Workers of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, with the backing of the Nigeria Labour Congress, on Monday picketed the National Industrial Court in Abuja as part of an ongoing total and indefinite strike over unresolved labour disputes.

The protest followed a directive from the NLC, which declared full support for the industrial action, describing the strike as justified amid what it termed persistent violations of workers’ rights by the FCTA management and political leadership.

Placards carried by the protesters bore inscriptions such as “Wike must go!!”, “Abuja no be Rivers”, “Pay promotion arrears”, “Enough is Enough” and “No working tools”.

Details later…

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has taken over the case of Mike Ozekhome, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who has been accused of forgery and use of false documents in a disputed property case in the United Kingdom.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) filed a three-count charge marked FCT/HC/CR/010/2026 against Ozekhome on January 16.

He was to be arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Maitama on Monday.

However, when the case was called, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court of the AGF’s decision to take over the prosecution of the matter.

According to him, the case is to be prosecuted with “the highest standard of efficiency, effectiveness, diligence and compliance with due process of law”.

Oyedepo said the AGF would need time to study the case file.

Osuobeni Akponimisingha, ICPC counsel, did not oppose the application.

Consequently, Peter Kekemeke, presiding judge, adjourned the case to February 24 for arraignment of the defendant.

Ozekhome is accused of knowingly presenting forged documents, including a Nigerian international passport, to support his claim of ownership of a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, during proceedings before the London First-Tier Tribunal.

The alleged offences were committed sometime in August 2021 in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital, within the jurisdiction of the court.

Named in the property dispute are Ozekhome and Jeremiah Useni, a retired lieutenant-general who is now deceased.

It was filed at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number REF/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

The property had been claimed by one ‘Ms Tali Shani’ on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.

Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from ‘Mr Tali Shani’ in 2021, while lawyers for ‘Ms Shani’ insisted she was the rightful owner.

A witness known as ‘Mr Tali Shani had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “Powers of Attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).

Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.

On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.

However, the tribunal found that all the documents tendered in Ms Tali Shani’s case were fake.

The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

The court ruled that the real owner, via a false name, was Useni.

All Progressives Congress flags were on Monday hoisted at the Kano State Government House, signaling the formal return of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the ruling party.

The development came a few days after the governor announced his resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, ending months of political realignments and speculation over his future ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yusuf, who is expected to formally register as an APC member on Monday alongside lawmakers and council chairmen, was a founding figure in the NNPP’s 2023 victory in Kano but has cited governance realities and the need for stronger collaboration with the Federal Government as reasons for his defection.

The governor had previously belonged to the APC between 2014 and 2018 before moving to other political platforms.

Preparations are ongoing for his reception by APC leaders, with party insiders confirming that the national leader of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, is expected to return from London on Monday to receive him in Kano.

Meanwhile, a statement on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa, said Governor Yusuf’s decision to return to the APC was informed by prevailing realities of governance, national cohesion, and development.

On Monday, the statement added, the governor will register alongside 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and the 44 local government chairmen in the state.

The statement also disclosed that Yusuf is expected to officially flag off the APC electronic registration exercise in Kano on the same day.