The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, has announced the revocation of institutional houses and plots of land sold in Kaduna State by former Governor Nasir El-Rufai‘s administration.

Naija News reports that the revoked properties and lands include those within Alhuda-huda College, Zaria; Queen Amina College, Kaduna and Government Commercial College, Zaria.

In a statement on Tuesday from the Secretary to the State Government, AbdulKadir Mu’azu Meyere, Governor Sani said the decision was taken in line with overriding public interest and common good.

He disclosed that efforts were on to ensure that all payments made to the government coffers, in respect of the sold houses, were refunded.

It read: “In line with its commitment to human capital development and to ensure conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning in schools, the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani, had revoked all previous sales of institutional houses and land allocations within Alhuda-huda College, Zaria, Queen Amina College, Kaduna and Government Commercial College, Zaria for overriding public interest and for the common good.

“The revocation was approved last year and the revocation order has been conveyed to all allottees, while steps are being taken to refund amounts paid in respect of the sold houses as directed by His Excellency, the Governor of Kaduna State.

“As one of the key pillars of His Excellency’s Human Capital Development, Uba Sani noted that effective learning can best take place in a conducive atmosphere without distractions and sundry interferences.

“The governor has always argued that education is not just a leveler but also a ladder for upward mobility which can transform lives and improve livelihoods.

“To secure the future of our children, the Governor has been expanding access to education in the last two years, by bridging the infrastructural deficit at both primary and secondary schools across Kaduna State.

“In fact, one of the first decisions that His Excellency took upon assuming office was the slashing of the school fees of Kaduna State-owned tertiary institutions on August 21, 2023.

“Apart from tertiary institutions, the Senator Uba Sani administration has also improved access by building new primary and secondary schools as well as blocks of classrooms since he became Governor of Kaduna State.

“Indeed, the Sani-led administration has built over 2,336 new classrooms, renovated more than 707 others and provided 3,704 and 30,742 furniture, for teachers and pupils.

“Similarly, Kaduna State Government, has sunk 51 boreholes, provided 918 cubicle toilets for both pupils’ and teachers’ use in all the Local Governments to make learning more conducive.”

A Finnish court has approved the extradition of Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist leader, to Nigeria, where he faces serious charges including incitement, terrorism, and conspiracy.

The Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti granted Nigeria’s long-standing request on Thursday, with the extradition set for July 15, according to reports.

Ekpa, who refers to himself as the “Prime Minister” of the self-declared Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, has been accused of orchestrating unrest in southeastern Nigeria from abroad. His arrest in November 2024 followed months of surveillance by Finnish authorities.

Although often linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in media reports, the separatist group has distanced itself from Ekpa. “Ekpa operates independently. Linking him to IPOB is misleading and dangerous,” said an IPOB spokesperson. “His actions are not part of our struggle.”

Instead, Ekpa is said to lead a splinter group called “Autopilot,” which is allegedly connected to a militant organization known as the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA). Authorities claim the group is responsible for violent “sit-at-home” orders, kidnappings, and targeted killings in Nigeria’s southeast.

Vanguard reports that Nigerian officials presented evidence under the Rome Statute—ratified by both Finland and Nigeria—to support the extradition request. Finnish authorities emphasized that the court’s decision followed due process and international legal standards.

In a statement, the Nigerian government welcomed the ruling, calling it “a major step for justice” and a strong signal to those “who seek to destabilize the country from foreign shores.”

A new terrorist group, Mahmuda, has escalated its attacks across Kwara and Niger States, raising alarm in several communities.

On Sunday night, suspected members of the group launched an assault on Ilesha Baruba and Kemaanji, Baruten, and Kaiama local government areas in Kwara State, leaving several dead and others wounded. The violence comes just days after more than 50 farmers were killed in similar attacks in Ukum and Logo local councils. 

Reports suggest the assailants, dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, stormed a market square at 9:30 p.m. and opened fire on residents before fleeing the scene. Among the casualties were four Fulani individuals, a vigilante, and a 19-year-old who was hit by a stray bullet. The attack is believed to be part of a series of reprisal attacks by the terrorists targeting local vigilantes.

According to Daily Trust, residents suspect that the motive behind the attacks is to displace local farmers and occupy their land. One local source described how the attackers fired at the Fulani individuals at close range, particularly targeting the vigilante who was armed with a dane gun. The violence also spread to Kaiama, where another vigilante was killed in a similar assault.

Terrorist Group Mahmuda’s Growing Influence

The Mahmuda group has been linked to an increasing number of violent incidents across the region, including kidnapping and killings in villages such as Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, as well as in parts of Yashikira District of Baruten Local Government Area. The group’s activities have extended into the Babana and Wawa districts of Borgu LGA in Niger State, prompting concerns over the spread of terrorism within these areas.

Despite previous claims from the federal government about successes in containing the violence, security experts believe the rise of Mahmuda suggests that more needs to be done to combat terrorism. Some experts have criticized the country’s intelligence system for failing to anticipate and prevent the emergence of such a group.

Governor AbdulRazaq Leads Delegation to Assess Situation

In response to the worsening situation, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led a high-level delegation that included military and intelligence chiefs to visit Kaiama and assess the security concerns. The delegation held a “strategic security interface” with the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Muazu Shehu Omar, and other key stakeholders. During the meeting, the governor confirmed that the recent attacks were a reprisal targeting vigilantes.

Governor AbdulRazaq assured the public that the state government is collaborating with the military and other relevant agencies to bring peace to the affected communities and dismantle the terrorist group. He expressed confidence that the ongoing efforts will lead to a resolution of the security challenges.

In the wake of the attacks, the Kwara State Police Command reassured residents that adequate security measures were in place to prevent further violence. Police spokesperson SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi urged citizens to go about their lawful activities while remaining vigilant and cooperating with law enforcement. She warned that any individual or group attempting to destabilize the community would be dealt with decisively.

Fear and Tensions in Affected Communities

The Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji Umaru Seriki, expressed growing concern for the safety of his subjects, who are living in fear of the frequent attacks by the Mahmuda group. The violence is not confined to Kwara alone but has spilled over into neighboring Niger State, with incidents like the recent destruction of a security vehicle purchased by locals for vigilante operations.

Experts, including Abdullahi Garba, an intelligence and counter-terrorism specialist, have questioned the failure of Nigeria’s security agencies to anticipate the rise of the Mahmuda group. Garba pointed to the need for more proactive intelligence gathering, urging the Department of State Services (DSS), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to better address emerging threats.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Garba said, “I think the DSS, DIA, and NIA have questions to answer regarding how the new terror group penetrated the country. Why do we have intelligence agencies if we can’t determine this type of scenario in our country?” He emphasized that countering terrorism effectively requires intelligence agencies to be more proactive and thorough in their efforts.

Security Agencies’ Response

While the police spokesperson directed inquiries to the military, a source within the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) confirmed that both the police and DSS are working around the clock to curb the activities of the Mahmuda group.

The source stated, “It is not an external threat; it is already an internal issue, and the police as the lead agency in maintaining internal security have taken over. The results will be obvious soon.”

A group of protesters on Tuesday stormed the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to demand the prosecution of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari.

The protesters, under the banner of Concerned Citizens Against Corruption, asked the AGF to conduct a thorough investigation into NNPCL’s transactions over the past five years.

Led by its convener, Kabir Matazu, the group expressed disappointment that despite President Bola Tinubu’s removal of Kyari and the entire NNPCL board on April 2, 2025, no steps had been taken to investigate the alleged corrupt practices during Kyari’s tenure.

The group highlighted controversies surrounding the rehabilitation and recommissioning of government-owned refineries, alleging that billions of dollars were spent without transparency.

“It is on record that the removal of the erstwhile corrupt leadership of the NNPCL was widely applauded by Nigerians, especially groups like ours that have been at the forefront of demanding accountability and transparency in the management of institutions,” Matazu said.

He further stated, “It is also notable that Kyari’s leadership of the NNPCL was plagued by numerous allegations of corruption due to a lack of transparency. Nigerians are disillusioned that the President has only stopped at removing the former leadership without initiating steps to investigate Kyari and his team’s management of the organisation.

“A key issue is the alleged fraud surrounding the rehabilitation and recommissioning of government-owned refineries. The figures and facts simply do not add up.

“In addition to the billions of dollars claimed to have been spent on refinery repairs, Kyari’s administration also alleged that Matrix Energy Limited invested $400m in rehabilitating the Port Harcourt Refinery, even though the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5bn for the same facility.

“More perplexingly, the NNPCL is now reportedly indebted to Matrix Energy by over $2bn. This debt is being serviced through daily crude oil allocations to Matrix Energy, for which no payments are being made.

“This situation raises urgent questions: Why and how is the Federal Government, through the NNPCL, indebted to Matrix Energy for $2bn? Why is the debt being serviced with daily crude oil supplies? Who were the parties involved in negotiating this deal? Why are Nigerians being kept in the dark about these agreements?”

The group also emphasised that addressing these issues would enable the Federal Government to account for how public resources were used under Kyari’s leadership.

“An investigation into these questionable transactions would help the government identify funds that need to be recovered and from whom, especially considering Nigeria’s dire economic condition,” Matazu said.

“Furthermore, such an investigation would ensure that the current leadership is held accountable and avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.”

The group charged the AGF to immediately review all agreements entered into by the NNPCL during Kyari’s administration.

“This investigation should uncover the Federal Government’s financial losses and recommend actionable steps to recover these funds. We demand an immediate judicial review,” Matazu stated.

The protesters vowed to continue demanding accountability and transparency in the management of institutions, emphasising that Nigerians deserve to know the truth about the alleged corrupt practices under Kyari’s leadership.

The United Kingdom has received a total of 22,619 asylum applications from Nigerian nationals between 2010 and 2024, according to figures from the UK Home Office.

Nigerians accounted for one in every 30 asylum claims made in the UK during this period, ranking 11th among all nationalities, based on the Home Office’s recently published year-end Asylum and Resettlement statistics.

In a significant year-on-year spike, asylum claims by Nigerians nearly doubled in 2024—rising from 1,462 in 2023 to 2,841 in 2024.

The UK saw an overall surge in asylum requests in 2024, recording 108,138 applications—a 378 per cent increase compared to 2010.

A majority of these were first-time applicants from South Asia and the Middle East.

Iran topped the asylum claims chart with 75,737 applications, driven largely by “the increasing persecution of dissidents by the Iranian regime.”

Pakistan followed with 57,621 claims, including 10,542 in 2024 alone, a development linked to “post-election turmoil, soaring inflation and a spike in blasphemy prosecutions,” which human rights groups say strengthen grounds for asylum.

Afghanistan placed third with 54,363 applications since 2010. In 2024, 8,508 Afghans applied, reflecting ongoing fallout from the Taliban’s return to power in 2022. That year, 11,358 Afghans sought asylum in the UK, followed by 9,710 in 2023.

Other top nationalities included Albania (50,944), Iraq (45,711), Eritrea (37,687), Syria (34,997), and Bangladesh (31,744), where asylum seekers rose from 5,097 in 2023 to 7,225 in 2024 amid political upheaval following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Sudan and India rounded out the top ten with 30,897 and 30,179 claims, respectively.

Nigeria ranked just ahead of Sri Lanka (22,059) and above Vietnam, China, and Turkey. Nations like Brazil, Kuwait, Yemen, Colombia, and Jordan each registered fewer than 6,500 claims.

A Nigerian man, Olufemi Ojaleye convicted of stealing Covid bounce-back loans has avoided deportation from the UK after successfully appealing on human rights grounds due to his children’s special needs.

Ojaleye who played “a leading role in a sophisticated fraud” involving the government’s Covid-era Bounce Back Loan Scheme, was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Despite this, a UK tribunal has ruled that he cannot be deported to Nigeria, primarily because two of his children have autism and “very significant additional needs.” 

Ojaleye, who first arrived in the UK as a visitor in 2002 and last visited Nigeria in 2004, was targeted for deportation by the Home Office following his conviction.

However, a First-tier Tribunal initially ruled in his favour last November, citing the potential impact on his family.

That decision was challenged by the Home Office, but it has now been upheld by the Upper Tier Tribunal (UTT) of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

Lawyers argued that deporting Ojaleye would have “unduly harsh consequences for his children,” referencing evidence from the specialist school they attend.

The tribunal heard that their autism affects “every aspect of [their] daily life” and that they “need support with even the smallest tasks such as dressing, eating, and toileting.”

While the Home Office maintained that Ojaleye’s deportation would not make a “materially different” impact on the children since he is already in prison, the tribunal disagreed.

According to the court, Ojaleye speaks to his children “where possible on a daily basis” and they visit him while he serves his sentence.

The children’s mother, already emotionally and financially overwhelmed by his imprisonment, told the tribunal that visiting him in Nigeria would be impossible due to their special needs.

She was described as being “drained both emotionally and financially” and struggling with breakdowns.

The Home Office also argued that the tribunal failed to give due weight to “the nature and seriousness of the appellant’s offending” and insisted that the consequences for the children were “simply not harsh enough to meet the high threshold necessary to outweigh the public interest in deportation.”

However, in her ruling, Judge Elizabeth Ruddick stated the original decision “contains no material error of law,” allowing Ojaleye to remain in the UK.

The case, revealed in court documents, is one of several highlighted by The Telegraph where deportation has been halted by human rights claims.

Currently, the UK faces a backlog of 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, many on human rights

grounds—posing a significant challenge to efforts to expedite the removal of illegal migrants.

Legendary musician, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, has shut down swirling rumours of his death, declaring that he is very much alive, healthy and in high spirits.

In a video released on Tuesday morning, the 83-year-old icon appeared energetic and vibrant, countering the false reports with a musical performance.

Singing in a blend of Yoruba, English and Pidgin, Obey-Fabiyi sang: “Hello, my name is Professor Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi. Satan, you don lose o, Satan, you don lose o, you don pafuka. Na lie lie you dey talk, you don pafuka.”

He followed the performance with a statement to his fans and the public: “It is fake news that started a few hours ago claiming that I, Evangelist Obey, have passed on to glory. It is a lie. I am alive, and that is not the word Jesus has written.”

The death rumour, which surfaced on Monday, quickly gained traction online and prompted an outpouring of premature tributes from fans.

However, his personal assistant, Tope Olukole, dismissed the claims in an interview with TVC later that evening.

“Let’s set the record straight: Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi is alive and thriving! He recently celebrated a joyous occasion — the 50th birthday of his second child’s spouse,” Olukole said.

“Rumours of his passing are baseless and entirely unfounded. We’re glad to see him active and well.”

The hoax comes just weeks after the music legend celebrated his 83rd birthday.

Afrobeat superstar Davido has addressed his past relationship with convicted fraudster and socialite Ramon Abbas, known as Hushpuppi.

In a recent podcast interview, Davido acknowledged their friendship but insisted he was unaware of Hushpuppi’s fraudulent activities.

Despite the controversy surrounding the former Instagram influencer, the ‘Awuke’ singer expressed sympathy and hope for his eventual release from prison in the United States.

“Hushpuppi is coming out soon. He lived life. To me, it is not worth it to be locked up. But let me not make excuses for them (fraudsters). Some people are happy to ball for five years and that is it,” he said.

The “30 Billion Gang” frontman also cited Nigeria’s intense economic struggles as a driving force behind the rise of illegal activities.

“In Nigeria, there is a kind of hardship you would face and you will be like, you know what? Let me ball for two years then I am good,” he explained.

“People are like that. My prayers go out to him (Hushpuppi). He was my friend. I just see him around, I never really knew what he was doing. But he lived a good life.”

In 2022, United States District Judge Otis Wright II sentenced Hushpuppi to over 11 years in prison for conspiring to commit fraud running into millions of dollars. The judge also ordered him to pay $1,732,841 in restitution to two fraud victims.

Hushpuppi pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. He was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in June 2020 and has remained in federal custody since his expulsion from the UAE.

“Abbas bragged on social media about his lavish lifestyle – a lifestyle funded by his involvement in transnational fraud and money laundering conspiracies targeting victims around the world,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada.

Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, has responded to widespread online ridicule over his spoken English with a fiery comeback, emphasising legacy over language.

In a now-viral video clip from a recent public gathering, the Lagos transport union boss addressed critics who mocked a slip he made while speaking English, particularly his mispronunciation of “kudos” as “Kundus.”

Rather than apologise or shrink from the criticism, MC Oluomo doubled down, asserting that while English may not be his strength, his life achievements far outweigh any grammatical errors. 

“I stayed there and worked hard, but I wasn’t educated. See, they said I said Kundus, is Kundus not my son/ You are educated; what have you done? They should go and compete with my children. I raised my children in wealth. My children are citizens of America, citizens of the UK. I worked hard to get to that level. Kundus, kudos, what’s the difference? What do you want to hear? English is not my mother tongue, Yoruba is,” he said.

MC Oluomo, who rose from being a bus conductor in Lagos to becoming the chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Management Committee, used the moment to highlight his journey of resilience.

He credited his success to sheer determination and strategic effort, stating that his lack of formal education did not prevent him from making an impact or securing a better future for his family.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed the nomination and administrative fees for aspirants vying for the different seats in the July 12 local government election in Lagos State.

The fees are contained in the party’s election guidelines, jointly signed by Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi and Dr Adeola Jokomba, the APC chairman and secretary, respectively.

The party, in the guidelines released on Tuesday , said chairmanship aspirants are to pay N5 million as a nomination fee and an additional N500,000 as an administrative fee.

According to the party, female chairmanship aspirants are to pay N2.5 million as a nomination fee and the same N500,000 as an administrative fee.

APC noted that aspirants below the age of 40 years would have a 50 per cent discount on their nomination fee but will pay the same administrative fee of N500,000.

The party, however, waived the nomination fee for aspirants with disabilities while charging an administration fee of N250,000.

“For the councillorship position, male aspirants will pay N1 million for the nomination form and N100,000 as an administrative fee, while female aspirants will pay N250,000 for the nomination form and N100,000 as administrative fee.

“Youths aspiring for councillorship positions will have a 50 per cent discount for the nomination form fee, while the administrative fee remains the same.

“Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) will collect the nomination forms free for councillorship seats, while the administrative fee is N50,000.

“There shall not be a separate fee for Vice Chairman. These fees shall be paid by way of bank draft in favour of the All Progressives Congress, Lagos State, State”,the party added.

Giving more details, the party said the nomination form for chairmanship position shall be supported by five registered members, who are registered voters in all the aspirants’ wards , local government or LCDA.

It noted that for the councillorship seats, the nomination form shall be supported by 20 registered members, who are registered voters in the aspirants’ wards.

The party said all aspirants must be Nigerian citizens in addition to possessing other qualifications and meeting other conditions for the election.

“An aspirant must be educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent, and a higher qualification will be an added advantage.

“For council and LCDA chairmanship, the aspirant has to attain the age of 30 years, while for councillorship, the aspirant has to attain the age of 25 years.

“All aspirants are to submit evidence of membership of the party. Aspirants are to submit demonstrable evidence of active party support.

“Aspirants must provide a portfolio of loyalty to the party. All aspirants must sign the party’s Code of Conduct.

“Only aspirants cleared by the Screening Committee shall be eligible to stand for election at the party’s primaries,” the party said.

According to the party, any party officeholder interested in contesting for an elective office (whether party office or office in a general election) shall resign and leave office 30 days prior to the date of election or party primary.

It said that all aspirants “shall comply with constitutional provisions and requirements applicable to the public office they seek to contest for.” (NAN).