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Court grants Sowore, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, 11 others bail

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Court grants Sowore, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, 11 others bail

A Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, Abuja, on Friday granted bail to publisher and activist, Omoyele Sowore; Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team representing the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu; the IPOB leader’s brother, Emmanuel Kanu; and 10 others, in the sum of ?500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

13 defendants were arrested and arraigned before the court for allegedly inciting public disturbance and breach of peace in connection with the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on Monday, October 20.

While Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and the other 10 defendants were arrested during the protest and later remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility, Sowore was apprehended on October 23 at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had gone to show solidarity with Kanu during his ongoing terrorism trial.

The 13 defendants are: Omoyele Sowore, Aloy Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Joshua Emmanuel, Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, and Godswill Obiama.

The amended First Information Report, updated to include Sowore’s name stated that the protesters committed, “Criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, membership of an unlawful assembly, joining or continuing in unlawful assembly knowing it has been commanded to disperse, disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace contrary to sections 100, 101, 104, 152, 114 and 113 of the Penal Code Law.”

According to the charge, the defendants allegedly obstructed the movement of other citizens, disrupted the free flow of traffic, and chanted war songs while demanding Kanu’s release, in a manner said to threaten national security.

The charge further stated: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, fled upon sighting security agents and were later arrested. You thereby committed the above-mentioned offences.”

Recall that on Tuesday, Ejimakor and 11 others were brought before the Magistrate’s Court by the police for arraignment, but the process was stalled due to the absence of legal representation.

As the defendants could not take their pleas, one of them, Nnamdi, who is also a legal practitioner, elected to represent himself. Ejimakor, however, requested a short adjournment to enable their legal team to arrive.

At the resumed sitting on Friday, the police counsel, Adama Musa, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment.

He said, “My Lord, the matter is for arraignment of the defendants, but we have an innocuous application to make. We have two First Information Reports — one dated 21 October and the other 23 October 2025. I apply to withdraw the FIR filed on 21 October 2025 and replace it with that of 23 October 2025. The essence is for the new report to cover all the defendants.”

The court granted his request, after which the amended FIR was read to the defendants for their pleas.

They all pleaded not guilty, insisting that the allegations against them were false.

Following their pleas, the prosecution requested a date for a hearing, while defence counsel, P. A. N. Ejoiofor, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of the defendants.

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Cultism financed by politicians, not IPOB is biggest security challenge in South-East – Odinkalu

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Cultism financed by politicians, not IPOB is biggest security challenge in South-East – Odinkalu

Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has said that the major security challenge confronting the South-East region is cultism financed by politicians, not the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as widely believed.

Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Thursday, Odinkalu maintained that the IPOB issue in the region is overexaggerated.

“Unfortunately, there is an IPOB issue, but the IPOB issue is overblown. If somebody tells you that Obosi in Anambra State is an IPOB issue, that person is a liar. IPOB cannot survive in Obosi,” he said.

Odinkalu criticised the tendency to attribute every violent or criminal incident in the South-East to IPOB, saying such generalisations ridiculous.

“The idea that every issue in South-East is an IPOB issue is ridiculous. It’s absolutely not the case,” he said.

He added, “Let me tell you this. The biggest single issue, in security terms, confronting the South-East, in my estimation, based on the work I have done on this, is?—?I regret to disappoint you?—?not IPOB. It is cultism financed by politicians.”

“You don’t have a clue how terrible the problem of cults in the South-East is at this particular time,” Odinkalu noted.

While acknowledging the possibility of some overlap between cult groups and IPOB members, Odinkalu stressed that the two issues are distinct.

“Is there a crossover between that and IPOB? Possibly. But cults financed by politicians?—?that is the biggest single security challenge confronting the South-East at this time,” he said. 

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‘Defend yourselves’ – Niger State Governor Bago urge residents to fight back against Insecurity while he pockets the security votes allocation

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‘Defend yourselves’ – Niger State Governor Bago urge residents to fight back against Insecurity while he pockets the security votes allocation

Insecurity:

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State has vowed never to negotiate with bandits or pay ransom for kidnapped victims, saying instead residents must be prepared to defend themselves against attacks.

The governor made the disclosure, when he visited the people of Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas of the state, whose communities were recently attacked by bandits in Kontagora.

The governor said: “The state has reached a point where the people must stand up and defend themselves because ransom will only turn kidnapping into a thriving business.

“I will not negotiate with bandits. I will not pay ransom. The moment we start paying, they will open shop on our heads and continue kidnapping people. The situation has reached a state of war that requires collective resistance.

“We are surrounded by enemies, but we will not give up. The constitution gives us the right to defend our lives and property, and we will do just that. There is no going back.”

Describing as “embarrassing and unacceptable” the frequent invasions of communities and the displacement of residents, Bago announced plans by his administration to recruit and train 10,000 members into the Joint Task Force, JTF, to help restore security across the state.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, said the governor has also declared a total ban on all mining activities across Zone C of the state, covering eight local government areas of Magama, Kontagora, Rijau, Wushishi, Mariga, Borgu, Mashegu and Agwara.

He said: “Illegal mining has become one of the major drivers of insecurity in the area, with miners often accessing forest zones unharmed while residents suffer repeated attacks.

“It is suspicious that miners can enter the forests freely, yet the bandits don’t touch them. I have now ordered the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to arrest anyone caught engaging in mining activities.”

The governor assured victims of recent attacks that his administration would provide support, including compensation for families of those killed, medical treatment for the injured, and assistance for those who lost their sources of livelihood.

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Nnamdi Kanu to defend himself as his lawyers withdraw from case

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Nnamdi Kanu to defend himself as his lawyers withdraw from case

Kanu Agabi, senior lawyer leading Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team, has applied to withdraw legal representation for the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

At the court session on Thursday, Agabi said the defendant has chosen to defend himself in the case.

All the senior advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on the defence team have also withdrawn from the trial, a development Kanu himself confirmed in court.

Kanu told the court that he would be representing himself for now, but that he may decide to get a lawyer later. When the judge asked if he should be assigned a lawyer, he declined the offer.

Defending himself orally, Kanu argued that the court lacks the jurisdiction to try him.

Kanu was first arrested in 2015 but fled the country after being granted bail in 2017. He was later re-arrested in 2021 and has since remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The federal government has maintained its charges against Kanu, accusing the separatist of inciting violence through IPOB’s activities and calling for the secession of the south-east region from Nigeria.

In a new application filed before the federal high court in Abuja on Tuesday, Kanu said he is prepared to proceed with his defence in the ongoing trial, which borders on treasonable felony and terrorism charges.

In the filing, Kanu informed the court that he intends to call two categories of witnesses — those described as “ordinary but material witnesses” and “vital and compellable” witnesses, who he said would be summoned under section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

Among those listed as “vital and compellable” witnesses are Theophilus Danjuma, former minister of defence; Tukur Buratai, former chief of army staff; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor; Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo state; and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Others named include Okezie Ikpeazu, former governor of Abia state; Dave Umahi, minister of works; Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation; Ahmed Rufai, immediate past director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Yusuf Bichi, former director-general of the DSS; and Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, the current DSS DG.

The IPOB leader also asked the court to grant him 90 days to conclude his defence, citing the number of witnesses and the nature of evidence he intends to present.

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Dangote Plans Sale Of 10% Stake In Refinery, Targets 1.4m Bpd Capacity – Here’s all you need to know

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Dangote Plans Sale Of 10% Stake In Refinery, Targets 1.4m Bpd Capacity – Here’s all you need to know

The President and founder of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has hinted on the Dangote Petroleum Refinery plans to sell between five per cent to 10 per cent of its stake on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited within the next year.

He disclosed this in an interview with S&P Global.

Dangote said the move will mirror the approach adopted for Dangote Cement and Dangote Sugar Refinery.

“We don’t want to keep more than 65%-70%,” Dangote said.

He added that the shares would be offered gradually, depending on investor appetite and market depth.

The industrialist said the group is also considering strategic partnerships with Middle Eastern companies to support the refinery’s expansion and the development of a new petrochemicals project in China.

“Our business concept is going to change. Now instead of being 100 per cent Dangote-owned, we’ll have other partners,” he said.

Dangote said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited could increase its stake in the refinery after reducing its interest to 7.2 percent, but not until the next phase of the project’s growth is fully underway.

“I want to demonstrate what this refinery can do, then we can sit down and talk,” the group president said.

Also, the refinery announced plans to increase its output to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), a scale that would surpass the world’s largest 1.36 million bpd refinery in Jamnagar, India.

“In July, Dangote unveiled plans to expand the refinery from its current 650,000 bpd to 700,000 bpd by the end of the year,” S&P Global said.

“Now, the target is to reach 1.4 mbpd, with no specified date, a scale that would surpass the world’s largest 1.36 mbpd refinery in Jamnagar, India.”

Dangote said the company is also developing linear alkylbenzene and base oils projects and aims to increase polypropylene production from 1 million metric tonnes to 1.5 million metric tonnes annually in the coming years.

Speaking on the refinery’s residue fluid catalytic cracker (RFCC) maintenance plans, Dangote acknowledged that while most of the technical issues had been resolved, a few still lingered.

“We have resolved most, not all, but most of the problems. And I think we’re looking for a window when we shut down for another month,” the industrialist said.

He added that the planned turnaround would be carefully scheduled to avoid clashing with the year-end surge in fuel demand.

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UCL: Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen speaks after Galatasaray’s 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt

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UCL: Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen speaks after Galatasaray’s 3-1 win over Bodo/Glimt

Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen has said he wants to help his team with his goals and assists.

Osimhen spoke after scoring a brace as Galatasaray defeated Bodo/Glimt 3-1 in their UEFA Champions League clash at the RAMS Park on Wednesday night.

The 26-year-old opened the scoring for Galatasaray in the third minute and doubled the hosts’ advantage before halftime.

The Nigerian international made history as the second Galatasaray player to score in seven consecutive European games.

Speaking after the game, Osimhen said in his post-match interview:

“I didn’t win the award alone. I hope my other teammates win as well.

“I want to help the team, if not with my goals, then with my tackling and assists.

“I’m not breaking these records alone. Thanks to the entire team,” he stated.

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Armed groups launched coordinated attacks on Birnin Gwari and Kachia local government areas of Kaduna State, abducting several residents

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Armed groups launched coordinated attacks on Birnin Gwari and Kachia local government areas of Kaduna State, abducting several residents

Armed groups launched coordinated attacks on Birnin Gwari and Kachia local government areas of Kaduna State, abducting several residents and leaving others injured.

In Ingade village, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, bandits invaded the community, firing sporadically before abducting six locals and injuring two others, a resident confirmed in a voice note message to SaharaReporters’ New York office.

According to the source, the attackers threatened to kill anyone who resisted, forcing the terrified victims to comply as they were taken to an unknown location.
The incident has reportedly been reported to both military and police authorities in the area.
In a separate attack in Gidan Busa village, Kachia Local Government Area, another group of bandits stormed the community, shooting repeatedly before abducting three residents, a source in nearby Katari town disclosed.

The source added that security operatives arrived after the bandits had already fled with their victims.
Meanwhile, the sources noted that bandits in the state appear to have grown more audacious despite the government’s widely publicised peace deal and the reported clampdown on media coverage of their activities.
On Tuesday evening, the number of people confirmed to have been abducted by bandits in Kujama, the headquarters of Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, earlier in the day, had increased to 12.
A body believed to be one of the kidnapped victims was found along the escape route used by the attackers.


A trader in the Kujama Market, who also resides in the town, confirmed the development, saying the actual number of abducted persons could be higher, but 12 have so far been confirmed missing.
According to the trader, in addition to abducting a medical doctor, a security guard, and several patients from a private hospital, the gunmen also broke into nearby homes and took away residents.


He added that five more locals, including three housewives, a young girl, and an adult male, remain unaccounted for.


It was further learned that a security officer attached to the Nigeria Correctional Service, who was shot during the attack, sustained severe injuries after refusing to go with the kidnappers.


The officer was reportedly shot in both legs and left behind in critical condition.
As of the time of filing the report, families of the victims were seen waiting anxiously around the hospital, hoping to receive a call from the abductors.


Earlier on Tuesday, a large group of bandits stormed a hospital in Kaduna State in the early hours of the day, abducting several patients along with the medical doctor on duty.


According to a source in Kaduna, the bandits went straight to the private hospital.
The hospital, named Nasara Nursing and Maternity Home, and other houses were attacked.
At the hospital, the assailants abducted five patients, the medical doctor on duty, and a security guard.

UCL: Osimhen elated to set two new records in Galatasaray’s win over Bodo/Glimt

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UCL: Osimhen elated to set two new records in Galatasaray’s win over Bodo/Glimt

Victor Osimhen can’t hide his excitement after setting two new records in Galatasaray’s 3-1 victory Bodo/Glimt, Osimhen netted twice in the UEFA Champions League matchday three encounter played at the RAMs Park on Wednesday night.

The Nigerian opened the scoring in the third minute before adding another goal three minutes after the hour mark.

The forward etched his name in the history books as the first Galatasaray player to score in seven consecutive European games.

Osimhen previously shared the record with Burak Yilmaz.

The 26-year-old also became the club’s fastest-ever goal scorer in the UEFA Champions League.

Osimhen thanked his teammates for contributing to his personal achievement.

“I don’t score these goals alone, I don’t break these records alone. A huge thank you to the team and our fans. We’ll continue to build on this momentum,” he was quoted by the club’s official website.

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Tragedy as Dangote truck crushes pregnant woman, child, six others in Ondo

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Tragedy as Dangote truck crushes pregnant woman, child, six others in Ondo

A pregnant woman, mother and her child on Wednesday night lost their lives alongside six others in a fatal road crash that occurred in the university community of Akungba-Akoko, Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State involving a cement-laden truck.

The horrifying accident occurred around 8:00 pm, a few metres from the main gate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), and the popular Holy Trinity Church.

The articulated truck, which was in transit through the community from Obajana in Kogi State and allegedly belonging to Dangote Cement, had allegedly suffered brake failure before ramming into traders and other road users in the densely populated area of the community.

Infuriated by the incident, enraged sympathisers blamed that accident on the removal of the barricade earlier mounted to prevent articulated vehicles from accessing the community.

The sympathisers, who thronged the accident scene, lamented that the tragedy has brought back painful memories of previous accidents in the area, which have claimed many lives over the years.

According to one of the sources, “Some boys in the community had been using the barricade erected to extort N10,000 from the truck drivers before allowing them to pass through. The government turned blind eyes.”

While confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, Ibitoye, stated eightpeople lost their lives in the accident.

He said, “The deceased persons include five males, two females and one child. The truck ran into a barricade in front of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, and lost control, resulting in the crash.”

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 Results of all Wednesday’s UCL matches

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 Results of all Wednesday’s UCL matches

The results of Match Day 3 of this season’s league phase of the UEFA Champions League, played on Wednesday, have been confirmed.

Galatasaray defeated Bodø/Glimt 3-1 at home, thanks to Victor Osimhen’s brace and a goal from Yunus Akgün.

Real Madrid also won 1-0 against Juventus, while Monaco played a 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

Bayern Munich thrashed Club Brugge 4-0, while Chelsea also thrashed Ajax 5-1.

Here are all the results of the Champions League games played on Wednesday:

Athletic Club 3-1 Qaraba?

Galatasaray 3-1 Bodø/Glimt

Monaco 0-0 Tottenham

Atalanta 0-0 Slavia Praha

Chelsea 5-1 Ajax

Frankfurt 1-5 Liverpool

Bayern München 4-0 Club Brugge

Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus

Sporting CP 2-1 Marseille

Meanwhile, the Champions League match-day 4 will take place in November.

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UK cuts post-study work period for foreign students

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UK cuts post-study work period for foreign students

The United Kingdom on Tuesday cut the post-study work period from two years to 18 months for foreign students, including Nigerians, from January 2027.

This was disclosed by the UK’s Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, on October 14 while explaining the reasons for the need for immigrants to pass an A-level standard of English Language.

According to a statement posted on the UK Government’s website on Wednesday, the time for international students to find a graduate-level job after completing their studies will be reduced to 18 months from the current two years.

The statement read, “Laid in changes before Parliament this week, the measures form part of the government’s flagship immigration white paper and Plan for Change to deliver on the priorities of working people for tighter control of who comes to this country while continuing to attract top global talent.

“The time for international students to find a graduate-level job after completing their studies will also be cut to 18 months from the current two years. The immigration skills charge (ISC), which is paid by employers sponsoring skilled foreign workers and reinvested in training the domestic workforce, is being raised by 32%.

“The ISC increase is the first since 2017 and will be used to boost investment in British workers and reduce reliance on overseas recruitment. The Parliamentary process to increase the charge will begin later this week. To ensure graduates contribute effectively to the economy, the maximum post-study stay will be reduced to 18 months from the current 2 years for most from 1 January 2027. It comes after data clearly showed that many holders had not transitioned into graduate-level employment as intended.”

Recently, the UK announced that an additional fee is expected to be passed on to overseas students, making studying in the UK more expensive than before.

The tuition fees for undergraduate degrees in the 2025/26 academic year have already risen by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535.

Additionally, stricter English language requirements are being introduced for international students entering the country for study, work, and settlement.

Data shows fewer foreign students opted for the UK as a study option in 2024.

UK immigration rules were modified in January 2024 to prevent students from bringing dependants, except for those studying postgraduate research courses or courses with government-funded scholarships.

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Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has strongly refuted claims circulating in some Western media outlets alleging a Christian genocide in Nigeria

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Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has strongly refuted claims circulating in some Western media outlets alleging a Christian genocide in Nigeria

The Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, has strongly refuted claims circulating in some Western media outlets alleging a Christian genocide in Nigeria, describing them as gross misrepresentations of the country’s complex realities.

Speaking at the Reuters NEXT Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Tuggar said the spread of such claims is one of the major challenges Nigeria currently faces on the global stage.

“One of our major challenges at the moment is the false narratives that are being created about Nigeria, this issue of religious persecution, Christians are being persecuted, which couldn’t be further from the truth,” the minister noted, according to a Reuters report on Wednesday.

He added that potential “investors need to come and see for themselves.”

The minister’s comments came amid a surge in online content and commentary from some United States political figures accusing the Federal Government of allowing or supporting targeted attacks against Christians.

Officials have repeatedly dismissed these accusations.

Nigeria is a religiously and ethnically diverse nation with over 200 ethnic groups and a near-even split between Muslims and Christians. Both religions are practised openly.

Despite the image of religious harmony, Nigeria has seen outbreaks of violence driven by a range of factors — ethnic disputes, economic competition, land conflicts, and insurgency. These are sometimes mischaracterised as purely religious in nature.

The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has waged a deadly insurgency in northeastern Nigeria for over 15 years, killing tens of thousands.

Beyond addressing security and religious concerns, Tuggar also spoke on economic resilience and reform efforts.

According to Reuters, the minister noted that Nigeria is relatively unaffected by the 15 per cent tariffs imposed by United States President Donald Trump on Nigerian goods, including oil and gas.

CNBC Africa reported that Tuggar said Nigeria had certain advantages that would help it to withstand the blow.

He added that the country has strong relationships with other trading partners such as China, India, and Brazil.

“We are a very large country of 230 million people, so we have a huge internal market,” he said. “That also means we have a larger talent pool than other countries.”

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