News
Ajuri Ngelale Vs Bayo Onanuga: ‘Why Tinubu sacked Chief Spokesman’ – Sources
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, did not resign as an aide to the president to address a “vexatious medical situation” in his family as he claimed.
According to the Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ), sources revealed that he was dismissed by the presidency, but was given the opportunity to publicly resign after pleading for a softer exit.
Ngelale, who also served as the special presidential envoy on climate action, shocked Nigerians on Saturday when he abruptly announced his departure, citing “medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.”
He had said in a statement: “On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonising decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.”
However, sources within the presidency revealed to FIJ that Ngelale’s departure was not due to a family health crisis, but rather the culmination of a power struggle with Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
According to insiders, following the election of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president in 2023, Ngelale and Onanuga did not get along, largely because Ngelale, who had been appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 as a senior special adviser on public affairs, considered himself superior to Onanuga.
Ngelale, 38, began his career with Africa Independent Television (AIT) in the 2000s, while Onanuga, 67, a former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), started his career in the 1980s.
Although Ngelale served as special adviser on media and publicity, and Onanuga as special adviser on information and strategy, civil servants found their roles confusing.
In the previous administration, Femi Adesina was the special adviser on media and publicity, while Garba Shehu was the senior special assistant. Everyone knew Adesina, as SA, was senior, and Shehu, as SSA, was subordinate.
With both Ngelale and Onanuga holding special adviser roles, the distinction wasn’t as clear. By default, the civil service structure reported to Ngelale, as SA on media.
“Ngelale considered himself untouchable because he had the backing of the president’s son Seyi and Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff,” a source disclosed. “He was fired; I became aware of this on Tuesday, but I won’t rule out the possibility that it happened earlier. When he got the letter, he started to plead to be allowed to resign as a soft landing. He was eventually given a soft landing, which is understandable. News of his sacking in public would have thoroughly embarrassed not just Ngelale but the presidency too.”
The source added that despite efforts by several top appointees and ministers to intervene in the feud between Ngelale and Onanuga, the conflict escalated.
“The Ngelale-Onanuga feud was no secret in the villa, so several top appointees and cabinet members attempted to intervene at separate times; and while Onanuga was open to peace talks, Ngelale wasn’t,” the source continued. “For example, Mohammed Idris Malagi, the minister of information and national orientation, called for talks four times. Onanuga was willing to attend but Ngelale snubbed them all, always claiming he was busy.”
Civil servants also noted that Onanuga, despite being appointed in October 2023, did not have his own office for months, while Ngelale had ensured his authority remained intact.
One insider explained, “When Onanuga was appointed, he had no office. He was squatting in Tunde Rahman’s office. It was just recently that he eventually got an office that belonged to either Wale Edun or Zacheus Adedeji when they were still advisers.”
Rahman, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, had been appointed in July 2023, three months before Onanuga’s appointment.
Meanwhile, Zacheus Adedeji, who was appointed special adviser on revenue, and Wale Edun, special adviser on monetary policy, had both secured their roles in June 2023, months ahead of Onanuga.
Another source revealed that Ngelale’s powerful position was largely attributed to his backing from Seyi Tinubu and Gbajabiamila.
“During the 2023 presidential electioneering, Jumoke Oduwole, the special adviser on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), introduced Ngelale to Gbajabiamila,” said the source. “When Ngelale got there, he met Seyi. He told Seyi he would facilitate a CNN interview during which Tinubu’s presidential ambition would be discussed. Seyi thought it was impossible, but Ngelale did it. He secured the interview on CNN. He then told Seyi the time and date it would air. Seyi promised Ngelale that Tinubu would phone him if he pulled it off. Immediately after the interview was aired, Tinubu called Ngelale.”
Following Tinubu’s election victory, Ngelale’s appointment was secured soon after his return to Nigeria. In contrast, Onanuga’s appointment was delayed for at least two months and required intervention from Chief Bisi Akande, a close ally of Tinubu.
Sources confirmed that Ngelale’s directive that no statement from Onanuga could be released without his approval had aggravated the situation.
The internal conflict and Ngelale’s difficult relationship with journalists and the media eventually damaged his standing with the presidency.
“He did not have a good relationship with journalists. Ask the reporters; ask the state house correspondents. And also ask editors,” one source said. “Many people consider him disrespectful and arrogant, even the editors. You can hardly find any important editor in Nigeria who likes or regards Ngelale.”
Efforts by FIJ to reach both Ngelale and Onanuga for comments were unsuccessful, as neither responded to messages or calls.
A middle-aged man has been arrested over alleged involvement in gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-reconciliation Ministry Asaba, Delta State.
The suspect was said to have also attempted to dispose of the deceased Toyota Prado Jeep in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State before his arrest.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday while briefing newsmen, Commissioner of Police, State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu said the suspect was arrested together with his accomplice alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
The vehicle of the murdered Bishop
He said the stolen vehicle was also recovered from the suspects during the operation.
According to Orutugu, “The breakthrough followed a swift intelligence-led operation by Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, who served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic staff, allegedly conspired with yet-to-be-identified criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
“Police Operatives, acting on credible information, tracked and intercepted the suspects in Nkpor, successfully recovered the stolen vehicle, and took them into custody for further interrogation.”
According to CP, investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
He advised residents to exercise due diligence in the recruitment and management of domestic staff, drivers, and other household employees.
Orutugu also urged members of the public to properly profile and verify the identities of persons employed in their homes and establishments, while also remaining vigilant to suspicious behaviours and activities.
“We assure the public that the Command remains committed to proactive policing, intelligence-driven operations, and collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the State.
While speaking to newsmen, the bishop’s driver said, “immediately we arrived home and my boss asked me to open the gate, I didn’t know that some people were trailing behind us.
“One of them rushed me, ordered me to lie down and marched my head and hit it with the gun. They went inside and met my master.
“They threatened to kill me if I raise alarm or call the police. They asked me to contact someone from Onitsha who will buy the vehicle. The buyers came this morning and took the vehicle.”
A personal driver of a Pentecostal bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, has been arrested for allegedly killing his employer and fleeing with his vehicle, a Toyota Prado Jeep.
The driver, whose identity has yet to be disclosed due to ongoing investigations, was arrested alongside another suspect in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, while attempting to sell the vehicle.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Ikioye Orutugu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Awka, on Wednesday, adding that the suspect murdered the cleric before fleeing with his vehicle to Anambra to sell.
Orutugu said the arrest followed a swift intelligence-led operation by operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
He said the driver conspired with some criminal elements still at large, to kill his employer, adding that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
He said, “The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command arrested a domestic staff member allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, and the subsequent attempt to dispose of the victim’s Toyota Prado Jeep in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“The breakthrough followed a swift intelligence-led operation by Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, who served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic staff, allegedly conspired with yet-to-be-identified criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
“Police operatives, acting on credible information, tracked and intercepted the suspects in Nkpor, successfully recovered the stolen vehicle, and took them into custody for further interrogation.”
The CP stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
Orutugu advised the public to exercise due diligence in the recruitment and management of domestic staff, drivers, and other household employees.
He urged members of the public to properly profile and verify the identities of persons employed in their homes and establishments, while also remaining vigilant to suspicious behaviours and activities.
“We assured the public that the Command remains committed to proactive policing, intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the State,” the CP added. (The PUNCH)
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences.
A source within the anti-graft agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed on Wednesday that Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja and is currently in the custody of the commission.
According to the source, the alleged fraud involves funds estimated at N500bn.
“We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, for money laundering offences. He was arrested and is currently in our custody. The money Is to the tune of N500bn,” the official said.
Efforts to get confirmation from the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
President Bola Tinubu had on October 24, 2023 appointed Abdullahi as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
-
News2 days agoUK-based Nigerian divorces wife after viral cheating allegation
-
News19 hours ago
MainPower: EERC Downgrades 59 Feeders in Enugu over Poor Power Supply
-
News1 day ago
Over 100 reported killed in Zamfara market airstrike
-
News1 day ago
2027 Polls: 30 APC Governors, 88 senators, 242 Reps, 2,620 others know fate today
-
News3 days ago
Enugu Govt, Police nab woman for allegedly beating stepdaughter to death
-
News8 hours ago
Anambra Police arrest two over kidnap, murder of Bishop in Delta
-
News16 hours ago
Driver kills employer in Delta, flees with vehicle to Anambra
-
News3 days ago
10 feared dead as gunmen attack convoy in Zamfara
