NEWS

Transparency International, a global coalition against corruption, has again ranked Nigeria as the 36th most corrupt country in the world. The country retrogressed from 140th in 2024 to 142nd out of 182 countries in 2025, where 1 represents the cleanest country and 182 the most corrupt. Despite the downward ranking, the most populous African nation retained the same position as the 36th most corrupt country as in 2024. Nigeria was joined by Cameroon, Guatemala, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan and Papua New Guinea, which shared the same position with a total score of 26 points. The ranking, released via TI’s website on Tuesday, highlighted the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index. Denmark maintained its position as the least corrupt country with 89 points, followed by Finland w...

No fewer than 10 shops were completely destroyed by fire at the Iya Maryam Adebara Complex in the Ogunpa Market area of Ibadan on Monday night. The Chairman, Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr Moroof Akinwande, disclosed this in a statement made available on Tuesday in Ibadan. Akinwande said the agency’s personnel received a distress call about the fire incident via a telephone call from Baale Ogunpa, Alhaji Nurudeen Lawal, at exactly 8:11 pm on Monday. He said that firemen were promptly deployed to the scene and, upon arrival, found 10 shops out of several already engulfed in flames. “Our officers swiftly got into action and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops and nearby properties while the Federal Fire Service also joined hands with us to extinguish the fire...

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has disclosed plans to deport 18 additional Nigerians classified among the “worst-of-the-worst” criminal immigrants, raising the total number of Nigerians scheduled for removal to 97. According to an update posted on the DHS website on Monday, the newly added names were included in the agency’s enforcement list, signaling an expanded crackdown on foreign nationals involved in serious criminal activities across the United States. Revised records show that offences such as wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft feature prominently among the allegations against those recently listed. In an official statement, DHS explained that the arrests are part of a nationwide operation by U.S. authorities aimed at tackling grave crimina...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has debunked reports circulating on social media alleging that underage voters were registered in Ede North Local Government Area. In a press statement issued on Monday in Osogbo and signed by the Commission’s Public Affairs Officer, Musa Olurode, INEC described the claim as false and misleading. According to the commission, a Facebook post alleged that minors dressed in school uniforms were registered as voters at the INEC Ede North Local Government office on Friday, February 6, 2026. INEC clarified that while students of YTD Grammar School, Ojoro Ede, were brought to the INEC office on that date with the intention of registering, no underage registration took place. The statement explained that the Electoral O...

53 migrants, including two babies. are feared dead or missing after a rubber boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya.  The only survivors, two Nigerian women, were rescued by the Libyan authorities. the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced on Monday, February 9, 2026.  The boat was carrying migrants and refugees from various African countries.  The boat sank after taking on water approximately six hours after departing from the coastal city of al-Zawiya in north-western Libya. The IOM says that almost 500 migrants have been reported d3ad or missing trying to the cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya so far in 2026. Libya has become a staging point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa seeking to reach Europe since ...

King Charles III has said he stands ready to support any police investigation into his younger brother, Prince Andrew, amid continuing controversy linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, a spokesperson said: “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct. “While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect. “As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.” The statement came ho...

The Nigerian Senate has welcomed the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the authority of the upper legislative chamber to discipline its members internally. Recall that a three-member panel of the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja on Monday upheld the Senate’s decision to suspend the senator representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, over allegations of misconduct. Delivering a unanimous verdict, the court held that the Senate acted within its constitutional powers in suspending Akpoti-Uduaghan. Justice Abba Mohammed, who read the judgment, stated that the senator’s parliamentary privileges and fundamental rights were not violated by the disciplinary action. The appellate court further ruled that, under Section 66(4) of the Senate Standing Rules, the Senate...

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has described the Christmas Day U.S. military airstrikes on Islamist militants in Sokoto State as a “blessing,” signalling Abuja’s openness to deeper security cooperation with Washington. Speaking to Fox News Digital during a week-long visit to the United States, Tinubu said the intervention was welcomed by Nigeria as it continues to confront insurgent groups and armed criminal networks operating across several regions. “The intervention of the U.S. was quite a welcome development,” Tinubu said. She added that Nigeria is seeking broader collaboration with the United States on security matters. “Nigeria is looking forward to collaboration” with the US on security issues. “We are expecting that there will be more.” The airstrikes, which reported...

 The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja today February 9, upheld the suspension of the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for misconduct, saying that the Senate acted within its powers to suspend her. In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel of Justices, the court held that it was satisfied that neither the Appellant’s parliamentary privilege nor her constitutional rights were breached as a result of her suspension from the Senate. The court however vacated the contempt proceeding and N5 million fine that were awarded against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over the satirical apology she made to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio. about:blank More so, the appellate court, in its lead verdict that was delivered by Justice A. B. Mu...

A federal grand jury has indicted a 33-year-old Ohio man for allegedly threatening to kill United States Vice President JD Vance during the official's visit to the state in January. The Justice Department announced the charges against Shannon Mathre of Toledo on Friday, February 6. According to the department's statement, Mathre is accused of "making a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon" the Vice President. The indictment alleges that Mathre stated, "I'm going to find out where he (the vice president) is going to be and use my M14 automatic gun and kill him." The location where the comment was made was not specified. U.S. Secret Service agents arrested Mathre on Friday. During the investigation into the alleged threat, authorities also reported finding "m...