Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has announced the death of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, Chief of the Army Staff.

Lagbaja died at the age of 56.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President, Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, he passed away on Tuesday night in Lagos after a period of illness.

“Born on February 28, 1968, Lt. General Lagbaja was appointed Chief of Army Staff on June 19, 2023, by President Tinubu.

“His distinguished military career began when he enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1987. On September 19, 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.

“Throughout his service, Lt. General Lagbaja demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, serving as a platoon commander in the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.

“He played pivotal roles in numerous internal security operations, including Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in Southeast Nigeria, and Operation Forest Sanity across Kaduna and Niger States.

“An alumnus of the prestigious U.S. Army War College, he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, demonstrating his dedication to professional growth and excellence in military leadership.

“Lt. General Lagbaja is survived by his beloved wife, Mariya, and their two children.

“President Tinubu expresses his heartfelt condolences to the family and the Nigerian Armed Forces during this difficult time. He wishes Lt. General Lagbaja eternal peace and honors his significant contributions to the nation,” the statement added.

The government of Equatorial Guinea has launched an investigation into hundreds of leaked pornographic videos allegedly involving high-ranking civil servant, Baltasar Engonga, engaged in sexual acts with various women, including the wives of prominent officials in his office.

The government has also ordered the installation of surveillance cameras in courts and ministries to combat “indecent and illicit acts.”

In addition, officials involved in the scandal have been suspended, according to a statement issued by the Equatorial Guinea Press and Information Office, published on the government’s website on Tuesday.

Vice-President Teodoro Mangue stated on Tuesday that any official found engaging in sex acts at work would be sanctioned, as this was a “flagrant violation of the code of conduct.”

The government explained that the recent actions were taken in response to the widespread circulation of videos that had “denigrated the image of the country.”

“Among the decisions taken are the suspension of employment of the officials who appear in the homemade adult videos circulating on the networks, severe measures for the members assigned to the surveillance of the inmates for not fulfilling their duties and allowing such acts, as well as the reinforcement of security in all judicial offices in the country; in addition to the installation of surveillance cameras in the judicial and ministerial offices,” the statement read.

“The Executive has made this decision in the wake of the sexual videos that have gone viral on social media in recent days, which have denigrated the image of the country.

“And in order to correct this bad behaviour of some officials of the public and judicial administration of Equatorial Guinea, the Vice President of the Republic, concerned about this situation, has urgently summoned the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Attorney General of the Republic, and several members of the government headed by the Prime Minister, to adopt strategies to stop this type of behaviour and thus propose preventive measures,” it added.

Social media has been buzzing following the arrest of Engonga, who is the Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) in Equatorial Guinea, for allegedly recording over 400 sex tapes involving the wives of notable figures in the country.

The scandal came to light during a fraud investigation against the 54-year-old economist, which led to a surprise search of his house and office by ANIF officials. During the search, several CDs were discovered, revealing his sexual encounters with different married women.

Since the sex tapes leaked online, there have been a range of reactions, with many describing the incident as the largest sex scandal in the country, and possibly in Africa.

The videos reportedly include encounters with high-profile individuals, such as his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the President of Equatorial Guinea, the wife of the Director-General of Police, and around 20 wives of the country’s ministers, among others.

The former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, is still being held at the Port Harcourt, Rivers State office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This marks his second night in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

Meanwhile, the Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed the detention of the former governor, calling it a positive step in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against corruption.

Okowa, who was the running mate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election, reported to the EFCC office on Monday following an invitation by investigators over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion.

He was subsequently arrested and detained.

Sources revealed that the former governor is also accused of failing to account for another N40 billion he allegedly claimed to have used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

One of the sources stated, “He was also accused of failing to render accounts of the funds as well as another N40bn he allegedly claimed he used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

“He also allegedly bought shares of N40bn in one of the major banks in the country, representing eight per cent equity to float the offshore LNG. The funds were alleged to be used for other purposes.

“Investigators are also investigating the diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba in Delta State.”

However, a source familiar with the matter told on Tuesday said that the former governor was yet to be released because of the scale of the allegations against him (according to The PUNCH).

The source added that Okowa was earlier in the day confronted with the allegations.

“We are still keeping him, he is still with us. The investigation is ongoing and earlier, he was confronted with some of the allegations against him.

“We are still keeping him because of the quantum of the allegations and amount involved. We want him to respond to the allegations,” the source said.

The Delta APC State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, in a statement on Tuesday, urged the EFCC to continue its investigation into the financial dealings of other former governors and public officials.

The statement partly read: “We in the APC wholeheartedly welcome the arrest of the former governor, who oversaw one of the most concerning cases of financial mismanagement during his eight-year tenure.

“His administration allegedly funnelled significant state resources into personal ventures, including establishing a bank, financing a failed presidential ambition, and supporting the controversial imposition of a successor.

“The arrest serves as a caution to all public officeholders, affirming that the era of impunity is over and that no one, irrespective of position or political affiliation, is above the law.”

It added that “The legacy of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration is a high debt profile resulting from a reckless borrowing spree, which earned him the notorious nickname of ‘Borrow Borrow Governor’.

“During his eight years in office, Delta State has little to show for the vast federal allocations received. The few substandard roads he constructed, often hailed as the ‘roadmaster,’ have deteriorated rapidly.”