The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has written to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), informing the commission that the NYSC certificate being paraded by a senior staff member of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Anita Anurika Odom, was forged and not issued by the scheme.

Forty-four-year-old Mrs Odom, born Anita Anurika Obasi, is being probed by the ICPC for alleged forgery of academic and NYSC certificates.

SaharaReporters had reported how she evaded arrest from operatives of the ICPC in Owerri, Imo State last month, after failing to honour several invitations by the anti-graft agency.

Meanwhile, documents exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, revealed that the NYSC has officially written to the ICPC denying issuance of a certificate being paraded by Mrs Odom.

In a letter titled “Investigation Activities Request For Confirmation,” dated September 18, 2023, the ICPC charged the NYSC to confirm the authenticity of a document with Certificate Number A001143537 belonging to Mrs Odom, and was purportedly issued by the NYSC.

“The Commission is investigating a case of alleged violation of the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000,” the ICPC’s request letter read.

“In view of the above and pursuant to Section 28 of the cited Act, you are kindly requested to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the attached Certificate of National Service in respect of Obasi Anurika Anita.”

However, in its response dated March 18, 2024, the NYSC informed the ICPC that the document with Certificate Number A001143537 belonging to Mrs Odom, was not issued by the scheme.

The letter reads, “Our investigations reveal the following; No record of Mobilization for National Service nor deployment to Imo State in 2008;

“Call-up number does not exist;

“Certificate no. A001143537 is not in the series of certificate numbers for Certificates of National Service produced for Imo in 2008;

“In view of the foregoing, the Certificate of National Service belonging to Obasi Anurika Anita with Certificate Number: A001143537 forwarded for verification was not issued by the NYSC.”

Mrs Odom, a Level 13 civil servant with the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), a department responsible for land records in the FCT, is being prosecuted by the ICPC for allegedly forging certificates of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) NYSC to secure employment at the AGIS.

Certified true copies of the 44-year-old’s employment records showed that she was employed by the FCTA on August 17, 2009, as an Administrative Officer II, and had since become an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer.

Mrs Odom is an in-law of Chuka Odom, a former Minister of State for the FCT, through whose influence she was employed into AGIS in 2009 despite her questionable educational qualifications.

Born Anita Anurika Obasi, the woman who hails from Ebonyi State got married to Benjamin Ndubuisi Odom, brother of Chuka Odom, the former FCT Minister of State in November 2009 and immediately changed her surname from Obasi to Odom to reflect her marital status.

In December 2025, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in case number CR/717/2025, arraigned Mrs. Odom before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on four counts of fraud, involving the forgery of UNIPORT and NYSC certificates, which she allegedly used to secure employment.

The offences levelled against her by the ICPC are punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Act 2000.

However, the anti-graft agency has been unable to arraign Mrs Odom in court due to alleged interference by powerful individuals within the commission who are connected to her.

“Every effort made by the investigating officer to arraign her in court has been blocked by some senior officials in the commission,” an impeccable source privy to the matter told SaharaReporters on Sunday. “She has also refused to present herself to the commission for arraignment.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the ICPC, Okor Odey, said he was unable to get the latest details regarding her probe.

“The operations department said they would get back to me concerning the latest development on her case, but they haven’t (done that) till now,” Mr Odey said.

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Aggrieved staff of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) say they are standing by their allegations of gross misconduct and violations of existing laws against the Chairman, Mainasara Umar Ibrahim Kogo, as earlier reported on April 21, 2026.

In a fresh response, the staff accused the Chairman of attempting to misrepresent facts in his reaction to the report published the following day. 

They further claimed that his denial has raised additional concerns, alleging it has exposed new issues, including claims of forgery and document alteration allegedly carried out hours after the publication, which they say further implicate him in the controversy.

The workers also rejected his defence regarding the alleged employment of his wife at the tribunal, describing his claim that she was “erroneously employed” by others and that he promptly disowned the appointment as untrue.

Appointment of Tribunal Chairman’s Wife

“The constitutional mandate to appoint staff members of the Tribunal resides squarely with the Chairman and members of the Tribunal. In this instance, Mr. Kogo single-handedly conducted the recruitment and appointment of the sixty-six (66) staff members engaged by the Tribunal last year,” the workers stated in a statement sent to SaharaReporters.

“It is therefore inconceivable that ‘some people’ could have employed his wife without his knowledge or authority.”

They also faulted his claim that he directed his wife to resign in the same month she was employed. The aggrieved staff insisted that, contrary to this assertion, his wife, Zainab Aliyu, has remained on the tribunal’s payroll since July 1, 2025, and has continued to receive salaries through the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) from August 2025 to date.

According to them, Aliyu was appointed on Grade Level 08, Step 2, with an appointment letter dated June 16, 2025, referenced CCT/HQ/837/P/1. Her initial annual consolidated salary was put at ₦1,512,756.00, with the appointment taking effect from July 1, 2025.

Following the SaharaReporters report of April 21, 2026, the staff accused Mr Kogo of attempting to mislead the public and cover his tracks by hastily processing and approving a resignation letter dated October 14, 2025, to halt Zainab’s salary on April 22, 2026.

They alleged that the Chairman had previously declined to approve the request until after the publication. Instead of issuing a fresh approval, he was said to have backdated his endorsement to October 14, 2025, predating the Director’s request.

Records, however, indicate that the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Francis Ogar, had, on October 27, 2025, minuted the letter seeking approval for the stoppage of her salary.

The staff argued that this amounts to a material alteration of records and could constitute forgery, as the endorsement was allegedly made on a date when it did not exist.

They further noted that the Federal Character Commission’s approval for the recruitment exercise was conditional on its participation and oversight, a requirement intended to ensure equitable distribution of appointments in line with constitutional provisions. However, they claimed the Commission was not involved in the process carried out by Mr Kogo.

According to the staff, the outcome was a heavily skewed recruitment exercise in which his wife, relatives, and close associates were appointed, with more than 85 percent of those recruited said to be from his region. 

They added that Mr Kogo has not denied these allegations, nor responded to claims that he vowed no individual from his region would face sanctions during his tenure, whether administratively or judicially.

Controversial Appointment Of Finance Director Under EFCC Probe

On the controversial appointment of Ogar as Director of Finance and Accounts despite an ongoing probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Kogo cited the constitutional principle of presumption of innocence.

“Under section 36… there is presumption of innocence. EFCC is only investigating him,” Mr. Kogo said in response to the controversy.

“By the time it reaches the level of him being arraigned… automatically I will sack him.”

However, citing an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) report dated April 28, 2025, the workers said it indicates there is sufficient evidence to support charges of conspiracy, abuse of office, cheating, diversion of funds, and money laundering against Mr Ogar, suggesting he was involved in financial transactions he knew to be unlawful.

They argued that, in light of these findings, his appointment to such a sensitive role within an anti-corruption tribunal is both inappropriate and difficult to justify.

Alleged Missing Files 

Addressing the claim that Mr Kogo was unaware of an internal memorandum issued by the Office of the Chief Registrar on February 24, 2026, titled “State of Emergency on Missing or Untraceable Official Files,” the staff dismissed the assertion as untenable and untrue.

They argued that, under established administrative procedures, a memorandum of such significance could not have been issued without the Chairman’s prior knowledge and approval. As such, they maintained that the document must have been released with his authorisation, making his claim of ignorance implausible.

‘Contract Irregularities’

Responding to allegations of contract irregularities and breaches of financial regulations, the staff said Mr Kogo did not directly refute the claims but instead argued that the tribunal had not received funds for capital projects. They described this assertion as false.

“The Tribunal received ₦54 million out of the ₦265 million appropriated for its 2025 capital projects. Evidence indicates that these funds were misappropriated under the guise of procuring non-existent vehicles and for other personal uses,” they stated.

‘Illegal Conversion Of Official Vehicles’

The staff further alleged that official vehicles retrieved from retired directors for reassignment have been removed from the Tribunal’s premises and are now in the Chairman’s personal custody without lawful authorisation, describing this as a clear abuse of office.

Alleged Retention Of Employment At NCCE

The staff further noted that Mr Kogo has not addressed claims that, as of October 20, 2025, he remained on the payroll of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) after obtaining a leave of absence to take up his role at the tribunal. They said this raises serious questions about adherence to public service rules on dual appointments and potential conflicts of interest.

Alleged Alteration of Court Proceedings

The staff clarified that, contrary to the Chairman’s claim, alterations are not made after proceedings but take place during proceedings in open court.

“This distinction is critical. However, since the party directly affected has chosen to challenge the substantive outcome of the ruling, we are constrained from making further pronouncements on the merits of the initial decision,” they stated.

Contrary to the Chairman’s claims, the staff maintained that no reforms have been implemented under his administration and that no bill is presently before the National Assembly.

“Retirement benefits remain unpaid, no bill exists to rename the Tribunal as the Code of Conduct and Anti-Corruption Court, and the salary adjustments he referenced were initiated by his predecessor,” they said.

“The lack of integrity in the manner in which Mainasara Kogo runs the Code of Conduct Tribunal is incompatible with the expectations of the head of an anti-corruption tribunal.

“We stand by our allegations and reiterate our recommendation that he be removed forthwith to protect the integrity of the Tribunal and maintain public trust.”

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No fewer than 10 opposition political parties in Nigeria, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Accord Party (AP), National Democratic Congress (ADC), have accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to impose a one-party state on Nigerians, warning that such a move poses an “existential threat” to the country’s democracy.

This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by chairmen of the participating opposition parties and issued at the end of a National Summit of opposition parties held on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The parties, in what they tagged “Ibadan Declaration,” said Nigeria is under the “stranglehold of an oppressive and anti-democratic APC,” insisting that urgent and collective action is needed to “rescue the nation” and its over 200 million citizens.

The opposition parties vowed to resist alleged plots by the APC to foist a one-party system on Nigeria, stressing their commitment to preserving multi-party democracy.

They further accused the ruling party of making moves to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections but declared that opposition parties would field candidates and actively contest all positions.

In a significant political move, the opposition bloc revealed plans to unite behind a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, saying such a strategy was necessary to challenge the ruling party and “rescue” Nigerians from hardship.

The parties also passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, accusing him of bias and partisanship in favour of the APC.

According to the communiqué, Amupitan should not be allowed to conduct the 2027 general elections, as his continued stay in office could “trigger widespread crisis” due to the alleged loss of public trust in his neutrality.

The opposition parties also called on the National Assembly to urgently review the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that certain provisions undermine the integrity of elections and contradict constitutional principles.

They further demanded the immediate release of politicians allegedly detained or harassed over bailable offences, insisting that such actions violate democratic rights and political inclusivity.

In addition, the opposition parties criticised recent guidelines issued by INEC, describing them as deliberate obstacles designed to disadvantage opposition parties. 

They called for an extension of the deadline for party primaries to the end of July 2026.

Despite their grievances, the parties commended Nigerians for their resilience and willingness to support efforts aimed at ending what they termed “state capture.”

They also expressed appreciation to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the people of the state for hosting what they described as an “epochal” gathering.

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Taiwo ‘Esepo’ Agbaje defeated Tosin ‘Sojar Boy’ Osaigbovo by unanimous decision on Sunday to win the WBA Africa lightweight title.

The match took place at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, and was promoted by De Lad’s Boxing and sanctioned by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control.

Agbaje showed resilience across the rounds, matching Osaigbovo punch for punch in a fight that drew loud reactions from spectators.

Photo: Fight Gist Media
Taiwo ‘Esepo’ Agbaje (left) celebrates after being declared winner of the WBA Africa lightweight title fight in Lagos. Photo: Fight Gist Media
After 10 rounds of action, the judges ruled in favour of Agbaje, crowning him the new WBA Africa lightweight champion.

Before the fight, Osaigbovo had exuded confidence about his chances, while Agbaje had also fired warnings, setting the stage for an intense showdown.

The victory marks a significant milestone in Agbaje’s career as he claims the continental title in the lightweight division.

Agbaje, an undefeated Nigerian lightweight, had engaged in tense verbal exchanges with Osaigbovo ahead of the bout, setting the tone for a highly anticipated showdown.

The 10-round contest featured two unbeaten fighters, with Agbaje entering with an 18-0 record and 13 knockouts, while Osaigbovo also came in undefeated with 12 wins and eight knockouts.

Ahead of the fight, Agbaje had vowed to “expose” his opponent, dismissing him as “just a boxer,” while Osaigbovo insisted victory was “1000 per cent sure,” adding further intrigue to the contest.

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INEC, in an updated upload on its official website, and following further checks with the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, and the commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Etta-Messi, on Sunday, confirmed the electoral body’s decision.

On its website, beneath the prominently displayed name of the party and its logo, INEC listed Gabam as National Chairman, while Olu Agunloye was named National Secretary.

Other NWC members listed on the website include National Treasurer, Hajia Maggie Mariam, and National Legal Adviser, Aderemi Abimbola.

INEC, with a bold inscription, states, “By Court Order” in front of the names of members of the executive.

The development follows a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which affirmed Gabam as the authentic national chairman of the party.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on March 27, 2026, a three-member panel of justices ruled on an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/126/2026, filed by an aggrieved party member, Fayemi Babatunde.

The party, however, rejected Gabam’s recognition by INEC, describing the move as unconstitutional and an intrusion into its internal affairs.

The SDP faulted the commission’s action, insisting that no valid court order was served on the party, as it warned INEC against interfering in its affairs.

The National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, Rufus Aiyenigba, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, accused the electoral umpire of acting outside its constitutional bounds and alleged foul play in the recognition of Gabam.

He said, “We see it as a contempt of the Supreme Court by INEC. That is unconstitutional, illegal and unnecessary interference in the affairs of the party.

“Most importantly, there is no court order that emanated from anywhere. It is fictitious because no paper was served on us. We are challenging them to produce the order.

“I can tell you that it is a back-door deal by some elements to get that. But we are tackling it head-on. It will certainly be addressed. There is nothing to worry about.

“The funny thing here is that the name of our validly elected chairman, whose election was monitored by INEC itself, was substituted with that of an expelled member of the party.

“I think you can also see the foul play involved in this arrangement. Anyway, it wasn’t as if the entire structure was dissolved. All the names of the excos are intact except for Prof Sadiq Gombe, who was removed.”

While noting that the broader party structure remained intact, except for the removal of Prof Gombe, the SDP questioned the practicality of the arrangement, arguing that the individual being imposed could not function in isolation.

Aiyenigba reiterated that Gabam was no longer a member of the party and therefore could not legally occupy the position.

“Again, the man they are trying to bring cannot operate as a sole administrator or in a vacuum. It will be a difficult one for him. In the face of the law, Gabam is no longer a member of the SDP.

“So, INEC cannot impose its decision on us. After all, the law says political parties are in charge of their internal affairs. It is just one of those shenanigans and acts of impunity plaguing the administrators of our national affairs,” he stated.

In the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/126/2026, the appellant challenged the validity of the Ekiti State governorship primary, arguing that the party leadership that conducted the exercise lacked the legitimacy and legal authority to constitute an electoral committee.

The appellant specifically faulted the NWC led by Gombe, describing it as illegally constituted and in violation of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

He also sought an order restraining INEC from recognising candidates produced by the disputed leadership.

The case was initially dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 19, 2026, with Justice Emeka Nwite affirming Gombe as the party’s authentic chairman and upholding the legality of the party’s processes.

However, following the appeal lodged before it, the appellate court partially overturned the lower court’s decision, holding that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to make pronouncements on the SDP leadership tussle.

Delivering its judgment, the three-member panel of justices comprising Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, Justices Abba Mohammed and Oyejoju Oyewumi, ruled that any findings made without jurisdiction were null and void.

“The appeal succeeds in part,” the court held, affirming only that the appellant was not an aspirant in the disputed primary.

The court subsequently set aside the Federal High Court’s pronouncement recognising Gombe as the authentic leader of the party, as well as its validation of the November 8, 2025, primary election.

Despite nullifying those aspects, the appellate court relied on INEC’s monitoring report (Exhibit INEC 3), which confirmed that the primary election was conducted with valid delegates and produced a winner, Mr Bankole Oludele.

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The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that the expansion of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to a production capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day will generate employment for no fewer than 95,000 skilled workers at peak construction.

According to a statement by the firm, Dangote disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos during his induction as an honorary fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, describing the project as a major milestone in Nigeria’s industrial transformation.

According to him, the expansion underscores the group’s continued commitment to engineering excellence, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.

“This award is particularly meaningful because it recognises what we are doing in the industry, especially our commitment to employing engineers and skilled professionals. At the peak of construction for this expansion, we expect to have about 95,000 skilled workers on site, and we will continue to grow,” Dangote said.

Upon completion, Dangote said the expanded refinery will surpass the Jamnagar refinery in India to become the largest refinery in the world, significantly strengthening Nigeria’s refining capacity.

Dangote noted that the project would rely heavily on Nigerian expertise, creating substantial opportunities for engineers, technicians, artisans, and other skilled professionals. He added that the expansion reflects the group’s long-term vision for industrialisation in Nigeria and across Africa.

Beyond employment generation, the refinery said the expansion is expected to stimulate local manufacturing, enhance technology transfer, and deepen Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.

It will also improve fuel security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, and deliver significant foreign exchange savings for the Nigerian economy.

“The scale of this expansion reflects our confidence in Nigerian capacity and our belief that Africa has the ability to build world-class infrastructure that meets global standards,” Dangote stated.

In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, Prof Rahamon Bello, described the honour as well-deserved, noting that Dangote’s impact transcends physical infrastructure.

“What makes this recognition fitting is not only what has been built but also what has been inspired. Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s journey continues to motivate a new generation of engineers, entrepreneurs, and innovators to think boldly, act decisively, and believe in the immense possibilities within our continent,” Bello said.

From the current 650,000 bpd, Dangote plans to scale up the refinery in three years.

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Published

23 hours ago

 on

April 25, 2026

A portrait of Shade Okoya standing next to a gold-trimmed mirror, showing her reflection and the detail of her silver choker and drop earrings. Photo Credit: Shade Okoya/Instagram

We knew that yellow is a very good, sweet colour, but what we did not know is that yellow lace on Shade Okoya is just the perfect shade of sunshine you need to brighten up your Saturday. The businesswoman, philanthropist, and style icon marks her 49th birthday today, and she has chosen to celebrate it in the most beautiful way — a full photoshoot, dressed to the nines, looking every bit like a woman who knows exactly who she is and what she deserves.

And the look? It is a lot of good things at once.

Shade steps out in a floor-length, long-sleeved fitted gown in a rich mustard-gold fabric covered entirely in beadwork and embellishment. The beading runs across the bodice in curved and linear geometric patterns, giving the dress a structured, considered quality. At the hip, a fringe peplum detail adds movement and dimension to what is otherwise a slim, column silhouette that narrows all the way to the floor. The sleeves are sheer with the same beading running through them from shoulder to wrist, and the neckline sits in a modest V that keeps the whole look elegant.

hade Okoya showcases the movement of her fringe-peplum Tubobereni gown. Her precise beauty look, featuring defined lashes and a neutral lip, was created by Aishat Kashaam (Tenny Coco). Photo Credit: Shade Okoya/Instagram

Her gele is tall, sculptural, and tied in the same golden yellow fabric, gathered and folded into a full, structured shape with a rosette detail at the front. It is the finishing touch that pulls the entire look into a complete, unified picture. She keeps her jewellery in silver, a layered choker and drop earrings, a deliberate contrast that stops the look from being overwhelmed by all that gold. Her shoes are pointed-toe satin heels in a matching yellow with an embellished detail at the toe, and her makeup is full and precise, with defined lashes and a clean, neutral lip.

Business mogul Shade Okoya celebrates her 49th birthday in a custom mustard gold beaded gown by Tubobereni. The look features geometric beading and a sculptural gele by Taiwo’s Touch, captured in an opulent interior by Felix Crown. Photo Credit: Shade Okoya/Instagram

Yellow was clearly the right call. From the gown to the gele to the shoes, Shade Okoya committed to the colour completely and the result speaks for itself.

See more photos below

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