JUSTICE EGWUATU WITHDRAWS FROM EFCC’S CASES AGAINST FORMER ATTORNEY-GENERAL MALAMI

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on Thursday, withdrew himself from the two cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Justice Egwuatu, who was recently re-assigned the case by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, said he decided to withdraw from the two cases is for personal reasons and for better interest of justice.

The development occurred shortly after the civil suit for forfeiture of 57 property allegedly linked to Malami was called for mention.

Recall that the cases were formerly before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas break. 

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KWANKWASIYYA REJECTS US-PROPOSED VISA SANCTION BILL AGAINST KWANKWASO

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has said that it received with grave concern reports that a proposed bill before the United States Congress, the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act 2026, allegedly references the name of its leader and principal, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in connection with claims of severe religious freedom violations.

This is contained in a statement by the Movement’s spokesperson, Habibu Sale Mohammed, stating unequivocally that the allegations are unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with the verifiable public record of Kwankwaso’s life and service.

According to the movement, for over 30 years, Kwankwaso has served Nigeria at the highest levels as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-term Governor of Kano State, Minister of Defence, Senator of the Federal Republic, and presidential candidate.

The movement therefore stressed that throughout his service years, Kwankwaso was never indicted, prosecuted, or credibly accused of religious persecution, extremism, or human rights violations.

It also noted that the constitutional development of Sharia-based legal systems in certain northern Nigerian states was neither unique to Kano State nor the initiative of one individual.

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LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT URGES RESIDENTS ON EMERGENCY LINES 767, 112

Lagos State Government has commemorated the 2026World Emergency Number Day with a renewed call on residents to know and properly utilise its dedicated emergency toll-free lines, 767 and 112.

This is contained in a statement signed by Head, Public Affairs, Lagos Command and Control Centre, Yemi Sule, on Thursday in Lagos, just as the General Manager of the Centre, Femi Giwa, urged residents to know their Emergency Numbers.

Giwa explained that the LSCCC serves as the state’s central emergency coordination hub, receiving distress calls and mobilising appropriate response agencies.

According to him, these include the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, Rapid Response Squad and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, among other safety agencies.

He therefore revealed that when residents dial 767 or 112, they are immediately connected to trained call agents at the Command-and-Control Centre who coordinate rapid and appropriate response.

The general manager noted that public awareness and responsible utilisation of emergency lines remain critical to effective emergency management.

He therefore commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for sustained investment in public safety infrastructure, noting that the Command-and-Control Centre had undergone significant technological upgrades and a comprehensive overhaul under the current administration.

Recall that the World Emergency Number Day is observed annually on February 11 to promote global awareness of emergency numbers and their responsible use. 

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TRUCK CRUSHES MAN TO DEATH, WIFE SUSTAINS INJURY IN LAGOS ISLAND ACCIDENT

A motorist was on Thursday morning confirmed dead while his wife was critically injured after a granite-laden truck toppled onto their Toyota saloon car at Eleko Junction along the Lekki–Ajah Expressway, Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq.

Preliminary reports revealed that Officials of the agency and the Federal Road Safety Corps, with the help of bystanders, reportedly rescued the victims, but the man was confirmed dead at the scene, while his wife sustained life-threatening injuries and was rushed for urgent medical attention.

LASTMA therefore confirmed that the truck driver fled the scene immediately after the crash, while operatives of the Akodo Police Division provided security during the rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as avoidable, urged motorists and truck drivers to ensure proper vehicle maintenance, and warned against reckless driving.

=======================================================================================================LASEMA– DIESEL TANKER FIRE ON ABEOKUTA EXPRESSWAY LEAVES NO FATALITIES

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, on Thursday revealed that a fully loaded diesel tanker overturned and caught fire late Wednesday night along the Abeokuta Expressway inward Agege.

Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident to reporters on Thursday in Lagos.

He said the fire was immediately contained, while residual product that was burning in the drainage was also addressed.

The Permanent Secretary stressed that there were limited fatalities, stating that one-person sustained burn injuries and is currently receiving treatment.

Oke-Osanyintolu further disclosed that although the tanker was damaged, the fire did not spread to surrounding properties. 

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TROOPS RESCUE 8 ABDUCTED WEDDING GUESTS IN KANO–KATSINA JOINT OPERATIONT

Troops of 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued eight of the 10 persons abducted by suspected terrorists at a wedding venue on Wednesday, in Dabawa, Shanono Local Government Area, Kano State.

A credible Army Headquarters source told reporters on Thursday that an unconfirmed number of gunmen reportedly dressed in military camouflage invaded the ceremony and whisked away the victims.

He said the troops deployed at an ambush position along the Yankwada River line, swiftly advanced to the general area upon receiving the distress report and made contact with the fleeing assailants at Garu Village in neighbouring Katsina State.

According to him, troops pursued the bandits up to the Katsina–Gidan Mutum Daya road axis before contact was broken.

”During the operation, eight of the abducted girls were successfully rescued and have since been reunited with their families, while efforts are ongoing to track and rescue the remaining two victims.”

The sources said the operations in the general area had continued to ensure the safe return of the remaining victims and prevent further attacks. 

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1.5M CHILDREN RECEIVE MEASLES, RUBELLA VACCINATION WITHIN ONE WEEK IN ENUGU

The Enugu State Government says over 1.5 million children have so far received vaccination against measles and rubella within a week in the ongoing statewide immunisation against the diseases.

Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ifeyinwa Ani-Ocheku, disclosed this during the flag off of integrated Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign held at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.

Ani-Ocheku added that the number represented about 68 per cent of the target population of 2.2 million children in the state, describing the figure as unprecedented and the state’s commitment to achieving zero cases of the diseases.

She equally described the exercise as a “historic and deliberate” move to protect the future of the state, stressing that health workers embarked on aggressive community mobilisation, moving from one house to the other, schools, churches and mosques to ensure that no child was left out. 

===========================================================================================================================POLICE ARREST, DETAIN MOTEL OWNER, 2 OTHERS, RECOVER FIREARM, IN ANAMBRA

The Police Command in Anambra has arrested and detained three male suspects in connection with illegal possession of firearm, and involvement in illicit drug activities in the state.

The Police Spokesman in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday in Awka, said that the suspects were arrested at a Motel in Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area.

Ikenga stated that the operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, while acting on credible, stormed the Motel, where the criminals were arrested, stating that the suspects were between ages 39, 26 and 18 respectively.

He also disclosed that during the search, one Jojef pump action gun, loaded with three live cartridges was recovered at the scene.

According to him, during interrogation, one of the suspects, who is the owner of the motel, confessed to the crime, stressing that his confession led to the arrest of the other two suspects and the recovery of substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, Crystal Methamphetamine, Colos, and Mkpuru-mmiri.

Ikenga therefore reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining ongoing operations against criminal elements in the state, just as he urged members of the public to continue to provide useful information to aid policing efforts. 
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2BABA— I’M NOT A WOMANISER, JUST A LOVER BOY

Nigerian music star, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, has dismissed long-standing public perceptions about his personal life, saying he is not a womaniser but simply someone who loves deeply.

The award-winning singer made the clarification during an interview with reporters which was shared on Wednesday, where he reflected on fame, family, and the pressures of public scrutiny.

Speaking on fatherhood, the artiste revealed that one of his greatest personal struggles has been balancing his music career with raising his children.

He said although he feels grateful to have eight children, he sometimes regrets not spending as much time with them as he would have wished.

The singer also addressed criticism directed at his wife, Natasha, particularly claims that she is controlling or overly influential in his decisions, stressing that such narratives are often far from reality. 

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SAMSUNG STARTS MASS PRODUCTION OF NEXT-GEN AI MEMORY CHIP

Samsung Electronics announced on Thursday, that it had started mass production of next-generation memory chips to power artificial intelligence, touting an “industry-leading” breakthrough.

The high-bandwidth HBM4 chips are seen as a key component needed to scale-up the vast data centres powering the explosion in artificial intelligence.

US tech giant Nvidia, which is the world’s most valuable company, is widely expected to be one of Samsung’s main buyers.

Samsung said it had “begun mass production of its industry-leading HBM4 and has shipped commercial products to customers”.

A global frenzy to build AI data centres has sent orders for advanced, high‑bandwidth memory microchips soaring.

Samsung said its new chip was significantly faster than older models, exceeding industry standards for processing speed by more than 40. 

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NSCDC WARNS CONTRACTORS AGAINST DAMAGING FIBRE-OPTIC CABLES IN OYO STATE

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCD, in Oyo State has warned road construction companies and contractors against the destruction of fibre-optic cables and other critical public infrastructure during excavation and construction activities.

The warning is contained in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Samuel Opebiyi, in Ibadan, noting that the warning was in strict compliance with the directive of the Office of the National Security Adviser on the protection of telecommunications infrastructure and other Critical National Assets and Infrastructure nationwide.

He said the command noted with grave concern the increasing incidents of damage to underground fibre-optic installations arising from negligence, poor planning and failure to verify the presence of communication lines before excavation.

Opebiyi therefore warned that anyone caught destroying communication infrastructure or violating the guidelines would be arrested, investigated and prosecuted.

He said the command would not tolerate vandalism, sabotage or unlawful interference with any Critical National Assets and Infrastructure, including power installations, oil and gas pipelines. 

=======================================================================================================UNITED NATIONS EXPRESSES SADNESS OVER DEADLY SHOOTING AT CANADA SCHOOL

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has expressed his sorrow over Tuesday’s deadly shooting at a school in rural Canada that left at least eight dead and 25 wounded.

Spokesperson to the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric said during a daily news briefing that Guterres extends his deepest condolences to those affected and his sympathies to the Government and people of Canada.

According to media reports, those that were affected included at least three female students, two male students and a teacher, just as two additional people were found dead at a nearby home, who local police have reportedly identified as the suspect’s mother and stepbrother.

Recall that the Police Department, revealed that the suspect, who was born male but was transitioning and identified as female, was found at the school having died from an apparent self-inflicted wound.

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WORLD CUP TICKETS HIT $143,000 ON FIFA’S PLATFORM

Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have skyrocketed on FIFA’s official resale platform, following the end of the main sales phase in January.

Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that tickets made available on resale sites were likely to come with an exorbitant price tag, those fears have come to pass on world football’s own platform.

As of Thursday, a category three seat, which is the highest section of the stands for the tournament’s opening game between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed at $5,324, compared to an original price of $895.

One category three seat for the World Cup final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, was being advertised for $143,750, which is more than 41 times its original face value of $3,450.

Meanwhile, the cheapest available ticket for the final on the resale site was listed at $9,775.

In a few rare cases, though, some ticket prices have actually decreased, one ticket for Austria’s group game with Jordan at the Levi’s Stadium in California, which hosted Sunday’s Super Bowl, is being offered at $552 despite costing its original buyer $620.

For football fans around the world, some of the prices on FIFA’s resale site are confirmation of what they have railed against since the tournament draw in December.  

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