By Uzair Adam

The Village Head of Aujarawar Alkali in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Ahmad Yakubu Ahmad, has reportedly been killed by his abductors.

The Daily Reality recalls that Ahmad was abducted on September 17, 2026, after armed men reportedly invaded the community at night and took him away.

His remains were later discovered in a shallow grave in Danladin Gezawa, according to residents familiar with the incident.

Funeral prayers for the deceased were conducted at about 3pm on Wednesday before his burial.

Musa Garba, a resident of Gezawa, confirmed the incident in an interview with journalists.

Garba alleged that the kidnappers subjected the village head to severe torture, including cutting off one of his legs and tying his hands behind his back.

He said the assailants subsequently buried Ahmad’s remains in a shallow grave, where they were discovered several days later by villagers.

“I attended the funeral prayers today (Wednesday) at around 3pm. The assailants tortured the village head to death by cutting off one of his legs and tying his hands behind him. He was brutalised until he died,” Garba said.

He added that villagers later discovered the shallow grave and raised the alarm.

“The remains were identified by the deceased’s wife. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was later buried as the remains were already decomposing,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kano State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.

By Uzair Adam 

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately launch an independent investigation into an alleged $2.1 million land transaction involving Jordan Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

HURIWA said the allegations, which are currently before an FCT High Court, should not be treated solely as a private civil dispute, particularly because the claimants allege that $2 million of the disputed amount was meant for the FCT Minister.

The civil society organisation questioned why neither the EFCC nor the ICPC had publicly indicated that it was investigating the allegations.

HURIWA said Nigerians deserve to know whether the anti-corruption agencies are aware of the claims and, if so, why they have not commenced investigations to establish the facts surrounding the alleged transaction.

An FCT High Court sitting in Maitama on Tuesday ordered Jordan Wike to produce his American international passport after he told the court during cross-examination that he was outside Nigeria on September 26, 2025.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji issued the order during the resumed hearing of suit No. CV/008/2026 filed by Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd.

According to HURIWA, the claimants allege that Jordan promised to facilitate the acquisition of 60 hectares of land in Katampe and Guzape, Abuja.

The claimants further alleged that Jordan demanded $2.1 million as facilitation fees, comprising $2 million allegedly intended for his father and $100,000 allegedly for himself.

They also alleged that the money was delivered on September 26, 2025, in the presence of Adamu Sani, Aliyu Sarki and Sai Wani, while Jordan was allegedly present.

HURIWA said the claimants further alleged that the proposed land acquisition did not materialise and that the money was not refunded.

Jordan, however, has denied the allegations in his statement on oath before the court.

During cross-examination by counsel to the claimants, Hamza Dantani, Jordan also denied knowledge of the allegations and documents presented to him.

When asked where he was on September 26, 2025, Jordan told the court that he was outside Nigeria.

He said he travelled with his American international passport and indicated that he could produce the document if required.

Following the response, Dantani applied for an order compelling him to produce the passport.

Justice Oriji granted the application and directed Jordan to bring the passport to court.

HURIWA said the court’s order further highlighted the need for the relevant anti-corruption agencies to independently examine the allegations rather than wait for the conclusion of the civil proceedings.

The organisation stressed that it was not declaring anyone guilty, noting that the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.

However, it maintained that credible allegations involving substantial sums of money, public officials or possible abuse of public office warranted investigation by the appropriate authorities.

HURIWA therefore asked the EFCC and ICPC to clarify whether they were investigating the matter.

The organisation said that if the agencies were not investigating, they should explain why they had not deemed the allegations worthy of investigation.

It argued that Nigeria could not strengthen public confidence in its anti-corruption system if allegations involving politically exposed persons were ignored or left entirely to private litigants to pursue through civil proceedings.

HURIWA called on the EFCC and ICPC to establish the source, movement and alleged beneficiaries of the $2.1 million; determine the purpose of the alleged payment; ascertain whether any public official was involved; and establish whether the allegations disclose any criminal offence.

The organisation also urged the agencies to conduct any investigation professionally, independently and without fear or favour.

It warned that what it described as selective application of anti-corruption laws could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.

HURIWA maintained that nobody should be treated as a sacred cow, while no individual should be declared guilty before the conclusion of a fair investigation and due process.

Jordan was represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ogwu Onoja, while some documents were tendered through him.

The court adjourned the case until Wednesday, September 30, 2026, for continuation of hearing.

By Uzair Adam 

The Federal Government has declared Thursday, October 1, 2026, a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Magdalene Ajani.

Tunji-Ojo congratulated Nigerians at home and abroad on the anniversary and urged citizens to use the occasion to promote national unity, patriotism, peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.

The minister stressed that peace and stability remained essential to the country’s development, urging Nigerians to uphold the values of love for the nation demonstrated by the country’s founding fathers.

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we should always remember that there is hope for our country and our diversity is our strength, and our collective determination remains the foundation upon which a stronger and more prosperous nation will be built,” he said.

He assured citizens that the Federal Government remained committed to strengthening national security, improving public safety and creating an enabling environment where Nigerians could live, work and pursue their legitimate aspirations with confidence.

According to him, the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda would continue to focus on building a better Nigeria for all citizens.

Tunji-Ojo further called on Nigerians to use the independence celebration to reaffirm their commitment to national unity, peaceful coexistence and the collective progress of the country.

By Uzair Adam 

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has arrested one Tasiu Adamu Maje over the alleged illegal sale and leasing of a government-owned Horse Stable at the Race Course, popularly known as Filin Sukuwa, in Kano.

The commission issued a statement on Tuesday, signed by its Acting Chairman, Hafsat Ada’u Kutama, Esq., saying the arrest followed complaints about the alleged unauthorised disposal of the government property.

Muhammad Amir Yunusa and Usman Bala Yakasai, also known as Sharif, filed the complaints, alleging that Maje transferred and offered the property to private individuals without lawful authority.

According to the commission, its investigation found that the alleged transactions were carried out without the knowledge or approval of the Kano State Sports Commission, the statutory body responsible for allocating and managing Horse Stables in the state.

The PCACC said it invited and interviewed individuals connected to the transactions during the investigation and established that the Sports Commission had neither authorised nor approved any transaction involving the Horse Stable.

“The Horse Stable has not been officially allocated to any individual, whether by sale or by lease,” the commission said.

It added that the document the suspect allegedly relied on to conduct the purported transaction was not an approved or recognised document of the Kano State Sports Commission.

The commission further said the same unapproved document was allegedly used in transactions involving two different individuals.

According to the PCACC, selling, leasing, or transferring government-owned Horse Stables to private individuals without the requisite approval contravenes established government policy and applicable administrative procedures.

The commission alleged that Maje agreed to sell the Horse Stable to Muhammad Amir Yunusa for N4.5 million while simultaneously collecting rent from Usman Bala Yakasai.

It said N180,000 was reportedly demanded as rent from Yakasai, of which N150,000 was paid.

Following its investigation, the PCACC declared the purported transactions involving the Horse Stable unauthorised and invalid.

“The property remains the property of the Kano State Government and is under the control and management of the Kano State Sports Commission,” the statement said.

The commission reiterated that no individual has the authority to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of government property without the appropriate legal and administrative approval.

It said it was taking steps to recover the Horse Stable and return it to the Kano State Sports Commission.

The suspect is expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction, where the allegations against him will be subjected to due process, the commission said.

It added that it would pursue all appropriate administrative and legal measures under the law.

The PCACC also warned individuals against converting government property into private assets or using public property for personal financial gain.

“Government property is not for private sale, unauthorised leasing or personal gain,” the commission warned.

It said it would continue to investigate allegations involving the unlawful disposal, transfer or commercialisation of public assets and take appropriate action against anyone found to have violated the law, regardless of status.

The commission advised members of the public to exercise caution before entering into transactions involving government property.

It urged prospective buyers, tenants and investors to verify the ownership, allocation and legal status of government property directly with the relevant government authority before making payments or entering into agreements.

The PCACC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting government property, preventing abuse of public assets and promoting accountability, transparency and responsible management of public resources.

It also urged members of the public to report suspected corruption, abuse of office, illegal disposal of government property and other forms of misconduct through the commission’s official reporting channels.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending four weeks in Europe on a working holiday.

The President arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday evening.

Tinubu had departed Paris, France, earlier in the day for Nigeria.

His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President chose to return through Lagos to honour the memory of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, widely known as MKO Abiola.

Abiola was the winner of the June 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by the military government at the time.

According to Onanuga, Tinubu is scheduled to attend the premiere of a movie celebrating Abiola’s life and role in Nigeria’s democratic struggle on Independence Day.

The event is expected to take place at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

Tinubu had travelled to Europe in August as part of his annual leave, with the Presidency later announcing an extension of his stay.

The President’s return brings to an end his four-week stay outside the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Amnesty International has condemned the arrest and detention of five men by the Borno State Police Command over T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go” in Maiduguri.

The men were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, Mustapha Abba Yemen, Abacha Mohammed Ali, Adam Umar Gubio and Abdulhamid Mohammed.

The arrests followed an incident around the West End Roundabout area of Maiduguri on September 25, according to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

The police accused the five men of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery. The FIR alleged that they printed T-shirts bearing the inscription “Tinubu Must Go” with the intention of causing a breach of public peace in the area. The charges were filed under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.

The men were subsequently arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Maiduguri, where reports said they pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their lawyers also applied for bail, with the court reportedly fixing October 6 for a ruling on the application and October 26 for the substantive case.

Reacting to the development, Amnesty International described the detention as arbitrary and said peaceful political expression should not be criminalised.

The organisation said the men’s detention over the message on their clothing raised concerns about freedom of expression and political dissent.

“Hurriedly remanding them in prison and accusing them bizarrely of: “the intent to cause breach of public peace within West End Roundabout Community Maiduguri” simply for wearing a t-shirt with a message of political dissent is not a crime. Asserting political opposition is part of human rights.”

Amnesty called for the immediate release of the five men and urged the authorities to discontinue any prosecution based on what it described as improper charges.

“The authorities must immediately release all of those detained and drop any purported plan to put them through a sham trial based on bogus charges. The right to show and express political opinion is not exclusive to only one political party.”

The rights organisation also accused authorities in Borno State of increasingly using arrests and detention against opposition parties and their supporters.

It urged the state government and police to respect freedom of expression and association and ensure that political dissent is not criminalised.

Amnesty further called on the government of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens to express their political opinions peacefully.

Reports that the arrests followed a directive from the Borno State Government have circulated in connection with the case, but those allegations have not been independently verified. The police FIR cited the alleged conduct of the five men as the basis for the charges.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of multiple breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations covering a nine-season period from 2009/10 to 2017/18.

The Premier League said most of the charges related to the club’s failure to cooperate fully with its investigation.

According to the findings released by the League, Manchester City entered into what the commission described as “sham” commercial agreements with several sponsors. The arrangements allegedly misrepresented the actual agreements between the parties and helped the club inflate its reported revenue while reducing its costs.

The commission also found that the club submitted accounts that did not accurately reflect its financial position and concealed information from its auditors and football regulators.

Manchester City was further found to have significantly breached both Premier League and UEFA spending regulations during the period under review.

The commission also upheld three of four alleged breaches relating to the club’s cooperation and good-faith obligations during the Premier League’s investigation.

The League said the commercial arrangements formed part of a disguised funding structure. Under the arrangement, some sponsors paid only part of the agreed sponsorship fees, while Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club at the time, provided the remaining funds.

The Premier League said the arrangement meant Manchester City did not accurately report its income and expenditure under the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules and UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Rules.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said the commission’s decision had established the facts surrounding the case.

“The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.

“It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City.  While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.

“It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.

“This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.”

The Premier League said the issue of sanctions for the breaches remains to be determined as the disciplinary process continues.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has decided not to assign Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt to another player during the upcoming international windows.

The decision comes as Messi prepares for what is expected to be his final appearance for Argentina, with a specially arranged farewell match against Benin scheduled for October.

Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, confirmed that the shirt will remain vacant until Messi’s final international appearance.

“Until Leo Messi’s match, nobody will wear the 10,” Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, said.

The decision means Argentina will enter their upcoming friendly matches against Bolivia and Burkina Faso without a player wearing the No. 10 shirt.

The AFA is expected to determine who will inherit the famous jersey after Messi officially ends his international career.

Messi has worn the No. 10 shirt throughout much of his Argentina career and has led the national team to major honours, including the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 Finalissima.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fresh primary for the Gombe State governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 election.

The primary was held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Pantami polled 2,054 votes to emerge as the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.

Khamisu Mailantarki came second with 389 votes, while Usman Garry came third with 112 votes.

A total of 2,555 PDP members voted in the primary across Gombe State.

By Muhammad Sagir Bauchi

It has been three years since I last put pen to paper for public reading. That last article, published in July 2023, examined the new economic policies of the present administration: subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and student loans, through the lens of Keynes’ warning that “in the long run, we are all dead.” I argued then that these reforms, though painful, could pay off over time, while cautioning that fairness in how the pain and the palliatives were distributed would determine whether Nigerians trusted the process. Three years on, I return to ask the question those reforms were always going to face: has the long run arrived, and for whom?

Six years ago, I wrote an article titled, “Nigeria At 60: A Moment Of Joy Or A Moment Of Sober Reflection?” In it, I reflected on our journey since independence, the challenges we had faced, and the questions surrounding our progress as a country. Six years later, Nigeria is 66, and the question remains almost the same: is this a moment of joy, a moment of sober reflection, or perhaps both?

Since independence, Nigeria has gone through different political administrations, military interventions, democratic transitions, economic reforms, and countless attempts to solve the problems confronting it. We have built universities, colleges, hospitals and roads. Millions of Nigerians have acquired education and gone on to make meaningful contributions to the country and the world. There is certainly a lot to celebrate. But while celebrating our achievements, we must also have the courage to ask where we have failed, where we are today, and where we are heading.

A country can record economic growth while millions of its citizens continue to struggle with the cost of living. Economic reforms may be necessary, but that does not mean we should ignore the short-term hardship they create. Government may point to improving figures, but ordinary Nigerians are equally justified in asking when those improvements will begin to show up in their daily lives. Why celebrate GDP growth or falling inflation on paper while paying little attention to the struggles of the ordinary man whose reality reflects neither? Economic growth should not only be measured by what the figures say; it should be reflected in what people can afford, the jobs they can find, the businesses they can sustain and the quality of life they can provide for their families.

It is no longer news that petrol sells for about ₦1,400 per litre in parts of Lagos and around ₦1,500 in parts of the North. This is no longer a figure in newspapers or a talking point on social media; it is a living reality Nigerians are struggling to adapt to. Today, even people fortunate enough to own a car are becoming careful about where and when they drive. Some now choose the inconvenience of public transport not because they lack a vehicle, but because fuelling it has become too costly. A car that was once a convenience has, for some families, become an expense they must calculate before every journey.

Since the removal of the petrol subsidy, several policies have been introduced to cushion the effects of the reform. Yet from the perspective of the ordinary citizen, it is difficult to point to a corresponding drop in hardship. Nigerians are not asking for suffering to be eradicated overnight; they are asking for a meaningful reduction in the burden they carry daily. The real question is not whether the reforms were necessary, but whether the people bearing their immediate cost are beginning to see the promised benefits. A reform can be economically necessary and still be socially painful, and when that pain continues without improvement in people’s standard of living, government must expect citizens to ask hard questions.

Since independence, Nigeria has also built numerous institutions of learning, and millions of Nigerians have benefited from them. To follow the path of developed nations, the concept of education loans was introduced. In an ideal society, this can be a smart move, shifting the burden of financing higher education from parents to government, with students eventually repaying the cost. But what pushed us here in the first place? The same government policies that have left many parents living hand to mouth, with little or nothing to save for their children’s education. What they earn is often barely enough to cover food, shelter and other basics- things people now struggle to afford rather than plan for.

Can we truly celebrate a policy that pushes parents deeper into poverty while leaving them unable to afford their children’s education? More importantly, how many graduates can be certain there will be jobs waiting for them, jobs that let them repay what they borrowed? What happens when a graduate leaves school with a degree and a loan but no employment opportunities? What happens when companies close because policies make it hard to do business, or when entrepreneurs are forced to shut their doors because of low sales and rising costs?

Education loans may provide access to education, but access alone is not enough. There must also be an economy that gives graduates decent opportunities to work, earn, and repay. Otherwise, are we simply shifting the burden from parents who cannot afford education to graduates who may never find the jobs needed to carry it?

This brings us back to leadership. Six years ago, I argued that one of Nigeria’s major problems was how political leadership was perceived and exercised, a system where public office could become a means of personal advancement rather than service. Six years later, that question remains just as relevant. Leadership is not only about making policy; it is about understanding how policy affects the people who must live with it. The ordinary citizen does not experience an economic reform as a policy document; he experiences it through the price of food, transport, school fees, rent and electricity. Leadership must go beyond celebrating figures and ask whether its policies are producing a society in which ordinary Nigerians can live with dignity.

One issue I raised six years ago was vote buying. It is easy to condemn citizens who accept money during elections, but perhaps we should ask a harder question first. When people who once fought a previous administration on grounds of incompetence are now in government, defending the very policies that have subjected Nigerians to severe hardship, can we genuinely expect citizens to reject ₦5,000 or ₦10,000 when many are struggling to put food on the table? This is not an argument for vote buying; it is a question about the conditions that make it possible. A citizen who cannot afford food, medicine or transport is more vulnerable to financial incentives at the polls. That does not make vote buying right, but it should push us to examine the poverty that allows it to thrive. If we want citizens to make truly independent choices, we must build a society where poverty does not make those choices easier to manipulate.

Corruption remains one of Nigeria’s oldest struggles. We have created institutions, passed laws and established agencies to fight it, yet the perception that public resources are sometimes diverted for personal or political gain continues to shape public trust. What makes this worse is our own double standard: when a politician from the opposing party is accused, we demand accountability; when someone from our own camp faces the same allegation, the conversation quietly changes. We cannot build a strong country by applying different standards to the same behaviour based on political affiliation. Accountability cannot be selective.

Insecurity, too, was already a major concern six years ago, and it remains one today; its nature and location may shift, but the consequences are just as painful. Families are displaced, businesses suffer, farmers cannot operate freely in some areas, and young people grow up with insecurity as part of everyday conversation. A country cannot achieve sustainable development when its citizens constantly worry about their safety; security is directly tied to agriculture, education, business, investment, and general well-being.

Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in Africa, an enormous potential advantage that becomes a burden when the economy cannot provide enough opportunity. Every year, thousands of graduates leave school hoping to find work, and many spend years searching, turning to entrepreneurship, migration or whatever else they can find. The rising desire among young Nigerians to leave the country, popularly called “Japa”, should make us ask why so many feel their future lies elsewhere. It is not enough to tell them to stay and build the country; we must create conditions that make staying a realistic, attractive choice.

Education remains one of the most important investments any country can make, yet Nigeria continues to face disruptions, prolonged strikes, and other setbacks that affect students and institutions. We cannot claim to be developing while young people spend years moving in and out of classrooms over problems that better planning, funding and dialogue could resolve.

So, are we better off than we were at independence? In some areas, certainly. We have more institutions, more educated Nigerians, greater access to technology, a larger private sector, and Nigerians making remarkable contributions around the world. But progress should not blind us to what remains broken. Nigeria is not a complete failure, just as it is not a complete success story; our story is more complicated than either label. We have achievements worth celebrating and failures that demand honest reflection. We celebrate Nigerians’ resilience, but we should also ask why they need to be so resilient just to survive.

Patriotism doesn’t mean defending every government policy, and criticism doesn’t mean hating one’s country. Sometimes, asking difficult questions is itself an act of patriotism.

As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, we should celebrate what we have achieved, remember how far we have come, and, most importantly, have the courage to confront what still holds us back. The Nigeria we want will not be built by government alone. It requires responsible leadership, accountable institutions, an active citizenry, and a society that values merit, justice and equal opportunity.

At 66, Nigeria has every reason to celebrate. But it also has every reason to reflect.