A group of lawyers under the umbrella of Egbe Amofin Oodua has called for the postponement of the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, citing concerns over the transparency, fairness and credibility of the electoral process.

The group said delaying the election would provide sufficient time to implement key electoral reforms agreed upon by stakeholders, which it believes are necessary to guarantee a credible poll.

Addressing journalists in Ibadan, Chairman of the Governing Council of Egbe Amofin Oodua, Isiaka Olagunju (SAN), alleged that the NBA leadership failed to honour an earlier agreement with presidential candidates and other stakeholders to postpone the election and introduce reforms.

According to him, one of the major proposals was the adoption of National Identification Number (NIN)-linked phone numbers for voter authentication instead of the current email-based verification system, which he claimed had been prone to manipulation in previous elections.

Olagunju expressed disappointment that the association opted to proceed with the election despite objections from several stakeholders, arguing that the decision could undermine confidence in the electoral process.

He maintained that complaints over the integrity of the NBA’s electronic voting system had persisted for years, citing alleged cases of email manipulation, voter profile irregularities and challenges with one-time passwords.

The senior lawyer also accused the NBA leadership of failing to maintain neutrality, alleging that some presidential aspirants had received preferential treatment during the campaign.

He further disclosed that Egbe Amofin Oodua had earlier challenged the composition of the NBA Electoral Committee in court, contending that its formation did not comply with the association’s constitution.

While acknowledging the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation in efforts to resolve the dispute, Olagunju lamented that the agreed reforms had yet to be implemented.

He urged the NBA to postpone the election, adopt NIN-based voter verification, carry out adequate voter sensitisation and implement broader electoral reforms before conducting the poll.

According to him, the campaign is not aimed at promoting any candidate but at safeguarding the credibility and integrity of the Nigerian Bar Association’s electoral process for future generations.

The group warned that proceeding with the election without addressing the concerns raised could further weaken members’ confidence in the association’s internal democratic process.

Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has been bereaved following the death of his mother, Mrs. Mary Amaechi.

The family announced in a statement released by the Rotimi Amaechi Media Office on Thursday that the family matriarch passed away peacefully at the age of 89.

Describing her as a devout Christian and respected community leader, the family said Mary Amaechi lived a life marked by faith, compassion, unity and selfless service.

According to the statement, she was a pillar of strength within her family and was widely admired for her commitment to peace and her contributions to her community.

The family noted that she would be remembered for her kindness, warmth and unwavering support for those around her.

Amaechi and members of his family also expressed gratitude to friends, associates and well-wishers for the outpouring of sympathy and prayers following her passing.

They said details of her funeral arrangements would be announced at a later date while requesting continued prayers and support during the period of mourning.

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Bola Tinubu administration of attempting to conceal the truth surrounding the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal while diverting attention to the political opposition.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku alleged that the recent arrest of the self-acclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, was part of a broader plan to shift blame instead of exposing those responsible for the controversy.

According to the former vice president, the real issue extends beyond allegations against Adeyemi and centres on how an organisation now described by the Presidency as non-existent allegedly gained access to top government institutions, secured diplomatic recognition, recruited over 300 personnel, operated from a national secretariat and reportedly received public funds, including an alleged ₦1.3 billion allocation in the 2026 budget.

He argued that such activities could not have taken place without the involvement or negligence of government officials.

Atiku also questioned the inclusion of ₦6.44 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act for a “Special Presidential Support Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers,” despite Nigeria’s elimination from the qualification race in November 2025.

He described the allocation as evidence of irregularities in the budgeting process, asking why funds were appropriated for a competition the country had already exited before the budget was prepared.

The former vice president further claimed that the PFIPC controversy had damaged Nigeria’s international reputation and warned against what he described as attempts to manipulate investigations to protect individuals within the government.

He noted that Adeyemi has accused senior government officials, including the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, of involvement through alleged bribery payments, while stressing that the claims remain allegations that require an independent investigation.

Atiku rejected the investigation ordered by President Tinubu and assigned to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), arguing that it lacked credibility because officials within the administration had already been linked to the matter.

He called on the National Assembly to establish an independent bipartisan panel to investigate every aspect of the PFIPC scandal and urged the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, the diplomatic community and the public to resist any attempt to undermine transparency or accountability.

A High Court sitting in Makurdi has restrained the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from altering or substituting the names of candidates who emerged victorious in the party’s primaries for the forthcoming Benue State local government elections.

The order followed a suit instituted by aggrieved members of the APC, who accused the party of making moves to replace duly elected candidates with other aspirants after the conclusion of the primaries.

In its ruling, the court directed all parties to preserve the existing list of successful candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The court also cautioned against taking any action capable of rendering the case ineffective or interfering with the administration of justice.

Details shortly…

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has disclosed that Mary Habila, the nurse who died at a guest house within his residence in Uburu, Ebonyi State, complained of a nosebleed during a phone conversation with her boyfriend on the night before she was found dead.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, Umahi described the deceased as “like a daughter” and insisted that a forensic autopsy was necessary to establish the actual cause of her death before her body is released for burial.

The minister clarified that Habila was a nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, and not a physiotherapist as previously reported.

According to Umahi, Habila informed her boyfriend that she was bleeding from the nose.

He said the boyfriend advised her to notify her supervisor, after which she reportedly told him the bleeding had stopped.

Umahi explained that when the boyfriend attempted to end the call so she could rest, Habila pleaded with him to remain on the line.

However, after the call ended, he called back a few minutes later but received no response.

He said concern grew the following morning after Habila could not be reached by colleagues.

They eventually forced open the door to her room and found her lifeless, with the water tap reportedly still running.

The minister said he had directed his lawyers to formally request a forensic autopsy and appealed to Habila’s family to consent to the procedure, despite their reported cultural objections.

Umahi also revealed that he had informed the Inspector-General of Police about the incident and requested that the investigation be transferred to Abuja to ensure transparency.

He further claimed that Habila had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed medical condition at the Turkish Hospital in Abuja, with medical expenses reportedly paid by his family, adding that relevant hospital records were available.

Expressing concern over public reactions to the incident, Umahi accused some individuals of politicising the matter and spreading false information online.

He warned that his legal team would pursue cyberbullying cases against those he believes are making defamatory claims.

Mary Habila died on June 27 under circumstances that remain under police investigation, with authorities insisting that a forensic autopsy is essential to determine the exact cause of death.