Musa made the allegation on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he revisited the security challenges and deep divisions that characterised Kaduna State under El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure.

According to the minister, the situation became so tense that residents from Southern Kaduna found it difficult to freely live in parts of northern Kaduna, while people from the north also relocated to the southern part of the state.

“We know how it was when El-Rufai was there; it was toxic,” Musa said.

“El-Rufai did a lot of terrible things in Kaduna State. He divided the state into two. If you are from the south, you cannot go to the north to live. Those from the north were moving to the south.”

Musa further alleged that the people of Southern Kaduna continue to live with the pain and trauma caused by the killings recorded during the period. He accused the former governor of deliberately planning actions that allegedly resulted in the deaths of residents.

“I think if there’s anything worse than unhappy, we can never be happy with somebody who has deliberately planned for the killing of our people,” the minister said.

He also claimed that El-Rufai had openly spoken about some of the controversial actions taken by his administration, including alleged payments to bandits.

“He told us he paid bandits. He told us he did this, he did that. He didn’t hide it,” Musa alleged.

The Defence Minister said the scale of violence experienced in Southern Kaduna left many residents deeply traumatised, adding that the security situation in the area has significantly improved under the administration of Governor Uba Sani.

“The Southern Kaduna people are still very pained. If you look at the number of killings that was done there and what is going on now, you can’t compare at all,” he said.

Musa also accused the former governor of introducing policies that, in his view, denied opportunities to some residents, including people from his own part of Kaduna State.

He called on Nigerians to reject politicians who exploit religion, ethnicity or other differences to divide communities, warning that such individuals should not be entrusted with public office.

“Anybody who is using religion or tribe or whatever to divide Nigeria is an enemy of the state,” Musa said.

The minister’s comments are likely to reignite debate over the security crisis in Kaduna State during El-Rufai’s tenure, particularly the killings and communal tensions that affected Southern Kaduna

The post Defence Minister Christopher Musa Accuses El-Rufai Of Creating Division That Fueled Kaduna Killings appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Kess shared his thoughts following a recent revelation by former housemate Danbosky, who publicly opened up about the struggles he has faced since leaving the reality show.

According to Kess, appearing on the show may bring fame, attention and opportunities, but adjusting to life after the cameras stop rolling can be a completely different experience.

“Winner or not, the moment you leave that house, you are dealing with a version of life that is far more complicated than the one you left behind,” he wrote.

His comment has sparked conversations among fans about the reality of life after Big Brother, where contestants often return to a world of expectations, financial pressures and the challenge of turning their newfound popularity into lasting opportunities

The post “Big Brother Makes Your Life Harder” — Ex- Housemate Kess O Life After Reality Show appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The unexpected moment immediately sparked dating rumours, especially considering how close the two have been since their time in the Big Brother house.

For many fans who have always seen their relationship as giving “brother and sister” vibes, the kiss came as quite a surprise. Now, social media is buzzing with questions: Are Kola and Imisi really just friends, or is there something more going on between them?

Neither Kola nor Imisi has publicly confirmed that they are dating, but that red-carpet moment has certainly given fans plenty to talk about.

So, are we witnessing the beginning of a new BBN romance, or was it simply a playful moment between two close friends?

Watch video here:

Kola and Imisi kissed on the lips keh? . They’re no no longer brother and sister??👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/UYhmI6kyXS

— TheCutestKimmy👅 (@symply_kimm) September 2, 2026

The post BBNaija’s Kola, Imisi Set Tongues Wagging After Sharing Kiss On Red Carpet appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Gadaka made the controversial remark on Thursday in Nangere town while welcoming hundreds of people who had defected to the APC. He reportedly went as far as promising to pay the “new bride price” for any woman who chose to leave her marriage because of her loyalty to the party.

The comment quickly triggered backlash across the state, with residents and Islamic scholars describing it as irresponsible, provocative and capable of causing unnecessary tension within families.

Amid the growing criticism, Gadaka later withdrew the statement in a 42-second video shared on the Facebook page of Mamma Mohammed, the Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to Governor Mai Mala Buni.

The APC chairman explained that his remark had been misunderstood, insisting that it was merely a joke rooted in the traditional teasing culture between his Ngamo people and the Kare-Kare-speaking community.

“My statement was just a usual joking banter and does not in any way represent the ideals I stand for or intended to encourage divorce among married people,” Gadaka said.

He subsequently apologised for the remark and formally withdrew it.

It remains unclear whether Gadaka’s initial comment was prompted by any specific reports of husbands attempting to dictate how their wives should vote.

However, political observers in Yobe believe the retraction came in response to the mounting criticism, with many arguing that such a statement was inappropriate and could send the wrong message to the public, particularly in the build-up to the elections.

Find video below:

“If your husband won’t let you vote APC, leave him; I’ll pay your bride price and marry you” — Yobe APC Chairman, Muhammad Gadaka tells women pic.twitter.com/26c3PRs0gR

— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) September 4, 2026

The post 2027 Elections: “Divorce Your Husbands if They Stop You From Voting APC’ — Yobe Party Chairman appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Olayinka appeared as a guest on The Morning Show to face the program’s three co-anchors: Dr. Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni, and Ayo Mairo-Ese.

The situation escalated when Oseni took his turn to question the media aide. Instead of responding to the query, Olayinka deflected and stated that he only came on the live show to answer questions from “reasonable people.”

‘’I am very sorry to say this Rufai but I do not want to answer any question from you. I want this conversation to be among reasonable human beings, people who will not come and describe other people as Gbewu dani. I want this discussion to be among reasonable people,” he said

The derogatory remark drew an immediate reaction from Ayo, who defended her colleague. She firmly reminded Olayinka that he was aware he would be questioned by all three hosts upon accepting the invitation.

Refusing to continue, Ayo promptly thanked the guest for his time and cut the interview short, effectively taking Olayinka off the air.

Watch the video below:

https://twitter.com/i/status/2095792855096668650

The post Arise TV Ends Interview With Lere Olayinka, For Refusing To Answer Questions From Rufai Oseni appeared first on Information Nigeria.

He explained that he told God to let him die at the same time as his wife because she is the only one he loves most in the world.

“I told God that anytime my wife wants to die, I should also die with her. Because it is only her I love most in the world,” he said.

Peller also told Ice King that he cut his hair because he wanted it to match his wife’s, stressing that she was getting bullied online for shaving her hair for their wedding.

Peller and Jarvis recently got married in an elaborate ceremony in Lagos.

The post “I Told God I Wish To Die Same Time As My Wife” – Peller Says appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Okonkwo stated this during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media, shared on YouTube on Thursday, where he also dismissed the chances of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, of unseating Tinubu without a broader opposition alliance.

Attempts by opposition parties to form a coalition in 2025 suffered setbacks as major contenders, including Atiku and Obi, emerged as presidential candidates of different parties ahead of the 2027 election.

Okonkwo said the opposition’s best chance of defeating Tinubu was through a coalition, arguing that Obi could not win the election against the President on his own.

“Coalition is the only way out. So you don’t come down with a man who has told you from the beginning that power is not taken à la carte; you fight for it, you grab it, you snatch it, you run away with it,” he said, referring to Tinubu.

He added, “So, if Peter Obi goes against Tinubu alone, Tinubu will eat him like biscuits. Will Kano people accept Peter Obi? In 2023, when we had the opportunity, they did not accept him. In 2027, they will not accept him.

“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost.”

Obi is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, while Kwankwaso is his running mate on the party’s ticket.

Okonkwo had in May also said Obi lacked the capacity to lead Nigeria, arguing that he avoided difficult challenges.

The post “Only Opposition Coalition Can Defeat Tinubu In 2027” — Kenneth Okonkwo appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Okonkwo also dismissed the chances of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), defeating Tinubu if he contests without a broader opposition alliance.

He spoke during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media.

According to Okonkwo, Obi cannot unseat Tinubu alone, even with former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.

“Coalition is the only way out. So you don’t come down with a man who has told you from the beginning that power is not taken à la carte; you fight for it, you grab it, you snatch it, you run away with it,” he said, referring to Tinubu.

Okonkwo said Obi would struggle to secure enough support in northern Nigeria if he runs against Tinubu alone.

“So, if Peter Obi goes against Tinubu alone, Tinubu will eat him like biscuits. Will Kano people accept Peter Obi? In 2023, when we had the opportunity, they did not accept him. In 2027, they will not accept him,” he said.

“Kwankwaso has nothing to contribute to the ticket. Even in Kano, Kwankwaso has lost,” Okonkwo said.

His comments come amid renewed efforts by opposition figures to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The post 2027: “Tinubu Will ‘Eat Obi Like Biscuits’ If He Runs Alone” — Okonkwo appeared first on Information Nigeria.

It said: “For clarity, the matter is a civil records-disclosure dispute under the United States Freedom of Information Act. It is not a criminal case against President Tinubu, nor has the court found him guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.”

The Presidency in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga stated that the matter came up 23 years after the American Consulate in Lagos, in a letter dated February 4, 2003, informed the then Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, that a Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, records check found no criminal arrest records, wants or warrants for then-Governor Bola Tinubu.

According to the statement: “In  2022, Mr. Aaron Greenspan, who is known to work with Nigerian opposition figures including David Hundeyin and Atiku Abubakar, submitted FOIA requests to several United States government agencies seeking records relating to President Tinubu.

“After the agencies withheld certain records or declined to confirm or deny their existence, Mr. Greenspan commenced Civil Action No. 23-1816 before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 2023.

“The court subsequently permitted President Tinubu to participate in the proceedings as an intervenor.

“During the proceedings, the defendants asserted the “Glomar defence,” a standard defence that US law enforcement agencies invoke from time to time.  It simply means the government agency is not “in a position to deny or admit” the existence of an investigation.

“It protects government personnel and the techniques and sources law enforcement agencies use to investigate and prosecute crimes.

“Based on the invocation of this defence, the US District Court granted summary judgment in favour of the CIA, EOUSA, Department of State, Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, IRS.

“It ruled that they be removed from the proceedings, leaving aspects of the claims involving the FBIand the Drug Enforcement Administration for further consideration.

“In compliance with the court’s orders, the FBI and DEA produced 399 pages of records, with portions redacted under exemptions provided by United States law.  The plaintiff challenged the FBI and DEA’s decisions to redact portions of the documents produced.

“The FBI and DEA, through the United States Department of Justice, USDoJ, pushed back against the plaintiff’s requests.  The FBI and DEA rejected the application to produce the documents without redactions for the following reasons:
“Some of the documents are protected from being revealed to the public by law, for example, Grand Jury proceedings.  The law exempts transcripts of Grand Jury proceedings from public disclosure.”

It further said: “The Pen Register Act also protects from disclosure information about certain court order(s) authorising or approving the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device.

“Some of the documents fall squarely within the attorney-work product and attorney-client privileges.  Some documents contain instances where FBI and DEA agents sought and/or received legal advice from USDoJ attorneys.

The post Tinubu Is Not On Trial In U.S. — Presidency appeared first on Information Nigeria.

This was coming after the noticeable delays by the Rivers State House of Assembly to okay the budget presented to the Assembly.

However, on Thursday, the bill was unanimously passed by 26 lawmakers during the House’s resumed sitting in Port Harcourt.
It was quickly transmitted to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for assent in Government House, Port Harcourt.

According to the Assembly, the approved budget is expected to cover the fiscal year ending on September 2, 2027.

It would be recalled that Fubara had on the 25th of June submitted the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the Assembly.

It is worthy of note that since the administration, it was the first time the assembly, led by its Speaker Rt Hon. Martin Amaewhule, approved the budget of the state.

The post Fubara Signs 2026 Rivers Budget Into Law appeared first on Information Nigeria.

According to her, the fastest way to ruin a child’s life is by preventing them from experiencing hardship or working hard.

Speaking in a recent interview with media personality, Femi Baba, Mama G recalled that she once evicted her son from home so he could go out and make a living for himself.

She said, “The fastest way to ruin a child’s life is to say you don’t want them to suffer the way you did.

“When you’re gone, they may start fighting over your property. I told my son, ‘My house isn’t yours. Go and work for your own.’”

Ozokwor explained that because she raised her children with discipline and hard work, they were doing well.

The movie icon urged parents not to deny their children the experience of struggle and hard work because of their love for them.

The post Why I Once Evicted My Son From Home –Veteran Actress, Patience Ozokwor appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural organisation, has warned that it may not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections unless its national president, Bello Bodejo, is released from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS).

The post 2027: Tinubu Should Forget Our Votes – Miyetti Allah Vows appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The description, which appeared on the state government’s official Facebook livestream of the event at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, was later edited out.

The post initially read: “Arrival of the Acting President of Nigeria, Sen. Dr. Godswill Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, Chairman of the National Assembly, at the Official Reception and Water Cannon Ceremony for the brand-new Airbus A220-300, as part of the activities commemorating the 39th Anniversary Celebration of Akwa Ibom State.”

President Bola Tinubu is currently outside Nigeria on a three-week vacation in Europe. At the same time, Vice President Kashim Shettima had also travelled abroad to represent Mr Tinubu at an African Union summit in Angola.

The Presidency announced on 30 August that Mr Tinubu had departed Abuja for Europe for his annual leave, with London as his first destination. It said he was expected to return after the vacation to participate in activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mr Shettima, meanwhile, left Abuja on 29 August for Luanda, Angola, to represent the president at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. He returned to Abuja on Monday, 31 August, after concluding his engagements in Angola.

Many Akwa Ibom people on Facebook, without explaining how they obtained such information, have been “celebrating” Mr Akpabio as Nigeria’s “acting president”.

“Thank God our Senator Godswill Akpabio is the acting president…let’s build Ibom Deep Seaport,” one Facebook user, Ima Utip, wrote on the social media site on Monday.

Section 145 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides that whenever the president proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he is to transmit a written declaration to the Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The presidency has not publicly announced that Mr Tinubu transmitted such a declaration to the National Assembly before leaving the country for his vacation.

Mr Shettima’s brief absence, however, creates a separate constitutional question because Section 145 specifically identifies the vice president, rather than the Senate president, as the person who performs the president’s functions during the president’s temporary absence.

The Constitution does not ordinarily designate the Senate president as acting president merely because both the president and vice president are outside the country.

Section 146 of the Constitution provides that the Senate president may assume office as president only when the office of the president becomes vacant, and the office of the vice president is also vacant. That provision concerns a vacancy in office, rather than a temporary absence from the country.

On this backdrop, the Akwa Ibom government’s description of Mr Akpabio as acting president appears to go beyond the constitutional arrangement for temporary presidential absence.

Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, was in Uyo on Tuesday for the reception of Ibom Air’s latest Airbus A220-300 as part of activities marking the state’s 39th anniversary.

The state government’s anniversary programme includes commissioning 39 projects across the state in September, with President Tinubu scheduled to visit and commission some of them.

The new aircraft, registered as 5N-CDC, was formally handed over to Ibom Air at the Airbus A220 final assembly facility in Mirabel, Canada, before arriving in Uyo. It is among the 10 aircraft ordered by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Mr Akpabio was a central political figure in Akwa Ibom before becoming Senate president. He served as governor of the state from 2007 to 2015 and later became a senator representing Akwa Ibom North-West District.

The state government’s Facebook post was later edited to remove the reference to Mr Akpabio as “Acting President of Nigeria”.

The alteration has raised the question of whether the original description was an error in the preparation of the social media material or reflected an assumption within the state government about who was exercising presidential authority while Mr Tinubu is outside the country.

As of Tuesday evening, there was no public statement from the Presidency explaining whether Mr Tinubu had formally transmitted a letter to the National Assembly before commencing his vacation.

When contacted on Tuesday night, the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, initially denied the controversial Facebook post, stressing that such had never happened.

But when our reporter informed him that we have a screenshot of the post before it was edited, Mr Umanah claimed what happened must have been an error by the social media handler.

“I don’t know. Maybe somebody made a mistake. There’s nothing like that (acting president) in the country,” he said.

When pressed further, the commissioner said: “Nobody authorised that (reference) here. Maybe the people typing may have made a mistake, but that cannot be the position of the state government.”

The post Akwa Ibom Govt’s Facebook Page Describes Akpabio As ‘Acting President Of Nigeria’ appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The talent manager marked the milestone on her Instagram Story on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. She also reflected on the love, friendship and family they have shared over the years.

Bose shared loved-up pictures of herself and her husband. She also praised Samuel for being a great father to their children.

She wrote, “Happy 36th anniversary, Sam. Thirty-six beautiful years of love, friendship and unforgettable memories.”

She added, “Cheers to 36 years with my best friend and the most incredible father to our children.”

Meanwhile, Bose and Samuel have built a family with strong ties to Nigeria’s entertainment industry. Their son, Burna Boy, has gone on to become one of Africa’s biggest music stars.

Burna Boy, whose real name is Damini Ogulu, has achieved global success with his music. He is also one of the leading figures in the worldwide rise of Afrobeats.

In addition, Bose has played an important role in her son’s career. As his manager, she has helped guide his international career and business affairs.

Beyond entertainment, Bose often uses social media to celebrate important family moments. She also shares glimpses of her personal life with her followers.

The post Burna Boy’s Parents Mark 36th Wedding Anniversary With Loved-Up Photos appeared first on Information Nigeria.

She said she was genuinely afraid of getting married and worried about whether the decision would work out.

Speaking on a recent podcast, Kadiri revealed that her anxiety about the future of her relationship pushed her to avoid making it public.

She wanted to sidestep the drama that comes with having your marriage in the public eye.

Her husband agreed with her thinking and was happy to go along with a quiet wedding.

Kadiri said she battled with fear of the unknown, asking herself whether marrying would cause everything to fall apart.

Because of this, she decided against a big public affair.

Instead, she and her husband invited just 50 people to their 2018 wedding 25 guests from each side of the family.

If they had been living abroad, she said, they probably would have simply gone to the registry office and gotten married with no fuss at all.

The couple have since had two daughters, born in August 2019 and July 2022.

The post Ruth Kadiri Reveals Why She Kept Her Marriage Secret From the Spotlight appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Ozokwo made the revelation in an interview with Femi Babs TV, published on YouTube Wednesday, while reflecting on how she struggled to build the life she has today, stressing that her journey was far from easy.

“When I came into the industry, there was a time that I was selling buns and puff-puff. I was frying it. I would prepare chicken, dress it well — anyone you want to buy,” she said.

“I saw people going out to buy things. I would go to audition places; people would buy from me. I would see money for transport tomorrow. That is how I grew up.”

According to Ozokwo, her willingness to work and fend for herself was part of the resilience she developed from a young age.

“I really struggled to get to where I am today. It wasn’t flowery; it wasn’t an easy thing. My life is full of spirituality, deep prayer. When others are sleeping, I am praying,” she said.

The actress also spoke about the sacrifices she made during her marriage, explaining that she never pressured her husband to provide the kind of lifestyle she saw other women enjoying.

“Some women, when they get married, they tell their husbands, ‘This one bought a car for his wife, this one bought a house for his wife. What are you not doing?’” she said.

Ozokwo said she understood her husband and chose to work with what they had rather than compare him with other men.

“I didn’t wait for my husband. I knew the kind of person he was. I studied my husband. I buttoned up and tightened my belt, and I struggled,” she said.

The movie star revealed that the situation became even more challenging when her husband battled serious health problems for several years.

“Incidentally, he was sick for so many years. It was a horrible sickness — diabetes and hypertension together — and it was a struggle,” she said.

The veteran actress added that her children also witnessed the family’s difficult period and eventually grew old enough to contribute to the running of the household.

“At a time, my children also grew up and they were helping me, so I also moved. They took care of the house. They too went through that,” she said.

She believes those experiences helped shape her children into the people they are today.

“That is why they are doing well now,” she said.

Ozokwo’s story highlights the struggles, sacrifice, hard work and resilience behind her success, showing that her journey extended beyond her career in Nollywood.

The post “I Used To Go For Auditions With Puff-Puff, Chicken To Sell” — Actress, Patience Ozokwo appeared first on Information Nigeria.

According to the governor, he started the business by selling what he described as an “akara burger” — fresh akara stuffed inside bread — to workers heading to their offices in the morning.

“We still have that shop there, and I started selling akara and bread. We were doing bread and akara burger. We opened the bread and put akara in it for you,” Eno recalled.

He explained that the business quickly attracted workers, particularly employees of ExxonMobil, who would stop by in the mornings to buy the akara and bread. He later expanded the venture by opening a coffee shop to complement the food business.

“People going to work at ExxonMobil would buy it in the morning and take coffee. We started a coffee shop, and then they would take it every morning,” he said.

Eno said the business eventually became a major source of income for him, bringing in not less than ₦10 million monthly.

“That akara business and that bread used to give me not less than ten million naira, not less than that,” the governor stated.

Read more: https://t.co/5PuuwIjzBf

The post “I Made ₦10m Monthly From Selling Akara And Bread” — Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The company announced the decision in an email to users, saying it followed a “thorough review” of its business operations in Nigeria.

Uber first launched in Lagos in 2014, becoming one of the major ride-hailing platforms connecting passengers with independent drivers across the country.

In its message to customers, the company said, “After a thorough review of our business, we have made the tough decision to wind down our operations in Nigeria, effective 2 September 2026.”

Uber thanked Nigerians for trusting the platform over the years, noting that its services had been used for daily commutes, visits to family and friends, and movement around the city.

“Since we first launched in Lagos in 2014, it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of your daily life connecting you with independent transportation providers,” the company said.

“We know this may cause disruption to your routine, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience,” Uber said.

The exit marks a significant development in Nigeria’s ride-hailing industry, where Uber has competed with other major platforms for more than a decade.

The company also advised users with any final account-related enquiries to contact Uber before September 23, 2026, which it set as the deadline for submitting such enquiries as it winds down its operations in Nigeria.

The post Uber Exits Nigeria After 12 Years Of Operations appeared first on Information Nigeria.

“Today, we’re making a number of significant organizational changes across Uber,” Khosrowshahi said. “As a result, we will be reducing the size of our team by about 10 percent.”

Uber has a total of roughly 34,000 employees with operations in more than 70 countries, according to a recent SEC filing.

The company said the layoffs were aimed at making the platform “simpler and faster” and at reducing coordination delays in what has become a sprawling operation.

“A leaner organization will mean clearer ownership, faster decisions, and more time spent building rather than coordinating,” the message said.

Founded in 2009, Uber remade the urban transportation sector by disrupting markets dominated by taxi and private car companies, allowing people to use their own vehicles to give others rides.

Since then, the company has expanded massively, including into the delivery sector, particularly for food and retail items. It also offers courier services over short distances.

Uber drivers are compensated at varying rates in different countries, and many have complained of not receiving adequate compensation for their work and the use of their vehicles.

Khosrowshahi’s message focused on how the changes were aimed at reorganizing how the company makes decisions or runs certain parts of its business — but the company has also shut down services entirely in some countries.

On Wednesday, Uber said it was shutting down its business in Nigeria and Uganda, after leaving Tanzania earlier this year.

AFP

The post Uber Lays Off ‘About 10%’ Of Workforce Worldwide appeared first on Information Nigeria.

“Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be ‘hotter’ than ever before!” Trump said on his Truth Social network.

It is the latest geographical name change floated by Trump and comes a week after he ordered Lake Ontario to be renamed as “Lake America” amid a trade war with Canada.

Trump also renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” on his first day back in office in January 2025.
Neither Mexico nor Canada have accepted the changes.

Many of the previous name changes started off as apparently jovial remarks by the 80-year-old US president before he then followed through to make them a reality.

Trump has in recent weeks repeatedly pressed a threat to claim sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, even posting a map showing the waterway as a “new US territory.”

But Iran has effectively shut down the chokepoint, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes, in retaliation for the war Trump started along with Israel in late February.

Oil prices are rising again after US forces launched fresh strikes near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday in response to what Trump said were new minelaying efforts by Iran.

AFP

The post Trump Suggests Renaming Strait of Hormuz As ‘Trump Strait’ appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The committee, chaired by Rep. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, said its preliminary findings showed that the organisation was not lawfully created by the Federal Government and that documents allegedly used to confer presidential and legislative legitimacy on it were forged, fabricated or altered.

Of particular significance, the committee found that a purported letter appointing Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi as Director-General of the PFIPC and allegedly bearing Gbajabiamila’s authority and signature was not issued by the Chief of Staff or the Presidency.

According to the committee, evidence obtained from the State House established that “no such appointment was made or approved by the Presidency” and that “the Chief of Staff neither issued nor signed the letter.”

The lawmakers further found that the letterhead was not authentic State House letterhead, while the purported reference number was inconsistent with the official referencing system of the Presidency.

“The format, language and administrative features of the document departed materially from official State House correspondence,” the committee stated.

It consequently made a preliminary finding that “the purported appointment letter was fabricated and falsely attributed to the Presidency.”

The finding effectively clears Gbajabiamila of the allegation, as the committee said it found no evidence linking him to the purported appointment or organisation.

The post PFIPC: Reps Panel Exonerates Gbajabiamila, Uncovers Forged Documents appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed on Monday while addressing media executives and journalists in Abuja, stressing that the commission could not ignore the suspicious movement of public funds.

Olukoyede, however, did not disclose the local government, company or state involved in the transaction.

He said the commission’s Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department had detected the suspicious transactions and intervened by freezing the funds for 72 hours to establish their destination and purpose.

Olukoyede, however, expressed his displeasure over people who called for his head as a result of the action taken by his agency.

He said, “When we see money moving suspiciously, we move in and freeze it in the interim. I know some of you are calling for my head. The account was frozen for 72 hours. Okay, come and show where this money is going? Why are you moving money? We saw money being moved from the local government account to a company. Apart from that phase, we discovered that the money has gone into cryptocurrency wallets.

“Is that the road to build? Is that the power to generate cryptocurrency wallets for your people? Are you asking me to close my eyes and not do something like that? Then you don’t need me in this office.”

The EFCC boss said the development underscored the need for law enforcement agencies to shift from waiting for public funds to be stolen before taking action to preventing suspicious transactions from being completed.

“Why must we be waiting for money to be stolen? Why can’t we change the narrative? And that’s the main thing we need to bring to the office,” he said.

The disclosure comes against the backdrop of an outcry earlier in the month after the EFCC froze an account belonging to the Osun State Government, days before the August 15 governorship election.

However, Olukoyede did not link the transaction he cited to Osun State or any other particular state.

Olukoyede also said cybercrime had evolved beyond the traditional perception of “Yahoo Yahoo,” noting that some young people were being used as fronts by public officials to move allegedly stolen funds through cryptocurrency wallets.

He said, “We have gotten to a stage in Nigeria now that public officials steal money and they put it in cryptocurrency wallets.

“Most of the directors we are investigating now, you can’t trace tangible assets to them. They steal this money, give it to students, give it to young people. They open cryptocurrency wallets all over the world. They plunder the money there within 24 hours.

“The money moves abroad. They buy a house anywhere in the world, buy luxury items. Those are the recent trends.”

The EFCC boss also disclosed that the commission had developed the capacity to trace cryptocurrency wallets, particularly those linked to virtual asset platforms registered in Nigeria.

According to him, about 40 virtual asset platforms had been licensed, following regulatory measures introduced to strengthen oversight of the sector.

“Now we also have the capacity to trace cryptocurrency wallets now, at least with those that are registered in Nigeria, and we are doing that,” he said.

Reeling out the achievements of the commission in the last three years, Olukoyede said the commission had also recovered virtual assets in connection with the CBEX fraud, but identified the management of confiscated cryptocurrency as a challenge that had previously created accountability concerns.

“When you recover virtual assets, where do you put them? No accountability. That’s why we can’t continue like this,” he said.

He disclosed that the Federal Government had consequently approved the establishment of a national confiscation wallet where virtual assets recovered by law enforcement agencies would be kept.

“Today, now we have a national confiscation wallet. So if I confiscate virtual assets now, it’s a national wallet that we put into those,” he said.

Olukoyede further warned that the increasing use of cryptocurrency to move illicit funds required stronger technological capacity among financial and law enforcement institutions.

He said, “When we are talking about cybercrime, please cooperate with us, understand the scope. Not just Yahoo. Some of the people you are calling Yahoo, see your young children; they are stealing on behalf of London, on behalf of public servants.”

Olukoyede said the commission’s anti-corruption activities had also contributed significantly to revenue mobilisation, with federal and state tax recoveries amounting to approximately N288.1bn during the period under review.

He said the figure comprised about N173.2bn in federal tax recoveries and N114.9bn attributed to State Internal Revenue Services.

Oluyede also said more than 40 of its personnel were dismissed for alleged corruption and financial malpractice in the past two and a half to three years.

He added that some of the dismissed officials were already facing prosecution, while case files involving others were being prepared for prosecution.

The post “Public Funds Moved From LG Account Into Crypto Wallets” – EFCC appeared first on Information Nigeria.

IPOB made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in which it criticised the pace of proceedings following Kanu’s conviction.

The group alleged that while the Federal Government had moved swiftly to prosecute and convict Kanu, it had shown little urgency in responding to the appeal against the conviction.

IPOB also questioned the legal basis for Kanu’s conviction and continued detention, asking under which extant law he was convicted and what specific offence justified his continued detention.

The group further said a separate challenge was pending before the Supreme Court concerning the legality of the purported continuation of Kanu’s trial after some counts had earlier been quashed.

According to the statement, the Federal Government must defend both Kanu’s conviction and the jurisdictional basis on which his resumed trial was conducted.

IPOB said failure to list and hear the appeal within 14 days would trigger its declaration of a total boycott of forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond.

Defending the proposed boycott against criticism that it could benefit President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the group said it did not call for an election boycott in 2023, adding that its supporters participated in the election.

It argued that despite the participation, the 2023 election results were disputed and the subsequent legal challenges were unsuccessful.

IPOB said repeated participation in elections followed by allegations of rigging and unsuccessful court challenges raised questions about the effectiveness of the electoral process.

IPOB also questioned the legal basis for Kanu’s conviction and continued detention, asking under which extant law he was convicted and what specific offence justified his continued detention.

The group further said a separate challenge was pending before the Supreme Court concerning the legality of the purported continuation of Kanu’s trial after some counts had earlier been quashed.

According to the statement, the Federal Government must defend both Kanu’s conviction and the jurisdictional basis on which his resumed trial was conducted.

IPOB said failure to list and hear the appeal within 14 days would trigger its declaration of a total boycott of forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond.

Defending the proposed boycott against criticism that it could benefit President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the group said it did not call for an election boycott in 2023, adding that its supporters participated in the election.

It argued that despite the participation, the 2023 election results were disputed and the subsequent legal challenges were unsuccessful.

IPOB said repeated participation in elections followed by allegations of rigging and unsuccessful court challenges raised questions about the effectiveness of the electoral process.

The group described a collective refusal to participate as a political statement by people who had lost confidence in the system.

It urged those opposed to the proposed boycott to instead direct their efforts towards ensuring that Kanu’s appeal was heard.

IPOB said the government had two options: release Kanu or appear in court to defend his conviction and the legal basis of his trial.

The group reiterated its demand for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, warning that failure to act within the stipulated 14 days would lead to a total election boycott across Biafraland and beyond.

The post IPOB Gives FG 14 Days To List Kanu’s Appeal, Threatens Election Boycott appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Sylva also criticised the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, saying it had disappointed the majority of Nigerians and expressing confidence that the electorate would vote for a change in the 2027 general elections.

In a resignation letter dated August 31, 2026, obtained by our correspondent, Sylva said he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders had allegedly embraced the philosophy that “all is fair in politics.”

The letter, addressed to the APC Chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was electronically delivered.

Copies were sent to the National Chairman of the APC, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Chairman of the APC in Bayelsa State.

Sylva, who described himself as a founding member of the APC, said he decided to quit the party after consulting widely with his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers.

The letter partly read, “Having consulted widely with my family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers, I wish to formally tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), with immediate effect.

“As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted.

“Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics;’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice.

“All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it. Unfortunately, this mentality appears to underpin virtually every action, and even inaction, of this administration.”

The former minister said the APC-led government had disappointed Nigerians, adding that he could see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of revamping the administration.

“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” he said.

Sylva added that he was left with no choice but to abandon what he described as a “floundering ship.”

“I am therefore left with no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities. I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,” he stated.

Speaking further, Sylva said he deliberately copied the EFCC in the resignation letter.

He acknowledged that his resignation could trigger further scrutiny by the anti-graft agency but said he was prepared to face the consequences.

“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take,” he said.

Sylva’s resignation comes amid his reported links to an alleged plot to overthrow the Tinubu-ledadministration. The former Bayelsa governor was named by the Federal Government as a suspect in the case involving an alleged coup plot uncovered in 2025. Sylva has consistently denied involvement in the plot and described allegations against him as false.

The alleged plot led to the arrest and prosecution of several military and civilian suspects. In April 2026, six defendants were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges including treason, terrorism and money laundering, while Sylva was among those named in connection with the wider investigation.

Reports published in August 2026 subsequently alleged that Sylva was linked to the financing of the purported coup plot. It was reported that investigation records implicated him and that several people associated with him were facing charges over the alleged scheme. Sylva, however, has denied the allegations and was reported to be outside Nigeria.

The allegations had earlier triggered a military operation at Sylva’s Abuja residence in October 2025. He confirmed that soldiers from Defence Headquarters raided the property but rejected any suggestion that he was involved in a plot to overthrow the government, describing the operation as unjustified.

The post Ex-Minister Sylva Dumps APC, Says Party Is Irredeemable appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Omokri said the presence of Tinubu’s name in FBI records did not mean that the President had a criminal record, arguing that the agency maintains extensive non-criminal files on individuals.

He stated this in a statement on X on Monday while reacting to the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s efforts to prevent the release of unredacted records held by the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Omokri said, “President Bola Tinubu has no criminal record in the United States, Nigeria, or anywhere else, and the FBI has not provided any criminal record on the President to anyone because none exists. Yes, FBI records may contain his name, but they are NOT criminal records.”

He explained that the FBI could have records on foreign nationals who had applied for US visas or undergone background checks.

“This is because the FBI conducts MANDATORY background screenings on behalf of the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security on US visa applicants,” he said.

“Thus, as a US citizen or resident, or even as a foreign national, if your name is run through the FBI databases, it is likely to bring up hundreds of pages of records. This does not mean that the records are criminal. In most cases, they will be benign.”

According to Omokri, the records could contain sensitive personal information, including biometric, biographical and financial details.

“Such records may include personal biometric, biographical, and financial information, such as fingerprints, DNA, bank statements, and other private records,” he said.

He then questioned whether Nigerians would want their private information released to political opponents.

“Would you, as an individual, want your private records released to your political opponents, even if they were non-criminal?”

Omokri also claimed that the US authorities had previously cleared Tinubu of criminal wrongdoing.
He referred to correspondence he said was exchanged between the US Embassy and Nigeria’s then Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, in February 2003.

According to him, Balogun had written to the US Embassy seeking information on whether the FBI had any criminal records involving Tinubu, who was then Governor of Lagos State.

Omokri said the embassy responded the following day and gave what he described as an “all clear” regarding criminal records involving Tinubu.

He said, “This was consistent with my findings when I visited Chicago in 2022, as a member of the opposition, to establish the truth about then-Presidential candidate Bola Tinubu’s academic and other records.”

Omokri added, “Nigerians may want to find attached the response from the Embassy of the United States absolving the then-Governor of Lagos of any wrongdoing or criminal conduct, charges, or activity whatsoever.”

He challenged anyone who doubted the authenticity of the document to seek clarification from the US Embassy.

“Those who may question the authenticity of this document may also wish to contact the US Embassy in Abuja or Lagos for clarification,” he said.

Omokri’s comments came amid an ongoing legal battle in the United States over access to Tinubu’s records.

Tinubu had asked the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to reject a request seeking the release of his unredacted records held by the FBI and DEA.

The President’s lawyers argued that the US Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act protected the records from disclosure, while also contending that there was no public interest recognised under US law that justified releasing the information.

The lawyers also argued that the request was politically motivated and sought information about Tinubu because of his position as Nigeria’s President.

The case followed a FOIA request by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, who sought access to records relating to Tinubu.

The FBI has invoked several FOIA exemptions in resisting the release of portions of the records, including provisions relating to privacy, confidential sources, investigative techniques and the safety of individuals.

The controversy over Tinubu’s US records dates back to the 1990s and became a major issue during the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.

In 1993, a US District Court in Illinois ordered the forfeiture of $460,000 held in an account linked to Tinubu after US authorities alleged that the funds represented proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in prohibited financial transactions.

The All Progressives Congress maintained during the presidential election litigation that the proceeding was a civil forfeiture case and not a criminal conviction.

The Presidential Election Petition Court, in September 2023, held that the petitioners had failed to establish that Tinubu was arrested, arraigned, convicted or sentenced in a criminal case in the US.

Omokri maintained that the current controversy should not be used to portray Tinubu as having a criminal record.

He said, “President Bola Tinubu has no criminal record in the United States, Nigeria, or anywhere else.”

He also argued that the public should distinguish between an FBI file and a criminal record.

“Please fact-check me: The US FBI regularly keeps billions of non-criminal files on American citizens and residents, as well as foreign nationals, through the FBI’s Central Records Systems and Next Generation Identification database,” he said.

Omokri said the release of private records should not be treated as an automatic public right merely because the individual concerned is a political figure.

“Would you, as an individual, want your private records released to your political opponents, even if they were non-criminal?” he repeated.

The post “FBI Files On Tinubu Contains No Criminal Record, But Still Shouldn’t Be Released” – Reno Omokri appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The Argentina captain made the announcement in an emotional letter posted on his Instagram reel on Monday, revealing that he had reached the decision shortly after the final and had become even more convinced following the death of his father.

Messi said, “After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team.”

He admitted the decision was painful but said he believed it was the right time to end his international career.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment,” Messi said.

The 39-year-old stressed that he had always given his best for Argentina, including during the difficult years before the country’s recent successes.

“I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” he said.

“I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

“There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot,” he said.

“I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give.”

The veteran forward also pointed to the emergence of younger players who, he said, deserved an opportunity to represent the national team.

“Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here,” Messi added.

Reflecting on his two decades with Argentina, Messi thanked supporters for their unwavering affection and said he would continue backing the team even after stepping away.

“Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside. Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones,” he said.

Messi also expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates and directors who accompanied him throughout his international career.

He said he was leaving with “peace and pride”, having shared unforgettable moments with his teammates and supporters.

“I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you!” he said.

The Argentina star ended his statement by thanking God for making him Argentine before signing off with, “Vamos Argentina!”

Messi also said he originally wrote the statement on July 21, two days after the final.

“Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before,” he added.

The post Messi Retires From Argentina National Team appeared first on Information Nigeria.

“Earlier today, US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island,” a US Central Command spokesman said, adding that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards “were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.”

The strikes came shortly after the US-Iran war hit the six-month mark, and at a time when hostilities had been subsiding.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has prioritized “economic warfare” over military strikes against Iran.

Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic sea lane through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passed before the United States and Israel started hostilities with airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

“Last week, CENTCOM completed clearing sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes,” said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command.

“US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway,” he said.

Diplomatic efforts, spearheaded by mediators including Pakistan and Qatar, have tried for months to bring an end to the war to no avail.

While a ceasefire was agreed in April and a memorandum of understanding towards a final peace deal was signed in June, no agreement has been forthcoming and Washington has since declared “economic warfare” against Tehran.

A US naval counterblockade of Iranian ports is squeezing petrol supplies in Iran amid a shortfall of domestic production, as the US ramps up pressure on its foe.

The April ceasefire put an end to the most intense fighting, but sporadic attacks, mainly around the Strait of Hormuz, have dimmed the prospects of a final peace agreement.

In a statement on Friday, US Senator Jack Reed criticized President Donald Trump over the war.

“Six months later, not a single objective has been achieved,” said Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Indeed, he has weakened our position in the Middle East and the world significantly.”

The post U.S. Strikes Iran For First Time In A Month appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Specifically, he requested prompt collective action from the continent’s leaders, including the placement of this matter on the agenda for the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.

Tinubu made Nigeria’s position known in a message delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.

Represented at the annual continental event by Shettima, the President called on the AU to place the matter on the agenda of the 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly scheduled for January 2027, while urging African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of all African nationals.

“Nigeria wishes to express its concern over the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans and other nationals in South Africa.

“While recognising South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to the continent, Nigeria stresses that such attacks undermine African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence, and require urgent collective attention.

“It is on this note that Nigeria calls on this august Assembly to place the matter on the agenda of the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, scheduled for January 2027, for consideration and appropriate action,” he declared.

Tinubu called for stronger continental efforts to combat xenophobia and Afrophobia, stressing that dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and collective action remained essential to preserving African unity.

On the wider security situation across the continent, Nigeria backed the adoption of the Luanda Action Plan as a practical roadmap for strengthening conflict prevention, arguing that preventing conflicts was cheaper and more sustainable than managing them after they erupt.

“For Nigeria, conflict prevention remains more cost-effective and sustainable than conflict management,” President Tinubu said.

Tinubu warned that fragmented peace initiatives and increasing external interference through foreign military forces, mercenaries, and private defence contractors risked weakening the AU’s conflict prevention mechanisms and the principle of African ownership.

He further called on arms-producing and exporting countries to strengthen cooperation with African states and prevent weapons and ammunition produced within their jurisdictions from being diverted to terrorists and other non-state armed groups.

The President maintained that while the AU had robust mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, limited trust and inconsistent implementation continue to undermine their effectiveness.

“The growing reliance on external actors risks weakening African institutions and the principle of African ownership,” he said, calling on member states to renew their commitment to collective responsibility for Africa’s peace and security.

Nigeria also backed sustainable and predictable financing for AU peace operations and the full operationalisation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 to strengthen the continental body’s capacity to respond effectively to conflicts and crises.

President Tinubu urged African leaders to recommit themselves to home-grown solutions, stronger cooperation, and shared responsibility in tackling the continent’s security challenges.

“Let us, therefore, renew our collective commitment to solidarity, cooperation, and shared responsibility as we build the Africa we want,” the President said.

The post Xenophobia: Tinubu Drags South Africa To AU appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The group recently emerged in Jos North council area, allegedly conducting activities in the name of Hisbah.

Hisbah organisations operate legally in some northern states, including Kano, Katsina and Sokoto, where their activities have received varying forms of government recognition.

Mr Mutfwang, however, said Plateau would not permit any group to operate as a parallel security agency without lawful authorisation.

He warned members of the group against harassment, extortion and imposing unlawful rules, saying offenders would face the full weight of the law.

“Government will not permit the emergence of any parallel authority, self-appointed enforcement body or group seeking to impose rules, restrictions or sanctions on citizens. No individual or group has the authority to appoint itself the government of Plateau,” he explained.

The Plateau governor said the responsibility for enforcing laws rested with constituted authorities operating within Nigeria’s legal framework.

He disclosed that he had directed security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and lawful operations to identify those involved.

Mr Mutfwang also directed the agencies to protect residents from intimidation, harassment, extortion and other forms of unlawful coercion.

The governor stressed that the decision was not targeted at any religion, ethnic group or community, noting Plateau’s diverse population.

“Plateau remains home to people of diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. Every Plateau resident is entitled to equal protection under the law,” he said.

Mr Mutfwang said the matter concerned lawful conduct and legitimate authority, rather than religious or ethnic identity.

He maintained that every resident had the right to live, worship, work and conduct lawful businesses without interference from self-appointed authorities.

The governor directed security agencies to identify and investigate persons involved in the reported activities and prosecute those found culpable.

He further ordered the arrest and prosecution of anyone found promoting, sponsoring, aiding or abetting the unlawful activities.

(NAN)

The post Governor Mutfwang Criminalises Hisbah Activities In Plateau appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The party made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday, following reports that the DSS had suspended its prosecution of Sowore until after the 2027 presidential election.

The Department of State Services directed its private counsel, Akinolu Kehinde, SAN, to take steps to suspend the alleged cyberbullying case instituted against the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election.

The development followed a meeting between the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, the senior lawyer and top officials of the agency’s legal directorate on August 20, according to a source close to the DSS counsel.

In the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Rex Elanu, the AAC said it did not consider the reported suspension of the case sufficient, arguing that Nigerian criminal procedure did not provide for an indefinite suspension of a criminal trial.

The party said, “The African Action Congress (AAC) has taken note of the reported decision by the Department of State Services (DSS) to suspend its prosecution of our Presidential Candidate, Comrade Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election.

“We do not consider the purported suspension of this needless case to be good news. In fact, there is no provision known to us in Nigerian criminal procedure that empowers a prosecutor simply to ‘suspend’ a criminal trial and leave it hanging over an accused person indefinitely. The proper course is to discontinue the prosecution.

“The AAC understands this latest development as a belated acknowledgement that the prosecution has become an embarrassing political burden for the DSS and the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The AAC further accused the DSS of deploying state resources to prosecute its presidential candidate over his criticism of the President, describing the case as political persecution and a waste of public resources.

“For nearly a year, state resources have been deployed in a case arising essentially from Sowore’s description of Bola Tinubu as a ‘criminal.’ Rather than tolerate political criticism and allow Nigerians to freely express their opinions about those who exercise public power, the DSS, under its Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, chose to deploy the machinery of the state against a presidential candidate.

“Our Party has consistently maintained that this prosecution represents an abuse of state power, political persecution and an unconscionable waste of public resources.

“The reported justification that the case should now be suspended to enable Sowore to participate fully in the 2027 presidential election completely misses the point. Sowore should never have been subjected to this prosecution and persecution in the first place”, it added.

The AAC subsequently listed seven demands, beginning with the immediate and complete discontinuation of the case.

It said, “The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) must immediately discontinue the case in its entirety rather than permit any purported ‘suspension’ until after the election. There must be no attempt to keep this case hanging over Sowore’s head as a political weapon that can be revived whenever it becomes convenient for the DSS or the government of the day.”

The party also demanded a formal apology and compensation for Sowore over the prosecution. “The DSS must tender a formal apology to Comrade Omoyele Sowore and provide appropriate compensation for the time, resources, legal expenses and disruption occasioned by this politically motivated prosecution.

“Where courts have already imposed monetary penalties or costs against the DSS in connection with the unlawful treatment of Sowore, those orders must also be obeyed without further delay,” the AAC stated.

On Sowore’s international passport, the party said, “Sowore’s international passport, currently in the custody of the Federal High Court, Abuja, pursuant to conditions imposed in this case, must be immediately returned to him.

“With presidential campaigns now underway, Sowore must be free to travel, campaign and engage Nigerians wherever they are, including our comrades, members and supporters in the diaspora. A criminal prosecution must never be manipulated into an instrument for restricting the legitimate political activities of a presidential candidate”, it added.

The party further demanded the return of Sowore’s phones and other electronic devices allegedly seized by the DSS, as well as a drone and other devices belonging to his media assistant, Zainab Sodiq.

“The DSS must immediately return Sowore’s phones, electronic devices and other personal property retained by the agency since 2019, including items whose return has already been ordered by a court. The agency must also immediately return the drone and other devices seized from Zainab Sodiq, a journalist and media assistant to Sowore. A security agency cannot simply confiscate citizens’ property indefinitely and behave as though it is above the law”, the statement added.

The AAC also demanded an end to the alleged harassment of Sodiq and other Nigerians exercising their constitutional rights.

“The AAC demands the immediate cessation of every form of harassment and intimidation directed at Zainab Sodiq, Sowore’s media assistant, and other Nigerians targeted for exercising their constitutionally protected rights. Journalists, activists, political organisers and ordinary citizens must be able to carry out their lawful activities without fear of arbitrary arrest, detention, surveillance or confiscation of their property”, the party stated.

Calling for an end to what it described as politically motivated persecution, the party said the principle should apply irrespective of political affiliation. “The Tinubu administration and its security agencies must immediately halt the weaponisation of state institutions against political opponents, activists, journalists and citizens.

“No Nigerian should be persecuted because of their political views, criticism of government or participation in lawful democratic activities. This principle applies to every Nigerian, irrespective of political party or ideology, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and others who allege that state institutions are being deployed against them for political purposes.”

The party insisted that the reported suspension of the case should not be portrayed as an act of goodwill by the DSS.

“The AAC will not allow the so-called suspension of this case to be presented as an act of magnanimity by the DSS. It is not magnanimity to stop doing something that should never have been done in the first place. The DSS and the Tinubu administration must understand that Nigeria is not anybody’s personal estate. Our security agencies and institutions of justice must never become instruments for settling political scores, intimidating opposition candidates or suppressing dissent.

“The AAC remains firmly committed to defending freedom of expression, democratic participation and the right of every Nigerian to criticise those who exercise public power. The purported suspension of Sowore’s case must therefore be followed by justice, accountability and complete discontinuation of the prosecution — not another political manoeuvre. The African Action Congress will continue to resist every attempt to weaponise state institutions against our candidate or against any Nigerian exercising their democratic and constitutional rights”, the statement concluded.

The post AAC Rejects DSS Suspension Of Sowore’s Case, Demands Complete Withdrawal appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Leader of the group in Southeast, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, disclosed this in Owerri on Saturday after a meeting on how to secure victory for President Tinubu in all polling units across the five Southeast states.

He said the organisation would approach the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo under Senator John Azuta Mbata, alongside elder statesmen including Chief Emeka Anyaoku and Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, to urge them to lead a delegation to Obi.

According to him, the proposed intervention is not intended to diminish Obi or question his political stature, but to persuade him to place the long-term strategic interests of Ndigbo above the immediate pursuit of a presidential ticket.

Ngoforo said the objective would be to get Obi to examine the 2027 contest and realize that a broader political bargain could put the Southeast in a stronger position to secure the presidency in the nearest future.

He said the more consequential question should be what the Southeast can gain by building a strategic political relationship with the Southwest.

Ngoforo noted that withTinubu constitutionally limited to one more term if re-elected, the Southeast should consider supporting the Southwest now while building a political compact capable of yielding uncontested dividends when power next returns to the South.

Rather than viewing 2027 solely as a contest to be won or lost, he said Ndigbo should view it as an opportunity to accumulate political goodwill and establish reciprocal obligations with other regions.

Ngoforo appealed to Obi to consider that withdrawing from the 2027 race would not necessarily represent the end of his presidential journey, but deferring the ambition to the appropriate time.

“The issue is bigger than one election and bigger than one individual,” Ngoforo said, insisting that the political question before Ndigbo should be how to turn today’s alliances into tomorrow’s presidency.

The post 2027: Tinubu’s Group To Meet Ohanaeze, Anyaoku To Beg Peter Obi To Step Down appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The group also called on women in the state to go all out to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, and prepare to participate actively in the 2027 general polls.

Convener of the group, Mrs. Sotonye Toby-Fulton, who spoke during the monthly prayer meeting of the group in Port Harcourt with the theme “Peace Be Still”, told women that without their PVC, they cannot participate fully in the polls, urging those with temporary cards to go and obtain permanent ones.

He said: ‎”Your PVC is very important. Your PVC is your power to make a difference. They say 99 days of the week for the thieve but one day for the owner of the house. Do not be discouraged. Do not be afraid.

‎”So please, as we worship, as we pray, and as we give thanks, remember: if you don’t have it (PVC), go and get it. This is my permanent voter’s card, my PVC. Not the temporary one. If you have done it and you have the temporary one, ensure that you have your permanent one. And look after it.”

Toby-Fulton, who warned women against selling of their votes, urged them to be calm but resilient during the election.
‎
He said: ‎”Do not sell it for 500 naira. A lot of things are happening. But we are friends with God. God is not going to come down and cast votes for us. It is in our hands. It is in our power.

”When you are challenged, when you have any kind of worries, tell yourself, call your name, and say, “Peace be still.
‎
‎”Everybody is talking about 2027. God is keeping us alive. 2027 will come and go, but if you do not have this to participate, to make your voices heard and loud, you are nothing. You are nowhere. And as we use it, we pray that God will confirm that which we want in the name of Jesus. May Almighty God bless each and every one of us.”

However, the former chairperson of Federation of International Women Lawyers, FIDA, in Rivers State, Adata Bio-Briggs Esq, said it is expected of every indigene of the state, particularly women to obtain their PVCs to guarantee their participation in the process and to bring about the needed change they are praying for.

“We’ve been preaching this message for a long time. We must have our PVC. The PVC is what will give you the access that you need, what you need for good government and everything.

“Without that PVC, all this thing we’re talking, we’re just playing. So it’s for all of us all to come out. Even on the election day, don’t say “I have PVC” and sit at home. On election day, you come out and exercise that your franchise.”
‎
‎Also speaking, Dr. Caroline Okpokiri promised that the women would come out en masse to participate in the forthcoming electioneering campaigns.

Okpokiri said: “So we encourage our women that every woman, as an advocate, as an intercessor, to go about with her PVC. Because as mothers, we have children that we can influence at home. As mothers, we can also influence our husbands when it is time to vote. We’ll come out to vote, we’ll stand and vote, and we will protect our votes.”

The post 2027: Fubara’s Support Group Collapses Structure Into Wike’s Rainbow Coalition appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Col Appolonia Anele, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, in a statement said, “The incident, which occurred at about 1700 hours (5pm) on Saturday, 29 August 2026, is being treated as a cybersecurity breach.

The Army said, “Immediate technical and protective measures are being activated to secure the account, prevent further unauthorised access and safeguard the integrity of information disseminated through the platform.

“The Nigerian Army assures members of the public, the media and other stakeholders that appropriate measures are underway to fully secure the affected account and restore exclusive administrative control.

“In the interim, the public is advised to exercise caution and disregard any suspicious, unauthorised, misleading or unverified content emanating from the affected account, as such content does not represent the official position of the Nigerian Army.

“The Nigerian Army remains committed to information integrity, operational security and responsible strategic communication.

“Members of the public and the media are therefore encouraged to verify information through the Nigerian Army’s other official communication platforms pending the full resolution of the incident.
The Official Communication Channels include: Facebook: @hqnigerianarmy and @nigerianarmyinfo
Instagram: @hqnigerianarmy and @nigerianarmyinfo X: @nigerianarmyinfo
YouTube: @hqnigerianarmy and @nigerianarmyinfotv.

“The Nigerian Army appreciates the vigilance, understanding and cooperation of the public and will provide further updates as necessary.”

The post Army Says Hackers Attempted Breaching Of Official X Account appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Diplomatic and security sources revealed this to AFP.

“The presidential guard has retaken control of the air base with the help of the Russians,” said a diplomatic source.

The source added that several of the rebelling soldiers had been killed. Two security sources confirmed that the base had been retaken.

Confirming the latest developments, Niger’s ruling junta said it was back in control after the mutinous soldiers set off armed clashes in Niger’s capital Saturday, moving on the presidential palace and disrupting the state broadcaster.

Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani that has struggled to contain jihadist violence flaring in the west African country for around a decade.

After hours of heavy exchanges around some of its most sensitive sites, the junta said it had largely wrested back control from the rebel soldiers.

The fighting appeared to have subsided later Saturday, even if a regional security source and an African diplomatic source said the rebelling troops still held two barracks around Niamey.

But by Saturday evening, diplomatic and security sources told AFP that members of Niger’s presidential guard helped by Russian forces had recaptured the air base, killing some of the mutineers.

When fighting broke out, shortly after midnight, soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and the national television station, Tele Sahel, which went off the air for just over an hour, before being restored around 10 a.m.

Niger’s ruling junta later declared, in a statement read on state television, that it was gradually taking back control after hours of clashes.

“There was an attempt by insurgents from the Nigerien armed forces to enter the presidential palace,” a security source told AFP, adding that the presidential guard had pushed them back.

Niger’s defence minister, General Salifou Mody, said on state television that a group of soldiers had held some troops hostage at a barracks in Niamey, opening fire at “certain sensitive sites” in the city, without specifying which ones.

Troops and security forces had quickly taken back control, he added, calling on local people to remain calm.

The post ‘We’re Back In Control’ – Russia Helps Niger Rep. Junta To Retake Military Base appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Tinubu, who joined the case as an intervenor, made the request in a fresh filing before the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

The President is urging the court to reject a motion for summary judgment filed by Aaron Greenspan, founder of PlainSite, and allow the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to retain redactions and withhold information from documents already released.

Greenspan had submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking records relating to Tinubu, including what he described as the “entire FBI file” on the Nigerian president and FBI interview records from 1992 to 1993.

The requests formed part of 12 FOIA applications submitted to six US federal agencies for investigative records connected to a Chicago heroin trafficking case from the early 1990s. Tinubu was among four individuals named in the requests.

In April 2025, US District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA had improperly refused to confirm or deny whether they held records relating to Tinubu.

The judge subsequently ordered the agencies to search for and process non-exempt documents responsive to Greenspan’s requests.

The agencies later released thousands of pages, although portions of the documents were redacted. They also provided a Vaughn index outlining the reasons for withholding specific information.

In his latest filing, Tinubu argued that FOIA was created to promote transparency about government operations and not to provide private information about individuals contained in government records.

“Plaintiff’s motion should be denied because FOIA is not a tool for obtaining information the government collected about private individuals,” his lawyers argued.

The President’s legal team contended that Greenspan’s requests were primarily aimed at obtaining personal information about Tinubu rather than examining how the FBI, DEA or other US agencies carried out their official duties.

His lawyers cited a 1989 US Supreme Court decision and invoked FOIA Exemption 7(C), which protects law-enforcement records where disclosure could constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

They also relied on provisions of the US Privacy Act, arguing that the FBI and DEA had acted properly in redacting or withholding exempt information.

Tinubu’s lawyers also rejected Greenspan’s claim that the records should be released because Tinubu is Nigeria’s president.

They argued that public curiosity about the President’s background, political career or suitability for office does not amount to the kind of public interest recognised under FOIA.

According to the legal team, Greenspan’s filings show that his primary objective is to obtain information about Tinubu rather than uncover possible misconduct by the FBI, DEA or other US government agencies.

The lawyers further dismissed claims of a secret prosecution or government cover-up as “unsubstantiated allegations”, arguing that Greenspan had not presented sufficient evidence of wrongdoing by the US government to warrant additional disclosure.

They also opposed Greenspan’s challenges to the agencies’ searches, the DEA’s Vaughn index, the exemptions claimed and the handling of information that could allegedly be separated and released.

Tinubu is therefore asking the court to dismiss Greenspan’s motion and allow the existing FBI and DEA redactions and withholdings to remain.

Greenspan filed the FOIA requests in 2022 and 2023, seeking records from the CIA, FBI, DEA, Internal Revenue Service, Executive Office for United States Attorneys and Department of State.

The requests centred on investigative records connected to the Chicago drug-trafficking case and named Tinubu alongside Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande and Abiodun Agbele.

Several agencies initially issued “Glomar” responses, meaning they declined to confirm or deny whether responsive records existed.

However, in her April 2025 ruling, Judge Howell held that the FBI and DEA had failed to establish sufficient privacy grounds to conceal the fact that Tinubu had been the subject of a criminal investigation.

She ordered the agencies to search for and process non-exempt records, while upholding the CIA’s Glomar response.

Tinubu has consistently denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations.

The post “Don’t Release My FBI, DEA Records” – Tinubu Begs U.S. Court appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The spokesperson for the state command, DSP Peter Aondongu, told journalists on Saturday that an investigation had commenced to unravel the cause of fighting between the two students.
He said, “Yes, it happened yesterday, Friday, August 28, 2026.

“From the information I have, both students were staying in the same room and had an issue. The suspect allegedly boiled water, added salt and pepper, and poured the mixture on the victim and then locked her inside.

“After some time, people became aware of what had happened and were able to intervene and rescue the victim. She was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment, while the suspect was arrested.

“I don’t have much information yet about the genesis of the disagreement or what led to the incident, but I can confirm that the incident happened. I also understand that both of them are students of the Benue State University.”

Meanwhile, our correspondent learnt that the suspect had attacked a 200-level Political Science student of the same university, identified as Rose, following a disagreement.

Narrating what might have transpired between the two female students, the Students’ Union President, Akighirga Vitalis, who led members of his executive to the hospital, said that Rose explained that there was a disagreement with the suspect identified as Felicia, which allegedly escalated into the violent attack.

Vitalis said that the duo had been living together before disagreements over personal matters began to strain their relationship.

While expressing shock over the condition of the student and condemning the alleged attack, Vitalis described it as “a grave and unacceptable assault on the life and well-being of a fellow student.”

He said, “We are deeply concerned about this incident. The Students’ Union will follow this matter closely until justice prevails.”

The union president assured all that the union would engage relevant authorities and monitor the investigation, as well as any disciplinary process that may arise within the university.

Vitalis said that if the allegations against Felicia are established through due process, the Students’ Union would support the application of appropriate sanctions under the university’s regulations, including expulsion where warranted.

“The Students’ Union will not condone violence or any conduct capable of endangering the life of another student,” Vitalis said.

The post Police Nab Benue Varsity Student For Allegedly Pouring Hot Water On Colleague appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The monarch, who ascended the throne at just three years old in 1995 following the de@th of his father, passed away on Thursday, according to Tooro Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki.

The cause of death was not disclosed. However, local media quoted an Ugandan government minister as saying King Oyo had been critically ill and receiving medical treatment in the United States.

Announcing his death, Akiiki described the monarch’s passing as an “immeasurable loss” to the royal family and the people of Tooro, urging them to remain united, calm and prayerful.

King Oyo was not officially married, but the prime minister assured the people that the succession of the crown was secured.

According to Akiiki, the late monarch left behind a prince who will succeed him, with the heir’s identity to be formally announced at the appropriate time in accordance with the traditions and customs of the Tooro Kingdom.

https://t.co/Yag9eRvBtz

The post World’s Youngest Monarch, King Oyo Of Uganda, Who Became King At 3-Years-Old, Dies At 34 appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview, Datti said his experience during the 2023 campaign convinced him that securing widespread Northern support for Obi would be a difficult task.

According to him, the religious and political perceptions he encountered while campaigning for Obi were significant obstacles.

“I said it is very unlikely that the North will support Peter Obi. Very unlikely, because I know what I have faced. If you want me to repeat, when I jumped onto the ticket, I had to contend immediately with ID card,” he said.

Datti also raised questions about how Kwankwaso would navigate the political contradictions that could emerge from an alliance with Obi, recalling that the former Kano State governor had previously travelled to Anambra to challenge Obi politically.

Reflecting on his own campaign efforts, Datti said he went to considerable lengths to introduce Obi to communities and traditional leaders across Northern Nigeria, including in Borno State.

“I knew how and what I used to get Peter Obi across. Like I said, all the way to Shehu of Borno,” he said.

Datti highlighted Borno’s long Islamic history, noting that Islam had been established in the region centuries before its arrival in the Sokoto area.

He also recalled an encounter involving the Shehu of Borno and British colonial administrator Lord Lugard, arguing that Borno’s historical and religious influence played an important role in shaping British policy toward Northern Nigeria.

According to Datti, he personally worked to overcome some of the concerns surrounding Obi’s candidacy, including accusations and fears relating to religion.

“I smuggled Peter Obi to Borno, to the Caliphate, to Kano, to Zaria, to market him. So I sorted that problem of ID card, mosque demolition.”

Datti said his commitment to the 2023 campaign went beyond that of an ordinary political running mate. He described himself as being fully dedicated to Obi’s presidential ambition and said he was always available whenever he was needed.

“Because I took myself as a staff of Peter Obi. I considered myself as staff. Call me 2 a.m., I will jump up. Call me 4 a.m., I will jump up. Call me 6 a.m., I will jump up.”

He then questioned whether Kwankwaso would be prepared to make similar sacrifices and put aside factors such as age, ego or political seniority in order to make an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket work.

“So will age allow, will ego, will seniority, will all those things allow him?” Datti asked.

The post 2027 Election: “How’ll Kwankwaso Help Peter Obi Win In North?” – Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed appeared first on Information Nigeria.

According to the singer, his attacks are not necessarily out of hatred, but rather his own way of seeking their attention and wanting to associate with them.

Portable said, “If you see me drag Olamide, the reason is because I want to chill with him. If you see me drag Wizkid, I want to chill with him. If you see me drag Davido, I want to spend his money.”

He went on to acknowledge the contributions of Davido, Burna Boy, Olamide and Wizkid, saying the four superstars have helped give other artistes a platform to shine.

However, Portable questioned why some established Fuji musicians have not done the same for upcoming Fuji artistes.

He specifically mentioned K1 De Ultimate, Pasuma and Saheed Osupa, arguing that they should do more to support and promote younger talents in the Fuji music scene.

The post Singer Portable Calls Out Davido, Olamide, Burna Boy, Wizkid For Not Helping Rising Artistes appeared first on Information Nigeria.

According to reports and social media posts, including a recent report by Instablog9ja, multiple award recipients are yet to receive the monetary rewards attached to their victories.

The controversy has also drawn attention from some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars. Superstar Ayra Starr recently criticised the organisers for presenting major categories, including Best Female Artist, backstage rather than on the main stage.

The singer questioned the significance of such wins when they are not properly recognised in front of the audience, expressing her disappointment over the way some categories are handled.

Ayra Starr is not the first major artiste to raise concerns about the awards. Veteran singer Tiwa Savage has previously voiced similar frustrations about the organisation and treatment of artists.

With more past winners now speaking out over allegedly unpaid prize money, fans are calling on the Headies organisers to address the complaints and clarify when affected artistes can expect to receive what they won.

The post Past Headies Awards Winners Call Out Organisers Over Unpaid Prize Money For 3 Years Now appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Heavy gunfire was heard in several neighbourhoods of the capital throughout the night, notably in the city centre near the presidential palace.

There were also shootings in the airport area where there is a major military base.

The state television signal was cut for just over an hour before being restored at about 10:00 am (0900 GMT).

Meanwhile, Niger’s national television was off air on Saturday after the night of heavy gunfire.

Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain jihadist violence, which has blighted the West African country for around a decade.

A local resident said he heard “bursts of gunfire” at about 7:00 am local time.

“I went to get credit for my phone. I saw a military vehicle heading towards the base that had to turn back,” he added.

“The weapons we’re hearing are not the kind that terrorists on motorbikes can carry. The fighting has been non-stop since last night.”

Another resident in the west of Niamey said he heard sporadic small arms fire at about 5:00 am.

Several social media posts also reported shooting and explosions in the city, particularly in the administrative area where the presidential palace and national television station are located.

Videos online showed armoured vehicles deployed to reinforce the neighbourhood near the airport.

The post Gunfire As Insurgents In Niger Republic Attempt Coup appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Bodejo was allegedly taken into custody by DSS operatives on Friday as he left the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, where his lawyers had gone to facilitate his release.

The development has reportedly left his family questioning the circumstances surrounding his fresh detention, particularly after a Federal High Court granted him bail and the conditions were said to have been met.

His wife, Hajiya Hauwa Bodejo, expressed concern over the development, saying she could not understand why her husband was taken away again after the bail requirements had been fulfilled.

According to Hauwa, DSS personnel had been positioned around the EFCC premises for several hours before Bodejo was released.

She said the EFCC contacted Bodejo’s legal team on Thursday night and directed them to come to its Abuja office on Friday with court officials to secure his release.

However, she said the lawyers were later informed that bringing court officials was unnecessary because documents confirming the perfection of the bail conditions had already been submitted.

Hauwa said members of the family subsequently went to the EFCC headquarters, where they found that Bodejo had been brought out of custody.

She alleged that while the family was preparing to leave the premises, DSS operatives moved towards Bodejo and took him away in three vans.

“But to the shock of our belief, as we were leaving the EFCC premises, the officials of the DSS, whose presence we noticed around the EFCC’s gate, rushed towards my husband and suddenly whisked him away in the company of three vans,” she said.

The alleged rearrest has also raised fresh concerns about Bodejo’s health, according to his wife.

Hauwa claimed that his health had deteriorated during his detention and that his personal physician had repeatedly been prevented from seeing him.

She said Bodejo had spent nearly three months in detention and questioned the justification for keeping him in custody after the court had granted him bail and the conditions were reportedly perfected.

The DSS had not publicly explained the reason for taking Bodejo into custody again as of the time of the report.

Bodejo is facing a 12-count money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He pleaded not guilty to the allegations.

The anti-graft agency accused him of receiving various cash payments, including $200,000, $100,000 and $980,000, from former Bauchi State Accountant-General Sa’idu Abubakar.

The EFCC alleged that the transactions contravened provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

On July 20, Justice Ekwo granted Bodejo bail in the sum of N2 billion, with one surety also required to provide a N2 billion bond.

The court stipulated that the surety must possess a three-year tax clearance certificate and own property in Abuja valued at N2 billion. Bodejo was also ordered to surrender his international passport and remain in Nigeria unless granted permission by the court to travel.

The court fixed October 5, 6 and 7, 2026, for trial.

Bodejo has previously been detained by the DSS. In January 2024, the agency arrested him over the establishment of a vigilante group in Nasarawa State.

He was later released following a court order in December 2024, after the court ruled that his prolonged detention was unlawful.

The post DSS Rearrests Miyetti Allah Leader Bodejo Shortly After EFCC Release appeared first on Information Nigeria.

“Some say sanctions have no effect at all; to those people, I really don’t know what to say,” Pezeshkian told state TV in an interview late on Friday.

“We are in a war situation, and we must accept these wartime conditions,” he added.

On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent laid out plans for the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran, warning of dire consequences for countries that do not join the American campaign.

The new measures build on a sanctions regime by the US and allies that has been in place since 2018 when President Donald Trump withdrew from an international deal struck with Tehran on its nuclear programme.

Pezeshkian said Friday that Iran’s exports and imports had fallen by 25 to 35 percent in recent months as the US maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The president said the price of petrol should be increased in Iran to account for the fall in trade.

“We should raise the price of the third-tier quota… For example, from 5,000 tomans to 10,000 tomans,” he added.

That quota refers to one of several consumption rates that determine the price an Iranian consumer is charged.

Iran, a major oil producer with some of the world’s cheapest fuel, has for years heavily subsidised petrol, making any changes to pricing politically sensitive.

Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah said Wednesday that the US blockade had prevented his country from importing enough petrol to cover a shortfall in domestic production.

But Pezeshkian said that same day that the latest US sanctions “will not achieve anything”.

“We will stand firm against economic pressures, as we have done so far and will continue to do,” Pezeshkian told state media.

AFP

The post Iran President Backtracks, Admits U.S. Sanctions Hurting Economy appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Atiku made the claim in an interview with the BBC while explaining his decision to contest the presidency and arguing that his age and health should not prevent him from offering himself for public service.

“I have a president who is 90 years old now, and who is sick. I am healthy; I am strong. So why would I not make my services available to my fellow countrymen?” Atiku asked.

He further claimed that he had evidence to support his assertion about Tinubu’s age and said he would present it before a court.

“I have evidence that he is [90], and I will present it in court,” he said.

Atiku’s claim about President Tinubu’s age was made in the context of his response to questions about his own suitability and qualification to contest the presidency in 2027.

Speaking about his political career, the ADC presidential candidate said contesting for the presidency was within his constitutional rights, stressing that his political journey had been marked by repeated attempts to seek elective office.

Atiku recalled that he contested for governor four times but said he was repeatedly disqualified by the military authorities overseeing Nigeria’s transition to democratic rule.

“I ran for governor four times, because at that position, the people who were in charge of Nigeria’s transition to democracy were military, and I was so anti-military. Any time I won, they would disqualify me. The last was when there was even an attempt on my life, and I went into exile,” he said.

He said the challenges he encountered throughout his political career were not new to him, adding that he had never considered his political journey an easy one.

“I’ve never found anything easy in my life. There is nothing new there. So, because I’m contesting the presidency two or three times… I mean, that’s not anything unusual in my life — in my political life,” Atiku said.

The former vice-president also spoke about Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, blaming the persistence of the crisis on what he described as the “irresponsibility of government”.

Atiku said successive governments had not paid sufficient attention to the country’s defence and security requirements, arguing that the size of Nigeria’s population required a corresponding expansion of its security personnel.

“I remember when we were in office, I told the president that, look, we are over 200 million people and yet we have less than 200,000 policemen,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with Egypt, Atiku said the North African country had a significantly larger police force relative to its population.

“Egypt that has about 80 million had one million policemen on the streets. And therefore, there is peace there,” he said.

Atiku expressed confidence that the country’s security challenges could be brought under control within a relatively short period if adequate measures were adopted.

“Believe me, within one year, we can control this insurgency and insecurity that is all over the place,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate is expected to face other contenders as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election intensify.

The post “I have Evidence Tinubu Is 90-Years-Old, I’ll Present It In Court” – Atiku appeared first on Information Nigeria.

This was confirmed by the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday.

“Investigation is ongoing on the matter,” Oyewale said.

The intervention fund, which was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024, was disbursed to clear outstanding wages and bonuses owed to players of Nigeria’s national teams.

It is understood that some officials linked to the funds have been grilled by the anti-graft agency.

This comes amid Thursday’s developments at the NFF, where Ibrahim Gusau resigned as president alongside some board members.

Gusau spent three years and 11 months in office and was preparing to run for re-election in September.

The post EFCC Investigating NFF After Resignation Of Gusau, Board Members appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The legendary singer was buried at her residence on Wednesday, following a series of funeral activities attended by her colleagues in the music industry, children, relatives and other loved ones.

Emotional scenes were witnessed during the burial as Saint Janet’s children and other mourners gathered around her remains to pay their final respects. Clips from the ceremony showed the heartbreaking moments as family members said their final goodbyes to the beloved musician.

The funeral rites began on Tuesday with a candlelight service, Artists’ Night and Christian wake held at the AIT/Faaji FM compound in Kola Alagbado, Lagos.

The post Veteran Juju Singer Saint Janet Laid To Rest In Abeokuta appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The ‘Bloody Samaritan’ hitmaker made the revelation while speaking on an episode of the Wahala podcast, where she opened up about her expectations when it comes to financial responsibilities in a relationship.

According to Ayra Starr, if she ever dates a man who is less wealthy than her, she believes she would naturally have some level of control over him.

She, however, maintained that being wealthier would not stop her partner from taking on the role of a provider in the relationship.

“If I date a man who I am richer than, I will control him. But even if I am richer, he will still be providing, and I won’t let him know I have a lot of money,” she said.

The singer’s comments have since generated mixed reactions on social media.

While some people agreed with her position and argued that men should still provide for their partners regardless of who earns more, others criticized her decision to keep her financial status from a partner.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2093046959686746234

The post “I’ll Control Him” — Ayra Starr About Dating Man Earning Less Than Her appeared first on Information Nigeria.

According to him, true leadership is about taking responsibility and putting the interests of the people first. He said his administration would prioritise job creation, better livelihoods and meaningful economic development.

Obi also assured Nigerians that he would take charge and pursue the necessary reforms to transform the country.

“If I become President tomorrow, some people may not be happy with me. But leadership is not about pleasing everyone. It is about making the difficult decisions needed to fix the country.

The post “If I Become President Tomorrow, A Lot of People Will Not Be Happy” – Peter Obi appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The parties have fixed August 31, 2026, for a major opposition summit expected to kick-start formal discussions on how they can work together and challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Salihu Lukman, a senior opposition figure and representative of the G100 opposition group, announced the date on Thursday.

According to Lukman, the summit will provide an opportunity for the parties to begin formal negotiations on the terms, structures and principles that would guide their cooperation ahead of the 2027 polls.

The planned meeting follows weeks of consultations with leaders of six opposition parties — the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Lukman said the discussions have already produced a framework document titled “A Framework for Opposition Cooperation and Coordination.”

The document outlines areas where the parties can work together while allowing each political party to maintain its own identity, history and political objectives.

Lukman also made it clear that the proposed alliance is not about forcing smaller parties to merge with or surrender their identities to bigger political parties.

He argued that the most important issue facing the opposition should not be who gets to lead the presidential ticket, but what the parties are willing to achieve together for Nigerians.

“Cooperation does not require any party to disappear into another.

“The first question before party leaders is not who leads the ticket. It is what we are, together, prepared to do for this country,” Lukman said.

The post Opposition Parties Set August 31 Summit To Unite Against Tinubu Ahead of 2027 Elections appeared first on Information Nigeria.

PRESIDENT TINUBU DIRECTS COMPREHENSIVE FOOTBALL REFORM

President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football to overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he said.

The President noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.

“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” Tinubu said.

He stressed that Nigerian football must begin to match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.

President Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process.

The process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.

The President called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
August 27, 2026

The post Tinubu Directs Overhaul Of Football Reforms appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The incident reportedly followed a verbal argument between the two women on Sunday, August 23.

A neighbour, also identified as Zara, said residents were alerted by the victim’s screams.

“I rushed to the house and found the stepmother pressing the girl onto the spilled hot water. I scolded her and used all my strength to pull her away.

Unfortunately, she had already suffered severe burns before we rescued her,” she said.

Residents alleged that the victim had faced hardship since becoming pregnant after her lover reportedly abandoned her.

They said her parents had allegedly pressured her to terminate the pregnancy, but she refused, per DailyTrust.

Following the birth of her child, neighbours claimed she was subjected to starvation and maltreatment whenever there was a disagreement.

Narrating her ordeal, Zara Muhammad said the incident started after her daughter attempted to enter her stepmother’s room.

According to her, the stepmother stopped the toddler, prompting her to intervene and take her daughter away.

She said the tension continued for three days before her stepmother allegedly threatened to stop providing food for them.

“When I replied that God would provide for me and my little girl, she rushed at me and pressed me into the boiling water she had spilled on the ground,” she said.

Witnesses alleged that after the attack, the victim was left in pain without adequate medical attention.

However, the victim’s father denied allegations of neglect or covering up for his wife, saying, “She was even taken to hospital.”

Following intervention by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuweira Gambo, a response team evacuated the victim to a medical facility for treatment.

The stepmother was arrested and placed in security custody.

The post Nursing Mother Suffers Burns After Stepmother Allegedly Poured Hot Water On Her In Borno appeared first on Information Nigeria.

VeryDarkMan on Tuesday served as a panelist at the 66th Annual General Conference of the NBA, where he made allegations against officers of the NPF.

He alleged that police officers manning checkpoints along major highways in the country relay information to kidnappers and bandits regarding the identities and movements of travellers.

According to the activist, the actions of the officers have been facilitating abductions for ransom across the nation.

Responding, a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, denied the allegation.

The police explained that personnel deployed to checkpoints and other locations nationwide were there to prevent crime, detect criminal activity and protect citizens, not to facilitate kidnapping.

“Indeed, these same police officers routinely confront the very criminal elements alleged to be receiving such information.

“Accordingly, the Nigeria Police Force hereby invites Mr. Martins Vincent Otse to produce, without delay, the evidence upon which he based these serious allegations, including any evidence that police personnel at checkpoints identify wealthy individuals and subsequently transmit information about them to kidnappers for the purpose of facilitating their abduction.

“Any such information will be treated with urgency and investigated thoroughly.

“We encourage any member of the public with credible evidence of officer misconduct to come forward through these channels rather than through public allegations alone, so that appropriate action can be taken,” he stated.

The post Nigeria Police Invites VeryDarkMan Over Comments At NBA Conference appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Peller made the remarks while responding to Carter Efe’s comments about his relationship with Jarvis and other aspects of his personal life.

“Carterefe, I respect you a lot. If not, I would have ended your career a long time ago. I’ll be on my own, you’ll be coming for me and my wife,” Peller said.

Peller accused Carter of repeatedly involving himself in his relationship with Jarvis.

“You are always advising me to leave Jarvis, and you like competition too much,” he said.

He also criticised Carter over his relationship with his former partner, Elma, and made allegations about his conduct during a trip to the UK.

Peller further accused Carter of seeking competition with other content creators.

He also brought up Carter’s responsibilities as a father, alleging that he had not properly cared for his child.

“Him no dey shame, him born pikin, he no dey take care of am,” Peller said.

He then said he would take care of his own child if Jarvis became pregnant.

“Bro, if I don give my wife pregnant, you go look how I go take care of my own child,” he said.

Peller also criticised Carter’s relationship with Elma and asked if she remained with him.

He further accused Carter of inappropriate behaviour involving women during his trip to the UK.

“You carry your glory head put for yansh for UK. You are useless, brother. Your life have finish,” Peller said. (sic)

Peller ended his response by accusing Carter of allowing competition to influence his actions.

“Competition will kill you,” he said.

The post ‘I Would’ve Ended Your Career’ — Peller Fires Back At Carter Efe appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The board has faced increasing pressure over its handling of the country’s national teams and the recent string of disappointing results.

The latest setback came after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in the history of the competition.

The NFF has also come under scrutiny from security agencies over the management of funds provided by the Federal Government for the national teams.

The Department of State Service (DSS) is reportedly investigating how the NFF used the N17 billion intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding salaries, bonuses and other payments owed to players and officials.

A source told Vanguard that security officials had requested documents showing how the money released to the federation was spent.

According to the source, the DSS review is part of its normal responsibility and should not be seen as an attempt to target or harass NFF officials.

“It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released them,” our source said, dismissing fears of witch hunt or hounding.

The investigation comes at a time when Nigerian football has faced growing criticism over its administration and performance.

The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for successive FIFA World Cup tournaments, while the Super Falcons have now suffered a historic World Cup qualification failure.

The Falcons’ hopes of securing a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil were affected after they lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The result ended their title defence and forced Nigeria to pursue qualification through the playoff route.

Nigeria later suffered another setback when South Africa’s Banyana Banyana defeated the Falcons 2-1 in the World Cup qualification playoff.

The outcome ended Nigeria’s long-standing record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the women’s tournament started in 1991.

Gusau and members of his executive committee had been facing calls to step down over the poor results and other problems affecting Nigerian football.

The pressure increased after more than half of the board members reportedly resigned.

Eight of the 13 members of the NFF board are said to have left their positions.

The mass resignations could also affect the NFF’s planned elections, which are scheduled to take place on September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The post NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, Other Board Members Resign appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The father of one took to social media to express his skepticism, labeling karma as an outdated and ineffective concept. In his post, Funnybone argued that wrongdoing does not inherently result in negative consequences, nor does being a good person guarantee a reward.

“Nothing bad will happen to anyone who does people wrong,” the comedian stated, challenging the widely held belief in cosmic justice.

Funnybone’s perspective has divided social media users, sparking a mix of agreement and pushback over whether cosmic justice is still a relevant concept

Read his post below:

The post “Karma Is Outdated. Nothing Will Happen To Anyone Who Wrongs You” – Comedian Funnybone appeared first on Information Nigeria.

The repatriation was facilitated by a group of well-meaning private individuals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 83 Nigerians were previously repatriated with the support of the philanthropic group.

Mr Ikem Ume-Ezeoke and Chief Charles Mba addressed the returnees on behalf of the group and gifted them N50,000 each.

Mba, a businessman and philanthropist, urged the returnees to be patriotic citizens and comply with the necessary regulations required by various agencie

According to him, no hope is lost, and whatever happened in South Africa would not be a hindrance to the returnees’ growth, particularly that of the children.

Ume-Ezeoke, the group’s coordinator, lauded previous efforts by the Federal Government, noting that the country had potential to be harnessed by the returnees.

The post Xenophobia: Another 67 More Nigerians ​‌‌⁠‌‍⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‍​​‌‌​Return From South Africa appeared first on Information Nigeria.

It is believed the mosquitoes arrived at Germany’s busiest airport on a plane, according to German public health officials.

The remaining five infected individuals are receiving medical treatment, a spokesperson for airport operator Fraport said.

Traps have been installed at the airport and mosquitoes captured will be analysed in a laboratory to determine their species and origin.

“Sadly, we must confirm that one employee has died as a result of the infection,” the Fraport spokesperson told the BBC.

“We have provided comprehensive information to all employees and encourage them to consult a doctor if they experience any symptoms.”

It was reported in July that the outbreak involved four infected workers.

The Robert Koch Institute – a German federal government agency and research institute for disease control and public health – previously said the four employees fell ill between 4 and 6 July and the mosquitoes were brought in by plane.

The institute said malaria in Germany almost exclusively affects long-haul travellers who were infected in malaria-endemic areas, and that malaria transmitted within a German airport is rare.

The last case of airport malaria was in 2023 also at Frankfurt Airport, it added.

The post German Airport Worker Dies Of Malaria After Mosquito Arrives On Plane appeared first on Information Nigeria.

He described their relationship as fake and revealed why he was not invited to their wedding.

Carter made the comments during an interview while speaking about relationships involving content creators and the pressure created by social media engagement.

“You go see am very soon, just calm. Na why them no invite me come their marriage, them dey see me as witch, so them no invite me,” he said.

Carter said he understands how relationships involving female content creators can be influenced by social media, claiming that comments and engagement can affect their decisions.

“I know how women that love the content space behave. IG comments and engagement control women when they’re in a relationship,” he said.

He also said he would not date a content creator or another famous person because of the pressure that comes with having a relationship in the public eye.

Carter argued that constant reactions from social media users can push some couples into doing things they might otherwise not do.

“To be honest, na pressure dey make some people dey go do wetin them suppose no do because of the comments wey them dey see online,” he said.

Speaking about marriage, he added: “The internet is crazy. It’s pressure them to marry.”

Carter further recalled his own experience in a relationship where content creation became closely tied to his personal life.

He said there was a period when he could not make content without his partner, while followers expected them to appear together even when they were having disagreements.

“There was a time I could not do content if I don’t see my woman. I can’t shoot content if I don’t see her,” he said.

According to Carter, the pressure eventually affected him emotionally, as he and his partner sometimes had to fake it before appearing in front of the camera.

“Do you know how many times I will cry? We go fight, fight before we start content, before we even shoot, before we face camera,” he said.

He said he eventually decided that he could no longer allow his personal relationship to be driven by the demands of online audiences.

“I have to use my own brain. I said no. It cannot continue like this.

“If you don’t understand the internet, internet will put your head, then you will start regretting like four or five years later that these people don’t really care about you,” Carter said.

The post “Internet Pressure Pushed Peller, Jarvis Into Marriage” – Carter Efe appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Photos of the newborn have surfaced on Kira’s social media handle, though the family has yet to officially confirm the birth. Ogogo was buried on Monday in Ilaro, Ogun State, after dying at 66 following a battle with stage-four cancer.

With the family yet to confirm the birth, the question is when they will share more details and whether the baby’s arrival will bring comfort after Ogogo’s passing.

The post Bittersweet Joy As Ogogo’s Daughter Kira Welcomes Baby Boy Days After Father’s Burial appeared first on Information Nigeria.

Sergei Indeikin served as an operational manager and delegate for the International Chess Federation and travelled to Abuja in early August for the FIDE World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships held August 1 to 8.

Indeikin fell ill after his trip and returned to his home city of Perm.

His condition deteriorated rapidly and he was taken to hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

He d+ed on August 23.

FIDE announced his d+ath but described it only as resulting from a sudden illness without specifying the cause.

However, Indeikin’s mother told Russian media he had contracted a severe and rapidly progressing form of malaria.

His father said colleagues at FIDE also believed malaria was responsible for his condition.

Russian newspapers reported that Indeikin was bitten by a mosquito while attending the chess tournament in Nigeria, and the bite likely transmitted the malaria parasite.

Medical experts noted that malaria is transmitted through infected mosquito bites in Nigeria and other tropical regions.

Indeikin had worked with FIDE since 2021, helping organise major international chess competitions including World Championships, World Cups and rapid and blitz tournaments.

He travelled extensively for the federation to ensure events ran smoothly.

While family and Russian media linked his death to malaria contracted in Nigeria, FIDE has not independently confirmed the medical cause.

Indeikin is survived by his wife and daughter.

The post World Chess Official, Sergei Indeikin, Dies Of Malaria In Russia After Trip From Nigeria appeared first on Information Nigeria.