A former Managing Editor of Daily Times newspaper and publisher of Nationwide Reports, Bonaventure Melah, has thanked the management of Folio Communications Limited, owners of Daily Times of Nigeria and Folio Africa, for considering him worthy to serve as member of the organizing Board of the Times Heroes Awards designed to celebrate Daily Times centenary milestone.

Melah however clarified that he is not a member of Nigerian Guild of Editors and has not served ias the body’s president..

According to a story published in the Vanguard on Tuesday, Bolaji Okusaga, Chief Executive Officer of Precise Platform, one of Africa’s leading strategic communications and PR company was appointed as chairman with Ms Stella Din- Jacob as vice chairman while Bonaventure Melah is to serve as Executive Secretary.

Reacting to the development, Melah said he was proud to associate himself with milestones recorded by Folio Communications and Folio Africa, since the company took over the ownership of Daily Times of Nigeria and commended Mr. Fidelis Anosike for ensuring that the light continued to shine, despite the several challenges over the years .

He said with the calibre of professionals appointed as part of the Board for the awards, Times Heroes Awards is poised to become the flagship platform for recognition of excellence and service to the nation and to humanity.

According to the publication, the Daily Times Centenary Awards forms a major pillar of the newspaper’s 100-year anniversary celebrations and will recognise exceptional achievements across Business and Entrepreneurship, Governance, Community Development, Social Impact, and Media. The initiative is intended to celebrate excellence, honour nation-builders and spotlight individuals and institutions contributing to Nigeria’s progress and prosperity.

“To ensure the highest standards of credibility, transparency and independence, Daily Times has appointed a distinguished three-member Governing Board comprising respected leaders from the media, communications and public affairs sectors.

Speaking on the announcement, Fidelis Anosike, Chairman, Folio Media Group, the owners of Daily Times Nigeria, said the constitution of the Governing Board underlines its commitment to ensuring that the Centenary Awards reflects the values of integrity, excellence and national significance that have defined the newspaper throughout its history.

“The Daily Times Centenary Awards is not merely a celebration of our past; it is an opportunity to honour the individuals, institutions and organisations whose vision, leadership and contributions continue to shape Nigeria’s future. The calibre of individuals serving on the Governing Board reflects our determination to deliver a credible, transparent and nationally respected awards process,” Anosike said.

The Governing Board will provide strategic oversight for the awards programme, guide the nomination and selection process, ensure adherence to established governance principles and uphold the integrity of the awards throughout its implementation.

Established in 1926, Daily Times remains one of Nigeria’s most historic media institutions, having chronicled key moments in the nation’s political, economic and social evolution. As it marks 100 years of service, the newspaper is leveraging its centenary celebrations to promote national reflection, celebrate excellence and inspire a new generation of Nigerians committed to building a stronger and more prosperous nation.

The Daily Times Centenary Awards ceremony will form part of a series of commemorative activities planned to mark the newspaper’s historic milestone and reinforce its enduring legacy as a platform for national development and progress.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been accused of tampering with records of the main opposition Proples Democratic Party, PDP on the electoral umpire’s website.

An advocacy group Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN), which made the allegation, drew the attention of the Commission’s chairman, attention of the Chairman to the manipulated listings on the PDP section of the INEC website.

This alert is coming in the heels of recent uncovering of unauthorized access of the backend of INEC voter register as exposed in the post by an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike which development is still under investigation.

In a statement signed by Aisha Bello, Media Coordinator, OWN said the fishy listing of unknown individuals and non-members of the PDP in the political party section of the INEC website as PDP officials was grossly worrisome and should be addressed by INEC and should be investigated by security agencies to unravel those behind the criminal acts.

“We demand an immediate investigation on this matter especially given that all fingers point to the same INEC department that compromised the back end of INEC voter register.

“More importantly, this status is a direct affront to the definitive judgments delivered by the Supreme Court and the recent rulings from the Court of Appeal.

“In light of recent developments, OWN loudly asks the INEC leadership: Is this deliberate manipulation of the PDP leadership list part of the broader compromise and unauthorized exposure of the party membership register that the Commission is currently investigating?

“The public deserves to know if suspected rogue elements within the Commission are being induced by external forces to destabilize the opposition. INEC as a public institution is expected to align its portal with the latest judicial precedents governing political party administration in Nigeria.

“We urge the Commission to audit its platform immediately, investigate the staff responsible for these distortions, and update the PDP section to accurately reflect the true, legally recognized leadership structure of the party as affirmed by the Supreme Court,” the group stated.

Oyo State Police Command has disclosed that a personal assistant attached to a member of the family of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, allegedly collaborated with the kidnappers who abducted the former minister’s sister and her two children in Ibadan.

The Command Public Relations Officer, CSP Olayinka Ayanlade, made the revelation on Monday during an appearance on Channels TV, while providing updates on the high-profile kidnapping case that recently rattled Oyo State.

According to the police spokesperson, preliminary investigations uncovered an alleged insider connection involving a personal aide to one of Adelabu’s family members.

Ayanlade said the suspect is believed to have provided critical information that aided the kidnappers in carrying out the operation.

“The investigation revealed that one of the personal assistants to a family member was involved in the conspiracy that led to the kidnapping,” the police spokesman disclosed during the interview.

He noted that the command’s ongoing investigation had uncovered evidence suggesting the kidnapping was not entirely orchestrated by external criminal elements but involved individuals familiar with the family’s movements and routines.

The victims, Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul, who is a sister to the former minister, and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were abducted on June 3, 2026, along the Elewura area of Ring Road in Ibadan while she was taking the children to school.

The incident triggered widespread concern across Oyo State and prompted an intensive rescue operation by security agencies.

According to police authorities, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force launched a coordinated manhunt immediately after receiving information about the abduction.

The operation, which involved intelligence gathering, surveillance and tactical deployment of security personnel, eventually led investigators to the kidnappers’ hideout.

Ayanlade disclosed that the rescue mission resulted in a fierce confrontation between security operatives and the suspected kidnappers.

During the operation, two of the suspects were killed while several others were arrested.

“The rescue was successful. Two of the kidnappers were neutralised during the operation, while others were arrested and are currently assisting the police with investigations,” he said.

The police spokesman added that the victims were rescued unharmed and have since reunited with their family.

He commended the efforts of security personnel involved in the operation, describing it as a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime in the state.

The latest development highlights the growing role of insider collaboration in kidnapping operations across Nigeria, where criminal gangs increasingly rely on information supplied by relatives, domestic workers, aides, drivers and other trusted associates of intended victims.