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Alleged Fraud: Otukpo LG Legislators Write Alia, Assembly, Others, Seek Disciplinary Actions against Council Boss
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Legislators in Otukpo the local government council of Benue State have petitioned the State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia and the State House of Assembly over alleged misappropriation of funds, gross misconduct among other heists by the council chairman, Prince Maxwell Ogiri.
The move was necessitated by an initial alarm raised by the Head of Revenue Department, Mrs.
Adina Victoria on April 23, 3025 drew the attention of the legislative house to the chairman’s financial recklessness and the need for authority to call him to order.Mrs.
Aduma while raising the alarm, accused the chairman of issuing revenue receipt without due approval by her office, inciting revenue committee against the revenue department and hijacking security levies, which according to her, amounted to abuse of authority.It is however, on the strength of this development that the legislators, after due diligence, wrote the petition dated June 17, 2025, and also sent to the Benue State Commissioner for Finance as well as Gubernatorial Liaison Officer(GLO) Otukpo, State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the media.
Titled, “Petition Against the Executive Chairman Otukpo LG, Prince Maxwell Ogiri Over Gross Financial Misconduct,” and signed by 11 legislators including Honourables Amodu Philip Anya (Leader), Gloria Adu Harrison, Anthony Godwin, Idega Friday, Agbo Alapa, Otalu Musa Felix, Edit Johnson Onka, Ameh Sunday, Augustine Elaigwu and Aaron Oono, listed a litany of weighty misconducts against the chairman and demanded for his investigation by the various authorities.
The grassroot lawmakers further accused the council boss of blackmailing the governor and using his name to swindled N13 million from 13 councilors by asking them to pay N1million each for their electoral appeal court in Abuja, operating illegal online bank account through Alternative bank, illegal printing of revenue receipts, paying internally generated revenue into his personal accounts using PoS belonging to his personal assistant and spending government funds without budgetary approval.
Others are his failure to honour invitations by the legislators to clarify issues bothering on governance, diversion of motorcycles donated by the state governor to ease local security patrol, importing thugs to the council secretariat to disrupt legislative sittings, high hardness and total disrespect for constituted authorities including police and civil defence in the local government area.
“The aggrieved councillors affirmed, “We first believe that the PoS was been used for Revenue Generation for the Local Government but when we verify we discovered that no kobo was remitted to the Local Government Revenue Account but his PA PoS account.
“We consider this as an act of blackmail and casting of negative aspersion on the administration of governor Alia and his image, hence his anti corruption posture which is globally acknowledged.
“Since our inauguration on October 24, the chairman has consistently ignored financial rules and regulations by spending public funds acruable to the legislative council which contravene section 87, subsection 3 of Benue State Local Government Law 2007.
Concluding the petition, the legislators asserted, “We therefore appeal to Benue State House of Assembly to suspend the chairman and his deputy from office to pave the way for indepth investigation and apportion of appropriation sanctions to serve as a deterrent to others.
It is added, “We are not allowed to sit but the Chairman pocketed our sitting allowance. The other day, he brought over forty(40) thugs to our council hall and disrupted all our sitting. He also prevented us from meeting with a three man- peace committee sent to the local government by the state leadership of the All Progressives Congress after our petition was forwarded to the party calling for intervention.
“He has also embarked on a move to recall the affected councilors who signed the petition against him by lobbying their ward chairmen to suspend them.
“We appeal to all the aforementioned agencies and authorities to embrace justice on the matter to avert the continual government of impunity in Prince Maxwell Ogiri as this is the yearning of the whole council citizens.”
Speaking to our correspondent on the matter, the State commissioner for finance and economic planning, Michael Oglegba, confirmed that he has received a petition from councilors in Otukpo local government council bothering on financial misconduct involving the council chairman.
He described the allegations as very weighty, adding that he has decided to carry out independent assessment to ascertain the veracity of the documents.
“There is a process to follow in order to treat this kind of petition. As commissioner of finance, I will advise the various authorities including the State House of Assembly to act swiftly.
“The chairman has not call to tell me what is happening. Coincidentally, I’m also from Otukpo LG. So, I only heard this crisis from a third party, that there is a total breakdown of law and order at the local government area over finances.
“When this document is relate to other parties, the chairman has to come to speak and defend himself. These documents are already in public view and Fr. Alia has zero tolerance for anything that is negative to his administration. Incidentally, I have sent this document to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to act on it. The allegations are weighty and weighty enough for them to take a second look and give advice that could be appropriate.
Meanwhile, when contacted,the embattled Chairman, Prince Maxwell Ogiri indicted the Auditor General for Local Government, whom he claimed gave him the advice to operate the Revenue Accounts with Online Banks.
“Nothing is dangerous to embark on like change. It’s dangerous because the people who are benefitting from the old order, would bring all their arsenals to fight you so that it does not succeed, and the people that would benefit from the new order maybe lukewarm in protecting the new change that is introduced.
“I cannot open a new account for the Local Government. I have no reason not to use any bank, the Zenith Bank as a company are aware of that. But when I discovered that the revenue of any local government is the indices that are used to determine subvention from the federation account, I was determined to step it up.
“In the process of doing that, I have to seek the advice of the auditor general for the local government who accepted and advised that, whoever the contractor is going to use, must be registered in Benue and must be a tax paying consultant.
“He advised that I either give it to those consultants wholesomely or allow them be in partner with the revenue department of the local government who has the workforce with primary responsibility of collecting revenue.So I allowed different consultants to submit proposals, thereafter I called a town hall meeting where all the traditional rulers, market women, heads of security agents and the members of Revenue department in Otukpo local government were invited and the advice was adopted.
“The first consultant that was selected could not cover the entire revenue points and a new one was brought in, which is the Alternative Bank who suggested opening of a wallet, although not a bank but can serve as a pipe through which monies passes into the main account of revenue of the local government.
“This was not intentionally done to siphon money.So when the system was not functioning properly more than two to three weeks, I got another expert advice that there is a way Monies Point can be synchronised for payments directly into the main account of Revenue”.
He explained that when the system became operational, he constituted an implementation committee to see to the effectiveness of the machine instead of monies passing through hands.
He denied all the other allegations leveled against him and his administration, describing them as infringement of people’s imagination.
“All these things they are saying does not exist. I know those behind these unfounded allegations . They got all my councilors as willing tools and began to used them. It is unfortunate that people with good intentions, yearning to bring changes are not allowed”, Ogiri stated.
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From Rabiu Sanusi Kano
The Minister of Education, Dr. Ma’aruf Tunji Alausa, has commended Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, for his administration’s bold reforms in the education sector, particularly the recruitment of 8,588 teachers to improve the quality of teaching and learning across the state.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Tuesday.
Speaking during the presentation of appointment letters to the newly recruited teachers at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano, the Minister described the exercise as a significant milestone in the state’s drive to reposition education and address the shortage of qualified teachers in public schools.
Dr. Alausa said the recruitment of 4,900 newly employed teachers alongside the absorption of 3,688 Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) teachers under the ABBA Gida-Gida programme demonstrates the Kano State Government’s strong commitment to expanding access to quality education and improving learning outcomes.
He noted that sustained investment in education remains critical to national development and commended the Kano State Government for prioritising the sector through strategic interventions that will have lasting impact on future generations.
In his remarks, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the distribution of appointment letters as another major milestone in his administration’s declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector.
The Governor said the recruitment would help bridge the shortage of qualified teachers in public schools and further improve the standard of education across the state.
Governor Yusuf recalled that his administration allocated 31 percent of the 2026 budget to the education sector, noting that the investment has continued to yield positive results, with Kano emerging as the best-performing state in this year’s NECO examination.
He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for suspending the proposed increase in NECO examination fees, describing the decision as a welcome relief that will make education more affordable and accessible to Nigerian students.
Governor Yusuf urged the newly employed teachers to uphold the ethics of the teaching profession by demonstrating dedication, discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Gwani Ali Haruna Makoda, said the recruitment forms part of the government’s comprehensive reforms aimed at revitalising education in Kano State and ensuring that every child has access to qualified teachers.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Malam Kabir Yusuf Kabir, reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to supporting the government’s policies and programmes designed to improve the quality of basic education across the state.
The Nigerian Army says its troops have rescued 16 kidnapped victims, apprehended suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and informants, and recovered arms, ammunition and other items in separate operations across the country.
This is contained in an operational update covering activities in the last 24 hours, made available yesterday in Abuja.
In the North East, the report said troops of Operation HADIN KAI arrested a suspected female ISWAP informant and logistics supplier at Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno.
It said the suspect was intercepted while allegedly attempting to return to her husband in the Sava terrorist enclave within the Sambisa Forest.
According to the report, items recovered from her included a mobile phone and other personal effects.
In the North West, it said the troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA repelled a terrorist ambush on personnel of the 2 Nigerian Mobile Force at Abrom village in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna.
“The troops fought through the ambush, forcing the attackers to flee and recovered one AK-47 rifle, a magazine and 50 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition.
“Also in Sokoto State, troops rescued 16 kidnapped victims during separate operations in Shagari and Gandi Local Government Areas.
“The first operation at Wanke and Kaura villages led to the rescue of six abductees after terrorists abandoned them while fleeing military troops.
“Troops also recovered two motorcycles belonging to the fleeing terrorists,” it said.
The report said troops had, in another operation at Badanma village, engaged terrorists, forcing them to abandon 10 kidnapped victims who were rescued unharmed.
It added that troops also intercepted a white bus transporting 10 motorcycles along the Biu-Kangiwa road in Kebbi.
According to the report, preliminary investigations revealed the motorcycles were destined for a notorious terrorist identified as Mallam Gehowa at Amogoro.
“Four suspected terrorist logistics suppliers were arrested and handed over to the Department of State Services for further investigation.
“In Taraba State, troops of Operation MESA arrested a suspected criminal at Dema Road in Donga Local Government Area.
“Recovered from the suspect were 29 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three mobile phones, a power bank and N160,000.
“The suspect allegedly confessed to purchasing the ammunition from another individual in the area,” it added.
The report further revealed that troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE recovered rustled cattle after engaging suspected terrorists in the Wase Local Government Area of Plateau.
It said the troops also raided a suspected drug den at Saya village in Bassa Local Government Area, arresting four suspected drug dealers.
According to the report, items recovered included eight cutlasses, six knives, cannabis and other illicit substances.
It said that toops further responded to an armed robbery incident along the Mararaba Jama’a highway where they recovered the corpse of a victim with gunshot wounds.
“They also intervened in the Pankshin Local Government Area following the killing of a farmer allegedly by suspected herders over a grazing dispute.
“The incident triggered reprisals, forcing the fleeing herders to abandon 15 cattle now in police custody.
“Meanwhile, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE, working with Defence Intelligence Agency operatives, recovered one AK-47 rifle and a magazine during a follow-up raid on the residence of a suspected militia member in Wukari, Taraba” it added.
NEWS
Zenith Bank Recognised As Africa’s Best Bank & Nigeria’s Best Bank At The Euromoney Awards For Excellence 2026
By Gemini
Zenith Bank Plc has been named “Africa’s Best Bank” and “Nigeria’s Best Bank”, the latter for the second consecutive year, at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, clinching the biggest and most coveted national and continental awards in banking.
The awards were presented to the Bank on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at The Peninsula London Hotel, London.This dual recognition is a testament to the Bank’s sustained excellence in financial performance, customer service, digital innovation, and its contribution to economic development across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are among the most respected in the global financial industry, evaluating banks on criteria including strategy, profitability, risk management, digital transformation and impact on stakeholders.
Victory at the awards is regarded as a mark of the highest distinction in global banking. This year’s edition attracted a record of over 770 entries from world-class financial institutions including HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, Barclays, Standard Bank and DBS Bank of Singapore.
Commenting on the awards, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, said, “We are deeply honoured by these recognitions from Euromoney.
Being recognised as Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank reflects the trust of our customers, the dedication of our unicorn workforce, and our unwavering commitment to building a truly African global financial institution. These awards inspire us to do even more to deliver superior value, drive financial inclusion, and support the growth of businesses across Africa.”
The GMD commended the regulators across the various jurisdictions where the Bank has footprints for the enabling regulatory environment which has supported the Bank in achieving this feat.
She dedicated the award to the Founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, thanking him for his vision and excellence which have been instrumental to the Bank’s success.
Zenith Bank has continued to deliver strong financial results while accelerating investments in technology, artificial intelligence, and digital banking solutions. In the 2025 financial year, the Bank grew gross earnings by six per cent year on year to ₦4.19 trillion and delivered profit after tax of ₦1.04 trillion, while reducing its non-performing loan ratio from 4.7 per cent to 3.8 per cent. In keeping with its dividend policy, Zenith Bank rewarded its investors with a record-breaking total dividend of N10.00 per share (totaling N410.69 billion) for the 2025 financial year.
This represents a 100% increase over N5.00 per share paid in 2024. The Bank has also deepened its pan-African presence and expanded trade and transaction banking capabilities to connect businesses across key markets.
Euromoney is the leading authority for global banking and financial markets, and this latest recognition adds to Zenith Bank’s growing list of local and international accolades, and further cements its position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions.
The Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards, including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the seventeenth consecutive year in the 2026 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker and “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025. The Bank was also awarded Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022, and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022, 2024 and 2025, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023; and was listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.
Further recognitions include Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for six consecutive years from 2021 to 2026 in the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023, 2024 and 2026 Banking Awards.
Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for five consecutive years from 2022 to 2026 and ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.
The Bank’s commitment to excellence led to Zenith being also named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker’s Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year 2023 to 2025 at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and 2024 to 2025.
The Bank also received the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards, Bank of the Year 2024 by ThisDay Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade Finance, 2023 by Nairametrics. The Bank’s Hybrid Offer was also adjudged ‘Rights Issue/Public Offer of the Year’ at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.
Zenith Bank has also earned several non-financial awards, including Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024.
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