Author: Farouk Abbas

FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar has resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) with immediate effect. In a letter dated July 14, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the PDP, Jada 1 Ward, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa State, Atiku stated that his resignation is due to irreconcilable differences that have emerged within the former ruling party. He noted that he found it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the party has taken, which, according to him, diverges from the foundational principles it stood for. The letter reads, “I am writing to…

THE Federal High Court in Lagos has discharged the former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, on charges of money laundering and theft amounting to ₦6.9 billion. Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke discharged the former governor after upholding his no-case submission filed to challenge his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court held that the EFCC had not been able to link Fayose to the crime, nor was a prima facie made case against him to warrant further defence. On May 20, the court had reserved its decision after hearing arguments from counsel to Fayose (the 1st defendant)…

AS Nigeria prepares to lay to rest its former President, Muhammadu Buhari, world leaders, diplomats, and global institutions have sent in messages of condolence, praising his leadership, integrity, and legacy in both military and democratic service. The 82-year-old former Nigerian leader passed away on Sunday in a London hospital after a prolonged illness. Buhari, who served as military head of state from 1983 to 1985, and later as civilian president from 2015 to 2023, is being remembered on the world stage for his decades-long impact on Nigeria and West Africa. African Union (AU) In a statement released from Addis Ababa,…

THE Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Police Force said it has, in collaboration with other security agencies, led by the AIG Zone 14 Katsina, deployed adequate security measures in Daura town and across the command for the burial of late former president Muhammadu Buhari to ensure a hitch-free burial. The command, headed by CP Bello Shehu, extended its deepest condolences to the government and people of Katsina State, the family, friends, and the entire nation on the passing of the former president. The Command, in a statement by its Spokesman, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, acknowledged Buhari’s contributions to the nation’s…

THE Federal Government has declared Tuesday, 15 July, 2025, as a public holiday in honour of the late former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. According to a statement released by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, the holiday is furtherance to the seven days of national mourning declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The statement said the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, following the approval of His Excellency, President Tinubu. The Minister stated that the holiday is a mark of respect for…

MORE tributes have poured in in honour of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died at the age of 82 on Sunday, July 13, 2025. The Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said Buhari lived by the “discipline, humility, and a deep love for our country”. The former Nigerian environment minister extended her heartfelt sympathies to the family of the late president and the entire people of Nigeria. The outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, expressed great sadness over Buhari’s death. “Thank you for your leadership, patriotism…

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has urged editors and journalists to promote responsible journalism practices. Arising from its 2025 biennial national convention, with the theme, “Nation’s Security Future: Harnessing Diversity for Peace/Stability and the Media’s Role”, held on June 27, 2025, in Enugu, the convention, in a communiqué signed by NGE President, Eze Anaba and the General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, also tasked the media and government to prioritize peace and inclusion, and work towards building a stronger, more united Nigeria. The convention emphasized that a nation’s security and stability can be enhanced by leveraging its diversity, with the media…

AUTHORITIES in Kogi State say they have uncovered a disturbing supply chain involving local vendors who allegedly provide essential resources including food, water and petrol to kidnapping gangs operating in forest hideouts across the state. In a statement on Sunday, Kingsley Fanwo, the state commissioner for information, said the revelations followed recent security operations across Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Yagba East and Yagba West local government areas, which were launched in response to an uptick in kidnapping cases. Among the incidents that sparked the crackdown were the murder of a retired army officer from Odo-Ape and the abduction of a prominent farmer…

THE Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned ruling on the no-case submission filed by Gabriel Suswam, former Governor of Benue State and his former Commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, in their ongoing corruption trial. Peter Lifu (Justice) announced the adjournment on Friday, setting July 23, 2025, as the date for the court’s decision. According to a statement released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Suswam and Okolobia are standing trial on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and criminal diversion of public funds. The EFCC accused the duo of misappropriating N3.1 billion, said…

THE Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday ordered the final forfeiture of a sprawling array of assets, luxury vehicles, and cash  both in naira and dollars linked to a massive fraud scheme involving the illegal diversion of funds from Union Bank customers. Justice Daniel Osaigor granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) application for a non-conviction-based final forfeiture of the assets following detailed investigations which uncovered a fraudulent withdrawal of over ₦2 billion from the accounts of 575 unsuspecting customers of the bank. The application was argued by EFCC’s counsel, Hanatu Kofar-Naisa, who urged the court to…

VICE PRESIDENT Kashim Shettima has revealed that he was nearly removed as the Governor of Borno State during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, and only escaped the fate due to the intervention of the then Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Bello Adoke. Shettima, who governed Borno from 2011 to 2019, made this disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of Adoke’s memoir, “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Nigerian Oil Block.” “I was the most demonised public official during the Jonathan era,” Shettima declared. “There was even a plan to illegally remove me from…

AMID the recent policy change by the United States government reducing visa validity and entry allowances for Nigerians, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has met with the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, in Abuja to discuss ways to address the concerns and strengthen bilateral cooperation on immigration matters. The closed-door meeting, which took place on Wednesday, came just a day after the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria announced a major revision to its visa protocol, stating that most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerians will now be valid for only three months and allow for single entry only.…

JUSTICE Yusuf Halilu of an Abuja High Court on Tuesday ordered the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, to do everything within his power to produce five former senior police officers for prosecution. Mr Halilu issued the order on Tuesday after prosecution counsel Rimamsomte Ezekiel expressed disappointment over the former officers’ absence in court in spite of being served with the charge. Mr Halilu said: “You are the prosecutor. You should do all within your powers to ensure that the defendants attend court on the next adjourned date for the purpose of arraignment.” He subsequently, adjourned until Sept 25 for the prosecution…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of 146 out of 194 foreigners arrested for cybersecurity attacks relating to financial crimes in the country. “Last year, we arrested about 194 foreigners who were involved in various forms of financial crimes and activities that are inimical to the economic growth and development of our country. “Today, I can tell you that we have succeeded in prosecution and conviction of 146 of them. They will serve their jail terms and will be repatriated to their respective countries, ” Olukoyede said. He said majority of the foreigners posed as…

JUSTICE Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Tuesday, adjourned ruling on an application filed by the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, seeking to travel out of the country, on health grounds. At the resumed hearing of the money laundering case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the former governor, his counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, told the court that he had filed an application, dated 19th June, 2025 and filed on June 20, 2025. “It seeks an order for the release of the 1st defendant/applicant’s international passport by the registrar to…

THREE Senior members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have filed a suit, challenging the interim leadership of the party led by a former Senate President, David Mark, before a Federal High Court in Abuja. In the suit filed on July 4, the plaintiffs, Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila, are asking the court to determine the legality of the interim leadership of the ADC. They hold that Nwosu lacks the right to convene either a National Working Committee (NWC) or National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting or any other since his tenure as national chairman has expired. The plaintiffs…

THE Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has fined Multichoice Nigeria the sum of N766,242,500 (Seven-Hundred-and-Sixty-Six-Million-Two-Hundred-and-Forty-Two-Thousand-Five-Hundred naira) for violating the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDP Act). The NDPC slammed the fine on the South African pay TV from firm after investigating for one year. “The investigation which commenced in the second quarter of 2024 was triggered by suspected breach of privacy rights of Multichoice subscribers and illegal cross-border transfer of personal data of Nigerians. NDPC found, among others, that Multichoice violated the data privacy rights of subscribers and their friends who are not necessarily subscribers”, NDPC Head, Legal, Enforcement & Regulations,…

THE Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, has described the late elder statesman and industrialist, Aminu Dantata, as a rare gem whose selfless contributions to humanity and national development will be remembered for generations to come. Bayero remarked on Sunday shortly after returning from Madinah, Saudi Arabia, where he had travelled to lead funeral prayers for the late business mogul. Upon his return to Kano, the Bayero paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family of the deceased patriarch. According to a statement signed by Abubakar Balarabe Kofar Naisa, the Chief Press Secretary to emir, said the world would…

THE United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has filed a civil forfeiture complaint against a Nigerian national, Ehiremen Aigbokhan, accused of stealing over ₦460 million in cryptocurrency intended for the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025. According to court documents, Aigbokhan allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme from Lagos, Nigeria. The operation involved creating spoofed email addresses that closely resembled those of officials on the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Investigators said the suspects used a nearly identical email address, substituting a lowercase “L” for an uppercase “I”, to impersonate committee co-chair Steve Witkoff. The deception…

MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has slammed critics who insist the President Tinubu administration is underperforming, saying such people are “politically expired” and blind to ongoing progress. Speaking on Wednesday during the flag-off and commissioning of road projects in the Ushafa-Bwari area of Abuja, Wike aimed at long-time political critics who, he claimed, had drifted across multiple parties since 1999, yet still fail to acknowledge progress. “Let them hear. Let those who don’t have vision, who are politically expired, and those who, since 1999, have belonged to over 10 political parties — let them see what…