News

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 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 Sulaiman

California has officially recognised Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law on September 28, 2026.

The new law adds the two major Islamic festivals to California’s list of state holidays. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, while Eid al-Adha is observed during the Islamic pilgrimage season and commemorates the sacrifice associated with Prophet Ibrahim.

The legislation also allows state and school employees to observe the two holidays using existing personal holiday credits or other available leave. K-12 public schools and community colleges may also close for Eid through locally negotiated agreements.

However, the law does not automatically require every school or workplace to close on the two occasions. It also excludes Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha from California’s judicial holidays.

The move formally recognises two important religious observances of California’s Muslim community and reflects the state’s religious and cultural diversity.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged politicians and their supporters to maintain peaceful conduct as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

The Sultan made the call on Monday when the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, visited him at his palace in Sokoto.

The delegation also included the NDC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Dr Shamsu Haido, and other members of the party.

The visit formed part of the party’s consultations with traditional rulers and community leaders ahead of the elections.

The Sultan said politicians had the constitutional right to present their manifestos, programmes and ideas to Nigerians and seek their support.

He, however, urged political actors to exercise those rights responsibly, within the law and with respect for people who hold different political views.

He also cautioned politicians and their supporters against insults, abusive language and inflammatory statements that could heighten political tensions or contribute to violence.

According to the Sultan, political activities should not create hatred, division or hostility among Nigerians.

He urged political leaders to place the peace, unity and interests of Nigeria above political differences, stressing that political offices were temporary while national stability remained important to the country’s development.

The monarch further called on candidates seeking elective offices to lead by example and ensure their supporters conduct themselves peacefully.

He said political campaigns should focus on issues rather than personal attacks or activities capable of creating divisions among communities.

The Sultan’s warning followed a visit by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on September 14, led by its Director-General, Senator Abdul-Aziz Abubakar Yari.

The APC delegation included Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu and the governors of Kebbi and Zamfara states.

According to the Sultan’s media team, both the NDC and APC delegations discussed national issues, presented their political plans and sought the monarch’s royal blessings.

Speaking during Monday’s visit, Obi thanked the Sultan for receiving the delegation and granting them an audience.

He said the meeting was part of the NDC’s wider consultations with traditional rulers and community leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.

The call for peaceful political engagement comes after presidential candidates and political parties participating in the 2027 elections signed a National Peace Accord in Abuja in August. The accord committed political actors to peaceful and issue-based campaigns.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has cautioned politicians against using insults and inflammatory remarks as the 2027 general elections approach.

The Sultan warned that such conduct could raise tensions and potentially trigger violence within communities.

He spoke on Monday when the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, visited him at his palace in Sokoto.

Obi and Kwankwaso were accompanied by the party’s Sokoto State governorship candidate, Shamsu Haido, and other party members.

According to a statement signed by the Sultan’s Media Team head, Prince Bashir Adefaka, the monarch said political activities should not be used to create hatred, hostility or division among Nigerians.

The statement reads: “His Eminence, particularly, cautioned politicians and their supporters across parties against the use of abusive language, insults and inflammatory statements, warning that such conduct could heighten tensions and potentially lead to violence within communities.

“Politicians have the constitutional and democratic right to present their manifestos, programmes and ideas to the electorate and seek the support of the people.”

Abubakar, however, urged politicians to exercise their democratic rights with decorum and within the provisions of the law while respecting other candidates, political parties and Nigerians with opposing political views.

The Sultan also stressed the need for political actors to place Nigeria’s interests and peace above their individual political differences.

He noted that political positions were temporary, while the unity, peace and stability of the country remained essential to its development.

The monarch further urged political leaders, particularly those seeking elective positions, to lead by example and demonstrate the conduct they expect from their supporters.

He also called on politicians to ensure that campaigns and other political engagements do not descend into personal attacks, hostility or actions capable of creating divisions among communities and citizens.