By Our Reporter

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested an Abuja businessman, Innocent Ezuma, over allegations of defrauding a Ukrainian investor of more than $120m.

Ezuma, 57, was arrested at his Abuja residence on Monday, October 19, and has remained in the commission’s custody.

The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, confirmed his arrest to our correspondent when contacted on Tuesday.

However, sources said he was accused of advance fee fraud, criminal breach of trust, criminal conversion, obtaining money under false pretences, theft and money laundering.

“Ezuma allegedly obtained the dollars from the Ukrainian investor between 2007 and 2015 for mineral exploration and power projects that were never delivered.

“The funds were allegedly diverted for personal use, while investigators are examining transfers of billions of naira to companies and individuals linked to the businessman, including his children.”

Another source said the commission was expanding its investigation and seeking information from members of the public and the businessman’s former associates.

“The allegations also concern Ezuma’s earlier business dealings in Ukraine and Nigeria.

“In the mid-2000s, he allegedly persuaded two Ukrainian businessmen to finance the privatisation of Jos Steel Rolling Mill in Plateau State before taking exclusive control of the facility, stripping it of assets and abandoning hundreds of workers without wages.

“He was also accused of shooting and seriously injuring one of his business partners during a confrontation in Ukraine on April 28, 2008, before fleeing to Nigeria, ” the source said.

When contacted, Oyewale confirmed that the agency arrested the businessman at this Abuja residence on Monday and has been since been in custody.

He declined to give other details

By Our Reporter

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has described the strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, as politically motivated blackmail aimed at paralysing the government.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike claimed that the ongoing labour dispute, which has led to school closures and disrupted public education, was being driven by opposition political interests rather than genuine workers’ grievances.

The minister pointed to the political affiliations of the NLC chairman in the FCT, accusing him of harbouring partisan motives linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“It was political and so we must stop this blackmail. An ADC person who ran for election in the past area council election is the chairman of the NLC in FCT.

“What do you think he would do? To make sure that the government cripples, to use as a campaign that teachers are on strike,” he said.

Addressing accusations that the FCT Administration owes teachers unpaid entitlements and promotion arrears, Wike insisted that his administration had met its financial obligations and invested heavily in public school infrastructure.

“We are not owing. Go and see the schools today—what we have done in the schools, the rehabilitation of schools and providing the basic infrastructure.

“Labour cannot continue to blackmail us,” he said.

Expressing concern over the plight of primary and secondary school students forced to stay at home, Wike assured residents that the deadlock would soon end.

He threatened to take legal action against labour union leaders, adding that the FCT Administration’s legal advisers were finalising the suit.

“Negotiation has to end because it is the children that will suffer at the end of the day, but don’t worry, we will solve it. I will clip the wings of that NLC chairman,” he said.

Rejecting criticisms that his tough approach reflected autocratic leadership, Wike maintained that any counteraction by the FCT Administration would strictly adhere to statutory provisions and the rule of law.

The NLC FCT Council had declared an indefinite strike on October 7 over unresolved issues between the FCT Administration and the NUT

By Our Reporter

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described the strike declared by the FCT chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as politically motivated, insisting that the grievances raised by the workers were already being addressed by the administration.

Wike also announced that the FCT Administration would enforce the no work, no pay policy across the Area Councils in response to the industrial action.

The minister spoke in Abuja on Friday, October 9, 2026, after a closed-door meeting with Area Council chairmen and security operatives.

He maintained that the administration had met its obligations to local government workers and teachers, arguing that there was no justification for the strike.

Wike further faulted the process leading to the declaration of the industrial action, alleging that relevant authorities responsible for overseeing labour matters had not been consulted before the decision was taken.

“We want to state categorically and let it be known to the public that this so-called strike declaration is political, and we will not accept it. We will not accept it because there’s no basis for anybody to call for a strike. We don’t have any issue with anybody, either be it area council local education primary authority, or be it secondary schools, we have no issues,” the minister said.

He also claimed that major education stakeholders, including senior secondary school teachers and the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), had distanced themselves from the strike, maintaining that existing agreements were already being implemented.

The minister subsequently accused the FCT NLC chairman, Stephen Knabayi, of allowing political interests to influence the union’s activities.

Wike alleged that Knabayi, who contested the last Area Council elections on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was using the strike to portray the FCT Administration negatively.

The minister suggested that the industrial action could be exploited to create public dissatisfaction with the government ahead of future elections.

“And you can see his interest trying to see that FCT is in crisis, and then wants to use it as a political tool that FCT teachers are at home, and nobody is teaching students; how can you now come and vote for a government when the pupils are at home? We cannot accept that blackmail. We won’t accept it,” he said.

Wike added that labour leaders interested in partisan politics should relinquish their union leadership positions to prevent political considerations from influencing their responsibilities.

“I’ve told everybody, and I’ve told Labour, look, if you want to involve yourself in politics, you are free to, but then excuse yourself from the leadership of the union, so you don’t politicize it,” he said.

The minister also directed security agencies and relevant authorities to dismantle unauthorised commercial establishments, particularly open-air beer parlours operating along the Guzape-Asokoro axis of Abuja.

He said such businesses must be removed before they develop into security threats, although the statement did not provide further details about the enforcement arrangements.

Wike also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take action against politicians who engage in inflammatory rhetoric and personal attacks rather than issue-based campaigns.

He expressed displeasure over comments attributed to ADC chieftain Rotimi Amaechi concerning President Bola Tinubu and his supporters, questioning why the electoral commission had not publicly addressed the remarks.

The minister argued that political parties and candidates should be held accountable when their statements allegedly promote hostility or depart from the issues affecting Nigerians.

“Many Nigerians have called INEC to sanction political parties, and candidates, or some politicians who, in their campaigns, incite the public or raise matters that are not issue-based. We have been told to go on campaigns based on issues. What are you going to do about the people attacking personality or insulting individuals? Up till now, I have not heard that INEC has been able to call or draw attention of the Vice Presidential candidate of the ADC, Rotimi Amaechi, to this,” Wike said.

He also urged journalists to investigate allegations surrounding projects and expenditures undertaken during Amaechi’s tenure as governor of Rivers State.

Among the issues he raised were a reported $10 million fumigation contract awarded to a Cuban company, the state’s monorail project reportedly valued at ₦68 billion, and the sale of a gas turbine for $308 million.

Wike questioned the outcomes of the projects and called on the media to seek explanations from the former Rivers governor.

“I challenge him, and I challenge the media. Ask him the $10 million USD you paid to a Cuban company to fumigate Rivers State so there will be no mosquito bite. Up till now, mosquito has been biting Rivers people, including myself. Ask him, the ₦68 billion monorail, where is the monorail? Ask him, where is the $308 million USD with which you sold our gas turbine?” he said.

The minister’s remarks were allegations and questions directed at Amaechi; the statement did not include a response from the former governor on the issues raised.

Wike further warned that continued personal attacks against Tinubu and his supporters could provoke a strong political response, particularly in Rivers State.

He urged opposition politicians to concentrate on presenting their programmes and explaining how their proposed policies would differ from those of the current administration.

The minister said political campaigns should focus on governance, development and policy alternatives rather than insults directed at political opponents.

“If he continues along this line, it may be difficult for him to campaign in Rivers. And I want somebody to go and write it down. Because we will not take that. We will not,” he said.

He added that opposition figures should explain to voters what they intended to do differently instead of relying on personal attacks against the president and his supporters.