Category Nigeria News

Wahab Shittu, the attorney for Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has withdrawn from the investigation into the late singer’s DNA test, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.

According to Shittu, the firm’s founding leader, Shittu, the decision was made in a press release that was made available to the media and signed by him. This was in response to the “sustained falsehood being orchestrated on social media about alleged attempts to compromise the outcome of the DNA process.”

In recent days, this campaign of calumny has become extremely persistent without any support. Removing further involvement and providing legal advice to Mohbad’s family in relation to the alleged DNA proceedings is the path of honor, integrity, and professionalism, the statement read.

Further, the company added that, “We clarify that our firm has no personal interest in the outcome of the DNA process other than the desire for justice to solve the truth,” “For the avoidance of doubt, we state.”

Read more about Mohbad’s father’s request for prosecution of his daughter-in-law and other people indicted in the coroner’s verdict.

The family of Mohbad has already been informed of the decision, according to the law firm.

The family was also informed in the decision that the DNA process must be conducted transparently, using renowned DNA laboratories both domestically and abroad, to prevent the process from being compromised, according to the statement.

The statement stated that “this withdrawal relates only to the DNA proceedings and does not affect our involvement in or our handling of other family matters.”

Bassey Otu, the governor of Cross River State, described the state’s budget as a “Budget of Inclusive Growth,” referring to it as the “Budget of Inclusive Growth” that the state legislature will be hearing from the state legislature in 2026.

Governor Otu cited the proposal as a “sacred social contract between government and the governed” as it aims to consolidate the gains of his administration’s People First agenda.

He claims that extensive consultations with citizens, civil society organizations, private sector stakeholders, NGOs, and citizens led to the creation of the 2026 budget.

He made a policy switch, moving from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the Human Development Index (HDI), promising to concentrate on improving rural communities’ access to electricity, healthcare, and education.

READ ALSO: Former PDP deputy governor Candidate in Cross River Joins APC

The governor made it known that the Cross River Social Investment Programme (CRSIP) would be run in a non-political, multi-sectoral manner to empower the elderly, women, youth, and other vulnerable groups.

A 17 percent increase over the proposed budget of 2025 results in a 519.6 billion (67%) allocation to capital expenditure, while a 260.96 billion (33%) is designated for recurrent spending. The economic sector receives 421 billion dollars, 163 billion for social services, 164 billion for general administration, 28 billion for law and justice, and 33.6 billion for regional development.

Following improved revenue inflows and prudent resource management, Governor Otu noted that the “Budget of Sustainable Growth” for 2025 was revised from 538 billion to 642 billion. He claimed that the adjustment provided funding for crucial initiatives like maternal and child health initiatives like road repairs and rural electrification.

The governor cited the success of the People First policy, which helped Cross River rank first nationwide in routine immunization coverage at 95%, underlining the year’s performance. He cited completed and ongoing projects, including the Yahe–Ebo–Wanakom–Wanikade Road and the Esuk Utan–Depot dual carriageway.

Otu also mentioned improvements to healthcare and power, including the completion of the Ikom General Hospital and the installation of solar streetlights in rural areas. He added that the state’s nursing schools are now fully accredited.

The governor disclosed that negotiations are raging for the Bakassi Deep Seaport while the governor provided updates on the infrastructure.

In terms of governance, Otu announced the full implementation of the national minimum wage, the expansion of fiber optic connectivity across MDAs, and the partial approval of retirees’ gratuities. He also confirmed that Certificates of Occupancy have been issued again, and that the state’s land administration system has been reworked.

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs made their first courtesy visits to Badaru Abubakar, the minister of defense, to his office at the Ministry of Defense’s Abuja headquarters.

The delegation, which is led by Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, includes Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, Chief of Air Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, and the Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, and the Chief of Air Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede.

The Minister’s office stated in a statement that “the visit underscores the Minister’s commitment to fostering a cohesionary defense leadership grounded in trust, collaboration, and shared purpose.”

Read more about Tinubu’s request for Senate confirmation of his new service chiefs.

Under the direction of President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the visit also fuels a renewed effort to develop a unified strategy and decisive action in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national interests, according to the statement.

See the statement below for more information:

PRESS ELEASE

TUESDAY, 28TH OCTOBER 2025

Advancing Unity, Leadership, and Strategic Direction, Defense Minister Badaru Receives Newly Appointed Chief of Defense Staff and Service Chiefs.

The newly appointed Chief of Defence Staff and the three Service Chiefs were shown by His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, MNI, at the Ministry of Defence’s Ship House in Abuja today, October 28th, 2025.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal SK Aneke, Chief of Army Staff, Maj Gen W Shaibu, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral I Abbas, and the Chief of Air Staff, Lt Gen OO Oluyede, were also present.

The visit demonstrates the Minister’s commitment to fostering a unified defense leadership built on trust, collaboration, and shared goals. Under the direction of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, it also rekindles a trend toward a unified strategy and decisive action in protecting Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national interests.

In order to strengthen Nigeria’s financial governance framework, the Senate has mandated its Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to continue conducting legislative oversight and policy reviews.

The Senate’s Executive, the President of the Senate, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and other stakeholders were the subjects of the urgent public interest resolution, which was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende and was a response to a motion of urgent public importance.

Senator Udende noted that Nigeria’s removal from the FATF’s Grey List was a recent development in the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.

He made the observation that Nigeria’s inclusion on the list had raised the risk of increased international scrutiny and reputational harm, which weakened investor confidence and limited access to global financial markets.

NFIU: Nigeria No Longer On the Global Financial Watch List

Bola Tinubu, president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and other stakeholders were commended for their leadership and coordinated actions that led to the milestone.

The Senate predicted that the achievement would encourage foreign direct investment (FDI) in key sectors like energy, technology, agriculture, and manufacturing, strengthen the naira, create jobs, and promote economic stability in its long-term outlook.

In response, the Senate urged financial and regulatory bodies to maintain compliance with international standards and commend all key players who helped secure Nigeria’s removal from the FATF Grey List.

Lawmakers also urged Nigeria’s financial system to maintain transparency, accountability, and good governance through continued collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The newly appointed Service chiefs have been requested by President Bola Tinubu in a letter to the Senate.

In a plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the request for the commanders of the defense staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, the army chief, Major-General Waheedi Shaibu, the chief of naval staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas, the air chief, Air vice-martial Kennedy Aneke, and the commander of defense intelligence, Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye.

President Tinubu urged the Senate to consider the appointments as quickly as possible in the correspondence.

Next week, the committee of the committee would hear the request for nomination screening and confirmation.

READ MORE: Tinubu Meets Service Chiefs in Closed-Door Meetings.

The military hierarchy was recently reorganized by Tinubu. General Christopher Musa was replaced by Oluyede, a former chief of army staff, as the chief of defense staff, after Tinubu removed him.

However, he kept in charge of the defense intelligence division as Major-General E. A. P. Undiendeye.

According to presidential adviser Sunday Dare, the rejigging was a result of “the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen the national security architecture.”

He wrote that “every appointment comes into effect right away.”

However, some military leaders have criticized the move, with the opposition’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) asking President Tinubu to explain the reason behind it.

In a statement released by its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC stated that “we still believe that the Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what actually happened.”