NEWS

An unidentified man armed with a knife reportedly broke into a female hostel at Gombe State University and attacked a final-year student in the early hours of Monday, January 19, 2026. The intruder is said to have gained access to the hostel through an open window and confronted the student, who was preparing for her project defence. During the struggle, the student sustained serious injuries to her hands while trying to fend off the attacker. Confirming the incident, the university’s Public Relations Officer, H.N. Ligari, said the victim has received medical treatment and is currently in stable condition. According to the statement, university security operatives swiftly responded to the situation, while members of the management, including the Vice-Chancellor, visited the scene ...

Former OPEC president and former Nigerian Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke appeared in a London court on Monday, ahead of her full trial on bribery charges relating to her time as Nigeria's oil minister. Entertainment center Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance, AFP reported.  Alison-Madueke, who was in office from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel OPEC.  The 65-year-old has been on bail since she was first arrested in London in October 2015. She has denied six charges against her.  She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK's National Crime Agency with offences of accepting bribes bet...

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has reportedly surrendered to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The development comes about a week after his release on bail was stalled, leading to a security lockdown at the Kuje Correctional Facility. According to SaharaReporters, Malami turned himself in to the DSS a few hours after former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore announced plans to visit Kuje Prison to intervene and facilitate his release. Despite being granted bail and reportedly meeting all bail conditions, Malami remained in custody as DSS operatives maintained a blockade around the prison, effectively preventing his release and turning the situation into a tense standoff. The matter reportedly escalated ...

The Court of Appeal has deployed 40 justices to Lagos for a special sitting aimed at clearing a backlog of appeals, with 360 cases scheduled for hearing before 16 panels constituted for the exercise. The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, who presided over the special session on Monday, said the initiative reflects the court’s deliberate and sustained commitment to improving efficiency in the administration of justice.  She explained that Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, carries a heavy appellate workload, making proactive intervention necessary to reduce delays and ease pressure on the justice system.  According to her, 16 panels comprising 40 justices were drawn from different divisions of the Court of Appeal across the country and will sit thr...

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed the ₦4.4 trillion 2026 budget into law, officially launching the state’s fiscal programme for the year. The budget was signed on Monday, January 19, at the Conference Room of Lagos House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja. Earlier, the Lagos State House of Assembly had passed the appropriation bill, titled the “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” approving a total expenditure of ₦4,444,509,776,438 for the 2026 financial year. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, members of the State Executive Council, the Head of Service, Bode Agoro, lawmakers, and other senior government officials. Governor Sanwo-Olu said the budget is aimed at promoting inclusive growth and enhancing the quality of life for residents...

The Federal Government has announced the start of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme. The programme provides Nigerian postgraduate students with the opportunity to pursue studies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia. According to details published on the PTDF website, the scholarship is available to MSc and PhD applicants in fields related to the oil and gas industry. Successful candidates will enjoy comprehensive funding, covering tuition fees, return air travel, accommodation and living expenses, health insurance, as well as bench fees where applicable. In a statement, PTDF said the 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships are designed to give scholars access to world-class education, advanced resear...

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 25-year old medical quack allegedly operating an illegal clinic in Ore, Odigbo Local Government area of the state.  Entertainment center The suspect, identified as Idris Nasiru, was apprehended on January 14, 2025, following an intelligence-led operation carried out by the Command’s Surveillance Team. The spokesperson of the command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, January 18, 2026, said the arrest forms part of renewed efforts to dismantle criminal networks endangering public health and safety across the state.  “The Ondo State Police Command has recorded another significant breakthrough in its sustained fight against medical quackery with the arrest of a suspect operating an illegal clinic ...

There were reports of attacks on Senegalese-owned shops and businesses in parts of Morocco following the country’s defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final. According to eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media, groups of angry youths allegedly targeted stores owned by Senegalese nationals shortly after the match ended. Some shops were reportedly vandalised, while goods were destroyed or looted in the aftermath of the loss. The incidents are believed to have been triggered by heightened emotions following the controversial AFCON final, which ended in a 1–0 victory for Senegal after extra time. Tensions during the match, including disputed officiating decisions, had already sparked confrontations on and off the pitch. Local authorities are yet ...

A fuel tanker carrying petrol overturned on the Tincan Liverpool Bridge in Apapa, Lagos, on Monday, triggering panic as residents and commuters rushed to scoop fuel from the fallen truck. According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred in the early hours during peak traffic, leading to a major fuel spill beneath the bridge and causing traffic congestion in the area. Videos from the scene showed large crowds with jerrycans, buckets, and other containers struggling to collect the leaking petrol. Despite the serious risk of fire, some individuals were seen placing containers directly under the overturned tanker, while others waded through the spilled fuel to gather as much as possible. Confirming the incident in a statement shared on X, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (...

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion and misapplication of the ₦30 billion released by the Federal Government to Oyo State following the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan. In a petition dated January 5, 2026, and signed by its chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA queried how the funds meant for victims’ compensation, reconstruction of the affected area and emergency relief were utilised, alleging that only about ₦4.5 billion was applied, while the balance remains unaccounted for. The petition followed public claims by former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, that ₦50 billion was released to Oyo State. The state government, however, clarified that it received ₦30 billion, ...