Natasha’s Puerile Apology Letter, By Gbenga Oshinowo

April 29, 2025

Suspended senator representing Kogi Central , Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan decided to bring herself to sordid spotlight again by hurling into public space an asinine piece entitled “Satirical Apology Letter” and addressed to Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Nigerian Senate.

In the ill-advised and inelegant piece of insolence against the Nation and its institution, Natasha attempts to wax intellectual by introducing the concept of satire into the uncouth letter . It is obvious that she has almost no knowledge of the concept and its import. Satire implies criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way in order to make a political point. And so in this piece of absurdity , who is she criticizing or which idea is her target of intention. The vile piece is nothing more than serialized lies and calculated deception.

The so-called apology letter is a burlesque, a parody and not a satire as she ignorantly claims. Burlesque is an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something especially in a literary or dramatic work. It is a device in communication which fits her skewed thinking in this circumstance. Unfortunately in her hysteria and swashbuckling, she does not pay attention to learning.

The above framework fits what Natasha has been doing these past few months. She has proven herself a poor drama queen who is very poor at interpreting scripts yet presents the public with absurd dramatic optics with the intent to manipulate them. Her works so far have remained bland and unconvincing despite her concerted efforts. Her theatrical outputs are tasteless, insipid and vacuous of any mental deposit.

It is sad that even though they credit her as being a lawyer, no action of hers reflects that any learning from that noble discipline was acquired by her even inadvertently. She is lawless, undisciplined, unbridled in her tongue and bereft of logical reasoning. Her public conduct flies ethics and moral values in the face. So what type of lawyer is she ? Pity!

If she were a lawyer, she would have been familiar with the law of evidence. She would also have known that he who alleges must prove . But Natasha has continued to dish out random narratives that are far-fetched in evidence and even logic. Sometimes the storylines are so childish that people are forced to see her actions as that of an “agbaya”; a Yoruba usage loosely referred to an old person who acts childishly with not much sense. And to know that this person was a member of the highest legislative body in the land until her suspension puts this nation on a questionable threshold in the leadership recruitment process.

In her malevolent, malicious and deceptive letter which is replete with pun, Natasha proves that she had a chequered upbringing that was far from decent and the manifestations are what she is grappling with. Her petulant nature , her ease with fabrication of lies, the consistent introduction of new allegations like “private dinner behind closed doors” and her use of lewd puns like “erection” for “election” summarize her as debased and lacking in moral values.

In her over- bloated, ego she calls herself a stubborn woman. Is it a virtue? Even though she is likely to claim that, the stubbornness is about her strength of character, she knows that she is economical with the truth if she nurses such an assumption. Her past records are in clear dissonance with such assumptions and so would not support such claims. And let no one talk about change or repentance. It is easy to spot those cut for repentance when one sees them. She does not bear any such value.

She signs off her inane letter with “Yours in eternal resistance”. Interesting. It is obvious that she is yielding to populism rather than sense and playing to the gallery. May I kindly remind her of an adage which submits that “a dog that is destined to get missing will never hear the hunter’s whistle”. Before she construes this as a threat to abduct her, this adage refers solely to her political career which she is railroading to destruction because of untamed conduct and bloated ego.

The last lines, “Unafraid, Unbought, and Unbroken tell the story of a young woman who lives in delusional cravings and fabricates false narratives as a habit to satiate whatever is hounding or haunting her.

Gbenga Oshinowo wrote in from Abuja.

Three Crown Vs El-Tahdam: I Have No Authority To Give Lands – Man Who Signed Consent Letter For Mining License

Greenbarge Reporters

April 28, 2025

In this interview in Abuja on Saturday 26th April 2025, Mr. Abdullahi Usman, signatory to the Consent Letter which El-Tahdam Exploration Limited presented to the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) for license says he has no authority to sign the document. He narrates how the Chairman, Yauri Emirate Mining Committee, Mr. Abdullahi Mai Akwai, summoned and misled him to sign the Consent Letter.
He commended the Emirate Council for prompt investigation and disciplinary action taken to restore dignity of the community, while warning operating companies to obtain documents through authorized channels.
Usman, who was suspended while investigations progressed, thanked the emirate authorities for diligently investigating the issue and restoring his office upon discovering that he was misled to sign the controversial document.
Usman, a native of Libata, Yauri Emirate, preferred to respond to questions in Hausa language. The information he transmitted was then translated into English and adopted by him.
He spoke to Francis Kadiri in Abuja, on Saturday.
Excerpts.
You are in the eye of the storm for signing a Consent Letter which a mining company (El-Tahdam Exploration Limited) presented to MCO for license, claiming it obtained the consent document from Libata Community. What is your role in this controversy?

I want to begin that I am a devout Muslim, and this means that I do my best to live according to the injunctions of Almighty Allah as contained in the Holy Quran. Although I am secretary to the Village Head of Libata Community, I carry out instructions of the Village Head which he sometimes delegates through some members of his council or through whoever he deems fit.

As Secretary to the Village Head, do you have authority to sign Consent Letters?

No, I do not have the power to do so.

Who has authority to sign Consent Letters?

Only land owners have the power and authority to sign while traditional rulers sign as witnesses.

So, why did you sign the Consent Letter that suggests that Libata Community granted consent to El-Tahdam Exploration Limited?

That is what I was trying to explain to you.

In Libata, we have a leader, he is the Village Head, but there are also some senior officials through whom the Village Head may give instructions. The Chairman of the Mining Committee of Yauri Emirate is among the senior officials through whom the Emir can delegate responsibility or pass a message. The official is the chairman of Yauri Emirate Mining Committee.
So, on that fateful day, I was summoned alongside some other people by the Chairman of the Mining Committee. We went to meet him. He told us that there is an instruction from above to sign a Consent Letter, and also to append a date. As expected, I am a loyal staff of the emirate and I had no reason to doubt him. So, we all signed the document. While signing the document, we were instructed to backdate it, and we did because we believed that the instruction was handed down from above.
Trouble started after some days, and we were summoned to Birnin Kebbi. When we got to Birnin Kebbi, a government official alongside Members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly questioned us as part of their investigations, and challenged our authority to sign Consent Letter. The official made it clear to us that the land in respect of which we signed Consent Letter had been granted to a mining company known as Three Crown Mines Limited.
He told us that we acted on behalf of the community, and that we have no authority to do so because we are not the owners of the land, and that nobody instructed or authorized the Mining Committee Chairman to ask us to sign the Consent Letter.
In all sincerity, I am not a landowner, therefore I cannot give land. I can only give what I have. The land in question is not a community land, it belongs to individuals.

We explained to him that we were only being loyal to constituted authority, and that we believed that we were protecting the interest of the emirate. To cut the story short, we were all suspended, including the Chairman of the Mining Committee of Yauri Emirate, and then investigations commenced.

Was your name on the Consent Letter you signed?

Yes, my name was on it.

Do you by any means have any prior knowledge that your name will be on the letter?

Not at all! I was surprised to find that my name was on it. Moreso, I had thought that the Consent Letter referred to a different land.

What was the outcome of the investigation?

The investigations established that everything was planned and executed by the Chairman of Yauri Emirate Mining Committee without the knowledge of the emirate. He was the one who summoned me to sign the Consent Letter. Although all those involved were initially suspended, but those who were found innocent were restored to their positions after the investigations.

Are you aware that the document you signed was presented to a government office as part of requirements for a mineral licence?

Yes. However, it is clear that I was misled to fill and sign the consent form (as land owner) in favor of El-Thadam Exploration Limited, which the company used to apply for license as a result of which Exploration License N0. 45689 was granted to the company. The same consent agreement was also used to obtain Mining Lease.
I became aware of this when another mining company, Three Crown Mines showed that they had been granted consent over the same land. And the Land Owners had earlier given its consent to Three Crown Mines Limited over the land, and endorsed by the community.

So, what are you doing to correct the error?

I am now aware that there was no order from above authorizing the Chairman of Mining Committee to instruct me to sign the Consent Letter.
I took some steps to inform relevant stakeholders including the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) that the Consent Letter in pocession of El-Thadam should be disregarded because it was signed by an authorized person. I wrote a letter dated 13th August 2024 to the MCO detailing the true position of things.
So, in order to set the record straight, I have sworn an affidavit stating how I was misled by a superior official and I want the public to be aware of this.

I made it clear in the affidavit that it is necessary to set the record straight regarding the consent which I was misled to sign. This information is verifiable even from the suspended Chairman of the Mining Committee. I am sure that he will admit that I acted on his instruction without knowing that he was not authorized to instruct me.

How do you feel about the face off between two mining investors?

I am not happy that there is disagreement between Three Crown mining and El-Thadam Exploration Limited, and I believe that truth will lead to justice. This is why I have recounted all I know about he issue. I have also been part of the efforts of the Yauri Emirate Council to resolve the case amicably even though the case was in court. In respect of theses efforts, I am in Abuja alongside some other stakeholders to provide genuine information on the issues that led to the issuance of the Consent Letter toward amicable resolution of the issue.
The Committee Chairman will agree that those facts were grossly misrepresented. I stated in the affidavit I swore that I was given the impression that the land in respect of which my consent was sought and obtained, was different from the actual one.

Who are the stakeholders and how have you sensitized them?

I have with me copies of the affidavit of facts that I swore to, at the Federal High Court in Kebbi. Together with the some stakeholders from Yauri emirate, we have delivered the document to the stakeholders.
They include the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MoSMD); The Director General, Mining Cadsatre Office (MCO); the Inspector General of Police (IGP); the Director General, Department of State Security Service (DSS); The Commandant, Mining Marshalls at the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp; the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
In addition to efforts made at the federal level, I also made efforts at the state level alongside stakeholders including the Yauri Emirate Council. I delivered the same document to the office of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State; the Speaker, Kebbi State house of Assembly; the Hon Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State; Federal Mines Officer, Kebbi State; Mines Environmental Compliance (MEC) Office in Kebbi State; DSS, Kebbi State; Civil Defence, Kebbi State; and the Kebbi State Ministry of Mines.
So, those are some of the efforts I have made together with stakeholders to correct the anomaly, to build peace and harmony and ensure economic development of Yauri emirate.

France Set To Establish French Military Base In Abuja, Nigeria

Greenbarge Reporters

April 28, 2025

Information making the rounds has it that France has received a go-ahead from President Bola Tinubu to establish a French military base in Nigeria as part of efforts to enhance military cooperation between the two nations.
According to Huhuonline.com, three Aso Rock sources, who preferred anonymity, because of the highly classified and sensitive nature of the issue, confirmed that the French military base will be established in the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under the guise of a language academy to teach French to Nigerian military personnel.
The sources said that President Tinubu, who had been under pressure from French President, Emmanuel Macron, finally assented to the deal during his latest visit to Paris, France, early this month.
Asked why President Tinubu would prefer to disguise such a project with significant strategic and security implications for Nigerian sovereignty and national security, one of the sources said that the President is anticipating a huge backlash and strong opposition from the National Assembly, but added with a taint of sarcasm that Tinubu will eventually get his way, saying: “this is Nigeria and nothing no pass arrangement.”
The sources explained that the French military base will be sold to the Nigeria public as an initiative that is built upon previous collaborations, such as the inauguration of a similar French language laboratory at the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, in January 2024.
The emphasis on French language training is strategic, considering Nigeria’s position in West Africa, surrounded by Francophone countries, which are becoming increasingly hostile and belligerent towards their former colonial master, France. The source further explained that Tinubu will make the case to lawmakers that, enhancing French language proficiency among Nigerian military personnel is a means to improve interoperability with the armed forces of neighboring French speaking states; as well as strengthen integration within regional and international organizations where French is an official language.
The Kaduna laboratory, financed by the French Directorate for Cooperation in Security and Defense (DCSD), aims to provide language training for Nigerian military personnel. The facility was inaugurated by the French Defense Attaché, Colonel G. Dujon, and his deputy, Lieutenant-Colonel R. Chauvancy, in the presence of Major General JO Ochai of the NDA.
But the Aso Rock sources explained that unlike the Kaduna academy which focuses solely of teaching French to Nigerian military personnel, the language training initiative of the Abuja academy will complement broader security and defense cooperation between France and Nigeria, which includes support for Nigeria’s army, navy, and police forces. The cooperation focuses on areas such as maritime security, internal security, and civil protection, aiming to bolster Nigeria’s capabilities in these domains, according to a statement on the website of the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
“The proposed language academy in Abuja represents a continued commitment to strengthening military ties and enhancing the operational capabilities of Nigerian forces through improved communication and collaboration with Francophone partners,” the statement noted.
Huhuonline.com however gathered that the planned language academy will be a major outpost of the new French Africa Command (CDT Africa) created by the French Ministry of the Armed Forces in April last year. The CDT Africa, headquartered in Paris is led by Brigadier General Pascal Ianni, former press attaché of the Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces. This new command structure, attached to the Joint Operations Staff, is responsible for “the preparation and conduct of joint operations or operational engagements in all environments and in material or immaterial domains,” focusing on Africa. The CDT Africa will oversee all French military bases in African countries, subordinating them to the planned French military base cum language academy in Abuja. This comes despite President Macron’s earlier intentions to reduce the French military presence in Africa.
Huhuonline.com checks reveal that at a recent parliamentary hearing, French Army Chief of Staff, General Thierry Burckhardt said that reducing the military presence in Africa would compromise France’s ability to gather intelligence and exert influence in information warfare, as well as undermine its ability to rapidly deploy military power, if and when necessary. Burckhardt suggested increasing the civilian component of France’s presence to make its military footprint less visible, given the increasing hostility of former French colonies to French soldiers and military bases in their countries.
To which end, France is considering decreasing French military personnel in Gabon from 350 to 100; Côte d’Ivoire from 600 to 150. In Chad, the number will drop from 800 to 300. However, the reductions do not extend to the bases themselves, nor to the naval, air, and special forces installations in these countries. France also maintains a significant military presence in the Indian Ocean, including bases in Djibouti, Mayotte, Réunion, and Mauritius.
French media reports indicate that the newly created Africa Command will focus on providing military and intelligence support to local partners fighting rebel groups. In early 2024, France increased financial assistance to many of its former colonies, including Cameroon, Togo, Benin, the Central African Republic (CAR), Congo (Brazzaville), and Equatorial Guinea. This assistance is provided de jure or de facto free of charge. France already supports the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in its fight against Boko Haram through intelligence and operational cooperation, working from N’Djamena. France is also part of the International Support Group for Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery & Resilience of the African Union and the Chad Basin Commission.
Many experts believe Paris is strengthening its ties with Abuja as leverage as it recovers from the shock of recent events in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, whose leaders have expelled French soldiers from the countries and dismantled French military bases. These experts fear that France will try to leverage its relationship with Nigeria to destabilize the West African sub-region as it is already being accused of arming and backing terrorist groups to destabilize countries that seek to break away from French hegemony. Nigeria is France’s leading trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, and the 4th largest in Africa, behind Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.
In 2024, Nigeria accounted for 20% of France’s trade with sub-Saharan Africa, amounting to €3.53 billion. France has a bilateral trade deficit of €2.3 billion.
In 2024, French exports to Nigeria rose steeply, from €528 million to €611 million, or a 16% rise, in the first year of rising French sales to Nigeria in 9 years. Manufactured products represent almost the totality of France’s exports to Nigeria, with agrifood products being the leading export at around 30%. France is Nigeria’s 9th-largest supplier, between Germany and Brazil. Petroleum products represent 95% of French imports from Nigeria. France’s foreign direct investment stock in the country, which stood at €7.2 billion in 2021, is ahead of that of the United Kingdom and the United States.

Hunger Lured Me Into Music – Segun Johnson

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2025

Nigerian musician Segun Johnson has confessed that hunger and economic hardship compelled him to take to music.
In an interview with media personality, Teju BabyFace, Johnson stressed that harsh realities of life in Nigeria steered him toward music.
Asked whether music had always been his dream or if he discovered it as a viable career path, Johnson answered in Yoruba: “Ebi ni, hunger ni. If you are in Nigeria, you don’t have a choice,” meaning that hunger drove him to music.
He said that he started as a backup singer for several top artists until opportunities began to open up.
He said that during that time, he faced the challenge of having to perform alongside some of his clients while working as a backup singer.
Johnson’s story highlights the struggles that many young Nigerians face as they try to build careers amidst difficult economic conditions.
Today, with a successful career and an engaging performance style, Johnson remains a relatable figure to many, inspiring those who, like him, have turned hardship into a path to success.

Nigeria’s Secret Police Arrests British Army Major For Allegedly Supplying Arms To Criminals In Delta

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2025

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested an Itsekiri man serving in the British Army (name withheld) who allegedly supplies weapons to Criminals in Delta State at the behest of one Collins.
The secret police also recovered 50 AK47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition during a covert operation in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Multiple sources at DSS confirmed that the operatives from the Delta Command apprehended the prime suspect, a Major in the British Army, and several associates in connection with the illegal arms supply.
The British army officer was reportedly intercepted in Lagos as he was about boarding a flight to the United Kingdom, while his associates were apprehended in Asaba.
A source stated: “An Itsekiri serving in the British Army is alleged to have procured weapons and ammunition at the behest of one Collins to instigate unrest in Warri.
“During a covert exchange near Asaba in Delta State, operatives from the DSS Delta Command apprehended the arms supplier and several associates, seizing over 50 AK-47 rifles, six pump-action shotguns, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition.
“Shortly thereafter, DSS agents in Lagos intercepted the British Major as he tried to cross Nigeria’s border en route to the United Kingdom.
“All suspects are now in DSS custody. The DSS will carry out a full and transparent investigation and hold anyone found plotting tribal conflicts to account.’’
There are suspicions that the arms were procured by those opposed to the delineation of the wards and polling units in the Warri Federal Constituency.
A powerful traditional ruler is also being discreetly investigated in connection with the matter.
Source: News Express.

Muslim Hajj Commission Alerts Nigerians Of Job Recruitment Scam

Greenbarge Reporters

April 27, 2025

Suspected scammers have began to advertise recruitment for job seekers in the Muslim National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The employment advertisement scam that has been trending in various handles of the social media was confirmed by the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman Pakistan on a Freedom Radio Kaduna programme.
According to him, “the employment advert is a scam designed by unscrupulous elements to swindle persons desiring to serve at the Commission.”
He warned those involved to discontinue the deception, or face the full wrath of the law.
Professor Abdullahi Pakistan stressed that efforts are being made through relevant security and undercover agents to track those behind the fake employment advert credited to the Commission.
He advised the public to always seek clarification on any information dished out on social media, as the Commission is guided by rules and regulations on employment.
He said that at the appropriate time and if the need arises, the Commission will duly inform the general public through officially approved means.
He said that as at now, the Commission’s main concern is a seamless and hitch free 2025 Hajj exercise.

I’m Impressed By Gov Ododo’s Performance, Ex Kogi Gov, Yahaya Bello Confesses

Greenbarge Reporters

April 26, 2025

Former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has expressed satisfaction with the performance of his successor, Governor Usman Ododo and therefore endorsed him for re-election for second term.
Yahaya Bello acknowledged Ododo’s “unparalleled performance, dedication to good governance, and unwavering commitment to the people of Kogi State.”
The former governor, who spoke at a high-profile stakeholders’ meetin in Lokoja, the state capital, also acknowledged the trajectory of development and stability Governor Ododo has maintained since assuming office. “Governor Ododo has proven beyond every doubt that the confidence we placed in him was not misplaced. “He has demonstrated true leadership, built on continuity, innovation, and compassion for the people.
“From infrastructure to healthcare, security to education, youth empowerment to agricultural development, Governor Ododo has performed exceptionally.
“I have no hesitation in calling on all well meaning Kogites to support and vote massively for his re-election.”
Yahaya Bello, who led the state from 2016 to 2024, emphasized that Governor Ododo has not only consolidated on the achievements of the previous administration but has also elevated governance standards, setting new benchmarks across all sectors.
He particularly commended Ododo’s administration for its prudent financial management, attraction of critical investments, the revitalization of rural communities through massive road projects, and the prioritization of workers’ welfare, saying that salary and pension arrears, which once plagued the state, have become a thing of the past under Ododo’s stewardship.
“Governor Ododo is not just my successor; he is a leader in his own right. “He has carried the vision of a greater Kogi with strength and sincerity. Our state is safer, more prosperous, and more united today because of his inclusive leadership.”
The event was attended by party chieftains, traditional rulers, youth leaders, women groups, religious leaders and members of the diplomatic corps. The athering showcased the strength and unity within the political landscape of Kogi State ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial elections.
In his response, Governor Ododo thanked his predecessor for the gesture and for laying a solid foundation that made continuity and progress possible.
“I am deeply humbled by the trust and support of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello. His leadership remains a guiding light for us. We are committed to doing even more for our people, and with your continued support, Kogi State will rise even higher.”

Community In Kebbi Asks Mining Company, El-Tahdam, To Vacate Its Land To Stem Violence

Greenbarge Reporters

April 25, 2025

District Head of Maginga in Yauri Emirate, Kebbi State, has asked a Mining company, El-Tahdam, to vacate the land it allegedly occupied illegally to stem the consequences of confrontation with the community.
A letter by the District Head, Abdulmalik Nuhu Wara, dated 24th April, 2025 and addressed to the Managing Director of El-Tahdam Exploration Limited, called on the company to “stay off” the communities, warning El-Tahdam against breeding “chaos, unrest and insecurity.”
The letter, titled: “Notice of Demand to El-Tahdam Exploration Limited,” which was signed by the District Head and sixty–three other stakeholders of Maginga, said that the host communities did not grant the company it consent for Exploration Licence N0. 45689 EL and Mining Lease N0. 62680 ML or any other licence.
Full text of the letter reads thus:
“We, the undersigned members of Libata, Kabirba, Kwanga communities of Warra District, of Ngaski Local Government Area, Kebbi State, and which members, among others, include the District Head of Maginga, Village Heads, religious leaders of Warra, Libata, Kabirba and Kwanga, together with individual families/land owners who own the lands (measuring 5.4 KM2) situate at Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State, and which lands are covered by the mineral titles, being: Exploration Licence No. 45158 EL, and Small-scale Mining Lease No. 46216 SSML, have resolved as a matter of urgency to issue this notice of demand in the best interest of the general members of our communities. We, the signatories of this letter comprise of Districts/Village Heads, owners of the lands which are subject of the aforementioned mineral titles, stake holders in various ramifications, and members of the Host community which is pivotal to the smooth operation of mining activities.”
“We have been dismayed by the sad development that your company, EL-TAHDAM Exploration Limited, was purportedly granted an Exploration Licence No. 45689 EL and Mining Lease No. 62680 ML over areas of land in respect of which, the land owners had already given their consent to Three Crown Mines Limited and over which Three Crown Mines Limited had already been granted Exploration Licence No. 45158 EL since the 8th day of June, 2023.
“We wish to categorically note and humbly but firmly emphasise that we neither know your company nor welcome it to our community. Ultimately, we are not ready and willing to deal or relate with it as far as the land in respect of which the company was purportedly granted the Exploration Licence and Mining Lease, is concerned. You know very well that WE DID NOT AND NEVER GAVE THE SAID COMPANY, EL-TAHDAM EXPLORATION LIMITED, OUR CONSENT FOR THE SAID EXPLORATION LICENCE NO. 45689 EL and MINING LEASE NO. 62680 ML OR ANY OTHER LICENCE OR LEASE AT ALL!
“The consent which your company claims it obtained and on the basis of which the company was wrongfully granted an Exploration Licence and Mining Lease, was vehemently disclaimed by the persons you claimed gave the said consent. Thus, one Abdullahi Usman from whom EL-Tahdam claims to have obtained the consent, has stated and impressed on the Mining Cadastre Office that he does not own any portions of land in the area forming the subject of the mineral titles in question.
“Equally, one Murtala Musa of Warra town and the then secretary to the District Head of Maginga who also signed and/or endorsed the purported consent of Abdullahi Usman on behalf of His principal (the district head) without his principal’s prior authority, after he subsequently found out the truth, wrote and served a letter of disclaimer to the Mining Cadastre office intimating them that he did not give consent to your company as he does not own any lands forming the area covered by your EL and ML. Murtala Musa had explained in the letter that he was deceived into singing or endorsing the said consent. In fact, both Abdullahi Usman and Murtala Musa deposed and swore to affidavits to the effect that they did not give consent to EL-Tahdam company as far as the mineral title areas are concerned.
“It is imperative to reiterate that the only company that was given consent over the land in question by the owners of the said lands, is Three Crown Mines Limited and the consent was given out of an established trust and cordial relationship of the communities and Three Crown Mines limited. It is also crucial to emphasize that we have signed a Community Development Agreement with Three Crown Mines Limited as required by the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act and Nigeria Minerals and Mining Regulations.

“You have peddled lies to the effect that we, the members of the Host community (ies) have executed a Community Development Agreement with your company, El-Tahdam Exploration Limited and that the company has since commenced the execution and implementation of the agreed terms as contained in the fictitious community development agreement. It is necessary to state here and as you are aware, that, as community leaders, we have never had any contact with you or your company, El-Tahdam Exploration Limited, let alone signing a community development agreement with you or/and your company, EL-Tahdam Exploration Limited. No single project is or has ever been under execution by El-Tahdam exploration Limited in any of our communities and as we know very well that your company has no sites at all within our domain. How could we have executed a Community Development Agreement when we the members of the community have never had any discussions or deliberations in respect of same with the said EL-Tahdam company!
“Moreso, it is critical to bring to your attention, (as you may be aware) that Three Crown Mines Limited has already and since compensated us over the area in respect of and over which your EL TAHDAM company was purportedly granted EL and ML. This is because the said Three Crown Mines Limited had since been granted Exploration Licence (EL) and Small-Scale Mining Lease (SSML) over the said area long before the (wrongful) grant of your company’s mineral titles over the same area) and long commenced exploration and exploitation activities. Pursuant to the said mineral titles, Three Crown Mines Limited has also been executing developmental projects in the community, thereby bringing about socio-economic development and progress of the Host Community, to the sufficient satisfaction of the members of the community.
“Furthermore, it may interest you to know that your attempts to, by all means, force your way onto our lands has unsettled the host community, causing avoidable pandemonium, unrest, and trauma. Your company’s unholy determination to trespass upon our lands and force your company on us, have equally interfered and interrupted the flow of social and economic benefits due to the community from Three Crown’s mining activities. All these and more, are indications that your company and the land owners cum the host community cannot co-exist peacefully.
“In view of the above and more, we cannot, therefore, in good conscience, co-operate and relate with El Tahdam company over areas of land in respect of which the land owners have already been compensated and legitimately taken (and still taking) benefits from another company (Three Crown Mines Limited) which had earlier been granted EL and SSML over the area, and which still subsist; and over which area the said Three Crown Mines Limited has applied for grant of Mining Leases.
“We wish to kindly note that the host community has been living in peace and co-existing with all other persons who live and carry out businesses in the Host Community. This rather unfortunate development of granting your company EL and ML over the said area of land which the community had already given to Three Crown Mines Limited, is a recipe for crisis in the community, as evident in the past activities of the company. With all sense of seriousness, we cannot and we will not allow a company which was foisted on the community by what seem to be a deliberate wrongful grant of an EL and ML over a land in respect of which consent was not given, to have access to the said land and continue to ferment trouble in our peaceful community.
“The lands in respect of which your company was wrongfully granted EL and ML, are farmlands and source of livelihoods to the land owners. The cornerstone of fair and sustainable development in the mining industry is the willing participation of all parties involved. It therefore, needs no mentioning that the Government cannot force unwilling land owners and host community on a willing miner or company. Hence, we implore you not to trespass on the lands in question and any forceful attempt to enter upon the said lands by your company shall be met with an unrelenting legitimate resistance!
“Please accept the assurance of our highest esteem as we humbly hope that your company, EL-Tahdam Exploration Limited would appreciate and abide by our communities’ collective position.”

Minister Wike Angry With Council Bosses For Failure To Pay Teachers After Receiving Funds

Greenbarge Reporters

April 24, 2025

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike is not happy with chairmen of the six Area Councils of the territory who have refused to settle the salaries of teachers and workers despite the fact that funds have been released to them, even for the payment of the new minimum wage.
According to him, the Area Council Chairmen had failed to pay the teachers despite releasing approved funds.
The Minister, who spoke to newsmen today, April 24, expressed dismay over the non-payment of the entitlements of the primary school teachers who are responsible for the education of young children.
He emphasized that primary schools fall under the purview of the Area Councils.
Wike asked the chairmen to report in his office immediately for a meeting to resolve the issue around the teachers’ strike that had lingered for months now.
The Minister however appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to exercise patience while the issues are being resolved.
“It’s unfortunate and we have to tell ourselves the simple truth. The Area Council Chairmen, after I have approved money to be sent to them for them to be able to pay the teachers, they were unable to do that. In fact, I got the report yesterday and I have been able to summon all of them.
“I don’t know why people don’t have conscience that these are teachers who take care of our children and you are happy that you are not paying them their salaries. This is primary school teachers, not secondary school teachers. It’s the responsibility of the councils; they are in charge of the primary schools.
“So, I have summoned them to a meeting and also continue to appeal to NUT to give them some time that these things will be sorted out.”
The minister reviewed the updates on the key road projects that he had inspected, including the OSEX left-hand service carriageway, the N20 (Wole Soyinka Way) interchange and the full scope development of the Arterial Road N5 from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III, and expressed satisfaction with the quality of work.
He reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to meet its obligations to ensure timely completion.
“Generally, we are happy with the quality of work that is being carried out by all the contractors. We on our part will do everything possible to keep to our own obligation so that they will not find excuses why they were unable to fulfil their own obligation.”
On the costs of the projects, Wike said that the financial details would be provided during an account of stewardship.

The Lawless Gavel: Nigeria’s Descent Into Judicial Conquest, By Basil Odilim

Greenbarge Reporters

April 24, 2025

There is something far more dangerous than banditry in our forests and kidnapping on our highways. It is the silent, polished crime happening behind the oak-paneled courtrooms of Nigeria. It is the smiling face of a judge who has traded his conscience for a brown envelope. It is the silk-wrapped arrogance of a lawyer who now makes his living not from defending the innocent but from perverting justice. This is Nigeria’s new civil war—a war waged not with guns but with gavels.
How did we get here? Where else in the world do judges sit over cases they have already sold, while lawyers draft legal arguments not for the court, but for bribes? Where else is justice so bastardized that those who dare to speak the truth are punished for contempt, while those who auction judgments are garlanded as “My Lord”?
Even the politicians, the most notorious wreckers of society, now tremble before the judiciary. Not out of respect, but fear—fear that one judge’s signature can erase elections, destroy legacies, or declare the dead as winners. The judiciary is no longer a separate arm of government in Nigeria; it is the shadow emperor. And like all emperors, it demands loyalty, not to the Constitution, but to the cartel.
What we are witnessing is not corruption—it is judicial conquest. A conquest where the law no longer serves the people but enslaves them. A conquest where judgments are passed, not in the courtroom, but in the corridors of power and the vaults of banks. A conquest where the very soul of justice is auctioned to the highest bidder, while the poor, the innocent, and the hopeful are trampled like vermin.
Our fellow citizens killed by kidnappers and herdsmen, our compatriots watching their children go to bed hungry, the sick who cannot afford a single drug, classrooms without teachers or equipment, and roads that have turned into death traps–these tragedies shouldn’t have happened. They are the direct consequences of a nation conquered not by foreign invaders but by judicial gangsters. When justice is broken, everything else falls apart.
Travel across Nigeria. Look around at the palatial homes in exclusive neighborhoods, the marble-floor offices in Abuja and Lagos, the latest bulletproof SUVs, and European sports cars gliding over cratered roads. Then, walk into the first-class lounge at the airport or board an international flight—take a moment to ask: Who are these people? What do they do for a living? You’ll find they’re not our professors, not our engineers, not our innovators or inventors. No, it is the new emperors of Nigeria—participants in the judicial conquest. Lawyers, judges, fixers, court clerks-turned-billionaires. Fearlessly, they’re parading their newfound treasure and nobility in a broken republic.
The silence has been too long, and too many are afraid to speak. But what do I do? Join the terrified public? Then, what will I tell Him who gave me my voice? What will I say to my father in his grave—the man who spent all he had to give me an education—if I choose silence over truth? Shall I keep quiet for fear of those who, by the weight of their atrocities, should be running for their lives whenever the truth is aired? No. I will not.
And let me say this with the burden of fairness: I’m sorry I have to say this painful truth, because amid all this decay, there are still a few good lawyers and judges—men and women of honor caught in a rotten system they can’t reform alone. But even their silence is being weaponized against them. Their courage must rise now more than ever because history teaches us that every fallen great civilization collapsed from within—once their judicial systems were sold to the dogs.
Let the world not be deceived. Nigeria’s greatest tragedy is not poverty. It is not insecurity. It is not even political corruption—it is the weaponization of the judiciary against its own people.
No society survives long when its courts become crime scenes. No republic thrives when its judges become executioners (killers) of truth. And no nation has a future when its Constitution becomes a napkin for thieves in silk.
Until we reclaim the judiciary, Nigeria will remain a conquered people—not by colonizers, but by those sworn to protect them. May the God hear our cries.

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