Author: Vincent Osuwo

The US Supreme Court on Friday ruled 6-3 in favour of parents demanding to opt their children out of lessons involving LGBTQ-themed books on religious grounds. The justices were hearing an appeal from Christian and Muslim parents against a Maryland public school district for incorporating books aimed at eliminating discrimination and debating gender identification into kindergarten and elementary school curricula beginning in 2022. The court found that the parents were likely to succeed in their claim that denying them the ability to withdraw their children from such instruction “unconstitutionally burdens” their right to exercise their religion. “For many people of…

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Friday urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to release his international passport to enable him to travel abroad for a medical check-up. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Bello for allegedly laundering ₦80.2 billion. During the rescheduled hearing, the defendant’s lead counsel, J.B. Daudu (SAN), filed an application for the retrieval of Bello’s travel documents, citing the defendant’s medical need. However, the prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that they are contesting the application and have submitted a counter-affidavit to that effect. He claimed that the application…

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared controversial singer Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, wanted. NAPTIP, in a press release on Friday, announced that the singer was declared wanted in connection to various offences ranging from rape, cyberbullying and cyberstalking. “Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, is wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying and cyberstalking,” the statement announced. The agency appealed to the general public to help in providing vital information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect. “Anyone with credible information on his whereabouts is urged to…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) launched accurate airstrikes in Niger State, killing a large number of terrorists and assisting ground troops targeting individuals responsible for recent attacks as part of Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 1. According to a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the operations, which took place between June 24 and 26, 2025, were led by reliable intelligence. He stated that through inter-service and inter-agency coordination, the NAF discovered terrorist activities involving attacks and cattle rustling in the Kakihun and Kumbashi areas. “Swiftly deploying air…

Edikan Adiakpan, a 33-year-old Nigerian man, has been arrested in the United States for his alleged involvement in a large-scale commercial email hack and money laundering conspiracy. The operation allegedly duped organisations in eight states, including a California-based medical research firm dedicated to discovering therapies for US military veterans. This was stated in a news statement published on the US Department of Justice’s website on Thursday. The arrest was reported by Nicholas J. Ganjei, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, who stated that Adiakpan will appear in court before Magistrate Judge Peter Bray in Houston. Adiakpan was identified…

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz informed the media that if the opportunity had arisen during the two countries’ battle, Israel would have executed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “If he had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,” Katz told Israel’s public radio station Kan Thursday evening, adding that the military had “searched a lot”. “Khamenei understood this, went very deep underground, broke off contact with the commanders… so in the end it wasn’t realistic,” Katz told Kan. He told Israeli television Channel 13 on Thursday that Israel will stop attempting assassinations because “there is a…

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated on Thursday night that the political schism between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had been resolved following a peace meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. Speaking to journalists following the closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Fubara stated that both camps had reached an agreement to stop hostilities and work together. The suspended governor of Rivers State acknowledged the truce, calling it a supernatural intervention and a critical turning point for the state. “For me, it’s a day we have to thank Almighty God. For…

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, declared on Thursday night that the political schism between him and Governor Siminalayi Fubara had been healed following a peace meeting sponsored by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. Speaking to journalists following the closed-door meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Wike stated that both camps had achieved an agreement to halt hostilities and work together. “We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family,” Wike…

US President Donald Trump has urged Israel to “pardon” Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for suspected corruption, or drop the case entirely. He also stated in a social media post that the US had saved Israel – referring to its intervention in Israel’s conflict with Iran – and would now “save” Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister denies charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, for which he has been on trial since 2020. Netanyahu published his own message, thanking Trump for his “moving support for me and tremendous support for Israel”. Yair Lapid, Israel’s primary opposition leader, slammed…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Thursday failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts probing alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over N210tn in its audited reports from 2017 to 2023. Despite being summoned by the Senate, no representative or external auditors from NNPCL appeared. However, members from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the Department of State Services, DSS were in attendance. In reaction to NNPCL’s absence, the committee issued a 10-day ultimatum, ordering the company’s top officials to come before the panel…