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Tag: Ex-Minister

  • Chief Ogbeh served Nigeria diligently, Speaker Abbas mourns ex-minister

    Chief Ogbeh served Nigeria diligently, Speaker Abbas mourns ex-minister

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has described as shocking the demise of a former chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Audu Ogbeh, who passed away on Saturday, aged 78.

    Speaker Abbas described the Otukpo, Benue State-born Chief Ogbeh as an elder statesman who spent most of his life in diligence service to Nigeria and the people.

    Speaker Abbas, in a condolence message issued on Sunday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, noted that not many Nigerians were privileged to so serve the country like Chief Ogbeh.

    While recalling how Ogbeh had been a public servant since the late 70s, the Speaker said the Kate elder statesman occupied various offices in the Executive and Legislative arms of the government at the state and federal levels in his lifetime.

    In the Second Republic, Chief Ogbeh was the deputy speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly in 1979. He was also the Federal Minister of Communications (1982–1983) and later Minister of Steel Development until a coup ended the Republic in December 1983.

    In the Third Republic, Chief Ogbeh was a member of the National Constitutional Conference Commission (1993) and the National Reconciliation Committee (1995).

    In the Fourth Republic, Chief Ogbeh was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party and was the national chairman of the PDP between 2001 and 2005.

    Later on, Chief Ogbeh was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (2015–2019) by the late former president, Muhammadu Buhari.

    He was also the chairman of the ACF between 2020 and 2023.

    Speaker Abbas commiserated the Ogbeh family, the people, and the government of Benue State, while extending his condolences to Chief Ogbeh’s colleagues in the parliament and the Federal Executive Councils of the various administrations under which he served.

    The Speaker prayed to God to grant Chief Ogbeh eternal rest.

  • JUST IN: Former Nigerian minister, Audu Ogbeh is dead

    JUST IN: Former Nigerian minister, Audu Ogbeh is dead

    Chief Audu Ogbeh, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that Ogbeh died on Saturday at the age of 78.

    Confirming the news, the deceased’ family in a statement on Saturday said the elder statesman died peacefully.

    “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather; Chief Audu Ogbeh.

    “He passed away on the 9th of August 2025 at the fulfilled age of 78,” the statement read.

    The family described Ogbeh as a man who “departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to our nation and community.”

    “We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the example he set,” the statement added.

    It noted that details of the funeral arrangements would be communicated in due course, while expressing gratitude to friends, colleagues, and well-wishers for their prayers and support.

    “We will appreciate some privacy at this time while we mourn the loss of our patriarch,” the statement concluded.

  • Ex-Minister lauds INEC on Freedom of Information

    Ex-Minister lauds INEC on Freedom of Information

    Mr Osita Chidoka, a former Minister of Aviation, has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for granting him access to data on accreditation of voters for the Nov. 11 Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship election.

    Chidoka said this on his verified social media account, X – formerly known as Tweeter, following his request to INEC for the report, using the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

    The former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that INEC deserved commendation for the action.

    “Today marks a significant milestone in our pursuit of transparent and accountable governance.

    “With gratitude and sense of national pride I announce that the INEC has complied with my Freedom of Information request, providing the BVAS report of voter accreditation for the recent Governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo.

    “This unprecedented compliance by INEC is a testament to what can be achieved through persistent efforts and the courage to venture into uncharted territories.

    “I extend my sincere thanks to INEC for their commitment to respecting our laws and upholding the principles of transparency and accountability,’’ he said.
    Chidoka added: “This act signifies a hopeful beginning in our collective effort to ensure that government agencies are not just answerable to the law but also to the people they serve.

    “I am pleased to inform Nigerians that the BVAS report was received in hard copy along with a certificate complying with section 84 of the Evidence Act (2011).

    “Our journey towards a more democratic and transparent governance system is ongoing, and this development is a significant step in that direction.

    “I look forward to sharing the insights from this report with all citizens, as we continue to work towards strengthening the foundations of our democracy.’’

    “Together, let us embark on this path of enlightenment and change, for a future where the electoral process is not just a procedure, but a true reflection of the will of the people“.

     

  • Court reverses redeployment of Abuja Markets Management MD by ex-minister

    Court reverses redeployment of Abuja Markets Management MD by ex-minister

    A Federal High Court, Abuja has nullified the redeployment of Alhaji Abubakar Faruk as the Managing Director of the Abuja Markets Management Ltd (AMML) by the Board Chairman, Abubakar Maina and the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Bello.

    Justice Donatus Okorowo, in a judgment, held that the decision of Maina and Bello to reconstitute the AMML’s Board of Directors in the manner done and publish in a press release of Feb  21 and inaugurated the said board on April 4 was unlawful, null and void.

    Justice Okorowo held that the action of the duo contravened provisions of Sections 269(1) to (4), 273(1), 274(1) to (3) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020; Articles 16, and 21 of AMML’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and all other enabling laws and instruments applicable in the circumstances of the case.

    The judge, therefore, gave an order of perpetual injunction, restraining AMML and Maina, jointly from convening the board meeting “unless and until all necessary and valid statutory notice(s) has/have been served on all directors who are eligible and entitled to receive such notice(s) and attend the meetings, including the claimant herein.”

    He also restrained the FCT minister and FCTA from interfering with the internal, business and corporate affairs of AMML howsoever and reconstituting its board of directors in the manner inconsistent with the laws and the Memorandum and Article of Association of the company.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Alhaji Faruk had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/499/23 filed by his lawyer, Faruk Khamagam, sued AMML, Abubakar Sadiq Maina, FCT Minister and FCT Administration (FCTA) as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In the originating summons, Faruk, who was the claimant, sought six questions for determination

    These include whether or not, by the correct interpretation and application of the provisions of Section 289(1) and (8) of CAMA 2020, being a bonafide director in AMML and in fact, its substantive managing director, is entitled to participate in the management of the business affairs of the AMML.

    This, he said, including but not limited to participating in the meetings of its Board of Directors and vote on all issues up for discussions and resolutions concerning the business and other management affairs of the company.

    “Whether or not, by the correct interpretation and application of the combined provisions of Sections 289(1), 292 (1) (2) and (3) of CAMA 2020, and all other enabling laws, the claimant, being a bonafide director in the 1st defendant, and in fact, its substantive managing director, is entitled to be served notices of the 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd and all other meetings of Board of Directors of the 1st defendant,” among others.

    The embattled MD, therefore, sought 11 reliefs upon proper determination of the questions.

    This, he said, includes an order setting aside all the board meetings, agenda, deliberations and resolutions proposed and passed at those affected meetings in which notices were not issued and served on him and other directors entitled to attend these meetings as illegal, null and void abinitio.

    Delivering the judgment on Monday, Justice Okorowo, who described the action of the defendants as “illegal and ultra vires,” granted all the reliefs sought by Faruk.

  • Air Peace unsettled by Hadi Sirika’s revelation, says ex-Aviation Minister is a liar

    Air Peace unsettled by Hadi Sirika’s revelation, says ex-Aviation Minister is a liar

    The management of Air Peace has implored the general public to disregard claims made against the Airline by the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, in his interview on Arise TV.

    Sirika on Sunday , during an Interview with Arise News, while praising Ethiopian Airline, said Air Peace leased ‘two’ Boeing 777 aircraft on a monthly lease fee of $250,000, parked the aircraft for several months and incurred losses of $19 million while all the aircraft engines and landing gears became due for replacement when the airline was ready to fly.

    The former minister also claimed that Air Peace stopped flying to Dubai because it lacks capacity.

    However, in a swift response, Air Peace, in a statement by its Chief Operating Officer, Toyin Olajide, described Sirika’s claim as a blatant, stark lie.

    Olajide said Air Peace never stopped the Dubai operations because of lack of capacity.

    “This is a blatant lie as we have three and not two Boeing 777 aircraft, which were never leased or rented but were purchased outrightly by the airline.

    “Air Peace never incurred such a loss, we never paid rentals contrary to his lies. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) can attest to the purchase and ownership of the Aircraft by Air Peace.”

    She explained that Air Peace commenced operations into the UAE in July 2019, but in October 2022, the UAE Government announced a total visa ban on Nigerians.

    “We watched with dismay the interview granted by former Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, to Arise TV on Sunday, June 11, 2023, where he made spurious claims about Air Peace, Nigeria’s foremost airline.

    “Air Peace deems it absolutely necessary to debunk these false assertions.

    “Firstly, Sirika, in his bid to denigrate Air Peace while praising Ethiopian Airline, stated that we leased ‘two’ Boeing 777 aircraft on a monthly lease fee of $250,000, parked the aircraft for several months and incurred losses of $19 million while all the aircraft engines and landing gears became due for replacement when we were ready to fly. He went on to ask, “Who does that?”. He stated that Ethiopian Airlines would never do that.

    “This is a blatant lie as we have three and not two Boeing 777 aircraft, which were never leased or rented but were purchased outrightly by the airline.

    “Air Peace never incurred such a loss, we never paid rentals contrary to his lies. The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) can attest to the purchase and ownership of the Aircraft by Air Peace.

    “Secondly, Sirika said the airline stopped flying to Dubai because ‘we lack capacity’. This is another stark lie.

    “Air Peace never stopped the Dubai operations because of lack of capacity. Air Peace commenced operations into the UAE in July 2019, but in October 2022, the UAE Government announced a total visa ban on Nigerians.

    “Neither Emirates nor Air Peace is operating the Nigerian/UAE route since the ban. The persisting non-issuance of visas and the accompanying inconveniences necessitated the suspension of our Dubai operations from November 22, 2022, till date.

    “For the former minister to ascribe the suspension to ‘lack of capacity’ is not only shocking but also shows how keen he is to disparage an airline whose ascendancy has defied all the commercial odds and hostile environment placed on its path to continue to serve our nation proudly.

    “How could an airline that placed a firm order for 13 brand new E2-195 aircraft, a firm order of 15 Boeing 737 Max 8 & Max 10, with over 30 aircraft already in its existing fleet be accused of lacking in capacity?

    “How can an Airline that stood up for the entire nation during the Covid-19 outbreak and embarked on rescue operations worldwide, evacuating Nigerians from far-away China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, UK and South Africa during the Covid-19 lockdowns be accused of lacking capacity?

    “We implore the general public to disregard these lies told by the former minister of Aviation against Air Peace during the Arise TV Interview.

    “We take serious exception to a situation where Air Peace is being misrepresented in the public sphere, causing wrong perceptions about our brand.”

     

  • Court clears ex-Minister Turaki of money laundering charge

    Court clears ex-Minister Turaki of money laundering charge

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, discharged and acquitted former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, of money laundering charge.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defence, said the the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had failed to link Turaki and his co-defendants with the offences contained in the 16-count charge.

    He said that the prosecution could not establish a prima facie case against them.

    Justice Ekwo said that the defendants dislodged all the evidence of the prosecution witnesses called in the matter during cross examination, describing the 12 witnesses relied on by EFCC as “tainted witnesses.”

    The judge said that it was established during cross-examination that Turaki was not a signatory to the account of the ministry and did not authorise any payment or make any transfer of funds.

    He aligned with the argument that held the former minister was not a member of the Ministerial Tender Board and that there was no inflow of funds from the account of the ministry to Turaki’s company.

    EFCC had in the 16-count charge, accused the ex-minister and others of unlawful and criminal misappropriation of N715 million.

  • N450m Money Laundering: Former Minister of Water Resources to spend 3 months in jail

    N450m Money Laundering: Former Minister of Water Resources to spend 3 months in jail

    A Federal High Court sitting in Jos on Tuesday sentenced a former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, to three months imprisonment.

    Ochekpe, who served as Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was sentenced alongside a former chairman of the People Democratic Party in Plateau state, Raymond Dabo, and the Plateau State Coordinator of Jonathan Campaign Organization, Leo-Sunday Jitong.

    The three accused persons had been standing trial since 2018 in a case of money laundering and conspiracy brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission amounting to over N450 million.

    Ochekpe was a Nigerian Politician from Plateau State. She was the Minister of Water Resources from 2011 to 2015.

    She hails from the family of Ali Reng Madugben in Foron, a district of Barikin Ladi Local government area of Plateau State.

    The convict (Ochekpe) had her first degree in political science from Ahmadu Bello University, then a master’s degree in public administration from University of Jos.

    She also has post graduate qualifications from Aberdeen College of Commerce and Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

  • Ex-Senator Abubakar Ibrahim dies barely five months after elder sister, ‘Mama Taraba’ passed on

    Ex-Senator Abubakar Ibrahim dies barely five months after elder sister, ‘Mama Taraba’ passed on

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Former Senator Abubakar Abdulaziz Ibrahim has died after a brief illness.

    He was the younger brother of the late Hajiya Aisha Jummai Alhassan, also known as ‘Mama Taraba,’ who served as the former Minister of Women Affairs before her death in May 2021.

     

    Earlier this week, the Senator’s family released a statement saying that he died at his home in Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, on Tuesday after suffering from a brief illness.

    The Senator’s family stated that funeral prayers will be held on Wednesday at 1.30pm at the palace of the Emir of Muri, and that he will be laid to rest at Jika da Fari burial ground, where his sister was also laid to rest.

  • Ex-minister rescued hours after abduction in Nasarawa

    Ex-minister rescued hours after abduction in Nasarawa

    Information reaching TheNewsGuru.com, TNG has it that a kidnapped former Minister of State for FCT, Senator Solomon Ewuga has been rescued by the police.

    According to reports, the ex-minister was kidnapped on Tuesday at Kurmin Shinkafa, Gudi,of Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa State enrout Abuja.

    Confirming his release shortly after his kidnap, the Nasarawa State Police command said after a sustained pressure from it operatives,the former deputy governor, minister and senator was rescued unhurt on Tuesday hours after his abduction.

    The police public relations officer of the command, ASP Ramhan Nansel confirmed the rescue of the elderstateman.

    He said the former senator was on his way to Abuja and was kidnapped at about 20:40 hours, but due to mounted pressure by men of the Nigerian police force who were alerted on time, moved into the forest and rescued the senator.

    The PPRO added that no arrest was made,but that the command is not relaxing over the matter to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book as investigations was ongoing.

    Sources confirmed to TNG on Wednesday night that the former minister is presently at the Gudi Station Police Division in Akwanga LGA.

    However, it was gathered that the one of the senator’s aide is still in captivity.

    Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Adesina Soyemi has ordered operative of the police to move into the forest for possible arrest of the criminals.

  • Malabu oil deal: FG impounds ex-minister’s private jet

    Malabu oil deal: FG impounds ex-minister’s private jet

    The federal government has confiscated a private jet owned by a former minister of petroleum, Dan Etete.

    Recall that the embattled ex-minister is currently involved in a legal battle with the federal government over his involvement in the controversial $1.1 billion Malabu oil deal.

    The jet is believed to have been purchased for 57 million dollars in 2011 as part of the alleged proceeds of the $1.3 billion oil deal in which the prospecting rights to the OPL 245 block was awarded to a company, Malabu Oil and Gas, which he secretly controlled.

    According to reports, the Bombardier 6000 jet with tail number M-MYNA was seized soon after it landed at the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Canada penultimate Friday.

    The seizure was on the strength of the order of a court in the province of Quebec which granted the federal government’s prayers to that effect.

    Nigeria’s counsel, Babatunde Johnson, said government had been tracking the movement of the jet for some time.

    Until its flight to Canada, it had been grounded in Dubai for four years.

    “Our investigators in Dubai then noticed that the jet, having been grounded in Dubai for so long, suddenly did some test flights and even went up to a cruising altitude for a short while.

    “It seemed like they were testing whether they could fly somewhere,” Johnson said.

    “The jet then took off from Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai, mid-morning on Friday. We did not know the destination at that point.

    “We now suspected that it was being flown to Canada for a major service, pending a possible sale.

    “We had just a few hours to get a legal team in place on the ground there in Canada to file the injunction. It was 3 am in Nigeria when I made a statement to the judge via video link.”

    The jet was registered in the name of Tibit Ltd, an anonymously owned company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands.

    The company was given up till Tuesday, June 9 to oppose the court order.