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Buhari’s Critics Will Admit He Didn’t Embezzle Funds As President —Akpabio

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has extolled former President Muhammadu Buhari as a leader who served Nigeria without mismanaging the nation’s treasury.

Akpabio, who stated this at an expanded Federal Executive Council meeting in honour of Buhari in Abuja on Thursday, said even the former president’s critics would agree that he did not embezzle public funds while in office.

He said, “And let us be honest, he was tough. He was a soldier who did not flinch under fire, a leader who did not flee from responsibility, and above all, a Nigerian whose loyalty to this nation was never up for sale.

“His toughness was born not out of pride but of a patriotism, a fierce, unrelenting belief that Nigeria, with all its challenges, was still worth fighting for. And yet some disagree with him.

“That is the nature of democracy. But even his fiercest critics will admit that he did not pilfer the nation’s boss, nor pander to its pleasures to the very end.

The special FEC meeting was attended by the leadership of the National Assembly, ministers, governors, and the children of the former leader, led by his son, Yusuf.

Akpabio further stated that Buhari sought duty when others sought glory.

He also described the former president as a leader who did not flee from challenges.

“President Buhari did not merely pass through the corridors of power; he left his boots and imprints in them. He believed that discipline mattered, that integrity mattered, that leadership, even when lonely, must be anchored on something greater than power,” he added.

Buhari, a former military head of state, served as a civilian president for eight years from 2015 to 2023.

He died on Sunday at a clinic in London at the age of 82.

His remains were brought back to Nigeria on Tuesday and received by President Bola Tinubu at the Katsina Airport.


His body was later buried during a state funeral at his residence in Daura and was well-attended by top government officials, political associates, and family members of the former president, as well as residents of the area.

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Xenophobia: Air Peace evacuates more Nigerians from South Africa

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Air Peace has completed the fourth phase of the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa, bringing another 284 Nigerians home.

The spokesperson for Air Peace, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, disclosed in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

He said the development was part of the federal government’s ongoing efforts to evacuate citizens affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Mr Osifo-Whiskey said that the latest evacuation flight was operated with the airline’s Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft.

He said the 284 returnees arrived in Nigeria on Thursday evening, bringing the total number of evacuees to 1,085.

The official said the operation demonstrated Air Peace’s continued commitment to supporting the government’s emergency response efforts by providing safe and seamless transport for stranded Nigerians.

According to him, the airline evacuated 262 Nigerians during the first mission on June 11, and brought back 271 on June 30, and brought back 268 on July 3.

He said that the successful completion of the fourth evacuation mission highlighted the airline’s readiness to deploy its fleet and operational capacity in support of national emergencies whenever required.

“This is more than an airlift. The ongoing evacuation exercise reflects Air Peace’s unwavering humanitarian philosophy—one rooted in compassion, patriotism and abiding commitment,” said Mr Osifo-Whiskey.

He said that the airline had carried out more than 16 evacuation and relief missions across Africa and beyond since it began operations.

Mr Osifo-Whiskey said that Air Peace remained committed to supporting Nigerians at home and abroad, adding that it would continue to deploy its resources whenever called upon to assist citizens in need.

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Ondo female student forced into sex-for-grades by HOD — NANS

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The National Association of Nigerian Students has alleged that a female student of a tertiary institution in Ondo State was coerced into a sex-for-grades ordeal by her Head of Department after repeatedly failing a compulsory course needed for her graduation.

The President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, disclosed this in a statement on Friday titled, “Our Female Students Deserve Safety, Dignity, and Justice.”

According to Akinteye, the student had only one outstanding course preventing her from graduating with her colleagues and returned to the institution to retake the examination.

He said the student was informed that she had failed the course again and subsequently approached the lecturer, who also served as the Head of Department, to seek clarification on why she was unable to pass.

According to the NANS president, the student alleged that the lecturer told her she could never pass the course and, after several encounters, demanded a sexual favour in exchange for awarding her a passing grade.

“She further alleged that, after several encounters, the lecturer demanded that she perform a sexual act on him in his office in exchange for a passing grade,” the statement partly read

Akinteye said the student claimed she felt trapped and believed she had no option if she wanted to graduate.


“Feeling trapped and believing she had no other option if she wanted to graduate, she said she complied and she gave the him BLOW JOB as demanded by him,” he stated.

According to him, the student believed the incident would end there, but the lecturer allegedly continued contacting her about a week later.

He alleged that the lecturer repeatedly called the student and invited her to his residence, implying that she would have to continue the sexual relationship before she could finally be cleared.

“Disturbed and afraid, she reached out to me for help,” Akinteye said.

The NANS president explained that although he initially intended to escalate the matter publicly, the student pleaded with him not to do so because she feared further victimisation and only wanted to graduate without additional harassment.

He said he subsequently contacted relevant authorities within the institution and was informed within three hours that the student had been cleared.

“While I am relieved that she was able to complete her academic process, I am deeply saddened that she was too afraid to publicly identify herself or the lecturer involved.


“This reflects the fear, intimidation and stigma that many female students face when confronted with sexual harassment,” he said.

Akinteye described the incident as part of a wider problem of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions, noting that many similar cases remain unreported because victims fear retaliation, embarrassment and victimisation.

“No student should ever be forced to exchange sexual favours for academic success. Our campuses must be places of learning, not environments where students are exploited by those entrusted with their education,” he added.

He urged female students experiencing sexual harassment, intimidation or exploitation to report such incidents to the National Director of Gender of NANS, assuring them that complaints would be handled professionally, confidentially and with the seriousness they deserve.

“We are committed to handling such complaints professionally, confidentially, and with the seriousness they deserve. Together, we must build campuses where every student can pursue an education free from fear, harassment, and abuse,” he said.

The NANS president, however, did not disclose the name of the institution, the lecturer or the student involved.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the institution were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as NANS did not identify the school in its statement.

Credit: Punch

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Lagos queries LAGESC officer caught on camera collecting ₦20,000 bribe

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The Lagos State Government has issued a query to an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps over allegations of corruption after a viral video purportedly showed him receiving a ₦20,000 bribe from a suspected environmental offender.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a post on X on Friday, describing the officer’s alleged conduct as unacceptable and contrary to the ethics and core values of the agency.

According to Wahab, the officer has been formally queried, while a Personnel Management Board will be constituted to investigate the incident in line with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

“My attention has been drawn to a viral video allegedly showing an officer of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps receiving a bribe from a lawbreaker. Such conduct is unacceptable and runs contrary to the rules, ethics, and core values of the Agency,” Wahab wrote.

“Consequently, we have immediately issued the officer a query, and this will be followed by the constitution of a Personnel Management Board (PMB) to investigate the matter in accordance with the provisions of the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.”

The commissioner reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, warning that any officer found guilty of misconduct would face appropriate disciplinary measures.

“The Lagos State Government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and any form of misconduct within its public service. Any officer found culpable will be subjected to the appropriate disciplinary measures as stipulated by the relevant regulations,” he said.

Wahab also warned members of the public against attempting to bribe government officials, stressing that both giving and receiving bribes are criminal offences.

“I also wish to remind Lagosians that offering a bribe is as unlawful as receiving one. We urge everyone to obey the law and refrain from attempting to compromise enforcement officers.

“Together, we can uphold integrity, strengthen public trust, and build a more accountable and responsible society,” he added.

In the query letter attached to the commissioner’s post, the officer was accused of collecting ₦20,000 from an offender, an act that was allegedly captured on video and circulated on social media.

The letter, referenced MOE/LAGESC/431/56 and dated July 10, 2026, stated that the footage was viewed by the Lagos State Governor.

“You were alleged to have collected the sum of Twenty Thousand Naira (₦20,000) from an offender. This act was recorded and posted on social media, where it was viewed by His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State,” the letter read.

It described the alleged conduct as corruption and extortion, adding that it constituted serious misconduct under the Public Service Rules.

The officer was directed to submit a written explanation within 48 hours stating why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.

“Your representation (if any) must reach the undersigned officer within 48 hours of receipt of this letter. Failure to submit your response within the stipulated time limit will result in disciplinary action being taken against you,” the letter added.

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