Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition is determined to protect the rights of Nigerians and safeguard the nation’s democracy.

Abubakar made the remarks on Monday during separate meetings with Aminu Tambuwal, senator representing Sokoto South, and Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation.

In a post on X, the opposition leader stressed that key figures across party lines are collaborating to defend Nigerians from what he described as “anti-democratic forces” under President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

“We will be unrelenting in defending the rights of every Nigerian being harassed by anti-democratic forces of the Tinubu-led APC administration,” Abubakar wrote. “The coalition that we are pushing is aimed at rescuing our democracy from the stranglehold of this emerging dictatorship. We shall be deliberate in joining hands in saving our democracy.”

Last week, Abubakar raised concerns about what he called a drift towards authoritarianism, citing incidents in Kaduna, Katsina, and other states.

He referenced the police invitation extended to Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, and ADC leaders in the state; the reported attack on the convoy of Malami; and the disruption of a Katsina Elders Forum meeting on security reforms. He argued that these were not isolated events but signs of a worrying pattern.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday interrogated the Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, over an alleged diversion of N5.7 billion belonging to Enugu State.

Ogundele was quizzed for several hours at the commission’s Abuja office, with indications he could be detained as the session continued into the night.

Investigators also froze his personal and company accounts pending the outcome of a preliminary probe.

The matter is tied to a contract worth over N11 billion awarded to Sujimoto by the Enugu State Government. While the government initially approved a 30 percent mobilisation, Ogundele reportedly requested 50 percent to fast-track completion. The state released N5.7 billion based on this plea.

However, authorities later alleged that the value of work delivered was only about N750 million. They also accused the contractor of abandoning the site and evading responsibility, prompting a formal petition to the EFCC.

Following his alleged failure to honour invitations, Ogundele was declared wanted. Before he appeared, EFCC operatives and state officials visited the project site for inspection.

A source at the anti-graft agency confirmed his surrender. “He has been with us for more than 10 hours. We have frozen all accounts linked to him and his company and seized his passport to restrict movement,” the source said, adding that Ogundele had not been granted bail.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, also confirmed that investigators were still questioning the developer as of Tuesday.

In reaction, Ogundele released a video insisting he was innocent. Tearfully, he described the matter as a contractual disagreement with the Enugu State Government rather than a criminal case.

“I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This was a contract between my company and the Enugu State Government. I was going there every week to work on the project,” he said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Dr. Paul Enenche, has cautioned Nigerians against relying on online loan applications, describing them as “agents of the devil in covenant with the spirit of debt.”

Delivering his sermon on Sunday in Abuja, Enenche expressed worry over the rising cases of depression and suicide reportedly linked to the operations of loan platforms nationwide.

According to him, many Nigerians are lured by promises of quick financial relief but end up trapped in cycles of harassment and humiliation.

“Once they fall into the trap, they face constant intimidation and embarrassment, which sometimes leads to depression or even suicide,” he told the congregation.

The cleric explained that borrowers often endure persistent calls, threats, and messages from lenders. He added that some platforms go as far as publishing defamatory statements and fake obituaries online to shame debtors.

Enenche urged Christians to resist the temptation of easy money, warning that such shortcuts were spiritually destructive. He said: “These things are demonic covenants with debt, and no child of God should have anything to do with them.”

His remarks come at a time when online loan providers in Nigeria face mounting criticism over alleged privacy violations and aggressive debt recovery tactics.