President Bola Tinubu mourns veteran journalist Yakubu Mohammed, praising his courage, legacy in Newswatch, and contributions to Nigerian journalism and nation-building
President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound sorrow over the death of veteran journalist Yakubu Mohammed, co-founder of Newswatch Magazine, describing his passing as a significant loss to Nigerian journalism and nation-building.
In a condolence message released on Wednesday, Tinubu recalled that Mohammed devoted his life to “telling the truth to power,” often at great personal risk during Nigeria’s military era.
The President highlighted Mohammed’s role in founding Newswatch in 1984 alongside Dele Giwa, Dan Agbese, and Ray Ekpu, a partnership that redefined investigative reporting in the country.
“Yakubu Mohammed and his colleagues showed uncommon resolve by sustaining the visionary legacy of Newswatch after the tragic death of Dele Giwa,” Tinubu said.
“Their determination pushed the boundaries of investigative journalism in Nigeria and inspired generations of reporters.”
The President, who described Mohammed as a personal friend, commiserated with his family, the Kogi State government, and professional bodies including the Nigerian Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Commonwealth Journalists’ Association.
Tinubu also noted Mohammed’s recent memoir, Beyond Expectations, published in November 2025, describing the work as offering “an opportunity for deep reflection on leadership in Nigeria and the responsibility of the press.”
Beyond journalism, Mohammed contributed to academia, serving as Pro-Chancellor and Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University.
He also held senior editorial positions at New Nigerian Newspapers and National Concord.
Fresh concerns have emerged over compliance with a court order issued by the High Court of Kano State on April 8, 2026, restraining key parties—including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning, the Kano State Urban Development Authority, and Pluck Global Company Limited—from further actions pending the determination of the matter before the court.
Findings indicate that while all parties—except the concessionaire, Pluck Global Company Limited—were duly served within two days of the order, significant challenges were encountered in effecting service on the company, raising troubling questions about its corporate traceability and regulatory vetting.
A review of the company’s records filed with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed addresses that could not be verified as functional business locations. Notably, documentation submitted to Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, dated June 20, 2024, listed two addresses: 8B, Lalupon Street, off Keffi Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, as its head office, and 3 Bargery Road, Bompai, Kano, as its branch office.
However, a physical visit to the Ikoyi address revealed that the entire property is occupied by a company identified as Golden Alchemy, whose staff категорically denied any knowledge of, or shared occupancy with, Pluck Global Company Limited.
Efforts to trace the Kano address yielded even more unsettling findings. The location—a locked duplex—showed no visible signs of commercial activity. Neighbours, while reluctant to speak on record, alluded to irregular movements at odd hours, casting further doubt on the legitimacy of the premises as a corporate office.
In a twist, after multiple attempts to establish contact, an individual purportedly representing the company surfaced in Kano and agreed to receive and acknowledge the court order on April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:00 pm. Curiously, the Ikoyi address—already discredited—was again listed as the company’s official address in the acknowledgment.
These developments raise critical questions regarding due diligence and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols on the part of the Federal Ministry of Education. They also cast a spotlight on the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), should a concession agreement indeed have been executed with the company. Stakeholders say it would be instructive to review the addresses contained in all official correspondences and contractual documents linked to the transaction.
Meanwhile, a visit to the premises of Federal Government College, Kano, revealed ongoing construction activity, with workers observed excavating foundations. When approached, the workers declined to disclose the authority under which they were operating—despite the subsistence of a court order restraining further action.
Notably, a previously installed project billboard bearing the insignia of the school authorities and the Federal Ministry of Education had been removed. Sources within the institution suggest that the directive for its removal may have emanated from the Ministry following receipt of the court order.
The unfolding situation presents a complex mix of legal, regulatory, and accountability issues—raising the spectre of possible non-compliance with judicial directives, as well as deeper concerns about transparency in public-private concession arrangements.
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