News

By Uzair Adam

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has dismissed four senior police officers and sanctioned 31 others over various cases of misconduct.

The commission said the dismissed officers were found guilty of gross misconduct, unprofessional conduct, and acts unbecoming of public officers.

PSC Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Argungu, disclosed the decisions on Tuesday while briefing journalists in Abuja after the commission’s plenary meeting.

Argungu said the disciplinary measures included the demotion of 10 senior officers. Three Superintendents of Police were reduced to the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, while two Deputy Superintendents of Police were demoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Five Assistant Superintendents of Police were also reduced to the rank of Inspector.

He added that two officers were compulsorily retired in the public interest, stressing that the commission would continue to take firm action against personnel who violate the rules of the Nigeria Police Force.

Other sanctions approved by the commission included severe reprimands for 10 officers, reprimands for five officers, warning letters for three officers, and a letter of advice issued to one officer.

Argungu also revealed that seven officers were exonerated after investigations cleared them of any wrongdoing.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to discipline within the police force, saying the current board would not tolerate misconduct by any officer.

“The current Board of the PSC under my watch will not condone any form of misconduct by police officers,” he said.

According to him, the commission will continue to uphold discipline by ensuring that every act of misconduct attracts appropriate sanctions while rewarding officers who demonstrate professionalism and dedication through its established reward system.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who are seeking re-election for a second term convened a private meeting on Tuesday at the Kebbi State Government House in Birnin Kebbi.

According to a report by Punch newspaper, the closed-door session focused on critical national issues and party policies aimed at strengthening the APC’s position ahead of future elections.

Among the governors in attendance were those from Kaduna, Plateau, Ekiti, Delta, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Edo, Ondo, Kogi, Sokoto, and Benue states. They were received by Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

Speaking on the purpose of the gathering, Abuzaidu Yari, the Special Assistant to the Kebbi Governor on New Media, explained that the meeting would center on discussions regarding national development, strengthening inter-governmental cooperation, promoting good governance, fostering sustainable economic growth, and enhancing national cohesion.

The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum is expected to brief journalists on the outcomes of the meeting following its conclusion today.

By Uzair Adam

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 150 suspected criminals during a coordinated operation targeting notorious criminal hideouts in the Igando-Idimu area of the state.

The raid, conducted in the early hours of Sunday under the Command’s ongoing Operation KO S’AYE, followed credible intelligence on the activities of suspected hoodlums operating within the Area M axis.

Police spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said officers drawn from various formations stormed identified criminal hideouts at Boolar, Okofilling Bus Stop, Igando, and other black spots to dislodge criminal elements and improve public safety.

She said the operation led to the recovery of one double-barrel gun, two single-barrel guns, one locally fabricated double-barrel short gun, 100 unregistered motorcycles, 54 mobile phones, two military camouflage uniforms, six generators suspected to have been stolen, assorted charms, and substances believed to be Indian hemp and other illicit drugs.

According to Adebisi, all 150 suspects are currently in police custody while investigations continue to determine their level of involvement in various criminal activities. She added that those found culpable would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, commended the operatives for their professionalism and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining Operation KO S’AYE to dismantle criminal networks and deny offenders safe haven across the state.

He also urged residents to continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information to strengthen efforts aimed at combating crime and improving security in Lagos.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff has criticised Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu to resign over Nigeria’s security challenges. He alleged that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate supports the Biafra cause and therefore lacks the moral standing to make such a demand.

Sheriff made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme. He reacted to Obi’s recent call on President Tinubu to resign or step aside over the country’s worsening insecurity.

The former governor alleged that Obi had never condemned the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or its ideology. He argued that Obi’s position on the issue makes him “the most unqualified person” to call for the president’s resignation.

“This country, Nigeria, fought a civil war. Our leaders sacrificed their lives to fight that war to keep the country together, both leaders from the north and the south,” the former governor said.

“The cause of the war was Ojukwu’s demand to secede. Peter Obi, up to this moment, is pursuing the division of Nigeria.

“How? Because he believes in Biafra. He never condemned Biafra. He never condemned IPOB.

“Biafra is secession. Our leaders fought to keep the country together. He wants to divide Nigeria.”

When asked how a politician seeking Nigeria’s presidency could also seek to divide the country, Sheriff challenged Obi to publicly reject the allegation.

“He should deny it,” the former Borno governor said.

“He should come to this station and say he doesn’t believe in dividing the country.

“He should deny it. I am confronting him, telling him this is what he stands for.”

Sheriff maintained that anyone aspiring to lead Nigeria must be committed to preserving the country’s unity.

“People like Obasanjo, General Yakubu Gowon, T.Y. Danjuma, General Shua, and General Abacha all have bullet wounds on their bodies because they fought to keep Nigeria together,” he said.

“Anybody aspiring to lead Nigeria must be someone who stands for Nigeria, not for any section.”

Obi has repeatedly called on President Tinubu to resign in recent weeks. On June 22, the former Anambra State governor described the administration as a “monumental failure” and urged the president to leave office. He said his position was influenced by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s resignation speech, which addressed public dissatisfaction over economic conditions and unfulfilled campaign promises.

On Sunday, Obi renewed the demand after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reportedly stated that Nigeria failed to record some public spending in various budgets. He said the development raised fresh concerns about what he described as widespread corruption under the Tinubu administration.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has warned that rising religious intolerance, hate speech and fake news pose serious threats to Nigeria’s unity and peaceful coexistence.

The Sultan made the remarks on Monday in Abuja through the NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Salisu Shehu, after receiving Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations.

He said the meeting centred on strengthening cooperation between Muslim and Catholic leaders, promoting mutual understanding and using dialogue to address insecurity and other national challenges.

“The essence of the visit was to promote mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation across religious communities in advancing peace, peaceful coexistence and improved security, not only in Nigeria but globally,” he said.

The Sultan expressed concern that hate speech has continued to deepen divisions among religious groups. He said the trend has weakened trust and damaged relationships between faith communities. He also condemned the growing practice of insulting respected religious leaders, irrespective of their faith.

“Hate speech has been most injurious to peaceful coexistence in the country. It has created perceptual and relational crises among faith communities,” he said.

He also identified fake news as a major factor behind many of the country’s tensions and conflicts.

“Fake news is another evil that is being used in the country to precipitate a lot of troubles, and therefore this is something that we need to fight.”

According to the Sultan, discussions during the meeting also covered concerns about declining moral values and what he described as the growing rejection of religion among young Muslims and Christians.

He said both delegations agreed that continuous dialogue, mutual respect and stronger collaboration through interfaith platforms remain essential for preserving national unity and addressing divisive narratives.

Gallagher described the meeting as productive and expressed confidence that religious leaders could play an important role in promoting national cohesion.

“We had a very frank and illuminating conversation, and it was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide,” he said.

“For me, this is a reason for optimism regarding the religious cohesion of the country and our shared commitment to working for the good of all Nigerians.”

Gallagher added that Muslim and Christian leaders have a shared responsibility to work together in advancing peace and promoting the welfare of all Nigerians.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The father of Adeyemi Adeniyi, the man who claims to be the director-general of the purported Presidential Fiscal and Infrastructure Projects Council (PFIPC), has been arrested by police officers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, according to human rights lawyer Femi Falana.

Falana disclosed the development during a telephone interview with journalists on Monday. He alleged that security operatives raided the family residence and arrested Adeniyi’s father as well as a family friend who was visiting the home.

“Police have now stormed the house of the parents of Prince Adeyemi Adeniyi, Plot 3, Adeniyi Dynasty, behind Technical College, Road Safety Area, Ogbomoso,” Falana said.

“The father has been arrested. There is no legal basis for substituted arrests. The young man has promised to show up in court, so why arrest his father?”

Residents of the area also confirmed the incident. One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the officers arrived in four vehicles before taking the elderly man away.

“They came with four vehicles, and they started harassing them and eventually took the father away,” the resident said.

“They didn’t allow the neighbours to intervene before they took him away. At the moment, there is a man in blue clothes patrolling the area.”

Another resident said the officers also arrested a visitor who was at the family home. The source added that Adeniyi’s mother was left traumatised after the operation.

“Baba was taken away with someone who came to visit them this morning. They left the mother, who is currently in shock, but we have moved her away,” the resident said.

The arrest comes amid the controversy surrounding the PFIPC, which the Presidency has described as a fictitious agency.

Adeyemi is currently facing charges of alleged forgery, impersonation and other related offences over his claimed appointment as director-general of the council. The matter is before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Falana has consistently maintained that the allegations against Adeyemi should be determined through the judicial process. He has also argued that only the courts have the constitutional authority to establish criminal liability.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has opened an investigation into 34 tertiary institutions over allegations that they failed to refund students whose tuition fees were paid twice under the Federal Government’s student loan programme.

The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this during an interview on Arise Television on Sunday. He said the agency had deployed a five-member investigative team, which includes officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and NELFUND’s internal auditors, to examine the complaints.

According to Sawyerr, the investigation followed numerous petitions from students who claimed they had not received refunds after duplicate tuition payments.

“As of right now, there are 34 institutions that we are looking at closely with respect to this issue,” Sawyerr said.

He explained that the problem arose because President Bola Tinubu directed that the student loan scheme should begin in the middle of an academic session instead of waiting for a new session. As a result, many students paid their tuition fees while waiting for their loan applications to be processed.

“What happened is that a lot of schools got double payment. Some from the students, some from us,” Sawyerr said.

“The refund process is entirely out of our hands. It is the recipient of the double payments that is obliged to make refunds to the students.”

Sawyerr noted that many students borrowed money to pay their school fees before registration deadlines. They expected to recover the money after NELFUND settled the same tuition charges. He said several institutions had returned the excess payments, but others had not.

“Some have been very good at this. Others haven’t been so good at it,” Sawyerr said.

“I reserve judgement on the intentionality around it because, for some of them, they just didn’t have the process to make refunds.”

He also revealed that NELFUND is considering a tokenised payment system that would allow students to authorise tuition payments directly to their institutions. He said the measure would help prevent duplicate payments.

“We chose in our setting up of this not to pay students directly for the loans because that would take us into an entirely new area,” he said.

“Paying the funds to the students, rather, quite significantly, could really lead to the temptation for them to divert and do other things.”

Despite the ongoing investigation, Sawyerr admitted that NELFUND does not have the legal authority to compel institutions to refund students or prosecute officials involved in any wrongdoing.

He added that many of the complaints had also been forwarded to anti-corruption agencies by the affected students.

“Students who are frustrated and unable to get their refunds write to us, but they also write to the EFCC, to the ICPC,” he said.

Sawyerr also raised concerns over increases in tuition fees after the launch of the student loan programme. He said NELFUND declined to pay institutions that raised their fees beyond what the agency considered acceptable.

“Some schools, because they get paid easily, started to put up their fees. We refused, point blank, to pay institutions who had hiked their fees beyond a certain level,” he said.

He said NELFUND would continue to investigate reports of irregularities as it strengthens the implementation of the student loan scheme.

“We tend to take the view that perhaps it’s not intentional,” he said.

“We institute many investigations, we generate many reports. Any small hint of anything going wrong, we set up a small committee to look at it because we’re trying to learn.”

By Uzair Adam

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to investigate major global technology companies and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms over allegations of anti-competitive practices and the unauthorised use of content produced by Nigerian media organisations.

The directive followed a joint petition submitted to the Presidency by the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP).

The directive was conveyed to the FCCPC through a letter signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

According to the government, the investigation will address concerns raised by the Nigerian media industry over the growing influence of digital platforms on the country’s news ecosystem and their impact on the sustainability of local media organisations.

The petition names major technology companies, including Meta, Alphabet, and X, alongside some Generative AI platforms operating in Nigeria.

The organisations are accused of engaging in practices that could undermine fair competition, weaken the commercial viability of Nigerian media outlets, and infringe on the rights of publishers and content creators.

Reacting to the directive, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, said the commission would carry out an independent, transparent and evidence-based investigation.

“We recognise the strategic importance of the media to Nigeria’s democracy and the equally significant role of technology in driving innovation and economic growth.

Our responsibility is to objectively determine the facts and ensure that competition within the digital ecosystem remains fair, transparent and consistent with Nigerian law,” Bello said.

He stressed that the investigation should not be interpreted as an indication that any organisation had already been found guilty of wrongdoing.

“This inquiry is not directed at any entity by presumption of wrongdoing. Rather, it is an opportunity to carefully examine the facts, hear from all affected parties, and determine whether any conduct has resulted in anti-competitive outcomes or unfair business practices.

Every party will be accorded a fair opportunity to present relevant information before any conclusions are reached,” he added.

The FCCPC said the investigation would determine whether the alleged conduct violates the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 or any other applicable law.

Among the issues to be examined are allegations of market dominance and anti-competitive behaviour, as well as the unauthorised extraction, scraping, ingestion or commercial use of copyrighted news articles, broadcast materials and other original journalistic content for the development and training of Generative AI models.

The commission will also examine claims that Nigerian media organisations have been denied fair commercial arrangements and adequate compensation for the use of their content by global technology companies.

The FCCPC recalled that it previously investigated Meta and secured a court judgment against the company in 2025 over violations of the FCCPA, including data privacy breaches, which resulted in a $220 million fine. The company has appealed the ruling.

The commission further referenced developments in South Africa, where, following an investigation by the South African Competition Commission, Google agreed to compensate South African news organisations with R688 million (about $40 million) annually for a period of three to five years.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops have arrested a man suspected to have taken part in the recent attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The suspect, identified as Paul Kolsen, was arrested on Sunday at about 3:30 p.m. at Farm Centre. Security sources said he was “receiving treatment for a gunshot wound” believed to have been sustained during the attack on the institute on July 2.

According to security sources cited by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication that reports on the Lake Chad region, the arrest followed intelligence reports received by security operatives. The sources added that other suspects connected to the incident had earlier been arrested.

The July 2 incident marked another attack on the institution within a short period. During the assault, troops reportedly exchanged gunfire with suspected Berom militia members. One of the attackers was killed, while others escaped into nearby rocky areas.

Security personnel also recovered a service rifle with registration number “CO-3175” during the operation.

Authorities said the weapon had earlier been stolen from a soldier who lost his life during an attack on troops at the Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Vom, on April 11.

The discovery of the rifle has prompted investigators to examine possible connections between the attacks on NIPSS and previous assaults on security personnel along the Kuru-Vom corridor.

Kolsen is currently in military custody as investigations continue into his alleged role in the attack and the activities of other suspected members of the group behind the repeated assaults.

Security agencies said operations based on intelligence gathering are still ongoing in the area to arrest more suspects and dismantle the network believed to be responsible for the attacks.

NIPSS, regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading policy and leadership institutions, has suffered three separate attacks by gunmen between June 16 and July 2.

The attacks reportedly resulted in the deaths of about three security operatives and one suspected militia member.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has strongly criticised FIFA over its decision to suspend the automatic one-match ban handed to United States forward Folarin Balogun after his red card incident at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

UEFA, in a statement released on Monday, said the move threatens the credibility of football regulations and could affect the integrity of the tournament.

The European football body stated that FIFA’s decision “crossed a red line,” insisting that rules governing the game must remain consistent and free from selective interpretation.

“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” UEFA said.

The organisation noted that football depends on strict adherence to established regulations to guarantee fairness in competitions across the world.

“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not,” the statement added.

UEFA maintained that an automatic suspension after a red card is compulsory and should not depend on discretionary decisions.

“A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.”

The football body also warned that allowing exceptions during a major tournament could create problems for future cases involving other players who served similar punishments without exemption.

According to UEFA, the principle of automatic suspension is already established within football regulations and should apply equally to all players and teams.

The organisation further warned that weakening confidence in football rules could damage the sport globally.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined,” it said.

UEFA also argued that the decision may force FIFA to apply similar treatment in future incidents during the World Cup.

“where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”

The body stressed that football enjoys worldwide trust because the same laws apply everywhere.

“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole,” UEFA stated.

The organisation described FIFA’s action as unprecedented and difficult to justify.

“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”

The controversy surrounding Balogun’s eligibility has continued to attract reactions from football authorities and stakeholders. Critics argue that the decision raises concerns about fairness and consistency in the administration of the World Cup.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also criticised the development after reports emerged that the White House allegedly contacted FIFA over the matter before Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium in Monday’s Round of 16 match.

“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,” Blatter said.

He questioned FIFA’s handling of the issue and raised concerns over possible political interference in football matters.

“If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis (Where are you going), FIFA?”

Blatter further warned against allowing politics to influence football administration.

“Football must never become a playground for political power,” he said.