Court Remands BUK Final-Year Student Over Alleged Cyberbullying of EFCC
By Uzair Adam
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded Maryam Isah Shehu, a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), in prison custody following her arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged cyberbullying offence.
Shehu, who is also identified as a Kano-based blogger, was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on an amended charge dated August 20, 2026.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Shehu, on or about June 21, 2026, intentionally published a message on her Instagram account, @maryam_shehu, which the Commission said was aimed at damaging its reputation.
The EFCC alleged that the publication claimed that its officials assaulted one Ahmed Uthman on the instruction of a zonal director who allegedly received N20 million from one Usman Iya Abbas.
The Commission said the alleged publication amounted to an offence under Section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024, and is punishable under Section 24(2)(c)(ii) of the amended law.
The amended charge was signed by Elizabeth Alabi of the EFCC’s Legal and Prosecution Department.
The case followed allegations raised by Shehu regarding the conduct of some EFCC officials.
According to human rights lawyer Abba Hikima, Shehu was arrested in Kano and subsequently taken to Abuja after making allegations of corruption against officials of the Commission.
Hikima said Shehu was not arrested over allegations of stealing, fraud or money laundering, but in connection with a publication she made concerning the EFCC and its officials.
He further alleged that she had spent more than 30 days in EFCC custody before being brought before the court.
An account of Thursday’s proceedings indicated that Shehu had already spent close to 30 days in detention before her arraignment.
Following the proceedings, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that Shehu be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending further proceedings. She is to remain in custody until August 31, 2026.
Atiku Promises To Restore Petrol Subsidy If Elected President
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general election.
Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the declaration during an interview on Wednesday.
He said he did not oppose the removal of the subsidy but questioned how the funds saved from the policy had been used by the government.
“I did not oppose the removal of the oil subsidy, but where is the money? Where did it go? It was intended to reduce poverty and help children attend school. Where is the money now? It seems they are just stealing it,” Atiku said in Hausa.
He added, “If elected, I will bring back the oil subsidy, and whoever stole the money must refund it.”
According to Atiku, the removal of the subsidy would have been acceptable if the government had invested the resulting savings in projects that would improve the lives of Nigerians.
“The government successfully removed the subsidy, but we do not know where the money went. If they had used the money for development, to solve security problems, for education, and to create opportunities for the youth, it would be different. If elected, I can remove the subsidy and use the money to do all these properly.”
President Bola Tinubu announced the end of the petrol subsidy in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023.
The policy was followed by a sharp rise in the cost of living as petrol prices increased and the cost of goods and services rose across the country.
However, some state governors have said their monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) increased considerably after the subsidy was removed.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said on Wednesday that the removal of the subsidy had generated N15.8 trillion in additional resources for the federation between June 2023 and December 2025.
Oyedele attributed the increase partly to higher revenue collections, particularly the naira value of transactions denominated in US dollars after the exchange-rate reforms.
Nigerian Deported From Indonesia Over Immigration Violation
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Indonesian authorities have deported a Nigerian national after he failed to provide immigration officials with a valid travel document or residence permit.
The Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre in Riau Islands Province announced the deportation on Thursday, according to ANTARA News.
The Nigerian was among two foreign nationals deported on Tuesday, August 18, through the immigration checkpoint at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang.
“The Nigerian national could not show immigration officers a valid travel document or residence permit, violating Article 71(b) of the Immigration Law,” the report noted.
Prior to his deportation, the Nigerian was held at the Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, where officials confirmed his identity and prepared the necessary travel documents.
An official of the detention centre, I Wayan Putu Wiadnya, described the deportation as an administrative measure against foreign nationals who breach Indonesia’s immigration regulations.
He said, “We returned them and ensured the entire process was conducted professionally, orderly, safely and accountably.”
The Nigerian was deported alongside a Palestinian national who was also found to have breached Indonesian immigration rules.
Authorities said the Palestinian was deported after overstaying his permitted period in the country, in violation of Article 78(3) of the Immigration Law.
The Head of Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Centre, Erybowo Radyan Asmono, said the action was part of efforts to enforce immigration laws and regulate the stay of foreign nationals in Indonesia.
He said, “Immigration law enforcement is essential to protecting national sovereignty, but it must remain firm, professional and guided by humanitarian principles.”
Asmono also stressed that all foreigners in Indonesia must comply with the country’s immigration laws and regulations.
He added that violations would lead to appropriate administrative action by the relevant authorities.
Atiku: Arewa, Not Obasanjo’s Electoral Strength, Won Him 1999 Presidency
By Sabiu Abdullahi
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s electoral influence, arguing that he lacked the political strength to secure victory in his home state and the South-West during the 1999 presidential election.
Atiku made the remarks while speaking with journalists on Wednesday amid his renewed disagreement with Obasanjo over their political relationship and the events that preceded their victory in the 1999 presidential election.
“In 1999, he could not even win his own state or the South-West; it was Arewa that made him President. He possesses no electoral value,” Atiku said.
The latest disagreement between the two former political allies follows a series of public accusations over their roles in the administration they jointly led between 1999 and 2007.
The dispute became more intense after Obasanjo described his decision to select Atiku as his running mate in 1999 as the “biggest mistake” of his presidency. He also accused the former vice president of disloyalty and involvement in an alleged plan to remove him from office through impeachment.
Atiku rejected Obasanjo’s version of events and accused the former president of distorting history for political purposes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former vice president has also defended his contribution to the administration, saying he supported Obasanjo after his release from prison and played a role in establishing the political structure that helped them win the 1999 election.
On the 2027 presidential election, Atiku also pointed to his record of providing opportunities for young Nigerians during his tenure as vice president.
He said some beneficiaries of those opportunities later became governors, ministers, directors and other public officeholders.
Atiku pledged that his administration would continue to provide opportunities for young Nigerians to participate in governance and assume leadership responsibilities if he wins the presidency in 2027.
He is contesting the 2027 presidential election under the ADC after joining forces with other opposition politicians in an effort to challenge the ruling party.
The Power of Your PVC: A Civic Awakening
By Haladu Muhammad
As a young Nigerian from the North-East, one issue that has deeply concerned me for over a decade is the widespread apathy among our youth toward the electoral process. When you engage young people from my region or across the country, many express scepticism, asking, “Why should I vote when votes aren’t counted? Why bother standing under the sun?”
They seem to forget the fundamental definition of democracy. As Abraham Lincoln famously stated, democracy is “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” It is anchored in the rule of law and guarantees us the freedom and civic right to cast our ballots, oversee the counting process, and await the legitimate results.
It saddens me that many young citizens overlook the power of their vote. They abandon their civic duty, claiming that enduring the elements to vote is pointless. My key message to everyone is simple: believe in the power of your participation.
Consider recent gubernatorial elections, such as the one in Osun State. When citizens turned out in large numbers, stood patiently in line despite the rain or heat, and ensured their votes were counted transparently, it proved that the system can work. Similarly, when voters in Zamfara State stood firm behind their preferred candidate in the 2023 election, their votes were reflected in the final outcome.
If all Nigerians emulate this level of dedication, we can drive meaningful change across the nation.
This is why I continuously advocate for young Nigerians, especially those in the North, to register for and secure their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs). As we approach the 2027 general elections, we must prepare to participate fully. You cannot sit comfortably at home, voice your preference for leadership, and yet refuse to engage in the democratic process required to elect them. Expecting change without participation is a major contradiction.
Consider this a wake-up call. To those who already hold a PVC, treat it as a vital instrument for your future. Your PVC acts like a master key or a bank card—it grants you the authority to elect leaders who align with your vision and vote out those who fail to deliver. It is a powerful tool for self-determination for every Nigerian.
I urge our youth to mobilise, ensure their voter registration is up to date, and prepare to vote in massive numbers in 2027. Let us use our collective voice to shape the future of our nation.
Haladu Muhammad is a Concerned Citizen of Nigeria. He wrote from Maiduguri.
When Governance Becomes a Philosophy, by Maji Bappa Maina
By Maji Bappa Maina
Governments are often judged by what they build.
But the more important question is what they are able to sustain.
For Governor Mai Mala Buni, governance appears to extend beyond the boundaries of projects, institutions and even the state itself.
His recent engagement in Chad provides another dimension to a governance philosophy shaped by continuity, institutional strengthening, peacebuilding, post-conflict recovery, regional cooperation and inclusive development.
The report of his visit to Nigerian refugees in Kaya, Chad, may appear to be simply a humanitarian engagement. But viewed through the wider lens of governance, it represents something deeper.
Governance does not end where a political boundary begins when the problems themselves cross that boundary.
Insecurity does not recognise borders. Neither does displacement, climate pressure, trade or the movement of people.
The Lake Chad region therefore requires more than individual government interventions. It requires institutions that can cooperate across borders and leadership capable of seeing the region as an interconnected system.
This is where Governor Buni’s role as Chairman of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum becomes significant.
His visit to the Nigerian refugees in Kaya was not merely about seeing displaced people. It was about listening to them, understanding their circumstances and discussing pathways towards sustainable solutions.
When the refugees described him as the first Nigerian government official to visit them, the significance went beyond protocol.
Presence itself became a form of governance.
But the engagement did not stop at sympathy. The discussion around livelihoods, peaceful coexistence and voluntary return demonstrates an important principle of humanitarian governance: support should not merely sustain vulnerability; it should help people move towards dignity, productivity and resilience.
The Governor’s engagement with the Chadian authorities and the Lake Chad Basin Commission further reinforces this approach.
The emphasis on sustainable security, economic growth, institutional partnership and opening waterways reflects an understanding that the future of the Lake Chad region cannot be secured through security measures alone.
Security creates the space for development.
Development strengthens stability.
Stability creates the conditions for peace to endure.
This connects directly with the broader governance philosophy of the Buni Administration.
A road is more than infrastructure when it connects communities and markets.
Agricultural support is more than an intervention when it enables people to become producers and employers.
And humanitarian assistance becomes more meaningful when it forms part of a pathway towards stability, livelihood and reintegration.
In each case, development becomes an ecosystem rather than a collection of projects.
Perhaps this is the deeper story behind the Buni Administration, not simply what has been constructed or commissioned, but the attempt to build systems capable of moving from recovery to stability, from stability to development, and from development to sustainability.
The journey is neither instant nor complete.
Governance is always a work in progress.
But when leadership begins to think beyond individual projects and toward institutions, systems, communities and generations, development acquires something more valuable than visibility.
It acquires continuity.
And perhaps the strongest measure of leadership is not how loudly achievements are announced, but how quietly the systems created continue to improve people’s lives long after the announcement has ended.
That is when governance becomes more than administration.
It becomes a philosophy.
Maji Bappa Maina is a Political Writer, PhD Researcher, Voice of Development, Leadership & Public Insight.
Tinubu Appoints Abel Enitan As Head Of Federal Civil Service
By Sabiu Abdullahi
President Bola Tinubu has appointed Abel Enitan as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with effect from August 27, 2026.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesperson, who said Enitan would take over from Didi Walson-Jack.
Walson-Jack is expected to retire from the federal civil service after reaching the statutory retirement age of 60.
Enitan, an indigene of Osun State, is currently the most senior permanent secretary in the federal civil service, according to the statement.
“He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President,” the statement reads.
The statement added: “He is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.”
Enitan’s appointment places him at the head of the federal civil service as Walson-Jack prepares to leave office at the end of her statutory service period.
Bank of Ghana Appoints Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar to Head Islamic Banking Council
By Muhammad Sulaiman
The Bank of Ghana has appointed prominent Nigerian Islamic scholar Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), to chair the council overseeing interest-free banking operations in the country.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Johnson Pandit Asiama, formally inaugurated the new members of the council at a brief ceremony held in Accra.
Professor Bashir Aliyu Umar’s appointment highlights the growing role of Islamic scholars and experts in the development of interest-free banking and Islamic finance.
Professor Umar is a lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, and a prominent scholar of Islamic studies. The council is expected to help ensure that interest-free banking operations in Ghana comply with the principles and requirements of Islamic law.
The appointment comes at a time when Islamic banking and finance are gaining increasing acceptance in different parts of the world.
Study Links Short-Form Videos to Reduced Brain Activity in Cognitive Control Regions
By Muhammad Abubakar
Frequent exposure to short-form videos on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts may affect brain systems involved in self-control, attention and memory, according to emerging research.
A neuroimaging study found that watching preferred short videos was associated with increased activity in the amygdala, a brain region involved in emotion and reward, while areas of the prefrontal cortex responsible for cognitive control showed reduced activity. The researchers said the effect was more pronounced among people with lower levels of self-control.
Other recent research has reported similar concerns. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis covering 71 studies and nearly 98,300 participants found that greater use of short-form video was associated with poorer cognitive performance, particularly in attention and inhibitory control.
A separate study published in npj Science of Learning also found that learning through fragmented short videos was associated with poorer memory accuracy and reduced activity in several brain regions involved in information integration, cognitive control and semantic processing.
However, researchers caution that the findings do not mean that watching TikTok, Reels or Shorts literally “deactivates the brain.” Most studies examine associations or short-term changes in brain activity, and more longitudinal research is needed to establish whether frequent short-form video consumption causes lasting cognitive changes.
The findings nevertheless add to growing concerns about the cognitive effects of endless scrolling and rapidly changing, algorithmically selected content, particularly when such platforms are used for prolonged periods.
Nigerian Police Arrest Tutor, Father in Child Defilement Crackdown
By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
The Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of four suspects, including a private home lesson teacher and a father, over separate allegations of child defilement across the state.
The arrests were disclosed during a press briefing by Commissioner of Police, CP Patrick Daaor, who also unveiled a major shift in the command’s operational strategy aimed at curbing crime and protecting vulnerable citizens.
“Let me state clearly from the outset that the security and safety of Edo people remain the central priority of this Command,” CP Daaor said. “We are also strengthening our operational posture by turning Edo State into a highly Mobile Command. The objective is simple: to ensure that criminals do not find Edo State a comfortable operating environment.”
In one of the cases, 52-year-old Daniel Erumudonmoh Okhuilegbe, a home lesson teacher, was apprehended on August 5, 2026, for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old pupil entrusted to his care.
“The complainant alleged that the suspect was engaged as a home lesson teacher but allegedly abused the trust placed in him and sexually assaulted the child,” Daaor stated.
Following the conclusion of investigation, the suspect was charged before the Benin High Court on August 14, 2026, and subsequently remanded at Oko Correctional Centre, Benin.
In a separate incident reported on August 6, 2026, a 42-year-old father was apprehended in Iyahmo over the alleged defilement of his 15-year-old daughter. Following a discrete investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the suspect was charged to court on August 14, 2026, and remanded at the Benin Correctional Centre.
The command also arrested 29-year-old Samson Amachie following an August 10 report transferred from the Okhoro Police Station to the Gender and Family Support Unit. Amachie allegedly lured an 11-year-old girl into an uncompleted building behind his shop. He has since been arraigned before the Benin High Court and remanded at the Oko Correctional Centre.
In another case reported on August 12 in Okpella, police arrested 26-year-old Otaru Jonathan for allegedly taking a 14-year-old girl on a motorcycle to an uncompleted building in Afokpella, where he assaulted her and gave her ₦2,000.
“The survivor was taken to the hospital for medical evaluation and attention,” CP Daaor noted, adding that the suspect remains in custody pending arraignment.
Alongside the gender-based violence arrests, police operatives recorded success in tracking down stolen property following a late-night home invasion.
According to the commissioner, on August 14, 2026, at approximately 1:15 a.m., six armed hoodlums invaded a residential compound on Jesus Christ Street, Iduowinna Community, dispossessing residents of mobile phones, laptops, wristwatches, perfumes, human hair, and a Lexus 350 saloon car bearing registration number BWR 988 DH.
“The scene was immediately visited, all divisions were alerted for possible recovery of the vehicle, and patrols were intensified within the community,” Daaor explained. “In a major breakthrough, at about 0900hrs the same day, the stolen Lexus 350 was recovered at Oba Market.”
The police chief assured residents that investigations remain active to track down the fleeing members of the robbery gang and recover the remaining stolen items.