A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Emmanuel Fayose, has signified his intention to join the governorship race in Ekiti State.

Fayose, who is the immediate younger brother of the state’s former governor, Ayodele Fayose, disclosed this in a statement made available  on Friday.

According to him, his resolve to join the race was borne out of his desire to revamp Ekiti and return the state to the path of growth and development.

He said, “I am in the race to dislodge the Oyebanji-led government, and eventually, if I win, I will run an inclusive government that would steer Ekiti in the right direction.”

Fayose claimed that he was further motivated following the recent meeting between his brother, Ayodele Fayose and President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

At the meeting, the former governor was said to have informed the President that he would support the incumbent to return to office, an act his party members in Ekiti have since labelled as anti-party.

However, Fayose noted that his morale was not dampened by the ‘bad’ news.

Instead, he vowed to shock him by picking the PDP form with a strong conviction that Ekiti people would back him all the way to win.

He said, “I read about the meeting in the newspapers like any other person and I wish to state that the meeting has nothing to do with my aspiration.

“The meeting will not in any way impact my aspiration because the former governor, being my elder brother, is only exercising his Democratic rights of freedom of choice.

“His choice and preferences will not and cannot in any way impact negatively on my bid as we are separate entities pursuing different goals.”

Fayose also called on his supporters in the state to remain steadfast and resolute in their quest for positive change, adding that come 2026, the PDP will return to power to rebuild the state.

“So my brother is on his own and it’s left for the leadership of our great party to ascertain his political allegiance either to our PDP or APC.

“I am, however, using the opportunity provided by this platform to urge our teeming supporters to remain firm and resolute and not to be distracted in any way to cause the needed change in our state,” he concluded.

For over eight years, the Nigerian government has struggled to prosecute former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke due to complex extradition procedures, according to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Wahab Shittu.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Shittu highlighted the legal and administrative hurdles involved in bringing Alison-Madueke back from the United Kingdom to face trial.

“You know the extradition procedures of getting somebody who has taken flight from one country to another involve legal compliance procedures that must be satisfied before someone can be extradited to Nigeria,” Shittu explained.

“There are judicial procedures and international administrative protocols that must be complied with.

“Successive Nigerian governments, particularly this administration, are making efforts to ensure Diezani is brought back to face her trials. However, legal and extra-legal hurdles remain a significant challenge.”

Alison-Madueke, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been accused of siphoning millions of dollars in public funds.

Despite numerous cases filed against her in Nigerian courts, her continued stay in the UK has hindered her prosecution.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government on Friday secured $52.88 million in recovered Galactica assets linked to Alison-Madueke from the United States.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi revealed the details during a formal asset agreement signing ceremony in Abuja.

Fagbemi announced that $50 million of the recovered funds would be allocated through the World Bank for rural electrification projects, while the remaining $2 million would be directed to the International Institute of Justice to enhance the country’s justice system and counter corruption efforts.

This latest recovery underscores Nigeria’s commitment to pursuing stolen assets, but Shittu stressed that the ultimate goal remains ensuring accountability.

“These challenges demonstrate the complexity of international justice systems,” Shittu noted, “but efforts must continue until justice is served.”

In October 2023, Fagbemi submitted a warrant of arrest and request to the Crown Prosecution Services of the United Kingdom for the urgent extradition of Alison-Madueke.

Meanwhile, in May 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission planned to join forces with the United Kingdom prosecutors as an interested party in the trial of the former petroleum minister in a UK court.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians in a business apartment in the Gudu axis of Abuja for internet fraud.

They were arrested on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

The suspects, comprising 67 males (including four Chinese) and 38 females were allegedly involved in a hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.