Category Nigeria News

The Abuja residence of a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, was searched on Thursday by officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The development was confirmed in a brief statement by his media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye.

According to the statement, ICPC officials arrived at El-Rufai’s residence around 2 p.m. and immediately began searching the entire property.

El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, condemned the raid, describing it as “unlawful and a clear violation of legal procedures and fundamental rights”.

The ICPC, on Wednesday, confirmed that El-Rufai was in its custody in connection with an ongoing investigation.

READ ALSO: El-Rufai Is In Our Custody — ICPC

“Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, former Governor of Kaduna State, is in our custody as of the close of work today, Wednesday, the 18th day of February, 2026. He is in the custody of the Commission in connection with investigations,” ICPC’s Head of Media and Public Communications, John Odey, had stated.

The Commission did not provide further details regarding the nature of the case.

His detention follows a series of allegations and engagements with security agencies.

On Friday last week, the chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) confirmed receiving an invitation from the ICPC.

“Yesterday, after the futile attempt to abduct me, the ICPC delivered a letter inviting me to their office. My lawyer has written to confirm that I will be attending the ICPC office on Wednesday, 18 February 2026,” El-Rufai wrote on X.

About three days prior, the former governor had visited the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja over allegations of financial improprieties during his tenure as Kaduna State governor from 2015 to 2023.

Reports also emerged of security operatives attempting to arrest him upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.

El-Rufai later claimed that someone had “wiretapped” the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu’s phone, enabling him to intercept instructions for his arrest.

Subsequently, the Department of State Services (DSS) filed a three-count charge against El-Rufai for allegedly intercepting Ribadu’s phone conversation.

A Moroccan court on Thursday sentenced 18 Senegalese football fans to prison terms ranging from three to 12 months over hooliganism charges.

The group had been in pre-trial detention since January 18, the day of the heated AFCON final in which Morocco lost to Senegal 1-0 on home turf, after some Senegalese supporters attempted a pitch invasion while others threw objects onto the field.

Ahead of the Saturday, February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared Friday a work-free day and announced a restriction of movement from 8pm on Friday to 6pm on Saturday.

Wike made the announcement in a special broadcast on national television and radio stations on Thursday, urging residents of the FCT to come out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister, Lere Olayinka.

READ ALSO: Another PDP Candidate Withdraws From FCT Council Polls, Backs APC

In the broadcast, he said: “On Saturday, February 21, we will all have a crucial opportunity to shape the future of our great Federal Capital Territory.

“The election of either new or returning chairmen and councillors for the six area councils is a momentous occasion, and I urge you to come out in your numbers to exercise your right to vote.

“I urge you to go to the polls with a sense of purpose and responsibility.

“As we exercise our democratic right, let us do so in an orderly and lawful manner. Let us respect the rules, respect each other, and respect the outcome of the election. We must show the world that we are a mature and responsible electorate, capable of conducting ourselves with dignity and decorum.

“At this juncture, with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I hereby declare Friday, February 20, 2026, as a work-free day to enable the movement of residents to their various communities to participate in the elections.

“Similarly, the President has approved the restriction of movement within the FCT from 8pm on Friday, February 20 to 6pm on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Consequently, all security agencies are directed to ensure strict compliance with this directive.

“Let me again use this opportunity to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 into law. This demonstrates his commitment to strengthening our democratic institutions and ensuring that our electoral processes are free, fair and transparent.

“My dear residents, democracy has always been a work in progress due to the evolving democratic process. However, we will keep getting better by continually reviewing the Electoral Act with a view to strengthening our democratic process.

“To all FCT residents, I urge you to make your voice heard. Come out on Saturday, February 21, 2026, and vote for the candidates of your choice.

“Our prayer, as an administration, is that the elections will facilitate the emergence of quality leaders who will contribute meaningfully to development, peace and prosperity in the FCT.

Senator Barinada Mpigi, who represented the Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, has died.

The lawmaker, whose legislative career spanned more than a decade at the federal level, died at the age of 64.

His passing was confirmed on Thursday, February 19, 2026, after a brief illness.

Until his death, Mpigi served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, where he played a key role in legislative oversight of federal road infrastructure and other public works projects.

‘Consummate Politician’

Governor Siminalayi Fubara expressed “deep shock and sadness” over the development in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi.

The governor described the late lawmaker as “a brother, a consummate politician, and one of the leading lights in Rivers State,” noting that his death occurred at a time when his experience and leadership were still greatly needed by the state.

READ ALSO: Electoral Act: We’ve Met Aspiration Of Nigerians, Not Few People Who Make Noise — Akpabio

He prayed for the peaceful repose of Mpigi’s soul and extended condolences to his immediate family, the people of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, and the Senate, urging them to take solace in what he called the impactful life the senator lived.

Political Journey

Mpigi began his federal legislative career in the House of Representatives, where he served two terms between 2011 and 2019, representing the Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo Federal Constituency.

He was first elected to the Senate in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, consolidating his influence within national politics.

A long-time member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he was widely regarded as a strong voice in Rivers politics, particularly on infrastructure development and constituency empowerment initiatives.

In recent political realignments, there were indications he was moving closer to the All Progressives Congress, though he remained an influential figure across party lines.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has admitted additional confessional statements and a Digital Forensic Examination Report against five defendants standing trial for their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in which 41 people were killed and 140 others injured.

Justice Nwite also admitted a Tecno mobile phone said to have revealed exchanges of communication among the defendants before and after the attack.

The court admitted the exhibits following the absence of objections from counsel to the five defendants, Abdullahi Mohammed.

At the proceedings, the Department of State Services (DSS), which is prosecuting the accused persons, formally closed its case after calling 11 witnesses to testify in support of the charges.

Following this development, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to March 4 and 5 for the defendants to open their defence.

READ ALSO: [Owo Church Attack] DSS Witness Narrates How Forensic Analysis Implicated Suspected Attackers

Earlier, counsel to the defendants informed the court that they would testify in their own defence and that he could conclude the case within one day. He, however, urged the court to direct the DSS to grant him access to the defendants in its custody to avoid any obstacles in preparing their defence.

At the hearing, the DSS’s last witness, code-named PSSK, a senior operative in charge of forensic and counter-terrorism, narrated how he and his team were deployed to Owo to trace, locate and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.

He told the court that geospatial network filtering technology was deployed, filtering thousands of mobile phone lines that had contact within Egbeka and Ifon.

According to the witness, the process narrowed the investigation to the phone of the fifth defendant, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, leading to his arrest in Ifon, Ondo State.

He further stated that Omeiza’s confession led to the arrest of the four other defendants. Forensic examinations, he added, revealed that they were in a series of communications with one another before and after the attack.

The witness also told the court that three of the defendants made several calls before and after the incident, indicating they knew one another, and maintained that their arrest was the result of technological investigation, not by accident.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election, Zadna Dantani, has formally withdrawn from the race, declaring support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.

In a letter dated February 18 and addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dantani stated that his decision followed extensive consultations with his family and other stakeholders.

“I write to respectfully inform you that I, Hon. Zadna Dantani… have decided to voluntarily withdraw from contesting for the Chairmanship position of Abuja Municipal Area Council… after due consideration and thorough consultation with my Family and other relevant stakeholders,” the letter read.



He added that the decision was made “of my own freewill volition.”

READ ALSO: [FCT Polls] Bwari PDP Chairmanship Candidate Steps Down, Supports APC Rival

Dantani subsequently urged his supporters to back the APC candidate and incumbent AMAC chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, in the forthcoming poll.

In a video message, he also expressed appreciation to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for what he described as his intervention and guidance.



The development comes less than 24 hours after the PDP chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, also stepped down from the race and endorsed the APC candidate, Joshua Musa, following what he described as “deep consultations” with Wike.

With Dantani’s exit, he becomes the second high-profile PDP chairmanship candidate to withdraw from the contest in the run-up to the polls, signalling a significant shift in the political dynamics of the election.

The 2026 FCT Area Council elections, scheduled for Saturday, February 21, are the only local government polls in Nigeria conducted directly by INEC rather than by a state electoral body.

Voters across the six area councils, Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, will elect six chairmen and 62 councillors across 68 constituencies.

INEC has said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed in all polling units, with results transmitted electronically to its Result Viewing portal.

Movement restrictions are expected to be in force from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day, while security agencies have announced extensive deployments to maintain order.