News

Osun Account Freeze: Accord Party Demands EFCC Chairman’s Resignation

Published

2 months ago

August 7, 2026

The Accord Party has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the freezing of the Osun State Government’s bank account.

National Chairman of the party, Chief Maxwell Mgbudem, made the demand on Friday in Abuja while addressing a world press conference ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.

Mgbudem described the EFCC’s action as unconstitutional and an overreach of its statutory powers, alleging that it had further heightened concerns over the possibility of federal institutions being used to influence the outcome of the election.

According to him, the party had lost confidence in the leadership of the anti-graft agency following what he described as its “unprecedented partisanship” in the Osun political crisis.

“Accordingly, Accord demands the immediate resignation of the EFCC chairman. The EFCC chairman should toe the path of honour and tender his resignation. If he fails to resign, President Tinubu should sack him immediately to restore the integrity of the anti-graft agency,” he said.

Mgbudem said the commission’s action had embarrassed the Federal Government and brought the country into ridicule before the international community.

He, however, commended President Tinubu for intervening after appeals from the Osun State Government, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

He said the President’s directive to unfreeze the account was a timely intervention that would help prevent further escalation of political tension in the state.

Accord also urged security agencies, anti-graft bodies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other democratic institutions to operate strictly within their statutory mandates and uphold democratic principles.

The party chairman alleged that Accord members and supporters had suffered attacks, arrests, intimidation and harassment in the state ahead of the election.

He claimed that some party members had been killed or injured, while the party’s offices and campaign structures were allegedly attacked and billboards destroyed.

Mgbudem accused suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters of involvement in some of the alleged attacks and claimed that security agencies had failed to adequately protect Accord members despite receiving reports of planned incidents.

He called for an end to what he described as the militarisation of the electoral process, insisting that security agencies should remain neutral and professional.

“Electoral contest is not a warfare. It should not be militarized by deploying federal apparatuses to suppress, subdue and oppress political opponents and their supporters to favour a party that has been rejected by the people,” he said.

The Accord chairman urged the people of Osun State to freely exercise their right to choose their governor, saying the outcome of the election must reflect the will of the electorate.

He also called on INEC to conduct a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive election, stressing that the commission must ensure that all electoral materials and systems were adequately tested before the poll.

Mgbudem described the Osun governorship election as particularly important because it would be the last off-cycle governorship election before the 2027 general elections.

He called on civil society organisations, election observer groups, the Nigerian Bar Association, the media, development partners and the international community to monitor the election and speak out against actions capable of undermining its credibility.

The party further urged stakeholders to prevent violence, intimidation, voter suppression, vote-buying, manipulation and unlawful interference by security agencies.

According to Mgbudem, security personnel must focus on protecting lives, maintaining law and order and creating a safe environment for voters rather than influencing the electoral process in favour of any political party or candidate.

He also appealed to President Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to release what he described as the remaining 60 Accord members detained by the police in Abuja, Osun and Nasarawa states.

He said the release of the detainees would help reduce political tension ahead of the election.

Mgbudem urged Osun voters to come out en masse on August 15 and vote for Governor Ademola Adeleke, whom he described as a performing and visionary governor deserving of a second term.

He said Accord remained confident of victory despite alleged attempts to frustrate the Adeleke administration.

The party chairman insisted that every vote must count and urged voters and stakeholders to protect the sanctity of the ballot.

“The people of Osun State deserve nothing less than an election whose outcome genuinely reflects their freely expressed democratic choice,” he said.

Mgbudem reiterated the party’s appreciation to President Tinubu for his intervention in the EFCC matter and urged all relevant authorities to ensure that the Osun governorship election was conducted peacefully and in accordance with the Constitution and Electoral Act.

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.