Nelson Ugwuagbo

A United States congressman, Scott Perry, has accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of financing terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State (ISIS), al-Qaeda, and their local affiliates such as Boko Haram.

Perry made the claims on Thursday during the inaugural session of the Congress’ Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), an advisory body created by former US President Donald Trump. The subcommittee, chaired by billionaire Elon Musk, is tasked with reducing government spending but has been criticized for allegedly obstructing the operations of multiple agencies, including USAID.

While Trump has frequently accused USAID of corruption, Musk has described the agency as a “viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America” and claimed it engages in “rogue CIA work” and funds bioweapons research, including COVID-19.

Most of these allegations remain unproven, with critics, including many Democrats, accusing Trump and Musk of misrepresenting the agency’s work to justify its shutdown.

Perry alleged that USAID’s annual budget of $697 million, which includes cash shipments to Islamic schools (madrasas), has inadvertently funded terrorist training camps and extremist groups.

“Your money, $697 million annually, plus shipments of cash, funds ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, and terrorist training camps,” he stated in a video circulating on social media.

However, he did not provide evidence to support his claim, and Democrats argue that Republicans are unfairly demonizing USAID in an effort to dismantle it.

Perry also questioned USAID’s spending in Pakistan, claiming that $136 million allocated for the construction of 120 schools had not resulted in any actual buildings. He further criticized the agency’s $840 million education-related programs in Pakistan over the past two decades, along with an additional $20 million spent on educational television for children in remote areas.

In Afghanistan, Perry pointed to USAID’s $60 million Women’s Scholarship Endowment and the $5 million Young Women Lead programs, questioning their impact in a country where the Taliban restricts women’s public engagement.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to battle terrorism, with the military engaged in prolonged conflict against Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Both groups have received external funding, particularly ISWAP, which maintains financial ties with ISIS. Boko Haram, following a split in 2016, has largely relied on taxation and violent raids for revenue.

In 2020, a court in the United Arab Emirates convicted six Nigerians for financing Boko Haram, leading the Nigerian government to track other individuals and businesses linked to terrorist funding.

The Federal Government has announced plans to create a special security unit, dubbed the ‘Power Rangers,’ to safeguard the nation’s power installations and infrastructure from vandalism.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Friday during an interview on Sunrise Daily, stating that the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Minister of Power.

The unit, comprising officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), will be tasked with preventing the vandalism of power infrastructure, which has contributed to recurring blackouts across the country.

Citing the increasing incidents of attacks on power installations, the minister emphasized the need for a sector-specific security approach. He noted that the initiative was inspired by the success of the Mines Marshals, a special security outfit established in March 2024 to address security issues in the mining sector.

“What we had before this administration was a generalised approach to protecting national assets. But we realised that a one-size-fits-all solution is ineffective,” Tunji-Ojo said.

He explained that a tailored security strategy was necessary for different sectors, including power, water, education, and health.

While the timeline for the launch of the ‘Power Rangers’ unit was not disclosed, the minister confirmed that preparations were already underway.

“We’ve agreed on the modus operandi, and screening of officers is ongoing,” he said.

According to him, officers will be deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, ensuring comprehensive coverage of power infrastructure nationwide.

“We are in the process of onboarding officers, evaluating their capacity, competence, areas of specialization, and even physical strength,” he added.

The initiative aims to enhance the protection of electricity assets and reduce disruptions caused by vandalism.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano Sector Command has confirmed the death of 16 persons in a road accident at the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover, Hotoro area of Kano, on Friday.

In a statement, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Labaran, said the accident involved a DAF trailer carrying goods and 71 passengers. He attributed the crash to dangerous driving and overspeeding, which led to a loss of control.

“The total number of people involved was 71, with 52 injured and 16 fatalities,” he stated.

Labaran said the FRSC rescue team, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, responded swiftly to the incident, evacuating the injured victims to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, for urgent medical attention.

He added that the FRSC Sector Commander, CC UM Matazu, has dispatched an investigation team to conduct a detailed inquiry into the crash.

Matazu extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a swift recovery. He also urged motorists to comply with traffic regulations and warned against overloading trailers with goods, animals, and passengers, emphasizing that such practices increase the risk of fatal accidents.

Tigran Gambaryan, the head of financial crime at Binance, has accused three Nigerian lawmakers of demanding a $150 million bribe to prevent his arrest and prosecution.

Mr. Gambaryan, who was detained in Nigeria for several months alongside another Binance official, made the allegations in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. He identified the lawmakers as Peter Akpanke, Philip Agbese, and Ginger Obinna Onwusibe.

Mr. Onwusibe is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, while Mr. Agbese serves as the deputy spokesperson of the House.

The Binance executive claimed that during his detention, the lawmakers staged a meeting with fake cameras and media to make it appear official. He alleged that they ultimately requested the bribe in cryptocurrency, to be deposited into their personal wallets.

“The DSS was involved in the House of Representatives matter. We met with them at their office on Friday, January 5, 2024, as a prerequisite to our meeting with the House of Representatives,” Mr. Gambaryan stated. “They alluded to the fact that we had to comply with whatever the House members instructed us to do.”

“At the House meeting, there were three members present. Two of them were Peter Akpanke and Philip Agbese, both working under the leadership of Ginger Obinna Onwusibe. There was a third House member, but I don’t recall his name,” he added.

Efforts to obtain reactions from the lawmakers are ongoing. However, the House of Representatives has previously denied allegations of bribery involving Binance officials.

Mr. Gambaryan was released after the Nigerian government dropped charges against him, following intervention by the U.S. government.

The Ekiti State Chief Magistrates’ Court has struck out the defamation suit against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.

The case was dismissed following an application by the police prosecutor, Martins Akala, seeking its withdrawal.

Earlier, on January 29, 2025, the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti had also struck out cyberbullying and defamation charges against Farotimi after the police applied for their withdrawal.

Farotimi was arraigned by the Ekiti State Police on December 4, 2024, over alleged defamation of legal luminary Afe Babalola in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he reportedly accused Babalola of influencing Supreme Court justices.

He was granted bail on December 20, 2024, and the case was scheduled for hearing on February 13, 2025. However, on January 27, 2025, Babalola agreed to withdraw the charges following the intervention of traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the police prosecutor informed the court of the directive to withdraw the charges.

“This matter is slated for hearing today. But I want to seek leave of the court to withdraw the charge against the defendant on the instruction of the police authorities,” Akala stated.

Reacting to the ruling, Farotimi’s counsel, Kembi Adejare, welcomed the decision.

“The case was struck out based on the application of the prosecution. We welcomed it. They brought us here, and they asked us to go,” he said. “In open court, I said they had just removed the chains—they brought the chains, they removed the chains. Why should we complain?”

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has called on Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, to resign over what it described as his failure to address the rising security challenges in the state.

In a statement issued on Thursday, COSEYL President General, Goodluck Ibem, expressed concern over the recent surge in killings, kidnappings, robberies, and other criminal activities in Anambra.

The group condemned the situation, alleging that Governor Soludo had failed in his duty to protect lives and property. It further cited the kidnapping and killing of two sitting Anambra State House of Assembly members under his administration as unprecedented in the state’s history.

“Its illustrious sons and daughters are kidnapped in broad daylight, with some victims losing their lives even after paying ransom. Revered priests have also fallen victim to these criminal elements,” the statement read.

COSEYL accused the governor of failing in his primary responsibility of ensuring security and issued a seven-day ultimatum for his resignation. The group warned that failure to comply would result in a mass protest involving one million people, vowing to occupy streets and roads until he steps down.

Residents of Ogale community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have staged a protest over an oil spill allegedly caused by Shell Nigeria.

Carrying placards with messages such as “Shell, Clean Up Your Mess,” the protesters marched through the area, demanding accountability for the environmental damage.

Shell Nigeria had on February 5 reported an oil spill in Ogale, near Port Harcourt, attributing it to an overflow from a saver pit during flushing operations. The company stated that its spill response team had contained the overflow and informed relevant authorities. It also noted that arrangements were underway for a regulator-led joint assessment of the cause and impact of the spill.

The Niger Delta region has faced decades of oil spills, leading to severe environmental degradation and affecting the livelihoods and health of millions in local communities.

The Senate and House of Representatives have approved the N54.9 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In the House of Representatives, the bill was passed on Thursday after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole. It was earlier presented at plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, before being adopted through a voice vote conducted by Speaker Abbas Tajuddeen.

The approved budget allocates:

• N3.64 trillion for statutory transfers,
• N14.32 trillion for debt service,
• N13.06 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and
• N23.96 trillion for capital expenditure.

In the Senate, the bill was passed following the presentation of a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out the budget breakdown before the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved a motion for its third reading. The motion was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), leading to the final passage of the bill.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

During the handover ceremony in Lagos, Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that some importers of the seized weapons had been convicted, while other cases remained in court.

He added that 11 suspects linked to the arms trafficking network were also transferred for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Adeniyi emphasized the NCS’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders through targeted anti-smuggling operations and intelligence-driven interventions. He highlighted Customs’ role in national security, particularly in intercepting illegal arms and ammunition.

Speaking at the event, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, represented by NCCSALW Director General Johnson Kokumo, commended the collaboration between Customs and other security agencies. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to curbing the circulation of illicit arms.

This is not the first major arms seizure by the NCS. In May 2018, the agency intercepted 440 pump-action rifles concealed in 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (POP) cement at Tin Can Island Port. Further investigations led to the discovery of two additional containers loaded with firearms hidden among sanitary wares.