Terrorists demand N300m after N40m ransom payment for kidnapped INEC CommissionerPublished on July 1, 2026 By Matthew Atungwu
Terrorists have demanded an extra N300 million ransom from the family of Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, NSIEC, Permanent Commissioner, Ahmed Mohammed, nine months after his abduction.
This is after the family of the victim has reportedly paid N40 million to the kidnappers to secure his release.
Recall that terrorists kidnapped Ahmed along the Mokwa–Ibbi Road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on September 29, 2025, while travelling to Minna for an official assignment.
The incident happened shortly before the November 1, 2025 local government elections in the state, where he was expected to participate in official duties.
According to Daily Trust, a family member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the abductors contacted the family again on Monday and asked whether they were ready to meet the fresh ransom demand.
The family member said the terrorists informed the family that an additional N300 million would be required before Ahmed would be released, but the family said it could not raise the amount.
“They call almost every day. It was only yesterday (Tuesday) that they did not call. They requested for additional N300 million. We are appealing to the Niger State Government to come to our aid and secure his release.
“He was kidnapped while on an official engagement of the Niger State Government,” the family member said.
NYSC Orientation Camp to Be Extended From Three To Six Weeks, New Uniform Introduced
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing sweeping changes aimed at transforming the scheme into a skills-driven, youth-empowering institution aligned with Nigeria’s economic development goals.
Among the key reforms is the extension of the NYSC orientation programme from three weeks to six weeks, with a renewed focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career development.
Some of the landmark reforms include:
1. A technology-driven call-up process.
2. Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
3. A redesigned six-week orientation programme with stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career streams.
4. Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
5. Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
6. Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
7. A new graduation ceremony to replace Passing Out Parade, and redesigned NYSC uniform that reflect professionalism and national pride.
To facilitate implementation, the Federal Executive Council directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin amending the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide the legal framework for the approved reforms.
“His step mother arranged her best friend daughter for Alex, for a wife without Ekubo Okwaraeke family’s knowledge and the marriage was done just like that. We were shocked when we heard that Alex was married. I personally asked, what is going on?
I think I was the only family member that saw his c*rpse and stood my ground to supervise what was going on. Her family members were everywhere as if it was their own. The burial arrangement was rushed as if there was something somebody is trying to cover for us.
Nobody is explaining what really happened to our son. How come the bl**d clot on his eyes? Is bl**d clot part of the cancer?
We also heard that Alex Ekubo was brought to the hospital d*ead. My uncle (father) knew nothing about all this. His death announcement was a sh*ck to me and was buried like that. My uncle is responding to his wife because, he is at his wife’s mercy forgetting that we own him and his son Alex.
Ekubo Okwareke was asked to put on white for a boy of 40 years. I’m not writing this to chase anything. Please take away properties from this.
She channeled Alex Ekubo to her family, while there was nothing we do in Ekubo Okwaraeke family that he will attend or show internet. Alex lost interest in our family to the extent that he attends every single marriages done in her family. There was no intimacy between Alex and Chioma, his own biological sister from the same mother and became too close to his stepmother’s children which I don’t understand.
Alex was s*ck and nobody knew till d*ath. He d*ed. We the family don’t know that our son was s*ck and d*ad till it was announced to the public by his step mother. Alex rejected his biological mother while he was alive and doesn’t want anything to do with her. His biological mother is still alive.
Ekubo Okwaraeke family demand an explanation on our son since she could not explain to us indoor.“
~ Another ‘Ekubo’ calls out #Alexxekubo’s step mother, his wife demanding to know how Alex passed, says Alex
Maiduguri attacks: Court sentences Boko Haram member to death by hanging
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced a Boko Haram member, Alkali Yarima, also known as La’ari, to death by hanging for his participation in the 2015 terror attacks on Maiduguri, Borno State.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also sentenced Yarima to life imprisonment on count six of the charge, bordering on receiving training on arms and weapon handling in preparation to commit acts of terrorism.
While the convict was committed to a 35-year imprisonment in count one, Justice Omotosho sentenced him to a 30-year jail term in count five.
The judge, thereafter, handed down a 10-year imprisonment for Yarima on each of counts two, three and four of the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had, in the charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026, preferred a seven-count charge against the convict.
The charge was dated May 26 and filed on May 29 by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
In count one, which attracted a 35-year jail term, Yarima (aka La’ari), with chest number 1636 of the Lawanti area of the Mafa local government area in Borno, was alleged to have, sometime between 2009 and 2015 at the time of his arrest, professed membership and continued to belong to the Boko Haram group, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The offence is punishable under Section 16 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
In count six, where he bagged a life imprisonment, the convict was alleged to have “engaged in conduct in preparation to commit acts of terrorism when you travelled to an Arab country for training on arms and weapon handling.”
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
The Federal Government, in count seven, which attracted a death penalty, accused the terrorist of committing acts of terrorism when he participated in the attacks on Maiduguri.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 2 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
NAN reports that the trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moved to the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
The AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyers for the prosecution, said the government was determined to stamp out terrorism and its related activities from the country.
The minister said, “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe place for everybody.” (NAN)
SEPARATION IS NOT DIVORCE; COHABITATION IS NOT MARRIAGE
On April 26, 2020, Nigeria lost Dr. Tosin Ajayi, founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Foundation Hospital, one of the country’s most respected private healthcare institutions. His passing was mourned nationally. But within weeks, mourning gave way to litigation.
What followed was not a dispute over medical legacy, but over a much older, unresolved matter: marriage. For the next five years, two women, their children, and the entire Ajayi estate were locked in court. The core question was deceptively simple: Who, under Nigerian law, was the legal wife?
The answer, delivered on March 13, 2026 by Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya of the Lagos High Court, has now become a national case study. It is a verdict that restates, with painful clarity, a principle many Nigerians misunderstand: Separation is not divorce. Cohabitation is not marriage. And sentiment has no weight in probate court.
The Facts: A Marriage Never Legally Ended Dr. Ajayi had separated from his first wife many years before his death. They lived apart.
They built separate lives. To neighbors, friends, and even to Dr. Ajayi himself, the marriage was “over.” But no petition for dissolution was ever filed. No decree nisi was granted. No decree absolute was issued under the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap M7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Believing the union was effectively dead, Dr. Ajayi entered into another relationship and later married a second woman. He had children with her. She managed his home. She was presented socially as “Mrs. Ajayi.” For all practical purposes, she was the wife.
When Dr. Ajayi died intestate — without a will — both women came forward. The first wife returned to claim her position as legal spouse and administrator of the estate. The second woman countered, “Over my dead body. You abandoned him for years and only reappeared after his death to claim what you left behind.”
The Judgment: What the Court Actually Decided After five years of evidence, arguments, and legal submissions, Justice Odusanya delivered a judgment that dismantled three common myths:
Myth 1: “Long separation ends marriage.”
The court held: _“Separation, regardless of how long it lasts, does not automatically dissolve a legally valid marriage under the Act.”_ Under Section 15 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, only a court can dissolve a statutory marriage. Separation may prove “irretrievable breakdown,” but it is the judge’s decree, not the passage of time, that terminates the marriage.
Myth 2: “A registry wedding cures everything.” Evidence showed the second woman was herself legally married to Mr. Davies at the time she allegedly married Dr. Ajayi. The court ruled that her purported marriage to Dr. Ajayi was void ab initio — void from the beginning. Section 47 of the Matrimonial Causes Act states that a marriage is void if either party is already lawfully married. Nigerian statutory marriage is strictly monogamous: one man, one woman. No exceptions.
Myth 3: “Children from the second union will protect her rights.” The court affirmed that while all children of Dr. Ajayi, whether born within or outside the statutory marriage, are entitled to share in the remaining two-thirds of the estate under the Administration of Estates Law, the second woman herself had no spousal rights. She could not apply for Letters of Administration. She was not entitled to the statutory one-third share reserved for a legal spouse.
Final Orders: The first wife was declared the only legally recognized spouse. She is entitled to one-third of Dr. Ajayi’s personal estate and is the sole person entitled to apply for Letters of Administration. The rest of the estate will be divided among all of Dr. Ajayi’s children.
Why This Matters Beyond One Family: This judgment is not about Dr. Ajayi alone. It exposes a systemic legal blind spot in Nigerian society:
A. The Monogamy Rule is Absolute Unlike customary law, which permits polygamy, statutory marriage under the Act is monogamous. A man cannot be “traditionally married” and then “add” a statutory wife. A woman cannot be “customarily married” and then “upgrade” to a registry wedding while the first marriage subsists. The second ceremony is legally meaningless.
B. Customary Divorce ≠ Statutory Divorce Many Nigerians believe that “returning the bride price” or “family settlement” ends a marriage. For customary marriages, that is correct. But if you later contract a statutory marriage, you must also obtain a statutory divorce. The two systems do not automatically talk to each other. Failing to divorce under the Act means you remain married in the eyes of every bank, court, and probate registry in Nigeria.
C. Intestacy Punishes Poor Planning. Dr. Ajayi died without a will. Under Lagos State’s Administration of Estates Law, an intestate estate is distributed by formula: 1/3 to the legal spouse, 2/3 to the children. A well-drafted will could have made specific provisions for the second woman and her children, reducing litigation. Without a will, the law, not the deceased’s intentions, decides.
The Hard Lesson for Women — and for Men To women: This case vindicates every warning about “marrying a married man under the Act.” No matter how long you cohabit, no matter how many children you bear, no matter how “official” your wedding photos look, if his first marriage was never dissolved by a court, you are not a wife in law. You are a partner. A companion.
A mother of his children. But not a spouse with inheritance rights. When death comes, the court will be clinical. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” will sound less like a maxim and more like a sentence.
To men: You cannot “move on” emotionally and legally at different speeds. If your marriage has broken down, do the hard work of obtaining a decree absolute. Until then, every new relationship you formalize is built on legal quicksand. You risk leaving your children and your partner with nothing but litigation.
Three Protective Steps Everyone Must Take Today:
A. Verify Before You Marry: If a suitor says “I am divorced,” do not accept separation agreements or affidavits. Insist on seeing a certified true copy of the Decree Absolute. It is the only document that proves the first marriage is dead in law.
B. Dissolve Properly Before You Remarry: If you are customarily married and want a registry wedding, first dissolve the customary marriage under native law and custom, obtain evidence of that dissolution, then proceed. If you are statutorily married and want out, file a petition. Separation for 20 years still requires a court order.
C. Write a Will, No Matter Your Age or Status: A will is not for “old people.” It is for anyone with assets and dependents. A will allows you to make specific provisions for all your children and even for long-term partners, within the limits of the law. Without it, the state’s formula overrides your wishes.
Let the Courtroom Be Your Teacher, Not Your Destination.
Dr. Tosin Ajayi’s children will inherit. His hospital legacy continues. But the woman he lived with for years will not inherit as a spouse. That is not cruelty. That is the law.
Let this editorial serve as the warning that casual advice cannot deliver. Before you say “I do,” ensure his “I do” from the past has been legally converted to “I don’t” by a court of competent jurisdiction.
In estate matters, the courtroom does not interpret intentions. It interprets documents. And the only document that ends a marriage is a Decree Absolute. Everything else is just separation.
EFCC re-arraigns ex-Skye Bank boss, Ayeni, over N15.6b fraud case
The Ecoonomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned the former Chairman, Board of Directors (BoD) of the defunct Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank), Tunde Ayeni, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, over an alleged N15.6 billion fraud case.
Ayeni was re-arraigned on an amended 18-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and diversion of funds, following the EFCC’s submission of additional evidence.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed (SAN), informed the court that the amended charge and additional evidence were filed on June 22, 2026.
Defence counsel, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), confirmed receipt of the documents.
The EFCC alleged that Ayeni, while serving as Chairman of Skye Bank’s BoD, had control over depositors’ funds and allegedly diverted various sums in breach of the bank’s operational policies.
He was first arraigned on May 4, 2026, on 17 counts.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
At the Lagos office, sources say Okowa was making frantic efforts to secure the release of his international passport.
The former governor reportedly told investigators he needed to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment.
The commission’s response to his requests remains unclear.
The Delta North politician was governor of Delta from 2015 to 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and later emerged as the party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election alongside Atiku Abubakar.
Okowa defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside his successor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and other political figures in the state in April 2025.
Attempts to get an official reaction from EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, proved abortive, as his phone rang out without response when contacted.
The probe into the N1.3 trillion derivation fund is one of the commission’s high-profile cases targeting alleged mismanagement of oil revenue by past officials.
One injured as IED planted under vehicle explodes in Lagos market
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai Tijani, has assured residents that a commercial area in the state remains safe following a bomb explosion suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device, which triggered brief panic in the area.
Tijani gave the assurance on Monday, June 22, 2026 while addressing journalists at the scene of the incident at the Shoe Materials Market in Mushin, following a comprehensive sweep by security operatives.
According to him, the police received information about an explosion and immediately deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal operatives to cordon off and secure the area.
“We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,” he said.
He explained that preliminary findings indicated that the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device planted under a vehicle.
Tijani said the device was placed beneath the passenger side of the vehicle and detonated when the engine was started.
“The IED was under the vehicle by the passenger side. It exploded when the vehicle was started,” he said.
According to him, one person sustained injuries in the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
He said that the victim was in a stable condition.
The commissioner added that after a detailed sweep by EOD experts, no additional explosive devices were discovered in the area.
The police commissioner urged members of the public, especially residents and traders in the affected commercial area, to remain calm and resume normal activities.
He also stated that remnants of the explosive device had been recovered and taken for forensic examination as investigations continued.
The CP urged residents to remain calm and disregard rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos, describing these as false and misleading. (NAN)
Ondo: Abducted Pastor’s Son Regains Freedom After 3 Weeks in captivity
A nine-year-old boy, Victor Oluwatobi, who was abducted by gunmen in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, has regained his freedom after spending three weeks in captivity.
The child, son of a local pastor, was safely rescued on Sunday through the coordinated efforts of security agencies and reunited with his family.
Victor was kidnapped on the night of June 5, 2026, when armed men stormed Ugbosi Quarters in Idogun.
The attackers reportedly destroyed two buildings during the invasion in an attempt to abduct a landlord, who managed to escape.
In the ensuing chaos, Pastor Oluwatobi was unable to evacuate all his children to safety, leaving the young boy behind as he slept.
The assailants subsequently whisked him away and held him captive.
Following the incident, the Ondo State Government mobilised a joint security operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Amotekun Corps, and local vigilante groups.
The security teams reportedly conducted extensive search operations across forests and surrounding communities in a determined effort to secure the child’s release.
Their efforts paid off on Sunday when the boy was rescued unharmed and reunited with his family.
Confirming the development, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, commended the security operatives and all individuals who played various roles in the successful rescue operation.
Nigerians must not stay silent on insecurity, Davido tells Rarara
Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has called on prominent Hausa singer, Dauda Rarara, to openly speak out against the country’s worsening insecurity, insisting that silence and political bias only deepen national challenges.
The controversy stems from Davido’s appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles on June 10, where he wore a customised jacket bearing the inscription “Bring Them Home” alongside the names of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers abducted on May 15 in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a video posted on his verified Facebook page, Rarara described Davido’s action as “barbaric,” arguing that it risked damaging Nigeria’s international image and alleging that the issue was being politicised.
“I do not usually reply or react to issues like this, but what Davido did was barbaric. In my opinion, Davido and those who share his way of thinking are only behaving foolishly.
“How can you promote Ansaru terrorists or insecurity-related issues to the whole world? How can you take a sensitive national security issue and project it to the world in a way that could damage the country’s image? What exactly do you stand to gain from doing that?
“Davido took the names of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, wrote them on the Nigerian flag and displayed it in America. What was the purpose? What did he hope to achieve? Or was it because he had turned the matter into politics?”
Rarara further questioned the intent behind Davido’s move, suggesting it was linked to political interests and warning against the internationalisation of sensitive security matters.
“Is it because his uncle is contesting an election on Accord Party and Tinubu is in APC? Is that why insecurity must become a campaign tool? Anyone who campaigns with insecurity is insane, because he does not fully understand what it entails.
“What Davido did is similar to removing his own mother’s wrapper, taking a photograph of her and travelling to America to display it for the whole world to see, only to ask people to help cover her up again. What kind of thinking is that?
“Insecurity is not something people should casually jump into. There are facts and circumstances that ordinary members of the public may not know. Before speaking on such matters, one should understand the situation properly.
“Did Davido know the reason behind the abduction of those schoolchildren? Some terrorists were arrested. When efforts to secure their release failed, the kingpins kidnapped innocent people in an attempt to force the authorities to negotiate.
“The President and security agencies had vowed that the terrorists would not be released and that the children would be rescued. It was during this delicate period that Davido chose to embarrass us on a global stage.
“You cannot go to China and promote issues the authorities do not want promoted. The same applies in many other countries. There are limits. But some of our content creators continue to promote narratives that, in my opinion, end up helping terrorists.
“Some content creators do not understand the implications of what they are doing, while others do. Some are sponsored by politicians, while others are simply chasing engagement and followers.”
Reacting on X, Davido quoted Rarara’s post and replied, “Debidooo,” in what appeared to be a mocking reference to the pronunciation of his name.
Rarara responded with the phrase “Kashiga taitayinka,” a derogatory Hausa expression telling the Afrobeat star to come back to his senses.
Davido also fired back, saying, “Da ace kana da ilimi da na tsaya nayi magana dakai. Ama komai baka sani ba, sakarai kawai,” which translates as “If only you had knowledge, I would have stopped to speak with you. But you know nothing, just a fool,” according to a translation of his Hausa response.
In a follow-up statement shared in Hausa and later translated to English, Davido insisted that Nigerians must not remain silent in the face of insecurity, stressing that patriotism requires speaking out regardless of political affiliation.
He, “Da farko, duk wanda yake da kishin Najeriya ba zai yi shiru kan matsalar rashin tsaro da ke addabar ƙasa ba, kuma ba zai hana wasu bayyana damuwarsu a kai ba. Rashin tausayi da fifita son rai ko zama karen en siyasa , da fifita son rai fiye da muradun al’umma ba abin alfahari ba ne. Ka kasance mai kishin ƙasarka, ka daina fifita siyasa a kan gaskiya, sannan ka ji tsoron Allah a cikin duk abin da kake yi #kahuturarara which translates to “Damn it, every Nigerian should not stay silent about the insecurity plaguing the nation, nor should they prevent others from voicing their concerns openly.
He added that prioritising political interests over national welfare was harmful to the country’s progress.
“Showing bias and prioritizing personal or political interests, and putting personal desires above the community’s goals, is nothing to be proud of. Be a patriot for your country, stop prioritizing politics over the truth, and fear God in everything you do
Appeal Court Suspends Judgement Ordering Deregistration of ADC, Accord, Other Parties
The Court of Appeal has suspended the execution of the Abuja Federal High Court’s judgement ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties. Government
This is coming hours after the lower court ordered the deregistration of the parties over failure to meet the constitutional requirements for political parties in the country.
The Federal High Court had in a judgement delivered on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Accord Party, as well as the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal suspended the execution of the judgement on Tuesday.
The appellate court described the development as the highest form of judicial impertinence, stating that the trial judge brazenly disregarded its earlier order. Politics
The panel of justices held that Justice Lifu exhibited judicial rascality by going ahead to hear and make the order despite the order of the Court of Appeal and the pendency of the matter before the court.
It ordered a stay of the execution of the judgment.
GoldMyneTV
Terrorists demand N300m after N40m ransom payment for kidnapped INEC CommissionerPublished on July 1, 2026 By Matthew Atungwu
Terrorists have demanded an extra N300 million ransom from the family of Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, NSIEC, Permanent Commissioner, Ahmed Mohammed, nine months after his abduction.
This is after the family of the victim has reportedly paid N40 million to the kidnappers to secure his release.
Recall that terrorists kidnapped Ahmed along the Mokwa–Ibbi Road in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on September 29, 2025, while travelling to Minna for an official assignment.
The incident happened shortly before the November 1, 2025 local government elections in the state, where he was expected to participate in official duties.
According to Daily Trust, a family member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the abductors contacted the family again on Monday and asked whether they were ready to meet the fresh ransom demand.
The family member said the terrorists informed the family that an additional N300 million would be required before Ahmed would be released, but the family said it could not raise the amount.
“They call almost every day. It was only yesterday (Tuesday) that they did not call. They requested for additional N300 million. We are appealing to the Niger State Government to come to our aid and secure his release.
“He was kidnapped while on an official engagement of the Niger State Government,” the family member said.
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NYSC Orientation Camp to Be Extended From
Three To Six Weeks, New Uniform Introduced
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing sweeping changes aimed at transforming the scheme into a skills-driven, youth-empowering institution aligned with Nigeria’s economic development goals.
Among the key reforms is the extension of the NYSC orientation programme from three weeks to six weeks, with a renewed focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career development.
Some of the landmark reforms include:
1. A technology-driven call-up process.
2. Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.
3. A redesigned six-week orientation programme with stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills and specialised career streams.
4. Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.
5. Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.
6. Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.
7. A new graduation ceremony to replace Passing Out Parade, and redesigned NYSC uniform that reflect professionalism and national pride.
To facilitate implementation, the Federal Executive Council directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to begin amending the NYSC Act and its regulations to provide the legal framework for the approved reforms.
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“His step mother arranged her best friend daughter for Alex, for a wife without Ekubo Okwaraeke family’s knowledge and the marriage was done just like that. We were shocked when we heard that Alex was married. I personally asked, what is going on?
I think I was the only family member that saw his c*rpse and stood my ground to supervise what was going on. Her family members were everywhere as if it was their own. The burial arrangement was rushed as if there was something somebody is trying to cover for us.
Nobody is explaining what really happened to our son. How come the bl**d clot on his eyes? Is bl**d clot part of the cancer?
We also heard that Alex Ekubo was brought to the hospital d*ead. My uncle (father) knew nothing about all this. His death announcement was a sh*ck to me and was buried like that. My uncle is responding to his wife because, he is at his wife’s mercy forgetting that we own him and his son Alex.
Ekubo Okwareke was asked to put on white for a boy of 40 years. I’m not writing this to chase anything. Please take away properties from this.
She channeled Alex Ekubo to her family, while there was nothing we do in Ekubo Okwaraeke family that he will attend or show internet. Alex lost interest in our family to the extent that he attends every single marriages done in her family. There was no intimacy between Alex and Chioma, his own biological sister from the same mother and became too close to his stepmother’s children which I don’t understand.
Alex was s*ck and nobody knew till d*ath. He d*ed. We the family don’t know that our son was s*ck and d*ad till it was announced to the public by his step mother. Alex rejected his biological mother while he was alive and doesn’t want anything to do with her. His biological mother is still alive.
Ekubo Okwaraeke family demand an explanation on our son since she could not explain to us indoor.“
~ Another ‘Ekubo’ calls out #Alexxekubo’s step mother, his wife demanding to know how Alex passed, says Alex
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Maiduguri attacks: Court sentences Boko Haram member to death by hanging
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced a Boko Haram member, Alkali Yarima, also known as La’ari, to death by hanging for his participation in the 2015 terror attacks on Maiduguri, Borno State.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, also sentenced Yarima to life imprisonment on count six of the charge, bordering on receiving training on arms and weapon handling in preparation to commit acts of terrorism.
While the convict was committed to a 35-year imprisonment in count one, Justice Omotosho sentenced him to a 30-year jail term in count five.
The judge, thereafter, handed down a 10-year imprisonment for Yarima on each of counts two, three and four of the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government had, in the charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026, preferred a seven-count charge against the convict.
The charge was dated May 26 and filed on May 29 by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
In count one, which attracted a 35-year jail term, Yarima (aka La’ari), with chest number 1636 of the Lawanti area of the Mafa local government area in Borno, was alleged to have, sometime between 2009 and 2015 at the time of his arrest, professed membership and continued to belong to the Boko Haram group, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The offence is punishable under Section 16 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
In count six, where he bagged a life imprisonment, the convict was alleged to have “engaged in conduct in preparation to commit acts of terrorism when you travelled to an Arab country for training on arms and weapon handling.”
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
The Federal Government, in count seven, which attracted a death penalty, accused the terrorist of committing acts of terrorism when he participated in the attacks on Maiduguri.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 2 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.
NAN reports that the trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moved to the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja.
The AGF, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyers for the prosecution, said the government was determined to stamp out terrorism and its related activities from the country.
The minister said, “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe place for everybody.” (NAN)
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SEPARATION IS NOT DIVORCE; COHABITATION IS NOT MARRIAGE
On April 26, 2020, Nigeria lost Dr. Tosin Ajayi, founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Foundation Hospital, one of the country’s most respected private healthcare institutions. His passing was mourned nationally. But within weeks, mourning gave way to litigation.
What followed was not a dispute over medical legacy, but over a much older, unresolved matter: marriage. For the next five years, two women, their children, and the entire Ajayi estate were locked in court. The core question was deceptively simple: Who, under Nigerian law, was the legal wife?
The answer, delivered on March 13, 2026 by Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya of the Lagos High Court, has now become a national case study. It is a verdict that restates, with painful clarity, a principle many Nigerians misunderstand: Separation is not divorce. Cohabitation is not marriage. And sentiment has no weight in probate court.
The Facts: A Marriage Never Legally Ended
Dr. Ajayi had separated from his first wife many years before his death. They lived apart.
They built separate lives. To neighbors, friends, and even to Dr. Ajayi himself, the marriage was “over.” But no petition for dissolution was ever filed. No decree nisi was granted. No decree absolute was issued under the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap M7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Believing the union was effectively dead, Dr. Ajayi entered into another relationship and later married a second woman. He had children with her. She managed his home. She was presented socially as “Mrs. Ajayi.” For all practical purposes, she was the wife.
When Dr. Ajayi died intestate — without a will — both women came forward. The first wife returned to claim her position as legal spouse and administrator of the estate. The second woman countered, “Over my dead body. You abandoned him for years and only reappeared after his death to claim what you left behind.”
The Judgment: What the Court Actually Decided
After five years of evidence, arguments, and legal submissions, Justice Odusanya delivered a judgment that dismantled three common myths:
Myth 1: “Long separation ends marriage.”
The court held: _“Separation, regardless of how long it lasts, does not automatically dissolve a legally valid marriage under the Act.”_ Under Section 15 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, only a court can dissolve a statutory marriage. Separation may prove “irretrievable breakdown,” but it is the judge’s decree, not the passage of time, that terminates the marriage.
Myth 2: “A registry wedding cures everything.”
Evidence showed the second woman was herself legally married to Mr. Davies at the time she allegedly married Dr. Ajayi. The court ruled that her purported marriage to Dr. Ajayi was void ab initio — void from the beginning. Section 47 of the Matrimonial Causes Act states that a marriage is void if either party is already lawfully married. Nigerian statutory marriage is strictly monogamous: one man, one woman. No exceptions.
Myth 3: “Children from the second union will protect her rights.”
The court affirmed that while all children of Dr. Ajayi, whether born within or outside the statutory marriage, are entitled to share in the remaining two-thirds of the estate under the Administration of Estates Law, the second woman herself had no spousal rights. She could not apply for Letters of Administration. She was not entitled to the statutory one-third share reserved for a legal spouse.
Final Orders: The first wife was declared the only legally recognized spouse. She is entitled to one-third of Dr. Ajayi’s personal estate and is the sole person entitled to apply for Letters of Administration. The rest of the estate will be divided among all of Dr. Ajayi’s children.
Why This Matters Beyond One Family:
This judgment is not about Dr. Ajayi alone. It exposes a systemic legal blind spot in Nigerian society:
A. The Monogamy Rule is Absolute
Unlike customary law, which permits polygamy, statutory marriage under the Act is monogamous. A man cannot be “traditionally married” and then “add” a statutory wife. A woman cannot be “customarily married” and then “upgrade” to a registry wedding while the first marriage subsists. The second ceremony is legally meaningless.
B. Customary Divorce ≠ Statutory Divorce
Many Nigerians believe that “returning the bride price” or “family settlement” ends a marriage. For customary marriages, that is correct. But if you later contract a statutory marriage, you must also obtain a statutory divorce. The two systems do not automatically talk to each other. Failing to divorce under the Act means you remain married in the eyes of every bank, court, and probate registry in Nigeria.
C. Intestacy Punishes Poor Planning.
Dr. Ajayi died without a will. Under Lagos State’s Administration of Estates Law, an intestate estate is distributed by formula: 1/3 to the legal spouse, 2/3 to the children. A well-drafted will could have made specific provisions for the second woman and her children, reducing litigation. Without a will, the law, not the deceased’s intentions, decides.
The Hard Lesson for Women — and for Men
To women: This case vindicates every warning about “marrying a married man under the Act.” No matter how long you cohabit, no matter how many children you bear, no matter how “official” your wedding photos look, if his first marriage was never dissolved by a court, you are not a wife in law. You are a partner. A companion.
A mother of his children. But not a spouse with inheritance rights. When death comes, the court will be clinical. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” will sound less like a maxim and more like a sentence.
To men: You cannot “move on” emotionally and legally at different speeds. If your marriage has broken down, do the hard work of obtaining a decree absolute. Until then, every new relationship you formalize is built on legal quicksand. You risk leaving your children and your partner with nothing but litigation.
Three Protective Steps Everyone Must Take Today:
A. Verify Before You Marry: If a suitor says “I am divorced,” do not accept separation agreements or affidavits. Insist on seeing a certified true copy of the Decree Absolute. It is the only document that proves the first marriage is dead in law.
B. Dissolve Properly Before You Remarry: If you are customarily married and want a registry wedding, first dissolve the customary marriage under native law and custom, obtain evidence of that dissolution, then proceed. If you are statutorily married and want out, file a petition. Separation for 20 years still requires a court order.
C. Write a Will, No Matter Your Age or Status: A will is not for “old people.” It is for anyone with assets and dependents. A will allows you to make specific provisions for all your children and even for long-term partners, within the limits of the law. Without it, the state’s formula overrides your wishes.
Let the Courtroom Be Your Teacher, Not Your Destination.
Dr. Tosin Ajayi’s children will inherit. His hospital legacy continues. But the woman he lived with for years will not inherit as a spouse. That is not cruelty. That is the law.
Let this editorial serve as the warning that casual advice cannot deliver. Before you say “I do,” ensure his “I do” from the past has been legally converted to “I don’t” by a court of competent jurisdiction.
In estate matters, the courtroom does not interpret intentions. It interprets documents. And the only document that ends a marriage is a Decree Absolute. Everything else is just separation.
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EFCC re-arraigns ex-Skye Bank boss, Ayeni, over N15.6b fraud case
The Ecoonomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday re-arraigned the former Chairman, Board of Directors (BoD) of the defunct Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank), Tunde Ayeni, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, over an alleged N15.6 billion fraud case.
Ayeni was re-arraigned on an amended 18-count charge bordering on alleged criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and diversion of funds, following the EFCC’s submission of additional evidence.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Muhammed (SAN), informed the court that the amended charge and additional evidence were filed on June 22, 2026.
Defence counsel, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), confirmed receipt of the documents.
The EFCC alleged that Ayeni, while serving as Chairman of Skye Bank’s BoD, had control over depositors’ funds and allegedly diverted various sums in breach of the bank’s operational policies.
He was first arraigned on May 4, 2026, on 17 counts.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
At the Lagos office, sources say Okowa was making frantic efforts to secure the release of his international passport.
The former governor reportedly told investigators he needed to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment.
The commission’s response to his requests remains unclear.
The Delta North politician was governor of Delta from 2015 to 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and later emerged as the party’s vice-presidential candidate in the 2023 general election alongside Atiku Abubakar.
Okowa defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside his successor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and other political figures in the state in April 2025.
Attempts to get an official reaction from EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, proved abortive, as his phone rang out without response when contacted.
The probe into the N1.3 trillion derivation fund is one of the commission’s high-profile cases targeting alleged mismanagement of oil revenue by past officials.
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One injured as IED planted under vehicle explodes in Lagos market
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Fatai Tijani, has assured residents that a commercial area in the state remains safe following a bomb explosion suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device, which triggered brief panic in the area.
Tijani gave the assurance on Monday, June 22, 2026 while addressing journalists at the scene of the incident at the Shoe Materials Market in Mushin, following a comprehensive sweep by security operatives.
According to him, the police received information about an explosion and immediately deployed Explosive Ordnance Disposal operatives to cordon off and secure the area.
“We promptly deployed our EOD team after receiving reports of an explosion. The area was cordoned off and thoroughly searched,” he said.
He explained that preliminary findings indicated that the explosion was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device planted under a vehicle.
Tijani said the device was placed beneath the passenger side of the vehicle and detonated when the engine was started.
“The IED was under the vehicle by the passenger side. It exploded when the vehicle was started,” he said.
According to him, one person sustained injuries in the incident and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
He said that the victim was in a stable condition.
The commissioner added that after a detailed sweep by EOD experts, no additional explosive devices were discovered in the area.
The police commissioner urged members of the public, especially residents and traders in the affected commercial area, to remain calm and resume normal activities.
He also stated that remnants of the explosive device had been recovered and taken for forensic examination as investigations continued.
The CP urged residents to remain calm and disregard rumours suggesting widespread insecurity in Lagos, describing these as false and misleading. (NAN)
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Ondo: Abducted Pastor’s Son Regains Freedom After 3 Weeks in captivity
A nine-year-old boy, Victor Oluwatobi, who was abducted by gunmen in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, has regained his freedom after spending three weeks in captivity.
The child, son of a local pastor, was safely rescued on Sunday through the coordinated efforts of security agencies and reunited with his family.
Victor was kidnapped on the night of June 5, 2026, when armed men stormed Ugbosi Quarters in Idogun.
The attackers reportedly destroyed two buildings during the invasion in an attempt to abduct a landlord, who managed to escape.
In the ensuing chaos, Pastor Oluwatobi was unable to evacuate all his children to safety, leaving the young boy behind as he slept.
The assailants subsequently whisked him away and held him captive.
Following the incident, the Ondo State Government mobilised a joint security operation involving personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Police, the Amotekun Corps, and local vigilante groups.
The security teams reportedly conducted extensive search operations across forests and surrounding communities in a determined effort to secure the child’s release.
Their efforts paid off on Sunday when the boy was rescued unharmed and reunited with his family.
Confirming the development, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, commended the security operatives and all individuals who played various roles in the successful rescue operation.
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Nigerians must not stay silent on insecurity, Davido tells Rarara
Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has called on prominent Hausa singer, Dauda Rarara, to openly speak out against the country’s worsening insecurity, insisting that silence and political bias only deepen national challenges.
The controversy stems from Davido’s appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles on June 10, where he wore a customised jacket bearing the inscription “Bring Them Home” alongside the names of over 40 schoolchildren and teachers abducted on May 15 in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a video posted on his verified Facebook page, Rarara described Davido’s action as “barbaric,” arguing that it risked damaging Nigeria’s international image and alleging that the issue was being politicised.
“I do not usually reply or react to issues like this, but what Davido did was barbaric. In my opinion, Davido and those who share his way of thinking are only behaving foolishly.
“How can you promote Ansaru terrorists or insecurity-related issues to the whole world? How can you take a sensitive national security issue and project it to the world in a way that could damage the country’s image? What exactly do you stand to gain from doing that?
“Davido took the names of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, wrote them on the Nigerian flag and displayed it in America. What was the purpose? What did he hope to achieve? Or was it because he had turned the matter into politics?”
Rarara further questioned the intent behind Davido’s move, suggesting it was linked to political interests and warning against the internationalisation of sensitive security matters.
“Is it because his uncle is contesting an election on Accord Party and Tinubu is in APC? Is that why insecurity must become a campaign tool? Anyone who campaigns with insecurity is insane, because he does not fully understand what it entails.
“What Davido did is similar to removing his own mother’s wrapper, taking a photograph of her and travelling to America to display it for the whole world to see, only to ask people to help cover her up again. What kind of thinking is that?
“Insecurity is not something people should casually jump into. There are facts and circumstances that ordinary members of the public may not know. Before speaking on such matters, one should understand the situation properly.
“Did Davido know the reason behind the abduction of those schoolchildren? Some terrorists were arrested. When efforts to secure their release failed, the kingpins kidnapped innocent people in an attempt to force the authorities to negotiate.
“The President and security agencies had vowed that the terrorists would not be released and that the children would be rescued. It was during this delicate period that Davido chose to embarrass us on a global stage.
“You cannot go to China and promote issues the authorities do not want promoted. The same applies in many other countries. There are limits. But some of our content creators continue to promote narratives that, in my opinion, end up helping terrorists.
“Some content creators do not understand the implications of what they are doing, while others do. Some are sponsored by politicians, while others are simply chasing engagement and followers.”
Reacting on X, Davido quoted Rarara’s post and replied, “Debidooo,” in what appeared to be a mocking reference to the pronunciation of his name.
Rarara responded with the phrase “Kashiga taitayinka,” a derogatory Hausa expression telling the Afrobeat star to come back to his senses.
Davido also fired back, saying, “Da ace kana da ilimi da na tsaya nayi magana dakai. Ama komai baka sani ba, sakarai kawai,” which translates as “If only you had knowledge, I would have stopped to speak with you. But you know nothing, just a fool,” according to a translation of his Hausa response.
In a follow-up statement shared in Hausa and later translated to English, Davido insisted that Nigerians must not remain silent in the face of insecurity, stressing that patriotism requires speaking out regardless of political affiliation.
He, “Da farko, duk wanda yake da kishin Najeriya ba zai yi shiru kan matsalar rashin tsaro da ke addabar ƙasa ba, kuma ba zai hana wasu bayyana damuwarsu a kai ba. Rashin tausayi da fifita son rai ko zama karen en siyasa , da fifita son rai fiye da muradun al’umma ba abin alfahari ba ne. Ka kasance mai kishin ƙasarka, ka daina fifita siyasa a kan gaskiya, sannan ka ji tsoron Allah a cikin duk abin da kake yi #kahuturarara which translates to “Damn it, every Nigerian should not stay silent about the insecurity plaguing the nation, nor should they prevent others from voicing their concerns openly.
He added that prioritising political interests over national welfare was harmful to the country’s progress.
“Showing bias and prioritizing personal or political interests, and putting personal desires above the community’s goals, is nothing to be proud of. Be a patriot for your country, stop prioritizing politics over the truth, and fear God in everything you do
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Appeal Court Suspends Judgement Ordering Deregistration of ADC, Accord, Other Parties
The Court of Appeal has suspended the execution of the Abuja Federal High Court’s judgement ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, and three other political parties.
Government
This is coming hours after the lower court ordered the deregistration of the parties over failure to meet the constitutional requirements for political parties in the country.
The Federal High Court had in a judgement delivered on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu ordered the deregistration of the ADC, Accord Party, as well as the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal suspended the execution of the judgement on Tuesday.
The appellate court described the development as the highest form of judicial impertinence, stating that the trial judge brazenly disregarded its earlier order.
Politics
The panel of justices held that Justice Lifu exhibited judicial rascality by going ahead to hear and make the order despite the order of the Court of Appeal and the pendency of the matter before the court.
It ordered a stay of the execution of the judgment.
More details later…
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