An Imo State-based developer, Engr. Bernard Anyanwu Nzerem has cried out following the demolition of his multi-billion-naira shopping mall at Naze junction in Owerri North local government area, Imo State, by officials of the State Government.

The demolished commercial complex, according to him, is valued at N2.2 billion.

Speaking to journalists in Owerri, Nzerem claimed that the demolition was unlawful, maintaining that he had valid documents to back up his claim.

He alleged the structure was demolished by Ikenna Elezianya the Commissioner in charge of the ministry of science, technology and engineering, along with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri without prior information.

Nzerem told journalists that he is appealing to the appropriate quarters not to allow injustice to prevail and asked for adequate compensation for the loss of what he said was his lifetime investment.

The developer recounted the trauma he passed through upon discovering that his entire investment had been reduced to rubble during his absence from the State.

The demolished structures, according to him, include a modern business plaza and a shopping mall at No. 1 Naze/Federal Polytechnic Junction, off Owerri/Aba Road, with full approval by relevant authorities.

He narrated that the land was lawfully acquired in 2010 from MiTech Nigeria Limited, a company which was formerly in possession of the land having bought it in 1982 from the native owners, Naze community.

Engr Nzerem added that all documents were duly signed and endorsed by the elders and representatives of the seven clans of Naze but regretted that some of the elders who signed the documents are now late.

He revealed that all necessary documents, such as the Certificate of Occupancy, Power of Attorney, and others were submitted to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Cosmos Iwu, the Office of the Commissioner of Police, the Governor’s Office, and others.

“Despite forwarding these official documents for proper verification and intervention, no action was taken to prevent the demolition,” he lamented.

The developer expressed shock that all efforts he made could not yield any result as the structures were reduced to dust.

He alleged that they two officials stormed his property with armed police officers and unidentified youths, using heavy duty equipment to bring down the structures while he was away in Lagos attending a professional training programme.

He described the incident as a deliberate act of injustice, stressing that the demolished property posed no obstruction and was not erected  on any government designated land.

Nzerem hinted that the Commissioner for Lands, Enyinna Onuegbu, had earlier reviewed and validated the authenticity of his documents.

He also disclosed that five of his staff members, including a commercial driver, were arrested and detained for five days at Tiger Base during the operation.

The developer revealed that over 60 Imo youths who earned their livelihoods from the shopping plaza were now jobless, coupled with the trauma they were currently passing through.

“The situation has thrown me into a dark place and it’s too difficult to cope with the reality of losing everything I have worked for over 15 years,” he said.

Nzerem accused the two officials of indulging in land grabbing and abuse of power, alleging that their motives were rooted in personal interests rather than public good.

He appealed to the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to urgently intervene and ensure he received adequate compensation.

The developer also urged the Governor to investigate the matter thoroughly and take swift action to correct what he termed as sheer injustice.

Reacting when contacted, the commissioner for science, technology and engineering clarified that the action was carried out in line with directives from the governor.

He said that the demolition was part of the State Government’s plan to boost the State transportation system by establishing three Central Bus Terminals in Owerri, which he said captured the particular land in question.

“Yes, the land in question is government property, and the structures erected on it were illegal.

“Nzerem is parading outdated land documents, while the current and official layout designates the area solely for government use,” the commissioner said.

He explained that the Surveyor General of State, Bob Odidika Uzodinma, along with the Ministry of Lands, had duly visited the site and confirmed the structures were unlawfully built.

Elezianya dismissed the accusations levelled against him as unfounded, describing it as defamatory in nature.

“Instead of resorting to media attacks, Nzerem should direct his energy toward seeking compensation from the Governor, who has the authority to address such matters,” he added.

The Commissioner further used the moment and advised media practitioners to always embrace investigative journalism, rather than stirring unnecessary controversies, stressing that public interest should play central role in their reportage.

Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former president and military leader, died on Sunday. He left an indelible mark through his anti-corruption stance, controversial policies, and transformative initiatives.

Here are 50 astonishing facts about his remarkable life and legacy.

1. Born in Daura: Muhammadu Buhari was born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria, to a Muslim Fulani family.

2. Twenty-Third Child: He was the 23rd child of Mallam Hardo Adamu, a Fulani chieftain, and his mother, Zulaihat.

3. Named After a Scholar: His name honours Muhammad al-Bukhari, a renowned 9th-century Islamic scholar.

4. Orphaned Early: Buhari’s father died when he was four, leaving him under the guardianship of Waziri Alhassan.

5. Cattle Rearing: As a child, Buhari helped rear cattle while attending Qur’anic school in Daura.

6. Scholarship to UK: In 1960, he won a scholarship from Elder Dempster Lines for a summer visit to the United Kingdom.

7. Headboy in School: He served as house captain and headboy during his secondary education at Katsina Provincial Secondary School.

8. Military Ambition: Inspired by junior officer Hassan Katsina, Buhari joined the Nigerian military instead of pursuing a medical degree.

9. Young Cadet: At 19, he was among 70 boys selected for the Nigerian Military Training College in 1962.

10. Trained in England: Buhari underwent officer cadet training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, in 1962–1963.

11. Commissioned Young: He was commissioned as a second lieutenant at age 20 in January 1963.

12. Nigerian Civil War: Buhari served in the 1st Division during the Nigerian Civil War, participating in key battles in Ogoja and Nsukka.

13. Heavy Casualties: His unit suffered significant losses protecting food supply routes during the war’s Awka sector operations.

14. 1975 Coup: Buhari was part of the coup that brought General Murtala Mohammed to power in 1975.

15. Governor at 32: He became the first Governor of Borno State in 1976 at age 32 after the North-Eastern State split.

16. Petroleum Commissioner: Appointed Federal Commissioner for Petroleum in 1976, he oversaw major infrastructure investments.

17. NNPC Chairman: Buhari was the first chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from 1977 to 1978.

18. US Army War College: He earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1980.

19. 1983 Coup Leader: Buhari led the military coup that overthrew the Second Nigerian Republic in December 1983.

20. Head of State: He served as Nigeria’s military head of state from December 1983 to August 1985.

21. War Against Indiscipline: Launched in 1984, his War Against Indiscipline (WAI) aimed to enforce public morality and civic responsibility.

22. Harsh Decrees: His regime’s Decree Number 2 allowed detention without charges for up to three months.

23. Press Crackdown: Decree Number 4 in 1984 targeted journalists with fines and jail for publishing “false” reports.

24. Fela Kuti’s Arrest: Buhari’s government jailed musician Fela Kuti for 18 months on charges Amnesty International called “spurious.”

25. Mass Retrenchment: About 200,000 civil servants were retrenched under his administration by October 1984.

26. Anti-Corruption Purge: Over 500 politicians, officials, and businessmen were jailed for corruption during his 20-month rule.

27. Economic Reforms: His Buharism policy promoted import substitution and self-employment but led to industrial slowdowns.

28. IMF Rejection: Buhari refused IMF demands to devalue the naira by 60%, opting for stricter domestic reforms.

29. Expulsion of Migrants: In 1985, his regime expelled 700,000 illegal foreigners, sparking a crisis named “El Buhari” in Niger.

30. 1985 Coup: Overthrown by Ibrahim Babangida in August 1985, Buhari was detained in Benin City until 1988.

31. Detention Conditions: He spent three years in a guarded bungalow with access to a two-channel television.

32. Katsina Foundation: Post-detention, Buhari became the pioneer chairman of the Katsina Foundation to promote development.

33. PTF Chairman: As Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund in the 1990s, he oversaw transparent developmental projects.

34. Multiple Presidential Runs: Buhari contested for president in 2003, 2007, and 2011 before winning in 2015.

35. Historic Victory: His 2015 win marked the first time an incumbent Nigerian president (Goodluck Jonathan) lost re-election.

36. 2019 Re-election: Buhari defeated Atiku Abubakar by over 3 million votes in the 2019 presidential election.

37. Health Challenges: He sought medical treatment in the UK multiple times, including a 104-day stay in 2017.

38. Boko Haram Fight: His administration secured the release of 103 Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2016–2017.

39. Anti-Corruption War: Over 600 figures, including judges and military officers, were convicted for corruption from 2015 to 2020.

40. Social Welfare Program: Launched the National Social Investment Program in 2016 to support vulnerable populations.

41. N-Power Initiative: His N-Power program provided job training and stipends to young Nigerians to boost employment.

42. Ruga Controversy: His administration’s Ruga policy to settle Fulani herders was suspended due to opposition from southern states.

43. Twitter Ban: In 2021, his government banned Twitter after it deleted his post threatening violence against Biafra insurgents.

44. Signature Forgery: A 2023 lawsuit revealed a $6.2 million theft from the Central Bank using Buhari’s forged signature.

45. First Lady Office: He vowed to abolish the First Lady office in 2014 but allowed Aisha Buhari to operate it.

46. Controversial Remark: In 2016, Buhari said his wife “belongs to my kitchen” while standing next to Angela Merkel.

47. Plagiarism Scandal: His 2016 speech for the “Change Begins With Me” campaign was found to be plagiarized from Obama’s 2009 speech.

48. Chadian Incursion: In 1983, he pursued Chadian forces into their territory against President Shagari’s orders.

49. Umaru Dikko Affair: His regime attempted to kidnap Umaru Dikko from London in 1984, foiled by British authorities.

50. Peaceful Handover: In 2023, Buhari handed over power to Bola Tinubu, retiring to his farm in Daura.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, on Sunday challenged President Bola Tinubu to explain to Nigerians his whereabouts after the BRICS summit in Brazil.

On June 28, 2025, Tinubu departed Nigeria on a two-nation visit to St. Lucia and Brazil.

From St. Lucia, Tinubu reportedly headed for the 17th BRICS summit in Rio de Janiero in Brazil.

A statement by the Nigerian Presidency said the BRICS summit in Brazil held between July 6 and 7th.

After the summit ended, Tinubu’s whereabouts was unknown until the early hours of Sunday when he returned to Nigeria.

The Presidency failed to issue any explanation to Nigerians on Tinubu whereabouts for five days.

Reacting to the development on Sunday, ADC, in a statement by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, challenged Tinubu to tell Nigerians where he was during the five days period.

Abdullahi said the ADC is extending a “weary welcome” to Tinubu for finally returning to the country five days after the end of the 2025 BRICS Summit which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The statement said, “Since the summit ended on Monday, July 7th, all the other world leaders who were in attendance returned home, briefed their citizens, and got back to work. But our President?

“He only reappeared in Abuja in the early hours of Sunday, July 13—without a word, without a briefing, or any explanation as to why his return to the country had been delayed.

“A whole five days is significant in the life of a country, especially a country like ours battling with several existential challenges of insecurity and a tottering economy that has made life increasingly difficult for the majority of Nigerians.”

The party stressed that since Tinubu was not on holidays during his trip, he owes Nigerians a duty to explain his whereabouts for those days.