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Drama In Benue As APC Screens Out 59 Assembly Aspirants, Approves 86.
The Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified 59 aspirants from its upcoming House of Assembly primaries over alleged breaches of party guidelines and constitutional requirements.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
reports that the decision followed the screening of 146 aspirants by the party’s House of Assembly Screening Committee.
Out of those screened, 86 aspirants were cleared to contest in the primaries or emerge through consensus arrangements, while 59 were disqualified.
A copy of the screening report, signed by committee chairman Auwalu Ishiye and secretary Tijjani Abdullahi, stated that the affected aspirants were dropped for “non-compliance with party guidelines and party constitution.”
However, the party clarified that the disqualified aspirants were given the opportunity to appeal the decision.
The State Organising Secretary of the APC, James Ornguga, confirmed that the Screening Appeal Committee had already begun reviewing petitions from aggrieved aspirants, many of whom had formally lodged complaints.
He explained that the party set up two separate committees—one for screening and another for appeals—to ensure fairness in the process. The appeal panel, chaired by Alhaji Lawal Abubakar, had already commenced sitting and receiving petitions from dissatisfied aspirants.
Ornguga noted that most of the disqualifications resulted from discrepancies in submitted documents, adding that the appeal committee would cross-check petitions with original records before reaching a final decision.
He further assured that aspirants wrongly disqualified would be reinstated after proper verification, stressing that the process remained transparent and fair.
According to him, the party has no intention of targeting or sidelining any aspirant, but is simply enforcing its rules to maintain order in the selection process.
He listed common reasons for disqualification to include non-payment of party dues by nominators, insufficient number of supporters, age discrepancies, and inconsistencies in academic qualifications.
Ornguga also explained that each aspirant was required to present at least 120 financial members of the party as nominators, warning that failure to meet this requirement could lead to disqualification.
He maintained that the screening exercise was conducted diligently and without bias, insisting that the party was committed to a transparent and credible primary process.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, demanding an independent investigation into the scandal surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that a transparent probe is necessary to clear suspicions of high-level government involvement in the alleged fraud.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku’s critique centers on the perceived lack of institutional credibility regarding the government’s current explanation of the scandal:
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Implausible Narrative: Atiku criticized the Presidency’s account—provided by Bayo Onanuga—as illogical, questioning how one individual (Adeniyi Adeyemi) could unilaterally secure government office space, conduct high-level meetings with foreign delegations, and process official staff salaries without internal collaboration or negligence.
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Systemic Failure: He emphasized that while Adeyemi should face legal consequences if guilty, the government must address how such an operation bypassed standard institutional oversight.
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Budgetary and Civil Service Inconsistencies: Atiku highlighted that the PFIPC reportedly appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a multi-billion naira budget, and that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service allegedly approved the recruitment of over 300 staff members, both of which are structured processes that cannot occur by accident.
The Demand for Accountability
Atiku argued that the Presidency cannot deflect blame onto a single individual while ignoring the structural systems that facilitated the alleged fraud. Given that Adeyemi has denied the allegations and claimed that influential figures are attempting to silence him, Atiku contends that an independent inquiry is urgently required. He concluded by warning that failure to launch a comprehensive investigation would lead to public perception of “complicity by silence” on the part of the President.
Real Madrid has officially and categorically dismissed recent media speculation suggesting they are pursuing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Official Stance
In an official statement released on Friday, the Spanish club clarified its position:
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Real Madrid confirmed they have made no direct or indirect efforts to sign the 25-year-old Argentina international.
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The club explicitly stated they have no intention of initiating a transfer for the player.
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Maintaining their commitment to “institutional loyalty,” Madrid emphasized that their relationship with Chelsea remains excellent.
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The club expressed regret that unfounded rumors continue to circulate, noting that such misinformation causes unnecessary confusion for fans and damages the involved parties.
Context and Background
The denial follows intense speculation that arose after Jose Mourinho returned as manager for Real Madrid:
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Reports had claimed that Fernández was Mourinho’s primary midfield target and that the player considered Madrid his preferred destination.
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Chelsea reportedly values the midfielder, who is under contract until 2032, at approximately £120 million.
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Fernández previously faced consequences at Chelsea, including being dropped for two matches earlier this year, after publicly expressing his admiration for Real Madrid and his desire to live in the Spanish capital.
Fernández is currently participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, where he is preparing for a Round of 32 match against Cape Verde. During the previous season, he recorded 15 goals and seven assists across 54 appearances for Chelsea.
On Thursday, June 2, 2026, Justice J.O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of ₦150 million to the Federal Government. The funds, linked to Nicholas Mutu, a serving member of the House of Representatives, were seized following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The ruling was secured under Section 44(2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Related Offences Act. The court had previously issued an interim forfeiture order and mandated public notice in a national newspaper. As no party provided sufficient evidence to challenge the forfeiture during the interim period, Justice Abdulmalik granted the final order, rejecting arguments presented by counsel for Mutu and his company, Airworld Technologies Ltd.
The EFCC’s Findings
The EFCC’s investigation detailed how the funds were obtained:
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Kickback Scheme: While serving as Chairman of the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mutu allegedly received over ₦400 million in kickbacks from an NDDC consultant, Starline Consultancy Services.
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Laundering: The money was reportedly funneled through Heritage Bank accounts belonging to two of Mutu’s companies, Airworld Technologies Ltd and Oyien Homes Ltd, which are owned and operated by the lawmaker and his immediate family.
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The “Consultancy” Ruse: Investigators revealed that after the Committee helped the NDDC recover over ₦100 billion from oil firms, Mutu pressured the consultant to issue a fake subcontract to his company to justify the kickbacks. The consultant later admitted that no actual work was performed by Mutu’s firm.
Mutu’s Defense and Ongoing Legal Status
During the investigation, Mutu returned ₦150 million to the EFCC, though he later argued in court that the payment was involuntary and that the funds resulted from legitimate business dealings. The court ultimately dismissed these claims, ruling that the money constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.
This civil forfeiture follows a separate, ongoing legal battle; the EFCC is currently appealing a previous judgment by Justice F.O.G. Ogunbanjo, which had acquitted Mutu in a related criminal money laundering trial.
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