NEWS

Russian President Vladimir Putin is positioning himself for a decisive year on the battlefield and beyond, with Western analysts warning that his ambitions could extend far past Ukraine as global diplomatic calculations shift. Experts fear the Kremlin believes the conditions are aligning for a bold escalation designed to pressure NATO, fracture European unity, and secure a legacy-defining victory for the Russian leader. Entertainment center Former diplomat Tim Wilsey of King’s College London said the moment is unusually favourable for Moscow, as Ukraine fights to hold the line and Europe scrambles for cash, troops, and long-term resolve. “I expect Vladimir Putin to have a good year in 2026,” he told The Sun, warning that Putin has not enjoyed similar momentum in years and understands...

Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, sparked controversy after declaring that the era of imperial dominance once associated with the old Oyo Empire had come to an end, insisting that no traditional ruler in Yorubaland holds supremacy over others. Ajayi made the remarks in a post on X, sharing a photograph of the current Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, as he challenged notions of hierarchical superiority among Yoruba monarchs. Entertainment center “We are no longer in the era of the Oyo Empire,” Ajayi wrote. “Rome and the United Kingdom, that once ruled more than half of the world as empires, can no longer claim sovereignty over former colonies. Times have changed. We are now in a new world.” The presidential ai...

Lekan Jimoh, alias “Kanmo-Kanmo,” a long-wanted drug kingpin, has been arrested 12 years after allegedly orchestrating the killing of three NDLEA officers. Jimoh was apprehended on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode town, Ogun State, following intelligence-led operations by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Authorities recovered 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis, from his hideout. NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi stated that Jimoh had been on the agency’s wanted list since June 15, 2014, after allegedly mobilizing armed thugs to attack officers attempting to arrest him. The attack resulted in the deaths of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure. “Kanmo-Kanmo’s arrest is a major victory in the agency’s mission to ensure fugitives cannot evade ...

The interim state executive committee of the Action Peoples Party (APP) in Imo State has raised the alarm over what it described as persistent vandalism and destruction of the party’s billboards and campaign installations across the state. The party alleged that the attacks are being carried out by agents linked to the ruling party, particularly in Ideato North and Ideato South federal constituencies. According to APP, the repeated damage to billboards belonging to Ikenga Ugochinyere, a key party leader and stalwart, is part of a calculated effort to weaken opposition presence and stifle democratic participation in Imo State. In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Cajetan Duke, APP warned that such actions represent a worrying slide toward intimidat...

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has rejected claims that security operatives arrested innocent citizens and peaceful protesters during the recent violence in Ekpoma, Edo State, describing the allegations as misleading. Speaking in an interview aired on Channels Television on Saturday, the police chief said the force is often wrongly accused whenever protests degenerate into violence. He stressed that arrests are made based on criminal actions, not participation in lawful demonstrations. According to Egbetokun, the police have no problem with peaceful protests and would never target individuals exercising their constitutional rights. He explained that the force’s concern arises when protests are hijacked by individuals who engage in violence, looting and destruction...

The Federal Government has instituted a criminal case against Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, over allegations of using forged documents in a property dispute involving a United Kingdom-based asset. According to reports, the three-count charge was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The case was submitted by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, Head of High-Profile Prosecutions at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside Ngozi Onwuka, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Ozekhome is alleged to have presented a falsified Nigerian passport and other forged documents to support his claim to a property located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX. The alleged offences were said to have occurred in Au...

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over their alleged failure to account for billions of naira spent as security votes since May 29, 2023. In the suit, SERAP accused the governors and the FCT minister of refusing to disclose how funds earmarked for safeguarding lives and property have been utilised, despite rising insecurity across the country. The organisation said the legal action was prompted by reports of mass killings in Benue State and persistent insecurity in several other states and the FCT, even as governments reportedly allocate over ₦400 billion annually to security votes. SERAP noted that at least 10 governors alone budgeted...

The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will suspend operations on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The US Mission in Nigeria announced the closure on Sunday via its official X account. “The US Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” the statement said. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States, marked every third Monday of January to honour the life and legacy of the civil rights icon renowned for his advocacy for racial equality and nonviolent resistance. The holiday was formally established on November 2, 1983, when President Ronald Reagan signed it into law, and it was first observed ...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigating a petition filed by the President of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, against the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed. Sources within the EFCC disclosed that the probe includes plans to contact a Swiss school where Ahmed’s children are reportedly enrolled, as part of efforts to verify allegations contained in the petition. In December 2025, Dangote had initially petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alleging that Ahmed spent about $7 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland. Dangote accused the former NMDPRA boss of abusing his office and violating the ...