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The Sultanate Council has asked Muslims nationwide to observe the search for the crescent moon marking Sha’aban 1447 AH on Monday, January 19, 2026.

The directive was contained in a notice signed by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Prof. Sambo Junaidu, on Sunday.

According to the Advisory Committee operating under the Sultanate Council, Monday coincides with the 29th day of Rajab 1447 AH, the traditional date designated for determining the beginning of the Islamic month of Sha’aban.

“The Committee wishes to inform the Muslim Ummah that the search for the new moon of Sha’aban 1447 AH should commence on Monday,” the statement read.

“This date corresponds to the 29th of Rajab 1447 AH, in line with Islamic tradition.”

Muslims were urged to take part actively in the moon sighting and to relay any confirmed sightings to the nearest District or Village Head, who will forward such reports to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

“We urge all faithful to report any credible moon sighting to the appropriate authorities,” the Committee added, describing the exercise as “a religious responsibility that requires diligence.”

The Advisory Committee also offered prayers for the successful conduct of the exercise and sought divine guidance for the Muslim community.

“May Allah guide us and grant us success in fulfilling this duty,” the statement said.

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Veteran Nollywood actress and pastor Eucharia Anunobi has commenced legal proceedings against Apostle Psalm Okpe, founder of the US-based Fresh Oil Ministry International Church, following the circulation of an audio recording on alleged s£xual and romantic relationship between the duo.

According to a report by Premium Times, the development follows the emergence online of a recorded telephone conversation between Mr Okpe and a cleric identified as Pastor Martin. In the audio, Mr Okpe allegedly stated that he dated Anunobi.

Reacting in a series of videos posted on her Instagram page on Sunday, the 60-year-old actress described the claims as “false, defamatory and damaging to her reputation,” insisting that she would pursue legal redress.

Anunobi said she had instructed her lawyers to initiate formal petitions against the cleric, stressing that the allegations had caused her emotional distress and posed a threat to her ministry.

She said:“I am not going to allow that to be swept under the carpet because that malicious, vile statement has left me in emotional trauma. And it is also a testament to his threats over the years to destroy my ministry. So I have instituted legal action so that he can come and prove that he dated me for 5 years and 6 months.

“My lawyers have been instructed to start the process of writing a petition to the Nigerian police force, the U.S. Security and Immigration Department, against Psalm Okpe, for defamatory accusations, bothering on issues that I do not know, defamatory accusations that is out to tarnish my integrity, my reputation as a renowned actress and a preacher of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

She further warned that her safety and that of her family members were now at risk.

“I am ready to be taken for medical examination to ascertain if I have been having sex in almost 14 years (almost fourteen years), if there is anything like that, since I have been ordained (midwifed into Ministry)”, she noted.

The actress dismissed the cleric’s claims outright, insisting that there was no basis for any suggestion that they were romantically involved.

She said the idea of Mr Okpe dating her existed only in his imagination, adding that she was financially and socially above him.

“Psalm Okpe, you claimed that you dated me for five years, six months. You claimed you had sex with me for five years, six months. Do you know what it means to date? You couldn’t date me. You wish you could date me. How could you date me?  I was giving you money to support your ministry because I am sold out to the things of the kingdom.

“So how could I date you? How could you date me? You can’t afford me. I am a higher class. The records are there. The bank records are there. Oh, you have suddenly forgotten. Oh, you wish you could date me. You wish in your dreams”, said the actress.

Anunobi also reiterated that she has remained celibate since dedicating her life to Christianity nearly 14 years ago, adding that none of the men she had been engaged to could claim sexual relations with her.
She noted,“I want to state here categorically that in almost 14 years since I have been midwived into ministry, I have been celibate and have been keeping myself for the man that will be deserving of my new virginity.

“That is not to say that I have not been in courtship or not been engaged. I have been engaged all this while severally. I have been in courtship all this time. But none of these men can come out and say they have had penile penetration with me. None of them can say they have had sex with me.”

(PREMIUM TIMES)

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Super Eagles players Victor Osimhen, skipper Wilfred Ndidi and defender Chidozie Awaziem were seen at a Lagos nightclub in the early hours of Sunday, just hours after Nigeria secured third place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

A video posted on social media by popular socialite Babatunde Akinpelu, better known as Tunde Perry, showed the Galatasaray forward alongside Perry, with Ndidi and Awaziem also present at the club.

The gathering was said to be part of Perry’s birthday festivities.

“Kai from Morocco Victor,” Perry wrote as a caption to the clip, adding his trademark slang: “Otorpinpin paaaaaa DATieeeee Mo,” meaning “know your squad.”

“8 am on Sunday, on my birthday,” Perry also said while recording himself with Osimhen.

Osimhen was later ushered into the nightclub with a ceremonial reception.

Nigeria had edged Egypt 4–2 on penalties on Saturday in Casablanca after regulation time ended in a goalless draw, earning the country a record ninth bronze medal in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The third-place playoff featured the Super Eagles and the Pharaohs after both teams exited the competition at the semi-final stage. Nigeria had earlier lost 4–2 on penalties to hosts Morocco last Wednesday, while Egypt were narrowly beaten 1–0 by Senegal.

Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as Nigeria’s hero in the playoff, stopping two penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush. Akor Adams, Moses Simon, Alex Iwobi and Ademola Lookman successfully converted their spot kicks to secure the win.

Although Osimhen did not play in the third-place encounter, he was earlier seen leaving the Stade Mohammed V on Saturday with his luggage after joining teammates in dressing-room celebrations.

The striker featured in five matches at the 2025 AFCON, scoring four goals and registering one assist.

Ndidi appeared in all of Nigeria’s matches except the final group game against Uganda. He reportedly picked up an injury during the quarter-final match against Algeria. Awaziem, meanwhile, made substitute appearances in four games during the tournament.

Several Super Eagles players, including Sevilla teammates Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke, have departed Morocco, while others are expected to attend the medal presentation during Sunday’s final.

The tournament’s final will see hosts Morocco take on Senegal at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 pm.

(PUNCH)

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The Federal Government says it is fully committed to clearing the remaining three months arrears of N35,000 wage award  to civil servants without further delay.

Mr Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), however, said that the payment was subject to the availability of funds.

Mokwa said that with the payment of the second tranche in August, it was remaining three tranches to exhaust the wage award arrears.

“Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the Federal Government has not reneged on payment of the wage award arrears.

“The Federal Government will continue to pay the wage award in installments of N35,000 per month until the outstanding arrears is exhausted,” he said.

Meanwhile, some civil servants on Sunday expressed growing frustration over the persistent delay in the payment of arrears arising from the N35,000 wage award, describing the situation as no longer tolerable.

Speaking in Abuja, the workers said the Federal Government must urgently address the unpaid arrears, particularly given the prevailing economic challenges.

One of the workers, Ibrahim Abbas, said there was no justification for the delay in settling the outstanding three months of the wage award, stressing that workers urgently need the funds to cope with rising living costs.

According to him, the hardship faced by government employees has worsened significantly.

“The condition of government workers has never been this bad. The Federal Government needs to take all necessary steps to clear the outstanding three months arrears of the wage award,” he said.

Another civil servant, Mr Patrick Ugo, also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the immediate payment of the arrears, noting that the current minimum wage does not reflect economic realities.

“The government should realise that the present minimum wage of N70 ,000 is unrealistic. The wage award will give the workers some relief.

“I will urge the Federal Government, through the Accountant-General of the Federation, to pay the outstanding three months, totaling N105,000 with the January salaries,” he said.

In a similar appeal, Mr Sule Aliu called on the government to consider making the N35,000 wage award a permanent component of civil servants’ monthly earnings.

According to Aliu, such a move would significantly ease the financial burden on workers.

Recall that the wage award was introduced in 2023 as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal, serving as a stopgap while negotiations for a new national minimum wage were ongoing.

The payment was designed as a cost-of-living adjustment, but repeated delays have sparked dissatisfaction among workers and intensified pressure from labour unions for the settlement of all outstanding arrears.

In April 2025, the Federal Government announced plans to clear five months of unpaid N35,000 wage award arrears.

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) disclosed that five months of the wage award had earlier been paid in instalments, adding that the remaining arrears would also be settled in monthly tranches of N35,000 over five months.

The OAGF further stated that the Federal Government remained committed to implementing policies and agreements related to workers’ remuneration and welfare to improve productivity and efficiency.

However, after the first instalment was paid in May 2025, the second instalment was delayed until August 2025, with no further payments made since then.

As a result, three months of arrears, amounting to N105,000, remain unpaid.

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The Kano state police command has taken three persons into custody over the killing of a housewife and her six children at Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters in Kano municipal LGA.

The arrests were made following an order by Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police. The operation was intelligence-driven and coordinated under the supervision of Ibrahim Bakori, commissioner of police in Kano.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Abdullahi Kiyawa, spokesperson of the command, disclosed that the suspects are Umar Auwalu, 23; Isyaku Yakubu, also known as Chebe, 40; and Yakubu Abdulaziz, also known as Wawo, 21.

According to the police, the suspects were apprehended during a sting operation carried out between 10pm on Saturday and 4am on Sunday.

Kiyawa said findings from ongoing investigations revealed that Auwalu, who is a nephew of the deceased woman, acted as the ringleader and confessed to his role in the killings.

The spokesperson added that Auwalu admitted the group had been involved in earlier crimes, including the killing and burning of two housewives in Tudun Yola Quarters, Kano.

Kiyawa said items recovered from the suspects include four blood-stained clothes, two mobile phones belonging to the victims, a cutlass, a club locally known as gora, cash, and other dangerous weapons.

The command praised its officers for their swift action and expressed appreciation to residents for their cooperation. It assured the public that efforts to ensure justice and maintain peace in the state would continue as investigations progress.

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President Bola Tinubu has directed the suspension of the All Progressives Congress’ planned electronic registration exercise in Kano State.

The directive was revealed by a member of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, in a 27-second video that circulated widely on social media on Saturday.

In the footage, Doguwa said the order came from the APC national leadership, acting on the President’s instruction.

“The leadership of the APC at the national level, acting on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, has ordered that the commencement of the APC e-registration in Kano be stopped,” the lawmaker said.

Doguwa represents the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency and is a prominent APC figure in Kano State. He currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) and the Special Committee on Oil Theft/Losses in the 10th National Assembly.

The suspension comes barely one week after the Kano State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Hon. Ahmed Aruwa, said the party was ready to commence the e-registration exercise in the state.

Aruwa had said the APC was expecting the former governor of Kano State and national leader of the party, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to be present for the official launch.

“We are fully prepared for the commencement of the e-registration, and we are expecting our leader, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to be in Kano for the official flag-off.

“The registration is part of efforts to strengthen the party’s structure and expand its membership base across the state,” Aruwa said.

Offering an explanation for the sudden pause, Doguwa linked the decision to ongoing political developments involving the Kano State Governor.

“What will you do if Tinubu says he has accepted Abba? Well, today he accepted him.

“The plan was to start collecting the APC e-registration register tomorrow, but the President and the national leadership of the APC said to pause and wait until Abba officially defects, as he will be the first to collect the membership card,” the lawmaker said.

Although the APC has not issued an official statement on the suspension, the move comes amid growing political tension and speculation over a possible defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the APC.

For several weeks, Kano’s political landscape has been dominated by reports of high-level consultations involving the governor, senior APC figures, and key political stakeholders in Abuja and Kano, amid claims that Yusuf may be considering a switch ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The speculation has been further intensified by reports of intense political meetings and alleged administrative slowdowns within the Kano State Government, which opposition figures have linked to preparations for a potential political realignment.

While neither the state government nor the NNPP leadership has confirmed or denied the defection rumours, political analysts say the reported suspension of the APC registration exercise may be connected to ongoing negotiations aimed at managing internal party interests in the state.

The development has added to the political intrigue in Kano, a key battleground state whose direction is expected to play a significant role in national politics as the 2027 general elections approach.

(PUNCH)

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Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, has stirred public conversation after asserting that the influence of the historic Oyo Empire no longer defines leadership structures among Yoruba traditional rulers.

Ajayi maintained that contemporary Yoruba society does not recognise the supremacy of any single monarch over others, stressing that the age of imperial authority associated with the Oyo Empire has long ended.

He made the assertion in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, where he shared a photograph of the current Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, to support his position against claims of hierarchical dominance among Yoruba kings.

“We are no longer in the era of the Oyo Empire,” Ajayi wrote. “Rome and the United Kingdom, that once ruled more than half of the world as empires, can no longer claim sovereignty over former colonies. Times have changed. We are now in a new world.”

The presidential aide further argued that the historical prominence of the Oyo Empire should not be mistaken for present-day political or cultural authority, noting that the Alaafin never ruled over the entirety of Yorubaland.

“Oyo Empire now belongs to history and the whole of what we now know as Yorubaland was never under the rule of the Alaafin,” he said.

Ajayi also called on traditional rulers across the South-West to adopt cooperative leadership approaches that reflect modern realities, emphasising that collaboration would enhance peace and development within their domains.

“The society will function well if the current natural rulers in Yorubaland understand their roles in modern society,” he stated. “Our kings should now work collaboratively to preserve peace, unity and development in their communities whilst preserving our cultural values.”

His comments have since generated varied reactions on social media, especially amid ongoing debates surrounding influence, hierarchy and authority among traditional institutions in Yorubaland.

While some scholars and cultural commentators continue to regard the Alaafin of Oyo’s stool as historically pre-eminent within Yoruba civilisation, others dispute any overarching authority of the Oyo throne, arguing instead for the primacy of Ile-Ife and the spiritual leadership of the Ooni of Ife over the diverse Yoruba kingdoms.

(PUNCH)

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Abuja, Nigeria- January 20, 2026 —The Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) has announced the inaugural Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, scheduled to hold on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, bringing together key leaders from government, business, and civil society to advance conversations around rebuilding Nigeria’s national reputation.
The summit will feature a keynote address by the former Governor of Lagos State and two-term Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, delivered under the theme “Better Nigeria, Better Reputation.” The address is expected to highlight the role of leadership, governance, and institutional consistency in shaping Nigeriais perception locally and globally.
A key highlight of the summit is a special interactive session focused on young Nigerians, themed “The Power of Youth, Technology & Creativity in Rebuilding Nigeria’s Reputation.” The session will explore how innovation, digital platforms, and the creative economy can be leveraged to project a more positive and authentic image of Nigeria with Honourable Ministers responsible for Youth Development, Technology & Innovation, and Creative Economy & Tourism are expected to participate as speakers.
The Nigeria Reputation Summit is convened by NRMG, a private-sector–driven initiative of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), established to harness the reputation drivers and levers that shape Nigeria’s image. The group seeks to promote deliberate, coordinated efforts that positively influence behaviours, narratives, and national consciousness.
Speaking on the summit, Chairman of NRMG, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, fnipr, said the initiative was borne out of the need for a more intentional approach to managing Nigeria’s reputation.
“A nation’s reputation is not built by chance. It is shaped by leadership, institutions, citizens, and the stories we tell through our actions. The Nigeria Reputation Summit provides a platform to align these forces and take responsibility for how Nigeria is seen and experienced.”
Designed as an annual convening, the summit aims to bring together stakeholders to chart actionable strategies, track progress, and foster collaboration across sectors in support of a stronger national reputation.

About Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG)
The Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) is a private-sector–driven initiative of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), established to strengthen Nigeria’s national reputation by aligning values, behaviours, policies, and narratives that influence perceptions of the country at home and abroad.
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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has instituted a criminal case against Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, over alleged fraudulent dealings connected to a property in London.

The anti-corruption agency filed a three-count charge at the Abuja High Court, accusing the senior lawyer of alleged involvement in a large-scale corruption scheme linked to the foreign property.

According to the charge filed by ICPC counsel, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who heads the commission’s High Profile Prosecution Department, Ozekhome is the sole defendant in the case.

The charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/010/26, was dated and filed on Jan. 16 and sighted on Sunday.

In the first count, Ozekhome, 68, of No. 53, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja, was accused of directly receiving House 79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout in London, purportedly from one Mr Shani Tali.

The commission alleged that the act constituted a felony, which the defendant knew, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 13 and punishable under Section 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In count two, the ICPC alleged that Ozekhome, while being a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, sometime in August 2021 or thereabout, made a false document — a Nigeria passport A07535463, bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali.

The commission said the document was allegedly created with the intention of using it to support a claim of ownership of property described as “79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 78X with intent to commit fraud.”

It added that the alleged offence is contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.

Count three accused Ozekhome of dishonestly using as genuine the same false Nigeria passport A07535463, bearing the name of Mr Shani Tali, to support the ownership claim of ‘79, Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX,’ despite having reason to believe that the document was false.

The ICPC said the offence is contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, 2006.

Documents listed in support of the charge include case number REF/2023/0155 (judgment) dated Sept. 11, 2025, the defendant’s extra-judicial statement dated Jan. 12, 2026, and records of interim forfeiture proceedings concerning the London property at the Federal High Court.

Other exhibits include a letter dated Dec. 18, 2025, a data page of Shani Tali, and additional documents relating to the case, which are still being awaited.

In its proof of evidence, the ICPC listed several witnesses, including Mr Wakili Musa and Mr Tosin Olayiwola, both investigators with the commission.

A representative of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), whose name was not specified, is also expected to testify to establish the case against the defendant.

Other witnesses include Mr Ebenezer Nduo and Mr Blessing Monokpo, also investigators with ICPC, alongside any other vital witness to be produced through subpoena or by filing an additional list of witnesses.

As of the time of filing this report, the case had not yet been assigned to a judge.

Recall that the ICPC launched an investigation into Ozekhome following a judgment by a London property tribunal that linked him and others to alleged fraud and forged documents.

The investigation was initiated after a petition submitted by Olanrewaju Suraj, head of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA).

The petition cited the British court judgment and accused Ozekhome and others of conspiring with corrupt Nigerian officials to procure fake national identity documents in order to “fraudulently claim ownership” of the North London property.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has apprehended an alleged notorious drug trafficker, Lekan Jimoh, popularly known as “Kanmo-Kanmo,” more than a decade after he was reportedly involved in the killing of three NDLEA officers.

Jimoh was arrested on Friday, January 16, 2026, in Owode town, Ogun State, following an intelligence-driven operation carried out by tactical teams of the agency. A search conducted at his hideout led to the recovery of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, disclosed that the suspect had been on the agency’s wanted list since June 15, 2014, after allegedly mobilising armed thugs to attack NDLEA officers who attempted to arrest him at his enclave.

He said, “Following his involvement in the brutal killing of three NDLEA officers, Kanmo-Kanmo, who is (allegedly ) notorious for drug trafficking, evading arrest and mobilising armed thugs against security agents, was on Friday, 16th January 202,6 tracked to his hideout in Owode town, Ogun State by tactical teams of the agency following credible intelligence. During the clinical operation, the suspect was found in possession of 69 kilograms of skunk, a strain of cannabis.

“The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the agency’s commitment to ensuring that no fugitive, regardless of how long they evade justice, remains beyond the reach of the law.

“Lekan Jimoh’s criminal history is (allegedly ) marked by extreme violence and lawlessness. As a result, he had on 15th June 2014 orchestrated a barbaric mob action against a team of NDLEA officers who had attempted to arrest him at his enclave. The attack resulted in the cold-blooded murder of three NDLEA officers, including Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others, who were killed by armed thugs mobilised by Jimoh. While the suspect managed to escape the scene that day, the agency remained resolute in its pursuit of justice for the fallen heroes.”

Babafemi recalled that in a related operation on August 12, 2023, NDLEA operatives raided Jimoh’s residence in Ado-Odo, Ogun State, where 139 sacks of skunk weighing 1,922 kilograms were recovered.

He said the suspect escaped arrest at the time, while the property, which served as a drug warehouse, was later forfeited to the Federal Government after court proceedings.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives in Edo State on Tuesday, January 13, raided Arokpa forest in Uzebba town, Owan West Local Government Area, where a 53-year-old suspect, Isihor Edika, was arrested. During the raid, 320 kilograms of skunk and cannabis seeds were seized.

In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Babafemi said a 44-year-old woman, Yinka Agboola, was arrested at the Kaura District over the alleged online sale of illicit drugs. Items recovered from her residence included 2.2 kilograms of skunk and quantities of cannabis oil.

He said, “In the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, operatives on Friday, 16th January, tracked and arrested a 44-year-old lady, Yinka A. following intelligence on her online sale of illicit substances.

“At the time of her arrest, 2.2kg of skunk and litres of cannabis oil, which she produces in her kitchen and sells through online advertisement, were recovered from her home at the Kaura district, Abuja. Another suspect, Tordue Richard, 30, was on Tuesday, 13th January arrested with 148.3 grams of cocaine and skunk at his 12 Biskira Street, Abacha Estate, Abuja home.”

In Lagos, NDLEA officers seized 118.1 kilograms of skunk from Dauda Kareem and Saheed Obisesan at Fadeyi, Mushin, on Friday, January 16. On the same day, another 116 kilograms of skunk were recovered from a warehouse located in the New Market area of Enugu, Enugu State.

Along the Onitsha–Asaba Expressway in Delta State, two suspects, Zaharadeen Yahaya, 25, and Sanusi Maman, 23, were arrested on Thursday, January 15, while transporting 410,800 pills of tramadol, 84.2 litres of codeine syrup, 82,250 tablets of diazepam, 900 tablets of swinol and 65 pills of Molly.

In Oyo State, Adetunji Ahmed Abayomi, 33, was arrested on Thursday, January 15, at Moniya, Ibadan, with 321 litres of skuchies and 2.5 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis. On the same day, Rasheed Ajao, 28, was apprehended at Odo-Ona, Ibadan, with 5.4 kilograms of Scottish Loud, 1.696 kilograms of skunk and 2.5 kilograms of Colorado, bringing the total weight to 9.696 kilograms. In another raid at the Agbeni area of Ibadan on Saturday, January 17, 52,430 pills of tramadol and bromazepam were recovered from the store of Orji Edwin, who is currently at large.

Babafemi also said NDLEA officers in Kwara State on Tuesday, January 13, raided a residence in the Gamo area of Ilorin, where 42 bags of skunk weighing 387.40 kilograms were seized. In Jigawa State, an ex-convict, Gaddafi Ammani, 26, and his accomplice, Ahmed Sani, 32, were arrested on Saturday, January 17, at Nassarawa GRA, Ringim Local Government Area, with quantities of skunk and exol-5 pills. He added that Ammani attempted to escape during the operation and injured an officer.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), praised officers in Ogun, Lagos, Apapa, Edo, Delta, Oyo, the FCT, Enugu and Kwara states for the arrests and seizures, urging them to sustain the momentum.

He described Jimoh’s arrest as a major victory for justice and a demonstration of the agency’s persistence, saying it sends a clear warning to drug barons and fugitives.

“You may run, and you may hide for a season, but the long arm of the law will eventually find you.
“The arrest of Lekan Jimoh is particularly significant because it closes a painful chapter that began on June 15, 2014. For twelve years, this individual lived with the blood of our gallant officers—Rabiu Usman Kazaure and two others—on his hands. He mistakenly thought that time had erased his crimes,” he added.

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A fire outbreak early Sunday morning has razed several shops and destroyed valuable goods at the popular Kugbo furniture market in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory.

The incident began at about 8am and affected furniture factories, shops, machines and furniture accessories.

The cause of the fire had yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

However, officials of the Federal Fire Service were on ground battling to contain the blaze, while traders hurriedly moved some of their goods to safety amid tears .

More details to follow……

(AUTHORITY)

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The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) Engr. Eferebo Sylvanus has started the year 2026 with significant milestone achievements, bagging Doctorate Degree in the field of Naval Architecture and Ship Building in Marine Engineering Department from Rivers State University. 

This comes as he has also emerged top from the voting for Maritime Industry Merit Award (MIMA) 2026 along with other notable industry practitioners. 

Organisers of the Maritime Industry Merit Award (MIMA) will in coming days announce date for conferment of the prestigious award. 

Engr. Sylvanus was last year elected the National Chairman of NIMENA in Port Harcourt, an affiliate of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) where he vowed to lead the organization to attain international recognition. 
He has since set up a journal house where research and development activities will be published, helping to tackle Nigeria's and sub-regional maritime challenges to contribute to Africa's development. 
 
He has since initiated efforts to tackle poor regulatory standards and lack of enforcement mechanism in the maritime sector which hitherto caused the country huge losses in revenue. 

His leadership has started engaging with regulatory agencies, policymakers and other critical stakeholders for partnership and to raise the status of the body. 

Meanwhile, friends and associates have reached out with goodwill messages, congratulating him on both his academic milestone and professional achievement coming very early in the year.



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The Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) has congratulated its National Chairman, Engr. Sylvanus Eferebo on the attainment of Fellowship, the highest membership rank of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), saying the honour is indication of excellence, dedication and impact. 

The Institute says the National Chairman has demonstrated high acumen in engineering profession which has earned him the Fellowship recognition. 

In a congratulatory message signed by the NIMENA General Secretary, Engr. Dr John Azubuike Chukwu, the Institute says the recognition inspires and brings lots of goodwill to the body. 

"We celebrate this remarkable achievement and the inspiration it brings to the engineering community. NIMENA is proud to join in recognizing his outstanding contributions", he said. 
Engr. Eferebo was one of those recently conferred with the prestigious professional honour in a colourful ceremony. 

He was full of thanks for the recognition which he said is a call for more service in the engineering world. 

"This isn’t just a title upgrade. For me, it’s a call to deeper responsibility, stronger leadership, and greater service to our profession. I have been a member of the NSE for years, but becoming a Fellow hits differently.

"It represents years of work, research, teaching, problem-solving, and constant commitment to improving engineering practice in Nigeria and across Africa", he said on his LinkedIn post. 
Engr. Eferebo was elected the National Chairman of NIMENA, an affiliate of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) last year when he pledged to lead the body to attain international recognition. 

Engr. Eferebo assured that his leadership will give priority to membership drive, stating that a membership committee has been set up to engage and interface with undergraduate marine engineers, young practitioners and others outside the body to know their challenges and address them.


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Property Wealth Corporation, a global real estate investment firm with operations spanning major cities across the world, has unveiled a new home co-ownership initiative aimed at lowering the barrier to property investment in the United Kingdom.

The initiative, announced on Wednesday by the Chairman of the company, Dr. Daniel Moses, offers investors the opportunity to co-own income-generating residential properties in the UK with a minimum entry cost of £10,000.

Speaking during the announcement, Dr. Moses disclosed that the Opportunity is limited to 1,000 participants, with a combined investment pool of £10 million, designed to enable collaborative acquisition of high-value, cash-flowing properties across select UK locations.
According to him, the model allows individuals who may not be able to independently acquire UK property to participate meaningfully in the real estate market through structured co-ownership.
“This is about democratizing access to global property ownership,” Dr. Moses said. 
He added, “With £10,000, investors can become co-owners of tangible, income-producing assets in the UK, backed by a professional acquisition and management process.”
Under the Opportunity, contributors gain proportional ownership rights in selected properties, alongside the potential for monthly cash flow, capital appreciation, and long-term asset security. 

The company noted that the investment is asset-backed, reducing exposure to speculative risks often associated with non-tangible investment products.
Property Wealth Corporation highlighted several benefits attached to the initiative, including, Co-ownership of verified UK property assets, Monthly rental income potential, structured investment and governance framework, extensive due diligence on all properties, professional management and operational oversight and others. 

The firm further emphasized its track record in the real estate sector, citing over 40 completed property projects and a 75 per cent Capital Raised paybacked history, which it says reflects consistency in delivering investor returns across different markets.
The organization described the co-ownership opportunity as particularly suitable for individuals seeking exposure to the UK property market without bearing the full financial and operational burden of sole ownership.

“This is ideal for investors who want to own property in the UK but prefer not to do it alone, and for those who value partnering with a proven and experienced operator,” the company stated.

Property Wealth Corporation added that the limited slots would be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, reinforcing the exclusivity of the offer.


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A renowned Kano-based businessman, trade unionist, and community leader,  Bature Abdulaziz, has died.

Abdulaziz was a highly influential figure within Nigeria’s commercial sector and was particularly prominent in Kano, where he played a leading role in organised trade. He was well known as a leader of the Kantin Kwari Market Traders Association in the Kano metropolis.

At the national level, he served as the National President of the Harmonized Traders Union of Nigeria, a position through which he advocated business development, economic empowerment, and the protection of traders and entrepreneurs across the country.

He also held the position of National President of the Patriotic Elders Network for Peace (PENP), an organisation dedicated to promoting national security, peacebuilding initiatives, and political engagement.

His death was confirmed by his son, Ismail Abdulaziz, who disclosed that the business mogul died after a brief illness.

“My father, Alhaji Bature Abdulaziz, passed away after a short illness. We are deeply saddened by his loss, but thankful for the impact he made on his community,” he said.

The family announced that funeral prayers will take place on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at his residence in Yankaba Quarters, Kano.

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The last time Morocco hosted the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1988, it lost by a single goal in the semi-finals to eventual winners, Cameroon, who advanced to the final where they overcame Nigeria to emerge as champions. Eight years earlier, at the same stage, Nigeria defeated Morocco by the same margin on its way to winning the tournament at the expense of Algeria.

On Sunday, 18 January 2025, Morocco confronts Senegal in the finals of the AFCON 2025 tournament having avenged historic semi-final losses to both Cameroon and Nigeria in the quarter and semi-finals of the competition. The final match will be staged at the stadium in the capital city, Rabat, named in memory of the brother of Morocco’s penultimate King Hassan II and uncle of current King Mohammed VI, Moulay Abdallah ben Ali Alaoui, who died of cancer in December 1983 at the untimely age of 48.

David Goldblatt begins his magisterial book, The Age of Football: The Global Game in the Twenty-First Century, with the observation that despite its colonial origins, football in Africa has “served widely as an instrument of the independence movement and, later, in the shape of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the continental tournaments it created, a practical example of pan-African co-operation and identity.” Reflecting this history, African football has been called “the rebellious game.”

Amidst the football spectacle that will unfold in the match, the AFCON finals in Rabat on 18 January 2025 will symbolize an underlying narrative in African football that it hitched closely with the narratives of Africa’s history and its politics. It will pit two countries with some of the oldest traditions of organized football in Africa under the watch of a man from the first country to play the game on the continent.

164 years after the first official game of football on the African continent, a black billionaire from the country where the game made its African landfall, Patrice Motsepe, will orchestrate the ceremonies of the AFCON finals as the president of the CAF. His elder sister, Dr. Tshepo, happens also to be the spouse of South Africa’s current president, Cyril Ramaphosa. Few, if any, among the Cape colonists who brought the beautiful game to the continent could have divined the trajectory or symbolism of this moment.

Africa’s earliest documented football match reportedly occurred in 1862 between “white colonial bureaucrats and soldiers in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, South Africa.” It did not involve any natives. In a symbolism of the journey to the right of Africa’s populations to participate in a kickabout, the two teams that will line up in the finals will represent two of the countries with the more established traditions of organized football on the continent.

Association Sportive et Culturelle (ASC) Jeanne d’Arc, Senegal’s oldest football club, was founded 102 years ago in 1923 in capital city, Dakar. It has existed continually since then and beside cross-city rivals, ASC Diaraf, remains one of the two most successful football clubs in the country. The club was originally founded by French Catholic missionaries in pursuit of the legend of colonial civilizing mission of creating fit young men of character. Interestingly for an institution dedicated to promoting a colonial vision of masculinity, they named it after France’s patroness saint, Joan of Arc, in a symbolism of faith, strength and colonial domination. In doing so, they also created the first seeds of indigenous resistance.

Those seeds were sown earlier in Africa’s Maghrebine coast. In 1906, the first Earl of Cromer and long-serving British Consul-General in Egypt, Evelyn Baring, oversaw in what has become known as the Denshawai Incident the unfair trial and brutal execution of four Egyptians accused of causing the death by heatstroke of a British official, whom they prevented from feasting on their pigeons. The backlash from Egypt’s population ultimately led to the resignation of Lord Cromer in 1907 and inspired a fierce nationalist movement.

While the elite politicians bickered as to how to organize, Egypt’s student movement founded Al Ahly (National Club) in Cairo, a football club rooted in the idea of national pride and unity and with a mission to resist British colonial oppression. Five years later, cross-city rivals, Zamalek Sporting Club was founded as the team of the elite or middle class.

According to World Football, the contest between Al-Ahly and Zamalek is one of the greatest rivalries in world football. Football journal, FourFourTwo, warns that it is “more than a game.” Having begun as a contest between nationalism and colonial collaboration, it has evolved be defined by status and ideology. In reference to this rivalry, French journalist, Laurent Campistron reports a supporter of one of these clubs as having told him: “in this country, you can eventually change your religion or your wife, but never your club.”

Nine years before the formation of Al-Ahly, in June 1898, Club Sportif (CS) Constantinois was founded in Egypt’s neighbour, Algeria. If Egypt was an early model of the nationalist possibilities in football, Algeria was the place that crystallized the insurgent character of football in Africa. David Goldblatt recalls that Algeria’s “football clubs served as clandestine cells for growing nationalism”.

In the middle of the murderous War of Independence Algeria’s National Liberation Front (FLN) founded its own national football team in 1958, persuading 30 established stars of French football of Algerian origin to abscond to Tunis where they founded Le Onze de l’Indépendance (the Independence Eleven). That team helped to establish the diplomatic credentials of the FLN long before independence in 1962 and the admission of the country into the ranks of FIFA two years later in 1964.

A leading member of the eleven was Rachid Mekhloufi, St-Etienne’s star striker who was to be in France’s team to the 1958 World Cup. At his death in 2024, it was said of Mekhloufi that “he was more than a footballer who mesmerised fans on the pitch, he was a symbol of resistance to many Algerians.”.

The Beautiful Game took nearly two decades to travel from Algeria to its neighbour, Morocco. When it landed in 1917 at the waning of the First World War, it was through French colonial enthusiasts in the form of Racing Athletic Club (RAC) of Casablanca. The game was later to find an insurgent home in Morocco’s most populous city, leading to the foundation in May 1937 of Wydad Club by an elite group of Moroccan resistance to French occupation led by Mohamed Benjelloun Touimi, who would later become a leading member of the International Olympic Committee. 11 years later, in March 1949, a group of working-class youth equally resisting French colonial rule founded cross-city rivals, Raja Club Athletic. Raja’s proletarian origins would later earn it the sobriquet, “The People’s Club“.

These long traditions of community formation and nation building are what give the AFCON its unique place in the hearts of Africans everywhere and in the firmament of world football. These are not traditions that engage the blinkers of the denizens of the world game in the FIFA.

Committed to extracting every penny of profit from the game, they have decided to kill the competition in its current biennial format. Morocco will be the penultimate in this format. The joint hosting by the countries of East Africa in 2028 will be the last. When it resurrects in 2032, it will be held every four years. AFCON-winning manager, Claude Leroy, has described the decision as “stupid”.

Many see “colonial overtones” in FIFA’s underlying reason for the change in the calendar of the AFCON which is mostly to suit the convenience of the European game. The irony should ring quite potent that the African game – rooted as it is in anti-colonial history – will be forced to play vassal to the interests whom it had to fight for the oxygen of its own existence.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at [email protected] 

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