Economy
Ebonyi Ex-Governor Sam Egwu Blasts Wike Over Fubara’s Suspension
Ebonyi Ex-Governor Sam Egwu Blasts Wike Over Fubara’s Suspension
Ebonyi ex-governor Sam Egwu blasts Wike over Fubara’s suspension. A former governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Sam Egwu, has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for what he described as “embarrassing and unguarded” remarks against South-East leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Egwu, in a statement made available to newsmen, expressed disappointment over Wike’s recent outburst, particularly his personal attacks on him and another former governor, Achike Udenwa.
South-East PDP leaders had, during a recent meeting, expressed displeasure with the national leadership’s failure to resolve the lingering crisis surrounding the position of the party’s National Secretary.
They warned that the zone might reconsider its relationship with the PDP if the stalemate persisted.
However, in a BBC Pidgin interview, Wike dismissed their concerns as baseless and questioned the political relevance of Egwu and Udenwa, noting that neither had delivered significant results for the party in their states.
Reacting, Egwu said Wike’s comments were not only disappointing but also an affront to the collective decision of PDP stakeholders in the region.
“My attention has been drawn to the unsavoury remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, wherein he described the demand by South-East leaders on the national leadership of the PDP as empty,” Egwu said.
“Particularly worrisome is Wike’s personalisation of what was supposed to be the collective position of PDP stalwarts in the South-East. It is in bad taste for him to have singled out Achike Udenwa and myself for vilification.”
He insisted that the South-East PDP, as a political bloc, has every right to take a stance on issues affecting the zone, and warned that such decisions should not be dismissed or ridiculed.
Egwu further accused Wike of stoking the political crisis in Rivers State by refusing to allow his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to govern independently.
He said, “Wike did nothing extraordinary by producing his successor. I did the same in 2007 when I handed over to Martin Elechi. Eight years after leaving office, I also played a key role in determining who succeeded Elechi. It takes influence and grassroots appeal to achieve that—not aggression and dominance.”

Ebonyi Ex-Governor Sam Egwu Blasts Wike
Egwu challenged Wike to grant Fubara the same political space and freedom he himself allowed his successors.
“Wike can boast for now about producing his successor, but he will soon burn himself out. He is living on borrowed time. I challenge him to allow Siminalayi Fubara to truly govern and then see if he will still have the political strength to determine the next governor in Rivers State,” he said.
Egwu concluded by urging Wike to focus on fostering unity within the PDP rather than launching personal attacks on respected leaders in the party.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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