Nigerian accused of rape gets strange sentence of life jail with 76-year imprisonment in US
I was sentenced to three life imprisonment and 76 years jail term. The meaning is that if I come back to life after dying in this jail, I will again be kept in jail till I must have died three times. I will then serve another 76 years before I would be set from here in Dooly State Prison, Georgia, United States.”
Those were the words of Adedoja Olaniyi Bah, a native of Ilesa, Osun State, who spoke with our correspondent through his sister, Toyin Fanu, from his base in Georgia, United States of America where he is currently serving three life sentences and an additional 76 years in prison for allegedly raping a teenage girl.
But he insists that he is as clean as a hound’s tooth as the rape allegation was merely a frame-up for reasons that remained yet a mystery.
Olaniyi said: “The evidence brought by the police was contradictory. The DNA test results of the perpetrator of the crime did not match mine according to the police expert.
“Yet I was jailed as the court looked away from those inconsistent facts put forward against me because of racism.
“I can still win this case, but the American justice system is worse than Nigeria’s.
“I can make Nigeria proud if I can hire an independent lawyer to represent me at the Appeal Court.”
According to The Nation findings, Olaniyi’s journey out of the shores of Nigeria began in 2007 when he left for Tokyo, Japan in search of greener pastures. Upon his arrival in the Asian country, he started running a dancing club and recorded landmark success.
This was when he met his Japanese wife and their union was blessed with two kids. In Tokyo, he had also met a Nigerian named Atunnise Olutoye and they became friends until the latter departed Japan for the United States of America in 2009 and their interaction became limited to occasional telephone conversation.
Vacation results in Olaniyi’s imprisonment
On April 20, 2017, Olaniyi embarked on a vacation to New York, United States of America. Upon his arrival in God’s Own Country, he contacted Olutoye who had relocated from Japan to the US some years earlier. Olutoye then invited him to Georgia for reunification after they had stayed apart for eight years.
Olaniyi gladly honoured the invitation and hopped on the plane to Georgia with Olutoye’s wife picking him up at the airport and driving him to their house where a room was given him to stay in. Olutoye, a car merchant, then asked Olaniyi to venture into the business of buying and selling second-hand cars. Subsequently, Olaniyi purchased five cars with guidance from his friend.
However, in June the same year, Olutoye told Olaniyi that his mother would be coming to America on a visit and would be staying in the room occupied by Olaniyi. The development forced Olaniyi to rent an apartment at Sweetwater Creek, Austell, because he had not finished his car transaction.
On June 3, 2017, Olaniyi had an accident with one of the cars and sustained minor injuries. He informed Olutoye about it and the latter mooted an idea that they could make money with the accident from what insurance would pay for medicals and other bills. He then urged Olaniyi to claim that he (Olutoye) was also involved in the accident, and both of them started receiving treatment at AICA Ortho and Spine, a facility situated on Thornton Road.
It was learnt that Olutoye only used the opportunity of the accident to access medical attention for some issues he had had in his neck and back but did not have enough money to address.
How jealousy grew against Olaniyi
During the period, Olaniyi bought another car through through a registered and accredited dealer; an auction route Olutoye did not know about. The development was said to have infuriated Olutoye who became jealous and allegedly complained that “because my friend has money he is now buying from where I don’t know.”
It was gathered that they were both receiving treatments for four week after which Olaniyi was tired as a result of failure of the Insurance company to pay them any money over the accident. He then informed his friends that he would be going back to Tokyo as his return ticket date was near.
But Olutoye was infuriated by his decision to return to Tokyo because it would abruptly end the medical attention they were receiving together. He implored his vacation friend to tarry for a while so as to end the medical check-ups. Olaniyi rescheduled his return flight to July 30, 2017.
Arrested for alleged rape
However, before his departure date of July 30, 2017, an ill-fatebefell Olaniyi. As he was returning home from shopping, the police on routine patrol stopped him in his car at the Kruger Parking lot and searched the car without finding anything suspicious.
Olaniyi said: “They asked me to follow them to the Douglas County Sheriff Department for further questioning about the vehicle. I humbly complied and drove myself to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, even though there was no warrant or any charges preferred against me, except the questions about my vehicle acquisitions. On my way to the department, I informed Olutoye about what was going on.
“Upon arrival at the Sheriff’s station, I was asked how I bought the cars and made payments. I provided the dealership contact address and provided evidence of payment received from my family bank account in Tokyo and also evidence of payment from my Bank of America account to the dealership bank account.
“After no fault was found with the car purchase process, the police shifted their line of questioning and told me that a crime had occurred at the complex where I lived, saying that the closest surveillance footage around the area showed me. The officer asked me to share any information or individuals I might have seen, as that could assist in their investigation.
“I explained that I had moved to the complex less than a month ago and was not familiar with the residents or their faces. Despite my attempts to clarify this, the officer continued to press me for information. Eventually, I requested to leave but the officer threatened to charge me with rape and other sexual offences if I did not help them in the investigation.”
He noted that on the night of his arrest, samples were taken from him for a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test. It was learnt that his hair, pubic hair, saliva and fingernails were scraped for the test to ensure it match the sample found on the girl they raped.
Ordeal with Douglas police
Olaniyi continued: “I was arrested and detained without any probable cause that I committed a crime. It took a week before my friend, Olutoye, appeared at the station, and that was the first and the last time he ever visited.
“After months in detention, I hired an attorney to represent me. In one of my attorney client visitations, as I was emphasising my good character, telling the attorney that this was my first time in Atlanta Georgia and I just moved into the complex, I requested that he reached out to my friend Olutoye.
“However, upon checking his records, the attorney shook his head in disappointment. Then he told me that ‘unfortunately, the Olutoye you considered your friend, has agreed to testify for the State against you, so there is no way I can contact him.’
“He then asked me, ‘Do you have anyone else who can vouch for your character?’ I replied with a no, as Olutoye was the only person I knew in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The truth is Olutoye had thousands of my money and my SUVs are in his possession, which he could have sold to secure legal services for me but he chose not to show up. I was unaware that Olutoye had become a witness for the state, and I couldn’t understand why he did so at the time.”
According to T Mobile report of Olaniyi obtained by The Nation, the Nigerian father of two was in front of AICA Ortho and Spine facility located on Thornton Road as he was on a call for five minutes 43 seconds between 6:55 pm and 7:01 pm on the day he was alleged to have raped the white teenage girl.
A 911 record obtained by Adam Kiker, a policeman who was around the area when the rape incident occurred at the park of Sweetwater creek, Austell, showed that the emergency call by Englett around 7:14 pm notified the police that “the suspect is a black male wearing a red shirt and khaki shorts.”
Exhibit F claimed that the vehicle driven by Olaniyi was allegedly used to hide the clothes which have not been found till now.
In a supporting document by Kiker, a report of surveillance cameras at the scene of the crime, he noted in the document that “the maintenance Manager, Joseph Bates, allowed me to go into the leasing office and watch surveillance video footage.
“The video showed a black male wearing a red shirt with gray sleeves and tan khaki shorts walk from the 100 building to the south side of the leasing office.”
Also, the 14-year-old victim of the rape (name withheld), in a transcripted document, corroborated the 911 report and surveillance cameras report of the cloth worn by the perpetrator of the offence.
She noted that the suspect was not armed while raping her as he only used his “strong arms” to fondle her private part before she was penetrated.
The sister of the victim, Angiethomas, corroborated the testimony of her sister that the suspect was a black male wearing a red shirt and khaki shorts.
Report of another witness named Joshua Miller noted that he saw the video surveillance and the suspect was a dark male who wore a red shirt and khaki shorts.
However, a video footage of Olaniyi presented in court showed that he wore a hoody of purple colour coated with white and red strips. The hoody was long-sleeved. He also wore a multi-coloured trousers like army camouflage.
Olaniyi also said the exact video on which his prosecution was based was never produced in court till he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Similarly, the result of the DNA test conducted by the police to prosecution expert, MS Hinkle on both Olaniyi and the victim do not match each other. She said there was no meaningful match between the virginal swap of the victim and that of Olaniyi. Hinkle noted that it is 50 per cent probable and she also said “the DNA result is inconclusive.”
The DNA expert of Olaniyi named Dr Acton disagreed with the police expert noting that there should not be anything called ‘inconclusive’ with the explanation she gave about the result.
Countering the police expert before the court, he said: “I have the defendant’s profile here and I have an evidence profile here. You can go ahead and conduct statistics on that profile.
“But if they’re not the same, that means you don’t have the evidence to do anything with it.
“In essence, if you have these alleles missing that the defendant possesses, that’s the basis for exclusion. Meaningful match statistics were not obtained.
“Well, your first step in the process is not statistics. Your first step is to have profiles from two different samples that are consistent. Then you can apply statistics.”
Police witness, Jay Hayes noted that Olaniyi committed the offence between 6:51 pm and 7:03 pm, a claim countered by Olaniyi’s call history and GPS that he was at the hospital at that particular time.
During the judgment, the judge disqualified the DNA expert employed by Olaniyi on the basis that he did not have a recommended certificate as stated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
This forced the expert and Olaniyi to go for Daubert Hearing which revealed that the DNA samples on the victim and Olaniyi do not match each other.
However, Olutayo testified against Olaniyi that he was not sure of his character because they had parted ways in Tokyo for more than seven years. Subsequently, the court sentenced Olaniyi to three life imprisonments and another 76 years jail term.
Olaniyi told the reporter that the case is presently at the Appeal Court but the government lawyer that is currently representing him is not tendering documents or puncturing the loopholes in the prosecution by the police.
He lamented that he had spent more than $150,000 to hire lawyers and experts in the case; a development that has left him bankrupt, hence the government that wrongfully jailed him is now the one providing a lawyer to defend him.
Olaniyi pleaded with the Nigerian government and Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State in his case for fair hearing in the case.
His words: “I want to appeal to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to my aid for a fair hearing.
“This is a pure case of racism aided by my jealous friend. The American government system of prosecution and court judgment was faulty.
“My situation is a result of jealousy and racism. But it won’t last for long. I will make Nigeria proud. Shame on America’s justice system. It is worse than what we have in Nigeria.”
He added that all the cars he bought were still in his friend’s possession with the thousands of dollars in his hand.
Distraught mother pleads with Nigerian government
Olaniyi’s mother, Madam Victoria Adedoja, said her son’s case was marred by lack of proper legal representation.
The distraught mother pleaded with Nigerians to help get her son out of prison by ensuring that he is given fair hearing in the case.
While seeking help for her son’s appeal, she stated that she was not aware of her son’s predicament until she received a phone call from Olutoye, her son’s friend that invited him to the US, as well as his mother and one of Toye’s prophets, informing her about the arrest of her son and a demand for the sum of $20,000 to get her son out of the police station, which she couldn’t raise.
She said: “I was at the MFM Camp in Lagos when I got a phone call from a man who introduced himself as Olutoye Atunnise, breaking the news of my son being in detention in Atlanta.
“He spoke in a rude manner, asking me to look for money to bail him out from the police station because he committed a grievous offence. He said I should send the money to his account.
“I told him I did not have that kind of money because I am a retired teacher and a widow. But he said E lo ta nkan toba ni (go and sell his property).
“In panic, I demanded his account number in case we could raise any amount. He dropped a GTB account number 0174564903, and said if you get the money, send it to my account.”
“Racism and my son’s friend’s envy and greed contributed to his plight,” she added.
Olutoye responds to allegations
When Olutoye who is now an American citizen was contacted, he debunked the allegation that he sold Olaniyi’s car, saying: “Olaniyi was in prison when he sold all the cars he had with me, I dare him to provide the proof that I sold his car.
“It is unfortunate that he is crying that he is innocent. He should embrace his fate and start seeking forgiveness from God.
“He cannot lie that he did not rape the girl. In Fact, he chased the girl from the liaison office to a garden where he had carnal knowledge of the girl from the back.”
He continued: “There was a time Olaniyi was threatening me. What kind of audacity is that; to threaten me that he met in America? I have both Japan and America passports.
“I was shown the CCTV footage of the rape in court. He raped the girl. Olaniyi also did similar things in Tokyo. Even during his prosecution, the American government contacted Tokyo to aid the prosecution.
“Olaniyi is bisexual. He even sold his kidney for the love of money. I dare him to take a picture of his body naked. I don’t care anymore about him.
“Before this incident, I admonished him that my pastor saw a vision about him getting into trouble and that he should fast, but he never listened.
“I tried my best for him. I never testified against him in court. I was only whether I knew him and I told the court that I do know him.”
“The court was angry with him because he did not accept his fault. That is why he was sentenced to three life imprisonments and another 76 years.”
Nigerian accused of rape gets strange sentence of life jail with 76-year imprisonment in US
NAF recruitment 2026: Step-by-step guide to applying for BMTC 47/2026
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced its 2026 recruitment exercise, inviting qualified Nigerians to apply for enlistment as tradesmen/women and non-tradesmen/women under the Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 47/2026.
The NAF recruitment 2026 exercise opened on Thursday, September 3, 2026, and the online application portal will remain open until October 14, 2026.
The application is free of charge, and prospective applicants have been advised to carefully study the eligibility requirements and application guidelines before submitting their forms.
The recruitment exercise provides an opportunity for eligible Nigerians who meet the educational, age, physical and medical requirements to begin the process of joining the Nigerian Air Force.
Applicants are expected to complete the entire registration process through the official NAF recruitment portal and should not engage agents or individuals who request money in exchange for recruitment assistance.
To begin the application, prospective candidates should visit the official NAF recruitment portal and select the BMTC 47/2026 recruitment exercise.
Applicants should first read the recruitment guidelines carefully to determine whether they meet the requirements for their preferred category. Candidates are advised to understand the requirements before starting the form because the conditions for tradesmen/women and non-tradesmen/women are different.
After confirming their eligibility, applicants should complete the online application form by providing the required personal, educational and other relevant information.
Candidates should ensure that the information supplied is accurate and corresponds with their official documents. Particular attention should be paid to names, dates of birth, educational qualifications and other personal details because inconsistencies could create difficulties during subsequent verification.
Before submitting the form, applicants should carefully review all the information entered and make any necessary corrections.
Candidates who successfully complete the online application will be required to print the relevant documents generated by the recruitment portal. These include the Acknowledgement Form, Parent/Guardian Consent Form and Local Government Area Attestation Form.
The LGA Attestation Form must be properly signed and authenticated by an authorised official in accordance with the NAF’s requirements. Depending on the conditions specified for the exercise, an authorised signatory may include a military officer from the applicant’s state, a police officer of the required rank, a substantive local government chairman or secretary, or a magistrate.
Applicants should carefully check the specific instructions on the form before obtaining the required signature and authentication.
The NAF has also warned that applicants who fail to successfully complete their online registration may not be able to generate the required forms.
For general eligibility, applicants must be Nigerian citizens by birth and must be medically, physically and psychologically fit. They must also satisfy the medical and employment standards prescribed by the Nigerian Air Force.
The minimum height requirement is 1.66 metres for male applicants and 1.63 metres for female applicants.
For tradesmen/women, applicants must be between 18 and 27 years old by March 1, 2027.
Candidates applying under this category with National Diploma (ND) or National Certificate in Education (NCE) qualifications must have obtained their certificates from accredited institutions and meet the required academic conditions.
Applicants must generally possess at least five credits, including Mathematics and English Language, in not more than two sittings in recognised examinations such as WAEC, NECO, GCE, NABTEB or NBAIS, where applicable to the particular category.
Candidates applying for driving positions and other trades requiring a Trade Test certificate must possess the relevant Trade Test qualification and satisfy the required secondary-school certificate conditions.
Applicants seeking recruitment as drivers must also possess a valid driving licence.
Those applying under sports-related categories are expected to provide evidence of professional sporting experience. Such evidence may include relevant certificates, medals and other recognised records of sporting achievement, subject to the specific requirements of the recruitment exercise.
For non-tradesmen/women, applicants must be between 18 and 22 years old by March 1, 2027.
They must possess at least five credits, including Mathematics and English Language, in not more than two sittings in WAEC, NECO, GCE, NABTEB or NBAIS.
Applicants in this category are also required to possess the relevant Primary School Certificate and Secondary School Testimonial.
Candidates should ensure that the names and other personal information contained in their educational documents are consistent with the details provided on their NAF application form.
Submitting an application does not automatically mean that a candidate has been selected for enlistment.
According to the recruitment guidelines, applicants who successfully progress to the next stage will be considered for a Zonal General Aptitude Test.
The NAF said the date and other details concerning the aptitude test will be communicated through the official recruitment portal.
Only applicants who are successful at the aptitude-test stage will subsequently be invited for the selection interview.
Candidates are therefore advised to regularly check the official recruitment portal for announcements concerning the aptitude test, shortlisted applicants, selection interviews and other stages of the recruitment exercise.
The NAF has also warned applicants to beware of recruitment scams.
The Force says the NAF recruitment exercise is free of charge, meaning applicants are not required to pay money to submit their forms or secure consideration for enlistment.
Candidates should not give money to anyone claiming to have the ability to secure a recruitment slot, influence the selection process, guarantee placement on the shortlist or manipulate examination or interview results.
Prospective applicants should also be cautious about fake websites, social-media accounts and individuals impersonating NAF officials.
Applicants are advised to obtain recruitment information only through official Nigerian Air Force communication channels and the designated NAF recruitment portal.
Candidates should also avoid submitting multiple applications. Applicants are expected to provide accurate information and complete the application process carefully under the appropriate recruitment category.
The NAF BMTC 47/2026 recruitment exercise will close on October 14, 2026. Applicants who are interested in joining the Nigerian Air Force are advised to complete their registration before the deadline rather than waiting until the final days of the exercise.
The recruitment process is free, and meeting the eligibility requirements does not by itself guarantee enlistment. Candidates must successfully pass the various stages of the selection process before they can be considered for training.
Prospective applicants should therefore carefully follow every instruction published by the Nigerian Air Force and continue monitoring the official recruitment portal for subsequent announcements.
NAF recruitment 2026 at a glance
Recruitment exercise: Basic Military Training Course 47/2026
Application opening date: September 3, 2026
Application closing date: October 14, 2026
Application method: Online
Application fee: Free
Male minimum height: 1.66 metres
Female minimum height: 1.63 metres
Non-tradesmen/women age: 18–22 years by March 1, 2027
Tradesmen/women age: 18–27 years by March 1, 2027
Next major stage: Zonal General Aptitude Test
Subsequent stage: Selection interview
Applicants should verify the latest requirements directly on the official NAF recruitment portal before submitting their applications, particularly if the Force publishes additional instructions or updates during the recruitment period.
NAF recruitment 2026: Step-by-step guide to applying for BMTC 47/2026
Federal Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage as Cost of Living Bites Harder
The Federal Workers Forum has written to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, demanding an immediate review of the salaries of federal civil servants and an increase in the minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000. The forum argued that the current wage structure no longer reflects the economic realities confronting federal workers amid Nigeria’s escalating cost of living. The letter, dated September 2, 2026, and signed by the National Coordinator of the FWF, Andrew Emelieze, and General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele, was addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly. President Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation were also listed among the recipients, underscoring the urgency and high-level nature of the workers’ demands.
The forum proposed a new salary structure with a minimum of N300,000 for Level 1 Step 1 workers and a maximum of N1.5 million for Level 17 officers. The proposed structure would set salaries progressively across all grade levels, with Level 2 workers earning N330,000; Level 3, N360,000; Level 4, N390,000; Level 5, N420,000; Level 6, N450,000; and Level 7, N480,000. For senior officers, the forum proposed N510,000 for Level 8; N550,000 for Level 9; N600,000 for Level 10; N700,000 for Level 12; N750,000 for Level 13; N800,000 for Level 14; N1 million for Level 15; N1.2 million for Level 16; and N1.5 million for Level 17 officers. “We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers,” the forum stated. The workers said their N300,000 minimum wage proposal was based on an estimated monthly expenditure covering feeding, transportation, accommodation, family support, electricity, cooking gas, phone and data, water and other utilities. “Our projections here are fair, and we believe it can still be accommodated in the present budget based on the daily increased earnings and the excess crude oil sales earnings,” the forum said, linking their demands to the government’s improved revenue position.
The FWF said the demand was necessitated by what it described as the incomplete implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024, claiming that federal workers had yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and associated allowances. “It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” the group stated. According to the workers, the 2024 wage review increased the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 but resulted in what they described as a flat N40,000 increase across all levels of the federal civil service. “Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels,” the forum said. The FWF argued that the statutory three-year review period should not prevent the government from responding immediately to what it described as an emergency deterioration in workers’ purchasing power, making the case that waiting until 2027 would be catastrophic for workers already struggling to survive.
The workers complained that the rising cost of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other necessities had made the N70,000 minimum wage inadequate. “Federal workers have been enduring the situation, and everything has been frustrating and nauseating. We cannot cope again. Federal workers are dying in instalments; we are suffering in silence; our salary is too poor; it is not taking us home,” the letter stated. The FWF further alleged that some federal workers had become heavily indebted to microfinance institutions and digital loan platforms in an attempt to meet their daily needs. “Federal workers are now heavily indebted to microfinances and, most times, federal workers resort to phone loan apps to get transportation to work,” the group said. The forum also claimed that some workers had resorted to using firewood because they could no longer afford cooking gas. It argued that the worsening financial situation could affect workers’ productivity and create conditions conducive to corruption, painting a grim picture of the daily struggles facing federal civil servants.
Amid the growing pressure, the Presidency has signalled a willingness to consider a wage review. In June 2026, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila acknowledged that the N70,000 minimum wage, while a milestone in 2024, must be reassessed against today’s realities. “The N70,000 wage, which was a milestone in 2024, must be honestly reassessed against today’s realities,” Gbajabiamila said. He added that when the review process begins, “this administration will approach that endeavour not as an adversary of labour, but as a partner,” signalling a more conciliatory stance from the government compared to previous wage negotiations.
The demand for a higher minimum wage is not limited to the FWF. The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have also reopened negotiations with the Federal Government, pushing for a significantly higher wage of N500,000. NLC President Joe Ajaero, speaking at the Rights of Workers Summit in Birnin Kebbi, said the current N70,000 wage was no longer sufficient to meet workers’ basic needs. “Anything less than N500,000 cannot cater for workers. The current minimum wage is due for review, and we will soon begin negotiations with the government,” Ajaero said, raising the stakes in the wage debate and setting the stage for potentially contentious negotiations with the federal government.
While labour unions push for N500,000, some stakeholders have described the proposal as unrealistic given Nigeria’s prevailing economic conditions. The Coordinator of the Forum of Delta State NGOs suggested a more moderate range of between N250,000 and N300,000, arguing that the labour unions’ demand may be impractical. The debate highlights the tension between workers’ needs and the government’s fiscal capacity, with the FWF’s N300,000 proposal representing a middle ground between the current N70,000 wage and labour’s more ambitious N500,000 target.
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has pledged to champion the unions’ demands at a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The governor, who noted that his administration was the first among state governments to implement a N75,000 minimum wage, assured workers that his state would implement any new national minimum wage agreed upon by the Federal Government. His commitment signals that some state governments may be willing to support a wage increase, though the fiscal implications for cash-strapped states remain a significant concern.
Federal Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage as Cost of Living Bites Harder
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike
Wike to Governors: Account for Subsidy Funds, Stop Hiding Behind NGF
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike challenges state governors to account individually for increased allocations from petrol subsidy removal, insists President Tinubu has no power to dictate sub-national spending, and takes aim at opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi over their policy positions.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a direct challenge to state governors across Nigeria, demanding that they publicly account for how they have spent the additional revenues received following the removal of the petrol subsidy. Speaking during a media chat with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, Wike said each state government, rather than the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), should explain to its citizens how the increased funds had been used. He argued that the additional allocations to the three tiers of government had given states greater capacity to fund projects, pay salaries and pensions, and improve public services. According to him, the NGF, as an association, could not replace individual governors’ responsibility to account to their citizens.
“What you call the Nigerian Governors’ Forum is an association. I’m a governor of State A, I should be able to defend my State A,” Wike said. He added that governors were elected by the people of their respective states and should therefore answer directly to them. “Rivers State Government is accountable to the citizens of Rivers State. Anambra State Government is accountable because they have been elected by citizens of those states, not by the entire Federation of Nigeria,” he stated. Wike said governors should be able to point to projects and programmes financed with the additional revenue generated after the subsidy removal. “If Governor Diri says, ‘Look, challenge me. The money that came, see what I’ve done for Bayelsa State,’ fine,” he said, referring to Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri.
Wike defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy, saying it had increased revenues available to the federal, state and local governments. According to him, the impact of the policy should be assessed by what governments had achieved with the additional resources. “Today, the states are saying, unlike before, we can’t pay salaries, we can’t pay pensions, strikes all over the places. Are there strikes again now? They can tell you, no,” he said. He maintained that governments at all levels must remain accountable for how the additional funds were spent.
Wike also responded to comments by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on the management of funds from subsidy removal. According to Wike, Obi should have directed his questions to state and local governments rather than the federal government. “All he should have asked is, ‘Having removed the subsidy, what do you do with the gains?’ This is what I think a reasonable person should talk about,” Wike said. The FCT minister emphasised that President Tinubu has no constitutional authority to dictate how states and local governments spend their allocations. “Now, the government has said the gains have been shared among sub-nationals. Tinubu has no power to say, ‘State, this is what you should do with the funds that you’ve brought in from the fuel subsidy.’ He has no power to tell local governments what to do with their money. All tiers of government are independent,” Wike explained.
Wike also criticised politicians who, he said, changed their positions on major policy issues to suit political interests. “One thing you must take me on is that I am a consistent politician,” he said. He questioned politicians who had previously supported subsidy removal but later promised to restore it during election campaigns. “If a candidate says yesterday, at the moment you have your vote for me, I’m going to remove subsidy; today the candidate says, ‘No, vote for me, I’m going to bring back subsidy,’ I mean, what kind of candidate is that?” he asked. He said political candidates should clearly explain their policy positions rather than make campaign promises aimed solely at attracting votes.
Wike specifically targeted former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who recently pledged to restore the subsidy if elected in 2027. Wike recalled that Atiku had, in 2022, advocated the removal of fuel subsidy, describing it as fraudulent. “Now, in 2026, he is not going to remove the fuel subsidy. Is he going back to the fraud, which he had alleged that fuel subsidy was?” Wike asked. He described Atiku as a “voodoo economist” who, in his view, says whatever he believes will appeal to voters. “Atiku, who is confused, who acts like a voodoo economist, Atiku will say anything just to be president,” Wike said. He argued that consistency was essential for anyone seeking to lead the country, accusing Atiku of changing his position depending on the political circumstances.
The FCT minister also questioned how a future government would operate a petrol subsidy under Nigeria’s current petroleum industry structure. He pointed to the commercialisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the emergence of private refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery. According to Wike, NNPCL is no longer the sole importer or producer of petroleum products, making the traditional subsidy arrangement more complicated. “He is living in the past. If not, he will know that with the Petroleum Industry Act, NNPC is now fully commercialised. It has transformed the old NNPC into a limited liability company (NNPC Limited), and no longer the sole importer or producer of fuel,” he said. Wike asked whether a government led by Atiku would subsidise petrol produced by private refiners. “Will Atiku, as President (which he never be) pay subsidy on fuel produced by Dangote Refinery?” he asked. He argued that restoring fuel subsidies would reverse the market-oriented reforms introduced under the Petroleum Industry Act and could discourage investment in the petroleum sector.
The subsidy debate has resurfaced ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major opposition figures taking different positions on the policy. Atiku Abubakar said in an August 25 post on X that he remained committed to restoring the subsidy if elected. “On the question of subsidy, my position has not changed and will not change: I will restore it! A nation as blessed as ours has no business abandoning its citizens to hardship. Nigeria is rich enough to look after her own,” Atiku wrote. Peter Obi, however, has maintained his support for the removal of the subsidy, arguing that alleged mismanagement of its proceeds should not be used as justification for returning to the subsidy regime. Speaking during a panel session at the Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt on August 25, Obi said the removal was necessary but should have been accompanied by a clear and organised plan for deploying the resources recovered from the policy.
President Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy during his inauguration on 29 May 2023, declaring “Fuel subsidy is gone.” The policy has remained one of the defining economic decisions of his administration. Tinubu has repeatedly urged state governments to ensure the increased allocations translate into tangible development. On 30 July, while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State, the President said states were now receiving four to five times what they previously received from the Federation Account. “The cost of operation is high. But the money that I’m pushing to the states, if you had it during your own time, or during my time, it would have been different. They are taking four to five times their money. Nobody is borrowing money to pay salaries now. Pensioners are receiving their pay,” Tinubu said.
Responding to concerns that infrastructure development in Abuja had not translated into better living conditions, Wike disagreed with the view that housing alone should be used to measure residents’ quality of life. He said investments in roads, public transportation and other public infrastructure had improved access and mobility across the Federal Capital Territory. “Why do we have to only think until everybody gets houses? That’s only when the quality of life has changed. That is wrong,” he said. Wike argued that improvements in transport, road infrastructure and other public services should also be considered indicators of better living standards.
In a related development, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the FCT Minister to publicly account for an estimated ₦14 trillion in fuel subsidy savings reportedly received through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) since mid-2023. In separate Freedom of Information requests, the organisation urged the governors and the FCT minister to disclose full details of how the funds have been spent, including locations of projects executed, implementation status, and completion reports. SERAP’s request follows rising concerns that despite massive increases in state allocations since the removal of fuel subsidy, millions of Nigerians are yet to see improvements in public services such as healthcare, education, and social welfare. “There is a legitimate public interest for governors and the FCT minister to urgently explain how they have spent the money they have so far collected from the subsidy savings,” SERAP said in the letter. The organisation has given the governors and the FCT minister seven days to comply, warning of legal action if they fail to respond.
On his reported reconciliation with political associates, the minister said the disagreements had been resolved but declined to discuss the details. “Personal, political, everything settled,” he said. He added that he had invited the concerned political associate for talks but would not disclose what was discussed.
Wike to Governors: Account for Subsidy Funds, Stop Hiding Behind NGF
