A US-based political lobbying firm has stepped up its campaign over unproven allegations concerning President Bola Tinubu, saying it has taken the matter to members of the US Congress and senior government officials. Von Batten-Montague-York said its founder, Dr Von Batten, used meetings at the Republican National Midterm Convention to brief American lawmakers and state officials on allegations it claims were contained in records involving the Nigerian President. The firm alleged that Tinubu was linked to a criminal organisation involved in heroin trafficking from Nigeria to the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. It also claimed that proceeds from…
Author: National Update
The 2027 presidential race has formally opened up into a 19-candidate contest, with President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi among the biggest names on the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday. The publication formally sets the field for the February 2027 election, with the three leading contenders contesting on different platforms and backed by different political alliances. The publication puts the three major contenders on separate political platforms, setting the stage for another closely watched presidential contest less than five months before Nigerians return to the…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded the immediate resignation of Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, over the worsening killings and insecurity in the state. In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA said Alia had failed in his responsibility to protect the lives and property of Benue residents. HURIWA said the governor could no longer hide behind the general security challenges in Nigeria to explain the continued attacks on communities and the killing of innocent residents. The association said the bloodshed under the watch of the state government had become a serious…
The Northern Senators Forum has congratulated Lawan Ahmed Mohammed, PhD, on his emergence as the 17th Emir of Gumel Emirate in Jigawa State. The forum also congratulated the Jigawa State Government and people of the state on the appointment of the new emir. In a statement on Saturday, the forum commiserated with the people of Gumel over the death of the former emir, Alhaji Ahmed Muhammad Sani II, CON. The late emir spent 45 years on the throne and was described by the forum as a monarch who served his people with dedication and promoted peace. The forum commended the…
The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, does not oppose Nigerians recording police officers while performing their duties in public. The Force, however, warned against using such recordings to ridicule officers, provoke them or turn police encounters into social media entertainment. The clarification followed criticism of Disu’s recent comments on citizens filming policemen, with the Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, saying the IGP’s concern was the misuse of recordings rather than legitimate documentation of police activities. Giwa, in a series of posts on X on Saturday, said the police had no intention of shielding…
The 2023 Social Democratic Party governorship candidate in Kogi State, Murtala Ajaka, has come under fresh attack from the Igala Vanguard over his alleged connection with recent protests at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja. The group challenged Ajaka to take responsibility for the protests, accusing him of attempting to use the demonstrations to rebrand himself politically after allegedly losing support among some political stakeholders. However, Ajaka has denied involvement in the protests, dismissing the allegation as political propaganda. The latest development followed a statement by the convener of Igala Vanguard, Lawrence Ankpa, who also criticised…
Nigerians may face fresh pressure at the filling stations as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has increased its petrol gantry price to N1,350 per litre, just two weeks after its last adjustment. The latest N85 increase, which takes effect Saturday, is the fourth upward review by the refinery since August 21, pushing up its petrol price by N185, or 15.9 per cent, in 22 days. The refinery had initially priced petrol at N1,165 per litre on August 21 before increasing it to N1,185, N1,200 and then N1,265 on August 29. The latest adjustment was contained in a circular issued to customers…
A 35-year-old woman, Rebecca Ojonike Jeremiah, has been found dead in Romi, Kaduna State, after an alleged altercation with her boyfriend over a phone call involving another woman. The police have arrested the boyfriend, identified as Manaseh Bitrus Jatau, in connection with the incident. Jeremiah’s body was discovered around 7am on Saturday, September 5, along Mai Angwa Street in Romi. According to the Kaduna State Police Command, the discovery was reported by the Officer-in-Charge of the Romi Outstation, after which detectives visited the scene. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the woman was found with cotton wool stuffed…
Primate Elijah Ayodele has warned President Bola Tinubu that the growing endorsements for his 2027 re-election bid will count for little if his administration fails to win the confidence of Nigerians. The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church made the remark while dismissing recent endorsements of Tinubu by some bishops, accusing them of backing the president for personal gains rather than divine direction. Ayodele alleged that some of the clerics were seeking benefits from the presidency and urged Tinubu not to mistake their public support for genuine political strength. “Endorsements mean nothing; it is only his activities that can either…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has thrown its weight behind the plan by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, to independently track and transmit polling-unit results during the 2027 general elections. A starement by national coordinator of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the move would provide an additional layer of scrutiny to the electoral process and make it easier to detect discrepancies between results recorded at polling units and figures eventually announced at collation centres. The rights group made its position known in a statement on Thursday, following Obi’s disclosure during an…