Author: Opalim Lifted

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory will face a 12-hour FCT movement restriction today Saturday as security agencies tighten measures ahead of the Area Council Elections. The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Miller G. Dantawaye, announced that movement across the territory will be restricted from 6am to 6pm on Saturday, 21 February 2026. According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, the directive is aimed at ensuring adequate security and the smooth conduct of the polls. The FCT movement restriction will apply to all residents. However, essential service providers and duly accredited election officials will…

Justice Abubakar Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has rebuked former Pension Reform Task Team chairman, Abdulrasheed Maina, and his defence team over repeated delays in his ongoing corruption trial. Maina is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Ann Igwe Olachi on a nine-count charge involving the alleged receipt of stolen funds totalling N738,612,019.99. The defendants were arraigned in 2019. At Friday’s proceedings in Asokoro, Abuja, the trial-within-trial was stalled again after Maina’s new counsel, Emmanuel Wuyi, requested a two-week adjournment. He said he had just been briefed and needed time to study…

The police command in Cross River says its operatives have arrested Okoi Obono-Obla, a former presidential adviser, over allegations of forgery and unlawfully gaining entry into the legal profession under false pretence. In a statement, Eitokpah Sunday, spokesperson of the Cross River Police Command, said Obono-Obla was “lawfully arrested” on Thursday at Abuja Park in Ugep town, Cross River State. Sunday said the arrest followed a petition submitted to the state commissioner of police over allegations bordering on forgery and obtaining admission or professional qualification into the legal profession by false pretence. The police spokesperson dismissed claims that the former…

Lakurawa terrorists have killed at least 33 residents during a series of attacks on some communities in Arewa LGA of Kebbi state. The group launched the attacks on the communities on Wednesday. In a statement on Thursday, Bashir Usman, Kebbi police spokesperson, detailed that the insurgents invaded the communities to rustle cattle but were confronted by the residents. He added that the terrorists entered the communities from Gudu LGA of Sokoto state. “The command deeply regrets the loss of thirty-three innocent lives and extends its heartfelt condolences to the families affected and the entire Arewa community,” the statement reads. “Preliminary…

The Department of State Services (DSS) will on Wednesday, February 25, arraign Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, over alleged cybercrime and breach of national security. El-Rufai is expected to appear before Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The DSS filed a three-count charge against the former governor on Monday, accusing him of unlawfully intercepting a telephone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA). According to the secret police, the alleged offence contravenes the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003. The charge follows El-Rufai’s comments during an…

Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, has said making electronic transmission of election results mandatory will not, on its own, guarantee free and fair elections in Nigeria. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Sani addressed the growing controversy surrounding the National Assembly’s refusal to make real-time electronic transmission a compulsory component of the amended Electoral Act. Public outrage has intensified in Abuja following the Senate’s decision. On Tuesday, both chambers of the National Assembly witnessed rowdy sessions, with some lawmakers staging a walkout during plenary. Many civil society groups and political stakeholders argue that mandatory electronic transmission of election…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two suspected fraudsters before the Federal High Court in Benin City over an alleged N143 million fraud. The defendants, Kelvin Usiholo and Osaigbovo Aikoriogie, were docked on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, before Justice B. O. Quadri by the EFCC’s Benin Zonal Directorate. They were charged alongside three others said to be at large, Eghosa Aikoroghie, Junior Igbinovia and Bobby Osaretin on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering and obtaining by false pretence. According to the EFCC, the suspects allegedly conspired in 2024 to commit money laundering, contrary to provisions of…

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has praised Alex Otti for what he described as “transformational leadership” in Abia State. Osinbajo spoke on Wednesday during a visit to the governor’s office in Umuahia, a visit that coincided with Otti’s birthday. Commending Otti’s performance, Osinbajo said the governor has made public service “worthwhile”, noting that many leaders fail to fulfil campaign promises after assuming office. “Sometimes you wonder whether, after all the efforts to get into office, leaders are able to fulfil their promises,” Osinbajo said. “But in your case, you have done not just what you promised, but even more. You…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama to dismiss the N5.5 billion defamation suit filed against it by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS). The suit, marked CV/4547/2024, was filed on October 17 by two DSS officials, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, who alleged that SERAP defamed them by accusing DSS operatives of unlawfully invading its Abuja office in September 2024. In September, SERAP claimed DSS agents were “unlawfully occupying” its office and demanded to see its directors. The alleged incident occurred less than 24 hours after the…

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned traders against hoarding essential food items and inflating prices during Ramadan and Lent. In a statement issued on Thursday, the agency’s Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency had received reports that some marketers were deliberately withholding staple commodities widely consumed during the fasting period. According to him, the practice creates artificial scarcity, pushes up prices and worsens hardship for families already struggling with rising living costs. Issa-Onilu described the alleged hoarding as “economically disruptive and morally indefensible”, particularly during a season that emphasises compassion, sacrifice and social responsibility. “This is a period that…