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I will put fire in your states,’ Wike fires warning to PDP governors

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT on Saturday warned governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP against interference in the affairs of the party in Rivers State.

Wike spoke after voting at the State Congress of Rivers PDP in Port Harcourt.

He spoke against the background of his battle with his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, as governor of Rivers for the control of the structure of the party in the state.

The Minister boasted that with the successful congress that was boycotted by the Fubara camp, his loyalists have taken control of the PDP structure in Rivers. He also vowed that he will not leave the party for anybody.

“We are party members, we have taken over our party members. We will not leave for anybody or allow anybody to take the party from us,” the FCT Minister boasted.

However, the Wike warned members of Bala Mohammed led PDP Governors’ Forum who recently declared their support for Fubara in the battle for the control of Rivers PDP with his at their meeting in Taraba State. The Minister vowed to disrupt the PDP chapters of the governors.

“Some governors say they will take the structure from us and give it to somebody. I hear that they have given them assurance that they will take the party from us. I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states.

“When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace. Whether you are in Bauchi or wherever, your hands will get burnt. You will never see pace again,” Wike said while expressing his happiness that the congress was witnessed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He also described his successor as ‘unstable character’ noting that there have been speculations that he is going to join the APP. ‘Let them wait for us during the election,’ the FCT Minister said.

The controversial PDP Congress was held at the party’s Secretariat along Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, Port Harcourt under tight security and despite different court orders for and against holding it.

A Rivers High Court presided over by Justice Charles Wali had last month prohibited PDP, its National Chairman Iliya Damagum, and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, or their agents, from gathering anywhere in Rivers State to hold ward, local government, and state congresses until it hears and determines the suit before it.

The suit was filed by representatives of PDP members from each of the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

Before Justice Wali’s order, Justice Sobere Biambo also of the state high court, had issued an order in a suit filed by David Omereji and 10 others stopping the PDP, its national chairperson, national financial secretary, and national organizing secretary from conducting the congress.

However, a Federal High Court in Abuja was said to have countered the first order and allowed the party to proceed with its congresses. Justice Peter Lifu stopped the DSS, the police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and seven others from stopping, or disrupting the congresses.

(PM)

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EFCC seals Kaduna hotel for breaching money laundering act

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has sealed up Hampton Hilton Hotel and Apartments, Kaduna, for non-compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations of the Financial Action Task Force, FATF for Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions, DNFBPs.

The entity was found to have committed multiple infractions in the course of the first evaluation carried out on it, on June 4, 2024, leading to the issuance of administrative sanctions to it by SCUML.

It was also found to have committed further infractions following the compliance evaluation of June 13, 2025, for which it was slammed N2,300,000.00 (Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira) fine, payable within seven days and with instruction to ensure full compliance with the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations or face further consequences.

While it refused to pay the fine, it, as well, dishonoured SCUML’s invite to show up for compliance evaluation, resulting in the sealing of the premises.

The Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, ensures DNFBPs’ compliance with Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022 and AML/CFT regulations.

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Buhari could have long been dead if he had chosen to be treated in Nigeria -Fmr aide Adesina

Former spokesperson to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has defended the decision of late President Buhari to always seek medical attention abroad before and after he left office.

In a chat with Channels TV this morning, Adesina who served as the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Buhari said;

‘’Buhari always had his medical in London, even when he was not in office. So, it’s not about the time he was president alone. He had always had it in London and then, you have to be alive first to get certain things corrected in your country. If he had said, ‘I will do my medical in Nigeria just as a show-off or something,’ he could have long been dead because there may not be the expertise needed in the country but he needed to be alive to lead the country to a point where we will have that expertise”

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Buhari’s body arrives in Daura from Katsina for final burial

The remains of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has arrived in his hometown of Daura from Katsina ahead of his burial later today.

The body, which was flown into the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina from the United Kingdom earlier in the day, was received with full state protocol by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, and members of the late president’s family.

From the airport, the late leader’s remains were transported by a specially prepared ambulance under tight security to Daura, a journey marked by solemnity and respect, with hundreds of residents lining parts of the route to pay their final respects.

Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s Head of State from 1983 to 1985 and returned as a democratically elected president from 2015 to 2023, died in London on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

According to Islamic tradition, he will be buried later today at his private residence in Daura.

Dignitaries, traditional rulers, political leaders, and sympathizers from across Nigeria have already gathered in Daura for the Janazah prayers and final interment, with security operatives deployed across the ancient town to ensure a peaceful ceremony