Politics
How Obiora Agbasimalo, LP’s Anambra Gov Candidate, Disappeared After His Uncle Changed His Driver, Security Detail
How Obiora Agbasimalo, LP’s Anambra Gov Candidate, Disappeared After His Uncle Changed His Driver, Security Detail.
Foundation for Investigative Journalism in this report, gives an account of Obiora Agbasimalo’s journey to politics and sudden disappearance.
When the idea of contesting for Anambra State Governor was first pitched to Obiora Agbasimalo in early 2021, he turned it down, saying he knew nothing about politics. However, when Godwin Agbasimalo, his uncle, who is popularly known as Oga Ndi Oga, stepped in by offering to render necessary assistance, including the provision of logistics and guidance, throughout the campaign period, the seasoned banker had a change of heart and accepted the offer.
Upon becoming the Labour Party candidate for the November 6, 2021 election, Godwin became his campaign financier and manager as promised. He planned his meetings, visits and, according to a few sources, what he ate too. The campaign appeared to be going as planned until the unexpected happened. On September 18, while on a campaign tour to Azhia in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, Obiora was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. He has not been seen or heard ever since.
A BANKER WITH BRIGHT PROSPECTS
Before joining politics, Obiora, 40, was a senior worker at Zenith Bank PLC. FIJ learned that he worked with the bank for more than 10 years. “When he wanted to go for the elections, he approached the executive director of the bank and requested a leave of three months,” a family source, who asked not to be named, told FIJ. “The executive director refused to grant him the request. It was as if God was using her. Normally, if you have a good reason or cause for your request, you’re expected to get it. “But, in Obiora’s case, he was refused the leave. At a point, when Obiora would not stop going to her with the request, she was forced to ask him if he was sure he had what it takes to contest for an election. “When Obiora tried being clever by saying the reason he wanted the leave was that he hadn’t been promoted on the job in a while, she handed him a promotion letter just to make sure he stayed. “However, despite all the efforts made by the director, Obiora turned down the offer and ended up leaving. This was mainly because he had been assured that he stood a strong chance of winning the election.” According to the source, Obiora was a banker with bright prospects until his exit from the bank.
KIDNAPPED!
On the morning of September 18, 2021, Obiora was scheduled to take his governorship campaign to Azhia in Ihiala Local Government Area, but some unexpected changes were made to the security officers following him. “A surprising incident happened on the morning his campaign train was supposed to visit Azhia,” another member of the Agbasimalo family, who asked not to be named, said.
“Without any prior notice, Oga Ndi Oga replaced the driver that had been taking Obiora around since the beginning of the campaign. He told Obiora that the regular driver had an errand to run, and that the new one would drive him to their destination.
“Before that day, the convoy would sometimes move with Oga Ndi Oga and Obiora in the same vehicle, while security would be at the front and at the back. Sometimes, the convoy would move with the two men in separate cars. “On the day of the incident, they were in different cars, and Obiora was left alone with the new driver. “All of a sudden, the car carrying Obiora swerved off the road, breaking from the rest of the convoy.
Later, we heard that the driver claimed he had to stop because he needed to fix a car fault. He claimed it was when he was trying to fix the car that some unknown men came out from nowhere and kidnapped Obiora. “How is that even possible? You kidnap a governorship candidate from a convoy that has close to 10 cars? A convoy that is supposed to be swarmed with security men? Since that incident happened, the strange driver has disappeared. Something is definitely not right.” That was the last time anyone ever heard from Obiora.
AFTERMATH OF THE KIDNAP
After Obiora was kidnapped, the Labour Party, through Godwin Agbasimalo, reached out to his family to tell them not to worry, and that all hands were on deck to ensure the candidate’s safe return. The family was also told that all relevant security figures, including the Inspector General of Police, had been informed of the incident. “As things progressed however, we did not see any signs that things were being done like they had promised,” another member of the Agbasimalo family told FIJ.
“So we started wondering why concrete steps were not being taken to ensure Obiora’s safe return. At a point, some party chieftains even told us that it was just a political move, and that after the November 6 elections, he would be released. “I was even shocked that the INEC could organise the signing of a peace pact a few days to the elections without insisting that the Labour Party candidate be present.
INEC never really bothered and they went ahead with the election.” However, Obiora was still not released after the November 6 election. “A week passed by, two weeks, three weeks, a month, same story from the party: he will come out, he will come out. But till we speak, he has not been reunited with us. We are tired of the long wait. It has led to most of us, I mean his family members, being frustrated and depressed. Both his parents are also now critically ill as a result of the development.”
GODWIN AGBASIMALO
Godwin Agbasimalo is a successful businessman and philanthropist, who controls a non-governmental organisation called Oga Ndi Oga. He also goes by the same Oga Ndi Oga as nickname. He is the sole financier of the Labour Party in Anambra State. FIJ learned that he was responsible for the party’s decision to choose Obiora as its flag bearer during the Anambra governorship election. “After Obiora’s abduction, Oga Ndi Oga claimed he had been in constant touch with the kidnappers. He has also consistently told us that we should not raise the alarm about the issue, as that might upset the kidnappers and make them harm Obiora,” the first family source said. “The most frustrating part is that he also claims he has paid ransoms to the kidnappers on several occasions. If that is true, and if there is no foul play on his part, how come he has refused to give out the account number or numbers of the people he claims he has been making payments to for tracking? He has continued to discourage us from taking steps that could ensure Obiora’s safe return. “He keeps saying we should not talk to anybody, yet, we are not seeing any positive result. He keeps stopping everybody, including the Labour Party in the state, from talking or taking steps. “This is also making us doubt if his claims of working with relevant security agencies are actually true. We are tired!”
A CONVERSATION INVOLVING THE LABOUR PARTY NATIONAL CHAIRMAN
FIJ got hold of a recorded conversation between Julius Abure, national chairman of the Labour Party, and a member of the Agbasimalo family. “You have to rise to the occasion and take up the fight yourself. As a party, we will queue behind you and support you in whatever you want to do. Do your petitions to the IG; do your petitions to all relevant agencies,” Abure can be heard saying in the audio. “I believe I have done my best on the matter. Now that my best has not yielded any result, and you people are the ones wearing the shoe, you can take up the matter from here. “The very first week this incident happened, I advised that we made as much noise on this issue as possible, but nothing was done in that direction. Now that we have managed it to this point and nothing has been forthcoming, I think it is best we shout. It is time to try something else. “Though I don’t have the money to support you, I will support you in any other alternative way I can.” FIJ made several phone calls to Godwin Agbasimalo, but they were not answered. A text message sent to him was also not responded to. It has been 160 days since Obiora was abducted. His family members are still hopeful that he would one day come back to them.
Politics
Pro-Tinubu Group Demands Sack of Badaru, Other Ministers Who Lost Polling Units in Bye-Elections
Pro-Tinubu Group Demands Sack of Badaru, Other Ministers Who Lost Polling Units in Bye-Elections
The Asiwaju Network has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately disengage underperforming ministers who failed to deliver their polling units and wards during the just-concluded bye-elections.
The group also urged a cabinet reshuffle to inject fresh energy and ensure that only those who can add political and governance value remain in the Federal Executive Council.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja and signed by its president, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim Dandoka, the Asiwaju Network said the results of the elections were a litmus test that exposed the political weaknesses of some ministers entrusted with strategic national assignments.
At Babura Kofar Arewa Primary School in Jigawa State, where the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, cast his vote, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 308 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), which managed only 112.
Badaru, a former governor of Jigawa and APC chieftain, left the venue without addressing journalists after casting his vote amid heavy security presence.
Dandoka said it was troubling that, despite his high office, the Defence Minister could not secure victory in his polling unit.
He argued that such political setbacks undermine the strength of the APC and the credibility of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope government.
“This defeat is both embarrassing and unacceptable. A minister who cannot win his polling unit cannot claim to possess the political capital required to defend the APC or promote the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. President Tinubu must act quickly to weed out weak links in his cabinet and replace them with men and women who have proven grassroots capacity,” Dandoka stated.
The group noted that Badaru was not alone in this failure, stressing that another minister from Jigawa and one from Enugu State also lost their wards and polling units.
According to the group, these developments point to a worrying trend of disconnect between certain ministers and their political bases.
“Ministers are not merely technocrats. They are political leaders of the party in their states and zones. If they cannot hold their homes together, then they do not deserve to hold on to strategic national offices. The bye-elections have sent a clear message, and it is that some ministers have lost relevance and electoral value,” the statement reads.
The Asiwaju Network maintained that the APC’s strength lies in grassroots mobilisation, and any minister unable to inspire loyalty within his immediate constituency is a liability.
Dandoka emphasised that President Tinubu’s success in governance must be matched with political consolidation, which requires capable and electorally grounded cabinet members.
“President Tinubu has been bold with tough decisions on subsidy reforms, the economy, and security. Nigerians are beginning to see the fruits of those reforms. But he must also be bold enough to reshuffle his cabinet. A government of results cannot afford ministers who are passengers. The President needs proven drivers of the Renewed Hope vision,” Dandoka said.
The group also commended loyal APC members and supporters who defied intimidation and attempts at rigging in Jigawa and Enugu, saying their resilience was the true strength of the ruling party.
“These members stood firm when those at the top failed to inspire confidence. They turned out in their numbers to defend the APC’s relevance even when some of their supposed leaders abandoned them. These grassroots soldiers of democracy must never be taken for granted,” Dandoka added.
The Asiwaju Network further urged President Tinubu to take the bye-election results as a warning, cautioning that retaining non-performing ministers would embolden the opposition and demoralise party loyalists.
“The message from Jigawa and Enugu is clear: the APC cannot continue to reward failure. A minister who cannot secure a few streets in his ward has no business in the Federal Executive Council. Mr President must urgently rejig his cabinet or risk carrying dead weight into future electoral contests,” the coalition warned.
Reaffirming the group’s loyalty to Tinubu’s leadership, Dandoka said Nigerians expect a government that rewards competence and accountability, not excuses and political failures.
“President Tinubu has the people’s mandate. He must not allow weak ministers to drag down his vision. A decisive cabinet reshuffle now will send a strong signal that the Renewed Hope government is serious about performance, delivery, and results,” he declared.
Customs at the Crossroads: When Lawmakers Look Away and the Executive Looks Aside
By Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi
In a democracy, legislative oversight is the scalpel that cuts through deceit, inefficiency, and corruption in public institutions. It is the people’s last institutional shield against abuse of power. But what happens when that shield becomes a shelter for the very rot it is meant to expose? And what happens when the Executive arm, whose duty is to supervise its agencies, pretends not to see?
The unfolding drama between the National Assembly and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reveals more than a policy dispute. It exposes a dangerous triangle of confusion, complicity, and economic sabotage. At stake is not only the rule of law but the survival of an economy already gasping under inflation, a weak naira, and suffocating costs of living.
The House Talks Tough
In June 2025, Nigerians saw a glimpse of legislative courage when the House of Representatives Committee thundered at Customs:
> “Nigerian Customs Service, by June 30, must not collect CISS again. You are to collect only your 4% FOB assigned by the President. Even the 7% cost of collection you currently take is illegal—it was an executive fiat of the military, not democratic law. Any attempt to continue these illegal collections will be challenged in court. The ‘I’s have it.”
The voice was firm, the ruling decisive. Nigerians expected a turning point.
But the righteous thunder of the House was quickly muffled by the Senate’s softer tone, which suggested not the enforcement of the law but a readiness to bend it.
Senate: Oversight or Escape Route?
At a Senate Customs Committee session, Senator Ade Fadahunsi admitted openly that Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023. Yet rather than demand an end to illegality, he extended a lifeline to Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi:
> “If we come back to the same source… the two houses will sit together and see to your amendment so you will not be walking on a tight rope.”
But should Adeniyi be handed a loose rope while Nigeria’s economy hangs by a thread?
Instead of accountability, the Senate Customs Committee floated adjustments that would make life easier for Customs. The nation was given hints about fraudulent insurance and freight data, but instead of sanctions, what we saw was a search for escape routes. This is not oversight—it is overlook.
Smuggling and Excuses
The Senate Committee also lamented cross-border smuggling—Nigerian goods like cement flooding Cotonou, Togo, and Ghana at cheaper prices than in Nigeria. Senator Fadahunsi blamed the Central Bank’s 2% value deposit for encouraging the practice.
But where are the Senate’s enforcement actions—compliance checks, stiffer sanctions, cross-border coordination? None. The result is predictable: smugglers prosper, reserves bleed, and ordinary Nigerians pay more for less.
A Bloated Customs Budget
The Service’s 2024 capital allocation ballooned to ₦1.1 trillion from ₦706 billion. Instead of channeling these resources into modern trade systems, Customs is expanding empires of frivolity—such as proposing a new university despite already having training facilities in Gwagwalada and Ikeja that could easily be upgraded.
Oversight is not an afterthought; it is the legislature’s constitutional duty. To see waste and illegality and yet propose amendments that would legalise them is to turn oversight into overlook.
Customs has about 16,000 staff, yet many remain poorly trained. Rather than prioritise capacity building, the Service is busy building staff estates in odd locations. How does Modakeke—an inland town with no border post—end up with massive Customs housing projects, while strategic border towns like Badagry, Idiroko, and Saki remain neglected? Is Bashir Adeniyi Comptroller-General of Customs—or Minister of Housing?
The 4% FOB Levy: A Policy Blunder
The central controversy is the Federal Government’s plan to replace existing port charges with a new 4% Free-On-Board (FOB) levy on imports.
Nigeria is an import-dependent nation. This levy will instantly hike the costs of cars, spare parts, machinery, and raw materials—crippling industries and punishing consumers.
Already, the consequences are biting:
A 2006 Toyota Corolla now costs between ₦6–9 million.
Clearing agents who once paid ₦215,000 for license renewal must now cough out ₦4 million.
New freight forwarder licenses have jumped from ₦600,000 to ₦10 million.
Customs claims the revenue is needed for its modernisation programme, anchored on a software platform called B’Odogwu. But stakeholders describe this so-called “Odogwu” as epileptic—if not comatose. Why commit trillions to a ghost programme that will be obsolete by January 2026, when the Nigerian Revenue Service is set to take over Customs collections?
Industry Raises the Alarm
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the levy will worsen inflation, disrupt supply chains, and hurt productivity.
Lucky Amiwero, President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, calls the levy “economically dangerous.” His reasoning is straightforward:
The 4% FOB levy is much higher than the 1% CISS it replaces.
Peer countries like Ghana maintain just 1%.
The new levy will fuel inflation, raise the landed costs of goods, and destabilise the naira.
He also revealed that the Customs Modernisation Act, which introduced the levy, was passed without Senate scrutiny or meaningful stakeholder consultation. He estimates that the levy could add ₦3–4 trillion annually to freight costs—burdens that will be transferred directly to consumers.
Who Is Behind the “Odogwu” Masquerade?
The haste to enforce this levy, despite its looming redundancy, raises disturbing questions. Who benefits from the “Odogwu” project draining trillions? Why the rush, when NRS will take over collections in a few months?
This masquerade must be unmasked.
The Price Nigerians Pay
For ordinary Nigerians, this policy translates into one thing: higher prices. Cars, manufactured goods, and spare parts are spiraling beyond reach. A nation struggling with inflation, unemployment, and a weak currency cannot afford such reckless experiments.
So, while the Senate looks away, the Executive cannot look aside.
The Executive Cannot Escape Blame.
It is easy to focus on the failings of the legislature. But we must not forget: the Customs Service is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Finance, under the direct supervision of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.
If Customs is breaking the law, wasting resources, or implementing anti-people policies, the buck stops at the Executive’s table. The Minister of Finance is Chairman of the Customs Board. To fold his hands while the Service operates in illegality is to abdicate responsibility.
History gives us a model. In 1999, the Minister of State for Finance, Nenadi Usman, was specifically assigned to supervise Customs and report directly to the President. Meanwhile, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala focused on broader fiscal and economic policies. That division of responsibility improved accountability. Today, the absence of such an arrangement is feeding impunity.
President Tinubu and his Finance Minister must act decisively. Oversight without executive will is a dead letter.
A Call to Accountability
The truth is stark:
Customs has been operating illegally since June 2023 to the Senate’s own confession.
The 4% FOB levy will deepen inflation and worsen economic hardship.
The Ministry of Finance bears ultimate responsibility for Customs’ conduct.
Until importing and consuming, Nigerians demand accountability—of the Comptroller-General, the Senate, and above all, the Finance Ministry—this bleeding will continue.
Nigerians deserve better. They deserve a Customs Service that serves the nation, not a privileged few. They deserve a House that enforces its resolutions, not one that grandstands. They deserve a Senate that upholds the law, not one that bends it. And above all, they deserve an Executive that does not look aside while illegality thrives under its ministry.
Only public pressure can end this indulgence. If Nigerians keep silent, we will keep paying the price—in higher costs, weaker currency, and a sabotaged economy.
Citizens’ Charge: Silence is Not an Option
Fellow Nigerians, the Customs crisis is not a drama for the pages of newspapers—it is a burden on our pockets, our businesses, and our children’s future. Every illegal levy is a tax on the poor. Every abandoned oversight is an open invitation to corruption. Every silence from the Executive is an approval of impunity.
We cannot afford to fold our arms. Democracy gives us the power of voice, the duty of vigilance, and the right to demand accountability. Let us demand that:
The Senate and House of Representatives stop playing good cop, bad cop, and enforce the law without compromise.
The Ministry of Finance takes full responsibility for the Customs Service, supervising it in the interest of Nigerians, not vested interests.
The President intervenes now, before the Service crosses the dangerous line of turning illegality into policy.
History will not forgive a people who suffered in silence when their economy was bled by recklessness. Silence is complicity. The time to speak, to write, to petition, to protest, and to demand is now.
Customs must serve Nigeria—not sabotage it.
Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. He’s also the President of Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the CEO, Masterbuilder Communications.
Email:[email protected]
Facebook:Bolaji Akinyemi.
X:Bolaji O Akinyemi
Instagram:bolajioakinyem
Aare Adetola Emmanuel King Congratulates Hon. Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji on Election Victory
The Chairman/CEO of Adron Group, Sir Aare Adetola Emmanuel King KOF, has congratulated Hon. Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji on her resounding victory in the just-concluded by-election for the Remo Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
In a goodwill message issued by him, he described the victory as “a historic moment for the Remo people, coming at a time when the constituency yearns for a leader with vision, courage, and genuine commitment to service.”
He noted that the outcome of the election was an attestation to the trust and confidence reposed in Hon. Ayoola-Elegbeji by the people, adding that her sterling qualities, integrity, accessibility, and compassion for the grassroots had endeared her to the electorate.
“The overwhelming support you garnered at the polls is proof that you are the right voice at the right time to carry the aspirations of Remo to the national stage,” he stated.
While acknowledging that the by-election followed the painful demise of the late Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga (Ijaya), Aare Adetola Emmanuel King said Hon. Ayoola-Elegbeji’s emergence symbolizes the continuity of purposeful representation. He expressed confidence that she would not only sustain the legacy of her predecessor but also surpass it with new energy, innovative ideas, and progressive leadership.
The Adron Group Chairman further prayed for divine wisdom, strength, and compassion for the Member-Elect as she assumes office, expressing confidence that her tenure will usher in meaningful development, economic empowerment, and greater opportunities for the people of Remo Federal Constituency.
-
society5 months agoRamadan Relief: Matawalle Distributes Over ₦1 Billion to Support 2.5 Million Zamfara Residents
-
Politics2 months agoNigeria Is Not His Estate: Wike’s 2,000‑Hectare Scandal Must Shake Us Awake
-
society4 months agoBroken Promises and Broken Backs: The ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Law and the Betrayal of Nigerian Workers
-
society3 months agoOGUN INVESTS OVER ₦2.25 BILLION TO BOOST AQUACULTURE