Author: Festus Adeloye

Ibadan-based media entrepreneur Oriyomi Hamzat has formally entered the 2027 governorship race in Oyo State. Hamzat announced his ambition over the weekend at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, where a crowd of about 8,000 supporters from the state’s 33 local government areas gathered for the declaration. The sea of yellow attire at the venue signalled his alignment with the Accord Party (AP), under which he will be contesting. The Executive Chairman of Agidigbo FM described his decision to run as a direct response to persistent calls from the people, stating that his entry into the race reflects their demands for…

The Abuja division of the Federal High Court has admitted former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN to bail in the sum of N500M pending his trial in the N9bn money laundering offences brought against him by the federal government. Malami is to produce two sureties who will stand for him in the like sum. In his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the two sureties must have landed properties in Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarimpa. The documents of the properties are to be verified by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the…

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the United States will temporarily “run” Venezuela after US forces conducted a military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump’s announcement came during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort. The US president described the overnight strikes on targets in Caracas and the subsequent raid as an “extraordinary military operation” aimed at addressing what he called a “narco-terrorist” regime. Maduro and Flores were seized and flown to the United States, where they are expected to face drug-trafficking charges in New York. “We’re going…

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State. Speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Hard Copy’ programme, Yilwatda explained that it is the practice of the APC to recognise serving governors as leaders of the party in their respective states. He, however, emphasised that Governor Fubara must work with other stakeholders to ensure inclusion and effective coordination within the party. “Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, but he would need to coordinate with every other person in the state,”…

Renowned boxer Anthony Joshua was among those involved in a road crash in Makun, Ogun State, on Monday. According to those who witnessed the accident, the crash occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. It was gathered that Joshua was in a Lexus jeep with the number plate KRD 850 HN, and it reportedly collided with a stationary truck. At the time of filing this report, the circumstances surrounding the crash remain unknown. Joshua reportedly suffered minor injuries and two others died on the spot.

President Bola Tinubu left Lagos on Sunday for Europe, extending his end-of-year break while preparing for an official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. The trip follows an invitation from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for Tinubu to attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026) Summit in early January. The weeklong event gathers leaders from government, business, and society to advance sustainable development. A statehouse press release highlighted its theme, “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” noting how ADSW will “connect ambition with action across innovation, finance,…

President Donald Trump said the United States military has launched a “powerful and deadly” airstrike against Islamic State (IS) forces in Nigeria, following weeks of criticism in which he accused the government of failing to curb the persecution of Christians. Trump made the statement in a post on his social media platform on Christmas evening, but did not provide specific details on the scope of the operation or the extent of damage caused by the strikes. A United States Department of Defence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details had not been formally released, said the airstrikes…

The United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has stated that the visa restrictions announced by the government are aimed at strengthening security procedures and not to penalise Nigerians. Mills provided clarification on the visa restrictions during a news conference on Sunday in Abuja during the visit of a U.S. Congressional Delegation (CODEL) to Nigeria. He disclosed that the restrictions, which take effect from January 1, 2026, are part of measures to secure U.S. borders and protect American communities. “The focus of the visa review is on ensuring proper vetting and credible information in the visa process, not on penalising…

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has called for the immediate recusal of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede from all matters concerning him, citing alleged bias arising from Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report. Malami is currently undergoing investigations under the EFCC over alleged bridge of trust while he served as AGF from 2025 to 2023. In a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami said the EFCC Chairman’s continued involvement in the case is legally and constitutionally improper,…

Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has revealed that her late husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, once began locking his bedroom door after being told by aides that she was plotting to kill him. Aisha made the shocking revelation in a new 600-page biography titled “From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari,” authored by Dr. Charles Omole and launched at the State House on Monday. The book chronicles Buhari’s life from his early days in Daura, Katsina State, to his final hours in a London hospital in mid-July 2025. According to Omole, the former First Lady disclosed that the…