NEWS

\ The former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, could not be arraigned on Wednesday over his alleged unlawful interception of the phone communication of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. This follows the failure of the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce El-Rufai for trial. It will be recalled that the former governor, who was initially detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—which is also investigating money laundering allegations against him—was later transferred to the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). While in ICPC’s custody, the court gave the DSS the nod to dock him on a three-count charge that bordered on alleged threat to national security. When the case ...

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has refuted allegations linking the group to attacks on Christians, stressing that its core mandate is to safeguard the interests of herders nationwide. Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, MACBAN’s National President, Baba Othman Ngelzarma, described the association as inclusive and not motivated by religious or ethnic considerations. Addressing claims of religiously driven violence, he said the organisation comprises members from various ethnic groups and faiths, including Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, as well as adherents of Islam and Christianity. He insisted MACBAN should not be portrayed as a sectarian body, noting that it represents herders regardless of tribe or religion. Reports last month indicated that ...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied allegations that it paid a N2 billion ransom to secure the release of students abducted from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, describing the claims as “false and baseless.” In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris reaffirmed the government’s longstanding policy against ransom payments. He said the students’ release followed coordinated security operations, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration not financial inducements. The government was responding to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which cited intelligence sources alleging that millions of dollars were paid to militants, alongside the release of two commanders, to secure the freedom of up...

“It’s A Declaration Of War On Nigerians” – Sowore Reacts As Police Disperse Protesters Human rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has described the resignation of Kayode Egbetokun as Inspector-General of Police as proof that his time in office lacked legal backing. Sowore made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s programme, The Morning Brief. According to him, “This removal or resignation, however they choose to describe it, is an admission that his tenure was never lawful.” The activist further accused the former police chief of suppressing officers who demanded improved welfare conditions. Sowore alleged that after organising a protest in support of better treatment for police personnel, he was arrested, detaine...

Veteran journalist Reuben Abati has taken a swipe at Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo over his difficulty pronouncing the acronym “GCFR.” In a viral video circulating online, the governor appeared to struggle while attempting to say the “GCFR” title attached to President Bola Tinubu’s name. Commenting on the development during The Morning Show on Arise Television, Abati criticised the governor, saying Edo residents had the opportunity to elect a highly educated and intelligent candidate but opted for Okpebholo instead. According to the former presidential aide, the governor was unable to pronounce what he described as a basic sequence taught to schoolchildren, adding that the electorate must accept the outcome of their decision. “Like the Yoruba would say, it is finished. Ed...

U.S. President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union-style address in modern history on Tuesday night, speaking for about one hour and 48 minutes before a joint session of Congress. Data from the American Presidency Project, which has documented such speeches since 1964, shows that the address was the lengthiest presented to Congress in at least 60 years. The speech exceeded the previous modern-era record, also set by Trump, when he spoke for one hour and 39 minutes last year. That earlier address, delivered during the opening year of his second nonconsecutive term, was not formally designated as a State of the Union. Prior to Trump’s record, the longest State of the Union address had been delivered by Bill Clinton in 2000, lasting one hour and 28 minutes. In co...

The Federal Government has withdrawn the alleged forgery case instituted against senior advocate, Mike Ozekhome (SAN). The withdrawal was announced on Tuesday in court by counsel to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN). It would be recalled that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had on January 16, 2026, filed a three-count charge bordering on forgery against Ozekhome. Subsequently, on January 26, the Attorney-General of the Federation assumed control of the matter, pledging to ensure diligent and thorough prosecution in line with due process. However, at Tuesday’s proceedings slated for Ozekhome’s arraignment, Oyedepo formally applied to discontinu...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that voter turnout in the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections stood at 14 percent, an improvement from the 9.4 percent recorded in 2022. The commission conducted chairmanship and councillorship elections across the six area councils in Abuja on Saturday. In a statement, Wilfred Ifogah, INEC’s acting director of voter education and publicity, described the turnout as a noticeable increase compared to the previous FCT council polls. According to the commission, 1.68 million voters were registered for the 2026 elections, compared to 1.58 million in 2022  reflecting an increase of about 100,000 voters, or 6.3 percent growth in the voter register. Out of the 1.68 million registered voters this year,...

North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has been re-elected as general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. The decision was announced on Monday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which said the party formally adopted the measure on Feb. 22 during its Ninth Congress. The report cited nuclear and missile development and the economy as reasons for the decision. It said the war deterrence of the country with "nuclear forces as its pivot" has been radically improved under Kim. The media outlet also reported a revision of party rules without specifying what has changed. The report also said the congress selected the party's central committee members, but it did not include some names, such as Choe Ryong Hae, the chair of the standing committee of the Supreme People's As...

A cement-laden truck rammed into a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officer and two commercial motorcyclists, k!lling them on the spot. The crash occurred at about 9 am on Monday, February 23, 2026 at the busy Badagry Roundabout. An eyewitness said the truck was approaching the junction at top speed when it suddenly lost control, swerved off its lane and crushed the victims in the process. “The LASTMA officer was controlling the traffic when he lost control and was suddenly crushed on the spot," the witness told punch. "The two motorcyclists were also affected while they were waiting to pick up passengers,” the eyewitness said. A police source said the incident resulted in gridlock in the area. “Other LASTMA officials were mobilised to the scene of th...