Breaking: Bandits Strike Again In Abuja, Abduct Father, Mother, Son From Their Bedroom

 

A resident of the community told our correspondent that the kidnappers, numbering about 30 and armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 12 am on Monday and went straight to the house of one Adefija Micheal Akinropo, who was kidnapped alongside his wife, son and elder brother.

The resident, who is close to the victims, said the kidnappers later moved to another building housing a poultry farm, kidnapped a man and injured his wife.

He said police officials from Byazin police station had visited the scene, adding that the abductors are yet to make contact with the family members.

When contacted, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, a Superintendent, said she was driving to the office and promised to get back to our reporter when she gets to the office.

She was, however, yet to call back up till the time of filling the report

I Am Not Desperate To Be President - Obi Tells Nigerians

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has insisted he is not desperate to be Nigeria’s president.

While speaking to graduating students, the former Anambra governor encouraged them to embrace a spirit of service.

Obi stated that effective leadership stems from a commitment to driving positive change rather than personal ambition.

“All of this is to inspire you to ignite the change and provide support,” he said.

It’s not about saying, ‘I want to be in charge, I want to do this, or I want to do that.’”

Addressing claims of desperation, Obi clarified: “When people say I’m desperate, I say, ‘No, I am not desperate to be Nigeria’s president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work because it can work.”

He urged Nigerian youths to help usher in the “right leadership that the country needs for development.” Citing economist and Nobel laureate James Robinson, Obi noted, “Last year, Robinson said that Nigeria is a country that knows what to do to prosper but refuses to do it.”

The former governor likened the country’s

situation to allowing drivers who have already reached their destinations to continue steering the vehicle, warning that such leadership would inevitably lead to losses.

“You cannot let people who have passed their time or reached their destinations drive you. That is what you need to help reignite. Use what you have to help us change society. Don’t become part of the problem,” Obi said.

He further challenged the youth to rise above the failures of past generations, stating: “You are victims of Nigeria’s situation because our generation and the one before us refused to do what was right. Now we are all suffering for it.”

Tensions Rise in Lagos GAC Over Obasa’s Impeachment

Some members of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, the apex advisory organ in Lagos State, disagreed yesterday over the process that led to the impeachment of former speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.

The GAC members, including former Minister of Defence (State), Senator Musliu Obanikoro and Senator Anthony Adefuye, expressed divergent views over the embattled former speaker.

While Adefuye said Obasa was illegally removed, Obanikoro countered the latter saying his statement “was careless.”

However, the GAC secretary, Mr Mutiu Are said that the brewing crisis in the Assembly will be resolved in a family way.

This came as the Lovers of Lagos, yesterday, called for the arrest of Obasa for using the official residence of the Speaker.

Obanikoro, Adefuye divided over support for Obasa

Senator Obanikoro, however, faulted a statement made by Senator Adefuye expressing support for Obasa.

Adefuye, a member of GAC, said in a recent interview that he disagreed with Obasa that he was removed.

“What he is saying is that he was illegally removed and the procedure was faulty and I agree with him”, the APC chieftain said.

Reacting to Adefuye’s interview, Obanikoro said the APC chieftain was careless to have made the statement, adding that it was important to respect hierarchy in any organisation.

The former Minister said: “The statement of Senator Adefuye on the removal of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, is very unfortunate, childish and inconsequential.

“Senator Adefuye’s comment shouldn’t have come up, as leaders, if there are serious issues of this magnitude, rushing to make press statement or personal statement on such issues is unbecoming of a statement.

“Since GAC as a unit as not made any prounouncement on the subject matter, it is irresponsible of any member of that privileged body to go public and make comments on an issue that is as sensitive as that.

“Moreso our leader, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria waded in on the matter, so I believe nobody should come out individually to express an opinion based on privileged status.”

Breaking News: Tuface And Annie Marriage Hit The Rock

Popular Nigerian Power Couple, Tuface and Annie Idibia's marriage has hit the rock.

Doctors on Strike Slam FCT Minister Wike for Abandoning Hospitals

Striking resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of neglecting health facilities and

Alhaja Sikirat Odumosu Rescued as Police Recover N100M Ransom in Ogun State”

The Nigerian police forces have neutralized the kidnappers who abducted Alhaja Sikirat Odumosu, the wife of former Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Hakeem Odumosu, in Arepo, Ogun State.

The rescue mission, which took place in Ogun State, also resulted in the recovery of the ransom money that had been demanded for her release.

This was announced by the Police Public Relations Officer, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi on his official X handle on Thursday.

He said the IGP praised the efforts of the Police Operatives and CP Lanre Ogunlowo of Ogun State for their commendable work.

”The IGP has commended the Police Operatives and CP Ogun State, Lanre Ogunlowo, for a good job. We are committed to safeguarding Nigerian citizens and our dear country.”

Recall that The wife of AIG Odumosu was kidnapped on the evening of January 16, 2025, in her residence in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.

The kidnappers, armed and ruthless, demanded a ransom of N100 million for her safe release.

Trump Pardons Two Police Officers Convicted In Murder Of Black Man In Washington

 

Republican U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned, opens new tab two police officers in Washington who were convicted in the 2020 murder of a 20-year-old Black man named Karon Hylton-Brown, the White House said, opens new tab.

In September 2024, Terence Sutton Jr was sentenced, opens new tab to 66 months in prison while Andrew Zabavsky was sentenced to 48 months in prison over "an unauthorized police pursuit that ended in a collision on Oct. 23, 2020, that caused the death of Karon Hylton-Brown, 20, in Northwest Washington D.C.," the Justice Department said last year. The officers remained free pending the outcomes of their appeals.

The Metropolitan Police Department said Sutton, in his early 40s, and Zabavsky, in his mid-50s, were on "indefinite suspension without pay, pending our administration process."

Sutton was found guilty by a unanimous federal jury in late 2022, after a nine-week trial, of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct, and obstruction of justice. The same jury found Zabavsky guilty of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice.

The jury had found that Sutton caused Hylton-Brown's death by driving a police vehicle in "conscious disregard" for an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to Hylton-Brown.

It also found that Sutton and Zabavsky conspired to hide from officials the circumstances of the traffic crash leading to Hylton-Brown's death.

The DC Police Union had sought a pardon for the two officers.

Sutton's attorney, Kellen Dwyer, said in a statement cited by CNN that while he and his client were "confident that the D.C. Circuit would have reversed this conviction, we are thrilled that President Trump ended this prosecution once and for all." Zabavsky's attorney, Christopher Zampogna, also thanked Trump.

Hylton-Brown's mother, Karen Hylton, told CNN before the announcement that she was shocked and cried when she learned of the potential pardons.

The incident happened months after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes. That murder led to protests against police brutality and racial inequality in the U.S. and around the world.

After taking office on Monday, Trump pardoned about 1,500 of his supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol four years ago on Jan. 6, 2021. Among those pardoned were some who assaulted police officers.

The Fraternal Order of Police, the largest police union in the U.S. that endorsed Trump in the 2024 election, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police said in a joint statement they were "deeply discouraged" by those pardons.

Staff, Hackers, Compromise Sterling Bank’s Data, System, Steal N1.3bn

 The Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos has arrested five suspects made up of three men and two women over allegation of compromising the banking platform and Bance Application of Sterling Bank Plc and purportedly stole N1,257,536,572.50 billion.

The five suspects who were docked on Friday, January 17, 2024 by the Nigeria Police Force at a Federal High Court, Lagos, were reported to have committed the offence between November 3 and 4, 2024, in connivance with some of the staff of the bank.

They were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, hacking, unlawful possession, and conversion of funds before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa.

The suspects included; Victor Nwabueze Ogochukwu “M” 50; Favour Odey “F” 22; Adekunle Daniel “M” 34; Akachukwu Alagbogu “M” and, ’guntade Yetunde “F” 28.

The prosecution counsel, Justine Enang told the court that the defendants committed the offences in a connivance with others presently at large.

The prosecutor further said that the defendants connived with some insider staff members of Sterling Bank as well as external parties to compromise the bank’s sensitive data and security system, using international mobile equipment identity 14984244, IP address 84252.113.3, and 88 transaction.

Enang also said that the suspects’ alleged acts contravened sections 27(1)(b) and 14(1) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, read along with section 14(1) of the same Act.

The prosecutor also told the court that the offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 18(2)(b) & (d) and Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

All the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations and following their plea, their counsels moved their bail applications, praying the court to admit their clients to bail “in the most liberal terms.”

But, Enang opposed the bail applications stressing that the suspects are flight risks.

Ruling on the bail applications, Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that the offences were bailable and admitted each the defendants to bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in the like sum, stressing that the surety must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa thereafter said that the defendants should be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending the perfection of the bail conditions.

The trial judge accordingly adjourned the case till March 13, 2025, for trial.

Trump Orders US Withdrawal From World Health Organisation

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to initiate the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Oooh, that’s a big one,” Trump remarked as he signed the order upon returning to the White House. It was one of several executive actions he approved on his first day back in office.

This marks the second time Trump has ordered the US to leave the Geneva-based agency. During his first term, he criticised the WHO’s handling of Covid-19 and began a withdrawal process, which was later reversed by President Joe Biden.

Carrying out this action on day one increases the likelihood of the US formally exiting the global health body.

“They wanted us back so badly so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, suggesting a possible return in the future.

The executive order cited several reasons for the withdrawal, including

“the organisation’s mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.” It also criticised the “unfairly onerous payments” the US made as part of the WHO’s budget, which totals $6.8 billion (£5.5 billion).

During his first presidency, Trump accused the WHO of being biased towards China, particularly in its guidance during the pandemic. Despite these criticisms, under the Biden administration, the US became the largest funder of the WHO, contributing nearly one-fifth of its budget in 2023.

Public health experts have expressed concern over Trump’s decision, warning it could have far-reaching consequences. Critics argue that leaving the WHO could undermine global progress in combating infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV & AIDS.

Ashish Jha, former Covid-19 response coordinator under Biden, previously stated that withdrawal would.

harm not only the health of people around the world, but also US leadership and scientific prowess.”

Lawrence Gostin, a global public health expert and professor at Georgetown University, described the move as a “cataclysmic presidential decision,” calling it “a grievous wound to world health, but a still deeper wound to the US.”

President Trump Ends Birthright Citizenship for Children of Illegal Immigrants

On his first day as the 47th president, Donald Trump signed an executive order eliminating birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants.

The signing took place at the White House, nearly eight hours after his inauguration.

As he signed the order, Trump described it as a significant move, stating, “People have been wanting this for decades.”

Earlier in the day, White House officials outlined the new policy, clarifying that the federal government will no longer automatically grant citizenship to children of illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil, effective for future cases.

Although Trump had raised the issue during his campaign, the decision is likely to spark legal debates. Critics argue it may conflict with the 14th Amendment, which affirms, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”