Kaduna APC Achieves Total Consensus, Unanimously Endorsing Tinubu’s Re-election Bid Across 255 Wards

By: Manoah Kikekon 

 In a massive display of internal cohesion, the Kaduna State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has completely thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. On Saturday, May 23, 2026, party members and key stakeholders across all 255 political wards unanimously endorsed the President as their consensus choice for the upcoming 2027 presidential primary.

The high-stakes affirmation exercise, which spanned all 23 local government areas of the state, recorded an exceptional turnout. From the Southern Kaduna axis through the Central District to the Northern Senatorial frontiers, thousands of card-carrying party faithful stood in long queues to officially register their vote of confidence in the current administration's "Renewed Hope" agenda.

To ensure complete compliance with statutory party regulations and national legal frameworks, the exercise was strictly monitored by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Their presence, alongside designated national party supervisors, gave deep credibility to an exercise that went smoothly without recorded pockets of violence or parallel infighting.

The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, who personally traversed several voting centers to monitor the situation, praised the discipline displayed by the grassroots voting blocs. He noted that the seamless process proves that Kaduna is entirely locked down for the President.

“Today’s overwhelming affirmation across the 255 wards in Kaduna State is a clear reflection of the confidence our party members and the people have in the leadership of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu," Governor Sani stated during a press briefing. 

"The unity, discipline, and massive turnout witnessed during this exercise demonstrate the APC’s strength and readiness ahead of the 2027 general elections. We remain committed to consolidating the gains of the current administration and sustaining purposeful leadership for the progress and stability of Nigeria.”

The successful consensus vote marks a significant tactical victory for the ruling party’s national strategists. Historically fractured along regional lines, the Kaduna APC used this exercise to send a clear message to the opposition that the state intends to present a completely unified front at the national convention.

Governor Sani heavily encouraged the enthusiastic party faithful to maintain this momentum and avoid the internal distractions that often derail ruling coalitions during a high-stakes campaign cycle. He urged members to remain steadfast, highly disciplined, and aggressively focused on strengthening local mobilizing structures.

As night fell across the state, formal collation operations commenced rapidly across all designated regional hubs. Local government collation officers are currently tabulating the official ward returns for immediate transmission to the State Coordinator’s desk.

Governor Uba Sani is expected to receive the final, consolidated state endorsement package later tonight. Barring any administrative delays, the Governor will personally travel to the Federal Capital Territory to formally present Kaduna’s unanimous mandate to the APC Presidential Primary Committee in Abuja during the scheduled national announcement on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

Monsey Real Estate Mogul Admits to $230 Million Commercial Mortgage Fraud

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

A prominent 29-year-old New York real estate investor has formally admitted his role in a massive, multi-state conspiracy that used forged documents and phantom purchase prices to trick financial institutions into backing over $229.6 million in commercial mortgage loans.

Mordichai Weiss, a resident of Monsey, New York, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court. Weiss pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, capping off a federal investigation into a hyper-inflated real estate portfolio that eventually collapsed and left taxpayers and lenders holding nearly $94.4 million in losses.

Court documents reveal a highly calculated pattern of deception operating between April 2022 and June 2023. Weiss and his co-conspirators deliberately falsified bank records, settlement sheets, and purchase contracts to present commercial and multifamily real estate assets as vastly more valuable than their actual market prices. By showing lenders these fake, higher valuation markers, the conspiracy secured commercial mortgages far exceeding what the properties actually qualified for.

A prime example of the group's methodology occurred in May 2023, when Weiss orchestrated the acquisition of an apartment complex in Houston, Texas. While Weiss had actually agreed to buy the property from the seller for $66.9 million, he and his associates manufactured a completely fraudulent purchase agreement stating the price was $97.8 million. Believing they were financing a premium, highly collateralized asset, the unsuspecting lender approved and funded a massive $68.5 million loan an amount that actually exceeded the total true value of the real estate.

The financial house of cards fell apart when Weiss systematically defaulted on the bloated loans, or when the true market values of the properties were revealed to be significantly lower than the outstanding debt balances.

The resulting economic fallout forced government-sponsored enterprises and public financial systems to absorb massive losses. Among the primary victims were the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), which together with other lenders incurred an estimated $94.4 million in losses.

“Commercial mortgage fraud schemes of this scale undermine the integrity of the lending system and inflict significant losses on financial institutions and taxpayers alike," said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer following the plea. "Weiss and his co-conspirators orchestrated an elaborate scheme built on falsified records designed to trick lenders into funding loans that never should have been approved.”

Federal law enforcement officials highlighted that the consequences of large-scale mortgage fraud extend far beyond corporate balance sheets, frequently causing severe housing quality issues for the everyday citizens living inside the defrauded properties.

Before the criminal charges were finalized, properties tied to the Weiss Property Group—including a 44-unit complex at 75 Prospect Street in East Orange, New Jersey—faced intense legal battles from tenant associations who cited over 1,000 open municipal code violations, building neglect, broken elevators, and toxic mold after the properties were starved of legitimate operational funding.

“When fraudsters like Weiss and his co-conspirators provide false financial information to obtain loans on these properties, they not only defraud the lenders, but they also harm innocent tenants in New Jersey and across the U.S. who live in these buildings,” noted the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG).

The federal prosecution against Weiss falls under an aggressive, newly redoubled effort by the Department of Justice's National Fraud Enforcement Division to eliminate systemic abuse within financial benefit programs and banking sectors.

Terrorists Demand ₦1 Billion Ransom and 35 Motorcycles to Free 37 Kaduna Hostages

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

KADUNA, NIGERIA — The armed bandits holding 37 Christian worshippers abducted during an Easter Sunday raid in Kaduna State have drastically escalated their demands. Community representatives reveal that the terrorists are now demanding a staggering ₦1 billion ransom alongside 35 brand-specific motorcycles before they will grant freedom to the hostages, who have languished in captivity for well over a month.

The crisis began on April 5, when heavily armed gunmen launched coordinated, bloody assaults on St. Augustine Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), and local Baptist churches within the Ariko community, located in the Kachia Local Government Area. The initial onslaught shattered Easter celebrations, leaving five people dead and forcing dozens into the wilderness.

Local negotiators tracking the crisis disclosed that the kidnappers have broken their silence with aggressive specific demands. Beyond the massive financial requirement, the armed network is insisting on the delivery of two distinct motorcycle variations widely utilized by criminal groups to navigate the rugged, unpaved terrain of northwestern forests.

Specifically, the captors have ordered the community to supply: 20 "Boko Haram" brand motorcycles: High-powered, rugged bikes heavily favored by insurgent factions for long-endurance wilderness operations. 15 Bajaj motorcycles: Standard, highly durable commuter bikes frequently modified for swift transport through dense terrain.

“Yes, they are demanding 35 motorcycles, and those motorcycles are not the same type. They want 20 of one called Boko Haram, and 15 Bajaj motorcycles, in addition to ₦1 billion,” confirmed Danjuma Doka, a local community negotiator whose elderly, visually impaired father is among those trapped in the camp. “They told us we must pay these demands or forget about our people. Meanwhile, our people are passing through severe pain.”

The 37 remaining hostages comprising fragile elderly individuals, nursing mothers, young children, and pregnant women have now spent approximately 45 grueling days trapped in the infamous Rijana Forest, a dense kidnapping sanctuary running parallel to the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.

Reports filtering out of the camp outline horrific living conditions, with victims exposed to torrential rains and harsh weather elements without basic clothing, food, or medical attention. The community recently learned that a 28-year-old female captive was forced to give birth inside the wilderness while her legs remained bound.

“We were called and told that one of the female adoptees gave birth in the hands of her captors, with her legs chained like a slave,” lamented Dr. Joseph David Ariko, President of the Kuturmi Development Association (KUDA). “The woman who gave birth has no clothes to cover the baby, nor water to clean herself and the child. They have been under the sun and in the rain all these weeks.”

For the agrarian community of Ariko, raising a billion naira is a structural impossibility. Local families rely almost entirely on small-scale crop cultivation, and past encounters with banditry have already drained the area's modest financial resources.

Consequently, leadership organizations and distraught families have explicitly rejected claims of an early mass rescue, clarifying that those who escaped initially were simply people who hid in the bushes during the chaos, not the core group of 37 captives who are still accounted for in the forest.

“How can a rural, farming community raise ₦1 billion? It is impossible,” Dr. Ariko stated during an emotional public appeal. “We have no means of gathering such a staggering amount. We are making an urgent, desperate appeal to the Federal Government and the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani to intervene immediately. We need a swift, tactical rescue operation to save the remaining hostages before it is too late.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Condemns Oyo Attacks, Declares Support for Governor Makinde’s Rescue Operations

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

IBADAN, NIGERIA — The Oyo State Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has strongly condemned the mass abduction of pupils, students, and educators in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state. Describing the coordinated assaults as a horrific violation of human life, academic sanity, and peaceful coexistence, the socio-cultural organization demanded an aggressive, non-negotiable security response to safely extract the hostages.

The group's position was made public in a joint statement signed by the Chapter President, Hon. Okechukwu Nwabunike, and Executive Secretary, Promise Aja. The apex Igbo body expressed profound shock over the vulnerability of rural schooling systems, particularly following the armed invasion of Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, alongside Community High School and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro-Esinele community axis near Ogbomoso.

In its official dispatch, Ohanaeze Ndigbo sent deep condolences to the families of all victims caught up in the targeted raid. The group expressed intense outrage regarding the tragic killing of Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a dedicated mathematics teacher who was murdered while in captivity—a development that was subsequently tracked and confirmed by the state government following the circulation of distressing videos posted online by the terrorists.

> “We stand in solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Oyo State at this difficult time,” the statement read, affirming that the entire socio-cultural structure remains deeply traumatized by the calculated violence. “The mass kidnapping represents a direct attack on peace, education, and societal stability. We must continue to pray for the safe return of these abductees and for the exposure and defeat of those behind this evil act.”

Hon. Nwabunike similarly extended sincere sympathies to the families of brave security personnel—including soldiers, operatives of the Oyo State Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps), and local hunters—who tragically lost their lives during the initial high-stakes pursuit of the motorcycle-riding bandits.

Throwing its full structural weight behind the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, Ohanaeze Oyo noted that the current leadership has consistently shown an unwavering commitment to regional peace and stability. Because Oyo State has historically maintained a peaceful profile free from large-scale school abductions, the organization emphasized that rapid, structural innovations must be deployed immediately to defend the state's borders against migrating insurgent networks.

To bolster current security measures, the body advocated for the urgent creation of reinforced school safety zones, tighter community-policing loops, and enhanced tactical surveillance across remote terrains linking Oyo to neighboring states.

“Oyo State has not previously witnessed such a devastating incident, and urgent, practical steps must now be taken to prevent future occurrences,” Nwabunike remarked, emphasizing that local integration is the strongest weapon against terror. “Insecurity can only be defeated through national unity and collective resolve.”

"We Won't Wait for Crises"— Lagos Commissioner Ogunlende on Early Child Abuse Detection

By: Manoah Kikekon

The Lagos State Government has declared that its current child protection strategy has completely shifted away from damage control, focusing instead on aggressive prevention, early identification, and swift community intervention. By tracking down vulnerabilities before they explode into public scandals, the state aims to secure a safer ecosystem for its youngest citizens.

This proactive blueprint was unveiled by the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

Addressing journalists and civil society groups, Commissioner Ogunlende stated that waiting for cases of severe neglect or assault to go viral before deploying state resources is an outdated mode of governance. Instead, the ministry has established deep-rooted intelligence networks directly within local communities to spot at-risk children early.

To achieve this, the state has built a formidable, multi-sector alliance linking public schools, frontline healthcare providers, traditional and religious institutions, Community Development Associations (CDAs), and local law enforcement agencies.

“Responding to crises after they have become public incidents is not our focus," Commissioner Ogunlende declared during the briefing. "Our focus ultimately is on prevention, early identification, and timely intervention. We have been proactive in ensuring that we stay on top of these cases.”

To make this preventative framework work smoothly, Lagos State has heavily fortified its community-based social welfare desks. These localized structures ensure that domestic vulnerabilities or suspicious familial patterns are flagged down and mediated by professional social workers before they degenerate into tragedy.

Crucial to this success is the ministry's strict implementation of an open-door, whistleblower-friendly policy. The state encourages neighbors, teachers, and classmates to speak up early without fear of backlash.

By encouraging a culture of collective vigilance, the state government has significantly shortened its response times, allowing social services to intercept hostile domestic environments long before emergency services are required.

Beyond domestic protection, the Commissioner used the ministerial platform to issue a stern reminder regarding child trafficking and the strict legal guidelines governing adoption procedures within Lagos State.

Ogunlende emphasized that the Ministry of Youth and Social Development retains absolute regulatory oversight over all domestic and cross-border adoptions. To eliminate illegal baby factories and child syndicates, the state has heavily scrutinized its registry, choosing to work exclusively through verified and officially accredited international bodies.

“All international adoption applications are expected to come through recognized foreign partners identified and approved by relevant authorities,” the Commissioner warned, reinforcing the government's stance on maintaining zero loopholes for human traffickers.

Sanwo-Olu’s 7th Year: How Mobolaji Ogunlende is Revolutionizing Social Welfare and Youth Empowerment in Lagos State

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

IKEJA, LAGOS – In commemoration of the 7th year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's administration, the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development has unveiled a series of historic operational breakthroughs and sweeping social welfare interventions aimed at transforming the lives of vulnerable residents and empowering the state's massive youth demographic.

Speaking at the Year 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing on Thursday held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende, detailed how structural innovations, global partnerships, and aggressive child protection policies are actively reshaping the state’s socio-economic landscape.

A Historic Operational Blueprint for Social Work

The flagship achievement of the ministry under Hon. Ogunlende’s leadership is the institutionalization of the state's social architecture. In an unprecedented move, the ministry teamed up with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC) and International IDEA to develop a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) alongside a specialized Training Manual for Social Workers.

This newly introduced framework establishes rigid, world-class operational baselines across all state departments, ensuring that the human rights of vulnerable residents are protected via identical protocols, regardless of the local government area.

“The SOPs provide clear guidelines and standardized processes for case management, child protection, rehabilitation services, counselling, referral systems, documentation, monitoring, and inter-agency collaboration,” Hon. Ogunlende stated. “The framework serves as a practical reference tool for officers and social workers in carrying out their duties in line with global best practices and established ethical standards.”

The newly rolled-out Training Manual equips frontline social welfare personnel with the tactical capability to tackle complex, modern social crises, directly boosting accountability, professional responsiveness, and quality service delivery across the metropolis.

Crushing Child Abuse: Over 5,700 Rapid Interventions

The press briefing shed a glaring light on the ministry’s aggressive stance against domestic violence and child endangerment. Through its heavily fortified Child Protection Unit, the state successfully tracked and addressed 1,437 reported cases of child trafficking, abandonment, severe neglect, and physical abuse.

The state did not merely log these complaints; it deployed a total of 5,708 distinct emergency services, which included high-risk rescue operations alongside the Nigeria Police Force, intensive psychological counselling, and secure placements into state-approved foster care systems.

“A total of 520 cases were successfully concluded through various disposition pathways, reflecting the ministry's commitment to ensuring meaningful outcomes and protection for vulnerable children,” the Commissioner revealed.

Hon. Ogunlende specifically pointed to recent viral social media exposes as critical tools for modern enforcement. He cited cases where children were swiftly removed from abusive households including a high-profile rescue of locked-in siblings and an exploited special-needs child warning that the state will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for parental or institutional guardians who abuse minors.

N3.99 Million Spent Securing Healthcare Sovereignty for the Indigent

In tandem with its youth and child protection metrics, the ministry's Social Welfare Department has expanded its safety net across correctional services, family social work, school social interventions, and community-based rehabilitation.

Through its Medical Social Services Unit, Lagos State handled an astonishing 9,659 medical welfare cases in the past year alone, stepping in to fund critical treatments for patients caught in severe poverty.

“The ministry approved and facilitated the spending of N3.99 million on medications, surgeries, dialysis, medical investigations, and hospital consumables for patients unable to afford treatment costs,” Ogunlende explained. “No vulnerable resident should be denied access to critical healthcare because of poverty, abandonment, trauma, or social circumstances.”

Furthermore, a joint initiative with the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency provided voluntary HIV testing and counselling to 27,582 individuals, while the state's Employee Wellness Centre effectively managed 900 mental health cases to protect the emotional stability of public servants dealing with anxiety, depression, and severe workplace stress.

Inclusive Governance: Expanding the Reach of LASODA

A core component of the ministry's brief was reinforcing the mandate of its sister agency, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA). Ogunlende reiterated that under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda, social development must be entirely inclusive, giving citizens with special needs equal access to state infrastructure, education, and digital opportunities.

By building localized solutions and pulling academia into conversation with industrial realities, the ministry aims to shift away from old-school, fragmented charity models. Instead, it is focusing on permanent talent cultivation, which recently bore fruit via state-backed digital skills initiatives that launched several Lagos youths into remote, international tech roles.

Looking ahead, Hon. Ogunlende emphasized that the state remains focused on expanding structural safeguards, inviting critical partnerships from private stakeholders to help scale these community programs.

“As we continue to engage stakeholders and the public, we remain focused on creating more opportunities for growth, innovation, and sustainable development for the youth of Lagos State," the Commissioner concluded. "Together, we will continue to build a brighter future that encourages active participation, leadership, and positive social transformation.”

Man Drags Ex-Wife to Court Over Refusal to Vacate House After 5-Year Divorce

 By: Manaoh Kikekon

KARU, NIGERIA – A Mararaba-based businessman, Abibu Yakubu, has dragged his estranged wife, Shuwadatu Mohammed, before Upper Area Court 1 in Karu, alleging that she has forcefully occupied his house for five years despite their divorce. In a dramatic legal battle that has gripped the local community, Yakubu claims his ex-wife has transformed his home into a hostile environment filled with insubordination and terrifying safety threats.

According to the particulars of claim filed in the case, the petitioner resides at the Orange Market area of Mararaba alongside the respondent, who has flatly refused to relocate. Yakubu averred that the domestic friction escalated heavily due to an absolute lack of respect, stating that the respondent routinely "insults him and his parents" during bitter household disagreements.

The broken union produced four children—aged 22, 19, and a set of six-year-old twins—whose future now hangs in the balance. The businessman told the court that though he officially severed marital ties with Mohammed roughly five years ago, her refusal to vacate the premises has completely shattered his peace of mind and put his life in jeopardy.

“She said she would not leave until she killed me,” Yakubu alleged in his harrowing submission to the court. He further claimed that the respondent has completely taken over his property, adding that the severe mental trauma and constant intimidation mean he “no longer sleeps with eyes closed.”

Fearing the worst, the desperate businessman explicitly prayed the court to formally hold Mohammed responsible if any harm or mysterious circumstances should befall him. In addition to demanding her immediate eviction, Yakubu requested a formal redissolution of the marriage and sought full legal custody of their four children.

After reviewing the initial submissions from the parties, the presiding judge, Mohammed Yakubu, noted the gravity of the safety and family welfare claims. He subsequently adjourned the case until June 3, 2026, for a continued hearing and further consideration of the matter.