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Southeast Bishops Urge New Enugu Governor to Resign

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The Southeastern zone of the Network of Evangelical Bishops of Nigeria (NEBN) has once again asked Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, to resign for bringing what it called the unparalleled disgrace that the new helmsman has brought to the Enugu people in the last few months and for bringing the exalted office of the state governor to public ridicule.

This is the third time in as many months the NEBN has intervened in Enugu public affairs, advising Mbah to throw in the towel for both legal and moral reasons.

The religious leaders had in previous statements accused Mbah of forging his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate A808297 which the new governor claims to have been issued on March 6, 2002, as well as the March 18 governorship election result in his Nkanu East Local Government Area where he was awarded over 31,000 votes, though the national INEC headquarters on March 22 reduced the number of votes to a little over 16,000.

“It was truly disgusting to watch last weekend how the team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) hired by Mbah to defend his purported mandate tried in vain to stop the NYSC from testifying on the genuineness of the NYSC discharge certificate which Mbah presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”, stated the bishops in a statement signed by the zonal chairman, Bishop Samuel Ani, and the acting publicity secretary, Bishop Emmanuel Eneh.

“They even went to the extent of asking the tribunal sitting in Enugu to abide by an incurably defective ex parte motion gagging the NYSC from disclosing the true status of the discharge certificate, an ex parte motion which is now expired and has never had validity in Enugu State because it was granted by an FCT High Court rather than a Federal High Court”.

The bishops ruefully observed that this is the first time in Nigeria’s history a candidate for public office has fought tooth and nail to stop an appropriate agency from speaking on the authenticity of the credentials he or she has presented to the electoral commission.

Alhaji Abubakar I. Muhammadu, the NYSC Director of Certificate, had in a letter written on February 1, 2023, declared that NYSC Discharge Certificate A808297 did not emanate from it, a position supported by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed when he appeared on the Arise Television programme on Friday, May 17, 2023.

“Now, Enugu State has been in the news again in connection with its purported governor presenting forged documents, as the NYSC Assistant Director of Corps Certification, Mrs Rhoda Dawa, has just provided the Federal High Court in Abuja with comprehensive details of how NYSC Discharge Certificate Number A808297 did not come from the organisation”.

If Mbah had completed his national service, explained the NYSC, he would have done so on September 15, 2003, and not September 15, 2002, which the governor claims.

His discharge certificate would have been assigned the serial number 673517, and the calligraphy would have been the same as other certificates issued by the NYSC, according to Mrs Dawa.

“There are too many discrepancies in this fake certificate Mbah presented”, said the senior clergymen

If such a “ridiculous spectacle of forgery should happen in any part of Nigeria in the 21st century”, said the group of bishops, “it is certainly not a state as strategic as Enugu which is the headquarters of not just the Southeast but also the old Eastern Nigerian Region that has since been divided into nine states”.

The bishops noted that Mbah would leave office like other public officers found guilty of presenting forged credentials, citing the examples of Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who was ex-President Muhamadu Buhari’s first Minister of Finance; Alhaji Salisu Buhari, the first Speaker of the House of Representatives when democracy was restored in 1999; and Biobarakuma Degi-Eremioye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was prevented from being sworn in on February 14, 2020, as the Bayelsa State Deputy Governor by the Supreme Court for presenting a fake document to INEC.

Since Mbah, who has been in office since May 29, has achieved his life ambition of being addressed as “His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State”, said the bishops, “he should resign now because it is better than having to wait to be booted out of office through a judicial process which will, ipso facto, deny him the status of ever being recognised as a former governor as far as the law is concerned”.

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Ex -Chief Justice Muhammad Tanko is dead

Muhammed died at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, about two weeks to his 72 birthday on December 31.

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A former Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, is dead. He was aged 71.

Muhammed died at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, about two weeks to his 72 birthday on December 31.

Born on 31 December 1953 in Doguwa, Giade Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Justice Muhammad was a Fulani and a native of Bauchi State.

His judicial career spanned more than four decades, during which he served at various levels of Nigeria’s judicial system.

Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, confirmed Muhammad’s passing in a condolence message issued by his special adviser on media and publicity, Mukhtar Gidado.

“Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad exemplified the qualities of a patriotic Nigerian who devoted his life to the service of justice and the advancement of our great nation.

His passing is a significant loss, not only to Bauchi State but to the Nigerian judiciary and the rule of law,” the statement reads.

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Aircraft crashes in Owerri with four persons onboard

According to the NSIB, the aircraft crashed on the approach area of Runway 17, but no fatalities have been recorded so far.

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Aircraft crashes in Owerri with four persons onboardBy : Olusegun KoikiDate: 17 December 2025 12:11am WATShare :Mars AviationMars AviationA Cessna 172 aircraft with registration number 5N-ASR, operated by Skypower Express, has crashed at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State.

The aircraft had departed Kaduna International Airport en route to Port Harcourt International Airport before diverting to Owerri after the crew declared an emergency.

The crash occurred at about 8:00 pm on the airport premises, with four passengers and crew members onboard.Confirming the incident, the Director, Public Affairs and Family Assistance of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Mrs. Bimbo Oladeji, said the agency had been notified of the crash.

According to the NSIB, the aircraft crashed on the approach area of Runway 17, but no fatalities have been recorded so far.

The statement said: “Following the occurrence, airport emergency services were successfully activated and arrived on site promptly.

Reports indicate that there was no post-crash fire, and the runway remains active for flight operations, with other aircraft taking off safely after the incident.

“Efforts are currently underway to coordinate the recovery and evacuation of the distressed aircraft from the crash site to allow for a detailed wreckage examination.”

(The Guardian)

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Transcorp Hotels Plc Appoints Dr. Awele Elumelu as New Board Chair

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Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality arm of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) and operator of the iconic Transcorp Hilton Abuja, has announced the appointment of Dr. (Mrs.) Awele Vivien Elumelu, OFR, as Chairperson of its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026.

The appointment follows the scheduled retirement of the current Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel N. Nnorom, on the same date.

Dr. Elumelu, a qualified medical doctor with an MBBS from the University of Benin and clinical experience in Nigeria and the UK, brings extensive expertise in healthcare, insurance, corporate governance, and philanthropy. She currently chairs Avon Healthcare Limited (Avon HMO), Nigeria’s leading health management organization, Avon Medical Practice, and Heirs Insurance Brokers. She is also a founding director of Heirs Holdings Limited.

Her executive education includes programs at Harvard Business School, IMD Switzerland, and the London School of Economics.

Beyond business, Dr. Elumelu is a Trustee and Co-Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Africa’s premier philanthropy focused on empowering young entrepreneurs.

She has played a key role in promoting gender inclusion and supporting over 24,000 African youth with seed funding, training, and mentorship.In a statement, Transcorp Group Chairman Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, CFR — who is married to Dr. Elumelu — expressed enthusiasm about the appointment:

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Awele Elumelu as the Board Chair of Transcorp Hotels. Her distinguished track record perfectly aligns with our ambition to redefine hospitality through innovation, wellness integration, and responsible business practices. Her strategic insight will be invaluable as we continue to elevate guest experiences and deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders.”

Transcorp Hotels Plc, listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX: TRANSCOHOT), is known for setting hospitality benchmarks in Africa, managing flagship properties like the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the newly launched 5,000-capacity Transcorp Centre.

The leadership transition comes as the company pursues growth in innovation and wellness-focused hospitality, amid Transcorp Group’s broader investments in power, energy, and hospitality sectors.

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