News

Sirika denies ₦100bn Nigeria Air claim, says only ₦3bn spent

Published

8 months ago

September 3, 2025

Former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika has again defended the Nigeria Air project launched during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, denying allegations that it was fraudulent.

On Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Sirika said due process was followed and insisted that accusations of mismanagement were false.

“I had no intention to speak about my time in office for now, I intend to bring up a book,” he said.

He explained that the project was a public-private partnership regulated by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.

According to him, “It is a lie that I spent N100 billion and it is lost in the process. The total budget for the national carrier was N5bn, the total amount released was N3 billion and I left the ministry with over N1 billion.”

Nigeria Air, unveiled just before Buhari left office in 2023, faced resistance from the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), which filed a lawsuit against the federal government.

Sirika is currently standing trial on corruption allegations. The EFCC claims he awarded inflated aviation contracts to companies linked to his daughter, Fatima Sirika, and son-in-law, Jalal Hamma. One of the contracts, valued at N2.7 billion, was allegedly broken into smaller deals to bypass approvals, with Al Buraq Global Investment Limited receiving N1.3 billion for an unexecuted project.

Asked about his recent visit to the Presidential Villa, Sirika insisted the matter was in court and declined to comment further.

He said, “The purpose of the meeting was to officially pay our condolences to the President who did extremely well after the demise of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari… Unfortunately, this matter is in court of law and it is not a matter that should be subjected to the press.”

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News

UK authorities raise terrorism bar to high level after attacks on Israeli nationals

Published

57 minutes ago

May 1, 2026

Whirlwindnews

Britain is currently on red-alert and has raised the bar on possible spike in anti Semitism in the country, after a stabbing attack left two Jewish men seriously injured in north London.

Shabana Mahmood Home Secretary, who confirmed fears that the UK faced a growing security risk, spoke on the heels of authorities charging a 45-year-old man following the incident in Golders Green, which police are treating as a suspected terrorist attack.

The victims, aged 34 and 76, were taken to hospital after the assault, with the younger man now discharged and the older victim reported to be in stable condition.

The suspect, identified as Essa Suleiman, who has since been slammed with a two-count charge bordering on attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon in a public place, is also facing an additional attempted murder charge linked to a separate incident earlier the same day in south London.

Consequent upon his remand in custody with a plan to commence trial before Westminster Magistrates’ Court, UK officials elevated the country’s terrorism threat level to the second highest category, indicating that an attack is considered highly likely, in what Mahmood said reflected broader and sustained security concerns rather than a single

Authorities have pointed to increasing threats tied to foreign actors and a rise in antisemitic incidents across the country. Recent attacks have included arson targeting synagogues and Jewish emergency services, some reportedly linked to external influences.

Police are also reviewing upcoming pro Palestinian demonstrations in London to determine whether tighter restrictions are required. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said efforts are underway to ensure public safety, noting that while protests cannot be banned outright, their scope and movement can be controlled.

Investigations into the stabbing and related incidents remain ongoing as officials assess the wider security implications.

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News

BREAKING: Succour for ADC! S’Court restores Mark’s leadership!

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2026

Whirlwindnews

Succour came the way of the David Mark, following the restoration of his leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC), by the Supreme Court, which removed the order by the Court of Appeal for parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of its leadership crisis at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, held that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal acted beyond its jurisdiction by unilaterally issuing such an order after it had already dismissed a case that was brought before it by one of the factions.

“Giving such an order in an appeal it had already dismissed was unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” the Supreme Court held.

It held that the appeal that was filed before it by Senator David Mark succeeded in part, even as it dismissed the aspect that challenged an ex parte order the Federal High Court made for service of processes in the suit filed by aggrieved members of the party.

The apex court directed the factions to return to the trial court for continuation of hearing of the case.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had removed Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal and website as ADC National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, on April 1, citing the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

The electoral body said it would, in line with the order for maintenance of the status quo ante bellum, not recognise any of the warring factions until the legal dispute is determined.

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Features

Jim Nwobodo: The Sun shines, thrills, at ‘The Vanguard Awards’

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2026

Whirlwindnews

By Sunny Igboanugo

Between sports and politics, it is difficult to ascertain which is more potent in delivering the dividends of popularity. But in a situation where the two are combined, what is the outcome? It is predictable – a two-fold if not multiple-fold of that.

Evidence of that reverberated last Saturday, when the floors of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Vitoria Island, Lagos, shook to its foundation, with the rooftops almost caving in, while announcing the entrance of Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo – a man adorned with the garlands from the two worlds after striding through them like a colossus.

For many youngsters who had wondered why the entire atmosphere at the main hall of the prestigious hotel echoed with Jiiimmm – jiiimmm – jiiimmm, the answer was not farfetched. The man that had just walked in had etched his name in the hearts of the people in many ways.

For instance, his tenure marked Nigeria’s most glorious era in sports. Everyone reckons with the Super Eagles of 1994 as the best squad in the country’s history – one that put the nation in global football reckoning. That, no doubt could easily be attributed in many ways to the Nwobodo magic.

As Minister of Sports and Youths Development, it was to his name that Nigeria not only won the 1994 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), for the second time it made its debut at the World Cup – the highest global football event.

In this glorious era, Nigeria found its name on the envious list of global sports – not only winning AFCON for the second time in 1994, appearing at the World Cup in the same year, becoming the number one in African football and number five in the world ranking it crowned it all by producing the Dream Team – the football squad that won the Olympics gold in football.

In that spectacular Olympics feat, the Nigerian contingents came back home with six medals – two golds, one silver and three bronzes – the best performance ever.

Even his foray into politics had a large component of sports in it, having led then Rangers Football Club of Enugu, as Chairman to its first major continental trophy – the African Cup of Winners in 1977. It was his launchpad into politics so much that his name and face were already quite familiar with the people.

From the position of the Chairman, Anambra branch of the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP), he got elected as the first Executive Governor of the old Anambra State comprising what is today, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi States.

In the government that lasted from October 1, 1979 to October 1, 1983, he left a legacy that till date remains unmatched by succeeding governments – military and civilians – in infrastructure, education, hospitality among others.

Talk about the Nike Lake hotel, Nike, Enugu; old Anambra State Television, now split into Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) and Anambra State Television Service (ABS) Awka, Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUT), now split into Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and former Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH) Awka, now upgraded to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.

There were also the Ikenga Hotels (with branches in Enugu, Onitsha, and Awka); the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu; Eha Amufu College of Education; and College of Education Nsugbe, Nsugbe, now Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe.

One of the most flamboyant politicians ever to strut the rostrum in Nigeria, Nwobodo, who cut the image of not only a consummate fashionista but one whose uniqueness stood him out among his peers, also made it to the National Assembly as Senator representing Enugu East in the class of ’99-2003.

Gifted with immense public appeal, with penchant to attract the crowd like honey to bees, the energy his entrance generated as well as the ululations at Saturday’s event, was only too natural and emblematic of a man used to stealing the show at public gatherings.

The spontaneous reactions were simply consequent upon which aspect of him impacted the motley crowd comprising the high and mighty. For those from the South East, many still basking in the reverberating echoes of the politics of pasts, it was still the iconic Jim that had just walked in – a hero, whose name still lit fires in their bellies.

For others, it was the entrance of the most iconic, most esteemed and most revered Igbo leader alive today. The language of the Ogene music and the electrifying performance of the troupe from the South East delivered that part of the message most clearly.

Others recalled the Jim Nwobodo, who as Minister, not inspired the resilience with which the Dream Team, Nigeria’s most of prestigious football team mesmerised the world including the duos of the almighty Brazil and Argentina and returned home with the gold medal from the Olympics and the fanfare that followed the outcome in the streets of Abuja to Lagos, Enugu to Kano and Port Harcourt.

Yet, many must have recalled the effervescent governor of the second republic in the league of progressives, made up of young, vibrant and visionary politicians of that era imbued with fresh ideas of how to move Nigerian into the league of developed nations.

But ultimately, many would surely see the figure that had just walked into that arena as one of the remaining political icons of the class of ’79 – in fact, one of the only two governors of that era still standing today outside Alhaji Awal Ibrahim of Niger State.

So, it was not for nothing that the crowd cheered endlessly as the ex-governor, ex-Minister and Senator made his grand appearance. Nobody would be in doubt that he deserved every bit of attention and recognition.

Any such doubts would be cleared not only by the deluge of ululations from the audience, sustained accolades from both the organisers and fellow recipients, but also by the quality of personalities accompanying the elder statesman, from his homestead, of course, led by Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State.

Now, how would this enchanting event have ended without introducing the angle of Pat Nwobodo, the delectable wife and soft side of the Jim brand.

The goddess of the Nigerian stock market, financial guru and former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD-CEO) of Savannah Bank Plc was there in tow.

Standing by her husband to whom she had graduated beyond a wife, partner, an ally a friend, to the major pillar along the path of the build-up and along the twist and turns of politics, statecraft, completed the picture of the evening.

Indeed, The Vanguard Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025, would be added to the list of the various trophies hanging on the walls of this octogenarian politician, sports enthusiast and administrator, leader of men and material and statesman extraordinaire.

But it certainly would not end there. The greater laurel is the imprint of his legacy in the hearts of his admirers as was showcased by the crowd which welcomed him with that loud ovation. That would be the more long-lasting – the more enduring.

For as the sage himself told the audience, while appreciating the recognition – getting awards while one was in power, could be good – but getting awards outside power, remained the more enduring, because it emblemised good memories – the best legacy of man on earth

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