News
How Ivoery Coast airlifted ex-president Jonathan out of troubled Guinea Bissau while Nigerian govt footdragged
Former Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan arrived in the country yesterday following intervention by the government of Côte d’Ivoire, formerly known as Ivory Coast.
An earlier report Friday morning had it that the government is Cote d’ Ivoire intervened to airlift Jonathan when it was obvious that Nigerian government was not forthcoming, despite the urgency that the situation demanded.
It would be recalled that Jonathan led a delegation of some global leaders to Guinea Bissau to observe the country’s general election.
However, before the result of the presidential election would be announced, the country military authorities overthrew the government and announced closure of all borders including air, sea and land as well as shut all democratic institutions.
The situation raised serious concern how Jonathan would return to Nigeria.
Sources said the Nigerian government was formally briefed on the development and was expected to activate all diplomatic protocols as well as provide military aircraft to airlift a former president of the country who was in official diplomatic mission.
“While Abidjan acted with urgency to protect a visiting African leader, Abuja appeared flat-footed, offering little visible coordination or assertive diplomatic engagement despite Jonathan’s status as a former head of state and an envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),” a report said.
It was also learnt that Ivorian government had already made arrangements to fly Jonathan using the country’s presidential jet.
On their side, an aide of the Nigerian president was said to have contacted one of Jonathan’s aide in his personal capacity rather than official communication from the highest level of the Nigerian government.
The report said further that- “It was the Côte d’Ivoire government that reached out to President Jonathan and they have provided an aircraft that’s bringing him back,” a source who preferred not to be mentioned was quoted to have said
“However, it was learnt that although the Nigerian government later reached out, the Ivorian government had already reached out to the former President and had already concluded arrangements to return him to Nigeria,” the report continued.
It was also confirmed last night that contrary to reports that it was the soldiers who carried out the coup that escorted the former Nigerian President out of the country, they were not actually involved in the movement of Jonathan and his sides.
Rather, it was learnt that ECOMOG forces, comprising soldiers from Nigeria, Ghana and Senegalese soldiers, gave the former Nigerian President security from his hotel to the airport. “You will see that it was a presidential jet with the Republic of Cote d’ Ivoire mark”, the source stated.
Myesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, FCT-IRS, Mr Michael Ango, of his duties.
The announcement was contained in a statement late Friday by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
The statement added that the decision takes immediate effect.
Olayinka said the minister directed the most senior official of the FCT-IRS to immediately assume leadership of the agency
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, Mr Michael Ango,” he stated.
He added that “the most senior official of the FCT-IRS has been directed to take over the running of the revenue agency with immediate effect.”
The statement did not provide reasons for the removal.
15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Amaewhule disclosed the lawmakers’ decision during Friday’s plenary, attributing their defection to what he called a “clear division” within the PDP.
“Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce that your Speaker has decided, and has indeed written to my ward chairman of my decision, to leave the PDP. APC is my new party,” Amaewhule said.
Amaewhule’s Deputy, Dumle Maol, is one of the 16 lawmakers that joined APC as well.
All the lawmakers, who have jumped ship, are core loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The Central Bank of Nigeria,has rolled out a new framework ito expedite handling of fraud accusations and refund victims.
Customers must report suspected fraudulent transactions within 72 hours under this draft guideline, and financial institutions have 16 working days to look into the matter and repay money.
The action comes in the wake of a dramatic increase in banking sector fraud.
According to data from the Financial Institutions Training Center, losses in the first quarter of 2025 increased to ₦3.29 billion, a startling 603 percent increase over the previous year. In the same time frame, reported cases also increased to 12,347.
The November 26, 2025, proposed regulations seek to improve bank accountability, expedite reimbursements, and boost prevention.
Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department Rita Sike signed the circular, which describes stricter regulations intended to prevent fraud before it occurs.
The apex bank’s ongoing fight against financial fraud has advanced with the adoption of this guidance. To enhance cooperation between operators, it established the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum in 2011.
It directed banks to establish specialized fraud bureaus four years later. By requiring BVN or NIN for account opening, it reinforced Know Your Customer checks in 2023.
-
News2 years agoBreaking: Tinubu’s authentic ministerial nominees
-
News9 months agoSenate to speed up conclusion of Nigeria Forest Security Service Bill
-
News2 years ago“Anytime we want to kill terrorists, President would ask us to take permission from France but they were killing our soldiers-” Niger Republic coup leader
-
News2 years ago“I’m leaving the Catholic church because Bishop Onah is oppressing me,” says Okunerere
-
News2 years agoRadio Nigeria’s veteran broadcaster Kelvin Ugwu dies three months after retirement from service
-
News2 years agoDokpesi and the Gazebo Mystique
-
News2 years agoTsunami: Tinubu orders dissolution of managements, boards of MDAs, to sack all Buhari’s political appointees
-
News2 years agoPersons against Allagoa’s reforms behind protests at NSITF