The family of popular Nigerian singer, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2face, has petitioned the Department of State Services over his whereabouts, declaring him missing.

In a petition signed by their lawyer, Wilson Anuge, dated February 7, the Idibia family stated that the singer, also known as 2Baba, had been missing since 10 February 2025 and had not been seen since.

The family explained that the 2face also known as 2Baba left his residence on that day in his loungewear, suggesting that he was going for his habitual walk, but he never returned home.

“We are writing to urgently seek your assistance regarding a profoundly troubling situation involving a member of the Idibia family, Mr Innocent Idibia (also known as Tuface or 2Baba), whom our client reasonably believes has been missing since Monday, February 10, 2025.

“We believe that Mr Innocent left his residence in the early hours of 10 February 2025 in his loungewear, suggesting that he was going for his habitual walk, but he has not returned home since then. Despite the best efforts of his family, staff, and the management of his record label to reach or locate him—including contacting his friends and acquaintances—they have been unable to establish any contact or ascertain his whereabouts.

“This disturbing situation, coupled with the fact that those who should have heard from him have not done so for over 72 hours, has left his entire family deeply concerned,” the petition read in part.

The family noted that 2Baba had never gone missing before, nor had he ever abandoned his work for such an extended period. They added that it was out of character for him to be completely out of touch.

They also expressed concern over calls from several of his close friends who had received messages from what appeared to be his social media accounts soliciting financial assistance.

“These messages are alarming, as Mr Innocent is financially independent and has never required assistance in such a manner. This has led his family to suspect that his identity may have been compromised and that someone may have abducted him, actively manipulating him to exploit his contacts for monetary gain.

“The implications of this situation are grave, and the possibility of foul play or coercion cannot be overlooked. As a family, our clients are deeply worried not only about his physical safety but also about the potential misuse of his identity while he remains unaccounted for.”

The family, therefore, requested the intervention of the DSS, urging the agency to use its resources and expertise to locate 2Baba.

“It is worthy of note that the victim is a legend and holds a celebrity status in the Nigerian music industry, with countless youths and citizens looking up to him—not to mention his wife, children, relatives, and employees, who are now traumatised. His musical empire has also been left in a state of paralysis as a direct consequence of the suspect’s criminal act of abducting him and rendering him incommunicado.

“Our humble request is that you intervene urgently to investigate, locate, and rescue the victim from wherever the suspect is currently detaining him.”

PUNCH Online reports that a video went viral on Thursday showing the singer proposing to a lawmaker in the Edo State House of Assembly, Natasha Osaruwa, just hours after professing his desire to marry her.

The proposal came amid reports of his planned divorce from his estranged wife, Annie Idibia.

Meanwhile, 2Baba’s mother, Rose Idibia, released a video on Friday, urging Nigerians to plead with Natasha to release her son, stating that he had not been himself lately.

• He’s peddling falsehoods,says Information Minister
• We’ll meet in  court, says House member Agbese
• Onwusibe: No comment because we are already in court

Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan drew angry reactions  from the Federal Government and  two members of the House of Representatives yesterday after alleging that National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu  and three Reps  demanded a $150 million bribe from him during the  investigation of his company in Nigeria.

Information and national Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris said the allegations were outrageous and defamatory.

He asked Nigerians to disregard the falsehoods.

Deputy Spokesperson of the House  Philip Agbese  dismissed the allegations as baseless and gave Gambaryan a seven day ultimatum to retract his words or face legal action.

Chairman  of the House Committee on Financial Crimes Ginger Obinna Onwusibe called it a lie from the pit of hell.

The third Rep, Peter Akpanke,could not be reached despite strenuous efforts to get his reaction.

Gambaryan, a US citizen, was arrested on a business trip to Nigeria in February 2024 and later charged alongside his company Binance with laundering $35.4m  which they denied.

Nigeria  accused the digital platform – where investors can buy, sell and trade cryptocurrencies – of fixing exchange rates and currency speculation leading to the free-fall of the Naira.

Binance’s Africa regional manager Nadeem Anjarwalla, a British-Kenyan dual national who was arrested with Gambaryan had fled Nigeria shortly after the two men were put under house arrest.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) however withdrew the charges against Gambaryan last October for  medical reasons,although separate tax evasion charges against Binance remain in place. Binance has also denied those charges.

Yesterday he took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Ribadu and the Reps of trying to extort money from him.

He said:”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. They set up fake cameras and media to make the meeting appear official, but the cameras weren’t even plugged in. As you may already know, this ended with them asking for a $150 million bribe, paid in cryptocurrency into their personal wallets. A Mickey Mouse operation at its best.

“@NuhuRibadu invited us to the official meeting and worked through Sa’ad Abubakar. Another key figure in this situation was Hamma Adama Belloji. Ogunjobi was just a pawn; they used him too. This was a sold as a friendly meeting with the NSA, the head of the SEC, and the CBN governor and include the discussion of the bribe that was solicited by the House of Representatives.”

“The $26 billion figure they kept pushing publicly as some mystery money escaping Nigeria is complete BS. This information was provided in response to their request and was simply cumulative trade data for Nigerians on the platform. This money didn’t leave Nigeria—it was just people buying and selling crypto. For example, if you trade $100 a hundred times, that’s $10,000 in trade volume, but in reality, you only used $100. Again, just another example of them lying to cover up their BS investigation.

 “They lied about Nadeem escaping during mosque prayers. In reality, he returned and escaped afterward. I don’t know exactly how he managed to flee. He emailed me in November, but we haven’t discussed the details of his escape. It’s possible he paid someone off, but I have no proof.

“Nadeem did not escape lawful detention—we were being held illegally.

There was a lot of noise about using Interpol to capture Nadeem. As someone who has been involved in multiple extradition cases, I can confidently say this was a joke. Extradition is a lengthy legal process, and no rational judge in Kenya or wherever would ever approve extradition for someone who escaped illegal detention at the hands of rogue law enforcement—especially when that detention involved holding employees hostage to pressure their employer. All noise.

They tried to use us to violate international privacy laws by demanding user data on all Nigerians to target opposition members allegedly ‘manipulating the price of the naira.’ “However, they all knew that the naira’s devaluation was a direct result of Tinubu’s monetary policy, which depegged the naira from the dollar. I’m not saying this policy decision was wrong, but everyone understood that removing government intervention would lead to extreme devaluation. Instead of acknowledging this, they used Binance as a scapegoat.”

Gambaryan is peddling falsehoods, says FG

Idris,in a statement last night,said  while the Federal Government was  reluctant to engage Gambaryan, due to the high-level diplomatic intervention that resolved his case, it had a duty  to “set the record straight to prevent his falsehoods from gaining traction.”

He said: “The first visit of Mr. Gambaryan and his colleagues to Nigeria was at their own discretion, and the Government was not officially involved. However, when the Government’s attention was drawn to an alleged bribery demand during that trip, an investigation was immediately launched, despite there being no formal complaint from anyone.

“Mr. Gambaryan’s second visit to Nigeria was part of a wider probe into the criminal manipulation of the Nigerian currency through peer-to-peer platforms like Binance, but investigators were frustrated by the tactics deployed by Gambaryan and his team.

“Mr. Gambaryan was released by the Nigerian government in October 2024 on humanitarian grounds and following a high-level diplomatic intervention that ended with tangible benefits for Nigeria. The government rejected Binance’s offer of a $5 million down payment in exchange for Mr. Gambaryan’s freedom, in favour of a more beneficial settlement with the American government.

“We categorically deny the retaliatory claims made by Mr. Gambaryan against Nigerian officials involved in his case, and we urge the public to disregard these false accusations in their entirety.

“It is essential to note that Mr. Gambaryan’s allegations are not only unsubstantiated but also lack credibility, given his apparent motive to discredit and intimidate those who ensured he faced justice.

“However, we are confident that both the Nigerian and American judicial systems will provide Mr. Gambaryan with a fair opportunity to substantiate his claims in court. Until then, we advise the public to exercise caution and not be swayed by Mr. Gambaryan’s unfounded and malicious claims.”

Omokri: It’s a false flag operation to distract Nigerians

Social critic,Reno Omokri said Gambaryan’s mention of the name of Ribadu  and his office was a false flag operation designed to  distract Nigerians from “revelations that USAID funded Boko Haram.”

Reacting on X,Omokri said: “The lies by Tigran Gambarya against Malam Nuhu Ribadu and the Office of the National Security Adviser are a deliberate distraction designed to deflect attention from the terror funding scandal involving USAID.

“Discerning Nigerians may have noticed that Mr. Gambarya made his wild allegations precisely an hour after Republican U.S. Congressman Scott Perry revealed that certain U.S. high officials had been funding Boko Haram. Exactly an hour after Congressman Perry unveiled those revelations, Mr. Tigran Gambarya suddenly posted his false allegations on X.

“This is a man who has been roaming free in the United States for weeks. Why now?

“Nigerians should note that Mr. Tigran Gambarya is a functionary of certain agencies who were involved in acts of economic sabotage against Nigeria, which included providing a platform for siphoning $25 billion out of Nigeria annually.

“Nigerians may also recall that after Binance was delisted by the government and ceased operating in Nigeria, the Naira rose sharply, appreciating by 36.4% in one day. This caused President Tinubu to issue a statement on video praising the ‘seismic shift’ of our currency, which had gone from ₦1598 to $1 on Thursday, March 21, 2024, to ₦1,382 to $1 the following day, Friday, March 22, 2024.

“It is, therefore, not surprising that Mr. Tigran Gambarya, who was a former agent, would now come out to make his fallacious claims just as it was revealed that some interests were funding terror in Nigeria through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which Congressman Perry says was making multimillion Dollar annual payments to Boko Haram at a time when the Obama and Biden regimes were refusing to sell weapons to Nigeria.

“This is a typical distraction strategy, and Nigeria should not fall for it. The swamp is desperate and, therefore, clutching at straws.

“Malam Nubu Ribadu is an incorruptible leader who, as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, refused a $15 million cash bribe in 2006 and instead deposited the funds at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Tigran Gambarya is an allegedly corrupt economic saboteur who worked against Nigeria’s economic interests for people who Congressman Perry has now exposed as funders of terror.

“Who should you believe? The answer is obvious. This is a pure case of corruption fighting back!”

Agbese to Gambaryan: You’ve seven days to retract your allegation or…

Agbese,in a statement yesterday challenged Gambaryan to provide evidence of his bribe allegation or face the consequences in court.

Agbese who said he was outraged by the allegations said:” I was not part of any meeting with any Binance executive regarding money for any purpose. The leadership of the Committee took the matter to court, and Binance has already apologized.

“Let it be on record that I am not a member of the Committee on Economic and Financial Crimes. I visited my colleague, Hon. Peter Akpanke, in his office, where he was meeting with some visitors about an activity of his Committee, with Hon. Peter Anakwe, a member of the Committee present. We exchanged pleasantries and, in character with my person as an avid pursuer of knowledge, discussed Binance’s activities that did not include any demand from anyone.

“It was during this visit to the office of Hon. Peter Ankpanke, with Hon. Peter Anekwe present, that he told me they were interfacing with Binance Team from abroad over a referral to their Committee. What transpired between the two of them and the Binance executive after I left the office is left to them. I never saw those visitors again after that chance meeting and did not afterwards attend any meeting with Binance executives, the EFCC, or the DSS.

“I am aware that when this issue was first raised, the Chairman of the Committee went to court and Binance apologised. So, all inquiries should be directed to the Committee, not to Hon. Philip Agbese.

“I have never used any cryptocurrency as I do not have a crypto wallet anywhere in the world, so I could not have asked for funds to be credited to a non-existent wallet.

“Gambaryan and his associate, who escaped from prison, should return to the EFCC and defend themselves. Instead of trying to implicate me, they should focus on addressing the allegations against them.

“As a consequence of the foregoing, I demand that Tigran Gambaryan publishes any evidence that links Hon. Philip Agbese to the issue. The man has spewed many other lies in his report about the government demanding information on opposition elements and other outrageous claims. I further demand that, failing to provide evidence as stated, Tigran Gambaryan must cause a retraction of his malicious claims and publication and apologise to me within the next seven  days or face legal action from my lawyers.

“This is not the first allegation against me by a foreign entity. The first was that I work for the past government and the Armed Forces to promote Nigeria’s agenda, which shows the extent of desperation by entities that are interested in undermining public office holders they perceive as nationalistic.”

Agbese followed up with a   WhatsApp message,saying: “”The fellow mentioned in his allegations that the Honourable members demanded for bribe from them and that it should be paid into their personal account.

“I want to state in my honour that I have no cryptocurrency account anywhere in the world. I have never transacted any business with any electronic currency since I was born and I challenge the accuser to supply the so-called crypto currency account belonging to me.”

Onwusibe: It’s a lie from the pit of hell

In his own response, Onwusibe said: “I had earlier refuted this last year as a lie from the pit of hell as I have had no personal contact with any Binance official even through phone.

“I have not. Well I won’t say much as I have sued them to court since last year for defamation so it doesn’t become subjudice.”

Efforts by our correspondent to reach Peter Akpanke yielded no fruit.

Calls to his mobile phone went unanswered while SMS and WhatsApp messages failed to go through.

A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ayirimi Emami, has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be allowed to secure a second term at Aso Rock.

Naija News reports that Emani made this statement on Friday while presenting gift items valued in the millions of naira to numerous traders and fishermen from Ilaje in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Commenting on the forthcoming 2027 election, Emami noted that since former PresidentMuhammadu Buhari was allowed to serve eight years in office, Tinubu also should be given that opportunity.

Emami acknowledged that though, as a party, they were not happy with the previous government, the gesture extended to Buhari should also be extended to the incumbent President.

Commenting on the gift to the traders and fishermen, he said it was intended to express gratitude for their backing of President Tinubu’s candidacy, particularly during the party primaries and the general elections.

He said: “Let’s give Asiwaju a chance to rule. We gave Buhari a chance; it’s not that we were happy with the government.

“We fought our own brother to support Buhari. Now it’s the turn of Asiwaju, and they are coming again, saying we should fight. We say ‘no’. We are not going to fight. This man must complete his tenure. A lot of those ganging up were part and parcel of the last administration.

“For those ganging up, we will also hold our own meetings here. Tinubu must complete his eight years. We say no to gang-ups.”

He also insisted that there was no vacancy in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

“No vacancy in the NDDC. We can only fight those who do not perform well. In the past six years, we have not seen an MD like this—it was as if the NDDC was non-existent,” he said.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Osifo Tony Emefile, as the new Director of Sports for the Nigeria Police Force.

Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Friday night by Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.

Recall that the outgoing Force Director of Sports – Commissioner of Police (CP) Patrick A. Atayero, was appointed on 26th March 2020, shortly after the successful conclusion of the 12th Biennial Police Games (BIPOGA) tagged Anambra 2020.

The statement read: “The CP with the unflinching support of the IGP and Management of the Force, has certainly dug deeper the foundations of the Pillar of Nigerian Sports in the NPF, as evident in the many achievements recorded from 2020 till date.

“The incoming Director has the wealth of experience and seasoning to move the Force Sports to more prestigious heights. DCP Osifo was the former Police Machine Football Ace Striker, 1993/1994 Bournvita Award winner for highest goal scorer, former Board Member of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation 2013-2017, the pioneer Chairperson of the Police Scrabble Association, the current Chairman of Police Athletics Association as well as the Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee for the 13th and 14th BIPOGAs. He also currently serves as the representative of the Force and the Security Consultant on the League Management Committee for the Nigeria Professional Football League.

“The Inspector-General of Police extends his heartfelt facilitation to the new Director of Sports, while charging him to improve on the feats recorded by his predecessor in order to upscale Sports development in the Nigeria Police Force.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, arraigned 11 Chinese nationals before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over allegations of cybercrime, romance scams, and security breaches

The defendants, alongside their company, Genting International Company Limited, were docked before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on separate charges.

The defendants included Li Niu, Xiao Qinyun, Fu Zheng Yang, Xiao Yi, Bei Bei Linde Jun, Li Hang, Huan Livo, Wang Wei Tong Mo Ying, Gao Yang, Zebin Chen, and Yuan Zhibin all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They are part of a 792-member syndicate allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud, arrested in Lagos on December 10, 2024, during a surprise operation dubbed the ‘Eagle Flush Operation’.

The foreigners were arraigned on separate charges related to cyber-terrorism, cybercrimes, possession of documents containing false pretences, advance fee fraud, and identity theft.

Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel Ahmed Yerima, F.S. Mohammed, A.M. Dambuwq, and N.C. Mutfwang requested a trial date for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional facility.

Justice Aneke granted the order and then adjourned the matter until March 14 and 21, 2025, for the commencement of the trial.

One charge against Bei Bei Linde Jun states: “That you, BEI BEI LINDE JUN (female), an adult, and GENTING INTERNATIONAL CO. LIMITED, sometime between November 28, 2024, and December 10, 2024, at No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with the intent to defraud, willfully accessed computer systems organised to destabilise the social and economic structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by secretly employing several Nigerian youths for identity theft and other computer-related fraud. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2015 (as amended).”

The charge against Li Niu reads: “That you, LI NIU, sometime in 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, were found in possession of documents in which you falsely represented yourself as ‘LISA’, claiming to be a female from Singapore. You knew or ought to have known that this representation was false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

Nigerians have expressed outrage at the revelation by a US congressman that United States Aid For International Development (USAID) under the Barack Obama and Joe Biden administrations has funded terrorist organisations like Boko Haram, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Khorasan, among others.

Scott Perry, a United States Congressman representing Pennsylvania, made this disclosure at the inaugural hearing of the Sub-committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday, after President Donald Trump shut down the agency accusing it of massive corruption.

Speaking during a session titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” Perry accused USAID of providing $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan, stressing that there was “zero evidence” of the construction of the schools.

According to Perry: “Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan, because Pakistan’s right next door.

“Somebody else got the money. You are paying for terrorism. This has got to end.”

Speaking to LEADERSHIP on Friday, an international affairs analyst and journalist, Dr. Austin Maho, said although it was outrageous, there has always been suspicion about covert activities directed to destabilise Nigeria and other third-world countries even as he called for a thorough probe to ascertain the true situation.

He said that in the past, many high ranking US officials have at one time or the other accused the US of sponsoring ISIS and the attendant political distabilisation of the Middle East and Africa, noting that evidence abound on the internet.

He said, however, the US sponsorship of Boko Haram was a different ball game and strikes at the very heart of Nigeria’s security, which needed further probe.

“There have been serious questions in the past as to why the Nigerian army has not been able to completely wipe out Boko Haram. Who funds them and supplies them weapons? What is behind their surviving power in almost two decades of war? The revelation may just be the answer to these questions.

“However I think the statement of one congressman, as weighty as it is, is not enough for us to jump into conclusion. We need collaboration, we need hard evidence. The Nigerian government should launch a probe into this matter to get to the bottom of it, because it concerns our national security. One Congressman saying it isn’t quite enough for me. There should be corroboration,” he added.

Also speaking to LEADERSHIP on Friday, Professor Yusuf Zoaka of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Abuja, said the allegation by the US lawmaker was a serious and controversial claim that required careful scrutiny.

He stressed that USAID is a federal agency primarily focused on providing humanitarian aid, economic development, and disaster relief globally. Its mission was to promote peace and stability, making the allegation of funding terrorism highly contradictory to its stated objectives.

The University don, however, pointed out that as of now, there was no publicly available credible evidence to support the claim that USAID was funding Boko Haram or any other terrorist organisation, adding that such allegations demanded thorough investigation and substantiation before being accepted as a fact.

He said further that the USAID often worked in conflict zones to address the root causes of extremism, such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment. Its programs were designed to undermine the appeal of terrorist groups like Boko Haram, not support them.

He noted that the allegation could stem from misunderstandings about how aid was distributed in conflict zones. “In some cases, aid resources may inadvertently fall into the hands of malicious actors due to the complex nature of these environments, but this is not the same as intentional funding.

“Such allegations, if substantiated, could harm USAID’s reputation and undermine its ability to carry out its humanitarian

“It should, however, be said that the allegations had tainted the work of USAID and its credibility. We should not forget that recently the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) had complained that most of the terrorists killed or arrested were found to be in possession of US Dollars.

“This certainly needs to be properly investigated to ascertain the veracity of the allegations. ‘There is no smoke without fire’ if we consider the predictions of the USA government that Nigeria will collapse by 2015,” he said.

At the time of filing this report on Friday, the United States Embassy in Abuja was yet to respond to inquiries sent to it for a possible reaction to this disclosure.

In a related development, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ acting spokesman, Kimiebi Ebienfa, was yet to issue a reaction of the Ministry on the vexed issue at the time of filing this report on Friday.

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria coach, Jose Peseiro is the new manager of the Egyptian Premier League club, Zamalek.

Jose Peseiro has signed an 18-month contract with the White Knights, a decision that showcases Zamalek’s intent to strengthen their coaching staff following a series of disappointing performances.

Peseiro steps in to replace Christian Gross, a former Tottenham Hotspur manager, who was dismissed after struggling to meet the expectations of the 14-time Egyptian champions.

Under Peseiro’s leadership, Zamalek are hoping to regain their competitive edge in both domestic and continental competitions.

As part of his agreement, Peseiro’s monthly salary will be $75,000 until the end of the current season, reflecting Zamalek’s ambition to attract a highly qualified coach.

If he remains with the club for the next season, his salary is set to increase to $85,000, indicating the club’s confidence in his potential to lead them to success.

Interestingly, Peseiro, who is 64 years old, has a notable history in Egyptian football, having previously managed Zamalek’s fierce rivals, Al Ahly.

In related news, the head coach of the Black Satellites, Ghana’s U-20 national football team, Desmond Ofei, expressed his relief at avoiding their perennial rivals, Nigeria, in the group stage of the upcoming 2025 Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations.

The draw for this highly anticipated tournament was conducted on Thursday at the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Egypt and has generated significant excitement among the teams involved.

Ghana has been placed in Group A alongside the hosts, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and a yet-to-be-determined team from the UNIFFAC region, setting the stage for a compelling series of matches.

In contrast, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles find themselves in a challenging Group B, facing off against formidable opponents such as Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa.

Reflecting on Ghana’s draw, Ofei stated, “We’re happy that we’re not in Group B because that’s a very interesting group.”

He further emphasized his confidence in his team’s abilities, noting, “I feel like we’re in a position where we can control the narrative of this tournament from our perspective.”

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have shot dead a 46-year-old private health worker, Akinola Oyabiyi in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

A source who revealed the incident to LEADERSHIP said the tragic incident occurred around 8pm on Tuesday in the Akure Airport area of Akure North Local Government.

The deceased, a father of four, was reportedly driving home when he was attacked and killed by the assailants while his nine-year-old son was abducted by the hoodlums.

This latest killing followed series of violent incidents reported in the area, which includes the recent murder of five farmers and multiple kidnappings.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the conversion of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to a university, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s educational advancement.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the development on Friday during a working visit to the institution. He disclosed that President Tinubu promptly approved the request after their discussion.

Alausa stated, “The rector said some minutes ago that the staff, students, and management of the college have been praying and fasting that it be converted to a university. 

“When I discussed the issue with President Bola Tinubu, he did not waste time in approving. I am just waiting for the memo and other necessary protocols from the appropriate quarters.”

YABATECH Ready For University Status

Alausa praised the institution for its academic contributions, noting that YABATECH is well-equipped for the transition.

“This school is a legacy, and with over 200 staff members holding doctorate degrees in various fields, it is more than ready and fit to become a university. All the credit for this should go to the president, who loves education and is concerned about giving the best to the youths who are our future leaders,” he said.

The minister emphasized that the conversion aligns with the Tinubu administration’s efforts to advance technical, vocational, and entrepreneurial education, which could reduce the mass exodus of Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.

“We are not taking the issue of artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, and others with levity. We know that if our youths are good at those things, they can be in Nigeria and be working for firms in many parts of the world, earning foreign exchange. That will help stem this Japa of a thing, where people would travel abroad to do menial jobs,” he added.

Earlier, YABATECH’s Rector, Ibrahim Abdul, reiterated the need for the institution’s upgrade.

“While we are praying that we become a university, we don’t want to become just one of those universities. We want to be a university of technical and vocational education that would bring innovation and solve societal problems,” he said.

The rector highlighted that with over 200 PhD holders on staff, YABATECH has the manpower and only requires government support to fulfil its aspirations.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that the death toll from the fatal crash involving a truck beneath the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover in Hotoro, Kano, has risen to 23, while 48 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The accident, which occurred at approximately 9:50pm on Thursday night, involved a DAF model trailer carrying goods and passengers. According to the FRSC, dangerous driving due to overspeeding led to loss of control, causing the vehicle to overturn under the bridge.

In an official statement, the Public Relations Officer of the FRSC RS1.2 Kano Sector Command, CRC Abdullahi Labaran, said: “The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kano Sector Command regrets to report a fatal Road Traffic Crash (RTC) that occurred on 13th February 2025 at approximately 2150 hours along the Kano-Maiduguri Road, under the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange Flyover, Hotoro.”

The FRSC has since launched an investigation into the accident. The Sector Commander, CC UM Matazu, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and urged drivers to avoid overloading trailers with goods, animals, and passengers to prevent similar tragedies.

“The obstruction caused by the accident has been cleared, and the free flow of traffic has been restored,” the FRSC statement added.

The FRSC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safety on Nigerian roads even as it urged all motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations.