The Senate has, for the second time, declined a motion seeking an independent legislative investigation into the controversy surrounding the alleged Director-General of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PEAC/PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.

The issue, which has dominated public attention for more than two weeks, was reintroduced during Wednesday’s plenary by Senator Suleiman Kawu, who had made a similar request last week without success.

Senator Kawu sought to raise the matter under a motion of urgent public importance, urging the Senate to conduct its own investigation into the allegations.

However, the upper chamber rejected the request.

Ruling on the motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said it would be inappropriate for the Senate to initiate a separate probe because the matter is already before the court and President Bola Tinubu has directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations within 30 days.

“In my view, the issue has been overtaken by events as the culprit has been charged to court. It is now sub judice to attempt to go into it again. Mr President has already directed an investigation. If we go into it now, we will probably be jumping the gun,” Akpabio said.

Despite the Senate’s decision, Senator Kawu insisted that the National Assembly has a constitutional duty to carry out oversight functions regardless of actions already taken by the executive arm of government.

The Senate’s position follows the arrest of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the disputed agency. His arrest came after Justice Umar of the Federal High Court granted an oral application by police counsel, Wisdom Madaki, directing security agencies to apprehend and produce him before the court.

Adeyemi was expected to take his plea on an eight-count charge bordering on forgery, fraud and impersonation, but failed to appear in court. Justice Umar subsequently ordered his arrest and fixed September 30 for his arraignment.

According to the Federal Government, Adeyemi allegedly forged an appointment letter purportedly issued by President Tinubu and signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

He is also accused of forging presidential letterheads and official government documents, including a request for office accommodation allegedly originating from the State House.

The government further alleged that Adeyemi falsely presented himself as “the Director General of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council” and used the purported appointment to seek official recognition and other benefits.

Adeyemi had publicly identified himself as the head of the council, with photographs of himself alongside prominent Nigerians widely circulated on social media. He also claimed he paid Gbajabiamila to secure the appointment, an allegation the Presidency has strongly denied.

Speaking during an edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adeyemi said:

“Let the court take its course. Since my lawyers are involved, everybody will follow us. They will monitor the whole thing. Then let the court of competent jurisdiction do what they need to.”

Amid the growing controversy, President Tinubu directed the ICPC to launch an investigation into the matter.

According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the commission is expected to investigate “the forged appointment letters and other official government documents; the use of a false claim of presidential appointment to seek or obtain official recognition and diplomatic support, including visa facilitation; and the opening of multiple bank accounts in the names of purported government agencies using allegedly forged documents.”

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced a ₦50 million support package for five families affected by the recent abduction incident in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Akpabio made the announcement during Wednesday’s plenary, explaining that the financial assistance is aimed at supporting the families who suffered losses during the tragic incident.

According to the Senate President, ₦10 million will be given to each of the five affected families, including the relatives of the three security personnel who lost their lives during the rescue operation and the families of the two teachers who were killed.

The intervention forms part of the Senate’s response to the attack, with lawmakers also calling for increased support for the bereaved and renewed efforts by security agencies to secure the release of other kidnapping victims across the country.

During the plenary, Senator Abdul Ningi raised a point of order, urging the Senate to ensure that compensation for victims of violent attacks is extended to all affected Nigerians without discrimination.

He argued that the compensation initiative should be comprehensive and inclusive rather than limited to specific groups of victims, insisting that every citizen who suffered losses as a result of the incident deserves equal consideration.

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has granted former Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, bail in the sum of ₦100 million following his arraignment on alleged corruption charges.

Delivering a brief ruling, Justice Peter Kekemeke ordered that Umar must produce one surety in the same amount, with the surety required to possess a valid Certificate of Occupancy.

Umar was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a four-count charge alleging that he conferred undue advantage on himself while serving as Chairman of the CCT.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

During the proceedings, defence counsel urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, arguing that Umar had previously been granted administrative bail by the EFCC and had fully complied with the conditions.

The defence further told the court that the former CCT chairman consistently honoured the commission’s invitations throughout the course of its investigation.

The prosecution opposed the bail application, contending that Umar posed a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses, some of whom reportedly worked under him during his tenure as CCT Chairman.

However, Justice Kekemeke ruled that the prosecution failed to establish that the defendant was likely to abscond or interfere with witnesses, and consequently granted the bail application.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until October 29, 2026, for further hearing.

Pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions, Umar will remain at the Kuje Custodial Centre.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of more than 40 properties linked to former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to counter the EFCC’s claim that the properties were acquired through unlawful means.

Before delivering the judgment, the court dismissed several applications and motions filed by Malami, members of his family, and companies connected to the properties, describing them as “wanting in merit.”

Justice Abdulmalik clarified that the central issue before the court was not ownership of the assets but the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire them.

She stated that the respondents had “not dislodged the reasonable suspicion that the property was acquired by unlawful activities.”

The court relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the final forfeiture order. However, the judge lifted the interim forfeiture order on some of the properties.

The EFCC had filed the civil forfeiture suit in January, seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at approximately ₦212.8 billion, alleging they were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former AGF.

On January 16, vacation judge Justice Emeka Nwite granted an interim forfeiture order and directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper, allowing anyone with an interest in the assets to appear before the court and show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The properties are located across Abuja, Kano, Kebbi and Kaduna states.

Following the publication of the interim order, Malami, his wife Nana Hadiza Malami, his son Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, and several companies linked to the properties filed objections, urging the court to set aside the order.

They argued that the assets were lawfully acquired and maintained that the EFCC failed to establish any connection between the properties and unlawful activities. The respondents further contended that the commission relied on speculation rather than credible evidence and did not identify any specific criminal offence from which the assets were allegedly derived.

During the proceedings, the EFCC insisted that its investigation showed the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and held in the names of individuals and companies acting as fronts for Malami.

The commission argued that under the law, it only needed to establish “reasonable suspicion” rather than prove the case “beyond reasonable doubt,” and urged the court to make the interim forfeiture order permanent.

After both parties adopted their final written addresses in May, Justice Abdulmalik reserved judgment. Although the ruling was initially scheduled for July 6, it was postponed twice before being delivered on Wednesday.

Government Secondary School (GSS), Olowa, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State was thrown into chaos after suspected gunmen invaded the school during the ongoing National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, abducting the principal, four students and an ad hoc examination official.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 5:25 p.m. on Tuesday while candidates were sitting for their examination.

According to security sources, the armed assailants stormed the school, forcefully took the victims and escaped to an unknown location before security operatives arrived at the scene.

A combined team of security personnel was promptly deployed to the area and has since launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate the abductors and secure the safe release of the victims.

Security officials confirmed that one of the abducted students has been rescued, while efforts have been intensified to free the remaining captives.

Authorities have also commenced extensive bush-combing operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance across the area in a bid to track down the kidnappers, uncover their hideout and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing as security agencies continue efforts to restore calm and strengthen security in the area.