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Folarin Kehinde

Africa & World

BREAKING: Suspected Killer of Charlie Kirk Taken Into Custody

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The suspect in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been arrested following an intensive manhunt, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday.

Speaking during a live interview with Fox News, Trump disclosed that the individual was turned in by someone “very close” to him.

According to the President, the informant, described as both a minister and a law enforcement associate, personally handed the suspect over to a US Marshal.

“They drove into the police headquarters, and he’s there now,” Trump said.

Authorities revealed that the assailant arrived on campus shortly before the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was scheduled to participate in a debate. The shooter fired a single round from a rooftop, striking Kirk in the neck in what officials believe was a targeted attack.

 

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Health

Resident doctors shut down hospitals nationwide

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has directed its members to withdraw services from public hospitals nationwide from Friday.

The action followed the expiration of a 24-hour ultimatum issued to the Federal Government to meet its outstanding demands. The ultimatum came after an earlier 10-day deadline, which lapsed on 10 September, without resolution.

On 1 September, NARD had warned it would embark on an indefinite strike if the government failed to address the issues within 10 days.

Resident doctors, who constitute the majority of the medical workforce in teaching and specialist hospitals, have repeatedly gone on strike in recent years over unpaid wages, poor welfare, and inadequate working conditions.

Daily Trust on Thursday that the fresh ultimatum was the outcome of a six-hour virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Wednesday.

Daily Trust reports that the doctors are demanding immediate payment of the outstanding 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, settlement of five months’ arrears from the 25–35 per cent Consolidated Medical Salary Structure review, and other long-standing salary backlogs.

Others are the payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance arrears, prompt disbursement of specialist allowances, and restoration of the recognition of the West African postgraduate membership certificates.

 

 

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BREAKING: Air Peace Crew Tests Positive for Alcohol, Drugs

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has confirmed that an Air Peace pilot and co-pilot tested positive for alcohol and hard drugs following a serious runway incident at the Port Harcourt International Airport.

According to a preliminary report signed by the NSIB Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs. Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, and released on Friday, toxicological tests conducted on the crew revealed the presence of alcohol in their systems, while a cabin crew member also tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

The incident occurred on July 13, 2025, when an Air Peace Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 103 passengers veered off Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach and long landing.

“The aircraft, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Lagos to Port Harcourt with 103 persons on board, landed long on Runway 21 after an unstabilised final approach. The aircraft touched down 2,264 metres from the runway threshold and came to a final stop 209 metres into the clearway.

“All passengers and crew disembarked safely, and no injuries were reported.”

The NSIB said the event is a “serious incident” and noted that pilot intoxication has now been identified as a contributing factor. “Toxicological screening conducted post-incident revealed that the captain and first officer tested positive for ethyl glucuronide, indicating recent alcohol consumption,” the report stated.

The report also revealed that a crew member tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound found in cannabis, colloquially referred to as “India hemp.”

“Initial toxicological tests conducted on the flight crew revealed positive results for certain substances, including indicators of alcohol consumption. A cabin crew member also tested positive for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis. These results are being reviewed under the human performance and safety management components of the investigation,” the statement said.

While runway incursions are often linked to miscommunication, equipment failure, or poor runway conditions, the Bureau stressed that the discovery of drug and alcohol use among the crew has raised urgent safety concerns.

In response, the NSIB said it has issued immediate safety recommendations to Air Peace Limited, directing the airline to reinforce crew resource management training, improve handling of unstabilised approaches and go-around procedures, and strengthen internal systems for monitoring crew fitness before dispatch.

 

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Workers lock out Women Affairs minister over lateness, poor working conditions

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on Wednesday, September 10, locked out the Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in Abuja over what they described as prolonged neglect and poor welfare conditions.

The protesting workers, in their numbers, blocked the entrance gates of the Ministry located in the Central Area, chanting solidarity songs and calling for her removal.

According to them, several attempts to engage the Minister on issues affecting their welfare had failed, leaving them with no option but to embark on the protest.

“The Minister was deployed to the Ministry in October last year, and since then, she has not had any meeting with the workers nor the unions,” one staff member told journalists.

“After several efforts, she fixed a meeting with the unions and staff on Wednesday, and we were glad. Every staff member, including the Permanent Secretary and all the Directors, were seated since morning waiting for the Minister.

“We waited for the Minister for about four hours, because we were told she was returning from a trip. Surprisingly, she snubbed us when she arrived. She never said ‘hello’ to us nor even apologised for keeping us waiting for several hours. Rather, she gave us silent treatment and went to her office. We waited patiently for about an hour for her to come down, but she never did. That made us express our grievances,” the staff member added.

According to Daily Sun, Union leaders also accused Sulaiman-Ibrahim of failing to provide basic working tools and welfare support.

“In fact, the immediate-past Minister, Uju Ohanenye, is far better than her,” said Alake Success, one of the union leaders. “In our Ministry, there are no working tools, statutory welfare, training, and several other issues.

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JUST IN: President Tinubu Meets French Counterpart Macron in Paris

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday held a private working lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

LEADING REPORTERS gathered that Tinubu is on a 10-day working vacation in Europe, which began last Thursday.

The Nigerian leader is spending the period between France and the United Kingdom before returning to the country.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga had earlier explained that the vacation forms part of Tinubu’s 2025 annual leave.

 

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BREAKING: EFCC Grills Ex-NNPCL Boss Mele Kyari

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, in its custody.

LEADING REPORTERS gathered that the former NNPC boss is being questioned over alleged financial improprieties during his tenure.

Kyari, who arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja at about 2:15 p.m., was invited to answer questions on financial and technical transactions linked to the $7.2 billion refineries’ turnaround maintenance programme.

His interrogation comes weeks after the Commission placed him on its watch list, following mounting allegations of fraud in NNPCL operations under his watch.

It can also be recalled that the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary freezing of four bank accounts allegedly connected to Kyari, pending further investigations.

 

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Sports

NFF blasts Dessers, faults Ekong after Eagles’ draw with South Africa

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Nigeria Football Federation has openly criticised Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers and faulted captain William Troost-Ekong after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein.

The Eagles, who needed a victory to revive their fading hopes of qualifying for next year’s tournament in North America, suffered an early setback when Ola Aina limped off in the eighth minute.

Matters got worse when Troost-Ekong turned the ball into his own net in the 25th minute to hand Bafana Bafana the lead.

Though Calvin Bassey headed home an equaliser just before half-time, Nigeria failed to convert possession into goals after the break, with substitutes Tolu Arokodare, Samuel Chukwueze and Chrisantus Uche all unable to break down the South African defence.

In its post-match statement made available to journalists on Tuesday by the NFF Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire, the NFF singled out Dessers, who was withdrawn at half-time, for particular criticism.

“Cyriel Dessers, who had an unimpressive game in Uyo where he turned out to be a substitute that was substituted, did not have a better game as he was too slow to latch onto passes, could not win aerial balls and did little in bringing alive the Nigerian attack,” the statement read.

The statement also faulted skipper Troost-Ekong for handing the Bafana Bafana the opener.

“The Super Eagles’ fighting spirit was diminished for a period after team captain William Ekong inadvertently swept the ball into his own net in the 25th minute, wrong-footing Stanley Nwabali to give the Bafana the lead and great impetus,” the statement noted.

The federation, however, praised Calvin Bassey for his resilience after the Fulham defender grabbed Nigeria’s equaliser just before the break.

“Defender Calvin Bassey showed immense fighting spirit and resilience to get Nigeria back into the game with a minute left of the first period, when he ran with the ball upfront. The ball found Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, whose pull-out Bassey met firmly to nod past Ronwen Williams for the leveller,” the federation added.

But it reserved more criticism for the team’s second-half display.

Despite dominating possession in the second half, the NFF lamented that the Eagles “delivered little,” noting that substitutes Tolu Arokodare and Dele-Bashiru failed to convert late opportunities.

The draw leaves Nigeria with 11 points from eight matches in Group C, while South Africa remain top with 17.

The Super Eagles must now beat Lesotho and Benin Republic in their remaining fixtures and also hope rivals drop points to stand any chance of reaching next year’s World Cup in North America.

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Tinubu’s Chieftaincy Titles Revoked by Idoma Council

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Idoma Area Traditional Council has declared null and void the chieftaincy title conferred on President Bola Tinubu and four others at the Igede Agba yam festival in the Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.

The title, received on behalf of the President by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, was bestowed by the Adiharu of Igede, His Royal Highness CP Oga Ero (retd.), during Saturday’s celebration.

Four other dignitaries were similarly honoured at the event.

But in a statement on Monday, the Idoma Area Traditional Council, led by its President and Och’Idoma V, His Royal Majesty Dr. Elaigwu Odogbo John, described the conferment as a violation of its earlier directive suspending all chieftaincy title conferments in the Idoma nation.

The statement, signed by the council’s secretary, Mr. Adegbe Uloko, and titled “Nullification of Purported Chieftaincy Titles Conferred by the Igede Traditional Council,” stressed that the move contravened the council’s declaration dated September 2, 2025.

The council said, “The purported conferment of chieftaincy titles by the Igede Traditional Council on September 6, 2025, is in direct violation of the Declaration of the Idoma Area Traditional Council. Such conferments are null, void, and of no legal, customary, or traditional effect.”

Reaffirming its authority, the IATC said it remained the only government-recognised traditional body in the Idoma nation and warned that any acts contrary to its directives amounted to a breach of extant law.

It therefore urged the general public, government institutions, and traditional stakeholders to disregard the titles purportedly conferred on President Tinubu and the other recipients.

“This pronouncement is made to safeguard the integrity of traditional institutions in Benue State, to uphold due process and to maintain peace, unity, and order within the Idoma Area Traditional Council,” the statement added.

The council had last week announced a suspension of all chieftaincy title conferments across its domain, citing the need to sanitise and regulate the process.

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Senator Natasha
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JUST IN: You can’t resume Senate now, NASS tells Natasha

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The National Assembly (NASS) has informed suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, that she cannot resume her legislative duties yet after serving her six-month suspension.

According to the National Assembly bureaucracy, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension remains in effect as the case is still before the Court of Appeal.

Tribune Online earlier reports that after the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in favour of the Senate, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, dissatisfied with the judgment, approached the appellate court seeking redress.

In a letter dated September 4, 2025, and signed by the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly (Ag. CNA), Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, the Parliament acknowledged receipt of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s notification of her intended return to the Senate on the same date, which she cited as the end of her six-month suspension.

However, the letter clarified that her suspension, effective from March 6, 2025, remains in force while the matter is subjudice.

“The matter, therefore, remains subjudice, and until the judicial process is concluded and the Senate formally reviews the suspension in the light of the court’s pronouncement, no administrative action can be taken by this office to facilitate your resumption,” the letter read.

Dr. Danzaria further assured that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan “will be duly notified of the Senate’s decision on the matter as soon as it is resolved.”

Recall that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate in March 2025 following an alleged misconduct involving a dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio over seat arrangements during a plenary session on the floor of the Red Chamber.

The letter emphasised that the Senate will only review her suspension after the Court of Appeal delivers its final judgement.

 

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Umar
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Pastors, Imams must obtain license to Preach – Niger Govt declares

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The Niger State government has banned any form of religious preaching in the state and ordered anyone who wants to preach to obtain a licence.

The Director General of the Niger State Religious Affairs, Umar Farooq, confirmed the ban in a telephone chat on Thursday and said any preacher who wants to preach must obtain a licence.

He disclosed that preachers have between today and the next two months to obtain their licences.

“It is true, the State Government has banned preaching. Any preacher who wants to preach must secure a licence between now and the next two months.

All they need to do is to visit our office, get, and fill out the form. After which, they will have to face a panel that will screen them before they can start preaching,” Farooq said.

The Chief Imam of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Bashir Yankuzo, who reacted to the ban, said the government cannot stop preaching.

 

“My opinion is that preaching is a command. The government is not paying anyone for doing the job; people are preaching in order to earn the pleasure of God. So, the government cannot dictate who to preach to and who not to preach.

“But at the same time, if there are people who are going out of their way to cause security threats, using abusive words and so on, then government can have control over that in order to maintain peace and security.”

 

The secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Niger state chapter, Raphael Opawoye, in his remarks, said the Christian body is not aware of the ban.

 

“The Christian Association of Nigeria is not aware of the ban. We shall come up with a statement when we are officially informed,” he said.

 

An Islamic scholar, Ustaz Hassan, also reacted to the ban, saying, “This law needs to go to the State House of Assembly for proper legislative action.

 

A Minna-based journalist and Islamic scholar, Uthman Siraja, condemned the ban, saying it is an infringement on religious rights.

 

“The ban on preaching is an infringement of freedom of worship and religion.

 

“The best thing for the government to do is to invite and penalise any preacher who incites the public in the cause of his preaching,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

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