Bayo Adelabu, minister of power, has accused Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, of blackmail and attempting to extort N150 million from him for “spiritual intercession” to make him governor of Oyo state. Adelabu, a former governorship candidate, has declared his intention to contest the 2027 Oyo governorship election. In a petition …

A Catholic church priest on Thursday gave a harrowing account before the Federal High Court in Abuja of how terrorists stormed the St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, killing more than 40 worshippers and injuring over 100 others during the 2022 Pentecost Sunday service. Testifying behind a protective screen and identified only as “SSA” for security reasons, the priest …

Three young men returning from their mother’s burial in Agboro, Kwara State, reportedly been kidnapped by suspected terrorists who are now demanding ₦10 million per victim which makes a total of ₦30million. The victims; Isanlu Bidemi (33), Olumide (30), and their 17-year-old cousin, Moses were abducted on Sunday, December 7, 2025, along the Odo-Ogbe axis of Yagba East Local Government …

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has finalised plans to arraign a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, today (Friday) over alleged fraud totalling N2,261,722,535.84. Court officials confirmed that the arraignment is scheduled to take place at the Gwarinpa Division of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. According to court documents seen by our correspondent, Ngige is facing …

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has directed security formations across Nigeria to immediately dismantle non-essential roadblocks and unauthorized checkpoints on major highways, warning that the growing proliferation of such security posts is undermining operations and putting lives at risk. The order was issued through an internal communication dated December 5 and signed by Brigadier General A. Rabiu “for CDS.” The DHQ …

A superior court in Indiana, US, has given a verdict in favour of the Church of Nigeria and its senior clerics. The court ruled that the dispute over the dissolution of the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (ADOTT) is a purely ecclesiastical matter that civil courts cannot adjudicate. ADOTT is a member of the Church of Nigeria North American Mission …

Maria Corina Machado, a pro-democracy activist, stepped onto the balcony of Oslo’s Grand Hotel shortly before 2.30am on Thursday after spending more than a year in hiding in Caracas. The 58-year-old was smuggled out of Venezuela with help from the US in defiance of a ⁠decade-long travel ban imposed by authorities in her home country, and after spending more than …

The army officer who led the coup in the Republic of Benin, Pascal Tigri, fled to Togo on Sunday to seek refuge. BBC reports that the officials of the Beninese government disclosed that Mr Tigri had fled after the coup to oust President Patrice Talon failed. The officials also disclosed that the government is aware of Mr Tigri’s current location …

The Rivers State House of Assembly has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of making false claims regarding his meetings with lawmakers. The allegation comes in response to Governor Fubara’s comment on Wednesday, in which he dismissed speculations of a rift between him and federal or state lawmakers from Rivers State, insisting that reports of strained relations are unfounded. Addressing journalists during …

The Enugu State Government says it has earmarked the sum of N10bn in the 2026 budget as the state’s equity contribution to the first phase of the 135.5km standard gauge rail it plans to build in the state. This was made known during a press briefing by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barr. Chris-Roberts Ozongwu at the Nigerian Union …

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, says the Nigerian soldiers who were on an aircraft that made a forced landing in Burkina Faso are still in trapped in that country. Tuggar made this disclosure during a press briefing with his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Bakari, on Thursday at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja. Recall that on Monday, the Confederation of …

“When we cried out that hunger was ke-ee-ling our children in the Sahel, they turned a deaf ear. When we screamed for help as thieves in white kaftans emptied our treasuries and fled with our wealth, they remained deaf. When we demanded just a fair share of the gold, uranium, and lithium being carted away to build foreign cities while …

The deputy governor of Bayelsa state, Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has been confirmed de@d after he collapsed earlier this afternoon, December 11. He is said to have collapsed while in his office at about 1.30pm and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa where he has now been confirmed de@d. Born on September 5, 1965, Senator Ewhrudjakpo was …

A stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr Hillary Onah, on Monday, countered claims by Udenu LGA authorities and the Nigerian Army on the alleged rescue of fourteen persons kidnapped at Ezimo and Umuosigide communities. The council as well as Nigerian Army had claimed that the fourteen kidnapped victims were rescued by …

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has criticised Nigeria’s political leadership, accusing the elite of undermining national development by treating public office as a personal and family enterprise rather than a platform for public service. Sanusi made the remarks while speaking at the 15th anniversary of Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria in Lagos. He said the nation continues to …