Author: Vincent Osuwo

Human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to reference any law granting him the authority to announce a public holiday or limit citizens’ movement during the recently held FCT area council election. Falana argued that the minister did not possess the authority to announce a public holiday or limit the movement of FCT residents. The legal expert had, in a discussion with Saturday PUNCH, criticized Wike regarding the public holiday announced before the Saturday election, asserting that the minister did not possess the power to do…

The US House Committees on Appropriations and Foreign Affairs on Monday officially submitted to the White House a report detailing their findings and recommendations on addressing the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. Remember that President Donald Trump ordered Congressman Riley Moore and Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole to spearhead a thorough investigation into the security issues facing Nigeria and the purported persecution of Christian communities by terrorists after redesignating Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. On Monday night, Moore confirmed that the report had been sent on his X handle, @RepRileyMoore. Moore had previously led a delegation on…

Iran threatened on Monday to retaliate “ferociously” against any attack from the US and repeated its warning of a regional conflagration in response to President Donald Trump’s latest threat of strikes. Following a US official’s confirmation that talks will restart on Thursday, the belligerent rhetoric from both Tehran and Washington coincided with the adversaries’ preparation for indirect negotiations in Geneva on a possible agreement involving Iran’s nuclear program. University students have begun the new semester with anti-government rallies, resurrecting chants from statewide demonstrations that peaked in January and were met with a fatal crackdown, despite US pressure on Iran supported…

A cult clash in Bayelsa State has reportedly claimed three more lives following a renewed clash between suspected rival groups. Authorities stated that the investigation has commenced as security operatives move to track down fleeing suspects linked to the incident. The development was confirmed by the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Muhammad, on Monday. He said, “Yes, it’s true, we have commenced investigation, and I can assure you that efforts are on, and in no distant time the fleeing suspects will be arrested.” The incident is one of several cult-related altercations that have occurred in recent months,…

Suspected Lakurawa terrorists near Mayama Hill attacked a convoy carrying the General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Bemgha Koughna. According to a statement obtained from the Nigerian Army’s X account on Monday, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 8 Division, Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said, “The ambush occurred as the GOC’s convoy was en route to visit frontline troops deployed in the area. Armed assailants opened heavy fire on the convoy while it navigated the forested terrain. “Demonstrating decisive…

UEFA on Monday suspended Gialuca Prestianni from Benfica’s Champions League play-off second leg against Real Madrid this week after he was accused of racially abusing Vinicius Junior. The UEFA disciplinary panel, which is currently examining the alleged incident from last week’s first leg, announced in a statement that they have chosen to provisionally suspend Prestianni for the next UEFA club tournament match. “Following the appointment of a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector (EDI) to investigate allegations of discriminatory behavior during the UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 Knock-out Play-off match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF on 17 February 2026, and…

The immediate past Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over the alleged unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence. El-Rufai is contesting the legality of a search warrant that was issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court in a lawsuit titled FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 20 by his attorney, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN). He is requesting that the court deem the warrant that permitted the search and…

The Osun State Police Command has commenced a thorough investigation into the alleged shooting and pursuit of a student and his family in Osogbo. This was revealed in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, following a viral video and a press statement by the National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D. “The attention of Osun State Police Command has been drawn to a viral video and a press statement issued by the Assistant General Secretary, National Association of Nigerian Students, Southwest Zone D, dated February 22, 2026, regarding the alleged shooting and…

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has approved the cancellation of 485 land documents in Abuja after they failed to meet verification standards set by the authorities. After a thorough investigation by the Department of Land Administration and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems, the impacted papers were declared invalid. The documents failed authenticity tests, according to officials, and many of them were found to be fraudulent. Authorities verified that the erroneous applications had been deleted from the regularization database in a public notice published by the Federal Capital Territory Administration on Monday and designated as Batch I.…

The Bayelsa State Police Command has declared Bodmas Kemepadei wanted over the alleged conspiracy and murder of 24-year-old Patrick Peresuodei in the Amassoma/Yenagoa area of the state. Peresuodei’s death in January 2026 caused protests and widespread outrage over alleged torture by security personnel and a local influencer. A state government inquiry and the arrest of many Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officers followed the event, which allegedly started as a Facebook dispute and resulted in claims of extrajudicial death. In a statement released on Sunday, State Commissioner of Police Iyamah Edebor said that the suspect was the subject of…