili, with state sponsorship originating under former Governor Nyesom Wike, and the institution’s funding has since become caught up in the ongoing political rift between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

  • Budget Signing: Despite the legislative controversy, Governor Fubara subsequently signed the N1.84 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill into law at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has launched a mandatory profiling exercise for all waste recyclers, scrap dealers, refurbishers, and PET bottle scavengers operating within the state to filter out illegal actors and tackle rising security concerns.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Database and Security Measures: According to RIWAMA Managing Director Dr. Ibimina Wokoma, the initiative aims to build a verified operator database to curb vandalism, theft, and harassment linked to unauthorized scavengers.

  • Environmental Impact: Wokoma criticized rogue scavengers for vandalizing public infrastructure and tearing open properly bagged refuse, which leaves streets littered and worsens the ongoing waste management crisis in Port Harcourt. He also labeled patrons of these illegal operators as accomplices.

  • Compliance Requirements: All individuals involved in scrap, recycling, or scavenging must obtain, complete, and submit a profiling form with required documents to RIWAMA within a strict one-month window.

  • Enforcement and Verification: Following the deadline, enforcement teams equipped with a newly developed mobile verification app will scan and verify operators in the field, with non-compliance triggering penalties under the RIWAMA law.

  • Broader Sanitation Crisis: The profiling directive comes as Port Harcourt continues to grapple with severe waste accumulation and illegal dumping at unauthorized locations, challenges that have lingered since the emergency rule.