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Oba John Adinlewa, the Olugoba of Igoba Community in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, has narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, The Nation can report.

The incident occurred during a cultural festival when a group of armed hoodlums invaded the monarch’s palace, wielding firearms, knives, charms, and other dangerous weapons, with the intent to wreak havoc.

Sources disclosed that the attackers, who stormed the community in commando style, violently assaulted the monarch, his wife, and several indigenes.

Properties worth millions of naira were reportedly destroyed in the chaos.

Confirming the attack in a statement yesterday, the spokesman for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said ten suspects had been apprehended in connection with the assassination attempt.

Ayanlade stated that while the royal father narrowly escaped the life-threatening assault, one of his chiefs, Mrs Ogunoye Oluomo, was severely injured and dispossessed of her belongings during the attack.

According to him, ‘Upon receipt of the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, promptly deployed all necessary operational assets and manpower to the area. Led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, the tactical team effected the arrest of ten suspects.’

He added that the arrested suspects had confessed to their roles in the attack and would be charged in court upon completion of investigations.

Items recovered from the suspects include two locally fabricated pistols, one single-barreled gun, several rounds of live ammunition, assorted charms, knives, machetes, and other dangerous weapons used during the attack.

Ayanlade also disclosed that injured victims are currently receiving treatment and responding positively, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects.

He assured that normalcy had been restored to the Igoba community, with security presence reinforced to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

The Police Commissioner, according to him, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

The Abuja Youth Forum has called for enhanced security measures across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure the safety of residents.

The group, led by Comrade Ayuba Danladi, expressed concern over recent security incidents in the capital, including the killing of Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, a former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) FCT chapter, who was abducted alongside his children in Kubwa.

His children are still missing.

The forum also cited the death of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise News anchor who lost her life during a robbery incident at her Katampe residence last week.

Highlighting the developments, the forum said there was a need for renewed focus on security to safeguard lives and property in Abuja.

It also noted reports of robberies, car thefts, and vandalism of public infrastructure in some parts of the city.

Danladi urged the FCT Administration and security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting residents and to work closely with community stakeholders, including youth groups, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.

He emphasised that community-based policing, regular communication between authorities and residents, and rapid response to distress situations would go a long way in improving public safety.

The group further pledged its support to collaborate with security agencies and other stakeholders to help restore and maintain peace across the capital.

Chinaza Eziaghighala’s novella Chimera follows Yetunde, Amaka, Inyene, and others on the campus of a college of medicine that is unmistakably MedLag. We watch as they grapple with various challenges and display their flaws in all their messy glory and grandeur.

It is narrated in the first person by Amaka, Inyene, and Inspector Babajide, whose voices are presented with unflinching artistry.

At the beginning of the book, we meet Amaka at a Lagos market, amid all the chaos and confusion. Through her, we are introduced to Mama, her grandmother, who raises her after her parents’ death; Yetunde, her friend; and Inyene, her boyfriend, who soon reveals that his eyes are on Amaka. He makes flirtatious moves whenever his girlfriend is not around, moves that stir strange feelings in Amaka, feelings she dares not express for fear of shattering Yetunde’s happiness.

Inyene’s advances towards Amaka make some sense when he says: ‘I had not fully understood what happened, because what I last remembered was booze, weed, colours, and a blasted headache. When I saw Yetunde instead of Amaka, I knew it had happened again, even though I didn’t intend for it to happen this way. I had only skipped about a week’s dose, which wasn’t that much in my opinion; therefore, I didn’t expect this to happen, not so soon anyway.’

Still, we are left with questions, especially about what makes him confuse one friend for the other. The suspense deepens when Yetunde, whose parents live abroad, turns up in the hospital after an attempted suicide. But it doesn’t end there. Upon leaving the hospital, she disappears, and the search for her gives the plot new wings, forcing us to journey through the nooks and crannies in pursuit of this young woman whose life brims with mysteries waiting to be unraveled.

The police soon step in. Inspector Babajide is given the mandate to unravel the circumstances surrounding Yetunde’s disappearance. His daughter, Rita, attends the same school and he feels led to find the missing girl because she could have been his daughter. He goes after Amaka, Inyene, and Ahmed and makes life ‘unbearable’ for them. His discovery breaks hearts and engenders disappointment. Fingers of guilt point at Inyene, but he insists the fingers are pointing in the wrong direction.

As we get closer to the last pages, we are left with no choice but to praise the author for treating themes so heavy with ingenuity. We confront a chimera, that phenomenon of seeing things that exist in the imagination but are impossible in reality.

But Chimera is more than a story of individual breakdowns; it is a magical tale. It also holds a mirror up to a society that refuses to acknowledge the fragility of the mind.

The college setting, with its intense academic competition, substance use, and unspoken emotional burdens, echoes the wider realities faced by young Nigerians striving to ‘succeed’ in a system that rarely allows them to falter.

The market and street scenes also give the author the latitude to run veiled commentaries about the state of infrastructure, especially roads, in Lagos. The persistent darkness also provides the opportunity to comment on what a disappointment the power supplier has become.

The role of religion in our society doesn’t escape the author’s attention. When the pastor visits Inyene in a cell complete with oil and claims of ‘casting out demons’, it seems to reflect a deeply ingrained social reality in Nigeria (and across much of Africa): spiritual interpretations of mental illness often take precedence over medical ones.

This is not just a critique of religion but also an acknowledgment of the power dynamics at play: elders, family members, and spiritual leaders exert pressure, often overriding the agency of the person in crisis.

Meanwhile, Inspector Babajide embodies an older generation’s attempt to restore order without fully grasping the psychological chaos beneath it.

In Chimera, Eziaghighala combines medical insight and fantasy with literary craft to produce a haunting narrative that blurs the line between the real and the unreal.

In smooth prose, she serves us a delicious dish about the human mind and age-old culture.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit filed by businessman Abubakar Ismaila Isa Funtua, who alleged that his 43 million shares were transferred without his consent to Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), operators of 9mobile.

Delivering judgment on September 24, Justice Mohammed Umar held that Isa, the lone plaintiff, lacked the locus standi (legal right) to institute the action against the nine defendants.

The defendants were: Seltrix Limited, Hayatu Hassan Hadejia, Teleology Nigeria Limited, Mohammed Edewor, EMTS, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), LH Telecommunication Limited, and General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma.

Isa, through his counsel Femi Atteh (SAN), had commenced the suit on December 27, 2024, seeking 11 reliefs, including a declaration that he was the beneficial owner of the disputed shares allegedly held in trust for him by Seltrix Ltd in Teleology Nigeria Ltd.

However, the third, fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth defendants, represented by Michael Aondakaa, SAN, C.I. Okpoko (SAN), R.O. Atabo (SAN), A.T. Kohol, and C.C. Ogbonna, filed a joint preliminary objection dated February 5, urging the court to dismiss the case for want of jurisdiction and as an abuse of court process.

After reviewing arguments from all parties, Justice Umar upheld the objection, ruling that Isa failed to show any legal interest in the subject matter.

Justice Umar held: ‘I carefully perused the said exhibit to see if the allegation of the plaintiff is substantiated, I did not find any.

‘Nowhere was there any figure of the 43,000,000 million ordinary shares held in trust for the plaintiff by the first defendant mentioned.

‘In fact, the second defendant denied any business dealings with the plaintiff and these facts were not controverted by the plaintiff.

‘The said exhibits cannot by any imagination constitute a trust to confer locus standi on the plaintiff.

‘The said exhibits were tendered by the plaintiff, but nowhere did it link the plaintiff to his claims to enable him to institute an action on the facts alleged therein.’

The court held that the plaintiff failed to establish the facts he asserted and to link his claims to the exhibits he himself tendered by virtue of averment in this suit.

‘I find that the objectors have adequately countered the said exhibits in their reply on points of law in tandem with the law that failure to respond to a counter affidavit is deemed to be an admission,’ Justice Umar held.

In the final analysis, the judge added: ‘I resolve the issue of locus standi against the plaintiff, and the law is that where a plaintiff has been adjudged to lack locus standi, it does not matter what other issues have been raised for determination in the suit.’

The court noted that since the plaintiff lacked the capacity to institute the action, there was no need to make a pronouncement on grounds two to nine (2-9) of the third, fourth, fifth, eighth and ninth defendants’ Notice of Preliminary Objections, which included claims that the suit was statute-barred, incompetent, and that Isa was a ‘meddlesome interloper’ seeking to frustrate the operations of EMTS.

‘I, therefore, make an order striking out this action for lack of locus standi of the plaintiff. This is the Order of this Court,’ the judge added.

The case was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1971/2024.

Community heads in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have thrown their weight behind the Osogbo Elders Council, insisting that the 2026 governorship ticket of the major political parties must be zoned to Osogbo.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, August 8, 2026, for the state governorship election.

Despite Osogbo’s historical role as a decisive voting bloc in Osun politics since its days as part of old Oyo State, no indigene of the Osogbo has ever been elected governor in the 34 years of the state’s existence.

Speaking on Oroki Asala, a current affairs programme on Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) Radio, the Baale of Gbodofon and Chairman of the Council of Baales in Osogbo, High Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, emphasized that the town is now more united than ever on the demand to produce Governor.

He credited the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, for establishing the Osogbo Action Committee and the Osogbo Elders Council to end political divisions that had previously weakened the chances of Osogbo.

High Chief Ibrahim stressed that the efforts of the Ataoja have already yielded results, with Osogbo speaking in one voice ahead of 2026. ‘The Elders Council has successfully united all Baales in Osogbo. As Chairman of the Council of Baales, I affirm that we stand solidly behind them in this call for an Osogbo indigene to emerge as governor. We will play our part to make it happen,’ he said.

Similarly, Prince Adeleke Oduola Ibiloye, Chairman of the Osogbo Elders Council, reiterated that Osogbo’s long-standing support for other towns must now be reciprocated. ‘We have stood firmly behind others in the past. It is now time for the rest of Osun to support Osogbo. The 2026 governorship slot should be ours, and we are determined to actualize it,’ he declared.

With prominent Osogbo indigenes already eyeing tickets in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC), the community leaders expressed optimism that the era of Osogbo’s exclusion from the governorship seat will finally come to an end in 2026.

The Vice Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo, Professor Sunday Okeniyi, has enjoined the newly employed staff of the institution to develop the spirit of teamwork, respect, and discipline, which are the hallmarks of every successful institution.

Okeniyi disclosed this during the orientation programme for the newly employed staff of the institution.

While welcoming the newly employed staff, he also congratulated them on their successful appointment into the fast-rising institution. ‘Your joining us today is not by chance, but by merit, commitment, and the will of God. Atiba University is a citadel of learning and character formation, envisioned to nurture and produce men and women of excellence, integrity, and service. By becoming part of this family, you are now co-builders of this noble vision.’

The V-C said the orientation programme was a deliberate initiative of the management to formally integrate the new staff into the University system. ‘It is designed to give you a clear understanding of our mission, vision, core values, rules, and operational culture. Our goal is not just for you to work here, but for you to thrive, contribute meaningfully, and leave an indelible mark on the growth and transformation of this University.’

He explained that the university places a premium on academic excellence, innovative research, moral uprightness, and community development. These values define the identity and are the standards the staff must all uphold in their respective assignments-whether as academic staff shaping young minds or as non-teaching staff providing essential support services that make our work possible.

While admitting much needed to be done, Okeniyi said the institution has recorded remarkable progress within a short time. ‘The future we envision-a future of global competitiveness, leadership in innovation and knowledge, and impact within and beyond Nigeria-requires the collective commitment of every member of staff. That includes you. Your dedication, creativity, and professionalism are needed to propel us forward,’ he said.

The emergence of Zacch Adedeji, PhD, as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), began as a whisper before the formal announcement.

Although the confirmation of his appointment came three months later, since he assumed office, he has practically demonstrated his capacity to take on the tax and fiscal space headlong with much equanimity expected of the Capricorn that he is.

A Capricorn is disciplined, practical, ambitious, and hardworking. He often takes on leadership roles with a strong sense of responsibility and a ‘can-do’ attitude. This is quintessential Zacch Adedeji, PhD.

Two years on, these qualities have defined the leadership paradigm at the FIRS, shaping its policies and thrusting its administration in a positive direction.

As Adedeji marks his second anniversary as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Executive Chairman, Nigerians can attest to his significant strides in transforming the nation’s tax system.

He has led the FIRS to surpass revenue targets, introduced a raft of tax reforms, modernised tax administration, and made the FIRS a customer-centric organisation.

Revenue collection achievements

Under Adedeji’s leadership, the FIRS has consistently exceeded its revenue targets. In 2023, the agency collected N12.36 trillion or 107% thereby surpassing its target of N11.55 trillion. In 2024, he also collected 21.7 trillion naira against the target of N19.7 trillion.

These remarkable feats demonstrate Adedeji’s ability to drive success through strategic planning and efficiency.

Between September 2023 and August 2025, the Service collected a total of N46 trillion in tax revenue. This represents: 115% of the combined revenue target of N40.07 trillion.

The two-year performance reflects the impact of reforms implemented by the management, which enhanced efficiency in the tax system, expanded the tax base, and improved compliance through digital solutions such as TaxPro-Max, e-Invoicing, and USSD (×829#) services. Strengthened enforcement measures, inter-agency collaboration, and improved staff welfare further boosted productivity.

These measures reduced reliance on oil revenues, strengthened non-oil collections, and enabled the Service to exceed its revenue targets between September 2023 and August 2025.

Tax system reforms

Adedeji has introduced several initiatives to simplify the tax system and improve the taxpayer experience. These include: Introducing new tax legislation that aims to reform the obsolete provisions of the tax laws and align the tax system with modern taxation and economic practices.

These tax legislations are the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA), the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 (NTAA), the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025 (JRBA), and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025 (NRSA).

TaxPro-Max: A tax administration system that automates over 80% of manual processes, reducing bureaucracy and enhancing efficiency.

National Single Window Initiative: A platform that facilitates fast and easy trade operations at ports, harmonising government revenue and promoting economic growth.

– One-Stop Shop: A streamlined tax office operation that caters to diverse taxpayers by category, improving customer satisfaction and reducing complaints.

– Unbundling of administrative groupings in the Service: The groupings were hitherto based on tax types, but Adedeji’s model is based on functions designed to increase the taxpayer experience.

Digital innovation

The FIRS has made significant strides in digital innovation under Adedeji’s leadership. He has effectively introduced new integrated modules on:

– TaxProMax: Automating tax processes and enhancing efficiency in tax payment.

– Leveraged technology: To block revenue leakages, ramp up revenue collection, and enhance taxpayer experience.

– Expanded integrated tax administration systems: Creating seamless, efficient, and transparent processes that redefine the taxpayer experience. He established self-service centres in the field offices to help taxpayers navigate the seamless tax payment processes.

Customer-centric focus of the Service:

In FIRS, there are three recognised categories of customers: taxpayers, vendors, and staff. Understood in this sense, Adedeji emplaced processes that ensure effective customer mapping and customer satisfaction journey.

He underscored his customer-centric approach to tax administration by saying, ‘We are committed to fair tax administration through responsive and accessible service to optimise revenue for national development.’

Notwithstanding these achievements, Adedeji remains focused on improving Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, which is far below the African average. To address this, the FIRS has set an ambitious target to raise the ratio to 18% within the next few years.

As Adedeji embarks on his second year at the FIRS, Nigerians should expect more successes as he leverages his expertise to advance Nigeria’s economic growth and fiscal sustainability. With a clear vision and strategic roadmap, the FIRS is poised to continue playing a pivotal role in shaping the country’s future.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has described teachers as ‘true heroes’ who shape minds, nurture dreams, and guide generations.

In her message to mark the 2025 World Teachers’ Day, celebrated on October 5, the First Lady paid glowing tribute to educators across the country, acknowledging their invaluable role in nation-building and the future of humanity.

‘Teachers are true heroes, shaping minds, nurturing dreams, and guiding generations,’ she said, noting that as a lifelong teacher herself, she holds deep respect for the profession and those who dedicate their lives to it.

The First Lady said the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Focusing on the Global Teacher Shortage,’ is a timely reminder of the urgent need to address the dwindling number of teachers worldwide.

She emphasised that the teacher shortage challenge must be confronted with seriousness by empowering educators, investing in their professional growth, and encouraging more young people to take up teaching as a noble calling.

‘The shortage of teachers is a challenge we must confront with urgency, by empowering educators, investing in their growth, and inspiring more to join this noble profession,’ she stated.

Senator Tinubu, while celebrating teachers everywhere, urged Nigerians to recognize their efforts not just in classrooms but in shaping the moral and intellectual foundation of society.

‘As a lifelong teacher myself, I salute you all on this special day. Happy World Teachers’ Day 2025,’ she added.

The Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Professor Adamu Ahmed, has revealed that the institution spends nearly ?4 billion annually on energy, describing it as ‘crippling and unsustainable.’

Speaking during a press conference to mark the university’s 63rd anniversary at the Senate Building, Main Campus in Samaru, Zaria on Saturday, Professor Ahmed said the high energy bill was hampering academic activities and research.

He disclosed that to cushion the burden, ABU had taken bold steps towards self-reliance, challenging its staff and students to innovate while seeking partnerships for sustainable energy solutions.

According to him, the Federal Government has also acknowledged the crisis, providing an initial ?1billion intervention last year through TETFund, and approving another project to deliver 10 megawatts of renewable energy to the institution.

‘We’ve also reached out to our alumni, particularly the SBS class of 1975, who are already implementing a solar-powered project for one of our CBT centres,’ Ahmed said. ‘We’re taking our destiny into our own hands while expecting continued support from outside.’

The Vice Chancellor reiterated that ABU was founded to serve as a bridge of unity and progress for Nigeria, explaining that the late Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, intended the university to educate both the North and South without ethnic or religious barriers.

He lamented, however, that insecurity and poverty had undermined the North’s development and disrupted educational growth, insisting that ABU would now focus on addressing these challenges through research, agriculture, and policy advocacy.

Highlighting ABU’s vast agricultural assets, including the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), NAPRI, and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, he said no other West African university had such capacity to drive agricultural and economic recovery.

The Vice Chancellor also stressed that insecurity could not be solved by force alone, advocating for non-kinetic approaches that encourage dialogue, understanding, and community-driven peacebuilding. ‘We have the capacity, the research, and the networks,’ he said. ‘And we are ready to lead the charge in finding lasting solutions.’

He noted that from its humble beginning in 1962 with just four faculties, 15 departments, and 426 students, ABU has grown into 18 faculties, 110 departments, seven institutes, four colleges, and 17 research centres, making it the largest university system in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ahmed said ABU had earned global recognition with the Times Higher Education ranking it the best public university in Nigeria in 2025, while it also received the JAMB award for internationalisation and diversity. It is, he added, one of only three Nigerian universities that made the QS 2025 World University Rankings.

He disclosed that the university has also won three World Bank Centres of Excellence grants worth over $15 million, and a pound 5 million Horizon grant for an artificial intelligence project developing microscopes to improve the diagnosis of neglected parasitic diseases.

The Minister of Power and 2027 All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has said his gubernatorial ambition is not for personal nor selfish reasons, but in the interest of people in the state.

Adelabu said his passion to serve the state as governor was borne out of his love for the poor, less privileges and the entire people across the state.

Speaking while addressing APC leaders, stakeholders and members of the party in Oke-Ogun Zone 2 of the state, Adelabu said if given the chance to be the governor of the state in 2027, he would work towards the progress and development of the state.

Oke-Ogun Zone 2 consists of six local governments namely: Oorelope, Saki East, Saki West, Olorunsogo, Irepo and Atisbo local governments.

The Minister, who was accompanied by the brother of the late former governor of the state, Alhaji Wasiu Ajimobi, Abiodun Ambali, Alhaji Wale Sanusi, Alhaji Kola Amoo, and Alhaji Fatai Adesokan, and others, emphasised on unity of the party ahead of next election.

He stated that the interest of people in the state would always be his priority, adding that he will not disappoint people if voted as the governor of the state in the next election.

According to him, with the full support of members of the party and people in the state, the party will take over Agodi Government House from the ruling PDP come 2027.

He said, ‘United APC owns Oyo State, PDP is a tenant in Agodi Government House, a divided house can never be victorious, APC will regain Oyo State in 2027.

‘There should be internal democracy in our party and this starts from our upcoming congress, I want to assure you that no one will impose any candidate on us, our party should unite and stand as one.’

The Minster had earlier met some APC leaders in Saki including Alhaji Sulaimon Ajibade (Saki West Local Government), Alhaji Hamed Ayinla (Olorunsogo Local Government), Alhaji Balogun Mayor Alagbada (Saki East Local Government) and Chief Lateef Ajemeje (Atisbo Local Government), among others.

In his remark, member representing Saki West, Saki East and Atisbo Federal Constituency, Hon. Kareem Abisodun, who sought for intervention of the Minister concerning power in the zone, lauded the giant stride of the Minister in power sector across Nigeria, saying Adelabu’s efforts in Power Ministry cannot be overemphasized.

He vowed that people in the six local governments would support and vote massively for the party come 2027 so that the APC can come back to power in the state in the next election.

Also, a former Commissioner in the state, Hon. Raji Rasaki said Adelabu’s visit to the zone became necessary, particularly when 2027 elections are around the corner.

He maintained that Oke-Ogun Zone 2 remained core progressive and will continue to show support and massively vote for the party.

Alhaji Wasiu Ajimobi in his address, said Ibadan people were solidly behind Adelabu’s governorship ambition, urged people in Oke-Ogun Zone 2 to stand behind Adelabu gubernatorial ambition so as to wrest power from the ruling PDP.

Dignitaries at the event were: Hon. Tajudeen Abisodun, ex-ALGON Chairman in the state, Hon. Yekeen Popoola, Alhaji Nojeem Omirinde and Chief Enoch Adediran among others.