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The Nigerian Army has pledged to take prompt disciplinary measures against a soldier who allegedly caused the death of a commercial bus driver in Ondo State.

This assurance was contained in a statement released on Thursday via the Army’s official X (formerly Twitter) account by Major Njoka Irabor, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 32 Artillery Brigade.

According to the statement, the incident occurred on Sunday, 13 October 2025, when the driver, who was en route from Akure to Abuja, experienced mechanical issues near a military checkpoint in Akunu, Akoko North-East Local Government Area of Ondo State.

‘Headquarters 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, has vowed to expedite the ongoing disciplinary process against a soldier involved in the unfortunate death of a commercial bus driver at Akunu,’ the statement read.

The Army explained that passengers, frustrated by the breakdown, began demanding a refund of their fares. One of the passengers reportedly approached a soldier stationed at the checkpoint to assist in retrieving the money from the driver.

‘The soldier responded in an unprofessional and aggressive manner, which led to an altercation with the driver. This escalated into physical contact and the soldier’s conduct was in clear breach of the Army’s Rules of Engagement and Code of Conduct.’

Upon learning of the incident, the Brigade said it swiftly evacuated the injured driver for medical treatment and assumed full responsibility for his care.

‘The driver was first managed at a local medical facility in Akoko, then referred to the Ondo State Specialist Hospital in Akure, and subsequently transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo. Sadly, he passed away on Monday, 14 October 2025.’

The Army extended its condolences to the bereaved family and assured the public of full accountability.

‘The Nigerian Army, as a disciplined institution, expresses its deepest sympathy to the family of the deceased. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the soldier involved faces the full weight of military and civil justice. The outcome of the disciplinary process will be made public.’

The Army also confirmed that a delegation from the 32 Artillery Brigade had visited the family and the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State to offer condolences and support.

‘We have pledged to cover burial expenses and ensure the welfare of the deceased’s dependants is prioritised, particularly their continued access to education.’

The Army added that a liaison officer had been assigned to maintain communication with the family throughout the burial arrangements.

Additionally, the Ondo State Government reportedly commended the Brigade’s proactive response and pledged to support efforts to mitigate the impact on the late driver’s family.

India has officially been selected to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, defeating Nigeria’s bid to stage the historic centenary edition of the competition in Abuja.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced the decision on Wednesday after its evaluation commission recommended Ahmedabad, a major city in western India, as the ideal host.

The final approval of the decision is expected at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly scheduled to take place in Glasgow on November 26.

This marks the second time India will host the Games, following its first successful outing in New Delhi in 2010.

The 2030 edition will also mark 100 years since the Commonwealth Games began in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada a milestone that adds prestige and historical significance to the event.

Ahmedabad’s selection was largely influenced by its world-class sporting infrastructure, led by the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest stadium on the planet, which can hold up to 132,000 spectators.

The city, with a population of over five million, has rapidly developed into a sporting and cultural hub, attracting global attention for its readiness to host major international events.

Dr. P. T. Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, described the announcement as a proud moment for the nation.

‘Hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 is more than just a sporting achievement; it is a chance to unite our people, celebrate diversity, and inspire the next generation of athletes across the Commonwealth,’ she said.

India’s government has also expressed excitement, highlighting the Games as an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties, boost tourism, and stimulate economic growth.

For Nigeria, however, the outcome is a setback. Abuja had made a strong case to host the event, emphasizing Africa’s growing influence in sports and the continent’s readiness to organize world-class competitions.

It is also the second time Abuja has missed out, having previously lost the bid to Glasgow for the 2014 Games.

Despite the disappointment, Nigerian officials have vowed to continue investing in sports infrastructure and bidding for future international events.

The 2030 Games are expected to attract athletes from over 70 Commonwealth nations and territories, competing across multiple disciplines. Preparations in Ahmedabad are set to begin immediately once the bid is ratified later this year.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake says Schools in Nigeria charging tuition fees in foreign currencies should be closed.

Alake made the call at the Nigeria Gold Day Celebration on the sidelines of the 10th edition of Nigeria’s Mining Week, themed `Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance,’ on Wednesday in Abuja.

He criticised the practice and described it as a part of the leakages and loopholes in Nigeria’s economy threatening its growth.

‘ I am still going to make a proposal to the Federal Executive Council that all those schools in Nigeria that are charging in foreign currencies should be closed.

‘These are some of these leakages and loop holes that we say exist in our economy that people do not really take these things very seriously, ‘ he said.

‘If your child is attending a school in Abuja or Lagos or somewhere in the country and is paying 10,000 pounds or 10,000 dollars as their fees that means you will be looking for naira to go and buy dollars.

‘Driving the value of dollar up, where as this school is in Abuja in Nigeria, you can`t go to UK establish a school and then be charging naira, it’s not done.

‘ Its only in this country that I see so many contradictory things that really demolishes the economy, ‘ he said.

According to him, Nigerians must begin to change their value system and orientation in to things that are substantial, productive, constructive and regenerative for the progress of the nation.

The minister said the Federal Government was introducing various measures, including digital mechanisms, to ensure that all leakages in Nigeria’s gold value chain were blocked and every loophole sealed.

He said the move would reduce room for interpersonal transactions thereby reducing the propensity of corruption, which would further position Nigeria`s gold as one of the global pillars of means of exchange of value.

He said the Federal Government’s National Gold Purchase Programme (NGPP), implemented through the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), was designed to shore up Nigeria’s foreign reserves and strengthen the naira.

Alake explained that the NGPP, a component of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI), allows the government to buy gold directly from artisanal miners in naira, rather than spending foreign exchange to purchase gold internationally.

In her remarks, the Executive Director of SMDF, Hajia Fatima Shinkafi said that unlike global trends, gold exploration funding in Nigeria was at an upward trajectory.

Shinkafi explained that, within the broader macroeconomic context, gold serves as a safe haven asset and encouraged conference participants to explore Nigeria’s gold opportunities.

‘We implore everyone here to examine Nigeria`s gold resources and support the minister`s efforts to make Nigeria a premier destination for junior miners.

‘In another year or so, lets look at this Nigeria`s Gold day 2025 as a pivotal turning point, ‘ she said.

NAN reports that the Nigeria Mining Week, holding from October 13 to 15, is organised by Miners Association of Nigeria in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the VUKA Group.

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained the Nigeria Police Force from declaring Mr. Oluwasegun Rolland Elusoji wanted, pending the determination of a substantive motion filed before the court.

Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice D.E. Osiagor, granted leave to Mr. Elusoji to apply for judicial review by way of Orders of Certiorari, Prohibition, and Injunction against the Police’s decision, which the court described as ‘unlawful and made without any subsisting warrant of arrest or court order.’

The ruling followed an ex parte motion filed on September 23, 2025, by Elusoji through his legal counsel, Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), alongside Oluyemi Osasalu, Esq. and Nifemi Ademosu, Esq., challenging the declaration made by the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Lagos, and the Inspector-General of Police.

In the court’s order, Justice Osiagor directed that the grant of leave shall operate as a stay of all actions, steps, or processes connected to the declaration of Elusoji as wanted, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The case has been adjourned to October 31, 2025, for further hearing.

The Certified True Copy of the order dated October 14, 2025, and signed by Mrs. C.N. Okoro, Principal Executive Officer of the Federal High Court, Lagos, confirms that no law enforcement action may be taken against Mr. Elusoji until the court concludes its review.

A social media clash occured on Wednesday, October 15, between Nigerian rapper Zinoleesky and Ghanaian singer Moliy, after the latter dismissed rumours of a possible collaboration in a rather condescending tone.

The drama began when a flyer suggesting an upcoming song between the two surfaced online.

Moliy, however, quickly distanced herself from the report, retweeting the post with a curt response:

‘Who?’

Her comment stirred reactions across social media, prompting Zinoleesky to clap back.

The ‘Many Things’ crooner referred to Moliy as a ‘two-hit wonder’, claiming he barely knew any of her songs.

‘2 hits wonder. and I don’t even know the 2nd song @Moliymusic,’ he wrote.

Not one to stay silent, Moliy fired back, stating she was glad Zinoleesky didn’t know her, as she doesn’t ‘roll with local champions.’

‘Very grateful to not be known by you. Artists that know me aren’t local champions,’ she said.

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has said the party remains the best solution to the problems facing Nigerians despite the current gale of defection to other parties by its members.

George said this while reacting to the gale of defections from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in some states.

Notably, the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, his executive members and others on Tuesday dumped the PDP for APC.

But George who vowed that he will never join the bandwagon of those leaving PDP for other parties told journalists that he was not perturbed by the gale of defections.

He said those who wanted to dump the party were free to do so.

According to him, PDP remains the best solution to the problems facing the people as it is committed to the country’s unity, inclusion, prosperity, growth and development.

‘Those who want to leave PDP can go. Those of us who remain will continue to speak, talk and stand for the wellbeing of the people of Nigeria, who are going through a lot at the moment.

‘Our commitment is to the people of Nigeria. I am an irredentist PDP man. PDP is still the best solution to the problems of these country.

‘This is the only party that provides every Nigerian-from majority and minority groups-a good sense of belonging and representation.

‘Let them (defectors) go anywhere. They will see the difference, and as usual, some of them will come back. We wish them best of luck,’ George said.

The PDP leader said that the party would hold its National Convention on Nov. 15 and Nov..16 in Ibadan, to return the party to its former glory.

‘Those who want to go are looking for crumbs and many of them will come back,’ he added.

He said that the party’s concentration remained the people of Nigeria and not few leaders who had shown no regard for principle and ideology.

George advised Prof. Joash Amupitan, the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to carry out his statutory duties conscientiously, knowing that’ there would always be a history’.

George who noted that the INEC Chairman’s name ‘Amupitan’ is rooted in ‘Itan’-meaning history-said that the umpire, should live in the consciousness of the fact that he would become history one day.

‘No manipulation should be tolerated. No glitches and cheating. Let the will of the people prevail in all elections,’ he said.

On the current Nigerian Constitution, George said that the grundnorm had a lot of defects, hence its incapacity to take the country to the dream of its founding fathers.

‘It is not working, it is military in nature. It is unfair to all sections of the country,’ he said.

George said that since former President Goodluck Jonathan already summoned the courage to constitute a National Conference to look into the constitution, all the present leadership needed was to look at the recommendations and implement

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has announced plans to hold a posthumous thanksgiving service in honour of its late founding father and revered evangelist, Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, as part of activities marking its 40th anniversary celebration.

Ukpai, the Spiritual Leader of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, passed away on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80.

Speaking during a press briefing in Uyo on Wednesday, the PFN National President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, represented by the National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, said the thanksgiving and award services will hold simultaneously across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

According to Bakare, the revered preacher had initially been chosen as the sole minister for the PFN’s 40th anniversary before his passing.

‘We expected that he would be the main preacher at the celebration. Now that he’s not here, we decided to make the 40th anniversary a celebration of all Baba’s good works while he was here with us,’ Bakare said.

He explained that the fellowship would use the occasion to celebrate, rejoice, and give thanks to God for Ukpai’s impactful ministry and lifelong dedication to evangelism.

‘On the 19th, being Sunday, all the 36 states of Nigeria plus the FCT will hold thanksgiving and award services to celebrate all icons who have been of great blessings to the PFN. And of course, in all the states, Baba will be officially celebrated,’ he added.

Bakare also revealed that the PFN leadership had visitedUkpai’s widow to offer condolences and prayers to the bereaved family.

‘The National President is unavoidably absent because he’s out of the country, and he had asked me to lead a team of eminent men to visit Mama and commiserate with the family officially,’ he stated.

The PFN 40th anniversary will also feature special recognitions for other Christian leaders who have significantly contributed to the growth of the fellowship and the propagation of the gospel in Nigeria.

The Naira suffered its biggest drop against the US dollar on Wednesday, culminating in N18 loss for a period of one week.

According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Naira fell to ?1,473.29 per dollar on Wednesday, compared to ?1,463.23 on Tuesday.

This means the currency lost ?10.06 in just one day the steepest fall in the official foreign exchange market this week. Earlier, it had dropped by ?5.72 on Tuesday and ?2.34 on Monday.

In total, the Naira has weakened by ?18.12 since last week, when it traded at ?1,455.17 per dollar on October 10.

At the black market, however, the exchange rate remained stable, trading between ?1,490 and ?1,505 to the dollar the same range as on Tuesday.

Despite the currency’s decline, Nigeria’s external reserves have continued to rise, reaching $42.65 billion as of October 14, 2025, up from $42.59 billion on October 10.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Statistics reported that Nigeria’s inflation rate fell for the sixth consecutive month, standing at 18.02% in September 2025.

A proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria has learnt to speak fluent Washington. Its grammar is lobbying. Its vocabulary is faith.

At the centre of this story is a firm once known for its quiet presence in Washington’s political corridors. Moran Global Strategies, led by former United States congressman Jim Moran, is now registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act to represent the Biafra Republic Government in Exile. Nigerian courts recognise that so-called government as the external arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra, a group declared a terrorist organisation in 2017 and reaffirmed by the Court of Appeal in 2025.

The public filing sounds benign. It describes the contract as ‘advocacy on human rights and political recognition matters in Nigeria.’ But the language conceals the truth. Behind the careful wording lies a movement responsible for attacks on civilians, police and clergy across Nigeria’s southeast. This is not diplomacy. It is deceit performed in a three-piece suit. The stage is Washington, the audience is global, and the script is written in the ink of self-interest.

In October 2025, Authority Newspaper in Abuja reported that Simon Nkere, the self-styled prime minister of this phantom government, met Senator Ted Cruz and other lawmakers to promote the claim of a ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria. Neither Nkere nor Cruz has denied the account. A parallel investigation by Paris-based Africa Intelligence confirmed that Moran’s firm had been hired to drive the same message through Washington.

What began as lobbying now looks like laundering. Moran Global Strategies, which has represented defence contractors such as GE Aerospace, General Dynamics, and Robinson Helicopter, also lists clients that include the Eritrean Blue Revolution Front and South Sudan’s National Salvation Group, both accused of violent insurgency. A firm trusted with national security contracts now carries the brief of proscribed and armed groups. The moral contradiction could not be starker. It seems morality in Washington now bends like a weather vane – whichever way the wind of profit blows, principle politely steps aside.

In May 2025 a court in Finland convicted Simon Ekpa, one of the loudest voices of the same network, of terrorism offences for orchestrating attacks in Nigeria from his base in Lahti. The conviction proved what security agencies had long warned. The supposed government in exile is not a political movement. It is an operational arm of an organisation that uses faith as camouflage and propaganda as its main export.

Moran Global Strategies should now clarify whether it continues to represent this network and how such work aligns with United States law and corporate ethics. Senator Cruz’s office should also explain the meetings Nkere described and whether any due diligence was carried out on the source of those claims. Until they do, the record stands. The filings, the court judgments and the public admissions remain unchallenged.

A pattern has emerged. Insurgents and governments, rebels and corporations, all rent the same credibility under one roof. We are told that the world runs on rules. But these rules change depending on who breaks them and where the victims live.

If a United States senator or a European parliamentarian had met representatives of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas or the PKK under similar circumstances, that contact would almost certainly qualify as material support for terrorism under US or EU statutes. When it involves Africa, the same behaviour is rebranded as advocacy. The double standard corrodes trust and teaches extremists how to turn sympathy into strategy.

Because when lobbying becomes laundering, truth, faith and reputation burn in the same fire.

Ogra is Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Digital Communications, Engagement, and New Media Strategy

Popular skitmaker and musician Lawal Nasiru, better known as Nasboi, has revealed that he identifies as both a Muslim and a Christian.

The comedian made this known in a post shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, where he explained that his mixed religious upbringing shaped his inclusive worldview.

According to Nasboi, his father is a Yoruba Muslim, while his mother is a Christian from Warri, a combination he said has kept him from developing any form of religious or tribal bias.

‘My papa Yoruba, my mama Warri. My papa Muslim, my mama Christian.

I was born and raised in Port Harcourt. I studied at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

This is why I can never relate to tribalism or all the religious agendas,’ he wrote.

When a fan asked him to clarify his religion, the comedian humorously replied that he is ‘Christmus,’ a blend of Christian and Muslim.

‘I am Christmus [both Christian and Muslim],’ he added.