The Association also said that by protecting innocent lives at great personal risk, the Imam stood firmly on the side of humanity. “The late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi will forever be remembered for his rare moral bravery and selflessness at a time of grave danger. In a world often divided by suspicion and hatred, the Imam stood as a bridge-builder and a living symbol of what true religion represents,” CAN said. The statement recalled that in recognition of his exceptional service to humanity, Imam Abdullahi was honoured with an award during the association’s Sapphire Anniversary celebrations in 2021. CAN added that they believe that such courage as demonstrated by the late Imam deserves not only remembrance but amplification.

Budgetary personnel allocations to some federal universities in the country have recorded a substantial increase following the Federal Government’s approval of a 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff and the introduction of new and enhanced allowance packages, Saturday PUNCH findings have shown. In the 2026 budget, the Federal Government allocated N3.52tn to education, representing 6.1 per cent of the N58.18tn national budget. Institutions captured under this category include the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Jos, University of Calabar, University of Ilorin and the University of Abuja. Others are the University of Port Harcourt, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Modibbo Adama University, University of Uyo, University of Maiduguri, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Bayero University and Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. Ahmadu Bello University followed, as its personnel allocation increased from N34bn to N44.5bn, reflecting a N10.5bn rise, or roughly 31 per cent.

There are strong indications that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, may head to court to challenge the emergence of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, as Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. The inauguration followed the passage of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the Oyo State House of Assembly. The late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, also went to court. The late Alaafin was the permanent chairman of the Oyo State traditional council, and he stated this clearly in all his letters. Similarly, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, declined to comment on the matter.

They checked my phone, my siblings’ phones, my father’s phones — he was using two phones at the time — and then my mum’s phones. My dad started asking questions — where are you taking my wife to? Why didn’t you raise the alarm and tell the media and civil rights organisations about your parents’ ordeal? We didn’t know where they were. During those four years, did you have any contact with your parents at all — at least on the phone?

Plane turns back to Adelaide twicePassengers on a QantasLink plane have endured two mid-air scares as the aircraft was forced to turn around and head back to Adelaide twice.

No fewer than 248 passengers narrowly escaped death on Friday night after a Qatar Airways aircraft developed a technical fault mid-air and was forced to make an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that the aircraft, which was fully loaded with 248 passengers and 12 crew members, encountered the problem while airborne within Nigerian airspace, triggering distress alerts and an immediate emergency response. According to a preliminary report by LASEMA, obtained by PUNCH Online, the agency said it activated the state’s emergency response plan immediately upon receiving the distress call through its 767/112 toll-free emergency lines. Eyewitnesses at the airport described tense moments as emergency responders lined the runway, while passengers on board braced for an unexpected landing. LASEMA explained that upon arrival at the scene, its Lagos Response Team discovered that the aircraft had already conducted a forced landing due to technical issues.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd), has said the Federal Government doesn’t pay ransom to kidnappers and terrorists. He said, “I do not encourage that because if you continue to pay terrorists and kidnappers, everyone will join. “Government doesn’t pay ransom to rescue anyone from terrorists. This country is big; if soldiers swing into action and cover a particular location, the terrorists immediately move to another location,” he said. “We are cooperating with neighboring countries like Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, because this fight requires a collective effort,” he said.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 is now undoubtedly the most successful commercial story in the history of African football as the commercial success of the Competition has led to over 90 percent increase in the CAF revenues at the onging tournament in Morocco. This, according a statement made available to The Guardian by CAF, is driven by an significant increase in the commercial partners of CAF, increase in media rights distribution and also CAF venturing into new markets most notably the Far East, China, Japan while also consolidating traditional markets.

The Lagos State Government has ordered a postmortem on nine-month-old identical twins, Testimony and Timothy Alozie, who reportedly died about 24 hours after receiving routine immunisation at a primary health care centre in the state. According to him, a nurse at the health centre advised that the children be given paracetamol if their temperature rose. He rejected preliminary explanations from the health centre that the deaths might have been caused by “food bacteria.”“The nurse is talking about bacteria, food bacteria. She said that it is food bacteria that killed my children. How can food bacteria kill a child?

Nigerians have reacted to Kemi Badenoch’s sacking of Robert Jenrick, a Conservative Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, on Thursday over secretly plotting to defect to Reform UK. Badenoch, the Tory leader, claimed she had “clear, irrefutable evidence” that Jenrick would leave the Tories, hence stripping him of the Conservative whip and suspending his party membership. “I have sacked Robert Jenrick from the Shadow Cabinet. A Facebook user, Destiny Ikechukwu, said, “She sacked him when he was at the defection ground without his knowledge. Nice one, Kemi.”Another Facebook user, Azi Aware said, “While Nigerian politicians defect for a living.

Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have vowed to see through the ongoing move to remove the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. By this vote, the Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved that investigations into allegations of gross misconduct against His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, should proceed to the next level. “While the impeachment process was ongoing, the governor was busy paying our constituents to recall us from the Assembly. What is happening in Rivers State is a fight for the soul of the state. Fiberesima, granted leave for the claimants to serve the interim order and originating processes at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The BBC’s interview with Peter Mandelson had offered ample evidence of the Labour peer’s “formidable political brain”, according to Louis Mosley, UK head of the US data firm, Palantir Technologies. View image in fullscreen Peter Mandelson was withdrawn as US ambassador after emails emerged detailing his relationship with his ‘best pal’ Jeffrey Epstein. During the interview, Mandelson was pressed to apologise to Epstein’s victims. He needs to disappear for a very long time.”A second cabinet source said: “Peter managed to create several days of headlines on his relationship with Epstein by failing to apologise. It just reminds everyone that he appointed him.”Why did Mandelson not apologise to the women in the first instance?

“The ADC therefore condemns in the strongest terms the conduct of certain individuals who, while claiming to be members of the party, engaged in violent and disruptive actions aimed at frustrating lawful party exercise. “The ADC remains firmly committed to peaceful political organisation, internal democracy, and the rule of law, and will take all necessary internal and legal measures to protect its members, its processes, and the integrity of the party,” it said. Scores of residents, party loyalists and grassroots mobilisers from different political platforms formally defected to the ADC at a well-attended town hall meeting held in Ibarapa, attracting the attention of political observers and stakeholders. The mass defection, which cut across the three local government areas in the Ibarapa zone, was described by party leaders as evidence of growing confidence in the ADC’s ideology, leadership and grassroots appeal. The development further underscores the party’s expanding influence in Oyo State amid increasing public dissatisfaction with the two dominant political parties.

According to him, Senator Akwashiki belonged to a rare generation of public servants who approached politics as responsibility rather than privilege, and governance as a moral obligation rather than a pathway to power. Tracing Akwashiki’s public life, Adebayo noted that the late senator’s rise from modest beginnings to national prominence was shaped by discipline, learning and an enduring belief in the dignity of ordinary citizens. Beyond committee assignments and legislative milestones, Adebayo said Akwashiki’s defining strength lay in the values he carried into public office. Adebayo said Akwashiki’s passing should prompt deep reflection among those still in public life, urging leaders to consider whether they are building legacies or merely occupying offices. “May his service continue to speak where words fail, and may Nigeria one day fully become the country his life and values envisioned.”

The Senegalese national team have raised concerns over security arrangements, accommodation, training facilities and ticketing ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. In a strongly worded communiqué issued on Saturday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said it was compelled to speak out “for the sake of transparency and defence of the interests of the Senegal national team,” following what it described as several malfunctions observed during preparations for the final. The statement, released by the Secretariat of the Teranga Lions of Senegal to the Confederation of African Football and the public, drew attention to lapses in security during the team’s arrival in Morocco. “The official endowment is only two VVIP tickets,” the FSF said, lamenting the lack of access to VIP and VVIP tickets for the final, unlike the semi-finals. Senegal are bidding to add another continental title to their honours when they take to the pitch in the AFCON 2025 final after defeating Egypt in the semi final on Wednesday.