Author: Naija Daily News

The escalating political crisis in Rivers State took a decisive legal turn on Thursday as the Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Simeon C. Amadi, declined a request by the Rivers State House of Assembly to constitute a seven-member investigative panel to probe allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu. Justice Amadi hinged his decision on subsisting interim court injunctions and pending appeals, a move that has effectively put the Assembly’s impeachment process on hold for now. In a letter dated January 20, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker of the…

The Federal Government has confirmed the payment of N152 billion to contractors for verified contracts, even as indigenous contractors resumed protests in Abuja over alleged unpaid debts estimated to run into trillions of naira. The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Federal Ministry of Finance and shared by presidential aide Dada Olusegun on X, formerly Twitter. The development comes amid renewed accusations by contractors that the government has failed to fully settle obligations for completed capital projects, despite repeated assurances and budgetary provisions. According to the Ministry of Finance, the N152 billion payment followed due…

Air Peace Limited has confirmed disruptions to flight operations across its network following a bird strike involving one of its aircraft at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Thursday morning. The incident occurred when an Air Peace flight operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt struck a bird upon arrival at the airport, prompting immediate safety inspections on the affected aircraft in line with standard aviation procedures. In a statement issued on January 22, 2026, the airline said it had begun measures to reduce delays resulting from the incident by deploying a replacement aircraft to continue scheduled operations. Air Peace spokesperson,…

About 5,000 individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism-related offences are currently being held in pre-trial detention facilities across Nigeria, creating a significant backlog of cases. The figure was disclosed in the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, which acknowledged the pressure the volume of cases has placed on the country’s justice system. According to the document, the NCTC’s legal team is working in collaboration with the Defence Headquarters and the Federal Ministry of Justice to review case files with the aim of fast-tracking prosecutions or dismissing cases that lack sufficient evidence. “At present, there are approximately 5,000 individuals…

The Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, Major General Warrah Idris, has said notorious bandit leader Bello Turji is in panic and confusion as intensified military operations close in on him and other armed group leaders in the North-West. Idris disclosed this while briefing defence correspondents during a tour of the operations theatre, noting that Turji is under sustained pressure from coordinated ground offensives, human intelligence, and technology-driven surveillance. “Based on the most current intelligence received, Bello Turji and others are currently in confusion and panic because of the intensity of our current operations.…

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has voided Julius Abure’s claim to the office of National Chairman of the Labour Party, declaring former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, as the party’s valid leader. Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Wednesday, relied on the April 4, 2025 decision of the Supreme Court to hold that Abure’s tenure had expired and that the leadership of the party now rests with the caretaker committee headed by Usman. The court subsequently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognise the Usman-led Caretaker Committee as the only lawful authority…

Military authorities have intensified operations across forest corridors in southern Kaduna following the mass abduction of worshippers in Kurmin Wali community, as political leaders, religious groups, and civil society organisations condemned the attack and demanded swift action. Multiple security sources confirmed that the attackers were bandits fleeing sustained military offensives in parts of neighbouring Kauru Local Government Area, where troops had recently dislodged armed groups from long-established camps. The camps, located around Gabachua, Legede, and the Agwalla mountain and forest corridors, were said to have served as operational bases for kidnappings, cattle rustling, and violent attacks across southern and central…

Nigerian celebrity chef Hilda Baci has secured her third Guinness World Records (GWR) title following a surprise recognition for achieving the world’s largest serving of rice. Guinness World Records confirmed the development after a post-event review of Baci’s 2025 record attempt, which she carried out in collaboration with food brand Gino. According to Guinness, the record-breaking feat was achieved on September 12, 2025, in Victoria Island, Lagos, where Baci and her team prepared a massive 8,780 kilograms of rice. Although the original attempt was aimed at setting a new record for the largest serving of Nigerian-style jollof rice, Guinness later…

The Nigeria Police have arraigned 11 suspects before the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi over the killing of Arise News journalist, Barrister Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Mr Barnabas Danlami, during a violent robbery in Abuja. The suspects were brought before Justice Mohammed Idris on Wednesday, where they pleaded not guilty to a nine-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder. The incident reportedly occurred on September 29, 2025, at Unique Apartments in Katampe Extension, Mabushi, when armed assailants attacked the residential complex. Ms Maduagwu, who was an anchor, reporter, and producer with ARISE…

The renewed paternity controversy involving Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and a teenage girl identified as Anu has once again drawn national attention following a recent social media appeal by the girl requesting the singer to undergo another DNA test. The latest development comes days after Davido publicly rejected the fresh request, insisting that he had already submitted to five DNA tests over the years, all of which returned negative results. According to the singer, three of the tests were initiated by him, while two were conducted at facilities selected by the other party, with all confirming…