Author: Naija Daily News

The Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, and her former personal aide, Gloria Odita, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count charge of alleged advance fee fraud amounting to ₦5 billion. The prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), accused Oduah and her aide of engaging in financial misconduct during her time in public office. Oduah, who served as aviation minister from 2011 to 2014 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has faced multiple allegations over the years relating to financial impropriety in the…

Photo: Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister An Abuja High Court has ordered substituted service of court papers in a ₦40 billion defamation suit filed against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Justice M.A. Hassan issued the order on Tuesday while ruling on an ex parte application. The judge directed that the court processes be pasted on the gate of the FCT Administration headquarters in Garki, Abuja, after the claimant’s legal team said personal service had proved difficult. The suit was instituted by Tonye Cole, a former governorship candidate in Rivers State, who is seeking ₦40 billion in…

A 23-year-old cashier, Happiness Ephraim, on Tuesday, appeared before a Wuse magistrates’ court in Abuja over charges bordering on alleged misappropriation of her company’s funds. The prosecutor, Mr Simba Ibrahim, alleged that the defendant embezzled the sum of N687, 000 belonging to the company of a complainant, Magaji Zainab. The Magistrate, Chioma Agbaza, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case to January 29,

…Nobel laureate says Seyi moves around with heavy troops Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka on Tuesday criticised the heavy security presence around President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi, saying the detail was large enough to quell the recent political unrest in Benin Republic. Soyinka made the remarks at the 20th Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Awards in Lagos, recounting an encounter at an Ikoyi hotel where he saw what he described as an unusually large number of armed personnel guarding Seyi Tinubu. The 89-year-old writer said he initially mistook the scene for a film set before realising the officers were part…

Fresh protests erupted in Numan local government area (LGA) of Adamawa State on Tuesday after allegations surfaced that Nigerian Army personnel shot and killed women during an operation to restore order in neighbouring Lamurde. The demonstrations followed Monday’s communal clashes between the Bachama and Chobo communities. Seven women were reported dead and 11 others injured during a protest in Lamurde, where demonstrators accused the military of failing to act swiftly to contain the violence. Witnesses said women carrying leaves blocked troop movement into the area, alleging the intervention was biased in favour of the Chobo community. During the standoff, soldiers…

Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked the Investments and Securities Tribunal to freeze the bank accounts of Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) and 25 other defendants accused of running an unregistered digital asset scheme that allegedly defrauded investors of about ₦1.3 trillion ($800 million). The request was made at the first sitting of the sixth Tribunal in the case SEC v. Crypto Bridge Exchange and 25 Others, presided over by Tribunal Chairman Aminu Jinaidu. SEC also sought orders for the seizure of properties it said were bought with funds taken from investors through the platform. SEC told the Tribunal…

Detectives of the Ondo State Police Command have apprehended a suspected kidnapper, identified as Godspower Cletus, shortly after he attempted to withdraw part of a ransom allegedly extorted from the husband of his victim. The arrest took place at a POS kiosk where the suspect was reportedly trying to access the funds. The incident that led to his arrest began in Odudu community, Akure, where Mrs. Farimoyo Endurance was attacked inside her home. According to police sources, Cletus allegedly forced his way into the residence armed with a gun, dispossessing her of her Android phone and ATM card. He then…

A major breakthrough in the fight against banditry has been recorded in Sokoto State as troops of the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division successfully eliminated Kachalla Kallamu, a feared field commander long associated with terror leader Bello Turji. The operation, conducted before dawn on Monday, was confirmed on Tuesday by a military source familiar with the mission. Rather than a routine patrol or accidental encounter, the offensive was the result of a carefully coordinated sweep around Kurawa village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area. Intelligence gathered over several days reportedly pointed to Kallamu’s renewed presence in the area, prompting troops, supported…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Tuesday formally ended months of intense speculation by announcing his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC). The long-anticipated move marks a significant political realignment in one of Nigeria’s most strategic states and further tilts the South-South region toward the ruling party. The governor declared his decision during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt late Tuesday evening. The hall, which was filled with traditional leaders, political allies, senior advisers and local government chairmen, erupted in applause as Fubara confirmed what many had suspected for weeks.…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across the region amid escalating political instability, rising insecurity, and worsening humanitarian conditions. President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, announced the decision on Tuesday during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council at ministerial level in Abuja. Addressing ministers, diplomats and senior officials, Touray warned that recent events reflect a rapidly deteriorating political and security landscape. He said documents before the Council show that ECOWAS member states currently face an average rating of “high risk,” driven by military interventions, political tensions, terrorist activities…