Category: Daily Trust

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has ordered the remand of two men, Adediran Adeola, 28, and Emmanuel Adebola, 30, in a correctional facility over alleged armed robbery.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinwale Oriyomi, informed the court that there was probable cause to remand the defendants, who are reasonably suspected of conspiring to commit armed robbery.

He told the court that the alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Sections 314 and 312(2)(a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021, and was allegedly committed within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District on or about July 19, 2026.

ASP Oriyomi said there was a need to obtain legal advice, noting that the duplicate case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the necessary advice.

He, therefore, urged the court to grant his ex parte application.

Ruling on the application, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the request and ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility for 30 days.

According to a Police Scotland statement, various athletes are unaccounted for as contingents return to their countries following the 11-day Games with athletes competing in 10 sporting events.

The Commonwealth Games had lasted from July 23 to August 2, but boxing athletes who represented Uganda and Pakistan were reportedly absent as their countries left Scotland.

Four Ugandan boxers including Angel Katushabe, Nuhu Batte, Ibrahim Khemis and Emily Nakalema were reported missing in Glasgow, while Pakistan’s Qudratullah Khan was nowhere to be found.

The Ugandan boxers failed to join the rest of the delegation returning to Uganda, and one of the athletes disclosed his intention to seek asylum in Scotland.

Similarly, Khan was last seen in his hotel room around 2am, and did not join the team’s 9am gathering before departure.

According to the statement, police say it is making enquiries and engaging the home office to resolve the case of the unaccounted athletes.

‘Police Scotland has received reports of several athletes who are unaccounted for. Inquiries are ongoing to assess the circumstances, and early engagement is taking place with the Home Office.’

Similar incidents were recorded in previous Commonwealth Games, including Glasgow 2014, where dozens of athletes went missing and some sought asylum after the Games.

Ugandan athletes were also part of a number of athletes from Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Rwanda that refused to return home after the 2018 Games, with as much as 50 athletes of various nationalities said to have stayed illegally in Australia.

The testimony was made by both Most Rev(Dr) Timothy Yahaya, the Arch Bishop of Kaduna Province and Sheikh Haliru Maraya, Northern Coordinator of Global Peace Foundation.

The two religious leaders praised the Governor for buying a house for both Mrs Sarah Achi and Malam Usman Aliyu who lost their spouses at different times recently.

It will be recalled that Ven Edwin Achi, the husband of Mrs Achi, lost his life after his abduction and Malama Ummulkhairi Aliyu, an Islamic teacher, was mobbed to death at Maraban Jos last June.

Governor Uba Sani visited the deceaseds’ families and promised to buy each of them a house and to cater for the education and upkeep of Ummukhairi’s four children.

The Governor fulfilled the promise and the title documents were handed over to both Mrs Achi and Malam Usman at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House last Monday at a brief ceremony.

Expressing his gratitude to the Governor, Rev Yahaya said that he lacked words to express his joy, adding that ‘the lexicon of words look very inadequate to express our feelings from our heart of hearts, and to express our thanks.”

He argued that ”it is one thing for leaders in our clime to make a promise, and it’s another thing to keep that promise. But God has so blessed us with a Governor that when he says something, he follows his promise and keep his words.”

The clergyman further said that ”we are most grateful for your putting smiles on the faces of these families. And it is our heart’s desire and prayer, as you put smiles on the faces of this family, the Lord will put smiles on your government in the name of Jesus.”

”We equally pray that there will be lasting peace in Kaduna State. That this type of troubles will never come around again-that is our heart’s desire.

As a man of peace, a man of unity, all you have been doing, the Lord will bless it. And it will become a lasting legacy in your own regime,” he added.

Speaking also, Sheikh Maraya recalled that Ummulkhairi was murdered by a mob at Maraban Jos and Governor Uba Sani displayed his usual kindness and mercy by visiting and condoling with the family.

The Islamic cleric recalled that the Governor ” made a pledge of monetary donation, which you subsequently fulfilled. We were told that the family has indeed received a donation of N10 million.”

According to him, Governor Uba Sani also promised to continue funding the children’s education and he has directed relevant officials ”to look for a befitting quality school in Kaduna State for the children to get enrolled.”

”The Governor equally pledged to get a befitting house for the family of the Ummukhairi and befitting three-bedroom bungalow has been obtained. We thank you immensely for always ensuring that your words are in tandem with your actions,” he added.

Sheikh Maraya who is also a member of the Special Hajj Committee of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, said that ” we thank the Almighty Allah for giving us a compassionate Governor.”

”Since you assumed the mantle of leadership, you have become a fountain of mercy to we, the good people of Kaduna State. And consequent upon that, the Almighty Lord will keep on rewarding you richly. And Insha’Allah, Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala will elevate you to a position you have never expected,” he maintained.

In his remarks, Governor Uba Sani reiterated that Kaduna States has a policy of supporting the families or the victims of banditry and insecurity since he assumed office.

He recalled that last year his administration also handed over 50 houses to the families of victims of banditry attack in the Kaduna State, adding that ” I’m also happy today we are continuing with that very important policy. ”

”As a government, we will not let the families of the victims of insecurity in Kaduna State down; we will always be with them. I’m happy today Mrs. Aichi have recovered. She was in the hospital for many months.”

In a bid to mend internal rifts and fortify its ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has set up a seven-member National Reconciliation Committee to resolve grievances stemming from its recent primary elections.

The initiative was formally announced in a joint press statement signed by the NDC National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses, and National Secretary, Mr. Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, which was released to the press by the National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director.

According to the leadership, the committee has been charged with engaging party aspirants across all 36 states to resolve outstanding disputes and foster party cohesion.

Renowned political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has been appointed to chair the committee, with veteran politician, Engr. Buba Galadima serving as Co-Chairman.

Other members of the committee are Mohammed Sanni Takori – Vice Chairman, Babatunde Alli – Secretary with Mrs. Dudu Mamman Manuga, Salvador Adegoke Moshood and Alhaji Haruna Pai as members.

To ensure thorough outreach, the NDC also announced the creation of three zonal sub-committees specifically assigned to oversee reconciliation efforts across the North, South-South, and South-East regions.

Our correspondent reports that the main committee will be inaugurated at the NDC national secretariat at 12pm on Thursday.

Party leadership expressed strong confidence that the panel’s work will smooth over internal disagreements, unite members, and build a solid foundation for the party’s upcoming national campaign.

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to take over investigations into the controversial deaths of Mary Habila and Babatunde Tanimola, warning that both cases must not be ‘swept under the carpet.’

Falana also called for a speedy autopsy in Habila’s case and urged authorities to ensure transparent investigations into politically motivated killings in Osun State, arguing that every suspicious death deserves a thorough and independent probe.

The senior lawyer made the demands in a statement on Monday.

Falana expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the death of Habila, who was found dead and unclothed on June 27, 2026, in a room at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Although Umahi has publicly denied any foul play, insisting that the deceased had an existing medical condition and that the matter was reported to the police, Falana questioned the handling of the incident.

He also criticised the delay in conducting an autopsy after the Nigeria Police Force rejected a request by Habila’s father to release the body for burial.

While sympathising with the family, he maintained that suspicious deaths are matters of public interest.

Falana also called for an independent investigation into the death of Tanimola, whom the Presidency recently identified as a principal suspect in the alleged establishment of a fake government agency.

He noted that the police said Tanimola died in a hotel fire in Abuja on October 22, 2025.

Falana argued that since the terms of reference of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission investigation into the alleged fake agency did not cover Tanimola’s death, the Inspector-General of Police should immediately take over the matter.

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has released the final list of successful candidates for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, announcing that 3,852 applicants were selected from 573,680 applications received nationwide.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the successful candidates were recruited into the Superintendent, Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory represented.

Adeniyi also announced that the Service would henceforth conduct recruitment annually to ensure predictable and efficient manpower planning.

‘The Nigeria Customs Service is moving to an annual recruitment cycle. Recruitment will no longer be an occasional event undertaken every several years. It will be a standing, predictable, yearly process,’ he said.

According to him, the 2026 recruitment exercise will begin later this year and be concluded within the same calendar year, from advertisement to publication of the final list.

He said the new system would enable unsuccessful applicants to know when the next recruitment exercise would take place instead of waiting for years without certainty.

The Comptroller-General explained that the screening systems, verification processes and recruitment architecture developed during the just-concluded exercise had now been fully established, making future recruitment faster and more efficient.

‘The delays experienced in this cycle were largely due to the time required to build this system. That process has now been completed,’ he said.

Adeniyi said all applicants underwent several stages of screening, including computer-based tests and verification of credentials against the National Identity Database.

He attributed the delay in concluding the exercise to the large number of applications received and the high rate of retirements among senior management officers.

The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, says the Service has resolved the operational challenges of inadequate water and fuel supply and is now better positioned to respond effectively to emergencies.

He stated this on Tuesday after unveiling a quarter guard at the FFS headquarters and another at the Wuse Area Command in Abuja.

Adeyemi said that when he assumed office a year ago, he pledged to reposition the Service and restore public confidence in its ability to protect lives and property.

‘I was asked what would be part of my legacy, and I said I want Nigerians to have trust in the Federal Fire Service in terms of saving lives and property. They must have that trust in us.

‘A report came to me last week about one of our officers in Plateau State who entered a diesel tank to save someone. He risked his life and, though he ended up in the hospital, he was able to save a life.

‘Gone are the days when people would call the Fire Service and we would say there was no water or no diesel.’

The Controller-General said the quarter guards are more than physical structures, describing them as symbols of discipline, professionalism, unity and the spirit of the Service.

Commending the officers who funded the projects, he said their contributions reflected the enabling environment created by his administration.

‘You will recall that when I assumed office about a year ago, one of the major commitments I made to our officers and men was to prioritise their welfare,’ he said.

He added that staff motivation had improved significantly through enhanced welfare packages, medical interventions and access to loan facilities.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in a statement said the accident occurred when the driver of a Mack flat-bed articulated trailer allegedly lost control due to excessive speed and rammed into a moving Toyota mini truck.

The impact caused the mini truck to somersault before crashing into one of the motorcycles, leaving one person dead at the scene and two others with varying degrees of injuries.

LASTMA officials, who were on routine traffic patrol along the Coastal Road corridor, responded to the incident alongside other emergency responders. The injured victims were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The agency also secured the accident scene, managed traffic around the affected area and coordinated the evacuation of the damaged mini truck, helping to restore the free flow of vehicles.

According to LASTMA, the response of emergency personnel prevented prolonged traffic disruption despite the severity of the collision.

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the loss of life and blamed the crash on excessive speeding.

He urged motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, to comply with speed limits and traffic regulations, warning that reckless driving continues to be a major cause of fatal road accidents in the state.

Bakare-Oki called on all road users to adopt safer driving habits, avoid dangerous manoeuvres and obey traffic laws to reduce road crashes and protect lives.

The new Permanent Secretaries are Malam Abdu Usman, Dr Sani Suleiman, Dr Shamsuddeen Yahaya Suleiman and Dr Hussaini Hamisu Yanduna.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Radda said the appointments were based on competence, experience and hard work, rather than personal connections.

He urged the appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring transparency, accountability and adherence to due process in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

‘The Oath of Office is not merely a ceremony. It is a commitment to integrity, accountability and faithful service,’ he said.The governor said the appointments, which cut across different local government areas, were also aimed at promoting equal opportunities in the civil service.

He, however, expressed concern that some local government areas could not produce eligible candidates because they lacked officers with the required qualifications or grade levels.

‘It is our hope and prayer that, in the coming years, every Local Government Area in Katsina State will produce qualified officers capable of competing successfully and serving as Permanent Secretaries,’ he said.Radda also charged senior civil servants to mentor younger officers and facilitate knowledge transfer to ensure continuity and strengthen the service.

He said his administration would continue to promote professionalism, institutional capacity and digital transformation across government institutions.

This brings to an end nearly six months of anguish for their families and communities.

The Kwara State Government announced the development on Wednesday through its official Facebook page.

It described the release as a major breakthrough and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, security agencies and everyone who contributed to the operation.

‘Alhamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!’ the government stated.

Although authorities were yet to disclose the details of the operation as of press time, multiple community sources told Daily Trust that security personnel, backed by military hardware, had moved into the forest earlier in the day before news of the victims’ freedom filtered into the communities.

Aliyu Umar, a resident and member of the community negotiating team through a mediator, said reports reaching the communities indicated that the Federal Government had mounted a rescue operation.

He said residents of nearby Wawa reported seeing seven or eight long vehicles escorted by Army armoured tanks moving into the forest.

He added that information circulating within the communities suggested the captives had been handed over to government officials.

‘We were hearing that the Federal Government was making moves. Information reaching me was that they had been handed over. People in Wawa saw several vehicles and Army armoured tanks heading into the forest,’ he said.

The Village Head of Woro, Alhaji Salihu Umar, gave a similar account.

He said available information to the community suggested a Federal Government rescue team had entered the forest to receive the victims.

According to him, residents had reported seeing buses, Army gun trucks and other security vehicles heading towards the area.

‘We had not spoken with the victims ourselves at that point, but everything we were hearing suggested they had been handed over to the rescue team,’ he said.

Also confirming the development, Dr Abdul Ibrahim, who had played a prominent role in community efforts to secure the captives’ freedom, said the circumstances surrounding their release were still unclear.

‘Yes, it is true. They are arranging vehicles to bring them to Il?rin. We do not know exactly how they secured the release. We do not know whether there was any negotiation or ransom involved. At this stage, we simply do not know the circumstances,’ he said.

The release marks a dramatic turnaround after months of uncertainty that had triggered protests, appeals and desperate negotiations by affected families.

Only last weekend, hundreds of residents, youths and women staged a peaceful protest in Kaiama, demanding urgent government intervention after the captives spent 171 days in terrorist custody.

The protesters marched through the town, carrying placards and urging the Federal Government to intensify rescue efforts while calling for stronger security around communities bordering the Kainji Lake National Park, which they described as a major criminal hideout.

The latest development also comes barely five days after families disclosed that more than ?155 million painstakingly raised through community donations, personal savings and the sale of valuables had been rejected by the terrorists.

Speaking then on behalf of affected families, Dr Abdul Ibrahim told Daily Trust that the kidnappers declined the money, insisting they would only negotiate directly with the governments of Kwara and Niger states because many of the captives came from both states.

He also alleged that the abductors had threatened to kill some victims while forcing female captives into marriage, heightening fears among relatives.

The 176 victims were abducted during the coordinated terrorist assault on Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities on February 3, an attack that left hundreds dead, displaced many families and destroyed homes and public infrastructure.

The massacre sparked national outrage and prompted President Tinubu to order reinforced military deployments and intensified security operations in Kaiama and adjoining communities.