Peter Obi denies private meeting with Tinubu in Rome

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has refuted claims that he held a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Rome over a purported ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank.

In a statement shared on X, Obi dismissed the allegations as baseless and malicious, accusing certain individuals of orchestrating a blackmail campaign against him.

He stated that his recent visit to Rome was strictly for spiritual purposes, including attending the lying in state of the late Pope Francis and the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.

According to Obi, “It’s obvious that the biggest business for blackmailers now is talking about Peter Obi from every negative perspective.

“Even my solemn spiritual trip to Rome has been twisted into yet another blackmail campaign by merchants paid ostensibly to propagate anything negative against Obi.

“One such individual, whose entire life revolves around blackmail, falsely claimed that I went to Rome to have a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding a purported ₦225 billion debt crisis involving Fidelity Bank. These claims are not only baseless, malicious, but entirely false.”

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He clarified that he only had a brief, incidental interaction with President Tinubu during the inauguration Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

“Let me categorically state that I have never sought an audience with, nor met, President Tinubu since he assumed office, except about 1 minute meeting at the arena of Saint Peter’s Basilica Rome during the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV, where I was seated behind, and had to respectfully greet him, and other dignitaries present.

“I was previously in Rome on the 9th of May for the lying in state of Pope Francis. Immediately after the mass and exchanging pleasantries, I went straight from Vatican City to London, and then back to Nigeria.”

Obi also addressed allegations linking him to the ownership of Fidelity Bank, clarifying his past involvement with the financial institution.

“The self-proclaimed ‘blackmailer-in-chief’ and others who thrive on spreading pain and falsehoods have also claimed that I own Fidelity Bank. For the record, I do not. Throughout my career, I have served as Chairman/Director of 3 banks/Financial institutions, of which Fidelity is one of them.

“Fidelity has over 500,000 shareholders, none of whom hold a majority stake. What this blackmailer seeks is to harm these hard-working Nigerians and cause them needless distress.”

He concluded with a message to those spreading falsehoods, urging them to reflect on the futility of their actions.

“To those peddling these falsehoods, and engaging in blackmail, I offer a simple prayer: May God grant you the virtues of gratitude and understanding to know that we came here with nothing and will go with nothing, that they cannot profit from their evil ways. A new Nigeria is Possible.”

Peter Obi denies private meeting with Tinubu in Rome

11-year-old girl to represent Lagos at AFED national finals

An 11-year-old pupil, Oluwakorede Esther Thomas of Vicmart Nursery and Primary School, has emerged the overall best in the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Lagos Chapter.

It’s a statewide primary six examination competition. Oluwakorede  scored 91.5%.

She will lead the state’s delegation to the national finals scheduled for June 11 in Edo State.

The second and third positions were claimed by Emmanuel Egwa of Honesty International School with 90.5%, and Perpetual Shoyombo of D’Jascol Nursery and Primary School, who scored 89.5%.

The three top-performing pupils were selected from among 120 candidates who qualified for the second stage of the annual AFED Lagos examination, after emerging best in their respective chapters during the first stage in March.

Announcing the results after nearly two hours of paper marking on Saturday, at

Aladura Comprehensive High School, Anthony Village, AFED Lagos State Controller, Mr. James Lartey-Lartey, hailed the pupils for their outstanding performance.

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He emphasized the significance of the examination in preparing children for future academic pursuits, particularly their transition from primary to junior secondary education.

“This examination is critical because it prepares our pupils for external examinations, such as national common entrance, military and model college admissions,” Lartey-Lartey said.

“It also helps us assess the teaching quality in our schools, especially at the primary six level.”

Lartey noted that over 11,500 pupils participated in the first stage of the competition held across Lagos and other participating states, including Ogun, Oyo, Anambra, Ekiti, and Rivers. From each of Lagos’ 40 chapters, the top three candidates advanced to the second stage held in Lagos, bringing the total to 120.

The top three winners got educational materials and will receive more substantial prizes, including cash rewards, at the national level. Candidates who placed fourth to tenth also received consolation prizes.

 At the national finals in Edo State, representatives from all participating states will compete for the overall top three spots, with results to be declared the following day, June 12.

11-year-old girl to represent Lagos at AFED national finals

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has revealed that between $88 billion and $94 billion is stolen annually from Nigeria and other African countries.

The Director General of GIABA, Edwin Harris, disclosed this in his speech at the asset recovery and management in Nigeria engagement organised in collaboration with the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Citing former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s report under the Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Harris, who was represented by Tim Melaye, lamented the level of stolen wealth in Africa.

He, however, called for collaboration between African countries to facilitate the return of all stolen funds back to the continent.

“According to President Thabo Mbeki’s report under the auspices of the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), over 50 billion US dollars was annually stolen from Africa; that was then, and the most current and realistic amount today is staggering, between 88 and 94 billion US dollars.

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“Where is this money? How do we recover them? Those recovered, how do we manage them? How do we ensure that the recovered loot is not re-looted? So many questions begging for answers. I leave you with the answers in your hearts,” he stated.

On his part, the executive secretary of CFTPI, Dr Umar Yakubu, said asset recovery is pivotal to the nation’s development and the trust-building among citizens.

“The issue of asset recovery is not merely a legal or financial matter; it lies at the very heart of our nation’s development and the trust we strive to build between the government and its citizens.

“Illicitly acquired assets, whether stashed away in foreign lands or concealed within our borders, represent resources that could have been invested in vital sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare. Their recovery is, therefore, not just about reclaiming stolen wealth but about reclaiming opportunities for a better future for all Nigerians.”

Earlier, in his goodwill message, the chairman of ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, said the issue of asset recovery is key to fighting corruption.