Former senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Kabir Marafa, has refuted the claim that he has returned to the All Progressives Congress. “Our attention has been drawn to a publication by the online platform ‘Ripples Nigeria’, which falsely claimed that Senator Kabir Garba Marafa has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside his supporters. “Senator Kabir Garba Marafa, OFR, CON (Marafan Gusau), is a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who proudly represented Zamfara Central Senatorial District from 2011 to 2019,” Haruna said. “For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Kabir Garba Marafa formally resigned from the APC on August 28, 2025. “When Senator Kabir Garba Marafa decides to align with or join any political platform, he will transparently communicate such a decision, as he openly did when he left the APC,” he said.

Joseph Hayab, and Secretary General, Bishop Mohammed Naga, questioned the motive behind the sustained campaign against the INEC chairman. “Anyone hiding under the guise of the Shari’ah Council to demand the removal of the INEC chairman over political or sectarian interests should come out boldly. It likened the decision to that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who retained a northern Muslim as INEC chairman despite intense pressure. It also advised the INEC chairman to remain focused on his constitutional responsibility of conducting free, fair and credible elections. According to Northern CAN, such comments, combined with sustained attacks on a Christian INEC chairman, raised questions about attempts to undermine Christian participation and confidence in Nigeria’s political process.

Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has insisted the Super Eagles would have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup if he were still in charge of Nigerian football. Pinnick, who led the NFF from October 2014 to October 2022, guided Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup in Russia but also presided over the failure to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar after a playoff defeat to Ghana. Speaking on Sunday Oliseh’s Global Football Insights show, the former CAF vice president expressed shock that Nigeria failed to take advantage of the expanded World Cup format, which offers up to 10 qualification slots to African teams. “Algeria hadn’t lost in over 20 games, Cameroon were defending champions, Zambia were champions, and Nigeria was the least considered,” he said. “We didn’t win, but we didn’t lose; we were knocked out by the away goals rule,” he said.

A Lagos-based couple, identified simply as Fred and Goodness, have been arrested for allegedly staging their own kidnap and extorting N10m in ransom from their families and friends. The source added that the families raised N10m within three days, believing the money was meant to secure their release. “The couple faked their kidnapping, thereby calling on friends and families for contributions towards the ransom payment. “The operatives stopped them, searched the bag, and discovered the ransom money, prompting their immediate arrest. She said, “The couple will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”The incident added to the growing number of self-orchestrated abduction cases uncovered by law enforcement.

A group, the Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly, has called for the prosecution of politician and former African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over the alleged leaking of video footage from an ongoing court proceeding involving the Department of State Services. The group accused Sowore of contempt of court and breaching national security laws by allegedly circulating a video clip showing his lawyer cross-examining a DSS operative in a cyberbullying case instituted against him by the secret police. The group said Sowore and his legal team ought to have known the gravity of their actions, noting that while he is currently standing trial for alleged cyberbullying, the leaked footage could expose him to more serious criminal liability. The group also called on the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, to treat the matter as direct contempt of court (in facie curiae) and impose appropriate sanctions. The footage also captured an objection raised by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), as well as a ruling by the trial judge.

Traders at the Onitsha Main Market and other markets across the state have pledged to effectively end the Monday sit-at-home, and have declared readiness to resume full activities on Monday in line with the directive of the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. We have lost so much fortunes since the creation of the Monday sit-at-home in the south-east region. The governor assured traders of an overhaul of the state’s security architecture around markets, pledging that Anambra’s commercial centres would be protected from harassment and intimidation. If it doesn’t happen in Umuahia, his hometown, why Onitsha and Nnewi?” the governor asked. He further alleged that many of those enforcing the sit-at-home were not indigenes of Anambra State and warned that the government would deploy extreme measures if defiance persisted.

President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on January 27, 2026. Trump has taken more serious punches in the past month than in the year since his return to office a year ago. President Donald Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House on October 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Reeling, Trump turned his attention back home. The people of Minneapolis reminded Trump who really has the clout in our system.

(Photo by Darya NAZAROVA / AFP)Kyiv said on Thursday that it had received from Russia 1,000 remains of people that Moscow said were Ukrainian soldiers killed fighting the Kremlin’s army. The exchange of prisoners of war and the remains of killed soldiers is one of the few remaining areas of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky confirmed an exchange had taken place, writing on Telegram that the Russian side had received the remains of 38 killed Russian soldiers. Medinsky said the exchange was made possible as part of agreements struck between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul earlier last year. Tens of thousands of soldiers have been killed on both sides since Russia invaded, though neither side regularly publishes data on their own casualties.

The Lagos State Police Command has denied claims that its officers shot at residents protesting the demolition of their homes, insisting no gun was fired during Wednesday’s demonstration. Protesters from communities including Makoko, Oworonshoki, Owode-Onirin and Oko Baba marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding proper relocation plans, compensation, and justice for residents who reportedly lost their lives during past demolition exercises. PUNCH Online reports that tensions escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa when demonstrators were denied entry. Responding to the reports, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Jimoh Olohundare, told Channels Television on Thursday, “No gun was fired. “We spoke with the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who promptly — despite being in recess — sent five honourable members to appeal to them.

He said the future of Nigeria’s defence and security capability would be built locally through indigenous innovation and strategic partnerships. “By localising production, it will open pathways for export and regional leadership in defence manufacturing. According to him, DICON was established to drive indigenous defence manufacturing, reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and position Nigeria as a credible producer of military and security equipment. The country imported over ₦5.06tn worth of armoured vehicles, compared to ₦1.81tn spent on petrol—a difference of ₦3.25tn, with armoured vehicles accounting for 35.87 per cent of total imports,” he said. Nigeria’s renewed push for indigenous defence manufacturing comes amid rising security challenges and growing concerns over the high cost and sustainability of importing military and security equipment.

A burst of heavy gunfire and explosions erupted early on Thursday near the international airport in Niger’s capital Niamey before halting within hours, residents told AFP. The capital’s Diori Hamani International Airport houses an air force base and is located about 10 kilometres (six miles) from the presidential palace. The shooting began shortly after midnight, according to residents of a neighbourhood near the airport. According to ACLED, an NGO that tracks conflict casualties globally, jihadist violence killed nearly 2,000 people in 2025 in Niger. A huge uranium shipment with an unknown buyer, which left the country’s north in late November, has also been stuck at the airport for weeks.

File photo: Director-General of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-ErewaThe controversy generated in Nigeria over President Bola Tinubu’s brief stumble during his official visit to Türkiye has been dismissed as “silly” by Turkish officials, according to Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa. On ground here in Ankara, their officials were shocked to learn that it was an issue in Nigerian media/blogs,” she wrote. According to her, one of the Turkish officials described the attention given to the incident as “silly and mischievous,” stressing that the visit itself was being widely celebrated in Türkiye. A video of the moment, shared by Turkish digital news platform Nefes Gazetesi and later circulated on X, showed Tinubu walking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan before briefly losing his balance. A business forum was also expected to be held on the sidelines of the visit to connect Nigerian and Turkish investors.

The Kano State Government has assured residents of the state that the lingering emirate tussle in the state would soon be resolved. “The Kano emirship tussle will soon be resolved amicably because the state government is committed to dialogue with stakeholders,” Waiya said. He explained that the government’s approach is guided by respect for the rule of law, traditional institutions, and the collective interest of the people of Kano State. The law repealed the Kano State Emirates Council Law of 2019 and dissolved the emirate councils created under the previous administration. On the political future of the deputy governor, who has not defected alongside the governor, Waiya said the decision remains a personal choice.

Hyundai Exter Facelift: DesignThe spy shots of the prototype reveal that the split-style headlamp setup and the H-shaped LED daytime running lights will stay the same. Also Read: India-Spec Volkswagen Tayron R-Line Unveiled; Features, Specs, And MoreImage Source- Rushlane (Hyundai Exter facelift)Hyundai Exter Facelift: Interior, FeaturesThe mid-cycle update is expected to bring a variety of changes to the interior of the 2026 Hyundai Exter. Hyundai Exter Facelift: PowertrainOn the mechanical side, the facelifted 2026 Hyundai Exter will retain the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which is also offered with the Hy-CNG Duo kit. Hyundai Exter Facelift: Expected LaunchThe Hyundai Exter was first launched in the Indian market in 2023 and became a competitor to the Tata Punch, which has recently undergone significant updates. With a facelift version in development, the Exter is expected to intensify the competition with its Tata rival.

The payments, the court heard, included wages for a housekeeper, nanny, gardener and window cleaner at the former minister’s property. The court was also told that about £4.6m was spent refurbishing properties in London and Buckinghamshire allegedly linked to her use. “Those interested in the award and retention of lucrative oil and gas contracts provided significant financial and other advantages to Alison-Madueke. Alison-Madueke is standing trial alongside oil executive Olatimbo Ayinde, 54, who faces one count of bribery relating to her and another of bribing a foreign public official. Her brother, Doye Agama, 69, a former archbishop, is charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and is attending the trial by video link for medical reasons.