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Anambra Govt Reacts To Gov Obiano Been Placed On Watchlist By EFCC

Willie Obiano

Following the news that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed the outgoing governor of  Anambra State, Willie Obiano on their watchlist, the State Government has responded to the report, calling it a witch hunt and an attempt to get back at the governor for overseeing a free and fair election in the state – one in which the ruling party’s candidate Senator Andy Uba lost.

In the press release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, the state government also accused the EFCC of acting a script written by the powers that be after their efforts to declare emergency rule in the state failed – which was followed by the dreadful loss in the November 6 governorship election.

It would be recalled that the outgoing governor of the state, Willie Obiano, who would vacate the State Government  House on March 17, 2022, upon completion of his tenure in office was placed on the nation’s anti-graft commission’s watchlist for reasons yet to be revealed.

The Commission made this known in a letter dated November 15, 2021, which was addressed to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). In the letter, the EFCC asked the NIS to intimate them if Mr. Willie Obiano attempts to leave the country.

However, the state government has asked the EFCC to drop their witch hunt. In a press statement, he reiterated that Governor Obiano will be ready to answer questions about his service record when invited.

Read the statement below:

EFCC’s Inelegant Drama over Anambra Governor

1. Nigerians were dismayed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) went a new low on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, when it sponsored media reports claiming that it has placed Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on its watch list. The EFCC provided no details of how Governor Obiano has been placed on its watch list but made a reference to a letter it purportedly wrote on November 15, 2021, to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) asking it to inform the anti-graft agency anytime the Governor is traveling out of the country.

2. Everything that can be wrong with politically motivated statements like this one is obviously wrong with this statement. The EFCC knows fully well that it is acting inelegantly in this instance, and so has tried as much as possible not to make an official public statement on the alleged placing of Chief Obiano on the watch list. It furtively gave a section of the media the news report it wrote based on ostensibly its letter to the NIS on November 15.

3. Governor Obiano is out of the country currently. And he traveled through one of the country’s international airports. He did not disguise himself, but rather left the country with his identity fully disclosed at the necessary immigration point.

4. The EFCC sounded more inelegant when it claimed in the sponsored press report that it received intelligence reports that the Governor plans to “flee” from Nigeria once he hands over power next March 17 to the newly-elected Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Chief Obiano has never left any person(s) in doubt that he will relocate to his base in the United States once he finishes his tenure. As early as August 31, 2020, he announced his decision to a meeting of the Anambra State Council of Elders, comprising such personages as the erstwhile Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe who is also the chairman of both the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers; a former Anambra State Governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; an ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, mni; the founding Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi; the Archbishop-Emeritus of the Anglican Church in Anambra State, The Most Reverend Dr. Maxwell Samuel Chukwunweike Anikwenwa; and the Catholic Bishop of the Awka Diocese, Rev Dr. Paulinus Ezeokafor.

5. Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State Chief Executive. Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution. The EFCC went too far as to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any State Governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.

6. It is, indeed strange that the EFCC is making a show that it is investigating a high public officer. Anti-corruption agencies, like intelligence services, conduct their investigations discreetly, and not on pages of newspapers. Media trial has never benefitted the EFCC.

7. The whole nation knows those behind all the present histrionics about Obiano. They are those who didn’t want the November 6 election to hold. They are those in high places who unsuccessfully canvassed for emergency rule in Anambra supposedly on security grounds. They are those who masterminded the Birnin Kudu High Court charade in Jigawa State over the APGA leadership and, more importantly, the authentic APGA candidate in the November Gubernatorial Election in Anambra State. They are those responsible for the sacrilege of a Customary Court in Abuja issuing criminal summons to Professor Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor. These people are still fighting the gubernatorial battle on behalf of their badly defeated friends and political associates in the Anambra vote. They will fail badly, as they have done in the recent past.

8. The EFCC should not allow itself to be used by politicians who are mere birds of passage. Its ongoing Anambra drama is in bad taste. It did not serve Governor Obiano any notice. Nor did it invite him to answer questions about his service record. It just went to the press. Yet, the Governor is willing to answer any question(s) about his years in office. After all, he has received a prestigious award from the United Nations Development Programme for transparency.

God bless Anambra State.

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Business

NCC orders Telco’s To compensate subscribers for poor network service

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to make things right for customers when the network quality in certain areas doesn’t meet the expected standards.

This directive was shared in a statement released on Sunday by Nnenna Ukoha, who leads the Public Affairs Department. The statement emphasized the Commission’s firm view that customers shouldn’t have to bear the entire brunt of service problems if operators aren’t meeting the required service delivery benchmarks.

Part of the statement said “Under this directive, erring operators will compensate affected users directly for breaches of Quality of Service (QoS) Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) shall be required to pay these compensations for instances of poor quality of service recorded within specified time frames.

The compensation will be provided in the form of airtime credits, calculated based on subscribers’ average spending patterns and their presence within Local Government Areas where service failures occur.”

Ukoha explained that this directive stems from the Commission’s overall approach to regulation, which prioritizes the consumer right at the heart of Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape. They emphasized that today’s telecommunications services are fundamental to economic activity, social connections, and gaining access to digital possibilities.

“When service quality is poor, the consequences affect productivity, commercial activities, and even public confidence in our communications system.

While regulatory fines have traditionally served as a deterrent against poor service delivery, the Commission is adopting a more consumer-focused approach that strengthens accountability within the industry,” the statement said.

The Commission has designed this measure to complement existing and ongoing efforts to strengthen service quality monitoring and enforce performance standards.

“Further to this directive by the Commission to MNOs on compensation to consumers, the Commission is also mandating Tower Companies that own the critical infrastructure for Quality of Service delivery, such as masts, to invest in infrastructure with measurable outcomes using sums that it has fined these companies, in addition to other financial fines the Commission will deem appropriate.

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FG Says Nigeria needs $100 billion to solve power crisis

Nigeria needs over $100 billion in public and private investments to achieve 24-hour electricity, as Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu outlines funding gaps, gas shortages, and sector reforms. The Federal Government has revealed that Nigeria needs more than $100 billion in combined public and private investment across the entire power sector to ensure a reliable 24/7 electricity supply.

At a press conference, where he was updating the public on recent developments and achievements in the power sector under the current government, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledged the recent decline in electricity supply across the country. He apologized to the people of Nigeria and promised to take quick steps to fix the situation.

Put together, we are talking of over $100bn of investments in the upstream, midstream, and downstream of the power sector value chain,” Adelabu said. “This is not a figure to be underestimated, but it is achievable in phases, through a combination of government and private sector participation. Patience and consistent investment are key.”

The minister explained that the government has worked out the costs: bringing an extra 20,000 megawatts of power online would likely set them back around $30 billion, based on an average cost of $1.5 billion for every 1,000MW plant. Getting that power to where it’s needed through transmission lines is estimated at $20 billion, while setting up distribution networks and gas pipelines would cost roughly $25 billion and $22 billion, respectively.

Adelabu pointed out that while South Africa, with a population of about 60 million, is considering a $25 billion private investment in its energy sector, Nigeria’s much larger population – over 200 million – means we need to invest even more, proportionally speaking.

Although there are difficulties now, the minister also emphasized the significant progress that has been made since the current administration took office in September 2023. “For the first time in Nigeria’s history, we achieved a generation peak of 6,001 megawatts in April 2025, and the highest transmission of 5,801 megawatts on March 2, 2025,” he said.

“This was made possible through completion of the Zungeru hydro power plant (700MW), rehabilitation of existing thermal plants, and expansion of renewable energy via mini-grids.”

Installed capacity rose from 13,000MW in 2023 to 14,400MW in 2025, while financial interventions included a N4tn debt restructuring to clear outstanding unpaid subsidies to power-generating companies, of which N501bn has already been raised from the bond market and disbursed.

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Former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai Charged To court over multiple criminal Charges

Anti-Open Grazing

The ICPC will arraign former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i in both federal and state high courts over charges including money laundering, abuse of office, and fraud. Court dates and proceedings are underway. ICPC) released a press statement signed by John Okor Odey, Anipr, Head, Media and Public Communications.

According to the press release, “ICPC is set to arraign the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i (M) and one Joel Adoga (M) at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Kaduna Judicial Division on Tuesday, the 24th March 2026. The suit with number FHC/KD/73/2026 has charges ranging from conversion and possession of public property, to money laundering.”

It further went on to say, “Similarly, another charge, number KDH/KAD/ICPC/01/26, against Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i and one Amadu Sule (LEDA), has also been filed before a Kaduna State High Court in the Kaduna Judicial Division.”

The charges in the State High Court case range from abuse of office, fraud, and intent to commit fraud to conferring undue advantage, among others.

The ICPC filed both charges on the 18th of March, 2026. The date of arraignment in the State High Court will be communicated at the appropriate time as determined by the Court.

“The ICPC wishes to inform the public that Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i has been duly served.”

The ICPC restates its commitment to adhering fully to due process and the rule of law at all times.

Just last month, the Nigerian government filed cybercrime charges against Nasir El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged unlawful interception of the phone communications of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

The charge was filed by the DSS counsel at the federal high court in Abuja, and it read, “That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station’s Prime Time Programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, did admit during the interview that you and your cohorts unlawfully intercepted the Phone Communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment, Act, 2024,” the charge reads.

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