Politics

House Committee On Publlic Petitions Summons CCEECC, Ministry Of Transport And Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

Published

1 year ago

November 27, 2024

There is a petition by Benson Olugbo and Company against Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Chang’an University, Xi’an, China, and Chinese Police, for gross human rights violation and unlawful deportation of eight (8) Nigerian students from China.

According to the petitioner, the Honourable Minister of Transport has stated in a meeting, that everything possible should be done to ensure the affected students graduate with their mates by June, 2024, and do not suffer further hardship as a result of their deportation from China. The Honourable Minister also emphasized that the five students who had completed their course work successfully, with only the final project pending, must be accorded unfetterd access to submit and defend their project online for possible graduation by June, 2024.

For the only student with deficiency in internship grade and project defense, the Minister emphasized the need for CCECC to arrange for the student to do his internship in CCECC and the report sent to Chang’an University, Xi’an for grading, prelude to his online project submission and defense, for possible graduation in June, 2024. The Minister also stated that CCECC should facilitate the online examination for the two students with deficiencies in some courses, as well as online project submission and defense for possible graduation in June, 2024.

The Honourable Minister also directed that the Parmanent Secretary, Minister of Transport should write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request for a statu report in respect to two detained students in China, namely: Muhammad Sani Auwal (Sani), Male, Nigerian, Undergradudate, Major in Rail Transportation, 2020 cohort. And Chimeka Chinyere (Chinyere) Male, Nigerian, Undergraudate, Major in Civil Engineering, 202 cohort. The Minister requested regular updates on the status of the detained students. He also directed the Permanent Secretary, Minister of Transport to write to the Nigerian Embassy in China, through the Minisrty of Foreign Affairs and request for the results of the drug tests carried out on the students while in China.

The Minister reiterated that the issue of visa cancellation can only be further discussed when the allegation of drug abuse against the students is resolved. He directed CCECC to pay the withheld and continue paying monthly stipends of the students in local currency until they graduate, to enable them continue with seamless project preparation.

The Minister directed that a WhatsApp platform be published to accommodate parents/students/CCECC and Minister of Transport staff to coordinate and monitor responses in compliance with resolutions passed during 3rd April, 2024 meeting at the Minister of Transport’s conference room.

According to the petitioner, the deported students were allowed to write the outstanding examinations online, complete their internships and defend their projects. Five of the students successfully graduated on Saturday, 22nd June, 2024, while the remaining three have some outstanding examinations and will hopefully graduate during the next academic session. The students wers also paid their outstanding allowances as directed by the Honourable Minister of Transport.

However, the two students from the same cohort noted above (Sani and Chinyere) are still detained in China and under investigation for alleged crime of money laundering. And the Nigerian embassy in Beijing has been granted access to them.

However, due to the circumstances surrounding this case, the petitioner pleaded with the Committee to intervene and seek for the return of the students to Nigeria, as was the case with their counterparts who were deported to Nigeria.

Base on the above, the petitioner requested for the intervention of the Committee on the following demands on behalf of the victims:

That the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian embassy in Beijing, should pursue a diplomatic solution to this issue, as the students have been in China since 2019, and their status as students is currently in jeopardy due to the allegations levelled against them.

Secondly, there is need to ascertain the status of the students, as most of their colleagues have graduated, and their academic pursuits are currently in limbo.

Thirdly, that both CCECC and Chang’an University, Xi’an should ensure that the students graduate from their studies, as was done with their classmates.

The petitioner concluded in pleading with the Committee for quick intervention in the cause of the victims, because of the current uncertainty surrounding their academic pursuits.

Federal Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

Federal Ministry Of Transport, Nigeria

Politics

Olusegun Obasanjo’s Daughter Declares For Ogun Governorship, Joins APC

Published

1 hour ago

February 8, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared her intention to contest the 2027 governorship election in Ogun State under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

She made the declaration during an interview with Nigerian football legend Segun Odegbami on 103.7FM Eagle7 Sports, on Saturday.

The former commissioner ruled out a return to the Senate, stating that her focus is firmly on the governorship race.

“So moving ahead, I’m not going to be Commissioner. Like I said, I’m not even going back to the same party because I think that’s old and I don’t see the use of it. And I’m not going to go back to the Senate,” she said.

“Like the American would say, there’s no need. And this is what I told my associates, when this all started. I said, the only thing I’ll come back to do is the governorship.

“And we have started that journey. We are going to see it through. And so that’s the journey I’m on. And we are very serious about it. I mean we are very dedicated to it.”

The politician also confirmed that she recently joined the APC, explaining that her return to active politics followed persistent calls from supporters.

“Like I told you, a group of people who I did not bring together, have been working, I think, for two years now. And then they started talking to me about a year ago, saying, ‘Look, we think you are the best candidate. We want you back,’” she added.

Her declaration sets the stage for what may become a keenly contested governorship race in Ogun State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Politics

Nyesom Wike wishes de@th on any politician supporting ‘’betrayers’

Published

10 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

FCT Minister and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike, has said that any senator, House of Representatives Member, Minister, or governor who supports betrayers will suffer betrayal in their lives and that such person will join their creator when they experience their own betrayal.

Wike who is currently in a running battle with his godson and incumbent governor of Rivers state, Sim Fubara, said this while speaking at a public function in the state today February 6.

Speaking to the crowd at the public function, Wike said

‘’Wether you are a Senator, House of Reps member, a Minister or Governor, and you support betrayers, people will continue to betray you in life. You see people who betray and support them, betrayal is your portion! Betrayal is your portion! and that day you will not have mouth to say anything and there you will collapse and there you will go and they will announce such person has died because that is the seed you have planted because whatever you plant, you reap and so since you are sowing betrayal, betrayal will always follow you.

Watch! Every governor who is doing his second term and has ambition to put a successor and is supporting betrayals, you will never survive it. Betrayal will follow you. From the day your successor comes in. My own took so many months, your own will start immediately the person has been inaugurated. That is what the gods of the land have told me to tell all of you’’

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUdaCp1jD01/?igsh=MWVnZXoyaGNmOGJ5dA==

Politics

How Buhari shocked me 6 months into his administration – Oyegun

Published

15 hours ago

February 7, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.

Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.

He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.

The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.

“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.

“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.

“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?

“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.