Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted bail of ₦500m to the former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Jimoh Yisawu, who is standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on money laundering. Yisawu, who is the only defendant in charge. FHC/ABJ/CR/361/2026 pleaded not guilty to all eight counts after they were read to him before Justice Inyang Ekwo. The charge was filed on June 22, 2026, by the federal government. The prosecution, lead by Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), told the court that the defendant allegedly violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act…

Operation Hadin Kai troops have detained two foreign nationals in Borno State’s Askira/Uba Local Government Area, including a 32-year-old Sudanese male and a 36-year-old Ghanaian lady. The Sudanese, Musa Fashir, was recognized by the army as a suspected foreign terrorist fighter and collaborator, while the Ghanaian, Mary Florence, is believed to be an illegal immigrant. According to a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, the suspects were apprehended by troops from the 115 Task Force Battalion at 11:48 a.m. on July 19, 2026. The statement partly read, “Troops of…

The Jigawa State Police Command has reported one dead and 39 people still missing as a result of a boat tragedy in the Malamawar Yan Dutse community in the Ringim LGA of the state. According to the Command, the event occurred about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday when a local boat carrying more than 40 passengers, predominantly female farmers and laborers, crashed while in transit, trapping several of them in the water. Boat accidents continue to be a reoccurring tragedy in portions of northern Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season, and are frequently blamed on overloading, failure to utilize life jackets,…

Nollywood actress Annie Idibia has denied rumours claiming she has reunited with her estranged husband, music star Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba. Annie spoke about the speculation in a post shared on her Instagram Stories on Monday, indicating that videos fuelling the claims were old and being misrepresented. “Old videos circulating everywhere, false news everywhere,” Annie wrote. Rumours of a reconciliation began to circulate on Friday, July 17, after an old video of the former couple sharing an amorous moment at a nightclub surfaced on social media. The video instantly went viral online, fuelling widespread suspicion that the couple…

The victory of Spain in the World Cup took a tragic turn after a fountain collapsed in the west of the country, killing a teenager and injuring many others.  “The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a boy of 13,” the municipality said on a Facebook post. “What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy,” it said, adding that several others were injured. “A few minutes after 12:30 am local time, rescue services received calls over a fountain collapsing on numerous…

Argentina and Spain have announced their starting lineups for Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in the United States. Both sides announced their starting XIs on their official X handles less than two hours before kickoff at 8 p.m. WAT. Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi will start alongside Julián Álvarez in attack. The team’s back four consists of Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Nicolás Tagliafico, with Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez as goalkeeper. Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Nico González make up the midfield. Argentina’s starting XI: Dibu Martínez; Montiel, Romero,…

Nigerian street-pop artist Habeeb Okikiola, also known as Portable, has stated that he wants to meet fellow musician Terry G in a celebrity boxing match following his scheduled clash with actor Charles Okocha. Portable made the statements during an interview for Rubbin’ Minds, which aired on Channels Television on Sunday. The musician denied that he was interested in fighting social media sensation VeryDarkMan, stating that Terry G was his favorite opponent. When asked if he wanted to face VeryDarkMan, Portable simply said, “Terry G.” “I want to fight Terry G.” He added, “If Terry G fights me one-on-one in boxing,…

No fewer than 16 soldiers have been killed in an attack in the west of junta-ruled Niger, the country’s ANP state news agency reported Sunday. “A terrorist attack targeting a military deployment in the Tera area (in the Tillaberi region) on Friday, July 17, caused 16 martyrs and 23 wounded, of which nine are serious,” ANP reported. The report stated that “15 terrorists were killed.” The attack on the soldiers occurred near the border with Mali and Burkina Faso. “Operations to search for the enemy, conduct sweeps, and secure the area are continuing in the area,” the ANP said. Niger,…

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, donated ₦10 million to St. Raphael’s Hospital in Umueri, Anambra State, to boost healthcare delivery on his 65th birthday. Obi believes birthdays should be occasions for service rather than self-indulgence. Obi disclosed making the donation in a statement on Sunday to mark his 65th birthday, explaining that he began the day with a Mass of Thanksgiving in Onitsha before visiting the rural hospital in Anambra East Local Government Area. “In furtherance of my belief that birthdays should be occasions for service rather than self-indulgence, I donated the sum of ₦10…

Operation HADIN KAI troops, in collaboration with Nigeria Police Mobile Force soldiers, stopped a mass kidnapping attempt by alleged Islamic State West Africa Province terrorists at the Federal Government Girls College in Monguno, Borno. Capt. Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, made the announcement in a statement released on Sunday. According to the statement, the attack happened at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. It noted that the Borno State Government is now using the FGGC facility as a temporary hostel for Federal Polytechnic, Monguno, students. “The terrorists reportedly gained access to the…