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Osogbo Mosque Death: Court Orders Imam, Four Others into Custody

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Osogbo Mosque Death: Court Orders Imam, Four Others into Custody

Five individuals, including the Imam, have been placed on detention by an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in relation to the death of a worshipper during morning prayers in the state capital.

Abdulgafar Sakariyah, 51, the Imam of Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, was among those remanded in detention together with four other individuals: Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Fokorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29.

On Monday, the suspects were taken before Magistrate A. Daramola after the Osun State Police Command filed a plea to hold them until the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions could provide guidance.

The police asked an order putting the suspects to a detention facility while investigations are completed and legal counsel is obtained in a motion filed ex parte.

Inspector Bashir Sulaiman of the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Osogbo, deposed to an affidavit supporting the application.

The document states that “the incident occurred on January 30, 2026, at about 6:15am during Subuhi prayers at the central mosque in Osogbo.”

The deceased, identified as Ahmed Najeem, allegedly entered the mosque and “forcefully collected the microphone from the Imam during the morning prayer,” according to Inspector Sulaiman.

Additionally, the affidavit stated that the Imam was “beaten to death by the respondents in an attempt to hit him with the microphone stand.”

The police informed the judge that the application was filed in accordance with Osun State’s 2018 Administration of Criminal Justice Law and emphasized that a remand order was necessary in order to legitimately hold the suspects.

Additionally, it stated that “there is no other way to remand the respondents in a correctional center pending the outcome of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, unless the application is granted.”

Magistrate Daramola approved the request after reviewing the application and directed that the five suspects be placed under remand at the Ilesa Correctional Center.

The subject was postponed to February 24, 2026, for additional discussion while the DPP issued legal advice.

It has been reported that on Friday, January 30, 2026, a group of worshippers severely injured Najeem, a vehicle painter.

But he passed away later that day due to his injuries, which led to chaos as his friends and family stormed the mosque during Friday Juma’at prayers.

El-Rufai Throws Weight Behind Electoral Act Protest, Slams Senate

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El-Rufai Throws Weight Behind Electoral Act Protest, Slams Senate

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has stated that if he had been in the nation, he would have participated in the demonstration against the National Assembly spearheaded by Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate for the Labour Party.

In a Monday interview with Trust TV, El-Rufai criticized the Senate for changing the proposed Electoral Act revisions’ provisions on the electronic transmission of election results, arguing that real-time transmission is crucial to avoiding manipulation.

He claims that the reform’s opposition and delay are politically driven and intended to maintain electoral advantages.

“I regret that I was unable to travel back to Nigeria; I would have joined Mr. Peter Obi and other party leaders in demonstrating before the National Assembly to reinstate the mandatory and real-time transmission of polling station results,” El-Rufai stated.

He claimed the ruling party was against the move for survival reasons and that implementing real-time electronic transmission would greatly reduce election rigging and increase election credibility.

The former governor also pointed out that although the House of Representatives had supported the reform, the Senate had not yet given it its complete support.

It had stated that Obi led hundreds of demonstrators to the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday to protest the Senate’s decision to strike the word “real-time” from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill’s provisions on electronic results transmission.

The Obidient Movement and pro-democracy organizations organized the demonstration, which was dubbed “Occupy the National Assembly.” They claimed that the MPs’ conduct was a planned attempt to undermine electoral transparency in advance of the general elections in 2027.

After a third reading last week, the Senate approved the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill, 2026. However, the removal of the term “real-time” from portions pertaining to electronic results transmission sparked controversy, as some argue that this creates an opportunity for post-election manipulation.

Demonstrators maintain that eliminating “real-time electronic transmission” leaves gaps that could be exploited, notwithstanding the Senate’s later clarifications that it did not completely eliminate electronic transmission.

Protesters held signs that read, “Our votes must count,” “No to electoral robbery,” and “Protect democracy now” as they marched from the Federal Secretariat to the National Assembly while chanting solidarity songs.

Protesters were forced to hold their rally outside the main gate after security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps blocked access to the compound.

Speaking to reporters at the event, Obi emphasized that legitimate elections continue to be the cornerstone of national growth and cautioned that Nigeria’s democratic progress was in jeopardy.

He declared, “We have to put an end to this criminality and demonstrate that we are a country that shines in Africa.”

The former governor of Anambra also urged legislators to enact legislation ensuring results are transmitted electronically.

“There was an evident danger. We have had to endure the risk. That is what we have endured in the past. We do not wish for another glitch. That’s it. We want everything to return to normal. “No more glitches,” he continued.

UK must demand answers from Tinubu on Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction during state visit – Rising Sun Foundation

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UK must demand answers from Tinubu on Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction during state visit – Rising Sun Foundation

Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, pan-Igbo self determination activists, under the aegis of the Rising Sun Foundation, has asked the UK government to demand answers from the Nigerian leader concerning the abduction of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu was abducted in Kenya in June 2021 and forcefully repatriated to Nigeria to face trial, leading to his conviction on terrorism charges brought against him by the Nigerian government on November 20, 2025.

Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu have reportedly accepted an invitation to be guests of British monarch King Charles at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19, 2026.

Reacting to the development in a statement signed by its leader, Dr. Maxwell Dede, on Monday, Rising Sun Foundation said the state visit presents the UK government with an opportunity to demand answers on the abduction of its citizen, Kanu.

Kanu holds a British passport. The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra is currently serving a life prison sentence at the Sokoto Prison.

“Rising Sun Foundation has taken note of reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be traveling to the United Kingdom to meet with His Majesty King Charles III.

“In light of this visit, we respectfully remind the British Government and the wider international community that our only expectation is simple and just: that this meeting must not pass without the United Kingdom demanding clear answers from the Nigerian authorities regarding the unlawful abduction and extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in 2021.

“For nearly five years, the UK Foreign Office has reportedly sent multiple diplomatic communications to the Nigerian government seeking clarification on the circumstances surrounding the abduction of a British citizen, traveling on a valid UK passport, from Kenya. To date, there has been no transparent or satisfactory response,” the pan-Igbo self determination activists said in the statement.

The activists condemned what they described as the abandonment of the IPOB leader by the British authorities.

According to Rising Sun Foundation, it is morally indefensible for the very state that created Nigeria, and which remains one of its principal political and economic partners, to abandon its duty of care toward a British citizen simply because of political convenience, economic interests, or historic hostility towards the Biafran cause.

The activists stressed that the continued silence and inaction of the UK authorities, coupled with credible reports about the aircraft and logistical chain used in the rendition, have deepened public suspicion that powerful international actors may have been aware of, or complicit in, the operation. “Such concerns cannot be brushed aside without transparency,” the statement said.

Rising Sun Foundation insisted that Tinubu’s visit is also an opportunity for the UK government to come clean on its role Kanu’s abduction and rendition.

Stating their demands, the activists said: “If the United Kingdom wishes to demonstrate that it was not a silent partner—or worse, an instigator—in the unlawful abduction of its own citizen, then this visit presents a clear and unavoidable test.

“His Majesty King Charles III and the UK Government must: Demand a full and public explanation from President Tinubu on why Nigeria has failed to respond adequately to repeated diplomatic inquiries.

“Seek immediate clarity on the legal and operational basis for the abduction of a British citizen in Kenya.

“If satisfactory answers are not forthcoming, call for an independent public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, including any possible involvement of UK officials or agencies.”

According to the statement, anything short of these steps will only reinforce the growing global perception that the United Kingdom has chosen political expediency over its obligation to protect the rights and safety of its own citizen.

“The world is watching. Justice demands answers,” the activists declared.

JAMB Stands Firm: 2026 UTME Registration Ends February 26

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JAMB Stands Firm: 2026 UTME Registration Ends February 26

Registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will close on February 26, 2026, as potential candidates have been reminded by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The board warned that there would be no extension of the deadline, so candidates who planned to take the test should finish registering right away.

The board’s weekly bulletin, which was made public on Monday, includes this.

The low number of candidates at various certified registration centers at this point in the process has raised worries for the board.

In 2026, it stated that the persistent practice of putting off registration until the very last minute and then requesting an extension would not be accepted.

The practice of candidates purposefully postponing registration until the last few days and then agitating for an extension will not be tolerated in 2026.

The intentional strategies of exam cheaters and people posing as owners of tutorial centers who deceitfully suggest that applicants postpone registration until the last minute are well known to JAMB.

“This tactic is frequently intended to compel an extension of the registration period, which permits the large-scale, group transportation of candidates to centers, thereby facilitating examination malpractice,” the statement stated.

The timeframe stayed the same, according to JAMB, which clarified that the 2026 UTME registration period began on January 26 and was expected to run for five weeks.

A million or so candidates have expressed interest in the test thus far, the board revealed, and many of them have already obtained their ePINs and are anticipated to finish the registration process as soon as possible.

It further stated that because its operating schedule coincided with those of other examination bodies, stretching the registration period was not feasible.

JAMB recommended that applicants register in advance, stay away from last-minute scrambling, and ignore any indication that the deadline might be extended.

Candidates who did not take action within the allotted period would not be held accountable by the board, it emphasized.

Peter Obi Heads Protest at NASS Amid Electronic Transmission Controversy

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Peter Obi Heads Protest at NASS Amid Electronic Transmission Controversy

Peter Obi, a well-known member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has joined repeated demonstrations at the National Assembly in Abuja against the Senate’s refusal to require the electronic transmission of election results.

Demonstrators reportedly stormed the National Assembly on Monday morning in protest at the Senate’s action.

Speaking at the protest site, Obi criticized the Senate’s stance on the electronic transmission of election results and urged senators to permit the election process to continue unhindered.

“Leave the election to proceed as it normally would,” Obi stated. We will accept the outcome, no matter what it is. Why create misunderstandings after the procedure?

Pro-democracy campaigners and young Nigerians gathered outside the National Assembly’s entrance for the “Occupy National Assembly” demonstration, which was organized in response to the Senate’s decision to deny e-transmission of election results.
A significant security presence was reportedly drawn to the event, with members of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, or NSCDC, stationed to keep the complex under control.

The demonstrators are arguing that electronic transmission is essential to Nigeria’s electoral process’s integrity, transparency, and public trust, and they are requesting that the National Assembly reevaluate its stance on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill’s e-transmission clause.

The protest was still calm as of the time this story was filed, and security personnel were keeping a careful eye on things there.

At What Point Did 41 Members Become 10 Million? – Sambo Knocks APC Over Inconsistency

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At What Point Did 41 Members Become 10 Million? – Sambo Knocks APC Over Inconsistency

The All Progressives Congress’s (APC) erratic membership numbers have drawn criticism from Sumner Sambo, editor for politics at Arise News.

In an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Sambo reportedly recalled that the APC leadership had said in March 2022 that the party had 41 million registered members, a statistic that was provided prior to the general elections in 2023.

Sambo expressed doubts about the party’s prior assertions, arguing that the drop in membership from 41 million to 10 million calls into question their veracity.

In addition, he said that President Bola Tinubu received roughly 8.7 million votes in the 2023 presidential election and inquired as to the whereabouts of the 41 million party members who had previously been declared registered.

Sambo praised the party’s use of technology in its current membership registration procedure despite his criticism, calling it a constructive move.

“We’re now talking about the APC claiming that it has 10 million members,” he remarked. Well, this is amusing. Oddly enough, in March 2022, the incumbent governor of Yobe and the chairman of the caretaker special convention committee informed us that the APC had 41 million registered members.

“So, when did the 41 million registered members grow to 10 million members? Because these were some of the issues we brought up before the general elections in 2023, and the APC was genuinely attempting to manipulate the election’s outcome. What was President Tinubu’s outcome? There were roughly 8.7 million votes for him. The APC assured us in 2022 that there were 41 million registered members, but where were they?

“The APC now claims to have roughly 10 million registered voters, four years after 2022. The national chairman, who stated that the goal of this registration is 20 million party members, is, in my opinion, being conservative. This implies that the APC should apologize to Nigerians for misleading them about their membership size in 2022, which we now know was false. The good news is that APC is using technology to register its members.

BREAKING: Tinubu, Fubara, and Wike Meet Once More to Discuss Key Issues

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BREAKING: Tinubu, Fubara, and Wike Meet Once More to Discuss Key Issues

President Bola Tinubu met with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike on Monday (today).

The meeting was place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, and it was understood that other state political figures were also in attendance.

As at the time this report was filed, no information about the meeting was publicly available.

Key parties are involved in the discussion, which is being held behind closed doors, amid ongoing political volatility in Rivers State.

Discussions focused on state-related concerns, according to those acquainted with the situation, although no formal statement was issued following the interaction, according to The Nation.

Following the meeting, Governor Fubara escorted Wike to his home in Guzape, Abuja, according to the source.

Additionally, the source stated that the governor made a plea to the minister during the visit and promised to uphold mutual respect in their future interactions.

Fubara allegedly pleaded with the minister, promising never to treat him disrespectfully again.

President Tinubu had previously met with the two political leaders, reportedly to discuss political tensions in Rivers State.

Akpabio vs David Mark: Don’t allow anyone’s ambition lead you to hell fire – Dele Momodu to politicians

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Akpabio vs David Mark: Don’t allow anyone’s ambition lead you to hell fire – Dele Momodu to politicians

Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has cautioned politicians against letting their own ambitions drag them down to hell.

Momodu was responding to comments made by David Mark, the Interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who instructed Senate President Godswill Akpabio to cease commenting on behalf of INEC over the electronic transmission of election results.

Mark urged the Senate and Akpabio to enact legislation that would provide INEC the authority to make decisions on the electronic transmission of results.

The former president of the Senate stated in an Abuja speech that Nigerians prefer electronic results delivery.

Momodu responded by writing on X: “We appreciate your excellent intervention, sir, and our ADC Chairman, Brigadier General David Mark (rtd.).”

“My personal counsel to our politicians is to avoid letting anyone’s selfish goals drive you to hellfire.” Encourage open and honest democratic principles and values.

Felix Ogbe: Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Poised to Unlock Africa’s Energy Potential Through AfCFTA

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Felix Ogbe: Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Poised to Unlock Africa’s Energy Potential Through AfCFTA

Industry stakeholders must collaborate to fully utilize Nigeria’s energy resources and spur economic progress, according to Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

He said this in his keynote speech about the use of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) in the oil and gas industry at the 2026 ACFTA summit, which was organized by NCDMB, PETAN, and Legal Concierge and had as its topic Unlocking Africa’s Energy future through ACFTA.

Ogbe emphasized the significance of optimizing Nigeria’s energy potential, pointing to the nation’s substantial oil and gas deposits as well as renewable energy sources, while being represented by Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Corporate Services, NCDMB.

He emphasized that industry, local content development, and energy security all depended on cooperative efforts.

Through programs including infrastructure development, technology transfer, and capacity training, NCDMB is dedicated to fostering the expansion of Nigeria’s energy sector, according to Ogbe.

He exhorted industry participants to seize sectoral possibilities and support the nation’s economic growth.

In his comments, the Executive Secretary reaffirmed NCDMB’s dedication to fostering the expansion and advancement of Nigeria’s energy industry. Rekindled conversations about how to unleash Nigeria’s energy potential and promote sustainable economic growth are anticipated as a result of his speech.

In order to influence the implementation of the AFCFTA in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and achieve energy security and self-sufficiency for Africa, the summit gathered together academics, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and project promoters.

Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has created a framework for domesticating the AFCFTA, he said, with an emphasis on capacity exports, capacity development, and opportunity discovery.

Preferential trade terms are advantageous to the nation because of its strengths in logistics infrastructure, refining capacity, and oil field services.

He pointed out that there are still issues, such as the need for uniform standards and laws and the obligations for exporters to comply.

Enhancing cooperation, developing technology, and instituting metrics to assess the effect of AFCFTA on Africa’s trade balance were the main topics of discussion.

Important issues were brought up, including how Nigerian goods may reach Angolan markets and how Ghana’s Tema shipyard could be designated as a regional center for building and repairing ships.

In order to influence the implementation of the AFCFTA in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and achieve energy security and self-sufficiency for Africa, the summit gathered together government representatives, industry leaders, stakeholders, regulatory bodies, project promoters, financial institutions, and academic institutions.

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