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29 Suspected Drug Peddlers Arrested In Borno

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Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Borno State Command, on Friday said it has arrested 29 suspected drug dealers in the state.

NSCDC Commandant, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that the suspects were apprehended during a joint patrol with the military on Thursday at the metropolis.

Abdullahi said that a joint operation was initiated by security agents to stem criminal activities and enhance security network in the state.

He disclosed that the suspects were arrested at various locations in the metropolis, adding that large quantities of suspected psychotropic substances were also recovered from them.

The commandant added that the suspects would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for prosecution.

He reiterated the commitments of the corps to partner with other security agencies to protect lives and property in the state.

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Court adjourns case against Anthony Joshua’s driver to 25th February

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The trial of 46-year-old, Adeniyi Kayode, driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the road accident involving heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Josh and claimed the lives of his two friends has been adjourned to February 25th 2026.

Recall that Kayode was charged to Sagamu Magistrate Court, on the 2nd of January with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding.

He was charged on a four count charge which includes dangerous driving Causing Death, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F: 135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State).


“Reckless and Negligent Driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the same Act. Driving Without Due Care and Attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act and driving without a valid national driver’s license, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act.

The case was adjourned after the prosecuting counsel, Richard Nigiwe, informed the court that they had four witnesses, but only three were in attendance.

Richard called for the adjournment of the case to allow the prosecution counsel to duplicate the case tile to the office of the Attorney General of the state through the office of the department of public prosecution for advise and in the interest of justice.

The request was initially rejected by the counsel to the defendant, Abiodun Olalekan, who expressed the readiness to forge ahead with the case.

However, giving her ruling on the request for adjournment, the court granted the application and adjourned the case to the 25th of February for further hearing.

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Lagos Assembly ignores protest, backs ongoing controversial demolition

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The Lagos State House of Assembly has backed the state’s executive in the ongoing demolition of structures and shanties erected along shorelines and under high-tension cables across the state.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Mr Stephen Ogundipe, said this in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.

The state government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, has embarked on the demolition of illegal structures, especially in the Oworonsoki and Makoko areas in the state.


Makoko residents had on Thursday protested at the Assembly complex over the demolition of their structures, urging Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stop further demolition.

Ogundipe, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency-01, said the exercise was a necessary step to safeguard the lives and property of residents in the state.

He said: “It is quite worrisome that we have ramshackle structures, sheds and shanties, especially along shorelines.

“The shorelines have turned to abodes of miscreants/street urchins, kidnappers, touts, street traders and hawkers, who often vandalise public utilities and attack innocent citizens.

“Although, the demolition exercise may be painful for those affected, it is a necessary step to protect the larger society and uphold the rule of law.

“The government’s action reflects a commitment to preventing avoidable disasters and ensuring sustainable urban development.”

The spokesman said the leadership of the Assembly viewed the exercise as responsible and forward-looking.

Ogundipe called on residents to remain calm and cooperate with government officials, assuring them that their concerns would not be ignored.

He also urged citizens to always comply with building regulations and planning approvals, to prevent future occurrences, stressing that collective responsibility is key to avoiding disasters.

Ogundipe, however, assured of the assembly’s commitment to balancing enforcement with empathy, ensuring that while laws are upheld, affected citizens are not left without support during the transition.

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Gilbert Chagoury: Corruption now rewarded in Nigeria – Timi Frank knocks Tinubu on GCON conferment

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Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has described the conferment of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on businessman Gilbert Chagoury as a dark moment for Nigeria, warning that the decision sends a dangerous signal that corruption and conflicts of interest are being normalised at the highest levels of power.

In a strongly worded statement he released on Tuesday, Frank said the honour – Nigeria’s second-highest national award – undermines public trust and the country’s anti-corruption posture, given widely reported allegations and judicial findings linking Chagoury to money-laundering cases arising from funds looted during the late General Sani Abacha junta.

“Today ranks among the saddest days of my life as a Nigerian,” Frank said, recalling reports that a Swiss court convicted Chagoury in 2000 in connection with laundering Abacha loot, after which he allegedly paid a fine of one million Swiss francs and returned about $66 million to the Nigerian government.

“To bestow one of our highest national honours on a person publicly tainted by allegations and judicial findings of corruption sends a deeply troubling message about our national values,” he added.

Frank also raised concerns about alleged conflicts of interest, citing reports that Chagoury is a business associate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and is linked to the controversial Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, reportedly awarded without competitive bidding to Hitech Construction Company, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group.

“A sitting President should not be in business dealings – directly or indirectly – with close associates while holding office,” Frank said, arguing that the optics of the award and the project fuel public suspicion of abuse of power.

The former APC spokesman further pointed to what he described as troubling institutional contradictions, noting that Nigeria’s current National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, once served as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when Chagoury was reportedly investigated as one of Abacha’s key cronies.

Frank who currently serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East as well as Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA,
claimed that Chagoury left Nigeria at the time, only to return later after settling fines and returning funds.

He also referenced reported issues Chagoury allegedly had with United States authorities over money-laundering allegations, though later settled, arguing that such a history should preclude elevation to national honour and international legitimacy.

Expanding his critique to the international arena, Frank cautioned the United States – particularly President Donald Trump and American policymakers – against being misled by lobbyists or vested interests.

He warned that Washington should not appear to lend moral or political cover to individuals or governments perceived to reward corruption.

“A President reputed for standing against corruption and poor governance should be cautious about associating, directly or indirectly, with a government that glorifies individuals with controversial corruption histories,” Frank said.

He also alluded to persistent claims that Chagoury exerts outsized influence over major infrastructure and commercial decisions in Nigeria, allegedly to the detriment of American business interests and in favour of French-linked firms.

If true, Frank said, such claims raise serious questions about transparency, fair competition and the capture of state policy by private interests.

“Nigeria should not become a theatre where corruption is rewarded, conflicts of interest are ignored, and foreign influence is leveraged against national and allied economic interests,” he warned, adding that the controversy has international governance implications.

Frank criticised what he described as a growing disconnect between government decisions and public sentiment, arguing that transparency and accountability are increasingly sidelined.

He questioned the criteria used to confer the GCON on Chagoury, asking Nigerians to demand clarity on his contributions to national development.

“What hospitals, schools or scholarships has he built or funded to merit this honour?” Frank asked. “Beyond his name being linked for years to alleged corruption cases without clear conclusions, Nigerians deserve to know what qualifies him for this award and who among our business leaders has been similarly honoured.”

Calling for civic vigilance, Frank urged opposition parties and citizens committed to justice and the rule of law to treat the episode as a wake-up call.

“A nation where individuals accused or convicted of corruption are protected, defended or even honoured is a nation drifting dangerously toward institutionalised impunity,” he said.

“It is one thing for the rule of law to be weakened; it is far worse for impunity to be openly rewarded.”

Frank urged reflection and decisive action, insisting that Nigeria must recommit to accountability and ethical governance. “Nigeria deserves better,” he said.

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