News
Information about recent events or developments, typically reported by media organizations
One of Nigeria’s top businessmen and investors, Tony Elumelu, could be on the verge of returning to Africa’s billionaire ranks after the value of his indirect stake in Seplat Energy Plc climbed to approximately $1.28 billion.
Tony Elumelu's indirect stake in Seplat Energy Plc has reached an estimated value of $1.28 billion, putting him close to returning to Africa’s billionaire ranks.
Elumelu holds his stake through Heirs Energies Ltd and Heirs Holdings Ltd, following their acquisition of a 20.07% share in Seplat for about $496 million.
He is set to become Seplat's next chairman at the beginning of 2027, further deepening his influence over one of West Africa’s largest oil and gas companies.
Elumelu was previously on Forbes Africa’s 50 Richest list in 2014 but dropped off due to a decline in asset values; the recent surge in Seplat could return him to billionaire status.
Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Group and founder and chairman of Heirs Holdings, owns the stake through Heirs Energies Ltd and Heirs Holdings Ltd.
At Seplat’s closing share price of N12,320.60 on September 1, 2026, his 120.4 million shares were worth about N1.48 trillion, equivalent to roughly $1.28 billion, as reported by Nairametrics.
The calculation is based on the value of the shares alone and does not mean Elumelu’s total net worth is necessarily $1.28 billion.
His broader wealth includes interests across banking, energy, power, hospitality, real estate and other businesses.
Still, the rise in his Seplat holding puts him within striking distance of the threshold used to define a billionaire and could put the Nigerian mogul back among Africa’s dollar billionaires.
Tony Elumelu’s influence on Seplat
In June, it was reported that Seplat named the Nigerian investor as its next chairman, deepening his influence over one of West Africa’s largest independent oil and gas producers following Heirs Energies’ acquisition of a 20.07% stake in the company.
Elumelu-backed Seplat becomes first NGX-listed firm to cross N10,000 per share
Mr. Elumelu is set to formally assume the position at the start of 2027.
His elevation follows Heirs Energies’ purchase of Maurel & Prom’s entire 20.07% stake in Seplat for about $496 million.
The transaction involved 120.4 million shares and made Heirs Energies the largest single shareholder in the oil and gas producer.
The acquisition was executed at 305 pence per share, representing a premium above Seplat’s then-market valuation on the London Stock Exchange
Shareholders later ratified his appointment at the company’s annual general meeting with 99.96% of votes cast in favour.
Founded in 2009, Seplat has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading independent energy producers with listings on both the Nigerian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange.
The company became the first listed firm on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) to surpass the N10,000 per share mark.
In April, the company’s shares climbed to a high of N10,450, pushing its market capitalisation from N5.73 trillion to N6.27 trillion, according to NGX data.
The stock gained 79.89% year-to-date, up from N5,809 at the end of 2025.
The rally was said to be fuelled by the major ownership shift involving Tony Elumelu.
Shares of Seplat Energy Plc surged sharply after Heirs Energies Limited acquired shares in the company, adding roughly $1.25 billion to the company's market value and energising sentiment on the Nigerian bourse.
Market data in February showed Seplat’s stock jumped 57 percent to about ₦9,099.90, equivalent to roughly $5.69 per share, amid stronger trading volumes and renewed institutional demand.
Since the deal was announced, the company’s share price has gained 56.65 percent, marking one of the most notable rallies for an energy-linked stock on the Nigerian Exchange in recent years.
Per its H1 unaudited result report, “Seplat Energy's production operations improved materially in 2Q 2026, bringing overall production into our guidance range.
The growth is driven by the return of Yoho (onstream 3Q 2026), increased contribution from new well stock (ongoing), ANOH ramp-up and the completion of Oso-BRT phase 1 (now 4Q 2026).”
Tony Elumelu: A billionaire before
Should Tony Elumelu be propelled into billionaire status, this would not be his first stint in the elusive club.
Forbes included him on its 2014 Africa’s 50 Richest list with an estimated fortune of $1 billion.
At the time, Forbes said Elumelu’s wealth was built largely around his controlling interest in Transcorp, the Nigerian conglomerate with interests spanning sectors including power, hospitality, energy and agriculture.
His fortune subsequently fell below the billion-dollar mark.
In 2015, Forbes estimated his net worth at about $700 million, citing a decline in the value of Transcorp, then his largest asset.
That made Elumelu an unusual figure among Africa’s wealthiest businessmen: a mogul who had already crossed the billion-dollar threshold but later dropped out as the value of his listed assets changed.
More than a decade later, the sharp rise in the value of his Seplat holding is giving him another route back.
Source: Business Insider Africa
0
4
By Promise Eze
The Rivers state police command says it has dismissed three officers linked to the alleged killing of Anthony Obodo, a resident in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Olugbenga Adepoju, police commissioner in Rivers, announced the dismissal on Wednesday in Port Harcourt while parading the three officers.
The police identified the victim as a student, but media reports described him as a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
Recounting the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death, Adepoju said on August 27 at about 5:30pm, a patrol team from the Agip division, led by Fabian Banabari, was returning from a special duty at the Yakubu Gowon stadium when the team sighted a black, fully tinted Lexus vehicle.
He said the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly sped off, prompting the patrol team to pursue it.
The police commissioner said during the pursuit, Alfred Louis, a corporal attached to the team, allegedly opened fire, hitting the driver.
“The victim was immediately rushed to Palmars hospital, Port Harcourt, where he was attended to and subsequently confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,” Adepoju said.
“The three members of the patrol team were immediately arrested and detained at the state CID, Port Harcourt, where a comprehensive investigation into the case was carried out. Efforts were also intensified to locate and arrest inspector Solomon Nwogu, who reportedly absconded following the incident.
“Following the conclusion of the investigation and the establishment of the complicity of the police involved, they have been tried in an orderly room with the other officer at large and recommended for dismissal from the Nigerian Police Force.
“They will subsequently be charged to court to face the appropriate criminal charges in accordance with the law.”
Adepoju said the command places a high premium on professionalism, accountability, respect for human rights, and the protection of life and property.
He said the command would not protect any officer found to have violated the law, adding that all allegations of misconduct would be investigated fairly and professionally.
Adepoju said the dismissal of the officers demonstrates the police’s commitment to accountability.
“The action taken against these officers demonstrates that the Nigerian Police Force will not shield personnel who abuse the powers entrusted to them or act contrary to the law and professional standards of the force. Let me reiterate that no police officer is above the law. Let me reassure you that the case will be charged to court,” he added.
Source: TheCable
1
6
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s public schools will temporarily ban elementary and middle school students from using generative artificial intelligence tools during the upcoming school year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday.
The one-year moratorium — part of a broader assessment of how children in the nation’s largest school system interact with the technology — will apply to “all software that uses student-facing generative AI” for students through eighth grade, the mayor’s office said. It described the policy as the most expansive prohibition in the country.
At the same time, the city will establish twice-yearly AI literacy classes for all public high school students. It will also launch pilot programs allowing some high school students to use a handful of AI platforms under an educator’s supervision. Companion chatbots will be prohibited across all grades, officials said.
The approach comes as students, parents and schools across the country attempt to navigate the use of AI tools in the classroom and elsewhere. Schools are working to teach children how to incorporate the technology while preventing them from relying too heavily on it or using it to cheat.
“Each day when our children come to school, we teach them to ask questions, to challenge assumptions, to interrogate the premise, to ask why. When it comes to AI in our schools, we hold an obligation to do the same,” Mamdani, a Democrat, said at a news conference.
The Los Angeles school district, where students returned to classrooms in mid-August, is temporarily blocking access to generative AI tools on student devices across all grades.
The Los Angeles Unified School District said Wednesday that the ban will remain in place across the country’s second-largest school district as officials develop a student AI policy during the school year.
In June, LAUSD became the first major school district to eliminate the use of school-issued devices for its youngest students as part of a sweeping screen time policy. The policy banned devices before second grade, set screen time limits for all grades and blocked YouTube and other social media sites during the school day.
In New York, the city will also recommend screen time limits for students, suggesting a daily cap of 30 minutes for students in grades three through five and 45 minutes for those in grades six through eight. Teachers will be allowed to use AI for instructional planning and operational tasks.
At least 37 states have official AI guidance that schools can use as a blueprint, though there is no single definition of AI literacy or consensus on how it should be taught. New York state last year approved a ban on students’ use of cellphones in schools.
Source: AP
0
6
By Kevin Breuninger
President Donald Trump on Wednesday floated renaming the Strait of Hormuz — the central point of contention in the ongoing war against Iran that the U.S. and Israel started — after himself.
The proposal via a Truth Social post came less than a week after Trump, who is locked in an intensifying feud with Canada, signed an executive order to change the name of Lake Ontario to "Lake America."
"Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT???" Trump wrote in the post Wednesday morning.
"Like America itself, it would be 'hotter' than ever before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP," he wrote.
It was not immediately clear how the president would attempt to implement a name change for the strait, which is not near the U.S.
The order renaming Lake Ontario directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his department to update the Geographic Names Information System with the new name. Canada rejected the change, though Google and Apple have recently updated their maps.
Early in his second presidential term, Trump also declared he was renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, a change also rejected by Mexico and other international counterparts. The U.S. borders Lake Ontario and the Gulf of Mexico, both of which have had their names for centuries.
A map shows the Strait of Hormuz on a computer screen on March 3, 2026.Nurphoto | Getty Images
It was also not immediately clear if Trump was serious about the latest plan to try to change the name of an international geographical feature.
Asked at the White House on Wednesday afternoon if he really intended to rename the strait, Trump suggested he did not.
"No, no ... it was just thrown out there," Trump said.
Trump and his administration have repeatedly insisted that Iran has lost control over the strait, which carried one-fifth of the world's oil trade before the war began in late February.
But transits through the waterway remain far below prewar levels, and ship trackers say they have dropped further in recent days, as military strikes in the region have resumed following a weekslong hiatus.
Source: CNBC
0
2
Bismarck Rewane, chief executive officer (CEO) of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, says Nigeria’s economy is growing faster than its population, meaning Nigerians should be getting richer as economic output increases.
On August 31, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.43 percent in real terms in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Tuesday, the economist said the figure should be assessed as a measure of economic output rather than revenue.
He said Nigeria’s estimated population growth rate of about 2 percent means the economy is expanding faster than the population.
“Technically, it means that Nigerians should be getting richer because of the increase in output, as far as increasing population,” he said.
Rewane said Nigeria’s growth rate is significantly higher than the global GDP growth rate of about 2.3 to 2.4 percent.
“So, our rate of growth rate is twice the global growth rate. It’s equal to the African growth rate,” he said.
Rewane said the 4.43 percent growth rate was a strong performance compared with Nigeria’s previous position.
“So, I can say clearly that 4.43% is actually very good compared to where we were,” he said.
“If you look at it properly, you’ll find that 4.43% is the real GDP growth rate. The potential GDP growth rate is also about 4%. So, that is good.”
He said oil refining emerged as the fastest-growing sector during the period.
According to Rewane, oil refining growth increased from 15.78 percent in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025 to 43.94 percent in Q2 of 2026.
Rewane attributed the growth in refining to investments in the sector and the operations of modular refineries.
“It is needless to say, we know that the refinery has invested a lot. The modular refineries are also on. So, we have a plus 28 percent increase,” he said.
The economist said the non-oil sector also expanded its contribution to the economy, accounting for 95 percent of GDP, while the contribution of the oil sector declined.
“But note that oil sector is the primary goose that lays the foreign exchange eggs that we use to drive the economy,” he said.
Rewane said the NBS tracks 46 economic activities, of which 30 expanded during the period, 11 slowed and five contracted.
“So, generally speaking, the economy is doing well in terms of activity levels,” he said.
The economist also compared the GDP performance with the purchasing managers’ index (PMI), saying the index had increased over the preceding three months.
Rewane said the improvement in the PMI, which serves as a leading indicator, was reflected in the GDP growth.
Therefore, as a leading indicator, he said the GDP also increased.
Source: TheCable
0
4
Erin Piacenti, 32, was vice-president of business selection and conflicts at Bank of America
By Daniel Bates
A Bank of America vice-president was named as the victim of a stabbing attack in New York’s Times Square on Monday.
Erin Piacenti, 32, was killed when a knife-wielding woman, Pamela Cisneros, went on an apparently random stabbing attack.
She also stabbed a man, who survived, before she was shot dead by police in front of a crowd of onlookers.
The stabbing happened on Monday afternoon in Times Square as hundreds of tourists looked on.
Ms Piacenti was vice-president of business selection and conflicts at Bank of America in Manhattan.
According to social media posts reported by the New York Post, she had celebrated her second wedding anniversary on Aug 10, three weeks before she was killed.
Ms Piacenti was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law School and had previously worked at Morgan Stanley, an investment bank.
In a statement, Bank of America said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague.
“She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones.”
The stabbing happened on Monday afternoon in Times Square as hundreds of tourists looked on in horror and ran for cover as the drama unfolded.
The two knives recovered at the scene of the fatal stabbing.
According to police, Cisneros, who was known to have a history of mental health issues, stabbed Ms Piacenti and a man in the apparently random attack.
Jessica Tisch, the NYPD commissioner, said at a press conference that the officers engaged the woman in dialogue for four minutes and gave her numerous commands to drop the knives, which she refused.
Jessica Tisch, the NYPD commissioner, next to Zohran Mamdani, the New York mayor, at the the press conference following the stabbing.
“During the encounter, she told the officers: ‘I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you’,” Ms Tisch said.
Videos of the incident showed Cisneros raising the knives and charging at officers, who shot her.
Police had tried to use tasers to subdue her, but she pulled them off and continued to make threats, Ms Tisch said.
The shooting occurred just outside One Times Square, the building where the annual New Year’s Eve ball-drop celebration is hosted.
Ms Tisch said: “This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world. At any given moment, there are thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families, workers, moving through these streets.”
During the press conference, Zohran Mamdani, the New York mayor, said: “Our thoughts, not only for those of us who are here right now, but of the entire city, are with the families of both of these victims.
“We know those families’ lives have been shattered by what took place today, and we will continue to hold them close as the hours and days and weeks continue from this moment.”
Source: Telegraph UK
0
3
Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle says Nigeria will soon overcome insecurity as government intensifies efforts to restore lasting peace nationwide
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, says Nigeria will soon overcome insecurity as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to restore lasting peace across the country.
Matawalle spoke on Monday in Kano during a condolence and assessment visit to the state government following the August 29 bandit attack on Chiroma village in Garun Mallam Local Government Area.
He said the government was adopting a combination of proactive security operations, strategic planning and stronger collaboration with state governments to address the country’s security challenges.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to defeating insecurity and creating a safer environment for Nigerians.
“The president has set up a committee to formulate a five-year defence and security strategy. The plan will provide a framework for addressing security threats across the country over the long term,” he said.
Matawalle said security forces had launched a joint operation following the attack, led by Brigadier General Saka Jimoh, Commander of the 3 Brigade, Kano.
According to him, personnel from the Joint Task Force operating from the Hawan-Kwano and Kwanar Dangora camps participated in the operation, which led to the rescue of several kidnapped victims around the Yan-Kifi Bridge and Marabar Kwari areas of Garun Mallam LGA.
The minister commended the troops for their efforts, saying the Federal Government would continue to strengthen the operational capabilities of the armed forces and other security agencies.
He stressed that defeating insecurity would require sustained cooperation among the federal, state and local governments, as well as active participation by citizens through the provision of credible information to security agencies.
“We will continue to provide every necessary support to our security agencies to keep the country safe. I am confident that insecurity will soon become a thing of the past, allowing Nigerians to live in peace and prosperity,” he said.
Matawalle further pledged additional Federal Government support for Kano State, including fighting vehicles, weapons and other operational equipment to strengthen security operations.
He also held a closed-door meeting with commanders of the 3 Brigade and other security formations in Kano, charging them to sustain ongoing operations and intensify efforts to protect communities.
The minister said the Federal Government would continue to provide the resources and support required to protect lives and property and safeguard the country’s territorial integrity.
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, thanked Matawalle for the visit and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to working with the Federal Government to improve security across the state.
“We have confidence in your leadership. At the state level, we will continue to take the necessary steps to promote security and maintain stability in Kano,” Yusuf said.
“We have taken note of the President’s commitment to strengthening security in Nigeria, and we will work to ensure that insecurity does not persist in our domain.”
Source: Arise News
0
6
By Busola Aro
President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria’s economy is on an “irreversible path” to stronger growth following the latest gross domestic product (GDP) figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The NBS, on Monday, reported that Nigeria’s real GDP grew by 4.43 percent year-on-year in the second quarter (Q2) of 2026, compared with 4.23 percent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
The president, in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, said the figures showed that the economic reforms implemented by his administration were yielding results.
Tinubu said the economy had been stabilised after three years of implementing what he described as “necessary reforms,” adding that the government’s focus would now shift to ensuring that stronger economic performance translates into improved living conditions.
“In the past three years, we tried to do the hard part by implementing the necessary reforms to stabilise the economy. Now the economy is stabilised, and we have laid the foundation for a prosperous nation,” he said.
“The results of the efforts are becoming very clear to all: The Renewed Hope Agenda is working.”
Tinubu also said the government’s reforms had also contributed to stronger external reserves, improved credit ratings, increased oil production and renewed investor interest.
“Because of those tough decisions, today Nigeria has trade surpluses. Our foreign reserves are at their highest in 17 years. Our credit rating has moved up several notches,” the president said.
He also cited investments in roads, railways and other infrastructure, as well as the absence of strikes in universities and the expansion of student loans through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The president said the government would in the coming weeks introduce measures aimed at easing pressure on vulnerable Nigerians, including cheaper transportation, increased food production and other relief programmes.
“We are fully committed to translating consistent, stronger economic performance into better microeconomic outcomes for our citizens,” Tinubu said.
The president said Nigeria must stay vigilant by “ensuring the sustainable progress we are recording remains irreversible”.
Source: TheCable
0
6
By Busola Aro
The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) says recent changes in electricity allocations to distribution companies (DisCos) in Lagos, Abuja, and northern Nigeria were caused by transmission line outages and network constraints, rather than a shortage of generation.
The operator spoke in a statement on Sunday, NISO said multiple transmission faults reduced the capacity to move available electricity to the affected areas, forcing it to temporarily cut allocations to DisCos to keep the national grid within safe operating limits.
The clarification comes amid changes in power supply allocations to Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IE) and DisCos serving Abuja and northern states.
NISO said the amount of electricity generated does not automatically determine how much power can be delivered to a particular location.
“The changes in allocations occurred due to multiple transmission line outages that affected available transmission capacity and configuration of the network at different times,” the statement reads.
“Adjustments were made in the course of normal system operations to ensure that the interconnected network remained within secure operating limits.
“The availability of generation does not, by itself, guarantee that the available power can be delivered to a particular load centre.
“Power transfer is dependent on the availability and capacity of transmission infrastructure and the prevailing configuration of the network.”
For Lagos, NISO said the state was affected by outages on the Olorunsogo-Ayede 330kV Line 1, Benin-Egbin 330kV Line 1 and Benin-Omotosho 330kV Line 1.
“The Osogbo-Ikeja West circuit was also unavailable for an extended period,” the operator said.
According to NISO, the combined outages reduced the amount of electricity that could be safely transmitted into Lagos.
The operator said it consequently reviewed and curtailed allocations to EKEDC, Ikeja Electric, and the Sakete international supply.
“The northern corridor was affected by the tripping of the Shiroro-Mararaba 330kV Line 1 between August 24 and 26,” NISO said.
“The outage affected allocations to Abuja and northern parts of the country because the remaining transmission circuit had to carry the load.
“The situation worsened at 6:47am on August 27 when the Shiroro-Mando 330kV Line 2 and Mando-Jos 330kV Line 1 tripped simultaneously.”
NISO said Mando-Jos Line 1 was then the only available transmission circuit serving Jos and the north-east, while the alternative Apir-Lafia 330kV Lines 1 and 2 had been out of service for an extended period because of faults.
The simultaneous outages significantly reduced transmission supply to Jos and the north-east.
NISO said the separation of the bus at the Mando transmission substation further changed the network configuration and restricted power transfer to the affected areas.
The operator said it subsequently revised and curtailed allocations to Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Yola, and other affected northern locations.
For Abuja axis, NISO said there was a temporary transmission constraint on August 29, noting that the Shiroro-Katampe 330kV line 1 and Gwagwalada-Katampe 330kV line 1 tripped simultaneously at 3:55 am.
According to the operator, the two circuits were restored at 7:25 am and 7:20 am, respectively, after which transmission capacity to the Abuja axis was recovered.
‘ALLOCATIONS REDUCED DUE TO NETWORK CONDITIONS, CAPACITY’
NISO said it continuously monitors the national grid and adjusts generation dispatch and DisCo allocations based on available transmission capacity and network conditions.
“Where a transmission fault limits the amount of power that can be safely moved, the system operator may redistribute generation, reduce load or revise allocations to DisCos,” the statement added.
The operator said such measures are necessary to prevent wider disturbances on the interconnected grid.
NISO said the recent changes in allocations should, therefore, be understood as a consequence of transmission constraints and network configuration at the affected times, rather than a lack of available generation.
Source: TheCable
0
2
0
2
byTheCable
President Bola Tinubu will commence his three-week leave today, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said on Sunday.
The president is expected to depart Abuja later in the day for Europe, where he will spend what has been described as a “working vacation”.
“His first stop will be London, United Kingdom,” the presidential spokesperson said.
“President Tinubu is expected to return home after the working vacation to join the hectic campaign for the January 2027 election.”
The president also had his 2025 annual vacation in September, taking 10 days off.
Equally described as a working vacation, Tinubu was in the United Kingdom and France for the duration.
The president’s 2026 leave comes in the wake of the conclusion of Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s two-week vacation.
Stanley Nkwocha, senior special assistant on media and communications (office of the vice-president), had described the leave as Shettima’s first since assuming office.
The vice-president returned from his leave two days ahead of schedule on August 18.
Source: TheCable
0
1
The Department of State Services (DSS) has directed its counsel to seek an adjournment of the cybercrime case against Omoyele Sowore until after the 2027 presidential election.
A DSS source confirmed to TheCable that the decision is to guarantee Sowore’s seamless participation in the polls.
Sowore is the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC).
The presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while campaigns for the polls commenced on August 19, 2026, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable.
The source said Tosin Ajayi, DSS director-general, met with the agency’s counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, and the legal directorate officials on August 20 to deliberate on the issue.
“The DSS boss reportedly told the senior advocate and his directorate of legal services that, with the commencement of presidential campaigns, it would only be fair to adjourn the court case in order to enable Sowore fully participate in the upcoming elections without let or hindrance,” the source said.
“He added that, since the matter had been in court for nearly a year, suspending it for another few months wouldn’t make much difference.”
The DSS source said the agency’s position is expected to be formally communicated to the federal high court on September 14.
TheCable understands that other cases involving candidates for elective positions in 2027 are also being reviewed.
WHY THE DSS CHARGED SOWORE TO COURT
The DSS instituted the case against Sowore over posts he made on his X handle and Facebook page on August 25, 2025, in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”.
The service had asked Sowore to remove the posts within seven days.
After he failed to comply with the directive, the DSS approached the federal high court in Abuja on September 16, 2025, seeking judicial interpretation on whether it was lawful to describe the president or any individual as a criminal.
X Corp and Meta Platforms Inc., operators of X and Facebook respectively, were initially joined as defendants in the case.
Before filing the case, the DSS had written to X demanding the deactivation of Sowore’s verified account, arguing that the post could incite violence and threaten national security.
The service had also written to Meta, saying its mandate to protect the president extends beyond physical threats.
In January 2026, the DSS amended the charge, reducing the counts from five to two and removing X and Meta as defendants, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant.
Sowore subsequently pleaded not guilty to the allegations and secured bail.
Source: TheCable
0
3
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has issued an Executive Order establishing a Coroner Inquest/Panel of Inquiry into the killings, shootings, injuries and violence reported at Naira and Kobo Junction, Motor Park/Garage Area, Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area, on August 24, 2026.
The panel, headed by Magistrate Ayokunle Shiyanbola, will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, determine the identities and number of victims, establish the immediate and remote causes of the violence and examine whether criminal responsibility is connected to the deaths.
The Executive Order, which takes effect on August 31, also mandates the panel to investigate the role of security operatives and determine whether live ammunition or other weapons were used during the incident and whether their use complied with the law, rules of engagement and human rights standards.
The state government disclosed this in a statement on Saturday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, “The panel is mandated to determine the circumstances leading to the shootings and killings, examine the role of security operatives, establish whether live ammunition or other weapons were used and whether their use complied with the law, rules of engagement and human rights standards.”
The panel will also investigate whether the actions or omissions of individuals or groups contributed to the violence.
“It is also empowered to identify any individual, group, security personnel, political actor, transport union member, public official or other person whose action or omission may have contributed to the incident,” the statement said.
The inquiry may recommend prosecution, disciplinary measures, compensation for victims and institutional reforms to prevent a recurrence.
“The panel may recommend prosecution, disciplinary measures, compensation for victims and institutional reforms to prevent recurrence,” the government said.
The panel will also have wide powers to gather evidence and compel witnesses to participate in the inquiry.
“The inquiry will have powers to summon witnesses, demand relevant police and medical records, inspect the scene of the incident and other relevant locations, receive oral and documentary evidence, and recommend protective measures for witnesses and persons at risk of intimidation or retaliation,” the statement said.
Adeleke also ordered the preservation of evidence that could help establish what happened during the violence.
“Governor Adeleke also directed the preservation of firearms, ammunition records, station diaries, communication logs, incident reports, duty rosters, medical records, autopsy reports, photographs, videos and other materials relevant to the inquiry,” the statement said.
The Executive Order further provides for the protection of witnesses and families of those killed, while requiring the government to obtain medical and forensic documentation and maintain peace in Ikire pending the conclusion of the inquiry.
“The Executive Order further calls for appropriate measures to protect witnesses and victims’ families, obtain medical and forensic documentation, and maintain peace in Ikire pending the conclusion of the inquiry,” it said.
As part of the measures surrounding the inquiry, the Inspector-General of Police, Police Service Commission and Osun State Commissioner of Police have been formally asked to take interim administrative steps concerning any police officer whose continued operational command could affect the investigation or public confidence.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Police Service Commission and Osun State Commissioner of Police are formally requested to take appropriate interim administrative steps concerning any police officer whose continued operational command may prejudice the inquiry or affect public confidence,” the statement said.
Magistrate Shiyanbola will chair the panel, while Mr Abiodun Badiora will serve as secretary.
Other members are AIG (Dr) Aderanti C. Kayode, mni (retd.), Mr Dele Akintayo, a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association, Comrade Wale Balogun representing Civil Society Organisations, a community representative from Ikire and Dr Babatunde Afolabi as Medical/Forensic Representative.
The panel is expected to commence sitting within seven days of its inauguration and submit its final report to the Osun State Government within 30 days from the date of its first sitting, subject to any necessary extension approved by the governor.
The government has also invited those with information about the incident to submit evidence to the panel.
“The government has invited victims’ families, eyewitnesses, journalists, transport workers, police officers, medical personnel, civil society organisations, political parties, community leaders, human rights activists and other concerned persons to submit memoranda and evidence to the panel,” the statement said.
Adeleke assured residents of Ikire, families of the deceased, the injured and the wider public that the inquiry would be conducted thoroughly, fairly and transparently.
“The Governor assured the people of Ikire, families of the deceased, the injured and the general public that the incident would be investigated thoroughly, fairly and transparently,” the statement said.
The governor also declared that anyone found culpable would not be protected because of their position, influence or political connections.
“The Executive Order states that no person found culpable shall be shielded from justice, irrespective of status, office, political connection or institutional affiliation,” the statement said.
It, however, stressed that allegations against any individual must be established by credible evidence before the inquiry.
The government said the order “stress[es] that all allegations remain allegations until established by credible evidence before the Coroner Inquest/Panel.”
Source: Punch
0
2
President Donald Trump posted a graphic on Truth Social declaring himself "The Greatest" president in American history, placing his name in a standalone category above every one of his predecessors while sorting several former Democratic presidents into a "Failures" tier alongside his post on Thursday.
The chart divides presidents into six tiers, ranging from "The Greatest" down to "Failures," with Trump alone occupying the top category. Directly beneath him, in the "Great" tier, sit Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. A "Near Great" tier includes Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland, John Adams and James Polk.
At the bottom of the chart, Trump's "Failures" tier lists Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Ulysses S. Grant, Warren Harding and Jimmy Carter. An "Average" category includes Bill Clinton, John Quincy Adams, James Monroe, Rutherford Hayes, James Madison, Martin Van Buren, William Taft, Chester Arthur, William McKinley, Andrew Johnson, Herbert Hoover and Benjamin Harrison, while John Tyler, Calvin Coolidge, Millard Fillmore, Zachary Taylor, James Buchanan and Franklin Pierce make up a "Below Average" tier.
The graphic appears to be a modified version of a ranking first published by LIFE magazine in 1948, based on a survey historian Arthur Schlesinger Sr. conducted among 55 experts in American history at the time.
Trump's version largely preserves the original tiers and their occupants but inserts his own name at the top and adds Biden, Obama and Carter to the "Failures" category, a group that did not exist in that form in the 1948 survey, which could not have included any of the three given the era it covered.
The chart also leaves out nearly a dozen presidents entirely, including Ronald Reagan, both Presidents Bush, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Harry Truman, whose omission from the original 1948 survey reflected the fact that he was still in office at the time it was conducted. William Henry Harrison and James Garfield, both of whom died shortly after taking office, are similarly absent.
Trump shared the ranking alongside a CNN clip highlighting polling that showed strong support for him among Republican voters. The post drew swift commentary from several media outlets, with some noting the irony of a president whose approval ratings have hovered in the mid-30s placing himself above Lincoln and Washington, and others pointing out that Trump has previously offered more favourable assessments of some of the excluded presidents, at one point describing Reagan as "high quality" and Lyndon Johnson as a "tough cookie" in separate remarks.
The post adds to a pattern of Trump using tiered rankings and comparative graphics on Truth Social to promote his standing while drawing contrasts with political rivals, a format he has used repeatedly through his second term.
The White House had not issued a follow-up statement elaborating on the criteria behind the rankings as of the time of this report.
0
3
President Bola Tinubu has directed Taiwo Oyedele, minister of finance and co-ordinating minister of the economy, to oversee and coordinate a comprehensive forensic audit of federal government systems.
Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said in a statement on Friday that the audit will include a review of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), federal government agencies, and their administration and internal controls.
According to Onanuga, the directive follows the federal executive council’s (FEC) resolution on August 19, 2026, in response to findings by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on “fake agencies”, ghost workers, and other control failures.
He said the exercise would establish the nature and extent of weaknesses in government’s control system and determine how such loopholes have been exploited.
He added that the review would comprise two interconnected components, with the first focusing on a forensic audit of government systems, particularly IPPIS and related payroll, personnel, pension and financial-management platforms.
“It will examine reported cases of ghost workers and payroll fraud, reconcile the figures identified by the ICPC, trace how fictitious or ineligible persons were enrolled, and review access, identity, biometric and bank-account controls,” the statement reads.
“The exercise will also examine the interfaces between IPPIS and other government platforms, including GIFMIS, Remita, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Sub-TSA, to determine whether fraud resulted from system defects, process failures, inadequate segregation of duties or deliberate circumvention.”
Onanuga said the second component of the audit would cover all federal government agencies, departments, commissions, councils, parastatals and other government bodies.
He said the audit would establish a definitive inventory of such bodies and verify their legal basis, while examining how entities obtain official recognition, budgetary consideration, correspondence privileges, office facilities and access to government systems.
The exercise, the presidential spokesperson noted, would also assess governance, procurement, internal audit, and oversight controls across government to close systemic weaknesses that could allow irregular entities or persons to access public resources.
Onanuga said Tinubu directed that the exercise be conducted with the highest standards of independence, professionalism and forensic integrity.
He said the audit team will have access to relevant government systems and records as well as collaborate with the ICPC to ensure that the review complements all ongoing investigations, prosecutions and recoveries.
“President Tinubu expects the exercise to go beyond identifying individual cases of fraud or administrative failure by strengthening the architecture of government, closing systemic loopholes, improving data verification and reconciliation, reinforcing accountability, and ensuring that only duly constituted entities and eligible personnel have access to government resources,” Onanuga said.
He added that the exercise underscores the president’s commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability, fiscal governance and institutional integrity across the federal government.
BACKGROUND
The development comes amid a wider ICPC investigation into the activities of the alleged fake Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and other procedural weaknesses in government.
On Friday, Tinubu ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries following the ICPC’s discovery of another “fake agency” operating within the premises of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF).
The president also ordered the arrest of George Nwabueze, the national coordinator of the “fake agency” identified as National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office.
Critics, including Ali Ndume, former senate leader and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have cited the ongoing fake agency scandal as evidence of oversight lapses of the current administration.
Source: TheCable
0
2