The Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Joyce Adulmalik on Wednesday, 4 March, 2026 adjourned the alleged terrorism trial of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his son, Abdulaziz, till March 10, 2026. Justice Abdulmalik fixed the date following a request by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who told the court that the prosecution required more time to familiarise itself with the case file. Oyedepo informed the court that the file was recently transferred from the State Security Services to the Department of Public Prosecutions. “We…
Author: Khadijah Olowode
In a bold recalibration of Nigeria’s response to violent extremism, the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Partnership Against Violent Extremism Network (PAVE Network) have launched the 2026 phase of the Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Knowledge, Innovation and Resource Hub (PCVE-KIRH), declaring that the battle against extremism must move beyond guns and arrests to governance, ideas and institutions. The unveiling, held at a high-level Stakeholder Orientation Workshop in Abuja, marked the Hub’s first official engagement for the year and drew government officials, civil society actors, academics, community leaders and international partners.…
After more than a decade of evading justice across two continents, a fugitive drug kingpin has finally run out of road. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Monday, 2 March, 2026, arrested 58-year-old Uzoma Ilomuanya in Lagos, ending a 15-year manhunt that had placed him on the radar of both Nigerian and British authorities. His capture is being hailed as a decisive strike against transnational drug syndicates exploiting Nigeria as a production and transit hub. According to a statement on Wednesday, 4 March, 2026, by the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi, Ilomuanya’s criminal trail stretches back…
The NEAR Foundation has intensified its humanitarian outreach in the Federal Capital Territory, distributing more than 1,900 food packages to vulnerable groups across Abuja. According to the organisation, the interventions were carried out in partnership with key government agencies and stakeholders, targeting internally displaced persons (IDPs), persons with disabilities, the elderly, and families of fallen military personnel. In collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, the foundation distributed 300 food packages at Malaysia Garden, Apo, and Kabusa IDP camps. Another 500 packages were shared among various clusters of persons with disabilities in partnership with the Senior Special Assistant…
By Michael Olugbode in Abuja Nigeria and China have reaffirmed their strategic diplomatic and cultural partnership, with top government officials, diplomats and international development partners using the 2026 Chinese New Year and Lantern Festival celebration in Abuja to call for deeper collaboration in culture, education, tourism and women’s economic empowerment. The event, held at the China Cultural Centre brought together high-level delegates from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the diplomatic corps and cultural stakeholders from China. The celebration also marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries, as well as global efforts to promote people-to-people diplomacy under cultural…
Governor Babagana Zulum on Tuesday rolled out a ₦2.05 billion empowerment package for 2,970 young people trained in vocational skills across Borno State, marking a major push in the state’s transition from humanitarian recovery to economic rebuilding after more than a decade of insurgency. The beneficiaries, who graduated from nine modern vocational enterprise institutes and centres established by the Zulum administration, received comprehensive starter packs and business kits designed to enable immediate take-off of small and medium-scale enterprises. The ceremony, held at the Muna Vocational Enterprises Institute in Maiduguri, drew senior government officials, lawmakers and technical education stakeholders, underscoring the…
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has paid a condolence visit to Kano State to commiserate with his Chief of Staff, Mustapha Dawaki, over the passing of his beloved mother. During the visit to Kano, Professor Yilwatda expressed heartfelt condolences to the Dawaki family, describing the late matriarch as a woman whose values and legacy are evident in the character and public service of her son. Hajiya Binta Bala, aged 83, passed away after a prolonged illness. Her janaza (funeral) prayers were conducted Saturday, 28 February, 2026, at the Dawakin Kudu Central Mosque in Dawaki…
The Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Hon. Akinpelu Ibrahim Johnson, has congratulated the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, on his re-election, reports thegazellenews.com In a congratulatory message, Johnson, who consistently referred to Ojelabi as ‘Baba Party’, described his return to office as well deserved and a reflection of the confidence reposed in him by party stakeholders across Lagos State. The Alimosho council boss noted that during Ojelabi’s first tenure, he steered the party toward unity, progress, and inclusiveness, fostering cohesion among members and strengthening the APC’s position as a formidable political…
Algeria has formally expressed interest in hosting a future edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), marking a significant potential expansion of the African Union Commission-backed Pan-African music platform into North Africa. The development followed a meeting in Abidjan between Algeria’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Mohamed Abdelaziz Bouguetaia and the 9th AFRIMA Best African DJ winner, DJ Moh Green. The award-winning DJ, accompanied by the Associate Producer, AFRIMA, Victoria Nkong, presented his AFRIMA trophy to the ambassador during the visit. Algeria’s expression of interest came shortly after Côte d’Ivoire had earlier indicated its own readiness to host…
Nigeria can harness her gas resources for industrialisation if it achieves stable regulatory enforcement, fair pricing and infrastructure ownership models in the sector, Managing Director Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) Ralph Gbobo said in Lagos recently. Speaking at the Energy Week of the Lagos Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Ralph said investors need “a stable, fast and transparent implementation” of rules while a fair pricing regime could be achieved with “the right incentives to grow pipeline gas” which would also attract more investments. On infrastructure ownership models, he called for the completion of ongoing projects and ensuring the…