By Uzair Adam

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, citing the ongoing legal proceedings in the United States over alleged links to narcotics trafficking.

The party said the President’s recent legal action before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was an indication of his concern over the possible release of documents allegedly linking him to drug-related activities.

The APM National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar, made the position known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the party, President Tinubu, through his lawyers, filed a plea on August 28, 2026, seeking to block a summary judgment and prevent the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from releasing documents it described as potentially incriminating.

The APM argued that the attempt to prevent the release of the documents amounted to an effort to suppress evidence that could have implications for the President.

The party said that if Tinubu’s legal team was confident of his innocence, the case should instead be allowed to proceed so that the documents could be examined and the President’s name cleared.

It further argued that the invocation of privacy concerns and the possible impact of releasing the documents on Nigerian politics showed that the matter had serious implications for the President.

The party also drew attention to Section 137 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which outlines the conditions that could disqualify an individual from contesting the presidency.

The APM said Nigeria’s obligations under international treaties on drug and narcotic control further underscored the importance of the matter.

The party said it remained confident that the U.S. court would determine the case based on the law and evidence presented before it.

“As a party, we insist that no individual, regardless of their political position, should be beyond the reach of the law, especially regarding drug-related issues of legitimate concern to the entire world,” the statement said.

The APM also cited the conviction of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández by a U.S. federal jury in Manhattan in March 2024 on drug-related charges as an example of how political status, in its view, should not shield anyone from prosecution.

The party consequently urged President Tinubu to withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest, saying Nigeria deserved a president who was free from allegations involving fraud, corruption and dishonesty.

“We, therefore, counsel President Tinubu to spare the nation the pain, cost, and embarrassment of this situation by stepping down from the race,” the party said.

The APM also called on other presidential aspirants to be prepared for public scrutiny of their records as the 2027 election approaches.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Presidency has strongly refuted claims circulating in some media circles that suggest President Bola Tinubu is connected to ongoing U.S. legal proceedings, describing the reports as a desperate political maneuver funded by opposition figures seeking foreign validation ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a detailed statement issued Sunday, Dr. Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, characterized the coordinated media campaign as a “clinical demonstration of desperation” orchestrated by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s camp.

According to publicly verifiable filings with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Atiku Abubakar contracted the Washington-based firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. on a $1.2 million, 12-month retainer. The agreement’s explicit scope, Dare noted, is to execute a “targeted, partisan campaign” designed to “counterbalance” Nigerian government narratives and weaponize historical judicial archives for domestic political leverage.

The statement identified Dr. Karl-Marx Edward Okeke-Von Batten—a U.S.-based consultant of Nigerian origin who added the “Von Batten” surname following his marriage—as the commercial lobbyist behind what the Presidency termed “manufactured controversies.”

“Okeke-Von Batten must have conned a desperate Alhaji Abubakar Atiku into believing that he has access to everyone in the Trump administration, including President Trump himself, by falsely representing that he had reached out to President Trump to release the so-called FBI files,” Dare stated.

The Presidency emphasized that the case in question has been active since 2023, with the FBI’s primary concern being “the protection of the techniques by which it gathers information and the safety of its sources.”

“The report presents no intelligence document, no named Western official, and no evidence of any exchange involving Nigeria’s secrets or resources. It is nothing more than political speculation packaged as classified information,” Dare asserted.

Addressing what it termed “the recycled fixation on decades-old, settled U.S. legal filings,” the statement referenced recent public discourse where Wole Afolabi, SAN, appeared on Channels Television to clarify that actions taken by the legal team to withhold certain sections of FOIA requests align strictly with U.S. legal provisions designed to protect confidential investigative processes.

“If the president had been criminally liable under U.S. law during past investigations, American authorities would have indicted and prosecuted him at the time,” the statement quoted Afolabi as clarifying.

The Presidency also dismissed suggestions linking President Tinubu’s current European trip to U.S. legal proceedings, describing it as a “previously scheduled annual leave” with “absolutely no connection” to ongoing FOIA matters.

Dare concluded by challenging the opposition to present tangible evidence for their allegations, arguing that “true democratic validation is earned through the ballot box and tangible service delivery to the citizens at home, not through manufactured headlines bought and paid for in foreign currency.”

The statement emphasized that Nigerians are “no longer naive spectators easily swayed by rented international mouthpieces or imported falsehoods.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The growing influence of English and the declining practice of passing indigenous languages from parents to children could threaten the future of Hausa, former Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Katsina State chapter, Hajiya Hannatu Mohammed, has warned.

Mohammed raised the concern while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in commemoration of Hausa Day. She called for deliberate efforts to protect Hausa and other indigenous Nigerian languages from gradual cultural erosion.

She said the importance of preserving indigenous languages extends beyond communication, as they carry the history, traditions, values and identities of different communities.

The Punch Newspapers quoted her as saying, “Nigeria needs to preserve Hausa and other indigenous languages because language is more than a means of communication. It is a repository of our history, culture, values and collective identity.”

She noted that the widespread use of Hausa across Northern Nigeria, especially in the media, education, commerce and cultural activities, makes its preservation an important cultural and social responsibility.

“We should be able to speak English for global communication while proudly maintaining Hausa and our other indigenous languages,” she insisted.

By Anwar Usman

The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed the G-100, a coalition of 100 opposition stalwarts, in its efforts to establish a united opposition front to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Ini Ememobong, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary in a statement on Tuesday said the decision was informed by the “wailings of Nigerians groaning under the repressive Bola Tinubu APC-led Federal Government,” and the need to cooperate with other credible political forces to unseat the incumbent at the federal level.

The National Chairman said “Our participation is anchored on the promise that the process will be hinged on the philosophical underpinnings of transparency, equality, data-driven decisions and egalitarianism. Any result birthed by a process midwifed by these virtues will certainly offer Nigerians a credible leadership capable of alleviating the skyrocketing poverty and rising insecurity in the country.”

Further more, Ememobong added, “This new move aligns with our earlier stated disposition of working with like-minded political parties and organisations desirous of salvaging the country from the many vices orchestrated by the ruling APC.

“Our participation at the first meeting of the G-100 on 31st August, 2026 is a further indication of our preparedness to contribute our quota in the quest for an all-opposition platform that will take power from the incumbent and rebuild Nigeria for the good of all Nigerians.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that public funds were allegedly transferred from a local government account to a private company before being moved into cryptocurrency wallets.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja during an engagement with media executives and journalists.

He said the commission’s Fraud Risk Assessment and Control Department detected the suspicious transactions and temporarily froze the account for 72 hours to determine the destination and purpose of the funds.

Olukoyede did not identify the local government, company or state involved in the transaction.

Defending the commission’s intervention, the EFCC chairman said suspicious movement of public funds should not be allowed to continue unchecked.

He said, “When we see money moving suspiciously, we move in and freeze it in the interim. I know some of you are calling for my head. The account was frozen for 72 hours. Okay, come and show where this money is going? Why are you moving money? We saw money being moved from the local government account to a company. Apart from that phase, we discovered that the money has gone into cryptocurrency wallets.

“Is that the road to build? Is that the power to generate cryptocurrency wallets for your people? Are you asking me to close my eyes and not do something like that? Then you don’t need me in this office.”

According to him, the development demonstrated the importance of preventing suspicious transactions before public funds are lost rather than waiting until after theft has occurred.

“Why must we be waiting for money to be stolen? Why can’t we change the narrative? And that’s the main thing we need to bring to the office,” he said.

The disclosure followed controversy earlier in August after the EFCC froze an account belonging to the Osun State Government shortly before the August 15 governorship election.

However, Olukoyede did not connect the transaction he disclosed with Osun State or any other state.

The EFCC chairman also warned that cybercrime in Nigeria had moved beyond the conventional “Yahoo Yahoo” narrative. He said some young Nigerians were allegedly being used by public officials to conceal and transfer funds through cryptocurrency wallets.

He said, “We have gotten to a stage in Nigeria now that public officials steal money and they put it in cryptocurrency wallets.

“Most of the directors we are investigating now, you can’t trace tangible assets to them. They steal this money, give it to students, give it to young people. They open cryptocurrency wallets all over the world. They plunder the money there within 24 hours.

“The money moves abroad. They buy a house anywhere in the world, buy luxury items. Those are the recent trends.”

Olukoyede said the commission had developed the ability to track cryptocurrency wallets, particularly those connected to virtual asset platforms registered in Nigeria.

He noted that regulatory measures had led to the licensing of about 40 virtual asset platforms in the country.

“Now we also have the capacity to trace cryptocurrency wallets now, at least with those that are registered in Nigeria, and we are doing that,” he said.

Speaking on the EFCC’s achievements over the past three years, Olukoyede disclosed that the commission had recovered virtual assets linked to the CBEX fraud.

He, however, identified the management of confiscated cryptocurrency as a challenge that had previously raised concerns about accountability.

“When you recover virtual assets, where do you put them? No accountability. That’s why we can’t continue like this,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government had approved a national confiscation wallet for virtual assets recovered by law enforcement agencies.

“Today, now we have a national confiscation wallet. So if I confiscate virtual assets now, it’s a national wallet that we put into those,” he said.

The EFCC chairman further called for greater technological capacity among financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to address the growing use of cryptocurrency in the movement of illicit funds.

He said, “When we are talking about cybercrime, please cooperate with us, understand the scope. Not just Yahoo. Some of the people you are calling Yahoo, see your young children; they are stealing on behalf of London, on behalf of public servants.”

Olukoyede also disclosed that the EFCC’s anti-corruption operations had contributed to revenue recovery, with federal and state tax recoveries reaching approximately N288.1bn during the period under review.

He said federal tax recoveries accounted for about N173.2bn, while N114.9bn was attributed to State Internal Revenue Services.

The EFCC chairman further revealed that more than 40 commission personnel had been dismissed over alleged corruption and financial misconduct within the past two and a half to three years.

He added that some of the dismissed officers were already facing prosecution, while case files involving others were being prepared for prosecution.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, to appear before the agency for questioning over an alleged $14.86m fraud case.

The commission declared Sylva wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, made the call on Monday while responding to accusations by the former governor that the anti-graft agency had become more of a political arm of the All Progressives Congress than a state institution.

“He has been declared wanted; he should make himself available to the commission,” Oyewale said.

The development came on the same day Sylva announced his resignation from the APC after more than a decade as a member of the ruling party.

In his resignation letter, which was addressed to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Sylva said he had also sent copies to the national chairman of the party, the EFCC chairman and the APC chairman in Bayelsa State.

Sylva said his decision followed consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and supporters.

He described the APC as a “floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities.”

The former governor also accused the party’s leadership of abandoning the principles that informed its creation.

In the letter dated August 31, 2026, Sylva wrote, “As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the Party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted.

“Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a Party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics;’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice.

“All cannot be fair in any endeavour of life. The demands of basic decency and morality forbid it. Unfortunately, this mentality appears to underpin virtually every action, and even inaction, of this administration.”

Sylva further criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, claiming that the Federal Government had failed to live up to the expectations of Nigerians.

“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” he stated.

He said he had decided to leave the party because he believed Nigerians would seek a political change at the next election.

“I am therefore left with no other choice than to jettison a floundering ship whose fate appears to have been sealed by its irredeemable load of iniquities. I have no doubt that, in the coming election, Nigerians will vote for Nigeria and free the Country from this stranglehold on our beautiful country,” he said.

Sylva also explained why he copied the EFCC in his resignation letter, accusing the commission of acting in a manner that suggested political alignment with the APC.

He wrote, “I am deliberately putting the EFCC in copy of this letter because, of late, it has conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of State.

“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take.”

The EFCC had declared Sylva wanted in November 2025 over the alleged $14.86m transaction.

The former governor has also been linked to an alleged plot against the Tinubu administration. He is listed as a defendant in a 13-count Federal High Court charge that includes allegations of treason, terrorism-related offences, conspiracy and money laundering.

He has denied involvement in the alleged plot.

Reports linked Sylva to an alleged financial contribution of about N785m to the purported operation through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based company. Investigators reportedly traced the money through the company and a bureau de change operator.

The wider investigation allegedly involved more than N5bn, which investigators said was pooled for the operation. Funds paid into Purple Waves were also reportedly linked to contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission and loans secured by the company.

The allegations remain before the courts, and Sylva has not been convicted of the offences.

In July 2026, the Department of State Services arraigned five associates of the former governor over allegations that they concealed his whereabouts after he was declared wanted in connection with the alleged plot. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

Earlier, in May 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim forfeiture order over nine properties linked to Sylva following an application by the EFCC.

Sylva served as governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012, although his tenure was affected by court decisions. He later served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A sworn declaration filed by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has acknowledged that Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the subject of a criminal investigation linked to drug trafficking in the early 1990s.

The declaration was submitted before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on August 28, 2026, as part of a legal dispute over records requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The document was obtained by Von Batten-Montague-York, a Washington-based lobbying firm engaged by former Nigerian Vice-President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The firm published portions of the document on X and said it had received a large volume of records from the FBI, which it was reviewing.

In its sworn declaration to the court, the FBI stated, “The responsive records herein were compiled in furtherance of the FBI’s investigation of multiple individuals for drug trafficking crimes.”

The agency also stated that “the court has already determined that an official acknowledgement had been made of an investigation of Bola Tinubu”.

The declaration was signed by an FBI official who serves as Acting Section Chief of the Record/Information Dissemination Section.

It concerns FOIA requests submitted by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, who sought records connected to the investigation.

Among the materials requested were the “entire FBI file for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, DOB 3/29/1952, President-Elect of Nigeria as of February 2023” and “FBI 302 interviews with Bola Tinubu from FBI Case No. 245-IP-71386-UUUUUU during the timeframe 1992-1993”.

Court Had Earlier Rejected FBI’s ‘Glomar’ Response

The latest declaration follows an April 2025 ruling by US District Judge Beryl Howell concerning requests for records held by the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.

The court ruled that the agencies could no longer use “Glomar” responses to refuse to confirm or deny the existence of records concerning the Tinubu investigation.

Judge Howell held that the agencies had not provided sufficient privacy grounds to keep secret the fact that Tinubu had been the subject of a criminal investigation.

The FBI’s latest filing explains why some of the requested records remain withheld under FOIA Exemptions 6, 7(C), 7(D), 7(E), and 7(F).

The exemptions cover areas such as personal privacy, confidential sources, law-enforcement procedures and information whose release could potentially endanger individuals.

Von Batten-Montague-Mork further stated in a post accompanying the document: “Update: We received a huge amount of records, which we are carefully going through and redacting where we see fit. Posted below are portions of the @FBI’s own sworn declaration submitted to the court on August 28, 2026.”

The firm added: “The FBI states under oath that the court has already determined that a criminal investigation of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (@officialABAT) was officially acknowledged.

“Let that sink in: This is a sworn declaration submitted by the FBI to a United States federal court stating that Nigerian President Bola #Tinubu was criminally investigated in connection with the trafficking of #heroin.”

The lobbying firm also said: “We are posting this document to counter the claim made yesterday that President #Tinubu was never criminally investigated and is simply following the law to protect his privacy. That claim is false, as shown by the FBI’s sworn declaration below.”

FOIA Case Dates Back To 2022

The dispute arose from FOIA requests submitted by Greenspan between 2022 and 2023.

He requested records from six US federal agencies concerning a Chicago-based heroin trafficking operation that was active in the early 1990s.

The requests identified four individuals, including Tinubu, Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Adegboyega Akande and Abiodun Agbele.

The April 2025 ruling by Judge Howell formed part of the legal proceedings over the agencies’ handling of those requests.

The FBI’s latest declaration was submitted as the agency sought to justify continued withholding of portions of the records under federal disclosure exemptions.

The allegations and records concern events from the early 1990s. The court proceedings relate to access to government records under US law.

By Anwar Usman

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, says more than 40 staff members have been sacked for corruption and financial related matters in the last three years.

The Chairman revealed this on Monday in Abuja at a media interactive session to mark his three-year stewardship at the commission’s headquarters.

Olukoyede also said that other five of the commission’s staff are currently being prosecuted for corrupt practices.

“In the past two and a half to three years of my service, I have asked them to dismiss over 40 staff on account of corruption and financial malpractice. More than five of them are being prosecuted at the moment,” he said.

The EFCC chairman further revealed that, some of the affected staff members are already being prosecuted, while case files involving others are being prepared for prosecution.

“You can follow those cases in court; they are public knowledge.

“If that is what people do in other agencies and I arrest them, I investigate them, I prosecute them, why must I just dismiss you if you do it within our own system and I’m not prosecuting you?” he asked.

Olukoyede said the disciplinary measures were part of efforts to ensure EFCC personnel were held to the same standards of accountability the agency demanded from other Nigerians.

“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” he said.

The EFCC chairman also announced the renaming of the commission’s former Internal Affairs Department to the Department of Ethics and Integrity as part of its drive for “internal cleansing.”

He said the commission had also introduced a gift policy to strengthen transparency and prevent conflicts of interest.

According to him, under the policy, staff will be required to declare gifts above a specified value, including those received from friends and relatives at home and abroad.

“The commission will also define the categories of gifts personnel can accept and require officers to account for their sources of income and standard of living,” he added.

NAN reports that, the commission called for stronger institutional reforms and policy changes to fight corruption, saying law enforcement alone could not win the war.

“The most effective system that fights financial crime is not law enforcement. It is the policy regime, institutional reforms that close leakages,” he said.

He urged the media and civil society to return to their watchdog roles.

‎By Kasim Isa Muhammad


‎The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Yobe State, Barrister Saleh Samanja, has been conferred with the traditional title of Maradi of Fika by the Emir of Fika and Chairman of the Yobe State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa.

‎‎Samanja received the official appointment letter from the Fika Emirate Council at a ceremony held in Potiskum Local Government Area of the state and attended by traditional rulers, community leaders, political associates and well-wishers.

‎‎The traditional title was conferred on Samanja in recognition of his exceptional service to the community, dedication to the advancement of Fika Emirate and his respected standing within society.

‎‎Speaking shortly after receiving the appointment letter, Samanja thanked the Emir of Fika and the Emirate Council for the honour, describing the restoration of the title as a source of immense joy.

‎He said the recognition also came with responsibility, assuring the traditional institution and the people of Fika Emirate of his loyalty and commitment.

‎‎Samanja said, “I feel highly elated, happy with the title restored on me. I want to assure the Emirate and the entire people of Fika that I have wholeheartedly accepted this title given to me.

‎‎“I will do my utmost best to ensure that I live up to His Royal Highness’ expectations as Maradi of Fika.”

‎The APC chieftain pledged not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the Emir, promising to uphold the values and responsibilities associated with the title.

‎He said the honour would further strengthen his commitment to supporting the traditional institution and contributing to the unity, progress and prosperity of the people of Fika Emirate.

‎‎Samanja also expressed surprise at the large turnout of people who gathered to witness the occasion, describing the reception as overwhelming and beyond his imagination.

‎‎“I am flabbergasted. I feel highly elated and beyond words. The level of attendance I witnessed today is something I never imagined,” he said.

‎‎He thanked Almighty Allah and appreciated the people who, despite all odds, came out to celebrate with him, describing their support as a gesture he would never forget.

‎Samanja said the occasion would remain indelible in his memory, adding that the honour had further inspired him to continue working for the unity, progress and prosperity of the people.

‎He said the traditional title would serve as an additional motivation for him to contribute to the development of Fika Emirate and support initiatives that would improve the wellbeing of its people.

‎‎The APC chieftain assured the Emirate of his continued loyalty, saying he would work to justify the confidence reposed in him by the traditional institution.

‎‎Samanja thanked the Emir, members of the Fika Emirate Council, community leaders and the people who attended the ceremony, saying their presence had made the occasion memorable.

‎‎He reiterated his commitment to supporting the traditional institution and contributing to the development and prosperity of the people of Fika Emirate.

‎Speaking on behalf of Samanja, the Marafan Machina, Engr. Mohammed Kati, thanked the Emir of Fika for the honour and confidence reposed in the APC chieftain.

‎‎Kati described the conferment as a significant recognition that also carried responsibility, saying Samanja would continue to uphold the values of loyalty, humility, service and commitment to the development of the emirate.

‎‎He said, “The conferment of this title is a significant recognition that carries responsibility. Barrister Samanja will continue to uphold the values of loyalty, humility, service and commitment to the development of the Emirate and its people.”

‎‎Kati said the honour would further strengthen Samanja’s dedication to supporting the traditional institution and contributing positively to the progress of Fika Emirate.

‎He thanked the Emir for finding Samanja worthy of the title and expressed confidence that the APC chieftain would justify the confidence reposed in him.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football, ending a historic career with Argentina that spanned over two decades.

The 39-year-old captain, who led his nation to victory in the 2022 World Cup and played in a record-tying six World Cups, confirmed the decision in an emotional social media statement.

Messi wrote that he penned the letter just two days after Argentina’s loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final but delayed its release following the death of his father—an event that ultimately solidified his conviction.

He retires with 207 appearances and 125 goals for his country, saying he has “nothing more to give” and that the time is right for a new generation to take over.