Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has accused the acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Damagum and the PDP’s National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu of serving tea and kilishi in the house of President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

He made the claims while disclosing that Tinubu plans to install a PDP presidential candidate in 2027.

Featuring on The Honest Bunch podcast, Adeyanju claimed the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and Damagum are Tinubu’s moles in the PDP.

He said: “The current PDP is in Wike’s pocket at the national level, he installed the current PDP National Chairman who goes to serve tea in Femi Gbajabiamila’s House.

“While Damagum is serving tea, PDP’s National Secretary, Sam Anyanwu goes to the kitchen to serve Kilishi, they are the people in charge of the PDP.

“These are Tinubu’s moles, just like Abure in LP who is an APC mole. There is no opposition, that’s why there is nobody challenging the system. Aside from a few of us, who else is talking?

“We are talking about challenging Tinubu and his government, what it means to be an opposition, what it means to challenge the government where people’s houses are being demolished in the FCT and people run to VeryDarkMan to come to their aid.

“People have lost hope in institutions and opposition, the current PDP as constituted are in bed with APC, PDP can’t hold its own NEC meeting. Wike, Damagum, and Sam Daddy have hijacked the party.

“They want to field a candidate given to them by Tinubu in 2027, you know he is a master of crushing opposition; he did it for about 24 years in Lagos.

“What they do is, he will anoint somebody and put him in charge of PDP in Lagos, that’s what he has been doing.”

Mr Kaduna Eboigbodin, the former Edo State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has reportedly slumped and died during a scuffle with policemen in Benin City.

The Eastern Updates learnt that the incident happened on Monday, December 2, 2024, at a checkpoint in Upper Sakponba, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state.

The late Eboigbodin was a former Head of Uhunmwonde Local Government Administration and the former National Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE.

Read Also: Niger Govt Denies Recent Attack By Gunmen On Gov Bago’s Convoy

Members of the coalition of civil societies in the state disclosed this at a joint press conference in Benin.

At the joint press conference, the coalition of civil societies demanded justice for the late pioneer coordinator of the Edo Civil Society Organisation, EDOSCO, and a founding member of the Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria, NOCSON.

At the briefing, the organisations asserted that the sudden death of the former NLC chairman was avoidable.

They alleged that the death resulted from the unprofessional conduct of certain members of the Nigeria Police Force at a roadblock on the Upper Sokponba axis.

The spokesperson of the group, Omobude Agho, called on the Edo State Government, Commissioner of Police, and all relevant authorities to conduct a full investigation to identify and hold accountable the police officers involved in the incident.

Agho also said the civil societies seek justice for Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin and urged all stakeholders to work together to uphold the rights and dignity of every citizen.

According to Agho, initial investigations revealed that the policemen stopped the deceased and demanded his vehicle papers, which he gladly produced.

“A team of police officers at the checkpoint somewhere around Upper Sokponba stopped him and his wife and insisted he follow them to the station after checking his papers. They seized his papers and one of them entered his vehicle. He introduced himself yet to no avail.

“Upon the altercations, he got a heart attack, and the policemen ran and left him. It was good samaritans that rushed him to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead before arrival,” he said.

In a swift reaction, the Edo State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Moses Yamu, said the picture painted by the civil rights groups is false and contrary to what the deceased’s wife told the police.

The Eastern Updates 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reacted to the public outrage surrounding their failure to reveal the owner of the forfeited 753 duplexes and other apartments in Lokogoma District, Abuja.

On Monday, the agency announced the record-breaking recovery and claimed it belonged to a former government official.

The refusal to name the politician led to fierce criticisms from Nigerians.

Read Also: 753-Duplex Estate Seized By EFCC, Owner’s Identity Hidden

However, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, EFCC gave reasons for the non-disclosure.

“It is important to note that the substantive criminal investigation on the matter still continues.

“It will be unprofessional of the EFCC to go to town by mentioning names of individuals whose identities were not directly linked to any title document of the properties.

“The EFCC is unwavering in its no-sacred-cow approach to every matter and together we will make Nigeria greater,” the statement read in part.

In other news, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday announced the single largest asset recovery since its inception in 2003.

The development followed a ruling by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on the final forfeiture of an Abuja estate measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments.

According to the EFCC, the estate, located on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja, belonged to a government official.

The Eastern Updates 

At least three states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, experienced epileptic economic activities on Monday as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress declared industrial action in protest against the non-implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage.

The Eastern Updates reports that Nigerian workers stalled economic activities in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Ebonyi states and the FCT as they commenced a one-week warning strike.

The strike comes as some states have refused to implement the new minimum wage in October and November, 2024.

Read Also: Ex-Edo NLC Head Collapses, Dies After Police Standoff

Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are irked over non-compliance with the new minimum wage of N70,000 by the area councils in the nation’s capital.

In Kaduna, Nigerian workers paralysed activities in ministries and agencies in the state.

In reaction, the Kaduna State government claimed it had commenced the payment of minimum wage in October, except the consequential adjustment.

Similarly, in Ebonyi and Nasarawa states, members of organised labour also crippled activities.

However, in Ebonyi, the governor, Francis Nwifuru, gave the striking workers a 72-hour ultimatum to resume work or face dismissal.

Nwifuru said the government had approved N75,000 minimum wage and had started implementation.

However, workers in Ebonyi earlier described the N75,000 minimum wage announcement by the governor, Nwifuru, as a mere pronouncement not backed by action, hence the warning strike.

Your threat irresponsible – NLC tackles Gov Nwifuru of Ebonyi

Speaking exclusively to DAILY POST on the strike, the spokesperson of NLC, Benson Upah, described day one of the strike as successful from state to state.

Upah described the threat issued by Governor Nwifuru as irresponsible.

According to him, Nwifuru is alone in what he described as a ‘self-righteous journey.’

“Compliance level has been impressive, from state to state.

“Governor Francis Nwifuru’s reaction is utterly irresponsible. And he is quite alone in this self-righteous journey.

“Quite a number of defaulting governors have taken measures to forestall escalation,” he told Newsmen.

Recall that in July 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the National Minimum Wage Bill.

The federal government and a handful of states have since commenced the implementation of the minimum wage, while others are foot dragging.

The Eastern Updates

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has confirmed that the Port Harcourt Refinery is functional.

There were claims last week that the refinery had shut down just a few days after its much-celebrated commencement of production.

But many oil experts have come out to speak on the status of the refinery.

Read Also: 753-Duplex Estate Seized By EFCC, Owner’s Identity Hidden

Similarly, in an interview on Arise TV Monday night, Comrade Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, said the refinery has indeed commenced operation in full force.

Osifo, however, gave a few limitations in the production processes.

He was also quick to say that the blending process was normal globally, as no refinery can produce with a single Crude Distillation Unit (CDU).

He also said Nigerians have every reason to doubt and question the government, considering what they had suffered at the hands of past governments.

He said, “Nigerians, we have every reason to doubt the government. We have every reason to question assertions from governments because over the years, they have actually let us down.

“Having said that, for us in PENGASSAN, it’s part of what we are going to address tomorrow in our National Executive Council meeting.”

Explaining the production processes in the refinery, he said, “Really, from our checks, the Port Harcourt refinery is actually working.

“But let me explain this. In petroleum product production, you take the crude and you pass the crude into what they call the CDU (Crude Distillation Unit).

“So, it is actually that unit that is going to bring different products. That unit today, as we speak, is working.

“When you pass the crude into CDU, it is going to give you what we call Kerosene (DPK), it is going to give you what we call ATK (Aviation fuel), and it’s going to give you DPO (Diesel).

“It’s also going to give you naphtha. That is that distillation unit. That unit is working.

“What that means is that when you pass crude into that unit, you will have these products, but the old Port Harcourt refinery was not designed to produce aviation fuel.

“So, you are going to have these three principal products: the Naphtha, the AGO, as well as the DPK. So normally, that Naphtha, you are going to pass it to this unit called the Reformat Unit.

“As we speak today, that reformat unit is not actually working. We must disclose this to Nigerians.

“What is now happening at the moment is that you are going to take that Naphtha and merge it with Crack-C5. It will now be blended with Naphtha, and some other processes take place, and now it gives us PMS.

“What Nigerians should be interested in today is that: is the Port Harcourt refinery producing AGO? The answer is yes. Is the old Port Harcourt refinery producing kerosene? The answer is yes. Is it producing PMS today? The answer is yes.

“We should reduce the concentration on what the processes are but look at the products that come out.”

He further affirmed that, “There is no refinery in the world that has a CDU that produces PMS in a single tranche. No one produces PMS, even Dangote Refinery.

“Their CDU doesn’t just produce PMS. But there is a product that comes out that is close to PMS. The requirement and the specification – what we call the Octane number in PMS – is very high.

“You have to produce it to spec or it damages vehicles. That Naphtha is further treated, and treating that Naphtha using the Crack-C4 from Indorama is what they now call blending.

“But in all honesty, the refinery is working, and these products are all there and coming out.”

The Eastern Updates

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed a fire incident at its office in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.

In a post on its official X handle on Tuesday, the Commission stated that about 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests and other items were destroyed.

According to the post, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Delta State, Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren, confirmed the incident in a report.

Read Also: Inferno Sweeps Through Kwara Market, Damages Properties

The report explained that the incident occurred on Monday afternoon as a result of a sudden power surge following the restoration of public power supply.

“The store’s section where petrol generators and other items were kept was completely razed.

“Items destroyed in the inferno include 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric power generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals and assorted items such as envelopes, posters, forms and booklets.

“Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities. The incident has been reported to the security agencies and emergency services for a thorough investigation.

“The Commission appreciates the cooperation of the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service for their response,” INEC stated.

In other news, a devastating fire tore through a building materials market in the Ita Amodu area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Tuesday, reducing goods worth millions of naira to ashes. Among the losses were a truck fully loaded with mattresses, multiple buildings, and shops, leaving traders reeling from the destruction.

The fire, which reportedly ignited around 10 am at Ile Bilewu, Alabi-Owo Junction in Ita Amodu, was triggered by a collision between a truck and a high-tension power line. According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the resulting blaze rapidly engulfed a building containing 47 rooms and 19 shops, leaving significant damage in its wake.

In a statement addressing the incident, Hassan Adekunle, who serves as the Principal Fire Officer and the Head of Media and Publicity for the Kwara State Fire Service, provided confirmation of the tragic event.

The Fire Service explained that the fire’s rapid escalation was largely due to the flammability of the mattresses. Matters worsened when a nearby step-down transformer erupted in an explosion, intensifying the flames and spreading destruction to neighboring structures.

The Eastern Updates

Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, has announced a new visa policy for Nigerians, saying investors and tourists could apply for a visa without submitting passport.

The South African President revealed this on Tuesday at the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, which President Bola Tinubu attended.

According to him, South Africa has simplified its visa processes to facilitate travel for Nigerian business people and tourists, with measures such as five-year multiple entry visas.

Read Also: Death Penalty For Property Tycoon Upheld By Vietnam Court

He noted that the gesture was to create a favourable environment, especially to simplify visa process for Nigerian business people to travel to South Africa.

“Qualifying Nigerian business people can be granted a five-year multiple entry visa,” he said.

He also pledged South Africa’s commitment to removing constraints on greater investment and addressing the challenges faced by companies in both countries.

“As we mark 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we see a bright future for our relationship. Our strong bonds of friendship provide a firm foundation for more meaningful economic cooperation.

“Nigeria is host to a number of South African companies. South Africa has always been open to Nigerian business, reflected in the number of investments and operations established in this country.

“But there is much more we need to do. We need to remove the remaining constraints to greater investment, just as we need to address some of the challenges that companies have experienced.

Ramaphosa also acknowledged the Nigerian government’s reforms to further strengthen and foster a business environment that offers assurances to investors, including from South Africa.

He said his administration will continue with its efforts to improve the ease of doing business in South Africa. We want to enable investors to operate, trade and pursue opportunities in various sectors.

“We look forward to seeing more Nigerian companies investing in South Africa,” he said.

The South African leader said Africa’s development and the challenges facing countries of the Global South would be firmly placed on the G20 agenda.

“It will be the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held on African soil. We will seek to galvanise support for the AU’s Agenda 2063 as we pursue an inclusive global agenda.

“For South Africa, it is our view that in shaping global discourse, programs should be tailored to ensure that in our societies, no one is left behind,” he said.

The Eastern Updates

The Niger State Government has refuted the news making the rounds in some media outlets and on social media that the convoy of Governor Mohammed Umar Bago was attacked by suspected bandits in Mashegu Local Government Area.

In a statement by Chief Press Secretary Bologi Ibrahim, the government described the news as baseless, false and unfounded.

Read Also: Fubara Pledges to End Political Violence In Rivers State

“The convoy of the Governor has been having a smooth tour of ongoing projects across the Niger North Senatorial District since last week.

“The governor’s tour has been peaceful with no incident of any attack or threat to his safety or that of his team,” Bologi insisted.

He maintained that Governor Bago has rather been enjoying a warm reception from community members in all places visited so far.

Bologi explained that security personnel, with the cooperation of local law enforcement personnel, have also been resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all participants in the tour.

“It is unfortunate that some media practitioners are so unethical, disseminating false and misleading information to the public,” he said.

The Eastern Updates recalls that some media outlets reported that Governor Bago’s convoy was allegedly attacked by suspected bandits while returning from Egede community in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The convoy, which included the governor and his team, was said to have been ambushed when they took a wrong turn into a bushy area, prompting the bandits to open fire sporadically on their vehicles and fortunately, no casualties were reported.

According to the report, which has now been debunked, the incident occurred as the governor was heading back to Kontagora in Niger North senatorial district, after the inspection tour of projects initiated by his administration in Zone C.

The Eastern Updates