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Driver of Late Minister of state for Labour, James Ocholi to be prosecuted for over-speeding
A few hours after the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) gave its report on last Sunday’s road accident where the Minister of State for Labour, Chief James Ocholi, his wife, Blessing and son, Joshua died, the Federal Government says his driver will be prosecuted for over-speeding and possession of a fake driver’s licence.
The move to try the driver identified as Mr. James Elegbede was disclosed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal.
Lawal, who is the chairman of the Federal Government’s 13-member burial committee for the deceased minister, disclosed this to newsmen in response to questions on the fate of the driver who had been indicted by the FRSC’s interim report.
He, however, stated that the prosecution of the driver would wait until FRSC’s full investigation report is made available to determine the level of his culpability.
Lawal said: “Nigeria is not short of laws; the problem is that Nigerians find it very difficult to obey the laws. There is a speed limit in place and so if anybody chooses not to obey the traffic laws, of course, it is subject to prosecution by the agencies concerned.
“But as to this particular incident, I think we will leave it until the final report of the investigation comes out. But as we say, accident is accident and nobody goes out deliberately to somersault and die.”
Assuaging concerns that the injured driver and other aides’ still recuperating in the hospital after the accident and their families may have been neglected, Lawal said that “the government decided to give employment to the children of the late minister because he was the breadwinner and the children are now orphans.
“On the other hand, the driver survived and the government is taking care of their medical bills at the National Hospital and they (other aides) are also government workers as some of them are policemen, SSS and others.
“So, they are on salary and are treated free, but – God forbid that had any of them suffered the same fate as those who died, the President would have willingly included them in the list of beneficiaries.”
On reports that a family member made allegations of foul play in the death of the Ocholis, the SGF said that government was not aware of that but that anyone with useful information should report to the appropriate agencies.
The FRSC had on Monday told President Muhammadu Buhari that over-speeding and non-use of safety seat belts led to the accident on the Abuja-Kaduna Road.
The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, who presented the interim accident report on the crash at a valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in honour of Ocholi, said that the driver of the vehicle was inexperienced and had no valid driver’s licence captured on the national database.
Oyeyemi said that following the impact of the crash, the late minister and his son were ejected from the vehicle while the wife was trapped by the left passenger door before the car slid to a halt.
It added that “the ejection of the minister and his son who occupied the rear seats confirmed the fact that their rear seat belts were not in use and on the contrary, the driver and the orderly survived because the front seat belts were in use.”
Oyeyemi said “information gathered revealed that the driver of the crashed vehicle was actually moving in excess of the stipulated speed limit when he had a burst tyre.
“The crashed vehicle driver was driving too fast and he slammed on his brake so hard. These two factors materially contributed to the inability of the driver to maintain control when the left rear tyre burst.
“Skid marks and grooves found on the westbound shoulder made by the Lexus LX570 for about 15m and 9.3m respectively before it began somersaulting severely and the ejection of the minister and his son, showed clearly that the travelling speed of the Lexus LX570 presented unsafe consequences in the event of certain road risk that may have occurred.
“The driver must have entered into a panic situation which resulted to his hard application of brakes and subsequent loss of control that took him into the bush path.
“The DOT number of the tyres were inward which cannot easily be read from outside. This indicates that the orientations of the tyres were not properly fixed which could adversely affect the performance of the tyres.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps Investigation Team (FIT) determines that the probable cause of the March 6, 2016 fatal crash at KM34 Kaduna -Abuja Expressway near Rijana Village Kaduna State was the driver’s failure to maintain directional control of his vehicle when the rear left tyre burst occurred.
Boboye also revealed that there were potholes within the vicinity of the accident and that road shoulders where the accident happened had started failing.
Also, occupants of the minister’s back-up car behind noticed that the tyre of the minister’s vehicle was not fully inflated and with no communication equipment (walkie-talkie) to inform the driver, a GSM call to the driver did not also go through.
They attempted to overtake the minister’s car in order to warn the driver but could not do so before the sad incident.
He however explained that a driver ought not to step on the brake in the event of a tyre burst but to hold firmly to the steering and gradually navigate the car until it comes to a stop.
Meanwhile, Buhari started the FEC valedictory session by requesting for a minute silence for Ocholi and the Army General who died the previous day in another car crash along Maiduguri-Damaturu Road on Monday.
The president praised Ocholi’s humility and capacity for hard work.
Six ministers were chosen from each of the geopolitical zones to pay tributes and they all spoke glowingly on the kindness, humility and love for family of the late Ocholi.
Lawal announced the burial arrangements for Ocholi thus:
March 16: Service of Songs at International Conference Centre, Abuja
March 17: Corpse leaves for Dekina LGA, Kogi State; March 18 is for internment at noon.
Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar
In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.
The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.
With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.
Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19
It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.
Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.
GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%
Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.
In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.
For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.
Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”
Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.
With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.
About HabariPay
HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:
GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com
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