Former Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has claimed that the cabals surrounding President Bola Tinubu are more dangerous than those in the government of his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari.

Dalung made the claim during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday.

Dalung, who was a minister during Buhari’s administration, said Buhari was a stranger in his government as members of the cabals took over the running of the administration.

The erstwhile Minister explained that the cabals in Buhari’s government were not too educated but those in Tinubu’s are sophisticated, ambitious, educated, with sound knowledge of power dynamics.

Dalung cited the capacity of members of the cabals around Tinubu to manipulate power, build barricades around the president, and stifle information and human traffic from the president.

In July 2024, Tinubu, who narrowly won a keenly contested election in February 2023, and was sworn in on May 29, 2023, said he was not answerable to any cabal or moneybag.

Meanwhile, Dalung, has said Tinubu meant the words he said to National Assembly members during the 2025 budget presentation.

Naija News reported that President Tinubu while addressing the Joint Session of the federal lawmakers, described the 10th NASS as 11th NASS.

When his orderly and chorus voices of the lawmakers reminded him he was addressing the 10th NASS, he said he wrote 11th.

His words: “In fulfillment of one of my constitutional duties and with unyielding commitment to rebuilding Nigeria towards ensuring that we remain steadfast on the journey to a prosperous future, I hereby present the 2025 budget to the joint session of the 11th National Assembly… 10th? I wrote 11th…. which means you are all re-elected (sic).”

Reacting to the words of the President in an interview with News Central, Dalung claimed that Tinubu disclosed to Nigerians what would happen in 2027.

The former Minister, argued that Nigerians may not be able to change the current government in 2027. He also added that governors across the 36 states may have solidified their chances in 2027 through the way local government elections were conducted.

“When he said all of you are just re-elected, that is not just a joke, The President is telling Nigerians about what will happen in 2027. And I have said this a couple of times that.

‘I don’t think from the attitude of this government and the way the governors have conducted the local government elections, Nigerians should look forward to 2027 to change anything because the President has just confirmed that they were only going to announce themselves return to power. So congratulations Mr President,” Dalung stated.

Two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, each face up to 20 years in a United States prison after being convicted by a federal jury for orchestrating a $560,000 romance scam.

In a statement released on Monday evening and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the US Attorney, Alexander Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, revealed through the Department of Justice that the Nigerian pair was convicted of perpetrating the scam following a four-day trial and under three hours of jury deliberation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that the two Nigerian nationals, in partnership with other accomplices, initiated a scheme in January 2016, using a fabricated identity, “Glenn Brown,” on the dating website, eHarmony.com.

Prosecutors revealed that the fraudulent profile was later used to establish a romantic relationship with a victim in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Along with other accomplices, the defendants allegedly obtained thousands of the US dollars from the victim.

The statement said, “Throughout the fraud, the victim was led to believe that their financial assistance was necessary for ‘Glenn Brown’ to complete a purported construction project in Malaysia and return safely to the United States.

“The victim sent approximately $560,000 to various accounts in the United States, Canada, and Malaysia between January 2016 and April 2017.

“On September 27, 2016, the victim wired approximately $28,000 to a Woodforest Bank account in the name of Daramola Cars, as instructed by the fraudulent “Glenn Brown” persona. Daramola subsequently wired $18,000 to a seafood importer in Denmark and issued a check (cheque) for $14,000.”

Although Daramola was said to have denied involvement in the romance scheme, a statement from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office revealed that text and WhatsApp messages on his phone exposed his role in supplying bank accounts for the multiple fraud schemes.

The statement highlighted that Ogunlaja’s involvement included using his Bank of America account “for receiving fraudulent funds.”

It was noted that “Glenn Brown” specifically instructed the victim to deposit $20,000 in cash into Ogunlaja’s account on March 9 and March 15, 2016.

After receiving the deposits from the victim, Ogunlaja was said to have made several cash withdrawals and transferred them to Daramola’s account.

A report by PUNCH Metro on November 26, 2024, detailed how two other Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, were sentenced by a US federal jury to a combined 30-year prison term for defrauding US citizens of $3,500,000.

The convicted individuals were said to have deceived their victims by claiming they had received large inheritances that required a fee to access.

Justice K. B. Olawoyin, presiding over Court 8 of the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, has fixed Tuesday, January 13, to deliver his ruling on the bail application filed by Ooni of Ife’s ex-queen, Naomi Silekunola, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, and Abdulahi Fasasi.

Hamzat is the proprietor of Agidigbo FM, an Ibadan-based radio station; while Fasasi is the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.

They are currently standing trial over the stampede which occurred during a Christmas funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, in December 2024.

The incident claimed the lives of no fewer than 35 children.

The bail applications were heard at the Oyo State High Court, Court 8, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

Counsel for the suspects had filed a summons of application for bail before the court.

After listening to the submissions and arguments of the counsel on points of law, Justice Olawoyin adjourned ruling on the bail application till Tuesday, January 13.

The suspects are currently being remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre Agodi

Fasasi was represented by Waheed Olajide, Ex-queen Naomi was represented by Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN) and Hamzat was represented by Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN).

The cases were argued separately by the counsel in a proceeding that lasted over five hours.

The state had also filed a counter-application against the bail of the suspects.

The state team was led by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Abiodun Aikomo who led top officials of the Ministry of Justice.

All the counsel in their separate arguments told the court why their clients should be allowed to enjoy their freedom, noting that there are no sufficient evidence is before the court to warrant the confining to prison custody.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has celebrated his son, Jordan, for earning a master of law (LLM) degree at Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom (UK).

In a post shared on X, the FCT minister said he is proud of the progress that his son has made in his career pursuit.

“Happy to witness, alongside my wife, the graduation ceremony of our son, Jordan, who just earned a Master of Laws (LLM) degree at Queen Mary University of London, UK. As a father, I am happy for the progress Jordan is making in the pursuit of his career,” Wike wrote.

The minister also shared some pictures taken during the graduation ceremony.

 

Eberechi, a judge of the court of appeal, who is the wife of Wike, also featured in the pictures.

In July 2022, Jordan earned a bachelor of law degree from the University of Exeter, UK.

Wike was the governor of Rivers state from 2015 to 2023.

After his tenure as governor, he was appointed as the FCT minister by President Bola Tinubu.

‘Everybody Loves Jenifa‘, a film produced by Funke Akindele, has become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time.

FilmOne Studios, the entertainment company, announced the remarkable feat in a post via its Instagram page on Tuesday.

The post revealed that the movie, released across cinemas on December 11, has grossed over N1.466 billion in less than a month.

“Everybody Loves Jenifa has officially hit a historic N1.466 billion and counting at the box office, making it the highest-grossing film of all time!” it reads.

“A massive thank you to our incredible audiences in Nigeria and Ghana for making this dream a reality! Your support is everything.

“On to even greater heights! Still showing in cinemas near you—experience the magic on the big screen.”

Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the ruling All Progressives Congress to tender a formal apology to Peter Obi and the Nigerian people over the use of inflammatory and “disgraceful language” in a recent interview.

Atiku disclosed this in a tweet posted on his official X account.

His demand was a fallout of Sunday’s interview on Arise Television, where the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Felix Morka, claimed that the former Anambra governor “crossed the line” in his persistent criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that Obi deserved to get whatever came his way.

Morka also alleged that Obi was desperately seeking to incite Nigerians into bringing down the current government.

Morka’s perceived threat has since elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians, with Obi’s supporters warning that nothing should happen to the former LP presidential candidate following the perceived threat.

Atiku asserted that such inflammatory remarks by Morka serve as a disturbing emblem of the current administration’s unsettling strategy in addressing opposition figures.

The former vice president also said the face-off signals a worrisome shift towards an authoritarian governance model, where the rights of opposition voices are being suffocated.

He said, “Such reckless and derogatory expressions cannot be tolerated, and it is incumbent upon the APC to issue a formal apology to Obi and the Nigerian people for such disgraceful language.

“Such language, rooted in hostility, has no place in a free society where civil discourse and engagement should reign supreme. It is not merely the right but the solemn duty of a democratic government to listen attentively to the voices of its critics, engage in meaningful dialogue, and allow space for the articulation of alternative viewpoints.

“A true democracy thrives on the healthy exchange of ideas, where the criticisms and contributions of opposition leaders, like Peter Obi, are seen as vital for the betterment of governance and the promotion of public accountability.”

In a similar development, the Labour Party on Tuesday gave the President seven days to reprimand and call Morka to order.

The ultimatum comes barely 24 hours after the ruling party and the Obedient Movement had a heated debate on Monday over the perceived threat to the life of the former Anambra governor.

In his petition on Tuesday, the Director-General of the Labour Party Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei, warned against targeting Obi over his New Year’s State of the Nation message.

The LP chieftain raised concerns that the manner Morka went about his statements showed that his disagreement went beyond party rivalry and the principle of free speech required in a democracy.

He said, “These statements, which target Peter Obi, a respected global figure and LP Presidential candidate in the last election, go beyond political rivalry and pose a direct threat to our democracy, peace, and unity.

“Your Excellency, as a key leader in the opposition for many years, you and the APC were beneficiaries of the freedoms and protections afforded by Nigeria’s democratic system under the then President Goodluck Jonathan, which allowed you to challenge the status quo and ultimately ascend to power.

“We, therefore, call on you to reprimand Mr Felix Morka for his inflammatory statements within the next seven days. Should Your Excellency choose not to act decisively by openly condemning Mr Morka’s statements, it will send a troubling signal to Nigerians and the international community that your administration is either complicit in or indifferent to threats against democracy and political dissent.

“It is imperative for your administration to distance itself from any rhetoric or actions that threaten free speech, suppress opposition, or endanger the lives of political leaders.”

In what looks like a counter-allegation, Morka, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, called on the former Anambra governor to call his supporters to order.

Morka said he had become the target of many online trolls, which he claimed were from Obi’s supporters over his alleged inflammatory utterances.

According to him, there was nowhere he threatened the former governor in the controversial interview.

The statement read, “We call on Mr Obi to immediately set the record straight, withdraw his false allegation against Morka, and call his online supporters to order. Obi leads a restless band of online mob who continue to attack, intimidate, bully and issue death threats to other citizens who dare disagree or criticize his opinions on any matter of national conversation.

“Obi has never condemned their conduct or called them to order. To be clear and for the record, Morka did not threaten Mr Obi, his family or those around him or anyone. Nothing that Morka said in that interview or any other forum remotely suggests a threat against Mr Obi or anyone else.

“As the national spokesman of the ruling party, I will continue to hold Obi and other opposition actors accountable for their actions, just as they seek to, and should, hold our great party and administration accountable when truth and public trust are compromised.”

Meanwhile, a member of the APC National Working Committee, Tolu Bankole, has thrown his weight behind Morka, who he said was merely doing his job.

Bankole also chided Obi for playing the victim after allegedly inciting his online supporters to troll the APC spokesman.

The APC chieftain disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

The APC national leader, saddled with the responsibility of Persons living with Disabilities matters, stated that Morka was carrying out his official assignment as a committed spokesman.

He said, “I urge Mr Obi to stop playing the victim and focus on providing fact-based constructive opposition. The APC administration under President Bola Tinubu remains committed to nation-building and we welcome constructive criticisms grounded in truth.

“Let it be known that no amount of false allegations can distract the APC from its mandate of delivering good governance to the Nigerian people. It is the duty of the National Publicity Secretary to defend our government, President and APC policies.

“It is, however, troubling that Mr Obi, whose followers have gained notoriety for online bullying and issuing threats, would level such accusations while failing to address the toxic behaviours of his supporters.”

The APC chieftain said he reviewed the controversial video clips of the Arise TV interview and found no evidence of any threat to Obi or his family.

“I know Morka to be a man of peace who would never threaten anyone’s life. His comments were within the bounds of political discourse and in response to criticisms of our government. He has also discharged this role with the utmost professionalism, maturity and a commitment to truth,” Bankole said.

When contacted for reaction, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, vowed that his principal would not be intimidated by APC’s antics.

Ibrahim told The PUNCH that the former governor already had an indelible track record for holding leaders accountable.

The Aare onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has urged Southwest governors to urgently address the growing security threats of bandits infiltrating their states.

Gani made the plea after the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, during the 2025 annual interfaith service in Ibadan on Monday, raised the alarm over bandits operations in the state.

In a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Kehinde Akinyemi and released in Osogbo on Tuesday, Gani Adams said he had raised similar concerns last year, but nothing was done.

Adams, the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress, warned that ignoring Makinde’s revelation could have dire consequences for the region.

He described Oyo State as the political nerve centre of the South-West, warning that any security breakdown could have ripple effects across the entire region.

Adams also offered to collaborate with state governments to strengthen the security architecture, adding that governors should act promptly.

The statement read, “The alarm raised by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is a wake-up call for all the governors in the South-West. I raised similar concerns last year, but nothing was done. Sadly, insecurity has continued to escalate.

“The South-West Security Stakeholders Group, including the OPC, Agbekoya Society, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Professional Hunters, Vigilante Jahun, Agbekoya Peace Movement, and others under my leadership, have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the region.

“However, now that Governor Makinde has sounded the alarm, it is imperative for a more urgent and coordinated approach to tackle the issue before it spirals out of control.

“Oyo State is the political capital of the South-West, and whatever happens there will undoubtedly affect the entire region.

“I urge all South-West governors to remain vigilant and address the security challenges in their respective states promptly.”

The Nigerian military has dropped three places in the latest global military ranking.

The ranking, published by Global Firepower, placed the Armed Forces of Nigeria at 39th out of a total of 145 countries reviewed for 2024.

This marks a decline from its 36th position in the 2023 ranking and 35th position in 2022.

This two-year consecutive drop comes despite the acquisition of fighter jets and other combat enablers, as well as the military’s claimed successes against terrorists in Nigeria over the same period.

Nigeria also dropped from third to fourth position among African countries.

For the 18th consecutive year, the United States retained its position as the top-ranked military globally.

According to GFP, the United States showcases “commanding values in many major material, financial, and resource categories.”

The USA is followed by Russia, China, and India, ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively.

South Korea is ranked fifth, followed by the United Kingdom (6th), Japan (7th), Turkey (8th), Pakistan (9th), and Italy (10th). The top 15 is completed by France (11th), Brazil (12th), Indonesia (13th), Iran (14th), and Egypt (15th).

Australia, Israel, Ukraine, Germany, and Spain hold the 16th to 20th positions, respectively.

In Africa, Egypt is ranked first, followed by Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Angola, Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia, and Sudan, in that order.

According to the report, over 60 factors were considered in determining the scores given to countries.

“The finalised Global Firepower ranking below utilises over 60 individual factors to determine a given nation’s PowerIndex (‘PwrIndx’) score, with categories ranging from the quantity of military units and financial standing to logistical capabilities and geography,” the GFP report stated.

“Our unique, in-house formula allows smaller, more technologically advanced nations to compete with larger, less-developed powers. Special modifiers, in the form of bonuses and penalties, are applied to further refine the list, which is compiled annually.

“For 2024, Nigeria is ranked 39th out of the 145 countries considered for the annual GFP review. The nation holds a PwrIndx* score of 0.5619 (a score of 0.0000 is considered ‘perfect’). This entry was last reviewed on 01/09/2024.”

“PwrIndx: Each nation is assessed on individual and collective values processed through an in-house formula to generate its ‘PwrIndx’ (Power Index) score. Some values are estimated when official numbers are unavailable,” it added.

When contacted, the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur, Gusau said, “I am not aware of the ranking and I can’t comment on it.”

esidents of a town in Nottinghamshire, England in the United Kingdom are puzzled by the mysterious appearance of plates filled with peeled bananas left by the side of a road every month for over a year.

The phenomenon occurs on the second day of each month in 2024, when a plate of bananas is found on a street corner in Beeston, across from a local church.

The mystery began more than a year ago at the intersection of Abbey Road and Wensor Avenue, and the purpose behind it remains unclear.

A local resident, Clare Short, discovered the pattern and noticed the bananas were consistently placed on the second day of each month.

In response, she put up a sign at the location that reads, “Please, respectfully, no more bananas! The uncollected plates and rotting bananas leave such a mess. Wishing a happy new year to you all.”

Despite the sign, Short revealed that a plate of bananas was left on January 2nd.

“I’ve asked around in the local community but no one really knows and no one can tell me anything,” Short shared with the BBC.

Residents have speculated that the bananas may be intended as a gift for local wildlife, while others think they could be some sort of religious offering, given the proximity to the church.

Short, who has come to accept the monthly occurrence, remarked, “I’ve come to take the signs down because I don’t really want to make it like a feud, I don’t want it to become a big thing. I think it’s a special thing for [someone] and I wish them well. But if they could come back and clean up the mess a few days later that would be lovely.”