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South-East senate caucus rejects Akpabio as choice for Senate President, accuses Tinubu of marginalization

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Serving senators and senators-elect from the South-East have rejected the zoning of senate presidency to the South-South region as well as the reported choice of Godswill Akpabio for the position.

They stated their position in a communique issued after their meeting on Sunday in Abuja.

Outgoing governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Friday announced that governors of the ruling APC have resolved to endorse Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, as the president of the 10th Senate and Jibrin Barau as deputy senate president.

The following day, the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, a senator-elect and aspirant for the position, announced that he had stepped down from the race on the persuasion of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Mr Umahi is from the south-east as are three other contenders for the position, namely Orji Kalu, Osita Izunaso and Patrick Ndubeze.

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The 11 south-east senators and senators-elect, who signed the communique, said accepting Mr Akpabio as senate president amounts to marginalising the people of the South-east geopolitical region of the country.

They urged Mr Tinubu to drop Mr Akpabio and stop the politics of marginalisation and endorse a candidate from the South-east as the next senate president on the ground that the region had been denied the presidency of the country since 1966.

“We implore the president-elect to be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure the country continues to thrive on the party of equity, unity and fairness to the tripod of Nigeria (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba) and the geopolitical zones,” the communique read by Ifeayi Ubah, the senator for Anambra South, said.

“Mr President-elect, how would an average Igbo man feel after he sees evidence of total discrimination. The South-east has been denied the chance of producing the president of Nigeria since 1966. The South-south has produced a President for six years and also had deputy senate president in the outgoing administration. The only zone in the South that has not been favoured is the South-east.

“The outcry of marginalsation by the South-east and the entire Igbo should be addressed by your incoming administration rather than aggravating it, they said.

“The South-west has the President (and) the North-east has the Vice President. It is only just that the least position at the moment that can assuage the South-east is given the chance to be the President of the 10th Senate (SIC).”

They however announced that the South-east caucus of the Senators-elect have resolved to oppose Mr Akpabio and support only aspirants from the region as the next Senate President.

“On this note we have collectively resolved to support South-east aspirants of the APC. We remain committed and have since expanded negotiations with other well-meaning Senators-elect to rally round the South-east to ensure that justice, fairness and unity of the country prevails,” the communique added.

Those who signed the communique are Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South), Ifeanyi Ubahi (YPP, Anambra South), Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) and Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West).

Others are, Ezenwa Oyewuchi (Imo East), Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra East) Patrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North), Okey Ezea (LP, Enugu North), Kelvin Chukwu (LP, Enugu East) and Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West).

Mr Umahi, an APC senator-elect from Ebonyi and two other senators-elect from his state, did not participate in the meeting.

There are 15 senators and senators-elect from the South-east region.

Apart from Messrs Akpabio, Izunaso, Ndubeze and Kalu, other aspirants for the senate presidency include Jibrin Barau (Kano), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and Sani Musa (Niger).

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Nigerian woman commits suicide two years after relocating to UK on skilled worker visa

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UK-based Nigerian, Beatrice Solomon, 27, was found dead in her home on Wednesday
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A United Kingdom UK-based Nigerian, Beatrice Solomon, 27, was found dead in her home on Wednesday.

A coroner in the United Kingdom ruled that a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, Beatrice Solomon, died by suicide after an inquest into her death.

Beatrice, a mother of one, was found unresponsive at her home on Norris Road in Stanfield by her husband, Damian Butler, on March 4.

According to evidence presented at the inquest, Butler, 40, had left for his delivery job at about 4:30 p.m. before returning home roughly two hours later to use the toilet, where he made the tragic discovery.

Police Constable Hinchliffe told the hearing that paramedics arrived shortly afterwards, but Beatrice was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:21 p.m. Officers also ruled out any third-party involvement.

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The inquest heard that Beatrice moved from Nigeria to Stoke-on-Trent in November 2023 on a skilled worker visa, where she worked as a carer. She is survived by her young son and siblings.

Giving evidence, Butler said Beatrice had struggled with her mental health over the previous 12 months due to ongoing issues involving Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

He also revealed that he later discovered she had made two previous attempts to take her own life.

Pathologist Dr Jones told the inquest that Beatrice died from oxygen deprivation.

Delivering her conclusion, Coroner Li Hammond-Naylor ruled that Beatrice died by suicide.

She said: “It is clear to me that Beatrice had researched and planned how to take her own life. I can only extend my sincere condolences to Beatrice’s family and friends.”

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Police arrest ‘PFIPC Director-General’, Adeyemi

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• My life is in danger – ‘Fake’ PFIPC DG’ Adeyemi claims

The “Director-General” of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi, has been arrested by security operatives following a warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Adeyemi was picked up on Tuesday at his hideout in Osun State, shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered his arrest over his failure to appear in court for his arraignment.

The Police PRO confirmed that he was arrested by a team of FID/IRT in Osun.

Details of the arrest remain sketchy as of press time, but sources said the suspect would be taken to the Police Headquarters in Abuja for further action.

The arrest followed a brief ruling by Justice Umar, who issued a bench warrant after Adeyemi failed to appear before the court despite several adjournments.

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Earlier in the proceedings, Adeyemi’s counsel, Genesis Francis, told the court that he could not convince his client to attend the hearing, citing concerns raised by the defendant.

The lawyer informed the court that Adeyemi had expressed fears for his safety in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, noting that the matter had generated significant public attention.

However, prosecuting counsel, Wisdom Madaki, argued that the case had suffered repeated delays due to the defendant’s absence.

Madaki urged the court to issue a warrant for Adeyemi’s arrest in line with Section 394 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Granting the request, Justice Umar held that the charges were filed on November 27, 2025, while proceedings commenced on December 4, 2025.

The judge noted that Adeyemi had appeared in court only once and had failed to attend subsequent proceedings.

He consequently ordered his arrest and adjourned the matter until September 30.

Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, the man accused of forging government appointment letters and parading himself as the PFIPC DG, had earlier expressed fears for his life saying he was  not in any way hiding from law enforcement agents.

While speaking on Channels TV on Monday night July 13, Adeyemi said

“I’m ready to show my face. I’m not hiding. I’m only fearing for my life because I have it on good authority that my life is in danger,” he said on the current affairs programme, alleging threats to his life. There have been several attempts on my life,” Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi also alleged that there had been multiple attempts on his life but did not disclose further details or identity of those allegedly behind the attacks.

“And I’m ready for that. There are several attempts to… my life,” he added.

Adeyemi’s remarks come as controversy continues to trail the purported PFIPC, which the Presidency has repeatedly described as a non-existent government agency.

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Adeniyi Adeyemi: I borrowed N100m to secure PFIPC DG appointment — lenders have reported me to EFCC

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Adeniyi Adeyemi
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Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general (DG) of the “controversial” presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC), says those who lent him N100 million to secure the appointment have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over repayment.

Adeyemi, who is facing allegations of forgery and impersonation over the existence of the PFIPC, spoke on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The presidency has said the council does not exist and that Adeyemi was never appointed by the office of the chief of staff to the president.

On July 7, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a “thorough investigation” into the PFIPC controversy.

Responding to questions about the source of the funds he used to operate and resources at his disposal, Adeyemi said the money was borrowed.

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“Mr. Seun, I borrowed this money. In fact, those that I borrowed this N100 million have reported to EFCC,” he said.

“I borrowed this money to pay for this appointment. In fact, I can tell you, they have reported to the EFCC, asking me to refund their money. I borrowed this money.”

Adeyemi also dismissed allegations that he falsely claimed to have received an appointment from the United Nations (UN).

“It’s all sponsored. It’s a campaign of calumny. They should let us face the facts and documents. It is unfortunate that some actors in the government are taking up this matter. It’s unfortunate, and it’s embarrassing,” he said.

“Honestly, imagine the government claiming that one man, and called me a con artist, manoeuvred the whole system; it is unfortunate.”

Reacting to reports that a US-based lobbying firm is helping him seek asylum abroad, Adeyemi denied planning to leave Nigeria.

“I just ignored it because they sponsor a lot of people to bring my social media handle down,” he said.

“I don’t really know much about what is going on again. They said I was about to run away out of Nigeria. I’m still in Nigeria. I’m not going anywhere.”

Source: TheCable

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