Author: Vincent Osuwo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has noted public concerns about the scheduling of the 2027 general elections, which coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, a time of fasting and prayer for Muslims, and has stated that it will seek legislative intervention if necessary. Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, announced this in a statement issued on Friday. The commission explained that the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election were created in strict accordance with the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act,…

Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the February 20, 2027 date announced for the next general elections, citing concerns over its overlap with the Muslim fasting period of Ramadan. Chronicle NG reports that INEC had scheduled the 2027 general elections to be held on February 20, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls will be held on March 6, 2027. The commission also set party primaries between May 22 and June 20, 2026, for the nomination of candidates. In a statement via his official X handle on Friday, Atiku said…

Ligue 1 leaders Paris St. Germain suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rennes, who overcame the sacking of coach Habib Beye this week to end a four-game losing streak at Roazhon Park. PSG remains on 51 points after 22 games and could be surpassed on Saturday by Lens, who travels to Paris FC. Rennes moves up to fifth place with 34 points, five points behind Marseille in fourth. Mousa Tamari and Esteban Lepaul put Rennes ahead 2-0 before Ousmane Dembele pulled one back for PSG, who battled for an equalizer but were caught off guard when Breel Embolo added a third.…

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has claimed that ongoing investigations and the arrests of his allies are politically motivated. He has also accused unnamed officials of utilizing security agencies to intimidate opposition figures. El-Rufai made the charges during an interview with Arise TV on Friday, where he criticized what he saw as illegal investigation procedures and human rights violations. “In civilized countries, you don’t start an investigation by abducting a person or even arresting a person and keeping him while you’re investigating. It’s a violation of human rights,” he said. The former governor emphasized that financial inquiries should be…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Friday elevated 14 high chiefs and baales in Oyo town to the status of crown-wearing obas with the presentation of staffs of office and instruments of office. The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, presented the Staffs of Office and Instruments of Office on behalf of Makinde at a colorful coronation ceremony held at the premises of Oliveth Heights in the Oyo West Local Government Area of the state. The newly elevated monarchs include the Alaaguo of Aguoland, Oba David Oyediran; the Baba Eyaji of Oyo, Oba Afonja Mukaila; the Alajagba of Oyo,…

Kannywood actress Saadatu Mohammed Inuwa, also known as Samha, has been sentenced and convicted to six months’ imprisonment for mutilating the Nigerian currency. Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kano, on Friday, February 13, 2026, convicted and sentenced the actress on the charges leveled against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The actress was charged with one count of tampering with a ₦1,000 note under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007, according to a post on EFCC’s X handle on Friday. The charge against the convict reads: “That you, Saadatu…

The kidnappers of nine worshippers from St. John’s Catholic Church, Ojije in Utonkon, Ado Local Government Area, Benue State, have demanded a ransom of N100 million. The victims, who included women and youths, were holding a vigil at the church when they were seized at 2 a.m. Sunday. According to a family member of one of the victims who spoke anonymously, the abductors first approached the families on Wednesday and demanded N100 million. The source further stated that during discussions in the early hours of Thursday, the kidnappers decreased the demand to N30 million. “This is the situation we find…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested three suspects over alleged Naira mutilation in Borno state. This was disclosed in a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity of the Commission, on Thursday. The suspects, Adam Muhammad, Muhammad Muhammad, and Bashir Musa, were apprehended by the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Commission. Adam, Muhammad, and Musa were arrested following a viral video circulated on social media where they were seen cleaning mucus from their noses using N500 Naira notes. Following the release of the clip, the EFCC traced the trio and arrested them in the Maiduguri…

The no-case submission filed by Bature Masari, the former director of Small Scale and Medium Enterprises, SMEDAN, has been dismissed by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. According to a statement on Thursday signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Justice O. A. Egwuatu on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, dismissed the “no-case submission” of Masari, ordering him to enter his defense against the fraud charges leveled against him by the Commission. The anti-graft commission is prosecuting Masari on an amended 22-count charge of money laundering and official corruption totaling N119,507,080…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has slammed proposed US sanctions against important Muslim figures and organizations in Nigeria, characterizing them as “lopsided, unjust, and selective.” Last week, five US lawmakers introduced legislation seeking visa bans and asset freezes against former Kano State Governor and New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) leader Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as well as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, among others. The Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said in a Thursday statement on its website that the sanctions fail to account for abuses by government officials…