By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Anambra State Government has commenced a probe of civil servants accused of reporting late to duty and absenteeism in the state public service.

Some of the affected workers appeared before the Special Disciplinary Committee on Violation of Public Service Rules, following Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s unscheduled visit to the State Secretariat in March, where it was discovered that over 90 per cent of the workforce were absent from their duty posts.

The committee, constituted in line with the Public Service Rules 2021, sat at the Office of the Head of Service, State Secretariat Complex, Awka, on Friday, and examined several workers over alleged lateness and absenteeism.

Speaking during the exercise, the Chairperson of the panel and Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Nkiru Nwankwo, said lateness and absenteeism violate public service rules and amount to a breach of employment terms.

She warned that such offences are punishable under the rules, stressing that the current administration is committed to repositioning the public service for efficiency and effectiveness.

“This exercise is set up to probe lateness and absenteeism, which violate public service rules and constitute a breach of contract of employment. Workers should have a change of attitude toward work,” she said.

Nwankwo advised workers with genuine reasons for absence or lateness to follow due process by formally notifying appropriate authorities in writing and in good time.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has signed the N68.32 trillion 2026 appropriation bill into law.

Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy, announced in a statement on Friday.

Onanuga said Tinubu also extended the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Kwara State Government has filed a 20-count charge of culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, and related offenses against former Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki, former Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, and two of Ahmed’s former aides.

The defendants – Saraki, Ahmed, Yusuf Abdulwahab (former Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed), and Alabi Olalekan (a former aide) – are scheduled to be arraigned before Hon. Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Wednesday, June 4, 2026. The case is numbered KWS/114C/26.

The charges stem from the deadly Offa armed robbery of April 2018, in which multiple people lost their lives. The state government alleges that the accused provided weapons and financial support to some of the convicted robbers.

Key evidence cited by the prosecution includes:

-Confessions of a convicted robber– Ayo Akinnibosun, one of the convicted robbers, reportedly claimed he acted as a “hit man” for Saraki’s political structure.

-Alleged weapons and gifts– Akinnibosun said he received two AK-47 rifles from Yusuf Abdulwahab two days before a political congress election, along with a Toyota Lexus 300 Jeep bearing Saraki’s license plate and cash described as “empowerment” funds.

-Political thuggery– He allegedly led a group of political thugs working for both Saraki and Ahmed.

-Post-robbery condolence visit– Akinnibosun and his men reportedly escorted Saraki to Offa for a condolence visit shortly after the robbery.

-Recovered exhibits– Vehicles and other items linked to the robbery were recovered from the Kwara State Government House and a government ministry in 2018.

The Court of Appeal has previously upheld the conviction of Akinnibosun and other robbers involved in the Offa incident.

Saraki has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the case as a political witch-hunt aimed at destroying his political career.

Given the high-profile status of the defendants and the sensitive nature of the 2018 Offa robbery, the trial is expected to draw significant political and public attention.