News

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

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.

Entertainment

Entertainment Lawyer Reveals Why Asake Left Olamide’s YBNL

Yemisi Falaye, an entertainment lawyer, has revealed why singer Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, parted ways with rapper Olamide’s record label, YBNL Nation.

Recall that reports of Asake and Olamide parting ways surfaced last December when it was reported that the ‘Sungba’ singer had been allowed to leave the label under a termination agreement.

In February 2025, Asake all but confirmed his separation from Olamide when he launched his own record label, Giran Republic.

However, shedding light on the separation and the kind of contract Asake signed with YBNL Nation, Falaye revealed that the singer left because he felt cheated.

Falaye traced the origin of the fallout to when Asake decided against her legal advice not to sign the contract Olamide gave him at the very beginning.

She explained that Asake, who had been in the music industry for years without a breakthrough, rushed to sign the contract despite her advice because he was excited that he was finally getting signed.

Falaye clarified that Olamide clearly told Asake to get a lawyer to review the contract before signing.

Although Asake took the contract to Falaye, he refused her advice not to sign but instead insulted her and accused her of trying to impede his breakthrough.

Falaye had warned Asake that he would be signing away his rights “in perpetuity” if he agreed to the terms of the contract.

She recounted, “I remember when Olamide was going to sign Asake. He was so overwhelmed that he said to Olamide, ‘I’m not going to get a lawyer to review this agreement. YBNL wants to sign me, do you know how long I’ve been waiting? He had been around for the longest time before Olamide decided to sign him. Olamide told him, ‘Take the contract, go and give it to somebody to review it.

“So he brought it to me, and I said, ‘If you sign this agreement, you are going to assign your rights in perpetuity’. I advised him not to sign it. And he looked at me and said, ‘Are you kidding me? You said what? Did they send you? You want to pour sand in my garri.’

“He insulted me and called my bluff. Then he went back and told Olamide, ‘Look, I’m not going to…’ and right there, he signed it. And guess what? It didn’t particularly work for him. Because if it did, he would have renewed the agreement or at least been open to reviewing the terms. But he was so hurt, he felt cheated. Why should he feel cheated? He’s the one that didn’t understand the agreement.”

News

BREAKING: Former President Muhammadu Buhari has died at the age of 82.

Nigeria’s Former President Muhammadu Buhari has passed on at the age of 82. Bashir Ahmad, the President’s former Special Assistant on Digital Communications, announced the development in a post on his verified X account on Sunday, July 13, 2025.

“The family of the former president has announced the passing of the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, this afternoon in a clinic in London.

“May Allah accept him in Aljannatul Firdaus, Amin,” Ahmad wrote.

The former President had been ill and undergoing treatment in an undisclosed London hospital, with sources claiming he was placed in intensive care in the early days of his admission back in April.

While initial reports described his visit as a routine medical check‑up, sources confirmed he fell ill soon after arriving and remained hospitalised.

However, the family has yet to disclose the circumstances surrounding his passing as of press time.

During his presidency, Buhari embarked on frequent and prolonged foreign medical trips, which attracted criticisms and concerns over the nation’s healthcare infrastructure.

Born on 17 December 1942, the 82-year-old general served as Nigeria’s President from 2015 after his previous stint as military Head of State from 1983 to 1985.

Recall that last week, President Bola Tinubu had sent his vice, Kashim Shettima, to pay his predecessor a visit at the London hospital where he was recuperating.

Tinubu directed the Vice President to ascertain Buhari’s condition and ensure that he was supported to full recovery.

Shettima jetted off from Addis Ababa on Sunday night and arrived in London on Monday, July 7, 2025, before proceeding to an unnamed hospital.

Entertainment

Burna Boy’s new album ‘No Signs of Weakness’ is out

Grammy award-winning global icon Burna Boy has released his highly anticipated eighth studio album ‘No Sign of Weakness’. The project, released on July 11, 2025, is his eighth album, marking another notable moment in his illustrious career. In the album, Burna Boy addresses all forms of weakness, whether personal or perceived, while announcing his intentions to continue blazing the trail.

The album packs 16 tracks with guest appearances from global stars Stromae, Travis Scott, Mick Jagger, and Shaboozey. He has previously released the reggae love joint ‘Sweet Love’ and the uptempo joint ‘Tatata’ featuring Travis Scott.

Burna Boy also released the songs ‘Update’ and ‘Bundle By Bundle’ in preparation for the album.. 2025 has been a busy year for the hitmaker, who became the first-ever cover star of Billboard France. The feat coincided with his historic, sold-out show at the Stade de France, making him the first African artist to headline the iconic venue.

The multi-award-winning global star followed up on his Stade De France concert with another historic concert in Manchester, where he sold out the Co-op Arena, which is the biggest indoor Arena in England. Following the release of ‘No Sign of Weakness,’ Burna Boy will be embarking on a tour of North America where he will be headlining several notable venues in the United States and Canada.