Four suspects have been remanded at Yola correctional centre in Adamawa state on 4 count charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and theft for stealing N5m and selling it for N800k.

Those remanded by the Chief Magistrate Court 2 sitting in Yola, include Yusuf Mohammed Isah, 25, Mohammed Gidado, 33, Babangida Jalo, 43 and Adamu Yahaya, 31 of different addresses. Others are Faisal Mahmud, 30 who could not be arraigned because of ill health, while Abubakar Manu is said to be at large at the time of arraignment.

Yusuf and 3 other defendants were arraigned before the court for the offences of "criminal conspiracy, theft, abetment and dishonesty, receiving of stolen property" contrary to sections 60, 276, 47 and 308 of the penal code law of Adamawa state, 2018.

Arraigning the defendants, ASP Iliya Akawu, informed the court that Yusuf Isah of Wura Hausa Ward Yola South LGA connived with Abubakar Manu (now at large) and Mohammed Gidado of Ibadan Street, Alkalawa Ward in Yola North LGA stole Toyota RAV 4  2007 model with Reg. Number RSH 548 BB Abj.

ASP Iliya narrated in the FIR that he had tendered that the defendants made away with the car on the 18th December 2024 valued at N5 million which belongs to Aliyu Umar of Wuro Hausa ward in Yola South LGA.

He said that Yusuf sneaked into the house of the owner of the vehicle, stole a broken key, manufactured it and used one of his accomplices, Abubakar Manu who drove the car to Babangida Jalo of Ganye Street in Yola North LGA.

According to him, Babangida who had a pre-knowledge of the crime, made an arrangement with a buyer, Faisal Mahmud of Kolere ward in Mubi North LGA to buy the stolen property.

He further narrated that Faisal Mahmud bought the car at the sum of N800,000 on his arrival to Yola from Mubi and paid the sum of N400,000 into the account of Abubakar Manu (now at large) as part payment.

He added that Faisal Mahmud gave Mohammed Gidado and Nabangida Jalo N100,000 for their respective roles in the crime and left for Mubi with the car where he was trailed and apprehended.

Nigerian actor, Jide Awobona has shared photos of his family to celebrate his 40th birthday and 10th wedding anniversary with his wife.

The photo features Jide, his wife, and their seven children, a surprise revelation that has sparked widespread reaction on social media.

Jide Awobona’s post was accompanied by a message, expressing his gratitude for the love and bond his family shares.

The actor also reflected on aging and the importance of maintaining a youthful spirit.

“GH2025 Despite our flaws, challenges, and trials, we cling to love and God. For in love, there is healing, and in faith, there is hope. Together, they light the way through even the darkest moments. ❤️????.”

“GH2025 Like fine wine, a youthful heart only gets better with time,aging in years but never in spirit.Forever young at heart, embracing life with curiosity, joy, and a sense of wonder. Just like a child, finding excitement in the little things, staying open to learning, and holding onto hope even in difficult times. No matter how old we grow, keeping that childlike spirit alive makes life more vibrant and meaningful. ????❤️.”

Faults Sultan’s Backing For Sharia In S’West

Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland has issued a stern warning against the use of religion to cause a crisis that would destabilize Yorubaland.

This is coming after the Sultan of Sokoto-led Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, on Wednesday, January 29, expressed support for establishing Sharia courts in South-West states.

According to Gani, Sharia law is alien to Yoruba culture and beliefs.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 2025 Oodua Festival held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adams warned against exploiting Sharia enforcement to plunge South West into avoidable crises.

He said, “Some religious fundamentalists now see Yorubaland as their target for destruction. But I want to assure you all that we will not allow religious fanatics and fundamentalists to destabilise Yorubaland.
 
“Those religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims should stay away from acts that could set Yorubaland on fire.”

“Nigeria is a secular nation where the constitution allows every citizen to practice whatever religion they believe in freely without any intimidation.

“Unfortunately, the Sharia law, as practised in the North, has become a tool for politics and intimidation. Yorubaland is never a Sharia region. The Yoruba is also a multi-religious ethnic nationality.

“We have Muslims, Christians, and the traditional religion believers among us, and we have been living together peacefully without any religious crisis. We have also been practising our different religions as allowed by the Nigerian Constitution. Therefore, nobody would be allowed to use religion as tools to cause religious crisis and disharmony in Yorubaland. Sharia law is alien to our culture and religious beliefs in Yorubaland.

“When some religious bigots decided to enforce their religious beliefs on the people, it becomes a major crisis. Therefore, those religious fanatics masquerading as Muslims should stay away from acts that could set Yoruba land on fire.”

Fans are divided, industry insiders are whispering, and social media is on fire as everyone tries to decipher whether these spats are merely misunderstandings or signs of a full-blown Fuji war

The Fuji music industry is once again ablaze with tension, as four of its biggest powerhouses, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (KWAM 1), Sefiu Alao, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, and Abass Akande Obesere, find themselves at the heart of fresh controversies, jabs, and speculated rivalries.

At the center of the storm is KWAM 1, whose recent “Ga Nusi” remark about Islamic clerics who attended his late mother’s Fidau prayer has sparked widespread backlash.

The controversy around him further deepened when a phone conversation between him and President Bola Tinubu went viral. In the clip, President Tinubu called to extend his condolences, but KWAM 1’s tone and mannerisms in response were perceived by many as laced with arrogance and self-importance.

The backlash took a dramatic turn when Fuji veteran Sefiu Alao, appearing on a Yoruba TV show, didn’t hold back in his criticism.

He lambasted KWAM 1, accused him of being excessively proud and disrespectful. Alao openly condemned KWAM 1’s attitude towards Islamic clerics and his alleged display of self-importance during the conversation with the President, branding him as a man consumed by his own ego.

As this feud raged, another controversy erupted in the wake of Obesere’s grand 60th birthday celebration, a star-studded affair graced by top Fuji icons, Nollywood actors, and high-profile socialites. However, one notable absence didn’t go unnoticed, Pasuma.

The no-show triggered an online storm, as a netizen took to social media to slam Pasuma, alleging that he disrespected and dishonored Obesere’s invitation.

According to the angry fan, Pasuma owed his rise to stardom to Obesere, yet he failed to acknowledge this by not attending his milestone celebration.

This claim sent Pasuma’s fans into a frenzy, as they quickly clapped back, argued that Obesere himself had also failed to attend Pasuma’s recent 40 Years on Stage anniversary.

The post and reactions reignited long-standing speculations of a deep-seated rivalry between the two Fuji legends.

SEE VIDEO AND REACTIONS BELOW

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was notably absent as key leaders of the North East zonal caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, met in Bauchi to discuss reconciliation efforts and strategise for the party’s future, particularly the 2027 elections.
The meeting, held on Thursday, was attended by the three PDP governors from the region: Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, and Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Also in attendance were the PDP Reconciliation Committee, led by former National Secretary Olagunsoye Oyinlola, senators, House of Representatives members, and state assembly members from the zone.

While other prominent party members who could not attend the event sent representatives, Atiku did not.

The meeting deliberated on key issues, particularly the upcoming PDP Zonal and National Conventions, and focused on resolving internal conflicts to strengthen the party as the main opposition.

Speaking at the meeting, PDP’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagun, urged party leaders to set aside their differences and focus on unity.

He emphasised that individual interests could only be achieved if the party remained strong and united.

“Interest is paramount. We are all in politics for various reasons, but the most important thing is that you can only achieve your goals when your political vehicle is strong enough to take you to your destination,” Damagun said.

He reassured members that the party is greater than any individual, stating, “PDP is a Trojan horse – a tested and trusted party with experienced politicians who have seen it all. We have the capacity to weather any storm.”

Damagun also made it clear that his leadership would not serve the personal agenda of any individual, saying, “Nobody is above the party. We will support and acknowledge our members, but if you go against the party’s interests, we will part ways with you.”

In his remarks, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who is also chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, called for reconciliation within the party.

He proposed a swap of party positions across different states as a way of fostering unity.

“Positions in Gombe will be moved to Bauchi, those in Borno will be shifted to Yobe, and Adamawa’s positions will be reassigned to Taraba, and vice versa,” he suggested.

He assured members that PDP leaders in the region – including himself, the National Chairman from Yobe, Senator Hassan Dankwambo from Gombe, and Muhammad Imam from Borno – would work to minimise conflicts and reintegrate former members.

The leader of the Reconciliatory Committee, Oyinlola, reaffirmed the party’s commitment to resolving internal conflicts and strengthening its position ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the committee’s objective is to rebuild a formidable PDP that can effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Our mission is to reach out to aggrieved members and mend broken relationships within the party. We believe that if all members set aside their differences, PDP can reclaim power in 2027,” he stated.

Also speaking, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri described the committee’s intervention as timely, given the internal crises within the party.

He stressed that PDP can only regain its leadership position through collective efforts, urging all aggrieved members to embrace reconciliation.

Governor Fintiri assured the committee of the governors’ support in achieving their reconciliation objectives and strengthening the party.

The governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Thursday, stated that Nigerians are suffering, as the Tinubu’s economic policies are not working.

Fintiri said the President Bola Tinubu-led government’s policies are imposing severe hardship on Nigerians.

Governor Fintiri said these at the meeting of the National Reconciliation Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, with governors from the North-East and other key stakeholders in Bauchi.

At the meeting were the governors of Bauchi and Taraba, as well as the acting PDP National Chairman.

Onyilola…

Also speaking at the meeting, the committee’s chairman, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said the party was ready to address its challenges for effective repositioning to enable it to wrestle power in the 2027 general election.

He said: “The main purpose of the committee is to reach out to the aggrieved members and those having issues, to re-establish a formidable political party in the country.”

Nigeria’s bleeding – Fintiri

Agreeing with Oyinlola, Fintiri described the reconciliation committee as timely, considering the lingering problems bedevilling the party.

On the nation’s leadership, Fintiri expressed frustration with the economy.

He said power is a divine privilege, so it must be wielded with trust and responsibility.

“Nigeria is bleeding. We are suffering, there is too much anger, and the economic policy is not working.

“That is why we always call on the Federal Government to reconsider some of these economic policies that are only putting hardship on Nigerians.

“Whatever will make us cry must not be part of your policy because the country belongs to us. It does not belong to the World Bank, IMF, or the international community.”

He urged the Federal Government to focus on policies that do not bring further pain to Nigerians.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed, has revealed that the Federal Government has approved an increase in corps members’ monthly allowance to ₦77,000, with payments set to commence in February 2025.

The NYSC DG also announced that corps members will no longer be posted to communities facing security threats.

Addressing the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream II corps members in Katsina, Ahmed reassured them that their welfare and security remain a top priority.

He stated that the newly approved allowance has been captured in the 2025 Federal Government budget, and once passed, corps members will start receiving the revised payment.

The NYSC DG said, “We will not send our corps members to wherever we have security challenges and threats. Wherever we send them they should be less assured that the place is safe and secured for them to serve.

“This month (January) has already ended but once the budget is passed. By next month (February), you will start receiving ₦77,000 instead of the usual ₦33,000.

“The ₦77,000 monthly allowance was approved by the Federal Government and the corps members are expected to reciprocate the government’s gesture during their service year.”

Ahmed assured them that the NYSC will only deploy them to safe and secure locations, ensuring they are not exposed to security risks during their service year.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has taken legal action against the Nigerian Communications Commission over its recent approval of a 50% increase in telecommunications tariffs.

SERAP, through its legal representatives, Ebunolu Adegboruwa (SAN), filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to halt the implementation of the tariff hike, citing economic hardship and constitutional violations.

The NCC’s decision, made public earlier in January will result in an increase in call rates from N11 to N16 per minute, data prices from N287.30 to N431.25 per GB, and SMS costs from N4 to N6.

It has since been rejected by the Nigeria Labour Congress and other pressure groups who cited prevailing economic hardship in the country.

The notice of pending civil action against the NCC filed by SERAP solicitors and obtained by The PUNCH was dated January 30 and directed to the NCC’s Executive Secretary and copied to its Director General and Legal Adviser.

It stated, “Given the increase comes at a time of economic hardship, further burdening Nigerians, many of whom struggle with poverty, unemployment, and high inflation; the hike will restrict access to telecommunications services, limiting the ability of citizens, including SERAP, to express themselves and share information, which is a fundamental human right.”

The legal challenge seeks a court declaration that the tariff hike is unlawful and a corresponding order restraining the NCC and telecommunications companies from enforcing it. SERAP argued that the decision had sparked public outcry and resistance from labour unions, who have threatened nationwide protests if the increase is not reversed.

It further read, “Being dissatisfied with the violation of its constitutional and vested right and further attempts to carry out activities to the detriment of our client’s interest and rights, take notice that the above-mentioned matter has been instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking inter alia for a declaration that the tariff increase is unlawful and should be set aside with an order restraining the NCC and telecommunication companies from enforcing the tariff hike.

“Our client is therefore seeking judicial intervention and determination of the legality of all actions and decisions in relation to the increase and planned implementation of the telecommunication tariffs.

“Further take notice that in conjunction with the pending matter for determination, our client has filed an application before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking inter alia interlocutory orders of injunction to restrain NCC, its officers, agents, privies, assigns, associates or any other person or persons acting on its instructions from further implementing, enforcing and doing any act to give effect to the decision of NCC approving/authorising a 50% increase in telecommunication tariffs in Nigeria, pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit.”