Category Nigeria News

The Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, says the commendation of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, by U.S. President Donald Trump, was a testament that under President Bola Tinubu, there is no religious disharmony.

Oshiomhole stated this during an interview with State House Correspondents on Friday shortly after a meeting with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

READ ALSO: ‘Very Respected Woman’, Trump Praises Remi Tinubu At US Prayer Breakfast

On Thursday, President Trump praised Nigeria’s Senator Tinubu, describing her as a “very respected woman” during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.

Oshiomhole, who said he came to visit the President for the first time in 2026, noted that he also used the opportunity to congratulate President Tinubu for the comments of the President of the United States of America about Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

He recounted how Trump, known for his blunt style, described Mrs Tinubu as “a very respectable woman, a very responsible woman, and a pastor of the largest church in Nigeria,” before inviting her to stand for recognition.

“I came to greet Mr President. I have not seen him in 2026, we wish him a happy new year, but also, very importantly, yesterday (Thursday) we saw how the most powerful man, President Donald Trump of the United States of America, in acknowledging not just the First Lady of Nigeria… but describing her as a very respectable woman, a very responsible woman, and a pastor of the largest church in Nigeria, and he invited her to stand up for recognition,” Oshiomhole said.

Trump, while addressing participants at the faith-based gathering, which was attended by political and civic leaders from across the world, highlighted Mrs Tinubu’s influence and stature, drawing.

The U.S. President recognised the Nigerian First Lady’s role as a pastor in one of Nigeria’s largest churches and referenced her pastoral background.

The former APC National Chairman expressed national pride in the moment, noting the applause it drew and contrasting it with potential opposition criticism in reverse scenarios.

“If it were the other way around, imagine what the opposition would have been saying now… he said Nigeria’s First Lady is here. She’s a Christian, but also a Christian pastor, a woman who commands respect, a responsible and respectable woman. So congratulations

“To the credit of Mr. President, Trump understands that the Nigerian President is a Muslim. But, he now celebrates the fact that he has a Christian wife, who is also a Pastor of the largest church in Nigeria. So, there can be no tension between the Qur’an and the Bible. That to me is a message to all Nigerians, that we should just work together as a people for the common good.

“If there are challenges, we fix them collectively, and if there are benefits, we share them together as a people. For me, that is the central message. We mustn’t run down our country. We have issues. Together we will fix them, and they are being fixed,” he added.

Gunmen suspected to be herders have killed 13 people in a fresh attack on a community in Benue State.

They stormed Anwase Market in Mbaikyor, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, while taking several market women captive before setting the market ablaze.

Speaking with Channels Television on Friday in a telephone, Ibi Andrew, an aide to the Kwande Local Government Chairman, Vitalis Neji, said 13 people were killed.

Ibi confirmed that the local government Chairman, working with security agencies, have mobilised to the area to restore calm and forestall further attacks on the people.

READ ALSO: Officer, Four Others Killed In Benue Attack — Police

An eyewitness said the attackers invaded the community from a nearby mountain, firing sporadically, which caused panic before setting stalls on fire and abducting women, fleeing towards the mountain area

However, the Benue State Police Command has yet to confirm the attack.
Efforts to reach the Command’s spokesman, Udeme Edet, have proved abortive as she is not responding to messages sent to her phone.

Abande Community Attack

This latest incident comes two days after gunmen struck the Abande community in the Kwande local government area.

At least 16 people were killed following the attack by suspected armed herdsmen on the settlement.

Residents said that the attack had been carried out on Tuesday afternoon at the Abande market while traders and buyers were conducting business.

Witnesses reported that the assailants had stormed the market, opened fire on civilians, looted shops, and set parts of the market ablaze.

A community leader and former supervisory councillor in Kwande LGA,  Lawrence Akerigba, stated that the attackers had carted away millions of Naira from traders before setting the market on fire.

He explained that since it had been Abande market day, people were buying and selling when the herders attacked.

He further noted that the attackers had looted shops and taken large sums of money, and he added that by 11:55 pm, some of the victims’ bodies were being conveyed to Jato-Aka by personnel of the Mobile Police Force stationed in the area.

Akerigba also stated that, apart from the locals who had lost their lives, a mobile police officer, said to have been the unit commander on duty at the time of the attack, had also been killed.

He stated that several residents were still missing and that searches for them were ongoing.

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has suspended its nationwide strike, 84 days after the industrial action began.

This was announced in a communique issued by the union on Friday after its expanded National Executive Council (NEC) emergency meeting held in Abuja.

According to the communique, the meeting was convened to review the outcomes of a conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and JOHESU held on Thursday at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

READ ALSO: Over 50 Survivors Of Kwara Attack Hospitalised

“After exhaustive deliberations and review of the terms of settlement of the conciliation meeting, the expanded NEC -in-Session voted unanimously to suspend the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike action to allow for the implementation of the FG-JOHESU Terms of Settlements,” the communique jointly signed by JOHESU Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, and Secretary, Martin Adekunle, read.

“While appreciating the masses for their understanding throughout the period of the industrial action, we appeal to consumers of health that a recurring infliction of injustice and a huge trust deficit necessitated this unfortunate and avoidable JOHESU nationwide strike and

”We hope that the Federal Government, as well as other State Governments, show both sensitivity and responsibility in ensuring Nigerians avoid this depth of suffering inthe  foreseeable future.”

The strike, which entered its 84th day on Friday, has paralysed activities in government-owned hospitals across the country, leaving patients stranded and forcing many to seek essential medical services outside public health facilities.

JOHESU expressed gratitude to the individuals and institutions that played a role in resolving the crisis.

This includes Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, the chairmen of the health committees in both the Senate and House, hospital chief executives, professional organisations, and traditional leaders, particularly the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi

The union also thanked the leadership of the NLC and TUC for their support and solidarity, as well as its members across affiliate unions, MHWUN, NUAHP, SSAUTHRIAI and NASU, for what it described as resilience and commitment throughout the strike

The protracted strike has also triggered a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in solidarity with the health workers.

Indefinite Strike

JOHESU  in November 2025 announced an indefinite strike action, which it said would continue until the implementation of the adjusted consolidated health salary structure was implemented.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of the Medical and Health Workers Union, Kabiru Minjibir, had said the planned strike was expected to disrupt medical services and academic activities across the country.

According to him, the government has made no effort to reach an agreement with the unions.

Olomotane Egoro, the seventh witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the alleged money laundering trial of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has maintained that the name of the former governor did not appear either as beneficiary or signatory to any of the exhibits tendered by EFCC before the Federal High Court in Abuja

While being cross-examined before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, the witness subpoenaed from Access Bank, also admitted that no transaction in Exhibit 33(8) (statement of accounts) mentioned the former governor’s name.

The witness was taken through the bank accounts of the following companies – E. Traders International Limited, Keyless Nature Limited, Westwood Motors Limited and Fazab Business Enterprise.

They were the companies said by EFCC to have been awarded various contracts by local governments in Kogi State.

After scrutinising the account opening packages and statements of accounts of the companies tendered by EFCC, the witness admitted the following;

“That Yahaya Bello’s name did not feature as a signatory to any of the account opening packages.

“He was not named as a party to any of the transactions by the companies and also not named as a beneficiary of any of the payments.”

The witness reiterated that the withdrawals between May and December 2022, which were mentioned during his examination-in-chief, were within the cash withdrawal threshold of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Yahaya Bello’s Lawyer Claims Trial Is Political

On the issue of suspicious transactions, the report said to have been reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), he said not all cash withdrawals by one Siyaka Yakubu were suspicious.

Counsel to the Defendant, Joseph Daudu, SAN, asked if the outflow that was transferred by Siyaka to any person in Exhibit 33(8) will not amount to a Suspicious Transaction (ST).

“For example, the N20 million for the supply of education materials will not qualify as a suspicious transaction?”

The witness replied in the negative.

“So, that will natutally go for all other outflows for which reasons or purposes were given?” the Defendant’s Counsel asked.

“My lord, it is not all cash withdrawals that are suspicious and not all transfers that are suspicious or illegal,” the witness said.

He also agreed that he did not know the business relationship between the two companies mentioned in some outflows from October to December 2022, and that he also did not know the purpose of the transactions.

Midway into the proceedings, Justice Emeka Nwite admitted the Certified True Copy of the proceedings before Justice Obiora Egwuatu as Exhibit 35(D-2).

The Access Bank compliance officer was then told to confirm Exhibit 34(1) and Exhibit 34(2) as the Kogi Government House Account Opening Package and the Government House Administration Account, respectively, which he did.

He also admitted that he was not the relationship manager, especially on Exhibit 34(2), adding that he was also not familiar with the workings of the Kogi State Government House.

Looking at Exhibit 34(1), the witness confirmed that the name ‘Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju’ appeared as one of the signatories to the account.

He also confirmed that all the withdrawals in Exhibit 34(2), in tranches of N10 million each, made by Aminu Jimoh Olanrewaju, did not exceed the limit of cash withdrawal set by the CBN.

This, he admitted, was the same for the cash withdrawals by Abdulsalam Hudu in Exhibit 34(2).

The banker confirmed that the name of the former governor did not appear in the Exhibit.

He also admitted that the former governor was not a signatory in Exhibit 34(1), the Kogi State Government House Administration Bank accounts

The witness was then told to look at the account opening package and statement of account of E-Traders International Limited, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2022, domiciled at the Maraba branch of Access Bank.

He gave the signatories as Abdullahi Jamilu and Salisu Abdulmajeed, saying the occupation recorded against both names was “sale of system and appliances.”

On certain multiple transactions made up of withdrawals and deposits by Abdullahi Jamilu, the witness agreed that, as a signatory to the account, the customer, Jamilu, had a right to transact.

He also agreed that he did not know the purpose of the transactions except as stated in the column of the transaction.

The Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, thereafter called its eighth witness, Gabriel Ochoche, a staff member of First City Monument Bank, FCMB.

He was given Exhibit 37, Bank account of Kunfayakun Global Company to confirm that it covered the period: 29th June, 2021 to 31st December, 2024, which he did.

The witness took the court through the inflows and outflows on the accounts of Keyless Nature Limited and Kunfayakun Global Business Enterprise.

He confirmed multiple transactions between Eja Dams Essence Limited and Kunfayakun, dated 18th February, 2022.

After his examination, the Defendant’s Counsel said he needed to go through the evidence before he could cross-examine the eighth witness.

Prosecution Counsel, Pinheiro SAN, objected, claiming that the proof of evidence had been given to the defence team over two years ago.

Justice Nwite, however, said he asked if the learned silk could go on with cross-examination because he (Judge) was totally exhausted. responded.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Kwara State Police Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, has detailed the security response to the deadly attack in parts of Kwara North, saying officers and other security agencies were deployedto the scene immediately it was reported.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday,  Ejire-Adeyemi said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adekimi Ojo, ordered the swift deployment of security personnel to the affected community once the command was alerted.

According to her, the attacked community is located about two hours from Kayama Local Government Area, but police officers, working alongside the military and the National Forest Guard, moved in almost immediately.

READ ALSO: Police Confirm 75 Dead In Kwara Killings

“When this incident happened, the Kwara State Police Command was informed, and the Commissioner of Police deployed officers to the community without delay,” Ejire-Adeyemi said.

She added that investigations are ongoing following reports that the attackers may have stayed in the community for some time before launching the assault.

“We are still investigating the information that they had probably come earlier and stayed in the town before carrying out that dastardly act,” she said,

She also described the incident as unfortunate and assured residents that security agencies are working tirelessly to prevent a recurrence.

The police spokesperson also disclosed that clearance operations are currently ongoing across parts of Kwara and neighbouring Kogi State, aimed at disrupting criminal activities and restoring stability in the region.

“There had been relative peace in Kwara South until this incident occurred in Kwara North,” she noted, adding that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ensured that security has been significantly reinforced in the affected areas.

She said the situation has since stabilised, stressing that efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

“As of now, the area is relatively peaceful, and operations are ongoing to arrest the perpetrators,” she said.

Tuesday Gruesome Attack

Gunmen had attacked the Woro community and the neighbouring Nuku area in Kwara North at about 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, killing at least 75 people. 

The attackers also set shops ablaze, torched the residence of a traditional ruler, and forced many residents to flee into nearby bushes.

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) condemned the killings in Kwara, Katsina and Benue states, describing them as “barbaric, senseless, and a direct assault on the collective conscience of the nation.”

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, also described the attack as a “pure massacre,” confirming that the victims had been buried.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the fresh bids by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Ahmadu Bello University to stop the implementation of ₦2.5 billion judgment debt against the school and in favour of the 110 ABU workers unlawfully sacked in 1996.

In two separate unanimous judgements of a three-member panel of justices, the appellate court ordered the CBN to immediately release the ₦2.5 billion to the former workers of the ABU without any further delay.

In the lead judgments delivered by Justice Okon Abang, the Court of Appeal threatened to impose heavy sanctions against the prime movers of CBN, should the apex bank further refuse to release the money kept in its custody since 2018 by ABU, for onward payment to the aggrieved workers.

Justice Abang dismissed the claim of the CBN that the 110 workers unlawfully sacked by ABU in 1996 but ordered reinstated by the National Industrial Court in Abuja, cannot use garnishee proceedings against it to collect the money.

The claims of the apex bank that consent of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) must first be obtained by the workers before payments can be effected were also dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

The CBN and ABU had, in separate appeals, challenged the implementation of the judgment of the Industrial Court, which ordered ABU to pay the entitlement of the 110 workers, having found that they were unlawfully laid off by the Sole Administrator of the University, General Mamman Kontagora, in 1996.

READ ALSO: Court Nullifies FG’s Revocation Of Dawes Island Oil Field Licence

The two appellants also faulted the use of garnishee proceedings against them by the workers to effect payments.

The two appeals were dismissed for being unmeritorious.

Justice Rakiya Haastrup of the Industrial Court had on January 27, 2022, issued a “garnishee order absolute,” directing the CBN to pay the judgment sum to the workers from ABU’s funds.

Justice Abang held that the workers were right in filing garnishee proceedings against CBN to enforce payments of their entitlement as required by law.

The Court of Appeal scolded the CBN for wasting public funds to engage lawyers to file a suit to frustrate the payments of the entitlement to the aggrieved workers.

According to the appellate court, the conduct of the CBN in opposing payments of the money was reckless and reprehensible to the workers since the ABU had deposited the money with it for the settlement of the judgment debt.

“In this matter, it is not the duty of the CBN to play the role of the advocate but to implement the court judgment that awarded the money to the workers in the absence of any contrary court order.

“It is also unethical for the lawyer to the CBN to have supported the bank in frustrating the judgment of the Industrial Court. The unfortunate action of the CBN had prolonged the sufferings and hardships of the workers.

“The lawyer ought to have advised the CBN not to play the role of the advocate, no matter how juicy the CBN brief. The action of CBN is cowardice. It took the matter personal against the workers who have been suffering since 2013.

“There is no lawful reason for the CBN to have filed this appeal against the judgment of the Industrial Court since the workers made no claims against the bank.

“The lawyer owes a duty to the court, to the country, and to the 110 workers to see that they are not unjustly punished or denied the fruits of their court victory. He ought to have withdrawn his services if CBN goes against his advice. They ended up wasting the valuable judicial time of this Court.

“How can CBN be asking that the order of the court not made against it be vacated when it has been holding the workers’ money since 2018? The situation must not continue. There must be an end to it. The workers deserve the fruit of their labour,” he said.