The Nigeria Customs Service has made a significant seizure of 12,500 litres of petrol worth over ₦25 million which was intercepted from suppliers of bandits within the Babanna Border area of Niger State.
According to the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Finance, Administration, and Special Duties, and National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Hussein Ejibunu, the seizure was made possible through the collaboration of locals and sister security agencies.
During a press briefing in Minna, North Central Nigeria, Ejibunu highlighted the security threats posed by the Lakurawa terrorist group along the fringes of Kebbi State.
READ ALSO: Navy Intercepts Over 1,300 Bags Of Foreign Rice In Lagos
He revealed that the group has claimed lives, including three officers lost in a recent attack in Bashaga village in Kebbi State.
The Comptroller Niger-Kogi command of the Customs, Pascal Chibuoke, commended the efforts of the locals and sister security agencies in making the seizure possible.
Comedian Nate Bargatze, one of the United States’ most successful stand-ups, will host this year’s Emmy Awards, organisers said Wednesday.
The funnyman is being handed the reins of television’s most prestigious prize show for its 77th edition, which takes place in Los Angeles in September and will be broadcast on US network CBS.
“It’s a huge honour to be asked to host such an iconic awards show, and I’m beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world,” Bargatze said in a statement.
Last year’s show was hosted by the well-received father-and-son pairing of Eugene and Dan Levy, for an evening that saw a boost in viewing figures compared with previous editions.
The Television Academy, which hands out the prizes, will be hoping that Bargatze’s growing popularity and everyman persona will add to the show’s appeal.
“Nate is one of the hottest comics in the business with a remarkable and hilarious brand of comedy that deeply resonates with multi-generational audiences around the globe,” Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego said.
“We are thrilled to be able to leverage his one-of-a-kind perspective to entertain TV fans watching this year’s Emmy telecast.”
Bargatze is on something of a career roll, playing to sell-out audiences in the United States and seeing success around the world through his Netflix specials.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called for the immediate release and safe return of six Nigerian tourists currently detained by immigration authorities in Cape Verde.
The Chairman of the Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa made the appeal in a statement signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the group—comprising young Nigerians aged between 25 and 31—had traveled from Senegal to Cape Verde for vacation but were detained upon arrival at the airport. The tourists were reportedly accused of not having sufficient funds and had their phones confiscated before being taken to an immigration deportation camp.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Cuts Power Supply To Junta Niger By 42% To 46MW
NiDCOM expressed concern over the condition of the detainees, stating that they are facing severe distress and trauma. One of them is said to have a medical condition and has been denied access to vital medication.
“We appeal to the Immigration authorities in Cape Verde to please treat the tourists with respect and dignity and put them on the next immediate return flight to Dakar for onward connection back to Nigeria,” the Commission urged.
The affected individuals have been identified as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina. The trip was reportedly organized by Irin Travels, associated with the handles @irintravels and @theFARAWAY_.
The matter has been escalated to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reported to the Consular and Migration Directorate for urgent intervention.
Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central District.
In the petition signed by his lawyer, N.A. Abubakar, to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello called on the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence.
“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance, and spreading false information injurious to public peace,” the lawyer wrote.
The former governor also wrote to Akpoti-Uduaghan, through his lawyer, R.O. Balogun, demanding retraction and public apology over the alleged defamatory statements made against him or face legal consequences.
The former Kogi governor claimed the female lawmaker during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in the Okehi Local Government Area of the state “maliciously” defamed him and levelled assassination allegations against him.
READ ALSO: Botched Petition To Recall Senator Natasha Laughable, Should Have A Place In GWR – PDP Chieftain
Bello said the said actions of the female senator contravened Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot (with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has:
“Gravely damaged our client’s reputation by portraying him as a violent and vengeful political actor and misled the public and tried to incite ethnic and political distrust, especially among clans of Ebiraland in particular and the people of Kogi Central in general.
Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central District.
In the petition signed by his lawyer, N. A. Abubakar, to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello called on the police to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence.
“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance, and spreading false information injurious to public peace”, the lawyer wrote.
The former governor also wrote to Akpoti-Uduaghan, through his lawyer, R. O. Balogun, demanding retraction and public apology over the alleged defamatory statements made against him or face legal consequences.
The former Kogi governor claimed the female lawmaker during a homecoming event on April 1, 2025, in the Okehi Local Government Area of the state “maliciously” defamed him and levelled assassination allegations against him.
READ ALSO: Botched Petition To Recall Senator Natasha Laughable, Should Have A Place In GWR – PDP Chieftain
Bello said the said actions of the female senator contravened Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
“By accusing our client of plotting an assassination and naming him as a co-conspirator in a purported murder plot (with an attempt to disguise the killing as mob or ethnic violence), Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan has:
” Gravely damaged our client’s reputation by portraying him as a violent and vengeful political actor and misled the public and tried to incite ethnic and political distrust, especially among clans of Ebiraland in particular and the people of Kogi Central in general.
The Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives on Rivers State has summoned the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.).
The committee directed Ibas to appear before it for a “comprehensive interactive session” on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
According to a statement by Reps spokesman, Akin Rotimi, the session would provide a platform for members of the committee to deliberate on preliminary reports and developments emerging from Rivers State since the sole administrator assumed office.
The Chairman of the Committee and House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, said, “This engagement is necessary to ascertain the true state of affairs in Rivers State and ensure that the House remains properly guided in the discharge of its oversight responsibilities in the public interest.”
A file photo of members of the House of Reps. Photo: X@HouseNGR
The committee said a formal letter of invitation had been sent and acknowledged by the retired naval chief.
On March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu imposed an emergency rule on oil-rich Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months.
READ ALSO: Again, Women Protest Against Emergency Rule In Rivers
The president immediately nominated Ibas as administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state for the first six months.
The president relied on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to make the proclamation. The section interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger, disaster, or terrorist attacks in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
In about 48 hours, the National Assembly ratified the president’s emergency rule decision despite stiff opposition to the move.
The suspension of Fubara and other democratically elected representatives was expressly rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, and groups including a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and a former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.
Others are the founder of Stanbic IBTC bank, Atedo Peterside; a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai; a senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana; the LP, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), among others.
