News

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A coalition of over 1,000 lawyers has raised objections to President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Vanguard newspaper, the lawyers conveyed their position in a letter dated October 10, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong.

The letter was signed by the group’s secretary, Jesse Williams Amuga.

The lawyers argued that Professor Amupitan is unfit for the position, alleging that he previously served as legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court.

They contended that such political involvement disqualifies him from heading an institution expected to remain neutral and independent.

“The Senate must not confirm Professor Amupitan. Instead, it should inform the President that his nominee fails to meet the constitutional requirements for impartiality,” the letter stated.

Citing a precedent, the group reminded the Senate of its 2021 decision to reject the nomination of Lauretta Onochie for the same position due to her ties with the APC.

“The Amupitan case mirrors that of Onochie,” Amuga emphasized.

Amuga, who represents the Association of Legal Defenders for Rule and Accountability in Politics (ALDRAP), noted that Nigeria has over 200,000 lawyers—more than half of whom have no political affiliations—arguing that the President could have selected any of them to avoid controversy.

The group also warned that it would challenge the nomination in court if the Senate proceeds with confirmation.

“If the Senate confirms Professor Joash Amupitan, our organization will take legal action to enforce the constitutional principle of non-partisanship in the appointment of the INEC Chairman,” Amuga declared.

However, further findings have shown that Professor Amupitan is not affiliated with the APC and was not among the lawyers who represented President Tinubu in the 2023 election case.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

In a significant blow to criminal elements, Nigerian Army troops have rescued three kidnapped victims, including a young mother and her toddler, during aggressive clearance operations in Kwara State.

The operations, conducted on Saturday, October 11, 2025, by troops of 2 Division/Sector 3 under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, targeted bandit hideouts and routes within the Babanla Forest.

According to an army statement, acting on credible intelligence, soldiers deployed at the Patrol Base Babanla stormed a suspected bandit camp.

There, they successfully rescued 25-year-old Mrs. Oluwabusayo Taiwo and her three-year-old son, Taiwo Irayomide.

The duo was among those abducted from the Oke-Ode community on September 28, 2025.

In a separate incident on the same day, troops on a routine patrol along a suspected bandit escape route encountered kidnappers with another victim.

The bandits fled upon sighting the military patrol, abandoning 40-year-old Mohammadu Sani, a local tea seller popularly known as Mai Shayi from Garkarima.

The troops found Mr. Sani in a pool of blood. They recovered one dane gun and a cutlass left behind by the fleeing assailants.

All three rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention at the Patrol Base sick bay and are reported to be in stable condition.

The army stated they will be reunited with their families in due course.

The Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Ezra Barkins, commended the troops for their “swift response and professionalism.”

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens and intensifying operations to restore peace and stability across Kwara State.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed as false a viral social media post claiming to reveal the number of shortlisted candidates per state for the final stage of its 2025 recruitment exercise.

In a public disclaimer, the Service clarified that the publication did not originate from any of its official communication channels and urged the public, especially applicants, to disregard the information entirely.

According to the NCS, the ongoing recruitment process began with an official advertisement on December 27, 2024, attracting a total of 573,523 applications across the Superintendent, Inspectorate, and Customs Assistant cadres. After an initial documentary screening, 286,697 candidates were shortlisted for the first phase of the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

The Service further explained that while all cadres took part in the CBT, only successful applicants under the Superintendent Cadre were invited for the second phase, which will be conducted across the six geopolitical zones in line with candidates’ states of origin.

The NCS reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent, fair, and merit-driven recruitment process, in accordance with the Federal Character principle. It also advised applicants to rely solely on official updates via the NCS Recruitment Update Portal at https://updates.customs.gov.ng for verified information.

By Uzair Adam

A violent confrontation between personnel of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Bauchi State has resulted in the death of a police officer, Constable Ukasha Muhammed.

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, who said the clash occurred on October 10, 2025, in the Bayan Gari area of Bauchi metropolis.

According to Wakil, the command received a distress call reporting a serious altercation involving a police patrol team led by Inspector Hussaini Samaila during a routine operation.

“The patrol team encountered an assault on one of its members, Constable Ukasha Muhammed (F/No 533164), by two individuals in front of Padimo Hotel.

“The remaining members of the team responded swiftly, resulting in the arrest of one suspect while the other escaped,” the statement read.

The arrested suspect was later identified as Private Usman Mubarak (23NA/84/5346), a soldier attached to the Joint Task Force, Operation Safe Haven, in Jos, Plateau State.

Wakil added that the situation escalated when two other soldiers — Private Yakubu Yahuza (23NA/85/10185) and Private Godspower Gabriel (23NA/84/5654) — arrived at the scene armed and partially dressed in military uniform.

“They approached the team and fatally shot Constable Ukasha Muhammed in the left chest before fleeing the scene,” he stated.

The injured officer was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by medical personnel.

His remains have been deposited in the hospital mortuary.

The police spokesperson said the command has taken the detained soldiers into custody and launched a full-scale homicide investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has constituted a team of seasoned homicide detectives to conduct a professional, diligent, and timely investigation to ensure justice is served,” Wakil noted.

He appealed for calm among officers and men of the command and urged them to exercise restraint pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police also extended condolences to the family of the deceased officer, praying for the repose of his soul.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may Aljannatul Firdausi be his final abode. May Almighty Allah grant his family the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” the statement concluded.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, former Vice President of Nigeria, was on Saturday turbaned as the Sardaunan Zazzau.

The historic ceremony was performed by the Emir of Zazzau, His Highness, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, at his palace in Zaria.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, presided over the event as the Special Guest of Honour and Chief Host, underscoring the significance of the chieftaincy title.

The event attracted a gathering of the nation’s political elite. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was in attendance, alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

The ceremony also drew the presence of the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, as well as former Governors from Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, and Jigawa states.

They joined a host of other dignitaries, traditional rulers, and well-wishers to honour the former Vice President.

The title of Sardaunan Zazzau is a prestigious traditional title within the Zazzau Emirate, and its conferment on Arc. Sambo marks a significant milestone in his post-vice presidency life.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a presidential pardon to several inmates across the country, including Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in 2017. Sanda, aged 37, had spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before her release.

Her family had earlier appealed for clemency, citing her exemplary conduct in prison, genuine remorse, and commitment to a reformed lifestyle. They also argued that her release would serve the best interests of her two young children.

The presidential pardon, announced by the Ministry of Interior, also included other notable inmates such as former lawmaker Farouk Lawan and businessman Herbert Merculay, among others.

Officials stated that the decision was part of President Tinubu’s broader initiative to decongest correctional facilities and promote restorative justice, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegration of reformed inmates into society.

By Anwar Usman

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have killed nine terrorists and rescued two people carrying ransoms to the insurgents in Gagiram and Magumeri areas of Borno state.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the spokesperson of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt Col Uba Sani, said the terrorists were neutralised in separate operations.

Sani noted that aside from the recovery of weapons, many of the insurgents also suffered significant injuries, dispersing in disarray.

The statement in part reads “In continuation of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the North East, troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) conducted a successful fighting patrol in response to credible intelligence on the movement of Boko Haram terrorists around Goni Dunari in Magumeri LGA of Borno State on October 10, 2025.”

“The terrorists, reportedly moving on two vehicles and 24-foot fighters, were observed setting houses ablaze and terrorising locals. Acting swiftly, our troops launched an aggressive fighting patrol to intercept the threat.”

He said as the troops advanced towards the objective, the terrorists attempted to flee towards Damjiyakiri village.

The statement further revealed that “a frontal attack was immediately launched, and troops engaged the terrorists with a heavy barrage of fire, resulting in the neutralisation of five terrorists, while the remaining 19 dispersed in disarray.

“Some were wounded as blood trails were observed at the contact scene,” he said.

He listed the recovered items to include 1 x AK-47 rifle (Reg. No. 06798), 5 x Magazines (3 empty, 2 loaded), 31 x 7.62mm rounds, 1 x Itel mobile phone, 1 x dagger.

The spokesperson also stated that, in separate operations, troops mounted on motorcycles engaged Boko Haram fighters along the Gajiram–Bolori–Mile 40–Gajiganna axis near Zundur village of the state.

He said during the firefight, four terrorists were neutralised, while others dispersed into the surrounding bush.

“Troops also successfully rescued Mr Modu Kinnami (55 years old) and Mr Bukar (57 years old), both from Guzamala, along with a sack containing Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N750,000),” he noted.

On Friday, four soldiers were killed and five others injured when Boko Haram fighters attacked a military stand in Ngamdu, along the Damaturu–Maiduguri Road in Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State.

He noted that, operations are ongoing on all fronts to maintain pressure on the terrorists and deny them freedom of movement.

By Maryam Ahmad

An explosion at an ammunition plant in Tennessee has left at least 19 people unaccounted for, authorities said on Friday. The blast occurred at Accurate Energetic Systems, a company that manufactures test explosives, and completely levelled the facility.

Police confirmed that the death toll remains unclear, but early reports indicate that several employees were killed in the explosion. Emergency crews and investigators have been working at the site since the blast, searching for survivors and assessing the damage.

Officials said the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. The investigation is ongoing.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Presidency has dismissed the latest World Bank report estimating that 139 million Nigerians are living in poverty, describing the figure as “unrealistic” and disconnected from the nation’s true economic situation.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, stated in a post on his official X handle on Thursday that the World Bank’s statistics must be “properly contextualised” within the framework of global poverty measurement models.

“While Nigeria values its partnership with the World Bank and appreciates its contributions to policy analysis, the figure quoted must be properly contextualised. It is unrealistic,” Dare said.

According to the Presidency, the figure of 139 million Nigerians was derived from the global poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, set in 2017 using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

It stressed that the benchmark should not be taken as a direct count of citizens living in poverty.

The statement explained that when converted to local currency, the $2.15 daily poverty threshold amounts to about ₦100,000 per month—significantly higher than Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000.

“There must be caution against interpreting the World Bank’s numbers as a literal, real-time headcount,” it added.

“The measure is an analytical construct, not a direct reflection of local income realities.”

The Presidency also noted that poverty assessments using the PPP methodology rely on outdated consumption data—Nigeria’s last major survey being in 2018/2019—and often fail to capture the informal and subsistence economies that support millions of Nigerians.

It emphasised that the World Bank’s estimate should be viewed as a modelled global projection rather than an empirical representation of present-day conditions.

“What truly matters is the trajectory,” the statement concluded, “and Nigeria’s is now one of recovery and inclusive reform.”

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Tinubu has granted posthumous pardons to historical figures including Major General Mamman Vatsa and nationalist Herbert Macaulay, while also approving clemency for 82 current inmates.

The pardons were approved on Thursday following a recommendation from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), which was endorsed by the National Council of State.

Among the most notable beneficiaries are Major General Mamman Vatsa, executed in 1986 for a treason plot, and Herbert Macaulay, a founding father of Nigerian nationalism who was convicted by British colonial authorities in 1913.

The President also formally pardoned the “Ogoni Nine,” including activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were executed in 1995.

For the living, the President commuted the death sentences of seven inmates to life imprisonment and reduced the prison terms of 65 others. A total of 82 inmates were granted clemency.

Notable individuals receiving pardons include former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan and three others, allowing them to fully reintegrate into society.

The 12-member committee, chaired by the Attorney General, reviewed 294 cases, interviewing 175 inmates and considering 62 applications before making its final recommendations.