News
Fubara: We’re winning the war, God redeeming Rivers from evildoers
Siminalayi Fubara, in an obvious move to calm frayed nerves, especially those pitying him as the underdog in his current political battle with Nyesom Wike, his predecessor, has offered an assurance – God is in control – Rivers State is on the march to recovery.
In fact, the governor said the current battle is even good for the state because it is the final battle to free it from the vice grip of economic and financial brigands, intent on squeezing the life out of it, adding that God sanctioned it to perfect political freedom and economic growth.
Fubara, while stressing that the political crisis was divinely orchestrated to allow God to perfect His purpose in granting the state political freedom and economic growth, told the congregation at the thanksgiving service to celebrate the appointment of Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, as the Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, that he had survived thus far because God was on his side.
At the Shepard’s Hill Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at Mgbuoba Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on Sunday, venue of the event, where the governor was also presented with copies of the Holy Bible by the leadership of the parish, he emphasised that but for God, the enemies of the state would have succeeded in their evil schemes.
Affirming that he was now more energised in steering the affairs of the state, he told his audience: “I also believe that what you are calling trouble is not trouble to me. I see it as God’s purpose for a new direction for our State. He has taken us higher, right from the first day, which is why, rather than getting weak, we are getting stronger and bolder everyday.
“We want to finish our work, and our story will be those who led with the fear of God. We might not be perfect in everything, but in the end, there should be a reason why the angels should not allow our bodies to be taken by the devil. Thanksgiving to God brings assurance of abiding presence, and offers a clearer picture of what pathway to navigate through any situation.
He particularly expressed delight to have joined with the family of the royal father to present their thanksgiving to God, as according to him, it aligns with the commitment of his administration, adding that the energy with which the royal father danced in gratitude before God, was akin to the biblical depiction of King David dancing to the glory of God without being ashamed.
“It is one of the credits that made God to love King David so much. He glorified God in a special way. He was not ashamed, and God loved him. I am happy and honestly speaking, I am really humbled that at this age and as a traditional ruler, you still reverence God highly. God will continue to lift you above human imagination.
“I am happy being in the presence of God today, more especially worshipping in one of the living churches in Nigeria and the world. I have to say that there is nothing as important like thanking God.
“Even when the situation looks unclear, thanksgiving brings assurance and a clearer picture of the situation. And I join this family this morning to thank God with you and to assure our people that because God is what we have kept in front, our story will end in praises.”
Admonishing the church to continue to pray for his administration and the entire peace of the state without relenting, Fubara, who donated N100million to the church for its continued evangelism, stressed that though things might look tough from a physical perspective, God’s ways remained peculiar to Him and His purpose would prevail, notwithstanding the time it takes.
“The secret of our administration is just one thing: your prayers. The quiet and secret prayers that you give for us in your closets count. I can tell you, there is no prayer that God does not answer. It is like depositing money in the bank. So, I want to thank you, assure you that we will continue to uphold the fear of God in everything we do. We can assure you that.”
Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor of Oyo State, on Thursday, finally threw his hats into the ring by declaring his intention to run for president in 2027, with a message – history beckons.
The governor, whose ambition has been a matter of speculations for months now and who had teamed up with forces angling to force President Bola Tinubu, out of power, told a teeming crowd in Ibadan on Thursday that time had come to reset Nigeria.
At a mega-rally to announce the alliance between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples’ Movement, (APM), Makinde, expressed worry over the dwindling fortunes of Nigerians, vowing to engage Nigerians to end the drift.
Hear him: “Without a multi-party system, there is no democracy. Where is our multi-party? Where do we go from here? We have been pushed to the wall.
“They calculated and self-opposition cannot unite but I am here to say that the opposition is the everyday Nigerian. This is the time for all us to ensure Nigeria works for us. This is the time to confront it fears. It is time to engage as citizens and not spectators.
“For the opposition political parties, this is the time to unite and work in unity and give our nation the much reset it needs. The time to reset Nigeria is now. Ibadan is the city of warriors. The first grand alliance is formed. The PDP and APM is formed. This handshake will allow us to field candidates from presidency to state Assembly. And so, I declare my candidacy for office of the president of Nigeria.”
Eyo Ekpe, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), on Wednesday, gave a detailed account on how operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) manhandled him on Monday.
He told reporters that he was at sea on why he should fall victim to the assault against his person and eventually arrested given that was not right person directly involved in the information the agency sought.
Some operatives of the EFCC who invaded the hospital, had whisked Ekpe away after firing teargas to scare away the workers, patients and visitors to the hospital, following what appeared like a fracas the ensued over what it claimed was a routine duty in the facility.
Ekpe, Deputy Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), described how an operative had first entered his office to make inquiries on why the hospital was yet to give a response to an EFCC inquiry over a medical report linked to a suspect facing trial.
He detailed how he briefed the operative that the said response was being prepared and even went ahead to show him the draft of a letter in that regard, which needed to go through the gamut of official endorsement before being released.
Hear him: “The head of that internal medicine department looked at the report and also discovered that the name of the doctor that signed the report is not a member of staff of that department.
“I had prepared prepared a response to the EFCC on Monday, May 11, 2026, based on the findings. When the EFCC operative visited my office the next morning to collect the document, I told him that the response was ready in draft. I even showed him the draft, but told him that the document still needed approval from the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital before it could be officially signed and released.
“He pretended to have accepted that. He left, but later later returned with another armed operative and informed me that I was under arrest. I asked him why. I was not the one that issued the medical report. My name is not on the medical report. The report was not issued from my unit.
“But he said I would get the answer when I get to their office. I then asked him to at least wait for my staff member who I sent on an errand before joining them. But they refused.
“They started pushing me. They dragged me out of the office. Then I began to cry while they were dragging me. They had warned me not to speak. They had taken my phone. My cry as they were dragging me, attracted the workers to the scene, who enquired what was going on, but because they ordered me not to speak, I couldn’t say anything. They had their guns.
The members of staff of the hospital initially blocked them from taking me away. They then made a call. After that I saw many masked and armed men came violently, broke the protector, threatening the people that were around and people ran away.
“They picked some staff that were still by me. they dragged me and other staff, five of us into their van downstairs. By that time they discovered that the gate of the hospital were locked. So, they drove towards the gate and packed and the commotion continued. We were inside the van.
“I was so emotionally and psychologically traumatised that I couldn’t even look out of the vehicle to see what was happening outside. But I know that teargas and live bullets were shot. That’s all I can say for now.”
Joyce Abdulmalik, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, heard on Wednesday, how Zenith Bank raised alarm over the huge transaction in one of its branches by Abubakar Malami, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF-MoJ).
The bank said it immediately filed a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) in respect to the transactions, during its appearance in the ongoing trial of Malami, his wife, and son over allegation of massive looting of funds belonging to the Federal Government during his tenure.
Mashelia Bata, a compliance officer with the bank, who appeared as witness in the case, where Malami, et al, are facing a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N8.7 billion, to which they pleaded not guilty, gave the testimony while being questioned on the bank’s roles in the matter.
Details of the testimony conveyed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stated how the compliance officer who was cross-examined by Adebayo Adedeji, lawyer to the defendants admitted that the deposits in the account statements complied with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Arguments had stretched when Adedeji, opposed Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), lawyer to the EFCC, who had asked the witness to explain the meaning of a suspicious transaction report, stressing that there was no ambiguity in the term.
However, Okutepa, in response, maintained that section 215(3) of the Evidence Act did not preclude him from re-examining the witness while urging the court to allow the question for proper explanation.
After Abdulmalik, agreed and overruled Adedeji, the witness told the court that banks were required to alert the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) about fund deposits coming in a repetitive pattern, adding: “Any deposition of funds seen in a pattern or repetitive, you must escalate it to the NFIU.”
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