Connect with us


BIG STORY

Wike Proposes N15bn For Construction Of New Vice-President’s Residence

Published

on

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says plans are underway to spend N15 billion for the construction of a new residence for the nation’s vice-president.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), disclosed this on Wednesday when he appeared before a house of representatives committee to defend the FCT N61.5 billion 2023 supplementary budget.

On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the N67 billion FCT supplementary budget to the national assembly, while seeking accelerated approval.

Following the president’s request, the lower legislative chamber quickly passed the bill for first and second reading.

Wike told the lawmakers that the construction of a new residence for the vice-president was approved in 2010 by the federal executive council (FEC) at the cost of N7 billion, but that the project was abandoned.

The minister said the current administration has opted to initiate the construction of the project, and the contractor has revised the cost to N15 billion.

Wike said an initial sum of N5 billion has been earmarked in the FCT supplementary budget to get the project underway.

“The VP residence that was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N7 billion was abandoned,” Wike said.

“It is embarrassing that a country of this nature cannot in 13 years, complete the VP’s residence. N7 billion, now the contractor is saying well, we cannot continue to do it without review.

“Now they are saying N15 billion. We have taken it upon ourselves to say that we will complete it and Mr. President will commission it by May.”

However, the lawmakers questioned the minister on why he plans to spend such an amount on building an edifice for the vice-president.

Responding, Wike said it is to give the vice-president a “befitting residence”.

“The current residence was built by the military, the Aguda house. The government then said look, we want to build a more befitting residence for the vice-president, and that was in 2010,” he said.

“The contract was awarded at the cost of N7 billion. It is just like what we are building for the presiding officers of the national assembly, you can see that it has been abandoned because of no funding.

“We believe that we are going to incorporate it into our own statutory budget. Let us finish it even if they don’t want to use it.

“We are not renovating. It is a new job that was approved in 2010. We are saying that we should be able to finish it and we will commission it in May 2023.”

  • Renovation Of VP’s Office In Supplementary Budget

On November 8, President Bola Tinubu signed the 2023 N2.17 trillion supplementary budget into law.

In the 2023 supplementary appropriation Act, the federal government allocated N2.5 billion for the renovation of the Aguda house.

Another N3 billion is earmarked in the 2023 supplementary budget for the renovation of the vice-president’s residence in Lagos state.

The government also earmarked N4 billion for the refurbishing of presidential residential quarters and an additional N4 billion for the construction of an office complex within the state.

  • N2.8 Billion For Publicity

Wike said the sum of N2.8 billion will be spent on publicity for the FCTA in the FCT supplementary budget.

“If you look at publicity and advert, N60 million was appropriated but increased to N2.8 billion,” he said.

“Some people would ask, how come N2.8 billion? You use money to make money. When I came on board, we realised that most people don’t pay their ground rents.

“For instance, we published those applying for C of O of mass housing estates. We have gotten presidential approval to decertify C of O.”

BIG STORY

Buhari Never Honoured Anyone The Way Tinubu Did To Him — Shehu Sani

Published

on

Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, stated that while he was alive, late President Muhammadu Buhari never paid tribute to anyone in the same way President Bola Tinubu did for him.

He mentioned that Tinubu declared a public holiday on the day of Buhari’s funeral, personally attended the burial, and also renamed a federal institution in Buhari’s honour, among other gestures.

Sani referred to these actions as extraordinary and worthy of recognition.

He took to X to outline the several ways Tinubu showed respect to his predecessor.

These actions included declaring a public holiday, being physically present at Buhari’s burial, visiting his family, holding a Federal Executive Council meeting in his memory, and renaming a university to commemorate him.

The President physically attended the burial of Buhari, met with his family, declared a public holiday, held a FEC meeting in his honor and renamed a university to immortalise him.

Something even the late President never did to others. And yet they said he is ‘exploiting the death of Buhari’.

What would they have said if he had done none of the above? Politics is something else, the senator tweeted.

The post continued to draw reactions, with over 1,000 likes recorded at the time this report was made.

Sani’s statement came amid increasing political discourse regarding Tinubu’s actions following Buhari’s death, especially from opposition groups.

His remarks appeared to be a direct response to criticisms from parties such as the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which accused Tinubu’s administration of leveraging Buhari’s death for image-boosting.

Presidential media aide, Sunday Dare, dismissed ADC’s claims, describing them as nothing but an opportunistic exercise in manufactured outrage.

He pointed out the irony of the same party accusing Tinubu of politicising Buhari’s passing while also trying to gain attention by speaking ill of the late president.

Their latest press release alleging that President Tinubu’s government is ‘exploiting’ the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain is not only dishonest.

It is an insult to millions of Nigerians who genuinely mourned the loss of a statesman, and who watched the State Burial accorded Buhari with solemn respect and dignity, he said.

He added that the funeral was held with full honours appropriate for a former leader, and witnessed by dignitaries worldwide, with millions following on various media platforms.

According to him, Tinubu is not chasing superficial popularity but rather letting his growing accomplishments speak louder than the distractions posed by groups like the ADC.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Court Jails Gospel Singer Moses Otitoju, Eight Others For Cybercrime

Published

on

The Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced Moses Otitoju, a self-proclaimed gospel singer, and eight others to prison for crimes linked to cybercrime, conspiracy, and misuse of funds.

Otitoju was sentenced along with Ayodele Joseph, Adeoye Joseph, and Abubakar Abdulmalik, all charged with similar offences by the anti-corruption agency.

The charges were filed by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to a statement issued Friday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the 31-year-old gospel singer from Iyamoye in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State was sentenced to six months in prison by Justice Abimbola Awogboro without the option to pay a fine.

Otitoju was convicted for keeping over N8.4 million in his bank account, which was traced to illegal activities.

One of the charges read, “That you, Otitoju Moses Sesan, sometime between October 2024 and December 2025, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did retain control of the gross sum of N8,404,339 in your account, being proceeds of criminal conduct, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Act, 2004.”

Ayodele, who had N243,750 in his account, received an eight-month jail sentence without an option of fine.

His Tecno 19 phone was confiscated by order of the court and handed over to the Federal Government.

Adeoye, a native of Okene LGA in Kogi State, was also sentenced to eight months without the option of a fine.

He forfeited $220, an iPhone 13, and a Tecno Pop 9 phone to the Federal Government.

Abubakar was handed a six-month prison term. His iPhone 16 and Samsung S10 were also ordered forfeited to the Federal Government.

EFCC prosecutors Aliyu Adebayo, Sesan Ola, Rashidat Alao, and Mustapha Kaigama led the cases, presenting statements, exhibits, and recovered funds as evidence, all of which were admitted in court.

In another case, Justices Haleema Saleeman and Sulaiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court found Emeka Achi, Isaac Oluwafemi, Afolabi Olatoye, Zubeiru Zubeiru Junior, and Abdulkadir Taofeek guilty of cybercrime and diversion of funds.

Justice Akanbi sentenced Abdulkadir to three years in prison with an option to pay a N500,000 fine, and ordered that N800,000, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and a Samsung phone be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Saleeman sentenced Emeka, Isaac, and Afolabi to six months in jail each, with the option to pay N100,000 as a fine.

In addition, Emeka was ordered to repay N3.35 million within three months and report to the EFCC every two weeks alongside his parents until full payment is made.

Tunde Oyekola

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Kogi University Lecturer Dies During Sex Romp In Hotel Room With 200-Level Student

Published

on

A senior lecturer at Kogi State University, Anyigba, named Dr. Olabode Abimbola Ibikunle, reportedly died in a hotel room following a sexual encounter with a 22-year-old student in her second year.

It was reported that the event happened on Tuesday, July 15, and the police at Anyigba were alerted shortly after. The student involved was taken into custody for questioning.

The lecturer, known across the university for his strict approach, was allegedly infamous for taking advantage of female students in return for academic favours.

Sources claim Dr. Ibikunle, who was married with children, had booked a room in a hotel alongside the student, who is studying Social Studies Education.

According to those familiar with the situation, the lecturer consumed several energy drinks prior to the incident, presumably in anticipation of vigorous activity.

Unfortunately, the lecturer collapsed and passed away during the act.

The Kogi State Police Command verified the incident to SaharaReporters on Friday, labeling it as unfortunate.

In a statement to SaharaReporters, the Command’s spokesperson, SP William Ovye Aya, stated that the student had been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for deeper inquiry and potential charges.

Aya explained: “The report was received on July 16, but the unfortunate incident happened on July 15, 2025. It was the manager of the hotel (name not disclosed), who came to the police station at Anyigba and reported about his guest, the lecturer who had lodged in their facility with a 22-year-old 200-level student, 22 years old, named Gloria Samuel.

“According to the manager, the girl on that fateful day rushed to the reception and complained that the lecturer took her to the hotel, and after they had sex, the man slumped.

“So the manager rushed and informed the DPO, and the DPO rushed to the scene, and they moved the man to the hospital. On arrival, a doctor on duty confirmed the lecturer’s death.

“So the girl in question has been transferred from Anyigba Police Division to the State CID for further investigation and prosecution. An autopsy has been conducted, but right now I don’t know whether the result of the autopsy is out because I haven’t spoken with the SCID.”

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular