Author: Staff Editor

Justice A. Isiaka of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna, has convicted and sentenced three individuals—Aliyu Hassan, Samuel Olamide, and Solomon Joseph Christian—for fraud. They were prosecuted by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate one-count charges bordering on criminal impersonation and obtaining by false pretence. The charge against Hassan reads: “That you, Aliyu Hassan (a.k.a. Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni), on or about the 9th of February, 2026, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, impersonated one Ottaviani Loverules Giovanni (a citizen of Brazil) via Facebook, and in such assumed…

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has declared his readiness to defend himself against allegations of financial misconduct, insisting that he remains proud of his record in office. Speaking in a recent interview conducted in Hausa, Malami accused security agencies of breaching his constitutional rights during the course of investigations into his affairs. He alleged that operatives carried out searches of his homes and business premises without prior notice or his presence. According to him, “I have spent time in custody with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, at Kuje Prison, and with the Department…

Media trial by security agencies in Nigeria has been a source of concern for many decades, with legal experts, including members of the Bench and human rights organizations, persistently criticizing the act as despicable and a flagrant violation of citizens’ rights. The practice of media trial among security agencies in Nigeria includes the premature parade of suspects before journalists’ cameras, declaring individuals wanted without proper and valid court orders, and the dissemination of misinformation or biased narratives regarding individuals or high-profile cases. These actions can harm reputations and undermine fair treatment of suspects. In many instances, security agencies resort to…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, affirmed the voluntariness of the extra-judicial statements of Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ali Bello, a nephew of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, alongside Dauda Sulaiman, on a 16-count amended charge bordering on alleged misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of ₦10,270,556,800.00. The trial-within-trial was conducted to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the extra-judicial statements made by the defendants during investigation. The defendants had objected to the prosecution’s move to tender the…

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has made notable changes to his squad ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies, leaving out some of the team’s biggest names, including Victor Osimhen and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwankwo. The Nigeria Football Federation announced a 23-man list on Wednesday for the two matches, with Chelle retaining a number of experienced players while also bringing in new faces. Captain Wilfred Ndidi will lead the team, with Alex Iwobi supporting him in midfield. Ademola Lookman is expected to spearhead the attack in Osimhen’s absence. Apart from Osimhen and Nwankwo, several players who were in the AFCON…

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Wednesday announced a series of special train services across major routes nationwide to ease travel pressure during the upcoming Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. In a statement signed by its Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the agency said the temporary arrangements were aimed at providing “seamless, safe, and efficient” transportation amid the expected surge in passenger traffic. According to the NRC, additional trips will be deployed on key corridors, including Lagos–Ibadan and Abuja–Kaduna, to accommodate increased demand. “For the Lagos–Ibadan corridor, three special trips will operate on March 19, 2026, from both ends of the route…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received a ceremonial welcome at Windsor Castle, marking the start of his state visit to the United Kingdom — the first by a Nigerian leader in 37 years. The President, accompanied by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, was honoured with a 41-gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, underscoring the significance of the visit. Earlier, the Nigerian delegation was received by Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, who escorted them to meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the historic residence. Scheduled to last two days, the visit will feature a series…

The trial of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, continued on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, before Justice Hamza Mu’azu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the court granting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a final adjournment to present its last witness. Emefiele is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an amended 20-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery, abuse of office, conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, and obtaining money by false pretence while serving as CBN governor. One of the charges alleges that the defendant knowingly…

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of failing to protect the lives and property of Nigerians. In a statement released on Tuesday by his media office, Amaechi condemned the Monday night bombing in Maiduguri, Borno State, describing the Tinubu-led government as “abysmally incompetent” and lacking the basic leadership skills required to safeguard citizens. Commiserating with the families of the victims, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said Nigerians cannot continue to mourn while the government “lives lavishly and ostentatiously” without taking decisive action to end the country’s insecurity. “This government is killing Nigerians.…

Police authorities in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, have confirmed that a total of 23 persons were killed, while 108 others sustained injuries after three bomb blasts were detonated on Monday night. The spokesman of the command, Nahum Kenneth-Daso, who disclosed this in a press statement on Tuesday, said normalcy has returned to the state capital. “Following the devastating suspected suicide IED explosions that occurred at about 1924hrs on March 16, 2026, at (1) Maiduguri Monday Market, (2) University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) gate, and (3) Post Office Flyover area, Maiduguri,” Kenneth-Daso said. “Preliminary investigations reveal that the incidents…