NEWS

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is on the lookout for voters who chased away its operatives from a polling unit during the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, The PUNCH has learnt.Some officials of the commission who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday described the action as unlawful and a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed to stand.One of the officials said the commission viewed the development as an attack on its lawful mandate and warned that those involved could face legal consequences.“We consider the action unacceptable and unlawful. The commission will not condone criminality. We are on the lookout for those involved,” the official said.According to the official, the EFCC was particularly concerned about the implications of the...

A federal appeals court handed US President Donald Trump a significant victory in his mass deportation efforts with a ruling on Tuesday, June 23,  reviving his administration’s move to speed up deportations of undocumented immigrants in the United States. The ruling from the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals allows the Trump administration to cast a wider net over who is subject to the fast-track deportation procedure known as “expedited removal.” This mechanism allows immigration authorities to remove an individual from the country without a hearing before an immigration judge.The decision allows the administration to move forward with its plan to quickly deport undocumented immigrants residing in the United States who cannot prove they have lived in the country continuously for two year...

Niger Republic has officially submitted a request to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), further advancing the military government's move away from Western-backed international institutions.The Hague-based court confirmed on Tuesday that it received Niger’s formal withdrawal notice on June 18.The decision follows a joint announcement made by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso nine months ago, in which the three countries declared their intention to leave the ICC, accusing the court of advancing foreign interests.According to the ICC, Niger’s withdrawal will become effective on June 18, 2027, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the court. Until then, the country remains subject to all obligations associated with its members...

A young boy identified as Umar, from Magami town in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, has vowed to join the Nigerian Army and seek justice for his father, who was allegedly killed by suspected bandits.This emerged from a video shared on X on Tuesday by Bakatsine, a journalist who reports on conflict and insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West region.In the video, the boy narrated how he witnessed the killing of his father, an experience he said inspired his desire to become a soldier.Speaking in Hausa during the interview, Umar said his father was attacked and killed shortly after returning from the market.According to him, his father had harvested seven baskets of red pepper, sold them, and used the proceeds to purchase food items, including rice, for the ...

Former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Alhaji Muhammadu Besse, has reportedly died while being held by bandits.The development was disclosed on Tuesday by security and conflict analyst Bakatsine in a post shared on X.Besse was abducted earlier this month by armed bandits operating in the North-West region. His kidnapping attracted public attention after a video emerged online showing him and another captive being subjected to harsh treatment by their abductors in the Birnin Gwari forest.According to reports, his death has now been confirmed, ending hopes of his safe return to his family and community.The update also indicated that the second victim seen alongside him in the viral footage has likewise died w...

The United States has designated a Nigerian national and three companies operating in the country as alleged financial facilitators of activities linked to the terrorist group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.They were designated in the latest action, which targeted a total of three individuals and six entities accused of facilitating the movement of funds for ISIS operations globally.In a statement issued on Monday and sighted on Tuesday, U.S. Department of State spokesperson, Thomas Pigott, said designations cut across France, Syria, Türkiye, and Nigeria.He described the network as one that enables ISIS to move money across borders.“Today’s designations target three individuals and six entities operating across Europe, the Middle East, and West Africa who have...