How Ikwechegh’s ₦1.15tr Interrogation Led to Tinubu’s Cabinet Shake-Up

President Bola Tinubu has removed Doris Uzoka-Anite as Minister of State for Finance and nominated Taiwo Oyedele as her replacement, following a dramatic cabinet reshuffle that came just one week after an explosive budget defence hearing at the House of Representatives.

The development has sparked intense national debate, as it followed public scrutiny over ₦1.15 trillion in approved capital funds that were reportedly not disbursed despite being part of the 2025 federal budget.

On February 25, 2026, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, confronted the finance team during the Appropriation Committee’s budget defence session. Armed with documentation from his role on the House Committee on Aids and Loans, Ikwechegh listed major approved loans and funding arrangements, including $1.2 billion for digital infrastructure, $500 million economic stimulus, $500 million MSME support (December 2025), $500 million AfDB-backed economic governance and energy transition funding, additional executive loan requests in multiple currencies, and ₦1.15 trillion — representing 30% of the 2025 capital budget — approved but not disbursed.

Despite these approvals and strong revenue reports from agencies such as FIRS and Nigeria Customs Service, lawmakers were informed that capital project execution stood at zero percent. Ikwechegh pressed the panel, questioning why capital projects across Nigeria remained unfunded while recurrent expenditure had already consumed a significant portion of released funds.

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When questioned, Minister of Finance Wale Edun reportedly shifted responsibility for disbursements to Uzoka-Anite, prompting the committee to summon her the following day. Uzoka-Anite confirmed that the ₦1.15 trillion had indeed been approved but stated that some ministries had not met “pre-disbursement conditions.” Lawmakers demanded clarification on which ministries had met all requirements yet failed to receive funding. She was unable to name any, raising concerns over whether funds were approved without adequate verification or whether allocations were being withheld without justification.

Exactly seven days after the initial hearing, the presidency announced a cabinet reshuffle. In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Uzoka-Anite was reassigned to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning as Minister of State, marking her third portfolio under the Tinubu administration. She had previously served as Minister of Trade and Investment before moving to Finance. Her replacement nominee, Taiwo Oyedele, now awaits Senate confirmation. The official statement did not directly link the reshuffle to the budget defence hearing, but the timing has fueled widespread public speculation.

Taiwo Oyedele is a respected tax expert and economist who previously chaired the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. Before his nomination, he spent over two decades at PwC, rising to become Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader. He is widely known for leading tax reform initiatives aimed at simplifying Nigeria’s tax system and broadening the revenue base. If confirmed, Oyedele will work alongside Wale Edun at the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The controversy surrounding the ₦1.15 trillion capital budget funds highlights deeper concerns about budget implementation, public finance transparency, and accountability in Nigeria. While the cabinet reshuffle signals a political response, the core question remains unresolved: Where is the ₦1.15 trillion approved for capital projects?

If funds were approved by the National Assembly but not released for infrastructure development, the implications extend beyond politics to roads, hospitals, schools, and economic growth nationwide. For many Nigerians, the sequence of events suggests that legislative oversight may have triggered executive action. Whether further investigation or accountability measures will follow remains to be seen.

How Ikwechegh’s ₦1.15tr Interrogation Led to Tinubu’s Cabinet Shake-Up

Edo Gov Okpebholo Joins Benin City Youths in Protest Over Power Outages

Benin City, Edo State — Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on Monday publicly aligned himself with youths and residents protesting persistent power outages and billing challenges linked to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC). The protest took place at Ring Road in Benin City, with demonstrators carrying placards reading “We say no to BEDC oppression,” “No light, no bill,” and “Edo people say no to bulk billing.”

The protesters decried prolonged blackouts, estimated electricity bills, and what they described as the exorbitant cost of prepaid meters, which they say range between ₦150,000 and ₦400,000. Residents also questioned the transparency of BEDC’s free meter distribution initiative, urging the company to publicly disclose beneficiaries.

Governor Okpebholo, reportedly passing by the protest area, stopped to address the crowd. He expressed solidarity with the demonstrators, saying he stood with them “as fellow youths seeking fairness.” The governor acknowledged that electricity challenges affect both rural and urban communities in Edo State and appealed for calm while the government engages relevant stakeholders to find solutions.

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While clarifying that BEDC is privately owned and not directly controlled by the state government, Governor Okpebholo pledged that efforts would be made to tackle the residents’ concerns. He suggested liberalising the electricity distribution sector to attract new investors and reduce what he described as a monopoly. Drawing a comparison with the telecommunications industry, he noted that introducing more players would improve service delivery and provide consumers with options.

The governor also announced plans to convene a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday and urged the protesters to nominate five representatives to participate in discussions aimed at addressing electricity supply and billing issues.

Speaking on behalf of the protest group, Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel said residents were compelled to act due to what they termed oppressive practices by BEDC. He emphasized the financial burden caused by prepaid meters and irregular billing, stating: “We pay for light and they give us darkness.”

Eyewitnesses reported that the protest remained peaceful, with security personnel ensuring order. The demonstrators dispersed following Governor Okpebholo’s address. As of press time, BEDC had not issued an official response to the claims raised by residents.

Edo Gov Okpebholo Joins Benin City Youths in Protest Over Power Outages

Pastor, Wife Arrested in Bayelsa Over Alleged Rape of 13-Year-Old Girl 

YENAGOA, BAYELSA STATE — The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a pastor and his wife over the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The suspects were apprehended by operatives from the Ekeki Division during a Sunday church service. Eyewitnesses said the pastor initially fled through a back exit after sighting police officers but later surrendered himself when his wife was taken into custody at the church premises.

According to reports, the victim is a relative of the pastor’s wife. The teenager allegedly told investigators and members of the National Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence and the Do Foundation that the abuse occurred about five times beginning in November 2025.

The girl reportedly said the incidents happened whenever her mother sent her to deliver a local bread known as “madiga” to the pastor’s wife. On one occasion, when the wife was not at home, the pastor allegedly invited her inside the church, locked the door and assaulted her. She further alleged that similar incidents occurred on other visits to the pastor’s residence.

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The minor said she initially kept silent out of fear but later informed her mother after noticing she had missed her menstrual cycle. Following the revelation, the mother confronted the pastor and his wife.

Sources disclosed that the pastor’s wife allegedly handed the mother N120,000 to facilitate an abortion after a medical scan reportedly confirmed pregnancy. The mother was said to have been persuaded by a relative not to “destroy God’s house” at the time.

The matter, however, escalated during a church service where the pastor and his wife were reportedly heard thanking God for helping them overcome enemies allegedly trying to bring down the church. Feeling distressed by the public display, the victim’s mother later filed a formal complaint at the Ekeki Police Division.

She also petitioned the complaint unit of the National Association of Women Against Gender Based Violence, led by Dise Harry.

Confirming the development, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Iyamah Daniel Edebor, said the case has been transferred to the Gender Unit of the command for thorough investigation and possible prosecution.

Police authorities assured that due process would be followed in handling the alleged rape case in Bayelsa, emphasizing that offences involving minors are treated with seriousness under Nigerian law.

The incident has sparked reactions in Yenagoa, with some church members reportedly seen at the police station discussing the development as investigations continue.

Pastor, Wife Arrested in Bayelsa Over Alleged Rape of 13-Year-Old Girl