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BREAKING: Tinubu Tightens Grip on Govt, Sends Buhari’s Men Packing
In a move perceived by political pundits as tightening grip on the government, being his own man and moving to a clean slate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cleared out former appointees of his predecessor, Mohammadu Buhari, replacing them with his own men.
According to a statement issued by Director, Information, Office of the Secretary-General to the Federation, Willie Bassey, in Abuja on Monday, on behalf of his principal, Senator George Akume, the president has approved the retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, and Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect.
This is coming exactly three weeks after President Tinubu took over from Buhari.
The statement named those affected in the shakeup to include Alkali Usman who was removed as the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Lucky Irabor, sacked as the Chief of Defence Staff; Faruk Yahaya, retired as the Chief of Army Staff; Awwal Gambo, removed as the Chief of Naval Staff; and Isiaka Amao, retired as Chief of Air Staff.
The President subsequently appointed new service chiefs and named a former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, as his new National Security Adviser (NSA).
Ribadu replaces Babagana Monguno as the nation’s NSA.
Tinubu also approved the appointment of Adeniyi Adewale as the Acting Comptroller General of Customs. He takes over from Hameed Ali.
Bassey added that, “It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Recall that during his inaugural address, President Tinubu promised to “defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country”, adding that “to effectively tackle this menace, we shall reform both our security doctrine and its architecture”.
Below is the full statement:
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION PRESS & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
June 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU RETIRES ALL SERVICE CHIEFS, ADVISERS, COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF CUSTOMS, APPOINTS NEW ONES
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers, Comptroller-General of Customs from Service as well as their replacements with immediate effect.
The newly appointed Officers are:
S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS
1. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu National Security Adviser
2. Maj. Gen. C.G Musa Chief of Defence Staff
3. Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja Chief of Army Staff
4. Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla Chief of Naval Staff
5. AVM H.B Abubakar Chief of Air Staff
6. DIG Kayode Egbetokun Acting Inspector-General of Police
7. Maj. Gen. EPA Undiandeye Chief of Defense Intelligence
Mr President has also approved the following appointments:
S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS
1. Col. Adebisi Onasanya Brigade of Guards Commander
2. Lt. Col. Moshood Abiodun Yusuf 7 Guards Battalion, Asokoro, Abuja
3. Lt. Col. Auwalu Baba Inuwa 177, Guards Battalion, Keffi, Nasarawa State
4. Lt. Col. Mohammed J. Abdulkarim 102 Guards Battalion, Suleja, Niger
5. Lt. Col. Olumide A. Akingbesote 176 Guards Battalion, Gwagwalada, Abuja
Similarly, the President has approved the appointments of other Military Officers in the Presidential Villa as follows:
S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS
1. Maj. Isa Farouk Audu (N/14695) Commanding Officer State House Artillery
2. Capt. Kazeem Olalekan Sunmonu (N/16183) Second-in-Command, State House Artillery
3. Maj. Kamaru Koyejo Hamzat (N/14656) Commanding Officer, State House Military Intelligence
4. Maj. TS Adeola (N/12860) Commanding Officer, State House Armament
5. Lt. A. Aminu (N/18578) Second-in- Command, State House Armament
Mr. President has also approved the appointments of two (2) additional Special Advisers, and two (2) Senior Assistants, namely:
S/N NAME APPOINTMENTS
1. Hadiza Bala Usman Special Adviser, Policy Coordination
2. Hannatu Musa Musawa Special Adviser, Culture and Entertainment Economy
3. Sen. Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel Senior Special Assistant , National Assembly Matters (Senate)
4. Hon. (Barr) Olarewaju Kunle Ibrahim Senior Special Assistant, National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives)
Finally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs.
It is to be noted that the appointed Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Comptroller General of Customs are to act in their positions, pending their confirmation in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Willie Bassey
Director, Information
For: Secretary to the Government of the Federation
A suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s controversial appointment of a Sole Administrator for Rivers State suffered a setback on Thursday as the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, failed to appear or send legal representation before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The matter, brought before Justice James Omotosho, was instituted by Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, who is urging the court to declare the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as unconstitutional and to nullify the suspension of the state’s elected Governor and Deputy Governor.
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Although the Attorneys-General of Lagos, Bayelsa, Taraba, and Edo states were present and announced their appearances, the absence of legal representation for both the President (1st Defendant) and the AGF (2nd Defendant) drew attention during the proceedings.
Plaintiff’s counsel, Mr. Chimezie Enuka, confirmed to the court that all parties—except the Attorneys-General of Zamfara and Bauchi states—had been properly served with the originating processes and hearing notice.
Following a consensus among the present legal teams, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to June 11, 2025, and ordered that fresh hearing notices be issued to all defendants.
The suit, filed under number FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, has Tinubu, the AGF, and the 36 state Attorneys-General listed as defendants. Jideobi is asking the court to set aside all decisions and actions taken by Ibas in the name of a Sole Administrator, arguing they lack any constitutional basis.
In his affidavit in support of the suit, the plaintiff asserted that President Tinubu does not possess the constitutional powers to suspend elected state officials or to appoint unelected figures to govern in their place.
“As a Nigerian lawyer and all through my years of practice, I have never seen the word ‘Sole Administrator’ in the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Jideobi stated.
“I know that neither the 1st Defendant nor the 2nd Defendant appointed the Governor and Deputy-Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria and that no Governor or Deputy Governor in Nigeria is an appointee of the 1st and 2nd Defendants,” he added.
The plaintiff contends that the only constitutionally recognized grounds for removing or interrupting the tenure of elected Governors and their deputies are outlined in Sections 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He is therefore seeking a declaration from the court that the President has “NO constitutional authority to either remove, suspend or otherwise tamper with the tenure of a duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor of a State and appoint a sole Administrator [or any other substitute howsoever called or described].”
Jideobi warned that unless the court intervenes, “removal of duly elected Governors and Deputy-Governors may become the pastime of the President, thereby opening the floodgate of anarchy capable of consuming this nation.”
He added: “I have instituted this suit in the public interest, in the defence of the Rule of Law and accentuation of the supremacy of the Constitution… It will be in the interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant the prayers contained on the face of this Originating Summons.”
Among the specific reliefs sought are an order setting aside the suspension of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, a nullification of Ibas’ appointment, and a directive ordering him to vacate the Government House immediately.
In a dramatic show of solidarity, members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) staged a picket outside the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development’s headquarters in Abuja.
The protest was sparked by the ministry’s refusal to comply with a court order for the reinstatement of Comrade Victor Ekpaha, who was dismissed from his position more than 20 years ago.
READ ALSO: Tariff Hike Protest: Telecoms Union Backs NLC’s Suspension Of Protest
The workers’ action resulted in the shutdown of the ministry’s operations, as they called for Ekpaha’s immediate reinstatement and the payment of his full salary, allowances, and other benefits for the over two decades that the case has been unresolved.
The NLC has expressed its determination to continue pressuring the ministry until the court ruling is respected and Ekpaha is fully compensated for the years of unpaid entitlements.
The union has also emphasized the broader issue of labor rights and justice, urging the government to address such longstanding grievances.
More to follow………………
The Dangote Refinery has announced a N15 reduction in its ex-gantry loading cost, bringing it down to N865 per litre from the previous price of N880.
The new price, confirmed by a pro forma invoice and verified by petroleumprice.ng, was communicated to customers in a notice on Thursday morning.
This price adjustment follows earlier reports that the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery was expected to lower its petrol loading costs by the end of this week.
The reduction is expected to further drive down fuel prices in the country, providing some relief to consumers.
READ MORE: ECCIMA Applauds Dangote’s Impact On Nigeria’s Economy
Chinedu Ukadike, National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), assured the public that the price drop aligns with the Federal Executive Council’s recent directive on the Naira-for-Crude agreement.
“We are confident that this price reduction will be beneficial for the Nigerian people,” Ukadike said.
In a related development, the Federal Executive Council has authorized the full implementation of the long-suspended Naira-for-Crude agreement with local refiners.
This policy aims to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign exchange for petroleum imports and boost local refining capacity.
The Ministry of Finance released a statement following a meeting between Finance Minister Wale Edun and Dangote Refinery officials.
The statement emphasized that the Naira-for-Crude initiative is a long-term policy, not a temporary measure.
“The initiative is designed to support sustainable local refining, enhance energy security, and reduce the country’s dependency on foreign currency for petroleum products,” the Ministry’s statement read.
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