Coup rumours: Agbakoba backs Tinubu on replacement of service chiefs.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to replace the nation’s service chiefs, describing it as a wise and timely move, especially amid rumours of an alleged coup plot.

President Tinubu had on Friday announced major changes in the leadership of the armed forces as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security structure. The reshuffle included the appointment of a new Chief of Defence Staff and other top military officers.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Agbakoba said the president’s action showed firmness and decisiveness that were lacking in the previous administration.

“You have a president who is prepared to take tough decisions, and we know that he likes to take tough decisions,” Agbakoba said.

“I think he has done the right thing because his predecessor, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, did not like to make such decisions and allowed his military team to stay far longer than they should have.”

Reports had linked the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary events on October 1 to an alleged coup attempt. But the Defence Headquarters dismissed the claims, saying the cancellation had no connection to any plot.

The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said the timing of the president’s decision was appropriate and showed leadership at a critical moment.

“So, if it is indeed true that there was a rumoured coup, I think he (Tinubu) acted sensibly by doing exactly what he has done,” he said.

President Tinubu Set To Announce Prof. Joash Amupitan As New INEC Chairman.

There are indications that President Bola Tinubu is set to announce Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to reports, barring any last-minute changes, Prof. Amupitan is expected to replace Prof. Yakubu as the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following his 10-year tenure, which spans two terms.

Mahmood was appointed to office by then-President Muhammadu Buhari on October 21, 2015 and his tenure is set to expire in November 2025.

According to Sahara Reporters, President Tinubu is set to announce Amupitan as the new INEC Chairman.

Reports have it that the appointment of Amupitan is set to be formalized when President Tinubu hosts the Council of State meeting on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.

Profile of Professor Amupitan
Naija News reports that Amupitan is a legal scholar and administrator with over 34 years of academic and professional experience. A native of Ijumu Local Government Area in Kogi State, he is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Yemisi Amupitan, and together they are blessed with four children.

Amupitan began his academic journey at the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer. He steadily rose through the academic ranks, becoming a Reader in 2003 and a Professor of Law in 2008.

Over the years, he has held several key administrative positions, including Head of Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors, and a member of the University’s Governing Council.

“Patience Jonathan Knelt Before Me, Begging Not to Be Abandoned” — Pastor Tunde Bakare Recounts 2014 Encounter with Ex-President Jonathan


Prominent cleric and political leader, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has revealed that former President Goodluck Jonathan once invited him for a private meeting in 2014, as his administration struggled to retain power.

Speaking in a video shared by Channels Television, Bakare recounted that during the tense meeting, Patience Jonathan, the former First Lady, broke down in tears and knelt before him, pleading that he should not abandon them.

“His wife is alive, here in Lagos house, Yinka Odumakin was there. His wife knelt down and held my two feet, saying, ‘You are our father, don’t abandon us.’ I told them it was too late because they didn’t listen to counsel,” Bakare revealed.



The cleric noted that activist Yinka Odumakin was present at the emotional meeting. He explained that Jonathan sought his support despite their political rivalry, as Bakare had earlier contested the 2011 election as running mate to Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Bakare, he eventually advised Jonathan to convene a National Conference that would bring together representatives from all regions to discuss Nigeria’s future.

He said Jonathan acted on that counsel by organizing the 2014 National Conference, but unfortunately, the recommendations were never implemented.

“I told him to call for a national conference that would address Nigeria’s challenges and unite the people. He did — but sadly, nothing was done with the report,” Bakare added.


The pastor’s revelation has reignited conversations online about the political intrigues of 2014, Jonathan’s leadership style, and the untapped potential of the conference’s resolutions.

I am under a lot of pressure to join ADC despite APC being my child— Pastor Tunde Bakare.

Founder of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, says he is under intense pressure from prominent politicians to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition coalition but has firmly declined the offer.

Speaking on Saturday during the inaugural edition of the Citadel School of Governance Dialogue Series in Lagos, Bakare confirmed that several influential figures, including a former governor and minister from the South-West, have urged him to align with the ADC.

“There has been a lot of pressure on me from who is who to join ADC. They come to my home. Even while I was abroad, the hierarchy of that party kept calling, saying they needed my voice,” he said.

The cleric added that a younger political associate who had benefitted from key roles in the All Progressives Congress (APC) also tried to persuade him to lend his influence to the opposition party.

“I am not going to take part in ADC. The last time I knew about ADC was about a plane that cr+shed. I wish them well because we need a robust opposition,” Bakare said. “But you don’t birth a child called APC and then try to kill it yourself. We are not going to have another Awolowo-Akintola crisis in the South-West.”

Bakare also described President Bola Tinubu’s emergence as divinely ordained, saying his leadership could not have been achieved without God’s backing.

“If God wants to remove ‘emilokan,’ He knows how to do it. You can’t get the kind of thing Tinubu has brought without God’s support,” he noted.

Bakare, who contested for the APC presidential ticket in 2023 alongside Tinubu, was the running mate to Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 presidential election under the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) — one of the legacy parties that merged to form the APC in 2013.

Boko Haram Not Driven by Hunger, Sometimes Better Armed Than Nigerian Army — Ex-President Goodluck reveals they once nominated Buhari as negotiator.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Boko Haram insurgents are not motivated by poverty, stressing that they often wield more sophisticated weapons than the Nigerian Army.

Jonathan spoke on Friday at the launch of “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey & the Boko Haram Conundrum”, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (rtd).

Recalling past efforts to end the insurgency, Jonathan revealed that during his presidency a committee set up to negotiate with the group was surprised when Boko Haram nominated Muhammadu Buhari to represent them in talks.

“So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them & have a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them & they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today,” he said

He noted that the insurgency began in 2009 when he served as Vice-President under the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. “Even when I took over power in 2010 as president, I battled with it until I left office in 2015. I thought immediately I left, within a reasonable time, late President Muhammadu Buhari was going to wipe them out, but till today, Boko Haram is still here. So the issue of Boko Haram becomes more complex,” he added.

Jonathan urged the current administration to adopt a carrot-and-stick approach, stressing that the sophistication of the sect’s weapons points to external support. 

“Issue of carrots and the stick may be adopted, and yes, probably the needs are there, but if you look at the weapons they use, and you value the weapons, then you know that these are not hungry people. Sometimes the soldiers capture some of the weapons and see they are even better. The weapons they use, the ammunition they use, sometimes they even have more ammunition than our soldiers,” he said.

Abduction of 276 Chibok Girls Remain Indelible Scar on My Presidency — Jonathan.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has admitted that the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls will forever remain a scar on his presidency.

He made the remark on Friday at the presentation of SCARS: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a memoir by former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor. Commending Irabor, Jonathan described him as “a soldier who stood for truth and never played politics with security.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Jonathan said, “One of the major scars on my government is the Chibok Girls. As Bishop Kukah said, no plastic or cosmetic surgeon can remove it. It is a scar I will die with.”

The kidnapping of 276 girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, triggered global outrage and birthed the #BringBackOurGirls campaign. Although some of the girls escaped or were freed, more than 80 remain unaccounted for.

Survivors still struggle with stigma, trauma, and interrupted education, with some returning home with children born in captivity.

Jonathan noted that Boko Haram’s activities, which began in 2009, worsened during his presidency. “I battled Boko Haram for five years as President. I thought Buhari would wipe them out quickly, but they remain. Sometimes they even had more munitions than our soldiers — that does not reflect the actions of hungry villagers,” he said.

While his administration was heavily criticised for its response to the tragedy, Jonathan defended his silence at the time, saying it was aimed at protecting sensitive intelligence. He insisted that the insurgency was more complex than many assumed and called for a renewed approach, stressing that the “carrot and stick” method might be necessary.

Over a decade later, successive governments have rescued or negotiated the release of about 189 girls, but dozens are still in captivity. The Federal Government maintains that freeing the remaining Chibok girls and Leah Sharibu remains a national priority.

Nigeria’s Debt Rises as World Bank Approves $750m Loan.

The World Bank is set to approve two loans worth $750 million for Nigeria on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, aimed at boosting healthcare security and digital infrastructure.

According to the bank’s website, the package includes $500m for the Building Resilient Digital Infrastructure for Growth in Nigeria (BRIDGE) project and $250m for the Health Security Programme in Western and Central Africa, Nigeria – Phase II.

The BRIDGE project, led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, seeks to expand broadband access to rural and underserved areas. With a total cost of $1.6bn, $500m will come from the World Bank while the rest will be sourced from private investors and multilateral lenders. 

Plans include laying fibre-optic cables nationwide, linking all six geopolitical zones to Lagos, and building city loops, regional networks, and data centres. Implementation will be through a Special Purpose Vehicle, with the Federal Government holding 51% equity and private partners 49%.

The $250m health loan will be managed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention under the Ministry of Finance. It aims to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to prevent and respond to health emergencies, drawing lessons from COVID-19 and other outbreaks.

Between June 2023 and August 2025, Nigeria secured $8.4bn in World Bank loans for energy, education, health, rural development, and governance. The bank remains Nigeria’s largest creditor, holding about 40% of external debt as of March 2025.

Experts remain divided on the impact of borrowing. Some argue concessional loans tied to growth projects can benefit the economy, while others warn Nigeria’s debt—now around N149 trillion, up from N87 trillion at the end of Buhari’s tenure—is becoming unsustainable.

Nigerian Soldiers Fighting Boko Haram Lament About Allegedly Getting Paid N20,000 Out of N100,000 Monthly Allowance.

Fresh findings by SaharaReporters have revealed that Nigerian soldiers deployed to the North-East for counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram receive only N20,000 monthly from the N100,000 Scarce Skills Allowance (SSA) approved by the Federal Government.

Several soldiers who spoke on the matter expressed frustration that, despite official approvals dating back to 2017, they are still being denied their full entitlements.

“Yes, the Federal Government approved N100,000 per soldier, but we only receive N20,000,” one soldier said. “The Air Force recently raised theirs to N50,000, but the Army has refused. This underpayment started under former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.).”

The SSA was one of several welfare packages introduced in November 2017 by former President Muhammadu Buhari under the Manual of Financial Administration for the Armed Forces of Nigeria (MAFA). The document explicitly provides for N100,000 monthly payment to all military personnel, regardless of rank.

However, soldiers told SaharaReporters they are still being paid between N20,000 and N30,000, in clear vi%lation of the guidelines.

This revelation echoes similar allegations published in 2021, when troops accused the Army leadership under Buratai of diverting allowances. At the time, soldiers complained that their Uniform and Boot Allowance, along with the SSA approved since 2017, had either been unpaid or grossly reduced.

One soldier explained: “The Scarce Skills Allowance approved by the President in 2017 was N100,000, but the Army only began paying in 2020 and even then, Privates to Corporals got N20,000, Sergeants and Staff Sergeants N25,000, while Warrant Officers received N30,000. Uniform and boot allowances have not been paid at all.”

The aggrieved soldiers are calling on President Bola Tinubu to direct anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC to investigate the non-payment and diversion of their welfare funds.

Otedola Wrong To Single Out Jonathan Govt On Subsidy Fraud; It Spanned Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Buhari —Ex–VP Aide

Primate Ayodele Predicts Soaring Dollar and Fuel Prices Under Tinubu’s Administration

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned that Nigeria could face further economic challenges under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including a sharp rise in the exchange rate and petrol prices.

In a recent prophetic message shared on Facebook, Ayodele revealed that he foresaw the naira weakening further against the U.S. dollar, possibly hitting ₦900 per dollar.

“Nigeria’s dollar can go to 900 naira,” he declared. “It’s not ideal, but there are certain steps the government may take that could push the dollar that high.”

He also cautioned that petrol prices might climb beyond current levels, warning Nigerians to prepare for the possibility of paying up to ₦550 per litre.

Despite his warnings, the cleric commended President Tinubu for his mental alertness and decision-making ability, contrasting his leadership style with that of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Tinubu is old, but sound mentally. What Tinubu has done, Buhari didn’t do. Nigerians may not like him, but he can surprise them,” Ayodele said.

However, he reiterated that the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought Tinubu to power was a fundamental political mistake that deepened discontent and division among citizens.

While acknowledging that the nation faces tough economic times, Ayodele insisted that the government still holds the key to preventing these dire outcomes through effective policies and timely reforms.

“There is a step to take that will either prevent or make all of this materialize,” he concluded.

Maduka Hails Buhari’s Modest Lifestyle, Says Late President Left Behind Only What He Declared

In an interview with Signature TV, political figure Maduka reflected on the simple lifestyle of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a leader who lived with modest means throughout his life.

He recalled that Buhari frequently spoke about his personal assets, especially his cattle, and maintained transparency about his possessions while in office. According to Maduka, those declarations were confirmed after Buhari’s death when visitors to his Daura residence observed the simplicity of his estate.

“Buhari said he had 150 cows, and when people went to bury him in his house, they saw all he owned,” Maduka remarked, emphasizing that the late president’s words matched reality.

Maduka noted that Buhari’s lifestyle stood in sharp contrast to the popular perception of politicians accumulating vast wealth during their years in power. He argued that Buhari’s life and legacy serve as an example of integrity, accountability, and contentment in public service.

His reflections have sparked renewed conversations on transparency, leadership, and the expectations Nigerians place on their elected officials.

How N2bn loan allegation stopped Buhari from appointing Audu Ogbeh SGF – El-Rufai.

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Monday night revealed how a false bank-loan allegation derailed former President Muhammadu Buhari’s initial plan to appoint Chief Audu Ogbeh as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF.

Speaking during a Night of Tribute held at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, ICC, in Abuja, El-Rufai narrated a behind-the-scenes encounter shortly after the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the 2015 presidential election.

According to him, a close friend who had worked for the party’s victory sought his help to secure the SGF position.

El-Rufai said he approached Buhari, then president-elect, who explained that he intended to pick a Christian from the Middle Belt for the top job and asked El-Rufai to relay the decision.

El-Rufai recounted that Buhari later confided he had settled on Audu Ogbeh, describing him as his only choice for the post.

However, the plan changed when some individuals around the president allegedly claimed that Ogbeh owed banks as much as N2 billion from his agricultural ventures and would be distracted by personal debts.

“The next time the president called me, he said some things had come up and he was appointing someone else as SGF,” El-Rufai told the audience.

“After the announcement, I found out he had been told Chief Ogbeh owed a huge loan and would focus on repaying it instead of the job.

El-Rufai: Tinubu Govt Worse Than Military Regimes

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has described President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a bigger threat to democracy than past military governments. Speaking during a solidarity visit from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, El-Rufai labeled the government “a disgrace to the principles of democracy,” accusing it of authoritarian tendencies and centralizing power at the expense of federalism.

He compared Tinubu to Cameroon’s Paul Biya and warned that unless stopped in 2027, Tinubu could entrench himself in power. El-Rufai added that even past military leaders, including Buhari, were more tolerant of opposition than the current administration.

Atiku commended El-Rufai’s boldness and urged opposition leaders to unite in order to democratically unseat Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Kwankwaso Signals Conditional Return to APC, Stresses NNPP Must Benefit

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has signaled his willingness to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but emphasized that such a move would only happen under “strong conditions.”

The former Kano State governor made the declaration on Thursday while receiving Buhari Bakwana, a former aide to ex-Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who visited him with APC representatives from all 44 local government areas of Kano State.

Kwankwaso insisted that any discussion about rejoining APC or merging must clearly outline the benefits for the NNPP.

“If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain,” he said.

The NNPP leader stressed that his party would not allow itself to be “used and dumped,” recalling his role in establishing APC in 2013 and the political persecution he and his allies endured at the time.

“We have gubernatorial candidates in all states and full structures nationwide. What will you offer them if we join? We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us,” he added.


Kwankwaso also reflected on past frustrations with both APC and PDP, accusing the parties of breaching agreements.

“Eight years of APC under the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari gave us nothing, not even appreciation. In PDP, we asked for just a zonal party chairman, but they refused. We left peacefully, and today we are strong and have integrity,” he noted.

The statement contrasts with his earlier remarks at the NNPP National Executive Council meeting, where he pledged to remain with the party despite swirling rumors of defection.

Reacting to Kwankwaso’s comments, Kano APC State Secretary Hon. Zakari Ibrahim Sarina said the party would welcome him back, provided he abides by APC principles.

“Kwankwaso can’t come to APC to control the party that has national spread. Remember, APC is not NNPP, which he established and controls. We are ready to welcome him because his return would be an advantage to the ruling party. It will also promote peace and development in Kano,” Sarina added.

Analyst Majeed Dahiru Traces Nigeria’s History of Presidential Power Transfers and Constitutional Loopholes

Public Affairs Analyst Majeed Dahiru has analyzed how Nigeria’s constitutional provisions on presidential power transfers during medical absences evolved through the actions of past leaders—from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to Muhammadu Buhari—and how they continue to shape governance under Bola Tinubu.

Dahiru recalled that late President Yar’Adua sparked a constitutional crisis when he failed to formally hand over power to then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan during a medical vacation.

“Yar’Adua was sick. The constitution was clear: if you are embarking on medical vacation, hand over to your vice president. For reasons best known to him, he didn’t. It became a big problem until Jonathan was forced by necessity to take over,” Dahiru explained.


This crisis, he said, prompted a constitutional amendment mandating that if a president fails to transmit power within 21 days of absence, the vice president automatically assumes acting powers.

However, Dahiru argued that former President Buhari found a way around the new rule.

“After the first few times Buhari handed over to Osinbajo and Osinbajo took some decisions he didn’t like, what did you see next? Buhari would travel, return on the 20th day, then leave again two days later—resetting the clock,” he said.

He further criticized Buhari for delaying governance by refusing to appoint a cabinet for months, which later led to another amendment requiring presidents to form a cabinet within a specified timeframe.

According to Dahiru, President Tinubu also tested this provision by waiting until the last possible day before submitting his ministerial list.

The analyst concluded that these actions by successive presidents reveal a consistent pattern of bending constitutional provisions to personal convenience, often undermining smooth governance.

Former Speaker Yakubu Dogara Blames Buhari for Naira Collapse, Says Printing of N22.7 Trillion Crippled Economy.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has held the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari responsible for Nigeria’s economic collapse, citing reckless policies and massive currency printing.

In a viral video shared on Tuesday, Dogara alleged that Buhari’s government printed about N22.7 trillion under “ways and means”, which he said destroyed the value of the naira and worsened inflation. He noted that President Bola Tinubu inherited a “wrecked” economy further weakened by indiscriminate money printing, a controversial dual exchange rate policy, and crude oil sales tied to foreign loans.

“By the time President Tinubu took office, the economic debris of this nation had become too conspicuous to be ignored,” Dogara said. “N22.7 trillion was printed and injected into the economy in the name of ways and means, thereby destroying the value of the naira in our pockets.”

He accused the Buhari administration of institutionalising economic sabotage through a dual forex system that allowed a privileged few to amass huge profits from CBN allocations without contributing to productivity.

Dogara also faulted the practice of mortgaging crude oil sales for loans via “forward sales” deals, describing it as fraudulent, unsustainable, and a form of “voodoo economics".

Court Denies Bail to Owo Church Attack Suspects Linked to Al-Shabaab.

Abuja, Nigeria A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the bail applications of five men accused of carrying out the deadly June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left at least 41 worshippers dead and 69 others injured.

Justice Emeka Nwite, delivering the ruling on Wednesday, held that the terrorism charges against the defendants were capital in nature, given their alleged ties to Al-Shabaab, an international terror group said to have a sleeper cell in Kogi State.

The court upheld arguments from the Department of State Services (DSS) that releasing the suspects could jeopardize the trial, intimidate witnesses, and pose a serious judicial risk. Justice Nwite also noted procedural flaws in the bail motion, including the omission of the defendants’ names on the motion paper and the filing of a joint affidavit, which he ruled was contrary to legal requirements.

The judge further stressed that the accused failed to present credible sureties or convincing reasons to justify bail. “The evidence against them is weighty and cannot be glossed over,” he ruled, granting an accelerated trial and fixing October 19, 2025 for proceedings to commence.

The accused Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar face multiple counts under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including allegations that they conspired and held planning meetings before the Owo massacre.

The DSS had arrested the suspects following a nationwide manhunt ordered by then-President Muhammadu Buhari in the aftermath of the church attack, where gunmen detonated explosives and opened fire on congregants during mass.

While defense counsel Abdullahi Awwal Ibrahim argued that the men had assembled “reliable and responsible sureties,” the court sided with DSS lawyer Callistus Eze, who opposed the application on grounds of security risks and flight concerns.

The suspects remain in DSS custody as the high-profile trial draws closer, with victims’ families and the Catholic community awaiting justice more than three years after the horrific assault.

Peter Obi at Crossroads as Labour Party Confirms He Won’t Get 2027 Ticket.

The Labour Party (LP) has declared that its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will not be given the party’s ticket for the 2027 general elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, made this known on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Lunchtime Politics.

“We are going to do our 2027 without Peter Obi; he will not have our ticket,” Arabambi said, while stressing that the party’s momentum in the last election was not solely because of Obi but largely driven by the EndSARS movement and widespread discontent with the former president Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Arabambi also accused the LP’s acting National Chairperson, Nenadi Usman, and activist, Aisha Yesufu, of colluding with Obi, adding that the party would take steps to expel them. He further challenged Obi to openly announce his departure from the party

Tinubu Govt Using Buhari-Era Strategy To Silence Me – Sowore

Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has dismissed fresh forgery allegations against him, describing them as a recycled tactic to silence and blackmail him.

Speaking on Channels TV Hard Copy, Sowore said the accusations mirror the Buhari administration’s 2019 strategy, when he was arrested and charged with terrorism financing, money laundering, and cybercrime claims later dropped in court.

He also faulted a recent court order directing banks to furnish the Inspector-General of Police with his account details, calling it a violation of his privacy and fundamental rights.

Sowore maintained that the forgery allegations lack basis, arguing that the supposed evidence presented by the police does not amount to forgery. He accused the government of repeatedly framing charges without proof to keep him in court battles.

The activist linked the renewed case to his protests for better welfare for retired police officers and his opposition to the extension of IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s tenure, which he insists is illegal.

#Sowore #NigeriaPolitics #HumanRights

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has defended President Bola Tinubu over his recent comment on the value of the Naira, insisting that the President was not lying.

Tribune Online reports that President Tinubu had claimed that the Naira had stabilised under his administration, moving from about ₦1,900/$ when he assumed office to the current ₦1,450/$.

“The economy has stabilised, nobody is trading a piece of paper for an exchange rate anymore. When I took over, it was ₦1,900 to a dollar. It’s ₦1,450 now. It’s been stabilising there. You don’t have to know Cardoso before you get your foreign exchange,” Tinubu said.

Reacting in a post on his verified X handle, Omokri cautioned a user identified as “Emir” against hastily branding the President a “liar,” arguing that Tinubu’s remark was rooted in facts.

He explained that before Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, Nigeria was spending about $1.5 billion monthly to subsidise the Naira even more than the petrol subsidy at the time.

Omokri noted that while the official exchange rate under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari stood at about ₦400/$, the “real unsubsidised value” of the currency was closer to ₦2,000/$.

He wrote: “Please fact-check me: Before President Tinubu was sworn in on May 29, 2023, Nigeria spent $1.5 billion monthly to subsidise the Naira. The naira subsidy was actually higher than the subsidy on petrol.

“Whereas under General Buhari, you were buying the Dollar at the rate of about ₦400 to $1, the real exchange rate without the subsidy was about ₦2000 to $1.

“You may recall that when President Tinubu first floated the Naira, it suddenly fell to ₦1900 to $1.

“The reason it fell to that price was because that was the actual value of our currency.

“President Bola Tinubu was referring to that unsubsidised amount, which was the real value of the Naira.

The former presidential aide added that critics should verify facts before accusing Tinubu of dishonesty, suggesting that tools such as artificial intelligence could confirm the accuracy of the President’s claim.

Omokri also stressed that while political differences may exist, it was unfair to label the President a liar without proper fact-checking.

“He was not lying, and you can verify this with an AI like Grok.

“I understand that some of us may have political disagreements with the President, but perhaps you and I can conduct cursory research before labelling him a ‘congenital liar’”, he concluded.