Author: Lawan

Atiku-linked US firm says it was offered $3m to stop anti-Tinubu campaign A United States-based lobbying firm linked to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that its founder, Dr Karl Von Batten, was offered $3 million to halt a campaign involving allegations against President Bola Tinubu. Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. made the allegation in a statement published on its X account on Wednesday, claiming that a highly placed individual it was told was connected to Tinubu made the offer “a few days ago”. The firm alleged that the offer came with an invitation for Von Batten to attend a confidential meeting…

As social-media narratives intensify around the murder trial, court proceedings tell a more complicated story about Akanbi’s bail, detention and presumption of innocence The criminal proceedings involving Alhaji Hammed TajudeenAkanbi have, for several months, generated intense public interest, particularly across social media. Beyond the allegations before the court, however, an equally significant controversy has emerged over the true status of his bail application and the increasingly blurred line between criminal prosecution and trial by media. A recurring narrative across some online platforms is that Akanbi has applied for bail on several occasions and has repeatedly been refused by different judges of the Lagos State High Court. A…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared three days of mourning for its National Vice Chairman, South-South, Dan Osi Orbih, as tributes continued to pour in for the Edo politician who died in London on Monday. The party directed its offices across the country to fly the PDP flag at half-mast for three days in his honour. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike; Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; former governor Godwin Obaseki; the Edo State chapters of the PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, where Orbih served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate listing and hearing of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal or face a boycott of the 2027 general election across the South East and other parts of “Biafraland.” The ultimatum was issued in a press statement released yesterday by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, who said the development followed renewed concerns by Kanu’s family over the delay in hearing the appeal against the IPOB leader’s conviction and life sentence. Powerful said Kanu had written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President…

Twenty-three persons have died from a diphtheria outbreak in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, with 143 suspected cases recorded, as the Federal Government also moves to strengthen detection of more than 500,000 new tuberculosis cases expected annually across the country. Nine diphtheria patients are currently hospitalised in Plateau, while health authorities have intensified clinical and community interventions to contain further spread of the disease. Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, who gave the latest figures on Tuesday, said seven patients were receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and two at the Plateau…

…state govt to fulfil 30-year promise to 1996 Olympics teamGovernor Uba Sani of Kaduna State was on Tuesday joined by Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic football legends, Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal, and Emmanuel Babayaro, on an inspection tour of the ongoing reconstruction of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium (ABS) in Kaduna. The governor disclosed this in a statement made available to the media. According to Sani, the stadium is being rebuilt as a modern, FIFA-standard sporting complex anchored by a 33,000-capacity main bowl, more than twice its original 16,000 capacity. He said the project would also feature a hybrid turf, the first of…

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, opened two fronts in his battle against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, pursuing a court action to disqualify the President over a disputed National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate and accusing his administration of failing to enforce the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy. Atiku, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is asking the Federal High Court in Abuja to bar Tinubu from seeking re-election over allegations surrounding an NYSC discharge certificate, while separately pledging to implement direct payment of federal allocations to the 774 local governments…

New book offers practical guidance for moving from financial survival to stability, wealth creation and lasting prosperity. Nigerian maritime lawyer, entrepreneur and author Melvin Ponsak Daji will officially release his new book, Blueprint for Financial Freedom, to the public on Friday, September 4, 2026. The book presents a practical roadmap for individuals seeking to move beyond earning an income to building financial stability, productive assets and long-term security. Against a backdrop of rising living costs, economic pressure and uncertainty about the future, Blueprint for Financial Freedom addresses one of today’s most urgent personal finance questions: how can individuals turn income…

Says govs, ministers top civil servants investigated Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede on Monday said the commission recovered N1.233 trillion between October 2023 and June 2026 as part of its sustained campaign against economic and financial crimes. Olukoyede also disclosed that it recovered $684.48 million, £373,905.78 and €9.34 million, in addition to funds recovered in other currencies, during the period. The EFCC Boss disclosed this at the Commission’s headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, while presenting his three-year stewardship report to journalists. Olukoyede, who assumed office in October 2023, said the recoveries were part of a broader…

Ahead of the 2027 general election, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has charged the party’s governorship candidates to avoid empty promises, hate speech and divisive campaigns. Mark, according to a statement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the charge at a consultative meeting with the governorship candidates in Abuja, yesterday. The former Senate President urged the candidates not to make promises they would be unable to fulfil if elected, warning that such conduct could undermine the credibility of the opposition party. He also charged them to familiarise themselves with the ADC…