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JUST IN: INEC Presents Certificates Of Return To Okpebholo, Idahosa

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we now have a governor who will respect people of Edo, says Oshiomhole

Edo State governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Hon. Denis Idahosa on Thursday, September 26, received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The certificates were presented to them by the national commissioner in charge of Edo state Prof. Rhoda Gumus, who represented the chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

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They were accompanied to the INEC headquarters by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Secretary, Senator Bashiru Ajibola, Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the Deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuaibu, Senator Matthew Uroghide, General Cecil Esekhaigbe (retd), Senator Francis Alimikhena, Hon. Ogbeide Ihama, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, Blessing Agbonmhere among others.

Speaking with newsmen after receiving his certificate of return, Senator Okpebhlo dedicated his victory to the people of Edo state, saying by voting for him, they have sent him on an assignment, adding that he was ready to deliver on the mandate freely given to him by the people of the state.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Tinubu Receives Okpebholo, APC Govs At State House

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APC national chairman and former Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje expressed appreciation to the people of Edo state for returning the APC to the state, adding that the incoming governor has a blueprint to develop the state.

He said: “Edo state was an APC state. Later on, the governor as a nomadic politician, cross-carpeted to PDP, but today, we fought for it and we have recovered our state for the APC.

“I am so happy because essentially, our governor-elect and experienced politician, a distinguished senator who has a blueprint for the development of Edo state and we assure you, you will see great changes”.

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Former Edo state governor and Senator representing Edo North, Senator Adams Oshiomhole said the people are excited because they now have a governor who will not be fighting with the traditional institution over artefacts, or demolishing a hospital only to replace it with a museum.

READ ALSO: FG Raises Corps Members Allowance To ₦77,000 Per Month

Oshiomhole said: “For us, it is a new dawn. When a lion moves into your home and starts destroying your things, the power of democracy is that because the process is tenured, when it is time, the ordinary people will now have the potency to make a verdict about the tenure of Gov. Obaseki and the verdict is now.

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“It is not my personal feelings that matters now because that should be obvious. But one thing that I am happy about is that the Edo people now have a new governor who will not disrespect them as a people. We now have a governor who will not send pregnant women to prison, to deliver and die in prison over N20,000 mobile court fines.

“We now have a governor who understands that for the child of a casava farmer to rise to become a Senator or an Engineer or a Doctor, he must employ teachers in all the science subjects and build schools that will appeal to the young minds.

“We now have a governor who, without a MoU, will go and build that road that has been in bad shape across the state, clean the drainages ahead of the rainy season. In Edo state, we now a governor will respect the traditional institution that is the head of our culture. We now have a governor who will not be fighting over artefacts, but will rather be fighting for what is good for the Edo people.

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READ ALSO: APGA Factions Clash Over Threat To Suspend Soludo

“We now have a governor who will not demolish a hospital and replace it with a museum. We now have a governor who understands the value of education and will not destroy libraries and replace them with a market.

“For me, this is what excites Edo people and once they are happy, having had the rare privilege to superintend over that state, I am happy that they have reclaimed their state from the Lions that claiming to be iron which has now been melted with the combined force of Edo North, Edo Central, and Edo south.”

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In his remarks, Ganduje stated: “When you’re working to reclaim your state, enduring sleepless nights and navigating through tough terrain, the effort is worth it. Edo was originally an APC state, but the former governor switched allegiances like a nomadic politician.

“We fought hard and have now successfully regained control of the state. We are especially thrilled because the governor-elect is a seasoned politician and distinguished senator with a solid plan for Edo’s development. We assure you that significant positive changes are on the way.”

 

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Church Of Nigeria Formally Cuts Ties With Wales Over Lesbian Archbishop

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The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has officially cut all ties with the Church in Wales following the appointment of Bishop Cherry Vann, an openly lesbian cleric, as the 15th Archbishop of Wales.

The decision was announced by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, who described the development as ‘an abomination’ and a serious departure from biblical truth.

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The announcement came during the opening session of the 14th Church of Nigeria Conference of Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers, held on Tuesday at the Church’s national secretariat in Abuja.

With the theme ‘Called as a Watchman’, the event brought together legal minds from across the Church to discuss matters of doctrinal integrity, justice, and governance.

READ ALSO:Nigerians, Churches Groaning Under Economic Pressure — Anglican Bishop

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Primate Ndukuba delivered the keynote address titled ‘The Decade of the Reign of God: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects.’

Reacting to the Church in Wales’ elevation of a lesbian bishop, the Primate said, “We reject the election of the Right Reverend Cherry Vann as the Archbishop of Wales.”

He compared it to the 2003 consecration of Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church (USA), which had also led to Nigeria severing ties with that province.

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“Just as the Church of Nigeria took steps after the election of Gene Robinson in the United States, we are severing every tie and relationship with the Church of Wales,” he said.

Primate Ndukuba also criticised what he described as the growing influence of revisionist teachings within sections of the Western Church.

READ ALSO:Israeli Strike On Gaza’s Only Catholic Church Kills Two

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“These individuals have not relented from their evil agenda; rather, they have intensified it. What they call their wisdom and culture is an abomination to God,” he declared.

Despite cutting formal ties with the Church in Wales, the Church of Nigeria reaffirmed its support for orthodox Anglicans in the region through platforms such as the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON).

We pray that the Church of God in Wales will rise up, and that the faithful among them will stand strong. We, the Church of Nigeria, alongside GAFCON, will stand with them,” Ndukuba assured.

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READ ALSO:Anglican Church Bans Partisan Speeches By Politicians During Services

Looking ahead, the Primate said the Church of Nigeria plans to expand its global mission, with new registrations underway in countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.

We feel that the Lord is calling us back to Europe for mission,” he said.

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The Primate also used the opportunity to highlight the Church’s ongoing contributions to the GAFCON movement.

READ ALSO:Church Of England Approves Blessing Of Gay Marriages

He revealed that the Church of Nigeria had recently contributed $2.5 million to the GAFCON Endowment Fund and was planning a local Nigerian GAFCON Endowment worth $2.3 million to support orthodox Anglican work and mission.

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On constitutional and legal matters, Ndukuba urged legal officers to strengthen the Church’s internal reforms and national engagement.

You are to understand yourselves to be watchmen for the Church. You defend the Church against all forms of aggression. As modern-day watchmen, we must first listen to God, then speak His truth in love, knowing our duty lies in obedience,” he said, calling on legal professionals to support the Church’s constitutional review and advocate for a new Nigerian constitution.

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EFCC Arraigns Six Katsina Revenue, Bank Workers Over N1.2bn Fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday arraigned five officials of the Katsina State Board of Internal Revenue and a staff of First Bank over an alleged N1.2 billion fraud.

The accused were brought before Justice Musa Danladi of the Katsina State High Court by the Commission’s Kano Zonal Directorate on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and diversion of public funds.

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According to the anti-graft agency in a statement on Wednesday, the total sum allegedly diverted is N1,235,330,000, said to be tax remittances from the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Alliance for International Medical Action, which were due to the Katsina State Government.

The defendants, Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi, and Adam Alhassan Albashir, a Public Sector Relationship Manager with First Bank, were all docked and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

READ ALSO:UNICEF Advocates Six Months Maternity Leave From Working Mothers In Bauchi

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One of the charges reads:
“That you Nura Lawal, Sanusi Mohammed Yaro, Ibrahim Mamman, Abubakar Saidu, Rabiu Adamu Abdullahi and Adam Alhassan Albashir between January, 2022 to August, 2024 at Katsina within the jurisdiction of the Katsina State High Court, being staff of Board of Internal Revenue Services (BOIRS), Katsina and Public Sector Relationship Manager of First Bank, in such capacity conspired among yourselves to commit an unlawful act to wit: unlawfully converted to your personal uses the tax payments meant for the Katsina State Government and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State and punishable under Section 298 of the Same Law.”

After their plea, prosecution counsel Musa Isah urged the court to fix a trial date to enable the Commission prove its case.

However, the defence counsels filed separate bail applications for the six defendants, requesting their release pending trial. Isah opposed the applications.

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Justice Danladi, after listening to both sides, granted bail to each defendant in the sum of N5m with one reliable surety resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

READ ALSO:EFCC Recovers Funds Lost To CBEX Fraud, Forfeiture Process Underway — Olukoyede

The Judge said surety must possess verifiable landed property, with the title documents to be verified by the court registrar.

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The case was adjourned to October 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

According to EFCC investigations, Rabiu Abdullahi, a former Director of Collections and current Permanent Secretary of the Board, allegedly authorised the opening of an account named “BOIRS” with Sterling Bank. Sanusi Mohammed Yaro and Ibrahim Mamman were appointed as the sole signatories.

The commission said the account became the main channel for funnelling the diverted funds to NADIKKO General Suppliers, a company allegedly owned and controlled by Nura Lawal, an Assistant Director in the Career Skills/Staff Welfare unit of the Board.

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EFCC findings also showed that NADIKKO and Lawal served as key conduits in laundering the proceeds, which were traced to multiple bank accounts linked to the suspects.

 

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FG Urges Nigerians Abroad To Register With Embassies For Emergency Support

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The Federal Government has called on Nigerians travelling abroad to register with Nigerian embassies and consulates in their host countries to enable timely intervention during emergencies.

The appeal was made by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Ahmed, during a meeting with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, led by its Chairman, Idehai Frederick, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

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According to DICAN, Amb. Ahmed stressed the importance of informing Nigerian missions upon arrival in foreign countries, rather than waiting until problems arise.

I advise Nigerians to make it a point of duty to make their presence known to the Nigerian mission in the country they’re visiting.

READ ALSO:FG Approves N4bn For 158 TETFUND Research Projects

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This simple step can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that Nigerians receive the support they need in times of crisis.

“There was a recent case of Nigerians trapped in the Central African Republic, where some Nigerians tried to give the Ministry a bad name,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary highlighted the role of timely and accurate information in managing crises and emphasised the need for closer collaboration with media organisations like DICAN to combat misinformation.

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Most of the time, giving the necessary information before they even ask for information is crucial in managing crises effectively.

READ ALSO:FG Promotes 30 Senior NCoS Officers To Assistant Controller General

We are saddled with the role of laundering the image of the country. Hence, the inevitability of a strengthened partnership between DICAN and the Ministry,” Perm. Sec. noted.

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He underscored the significance of disseminating accurate narratives about Nigeria’s foreign policy, particularly in the face of growing disinformation.

Ambassador Ahmed also commended DICAN for hosting the maiden Diplomatic and Security International Conference, which brought together about 70 diplomats, security experts, academics, and representatives of civil society to discuss strategies for global safety and peace.

In appreciation of the Ministry’s cooperation, DICAN Chairman said, “The Permanent Secretary has shown commitment to working with DICAN, and we appreciate his efforts in promoting a positive image of Nigeria.”

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