Senator Yunus Akintunde in South Korea, advances ties on parliamentary, economic, energy collaboration

 

Lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Yunus Akintunde, recently concluded a high-level working visit to South Korea aimed at fostering parliamentary cooperation and exploring opportunities for economic and developmental collaboration between Nigeria and South Korea.

The visit, held from April 20 to 26, 2025, was part of the “Korea Foundation Invitation Programme for Distinguished Guests in Parliament,” facilitated by the Korea Foundation—an organisation affiliated with South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and dedicated to enhancing international understanding and diplomatic ties.

Throughout the week-long programme, Senator Akintunde engaged in a series of strategic meetings and interactive sessions alongside other distinguished lawmakers from Chile, Egypt, Serbia, and Argentina. Notably, they participated in a special session with the Korea Legislative Research Institute, discussing best practices in legislative development and governance.

One of the highlights of the visit was a session at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, where Senator Akintunde received briefings from security experts, Prof. Ban Kil Joo and Prof. Sung Jisun. The session served as a platform for initiating potential Nigeria–South Korea cooperation in the areas of security and defence.

The Nigerian senator was also received at the South Korean National Assembly by Deputy Speaker, Mr. Lee Hakyoung, followed by a guided tour of the institution. In addition, the delegation visited the Korea Saemaul Undong Center, a UNESCO-recognised model for rural development, where Secretary General Sungho Kim hosted the delegation.

The programme include a symbolic visit to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, reinforcing the delegation’s exposure to geopolitical realities in the region. Senator Akintunde also participated in a cultural immersion event, including a palace tour that highlighted South Korea’s rich historical heritage.

In a separate session, the senator met with members of the Korea-Nigeria Parliamentary Friendship Association, coordinated by Congressman, Wi Seonggon. The meeting provided a valuable platform for comparing legislative systems and exploring avenues for strengthening bilateral parliamentary ties.

Senator Akintunde, who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and is an expert in energy studies, seized the opportunity to discuss potential areas of cooperation in renewable energy, rural development, and agri-business. He was also taken on a tour of a smart greenhouse farm—an innovative agricultural model with implications for food security and agro-industrial development in Nigeria.

The senator commended the Korea Foundation for the initiative, pledging to strengthen parliamentary dialogue and advance areas of mutual benefit between Nigeria and South Korea.

“The benefits of this tour are tremendous. “We will actively explore opportunities for collaboration and value exchange between our nations without delay,” Senator Akintunde remarked

He is expected to return to Nigeria in the coming days, following the successful conclusion of the tour.

Police break silence on alleged Boko Haram invasion of Oyo community

 

The Oyo State Police Command has disclosed that the video of the alleged invasion of the state by suspected Boko Haram currently circulating on social media was recycled.

The command’s spokesman, CSP Adewale Osifeso, made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday.

A video is currently being circulated on social media alleging the arrest of suspected Boko Haram members who invaded the state along the Oyo-Ibadan Expressway.

“The Police Command in Oyo wishes to address the recent circulation of misleading information on social media regarding a video that purportedly shows an attempted invasion of the state by Boko Haram elements intercepted along the Ibadan Express road.

“The video, which allegedly depicts articulated trucks filled with motorcycles and weapons, has been verified as a recycled clip from 2022,” he said.

Osifeso said the re-emergence of the video, particularly during a period of enhanced security in the state, suggests a deliberate attempt by certain individuals with malicious intent, seeking to spread falsehoods and incite fear and unrest.

“The command urges the public to remain vigilant and disregard such antics; we assure that this does not pose any current threat to the safety and security of the state.

“To further substantiate our claim regarding the video’s outdated nature, we note that the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) at the Ilero Divisional Police Headquarters, DSP. Segun Adeyemo, who appeared briefly in the video, retired from the Nigeria Police Force in August 2024 after a long period of meritorious service,” he added.

Osifeso reaffirmed the command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding all residents in the state.

He urged the public to avoid circulating outdated video content pertaining to issues that had been previously resolved and encouraged them to thoroughly verify any information before sharing on social media.

Wanted socialite arrested at Abuja airport

 

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Achimugu, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

It was gathered that Achimugu was arrested around 5 a.m. on Tuesday, shortly after returning from London.

Achimugu had been declared wanted in March by the EFCC over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

On Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, ordered tha businesswoman to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday, and to also appear before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Her lawyer, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed her arrest in a statement, saying: “Aisha Achimugu, who arrived voluntarily into the country from London, was arrested by the EFCC around 5 a.m. on Tuesday.”

Ojukwu criticised the EFCC’s action, describing it as a violation of a court order.

“In light of what transpired in court on Monday, my client returned based on the undertaking before the court to honour the EFCC’s invitation, but was arrested at the airport,” he said.

He further disclosed that Achimugu had commenced a hunger strike to protest what he termed a breach of her fundamental rights.

“She is a prisoner of conscience,” Ojukwu added.

Ex-presidential candidate: SDP not platform to settle scores with Tinubu, APC

 

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has warned that aggrieved politicians seeking personal vendettas against President Bola Tinubu or the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not find a home in the party.

Speaking on News Central Television on Monday, Adebayo emphasised that while the SDP welcomes new entrants, they must strictly adhere to the party’s ideology and leave behind the “shenanigans” of their former political parties.

“That is why you have seen some of the reactions as people are joining our party; we welcome them and we tell them ideological issues and we also tell them all these shenanigans that you do in your party, don’t bring them here,” he said.

Adebayo further cautioned defectors against using the SDP as a platform to settle old political scores.

“We don’t want them to come and change us; we want to change them, and we don’t want to be used for things that are not in the interest of the people,” Adebayo said.

He stressed that the party structures across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory had been properly briefed to educate all new members, regardless of their previous status.

“We spend a lot of time educating our members. Do not suddenly get used to money you did not ask for or monies you did not work for. Do not start to learn a bad habit, start to set up fake structures, don’t start to do unlawful registration, don’t start to fragment yourselves, don’t start talking about ethnicity. So we keep educating our people,” he said.

According to him, SDP is resisting pressure from defectors who attempt to impose old political habits on the party.

“When they come and say, oh, we want to move into a bigger secretariat, we need to buy this and that, people say, no, that’s not what we need in this party, maybe you should keep your money to yourself,” the former presidential candidate said.

He also referenced a recent press conference by SDP’s state chairmen, who made it clear to newcomers that the party would not compromise its principles.

“They said, look, you guys who are coming newly should study our ideology, don’t try to impose anything on us. We don’t need anything from you, just join the party and start behaving well,” Adebayo said.

He recalled a speech he delivered at his wife’s 50th birthday, reiterating the party’s stance: “If you were a former supporter of President Tinubu and you had your conspiracy against the people and you promised your own reward for that and they didn’t give it to you, that is not the basis to come to the SDP. And if you come to the SDP, don’t tell us; we don’t want to know, we’re not interested in it.”

On national issues, Adebayo reaffirmed the SDP’s opposition to the current administration’s policies.

“It is known that we are opposed to President Tinubu vehemently on policy. We do not have a history with him, we have no understanding with him. When they won the election and they were offering us positions, we did not accept, we did not dramatise it, we just told them, ‘sorry, keep your position to yourself, run your government, we will be here offering alternative policies,’” he said.

Adebayo stressed that alliances with the SDP must be based on accountability and a commitment to the people, not personal ambitions.

“If you plan something out there on how to wrest power, don’t come to us. If you want to wrest power for the benefit of the people, you can start talking to us on what you are going to do differently.

“Start talking to us about how you are going to show to the people that you are repentant and you are accountable for your past actions, past words, past mistakes, past misgovernance,” he said.

He emphasised that only those who embrace the party’s values and prove themselves over time can aspire to leadership within the SDP.

“Once you do all of that, you can then join our party, grow in the structure and when we see that you have behaved very well, maybe not in this election, maybe in a future election, we will start to feature you,” Adebayo said.