IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Founder of the defunct Diamond Bank Plc, Pascal Dozie, is dead. He died on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at the age of 85. The financial guru died a day before his 86th birthday. Born on April 9, 1939 in Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, Dozie founded Diamond Bank before its merger with Access Bank.

In a statement, President Bola Tinubu extended his heartfelt condolences to the Dozie family, the business community, and all Nigerians on the passing of the elder statesman, entrepreneur, and banker. The president celebrated Dozie’s vision and contributions to Nigeria’s economic architecture, describing them as an enduring legacy.

“As the founder of Diamond Bank and the pioneer Chairman of MTN Nigeria, he was at the forefront of two of the most transformative sectors in Nigeria’s development journey: banking and telecommunications,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said. Tinubu lauded Dozie as “a rare breed business leader whose wisdom, humility, and pioneering efforts laid a foundation upon which many continue to build. His passing is a profound loss to the private sector and Nigeria”.

The president extended his condolences to his wife, children, and extended family. He called upon the Nigerian private sector to honour Chief Dozie’s memory by upholding the values of integrity, innovation, and nation-building, for which he was renowned.

“Chief Dozie, a steadfast believer in Nigeria’s vast potential, was pivotal in shaping the financial services industry and expanding access to mobile connectivity nationwide. His influential leadership extended well beyond corporate boardrooms. 

The Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed recent claims by embattled former party chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, regarding the leadership of the caucus, calling his statements “laughable, naive, and misleading.” The backlash follows Abure’s announcement of the purported removal of Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as Leader of the LP Caucus, in the wake of the Supreme Court's judgment which affirmed the legitimacy of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.

In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday and signed by Hon. Ogene himself, the caucus made it clear that the role of Caucus Leader is not one assigned by any party official, but rather elected by fellow lawmakers based on trust and leadership merit. “Leadership of the caucus is determined by members, not by appointment,” the statement said. “Hon. Afam Victor Ogene was duly elected on May 6, 2023, by a majority of 21 out of 31 voting members from the 10th Assembly Labour Party caucus.”

The statement emphasized that only members of the caucus who elected Ogene have the authority to remove him, rejecting any external interference as “an authoritarian overreach by an individual still grappling with unresolved allegations of malfeasance.” Addressing Abure’s alleged motivations, the caucus noted that his recent move may be in retaliation for the group’s support of the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated his tenure.

“If this is Abure’s response to our support for a judicial verdict affirming the end of his tenure, then he is out of touch with reality,” the statement added. “His style of leadership was characterized by forgery, financial impropriety, and desperate power grabs that tarnished the party’s image nationwide.”

The caucus further alleged that Abure has yet to account for funds raised during the 2023 general elections and various off-cycle polls, accusing him of trying to gain access to House Caucus funds for personal use. “No responsible arm of the party will entrust him with even a kobo,” the statement said. “The LP needs a clean break from an integrity-deficient past and must move forward with transparency and unity.”

The statement comes ahead of a crucial NEC and Stakeholders meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, convened by LP National Leader Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti. 

The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to urgently tackle the escalating violence in Otukpo, Benue State.

In a letter signed by Executive Secretary Ikpa Isaac, CESJET cited a series of killings, kidnappings, and armed robberies—including the recent murder of Chief Onche Akatu and the abduction of 14 passengers—as evidence of growing insecurity.

The group described the police presence in the area as inadequate and warned that continued violence is crippling local communities and economic activities. 

Police on Monday dispersed peaceful protesters with tear gas in the Maitama area of Abuja, as citizens rallied against economic hardship, repression, and alleged abuse of the Cybercrime Act.

The protest, organized by the Take-It-Back Movement in collaboration with civil society groups, coincided with the National Police Day celebration at Eagle Square. Security forces had earlier blocked access to the Three Arms Zone, where top police officials were gathered for the event.

Demonstrators, including activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, carried placards reading “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” accusing the Bola Tinubu administration of rising authoritarianism.

Take-It-Back National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, cited inflation, insecurity, and the emergency declaration in Rivers State as key grievances.

As of press time, there were no reports of injuries or arrests.

Four persons who were previously detained in connection with the fire incident at the Rivers State House of Assembly have raised fresh allegations, claiming they are being pressured to alter their original statements to implicate Edison Ehie, the Chief of Staff to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

They are Chime Ezebalike, Kenneth Kpasa, Oladele Lukman, and MacPherson Olumini who were in November last year acquitted of the charges after about six months in Kuje Correctional Facility. At a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, Ezebalike said they were recently contacted by a prominent PDP leader in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to revise their narrative.

Three of the four acquitted suspects consented to appear on camera during the press briefing. According to them, the request was linked to a wider political scheme, allegedly aimed at corroborating claims made in a press briefing by former Head of Service, George Nwaeke, in Abuja. “We were asked to rewrite our story and falsely name Edison Ehie as the mastermind of the Assembly fire. This is after everything we have been through. We cannot be part of any nefarious plot, especially not after the trauma we endured,” he said.

They said the crime for which they were framed and now want them to rope Edison include the Assembly fire, the gruesome murder of Bako Angbashim, a DPO in the Ahaoda Area, and an alleged assassination attempt on the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule. 

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Sweden, focusing on trade, sustainable development, gender equality, and cultural exchange.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, made this known during the visit of Her Royal Highness Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, to the ministry on Monday in Abuja. He said the visit was part of ongoing high-level engagements aimed at expanding cooperation in key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, peacekeeping, and investment.

Tuggar recalled recent diplomatic exchanges, including Vice President Kashim Shettima’s visit to Sweden in October 2024, as a sign of growing ties.

Crown Princess Victoria appreciated Nigeria’s warm reception and reaffirmed Sweden’s commitment to furthering cooperation across multiple sectors. Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, Andreas Carisson, also highlighted ongoing partnerships in ICT and infrastructure, noting that Sweden and Nigeria will mark 65 years of diplomatic relations next year.

The visit included meetings with top Nigerian officials and the official launch of the Swedish Trade Office in Lagos.