LAGOS – Social media influencer and relationship therapist Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged ₦36 million fraud.
The influencer appeared before Justice D.I. Dipeolu at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 15, 2026. The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 filed a two-count charge against her bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the charge, Okoro allegedly obtained ₦36 million from Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye between July 14 and 17, 2024, under the pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos. The prosecution told the court the representation was false and violated the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Okoro pleaded “not guilty” to both counts when the charges were read.
Her counsel, P.I. Nwafor, told the court she had refunded ₦24 million to the complainant and was working to settle the remaining balance. He requested a short adjournment to resolve the matter, saying the nominal complainant agreed to prevail on the EFCC to drop the case if the balance was paid.
The EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, S.I. Suleiman, opposed the request, stating that the Federal Government of Nigeria is the complainant in the case. He applied for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.
Justice Dipeolu ordered that Okoro be remanded in EFCC custody pending the hearing of her bail application. The matter was adjourned to June 5, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The case marks one of the high-profile fraud prosecutions involving a social media personality in Nigeria this year.
This is a developing story. More updates to follow.
The World Bank has restricted comments on its Instagram page following a wave of backlash from Nigerians protesting President Bola Tinubu’s plan to secure a fresh $1.25 billion loan.
Nigerians flooded the institution’s social media platforms with messages urging it to halt further lending, citing rising debt, inflation, and worsening economic hardship. Comments including “STOP GIVING NIGERIA FRESH LOANS!” and “PLEASE STOP GIVING TINUBU LOANS” trended across X and Instagram.
The proposed facility, titled Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration, is expected to be presented for approval on June 26, 2026. If approved, it would be the second-largest single World Bank loan under the Tinubu administration.
The backlash comes as Nigeria’s public debt hit ₦159.28 trillion in December 2025. A petition titled “Compel The World Bank to stop giving Nigeria loans” has also gained traction online.
The Federal Government says the loan will fund economic reforms, electricity expansion, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and job creation programs.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement.
The governor made this known on Thursday at the joint mega-rally of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, the state capital.
“The time to reset Nigeria is now. Therefore, today, I, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, announce my candidacy for the position of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
Makinde said the country’s situation has “continued to deteriorate, putting the majority of Nigerians on survival mode daily.
The governor added that government officials responsible for citizens’ welfare have abdicated their duties.
“This is why, for the past several months, one question has been at the top of my mind: where do we go from here? Is this how we should continue as a nation?
“We have been pushed to the wall with the belief that we will turn against ourselves or worst still, that we will become too weary to survive on a daily basis to fight back.
They said opposition cannot unite, but I am here today to say that it is a miscalculation. The opposition in Nigeria is not just a political party. The opposition is the everyday Nigerian for whom the country does not work,” Makinde said.
Makinde said the alliance between the PDP and APM would enable the former ruling party to field candidates for all positions in the 2027 general election.
“So today in Ibadan, the first grand alliance is formed. The alliance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
“This handshake will allow us to field candidates at all levels. We will field candidates from top to bottom. We will field candidates from the presidency to state assemblies, and everything in between,” Makinde said.
Makinde had earlier led the Taminu Turaki faction of the PDP in Oyo State to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the APM as part of a strategic alliance for the forthcoming elections.
The governor and the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, signed the agreement on behalf of both parties.
Under the agreement, candidates of the PDP faction contesting for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly seats are expected to run on the platform of the APM rather than the PDP in the 2027 elections.
As he inches towards his 76 birthday and closing chapters of his great career, Mr. Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, aka Charly Boy, also known as Area Fada, a Nigerian singer-songwriter, television presenter, actor and activist, sits with culture journalists to discuss his forthcoming book.
Come July 2026, the maverick showbiz maestro will unveil his new work, 999. The eyes of the world will descend on him as he closes this chapter and opens another.
From childhood, Area Fada has been a vocal advocate for justice and good governance in Nigeria. This is what he has put together in this book, which is coming nine years after the release of his first, titled, My Private Part: a play on words.
This new book, 999, is not just a memoir, but Charly Boy cracks open the vault of a life lived louder than the society that tried to mute him. It is more in-depth story of himself with no cover-ups or hypocrisy.
Written with street-poetry honesty, the book traces a boy who shared toys with chauffeurs’ children, a teenager who read forbidden books and didn’t go mad, a TV shock-jock who weaponised laughter, and an activist who still collects ‘dues’ for the voiceless.
Through prostate battles, boardroom wars, father-son silences and national protests, 999 asks what truly finishes us—failure, or the fear of finishing? Raw, riveting and revolutionary, this is the memoir Nigeria never saw coming—and the mirror every generation needs to hold up to itself.
Known for his quality and perfectionist approach to every project he undertakes, Charly Boy has painstakingly put together a breathtaking compilation of some of his most compelling and defining experiences in life.
“And from the look of the book, to the contents and layout of the pages, you can tell that I really took my time. In terms of contents ranging from way back in my early days to the present, this one is way different. People are going to be very amazed at the kind of challenges I have faced in my life and how I survived them,” he confesses.
According to him, the essence of the book is that for anybody who reads it, they can relate to it “because a little bit of every one of us is in this book. The experiences I went through are not alien to anybody.”
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote the foreword to the book, including Bishop Hassan Kukah and Dele Famoroti.
When I titled my book 999, some people asked if it was a code or I meant 666. What I really meant to say from the go is that 999 means the beginning of a new era. So, if you know me in the past, when I fight I must hold weapon and I must draw blood. But, now I have calmed down and old things shall pass away,” he says.
He had written: “Google defines the figure ‘999’ as an angelic number and a dawn of new beginnings. It’s a red alert signal that you’re about to read the unapologetic truth about the self-styled President of all Frustrated Nigerians.
“This book is not a biography. It’s a battleground. The Ugly, the Bad and the very Good. It’s a collection of live experiences that would make even the boldest screenwriters cringe.”
Charly Boy wittily recalls his past misdemeanuors, rascality and stubbornness while growing up and studying in America.
When asked why he felt he needed to do the book, the area fada responded candidly, “I wanted people to learn from what I have been through. I think a lot of people will learn a great deal from my various experiences when they read 999 because it’s basically a reflection of what you, myself and the next person have been through in life. It doesn’t matter whether you come from a privileged home, like I did, because I am an ‘Aje’ butter through and through but yet ran into all manner of troubles. When I got to the United States, for instance, I got myself involved into all kinds of things such as drugs, credit card scam and the sort. Everything is contained in 999. I need people to take out some of the positives from my experiences, apply them and put them to good use. So, a lot these aspects of my life the public didn’t know about are contained in the books.”
He says, “America opened my eyes to racism.”
He adds,“I’ve come a long way. I have been into all manners of crime including shop-lifting, marrying multiple women, substance and drug abuse. But, I discovered early the dangers of drug especially, because I realised what drugs have done to other people. All these experiences were what I went through as a young man. If you’re 24, you can’t be thinking like a 70 -year-old man. It’s not possible. You think like a 24 -year- old and behave like a 24-year- old. So, those were all the wildlife in my youthful days and they are all captured in the book.
“All these I poured out in my book. I also talked about how activism started, even though I don’t like to be called an activist because some people have messed up activism. So, I like to be called a social engineer, not an activist.
Nollywood actor Alexx Ekubo has died at the age of 40 after a prolonged battle with cancer, family sources confirmed.
The actor reportedly passed away on Monday, May 11, 2026, according to reports from Vanguard and other Nigerian media outlets. He had been out of the public eye since December 2024.
Tributes are pouring in from colleagues across the industry. Actress Funke Akindele wrote, “Rest in peace, Alex. I tried to reach out to see you one more time, but I guess you knew best.” Actor Bolanle Ninalowo and singer Peter Okoye also posted tributes on social media.
Ekubo was known for roles in Weekend Getaway, The Bling Lagosians, and A Sunday Affair. He was named one of the UN’s Most Influential People of African Descent under 40 in 2020.
Frontline aspirant for Awka North and South Federal Constituency and Founder of the Ide Global Movement, Ozo Dr Azubuike Augustine Ekweozor, Rff (Ide Umuawulu), has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering responsive, people-oriented, and impactful representation following his appearance before the Screening Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abuja.
Ozo Dr Ekweozor participated in the screening exercise at the APGA National Secretariat, where he engaged with members of the committee as part of the party’s preparations ahead of the primary election.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, he described his aspiration as a sincere response to the yearnings of the people for accessible leadership, quality representation, and purposeful service.
According to him, his decision to seek election into the House of Representatives was inspired by years of close interaction with the people and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Awka North and South Federal Constituency.
He noted that his political journey has remained rooted in loyalty to APGA, grassroots engagement, and consistent commitment to the ideals of the party.
He also emphasized that through years of community interaction and humanitarian service, he has gained a deeper understanding of the needs, aspirations, and challenges facing the constituency.
Reflecting on the activities of the Ide Global Movement since its establishment in 2018, Ozo Dr Ekweozor highlighted several humanitarian and empowerment initiatives carried out across communities, noting that service to humanity has always remained central to his vision for leadership.
The APGA chieftain further reiterated his development agenda anchored on security, affordable housing, infrastructure development, and agricultural advancement, which he described as critical pillars for improving livelihoods and accelerating development across Awka North and South.
While appreciating supporters and stakeholders for their encouragement and growing confidence in his aspiration, he assured constituents of accessible leadership, effective representation, and strong advocacy capable of attracting meaningful development to the constituency.
Ozo Dr Ekweozor also called on fellow aspirants and political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and avoid politics rooted in bitterness, blackmail, and personal attacks, stressing the need for unity, maturity, and sportsmanship throughout the political process.
“The Rescue Mission is about the people, their welfare, their future, and the progress of Awka North and South.”
The Abia State Government has announced an imminent regulatory overhaul of the electricity sector, as the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA) prepares to issue a comprehensive order to regularise all electricity-related activities across the state before the end of January.
The disclosure was made on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during a media briefing at the Government House, Umuahia, following the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Alex Chioma Otti.
According to the Commissioner, the forthcoming regulatory order follows the successful transfer of electricity regulatory powers from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ASERA, marking a significant milestone in Abia State’s electricity sector reforms.
Prince Kanu explained that with the completion of the transfer, ASERA is now the sole statutory authority responsible for regulating all electricity-related activities within Abia State.
“This is one of the outcomes of the release of the final transfer of regulatory authority from NERC to ASERA,” he said.
He noted that the regulatory order will serve as a framework to bring order, transparency, and accountability to the electricity market in the state.
“As the statutory regulator of all electricity sector activities in the state, ASERA will issue this order to ensure quicker resolution of consumer complaints, stronger consumer protection, better service delivery, and a fair balance between operators and electricity consumers going forward,” Prince Kanu stated.
The Commissioner emphasized that the intervention will protect consumers from arbitrary practices by operators while improving response time to complaints and strengthening trust between electricity providers and users.
The electricity sector reform aligns with the broader governance agenda of the Alex Otti administration, which prioritizes institutional efficiency, regulatory clarity, and improved service delivery across critical sectors of the state’s economy.
With ASERA now fully empowered, stakeholders and residents are expected to witness a more structured, responsive, and consumer-friendly electricity sector in Abia State in the coming weeks.
The regulatory intervention is widely seen as a bold step toward stabilizing the power sector and enhancing economic activities across the state.
Anaenugwu Ndubuisi
Ambassador General, Good Governance Ministry
Emailggovernanceministry@gmail.com
Our people are not asking for too much. What they need can easily be provided by any rational human being in a position of authority. They simply desire an honest and sincere Governor who can guarantee stable and affordable electricity, low-cost housing, affordable food, industrial and agricultural villages, a reliable database of human and material resources, improved healthcare services, functional and technical education (not merely certificate-oriented education), law and order, and a living wage for all.
The primary objective of government is to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens, as clearly stated in Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, is simply fulfilling this constitutional obligation with the launch of the Senior Citizens Welfare Scheme, aimed at improving the living conditions of elderly residents of Abia State aged 60 years and above. This welfare initiative is designed to provide financial relief, healthcare support, and social inclusion, especially for senior citizens without steady income or pension benefits.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries receive a monthly social support allowance intended to cover:
Basic food needs,
Transportation,
Minor household expenses.
Payments are made through transparent and verifiable channels to prevent diversion, manipulation, or favoritism. Traditional rulers, town unions, and local verification committees assist in confirming:
Age
Residency
Identity.
In addition, digital records are created to prevent duplication and fraud.
However, this welfare package is only the beginning of what the Good Governance Ministry (GGM) expects from Governor Alex Otti.A database for all underemployed and unemployed young people in Abia State should be developed immediately.
Our people have suffered greatly; their human dignity has been battered over the years. Many no longer expect anything from government and have resorted to personal struggle, family support, and communal survival. Confidence in governance had been completely eroded—until the emergence of Alex Otti.
Before his administration, public infrastructure such as roads, water supply, electricity, waste management systems, public schools, hospitals, and social welfare structures had virtually collapsed. It takes a first-class mind to know where to begin. Within his first 24 months in office, Governor Otti made a significant impact, winning the hearts of Abians through visible and purposeful governance.
Nevertheless, this article serves as a gentle reminder that the Governor is on a divine assignment and must not be distracted by the euphoria of early successes. His focus must remain firmly on building strong, enduring public institutions.
First, the Governor should work closely with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to establish a comprehensive and representative demographic database for Enyimba State.
Human resources are the most valuable assets God has bestowed upon society, and Aba youths can perform wonders when properly motivated and inspired by purposeful leadership.
Even citizens within the 60–70 age bracket can remain productive if properly organized within well-structured agricultural estates and senior citizens’ cooperatives. As an economist and seasoned financial manager, Governor Alex Otti can harness the experience of senior citizens to mentor younger generations within food production estates.
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, food is the most basic human necessity. Therefore, in building a sustainable system, Abia State must fully deploy its abundant human resources for mechanized food production, supported by a well-organized and profitable agricultural value chain. The synergy between the elderly and the youth can make this vision achievable.
Western education must give way to functional, problem-solving education that addresses local realities. Certificate accumulation without skills has failed the society.
Governor Alex Otti must therefore de-emphasize certificate-driven education and promote technical and vocational skills capable of developing and sustaining the new Abia State and beyond.
As the Governor constructs roads and bridges, he must simultaneously develop a highly motivated, skilled workforce that will power public institutions. Senior citizens with knowledge and experience should be encouraged to transfer their skills to the next generation through structured mentorship programs.
Government has the unique capacity to organize the factors of production—land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship—to achieve optimal social welfare. Governor Alex Otti has started well. History now calls on him to institutionalize progress and build a legacy that will outlive his tenure.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu
Ambassador-General, Good Governance Ministry (GGM)
The Abia State Government has approved the construction of multiple housing estates across the state, marking a significant step toward expanding access to affordable and decent housing for civil servants and other residents.
The approval, granted by the Abia State Executive Council, will be implemented through a combination of government-funded projects and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
Housing Projects to Commence in Umuahia
Following the approval, the State Ministry of Housing is set to flag off the construction of the Civil Service Commission Pocket-Layout Estate in Umuahia. Agreements have also been reached with private developers for the development of additional housing estates in strategic locations across the state.
The development was disclosed on Monday by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, during a post-Executive Council briefing at the Government House, Umuahia.
According to him, the housing initiative aligns with Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s commitment to improving the welfare and living standards of Abia residents.
“In line with the Governor’s vision to provide quality and affordable housing for Abians, the Ministry of Housing will soon flag off the Civil Service Commission Pocket-Layout Estate in Umuahia,” Prince Kanu said.
PPP Estates Planned for Mbaisi, Ubakala
Prince Kanu revealed that discussions are at an advanced stage with private developers under the PPP framework for proposed housing estates in Mbaisi and Mgbarakuma-Ubakala, Umuahia.
“The Ministry is on the verge of signing the necessary agreements for developers to move to the site without delay,” he added.
He noted that the estates would be developed across different parts of the state to promote balanced development while combining private-sector efficiency with strong government oversight.
Estate Not Exclusive to Civil Servants – Housing Commissioner
Providing further clarification, the Commissioner for Housing, Architect Chiemela Uzoije, explained that despite its name, the Civil Service Commission Pocket-Layout Estate is not exclusive to civil servants.
“It is for the generality of Abians. Civil servants are included, but the estate is open to everyone,” he said.
Architect Uzoije also disclosed that the state has already commenced similar housing projects, citing the ongoing site-and-services scheme at Obehie in Ukwa West, being developed in partnership with a private firm.
Under the arrangement, the developer provides infrastructure, after which plots will be allocated to individuals to build their homes.
The former Civil Service Commission premises in Umuahia will be transformed into a modern residential estate catering to medium-income earners and a segment of high-income residents.
The estate will feature a mix of housing types, including:
Blocks of flats
Semi-detached duplexes
Standard duplexes
According to Architect Uzoije, the project is designed to change the narrative in Abia’s housing sector, which he noted currently lacks fully functional and well-planned residential estates.
Jobs, Urban Renewal, Economic Growth
The Housing Commissioner emphasized that a mix of development models is being adopted to ensure sustainability, job creation, and timely delivery of the projects.
While the government will directly handle estates within major urban areas to maximize employment opportunities and economic impact, PPP projects will continue in other locations, with the government remaining actively involved in implementation and management.
Boost for Abia’s Development Agenda
The housing initiative is expected to improve access to decent accommodation, stimulate economic activities, drive urban renewal, and increase private-sector participation.
Overall, the programme reinforces Governor Alex Otti’s agenda to redefine public housing, promote inclusive growth, and entrench good governance in Abia State.
Anaenugwu Ndubuisi
Ambassador General, Good Governance Ministry
Email:ggovernanceministry@gmail.com
Some months ago, The Patriots—led by a former Commonwealth Secretary-General—paid a visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa. Their mission was straightforward but urgent: to demand immediate political restructuring of Nigeria as a necessary step to prevent the country from drifting toward systemic collapse. Their position reflected a long-standing concern shared by many Nigerians—that the country’s political architecture is fundamentally flawed and no longer fit for purpose.
President Tinubu, however, reportedly informed the delegation that his immediate priority was economic reform. Since then, the administration has introduced a series of far-reaching economic and fiscal measures, including tax reforms, subsidy removals, and revenue-enhancement strategies aimed at stabilizing public finance and attracting investment.
While economic reform is undoubtedly important, attempting to reform taxation and the economy without first addressing Nigeria’s defective political structure is akin to building a house on a cracked foundation. The danger is not abstract; it is real and growing.
Nigeria operates a highly centralized political system that concentrates power and resources at the federal level, leaving states and local governments weak, dependent, and often unaccountable. This structure breeds inefficiency, corruption, and waste, while discouraging productivity and innovation at subnational levels. In such a system, tax reforms risk becoming punitive rather than developmental—extracting more from citizens without corresponding improvements in governance, infrastructure, or public services.
Moreover, public trust in state institutions remains dangerously low. The credibility of elections, governance processes, and accountability mechanisms has been repeatedly questioned. Many Nigerians still recall controversies surrounding recent elections, including reports of technological failures and procedural lapses that deepened public cynicism about leadership legitimacy. In this context, asking citizens and businesses to shoulder heavier tax burdens without addressing governance deficits is likely to fuel resistance, evasion, and social unrest.
Taxation thrives where there is trust—trust that collected revenues will be judiciously managed, transparently accounted for, and fairly redistributed. In Nigeria’s current political arrangement, that trust is severely eroded. Citizens see little connection between the taxes they pay and the quality of services they receive. Roads remain dilapidated, electricity unreliable, education underfunded, and healthcare inaccessible to the majority.
Political restructuring—whether through true federalism, devolution of powers, fiscal autonomy for states, or electoral reforms—is not a distraction from economic reform; it is its prerequisite. Without restructuring, tax reform risks becoming a time bomb: socially explosive, economically counterproductive, and politically destabilizing.
History offers sobering lessons. States that overburden citizens in the absence of representation, accountability, and inclusion often face backlash—sometimes gradual, sometimes sudden. Nigeria, already grappling with insecurity, unemployment, and widening inequality, cannot afford such an outcome.
In conclusion, economic reform without political reform is incomplete and unsustainable. If Nigeria is truly to be rescued from collapse, fiscal measures must go hand in hand with structural political transformation. Anything less is not reform—it is postponement of an inevitable crisis.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is the Ambassador General of Good Governance Ministry ( GGM)
