The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of Onatayo Pelumi for money laundering involving funds totalling about ₦132 million.

Pelumi was convicted by Justice Osiagor of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on five counts bordering on the retention of proceeds of unlawful activities in bank accounts domiciled with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and Zenith Bank.

The charges alleged that the convict retained various sums of money in the accounts between January 2023 and June 2026, knowing that the funds formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities.

The court sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine, on count One. On counts two, three, four and five, he was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a ₦300,000 fine on each count. The terms of imprisonment are to run concurrently.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of two properties and ₦8 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The ₦8 million is domiciled in the convict’s Zenith Bank account

The forfeited properties are:
Half plot of land at No. 23 Michael Ayorinde Street, Abule-Egba, Lagos.
Half plot of land at No. 1 Yisa Street, Meiran, Lagos.

The court further ordered the convict to undertake seven days of community service in connection with the sentences.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Grand Patron of the North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network, Senator George Akume, has rallied stakeholders across the North Central geopolitical zone to intensify grassroots mobilisation and support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at a strategic meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji A.A. Sule and other political stakeholders and leaders of the mobilisation network on Friday, 2nd October, 2026 in Abuja, Sen. Akume said the initiative was designed to take the campaign for the President Tinubu beyond Abuja and into communities across the North Central, stressing that the real strength of electoral mobilisation lies at the grassroots.

He described the North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network as a platform established to mobilise support and votes across the zone for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

The SGF outlined three major activities planned by the network to drive its mobilisation campaign. These include: North Central Grand Rally, scheduled for October 10, 2026, in Lafia, Nasarawa State; a comprehensive medical outreach programme to be implemented across states in the zone; and a North Central Grassroots Advocacy Tour and Town Hall Meetings covering the 19 senatorial districts across the six North Central states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, the planned medical outreach is intended to complement the political mobilisation with humanitarian services for people at the grassroots.

He listed comprehensive eye screening and treatment which comprise refraction and prescription of spectacles, cataract assessment and selected cataract surgical services where facilities permit, glaucoma screening and diabetic eye screening among the services to be provided.

Sen. Akume further said the advocacy tour and town hall meetings would provide an opportunity for direct engagement with communities across the North Central, allowing stakeholders to communicate the policies and programmes of the administration while listening to issues and concerns at the grassroots.

He said the initiative, put together by the National Coordinator of the network, Arch. Sonny Echono, his team and other stakeholders, has the endorsement of the APC National Secretariat.

Akume urged political leaders, ministers, governors, party stakeholders and grassroots actors to approach the assignment with commitment, unity and confidence, stressing that the North Central has an important role to play in the 2027 electoral process.

He expressed confidence in the capacity of the region’s political structures and grassroots stakeholders to effectively organise and mobilise support for the President across communities in the zone.

In his remarks, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda stated that the North Central stakeholders, comprising governors, government appointees and other critical political actors from across the North Central zone, have resolved to mobilise substantial support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

The stakeholders affirmed their commitment to working collectively across the six states of the North Central and the Federal Capital Territory to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and demonstrate their solidarity with the President.

As part of the mobilisation strategy, Prof. Yilwatda announced the stakeholder plans for a mass rally scheduled for October 10, 2026, in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

He said supporters and members of the APC would be mobilised from across the North Central to participate in the rally and publicly demonstrate their support for the President, with plans for a medical outreach programme in selected communities across the zone.

He also disclosed that the stakeholders further resolved to establish a reconciliation committee to address grievances and promote unity among party members and political stakeholders across the North Central. They said resolving internal differences would strengthen the mobilisation effort and enable stakeholders to work together ahead of the 2027 election.

The group is expected to reconvene next week to intensify preparations for the Lafia rally and coordinate the broader grassroots mobilisation programme across the zone.

The National Coordinator of the North Central Grassroots Mobilization Network and the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch. Sonny Echono said the mobilisation programme is aimed at uniting the North Central as a cohesive bloc while demonstrating the zone’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

They said the programme would commence with public communication of the planned activities, followed by sustained media engagement and grassroots mobilisation across the zone, with the overall objective of strengthening political participation and mobilising substantial electoral support for the President in the forthcoming election.

He described the 2027 general election as an important opportunity for the geopolitical zone to strengthen its collective voice and advance its common interests within Nigeria’s political landscape.

They said the political dynamics surrounding the election underscore the need for greater unity and coordination among stakeholders across the zone, adding that efforts would be directed towards building a common front, identifying shared priorities and reconciling differences that could undermine collective objectives.

In his goodwill message the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed assured the stakeholders of strong media support for the planned mobilisation activities, noting that effective communication would be critical to the success of the programme.

He, however, called for broader reconciliation efforts across the North Central, saying that those grievances should be addressed through internal dialogue and engagement.

The Chairman of the North Central Governors Forum and the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi A. Sule commended the SGF and the coordinator of the North Central mobilisation initiative for bringing stakeholders together toward ensuring the victory of the party in the forthcoming elections.

He stressed that the party has a political advantage to deliver for the APC with six states now under the APC and with a supportive Federal Capital Territory administration, noting that the presence of the APC National Chairman and the SGF also provides additional institutional strength for the mobilisation effort.

The apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned politicians and political parties not to put Nigeria on fire, urging Nigerians to reject violence, inflammatory rhetoric, provocation and the destruction of lives and property ahead of 2027 general elections.

ACF while cautioning that no political contest is worth the loss of any Nigerian, appealed to eligible Nigerian with Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) to vote according to their conscience.

ACF position was contained in a statement issued by the forum’s chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, (SAN) on the Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, on Thursday.

According to the statement, “The period leading to elections, as well as the period immediately following them, can be tense and potentially hazardous. I therefore urge all citizens, particularly our youths, to exercise restraint and avoid locations, gatherings and incidents that are known or reasonably suspected to be trouble-prone” the forum said.

ACF said, “However, our votes should be based on individual analysis, conscience, judgment and assessment of the candidates and the issues, rather than merely responding to the clarion calls or directives of any political party.

“The vote of every citizen is a personal expression of choice and a constitutional
instrument for determining who should be entrusted with public responsibility.
Let us therefore vote responsibly, peacefully and conscientiously” the statement said.

ACF said at 66, many Nigerians continue to suffer from natural disasters, insecurity, displacement, economic hardship, poverty and multifaceted forms of deprivation.

ACF noted, “These challenges have disrupted economic activities, closed schools, separated families and, in many instances, broken homes and destroyed livelihoods. Sadly, some of these painful and inhuman circumstances are perpetrated or aggravated by persons into whose hands we have entrusted the responsibility of leadership and governance” the statement said.

“This situation calls for sober reflection. Leadership is a sacred trust. Those
entrusted with public authority must continually remember that they hold such positions in trust for the people and for the common good”

Osuman said, “On behalf of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), I extend warm greetings, goodwill, love, and renewed assurance of salvation, hope and better times to all Nigerians, particularly our brothers and sisters across the Arewa region”

The forum added, “As we commemorate the 66th Anniversary of our nation’s Independence, it is appropriate that we pause to reflect on the state of our nation and, particularly the experiences of our people across the various geographical locations of Nigeria” it said.

ACF chairman further said, “Today, 1 October 2026, provides the Arewa Consultative Forum and, indeed, all Nigerians, with an opportunity for introspection and reflection.”

We must ask ourselves: Who are we as a people and as a region? Have we become increasingly individualistic, or are we still committed to collaboration and collective responsibility? Are we increasingly circumscribed by the pursuit of “self” rather than the advancement of “us”?

“Are we truly united in all ramifications, or do we exist in splinters based on tribe,
faith, political affiliation, personal interests, ego, relevance and self-embellishment? These are difficult but necessary questions” ACF asked.

“As Nigeria marks her 66th Independence Anniversary, the Arewa Consultative Forum calls for renewed commitment to peace, unity, responsible citizenship, justice, good governance and the dignity of every Nigerian. Let us remember that Nigeria belongs to all of us. We may differ in tribe, faith, language, political persuasion and geographical origin, but our common destiny as Nigerians binds us together” Osuman said.

ACF reminded northerners that diversity should be a source of strength and not a justification for division, “The strength of any society lies not merely in its numbers or resources, but in the quality of its unity, its shared values, its commitment to justice and its willingness to place the common good above narrow personal interests” the forum said.

The forum urged parents, elders and teachers to serve as moral, ethical and exemplary guides to the younger generation.

“Our youths must be taught the values of honesty, discipline, respect, hard work,
tolerance, patriotism, peaceful coexistence and respect for the rule of law.

The future of Nigeria cannot be secured by government alone. It requires the
collective responsibility of families, traditional institutions, religious leaders,
educational institutions, civil society organisations and citizens” ACF advocated.