By Uzair Adam 

The marriage between Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and his second wife, Zainab Musa Kwankwaso, appears to be heading for dissolution after the governor’s wife approached an Abuja court to seek a divorce.

Zainab, daughter of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has filed a petition before the Upper Area Court in Gudu, Abuja, seeking to end the marriage through khul’i, an Islamic divorce procedure initiated by a wife, usually involving the return of her dowry.

Court documents obtained by DAILY NIGERIAN indicated that the court issued a civil summons, with reference number CV/97/26, directing Governor Yusuf to appear on November 17, 2026.

The couple got married on July 29, 2006, when Zainab was serving as an aide to her father. Their union produced six children.

The divorce proceedings come against the backdrop of the political rift between Yusuf and Kwankwaso, his former political benefactor and father-in-law, which reportedly coincided with growing difficulties in the governor’s marriage.

Zainab reportedly left the Kano Government House on October 28 and travelled to her father’s residence along Miller Road before proceeding to Abuja without her police orderly and other security personnel attached to her.

According to sources, her police orderly raised the alarm after suspecting that something was wrong with her sudden departure and notified his superiors at the Government House.

The governor was subsequently informed, while airport security officials were reportedly instructed to prevent her from boarding her flight. 

They, however, eventually allowed her to travel after concerns that stopping her could lead to an embarrassing confrontation at the airport.

The incident reportedly triggered security-related investigations in Kano, with operatives assigned to protect Zainab’s quarters at the Government House and personnel attached to Kwankwaso’s residence arrested for questioning before being released.

Her elder sister and brother, Ado Kwankwaso, were also reportedly invited by the police over allegations that they facilitated her departure from Kano.

Sources further alleged that there were attempts to have Ado charged with kidnapping.

In her court filing, Zainab attributed her decision to seek divorce to the breakdown of the relationship, describing the marriage as one characterised by a prolonged absence of mutual love, care, affection and emotional attachment.

She also told the court that she had lost her feelings for the governor and developed a strong aversion to continuing the marriage.

The petitioner further argued that remaining in the union could affect her ability to fulfil her religious obligations as prescribed by Allah.

She maintained that attempts to reconcile the couple and restore peace in the marriage had proved unsuccessful, claiming that the governor had also lost interest in the relationship.

Consequently, she offered to refund the dowry Yusuf paid during their wedding as part of the process of securing the dissolution of the marriage.

Khul’i is recognised under Islamic family law as a form of separation initiated by a wife, typically in exchange for compensation to the husband, often through the return of the dowry.

Efforts to obtain the Kano State Government’s position on the matter were unsuccessful. The Commissioner for Information, Sanusi Dawakin Tofa, did not answer calls or respond to a text message seeking the governor’s reaction.

By Amir Femoh

The world is entering a new technological revolution, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming one of its most decisive battlegrounds. Nations are competing to develop powerful AI models, build advanced computing infrastructure, manufacture sophisticated hardware and secure dominance over the technologies that will shape the future of humanity. Unfortunately, much of the Muslim world appears to be watching this revolution from the sidelines.

But what if one of the most powerful instruments for financing this technological transformation is already embedded in our intellectual and civilisational heritage? What if an institution that helped build and sustain Muslim societies for centuries could once again become a vehicle for securing our place in the future?

That institution is Waqf.

In Islamic jurisprudence, Waqf is generally defined as the permanent dedication of an asset, with the principal preserved while its benefits or proceeds are directed toward designated charitable, religious, educational, or public purposes. It is an enduring form of philanthropy designed to generate benefits across generations.

Although the Qur’an does not explicitly mention Waqf in the same way as Zakah and Sadaqah, its foundations are firmly rooted in the Prophetic tradition and the practices of the early Muslim community. One celebrated example is Umar ibn al-Khattab’s endowment of land at Khaybar, following the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) advice to preserve the asset and distribute its benefits for charitable purposes.

From the days of Madinah, Waqf gradually evolved into one of the most influential financial and social institutions in Islamic civilisation. Under the Umayyad Empire, administrative structures emerged to supervise charitable endowments. The Abbasid period witnessed further institutional development, with Waqf supporting education, healthcare, religious institutions and public infrastructure. Its influence expanded considerably under the Ottoman Empire, where endowed properties and cash Waqf helped sustain schools, hospitals, libraries, water systems, public kitchens and other essential services.

Its historical significance was not restricted to the Arab world or the Middle East. Across Africa, Islamic scholarship, commerce and public institutions flourished in societies such as Timbuktu, the Borno Empire and the Sokoto Caliphate. Endowments, charitable giving and forms of institutional patronage helped sustain religious learning, scholarship and community welfare. These traditions show that Islamic endowment culture was not confined to one geography but was part of a much wider Muslim civilisational experience.

One important lesson emerges from this history: Waqf enabled societies to mobilise private wealth for public purposes without placing every responsibility on the government treasury.

By financing educational institutions, healthcare facilities, water infrastructure, and other social services through dedicated endowments, governments and political authorities could devote more attention and resources to security, administration, economic expansion, and the long-term prosperity of their territories. Waqf was not a complete substitute for public finance, but it provided an important complementary financial architecture.

This is precisely where the Muslim world must begin thinking differently about the AI revolution.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and individual Muslim nations must recognise that AI is no longer simply another technological innovation. It is increasingly connected to national security, economic productivity, scientific discovery, military capabilities, financial systems and geopolitical influence. Countries that fail to develop indigenous capabilities may become permanently dependent on foreign technologies, foreign infrastructure and foreign intellectual property.

Governments already struggling with competing demands on limited public resources cannot be expected to finance every dimension of this technological transformation alone.

This is where a modern Waqf movement could make an extraordinary difference.

Imagine establishing specialised AI Waqf institutions across the Muslim world. Imagine wealthy Muslim entrepreneurs, technology investors and high-net-worth individuals dedicating substantial portions of their wealth to permanent endowment funds specifically designed to finance artificial intelligence research and development.

Such funds could support university laboratories, AI research centres, semiconductor research, robotics, advanced computing infrastructure, machine learning, cybersecurity and the development of indigenous large language models.

They could also finance the design, prototyping and mass production of powerful AI hardware and software. Rather than depending exclusively on government grants or foreign venture capital, promising Muslim researchers and entrepreneurs would have access to patient, long-term capital dedicated to scientific advancement.

The investment returns from carefully managed Waqf assets could continually replenish these research funds, making them sustainable across generations.

Of course, such an ambitious undertaking would require professional management, independent oversight, transparency, competent investment strategies and clearly defined research objectives. Waqf institutions must not become another avenue for corruption, political interference or the mismanagement of public-minded wealth.

But there is another equally important dimension to this conversation: intellectual confidence.

The young Muslim scientist, engineer or researcher who benefits from such a fund must understand that he or she is not beginning this journey in a historical vacuum.

Long before the emergence of modern artificial intelligence, Muslim scholars made remarkable contributions to mathematics, algorithms, cryptography, optics and experimental scientific inquiry. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi’s mathematical writings helped establish the intellectual foundations of algebra and the algorithmic tradition. Al-Kindi made important contributions to cryptanalysis, while Ibn al-Haytham transformed the study of optics through observation, experimentation and rigorous investigation.

These contributions belong to a wider scientific heritage that helped shape the intellectual foundations upon which modern science and computing eventually developed.

Our responsibility is not merely to celebrate these historical achievements. It is to build upon them.

We cannot keep producing conferences celebrating Muslim scientific achievements of a thousand years ago while neglecting the laboratories, computing facilities, research endowments, and industrial capabilities needed to produce the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow.

The urgency is particularly significant for countries such as Nigeria, Bangladesh and Pakistan. These nations possess substantial human capital, large populations, vibrant young communities and considerable intellectual potential. Yet their technological ambitions remain constrained by inadequate research financing, infrastructure deficits and dependence on imported technology.

They must not allow their economic challenges to become an excuse for technological surrender.

Indeed, the so-called bottom-billion Muslim nations should be among the first to embrace a modern Waqf-driven scientific financing revolution. Their governments, wealthy citizens, Islamic financial institutions, universities and business communities must begin working together to establish dedicated national AI Waqf funds.

The Muslim world does not necessarily need to outspend every major global power. But it must invest intelligently, strategically and consistently in the capabilities that matter.

The question is no longer whether Muslims can afford to participate in the AI race. The question is whether we can afford not to.

Our ancestors used Waqf to build institutions that outlived kings, dynasties and empires. Today’s generation must show the same foresight by using it to build institutions that can shape the technological future.

The next great Muslim civilisation will not be built by nostalgia alone. It will be built through knowledge, capital, institutions, scientific courage and a willingness to invest in generations yet unborn.

Perhaps the next great Waqf should not only build a mosque, a hospital or a university. Perhaps it should build an AI laboratory that changes the future of governance in the Muslim world.

Amir Femoh is a teacher, administrator, and tech entrepreneur. He can be contacted at amirfemoh@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, has increased to as much as N1,800 per kilogram at some retail outlets in Abuja, further raising the cost of cooking for Nigerian households.

The latest increase followed fresh price adjustments by depot owners and retailers over the past two days.

According to Daily Post, StockGap raised its depot price by N25 to N1,440 per kilogram. Meanwhile, Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company Limited (NIPCO), Mobil, now operating as 11 Plc, and Ardova sold the product at prices ranging between N1,390 and N1,400 per kilogram.

At the retail level, outlets operated by Raniol, Juda Oil and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in Abuja and neighbouring areas increased their prices to between N1,550 and N1,600 per kilogram, compared with the previous range of N1,400 to N1,500.

Smaller cooking gas dealers now sell the product for between N1,700 and N1,800 per kilogram, depending on the location.

The development comes after NIPCO’s spokesperson, Taofeek Lawal, previously told Daily Post that LPG prices could witness further increases between November and January 2027.

The latest adjustment has also increased the amount consumers must pay to refill their gas cylinders.

For instance, customers who previously spent N17,500 to refill a 12.5kg cylinder at N1,400 per kilogram will now pay N20,000 at the new retail rate of N1,600 per kilogram.

This represents an additional N2,500 in the cost of refilling the same cylinder, further adding to the financial burden on households that depend on cooking gas.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Protesters on Friday took to the streets of Area 1 in Abuja, where they pulled down campaign posters and banners bearing the image of President Bola Tinubu while chanting, “Tinubu Must Go”.

A video of the incident, which has circulated widely on social media, showed the demonstrators removing the political materials from walls, shops and electricity poles before tearing some of them into pieces.

Some protesters were also seen stepping on the torn posters as they expressed their displeasure with the President’s administration.

The demonstrators, mostly young people, moved through the busy commercial district while chanting slogans against Tinubu. Some also voiced concerns over the rising cost of living, hunger and worsening insecurity across the country.

The immediate reason for the demonstration was not clear as of the time of filing this report.

The incident comes amid reports of similar actions in other parts of the country, where videos have emerged of individuals tearing down posters and billboards bearing the President’s image.

It also follows a warning by the Inspector-General of Police against the deliberate destruction, defacement or unlawful removal of political campaign materials. The police chief had cautioned that such actions constitute criminal offences punishable under the law.

The development has attracted attention on social media, particularly amid growing public complaints about economic hardship and insecurity in the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kebbi State Police Command has disbursed N21,112,938.02 to families of police officers who died while carrying out their official duties.

The command disclosed this in a statement, explaining that the financial support was intended to ease the burden on families following the loss of their loved ones.

According to the statement, the Inspector-General of Police approved the funds, which cover 38 payment documents presented to eligible beneficiaries.

The payments were made under the Police Group Life Assurance and the IGP Family Welfare Scheme, programmes designed to provide financial assistance to families of officers who die in the line of duty.

The command expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police for approving the funds, describing the gesture as part of efforts to improve the welfare of families of deceased personnel.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Ogun State Police Command has recovered a Lexus 460 SUV valued at N45m and arrested a 28-year-old suspect allegedly involved in its theft and a planned attempt to sell it in the neighbouring Republic of Benin for N10m.

The suspect, identified as Jeremiah Emmanuel, was arrested by detectives within hours of the police receiving a report about the missing vehicle.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the statement, the police received the theft report at about 7pm on Thursday. The vehicle was allegedly taken by Emmanuel, who worked as the owner’s driver.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had earlier driven his employer to his office before leaving with the SUV without permission. He allegedly claimed that his wife was indisposed.

The police further alleged that Emmanuel subsequently contacted two other individuals, identified as 34-year-old Akeem Olawale and Monday Keshi, who is currently at large, to arrange the vehicle’s transportation to Cotonou, Benin Republic, for sale.

The statement read, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver had conveyed his employer to his office earlier in the day but subsequently left with the vehicle without authorisation, allegedly claiming that his wife was indisposed.

“He reportedly took the vehicle to meet two other individuals, Akeem Olawale, aged 34, and Monday Keshi, who is currently at large. The suspects had allegedly arranged to take the vehicle to Cotonou, Benin Republic, for sale at N10 million, despite its estimated value of N45 million.

“Upon receiving the report, detectives of Agbado Division immediately swung into action, deploying their investigative resources to track down the suspects. The operation led to the arrest of one of the suspects at Agbado Crossing at about 7:00 p.m. on the same day, while the stolen Lexus was successfully recovered.”

The command added that the arrested suspect allegedly admitted his involvement in the planned transportation of the vehicle to Cotonou during preliminary questioning.

“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing accomplice, while the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation and further necessary action,” the statement added.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing, the disruption of criminal networks and the prosecution of individuals involved in criminal activities.

He also assured residents that the police would continue to intensify efforts to prevent crime and bring offenders to justice.

By Uzair Adam

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed four warehouses and seized banned chemicals worth N560 million during an enforcement operation in Kano State.

The agency also arrested two suspects over the alleged illegal storage, distribution and sale of prohibited chemicals.

Mr Emmanuel Andrew-Baba, NAFDAC’s Deputy Director of Investigation and Enforcement, disclosed this on Thursday in Kano while speaking during the operation.

He said the exercise was aimed at enforcing the ban on Paraeforce, popularly known as Paraquat, a highly toxic chemical prohibited by the agency.

According to him, NAFDAC banned the importation, distribution and use of Paraeforce-based products in 2022 because of their harmful effects on human health and the environment.

Andrew-Baba explained that exposure to the chemical could cause respiratory and cardiac failure, as well as other serious health complications, including Parkinson’s disease.

He added that the chemical could remain in the soil and contaminate the environment, particularly water sources, thereby posing significant public health risks.

He said NAFDAC began enforcing the ban in January 2024, noting that the quantity of prohibited products discovered during the latest operation was alarming.

The director said the inspection team visited more than 10 warehouses and uncovered suspected illegal products in several facilities.

He disclosed that a warehouse at Panisau was sealed after controlled chemicals suspected to be used in the production of illicit drugs were discovered.

“At Jaba, another house allegedly used for illegal manufacturing and repackaging of chemicals was also sealed,” he said.

Andrew-Baba said the operators used cartons of chemicals sourced from a company in Lagos and the Niger Republic, adding that a sealing machine and other packaging materials were recovered.

He assured that enforcement activities would continue until all illegal stocks were evacuated.

The director further disclosed that NAFDAC sealed another warehouse and arrested two persons, including its owner, after discovering 2,983 cartons of Paraeforce products valued at more than N200 million.

“In another warehouse, the team discovered over 8,000 cartons of Crownquat, another Paraquat-based product containing 2.76 grammes of Paraquat dichloride, worth over N360 million, and another product banned by NAFDAC, Chlopyrifos,” he said.

He added that the warehouses had been sealed and their owners would be invited for further investigation.

The agency also seized 183 cartons of unregistered Dynewell syrup imported from Ghana, which were discovered in an uncompleted building in the Sharada area of Kano metropolis.

Andrew-Baba urged Nigerians to desist from using or distributing banned chemicals, warning that exposure to Paraquat could be fatal as there was no known antidote.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustaining enforcement operations to safeguard public health and protect the environment.

By Uzair Adam

Health authorities in Kano State have confirmed 12 cases of diphtheria at First Lady’s College, Mariri, in Kumbotso Local Government Area, following the screening of 313 suspected cases at the boarding school.

The outbreak, which affects a school with more than 2,000 students, prompted the deployment of a Rapid Response Team by the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC) to investigate the situation and prevent further spread of the disease.

A staff member of the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told journalists that the outbreak was detected among students, which prompted health officials to intervene on Thursday.

The source disclosed that one student who developed severe symptoms had been admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Kano, while other affected students were receiving treatment within the school premises.

The source added that the response team included officials from Kumbotso, Tarauni and Nassarawa local government areas.

Confirming the development, the Director-General of KNCDC, Prof. Muhammad Adamu Abbas, said the agency received a report of the outbreak on Wednesday and immediately dispatched officials to investigate and contain the disease.

“We tested 313 suspected cases, out of which 12 were clinically confirmed. We conducted active case searches in the school and confirmed the cases,” Abbas said.

He explained that the agency had also administered medication to suspected contacts and sensitised other students on the symptoms and prevention of the disease.

However, Abbas expressed concern over the shortage of vaccines, warning that the school urgently needed a mass immunisation exercise to protect its large student population.

“There is a need for massive vaccination in the school, which we presently do not have. We have to ask for more vaccines to administer to the students,” he said.

The latest outbreak has renewed concerns about the resurgence of diphtheria in Kano, following several reported cases and deaths in the state.

The Daily Reality recalls ast month that a father in the Danbare area of Kano State reportedly lost five children to diphtheria within eight days.

Abbas said the KNCDC was continuing to receive disease reports through its network of Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) across the state’s 44 local government areas.

He added that the agency was intensifying surveillance and response activities to contain the outbreak.

The KNCDC director-general further disclosed that the agency had previously requested nine million doses of diphtheria vaccines to support mass immunisation across the state but received only 500,000 doses.

By Maji Bappa Maina


The inauguration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Yobe State has introduced another important dimension to the state’s political preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Beyond the formal inauguration of campaign structures, the gathering provided a platform for the party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali, to publicly reaffirm his commitment to the APC leadership and declare support for the party’s political direction.

The event, held at the Government House in Damaturu on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, brought together prominent party leaders, political stakeholders and members of the newly inaugurated campaign council.

Governor Mai Mala Buni, who inaugurated the council, called on members to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and work collectively towards the success of all APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

For Baba Mallam Wali, the occasion was an opportunity to demonstrate that his governorship ambition is situated within the collective political framework of the party.

His public declaration of support at a gathering led by the state’s political leadership carries significance, particularly at a time when political parties are consolidating their structures ahead of another electoral cycle.

However, the significance of this development should not be restricted to the candidate’s personal political commitment.

It also draws attention to the relationship between party leadership, political succession and institutional continuity.

Governor Buni has played a central role in managing the APC’s political affairs in Yobe, both as a former national chairman of the party and as the state’s governor.

His approach to party administration has frequently emphasised consultation, reconciliation and the need to accommodate different political interests within a common political structure.

Baba Mallam Wali’s emergence as the APC governorship candidate therefore places him within a political arrangement that requires cooperation between the party’s leadership, elected officials, former political officeholders and grassroots structures.

The challenge ahead is how to translate this collective commitment into effective political coordination across the 17 local government areas.

A successful campaign structure requires more than the appointment of coordinators and the inauguration of committees.

It requires sustained communication, mutual confidence, shared responsibilities and meaningful participation by party members.

The presence of Senator Ibrahim Geidam, the APC State Chairman, Alhaji Mohammad Gadaka, and other political stakeholders at the inauguration further reflects the importance of collective responsibility in the party’s preparations.

Ultimately, the 2027 political process will test the capacity of the Yobe APC to maintain internal cohesion while presenting a coordinated campaign around its candidates.

Baba Mallam Wali’s declaration of support, alongside Governor Buni’s call for collective mobilisation, represents an important public expression of that commitment.

The more important question, however, is how effectively this commitment will translate into a united party structure capable of engaging communities across Yobe State.

Maji Bappa Maina is a Political Writer, Voice of Development, leadership and public Insight

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has condemned the disruption of a town hall meeting organised by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Lagos, urging security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.

The council also denounced the growing incidents of violence at political gatherings ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such actions could threaten public order and democratic participation.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dele Alake expressed concern over the attack on the NDC event, where Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, was scheduled to meet supporters.

Daily Trust had reported that suspected thugs invaded the venue and attacked supporters ahead of the meeting.

Alake said the APC campaign council had observed reports of violent incidents at political gatherings in different parts of the country, including Edo, Cross River and Gombe states.

He described the attacks targeting political leaders and supporters, irrespective of party affiliation, as unacceptable.

The statement specifically condemned the disruption of the NDC’s scheduled town hall meeting in Lagos and called on security agencies to strengthen their response to political violence.

It urged the authorities to remain vigilant, prevent further attacks and ensure that those who instigate or participate in political violence are arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The council also appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to exercise restraint as campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.

It stressed that political campaigns should focus on issues capable of improving the lives of Nigerians rather than actions that could provoke violence and create unnecessary tension.

The APC campaign council further urged political actors across party lines to promote peaceful engagement and respect the rights of others to participate in the democratic process.