Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a court order extending the detention of former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, for another 14 days. The order was granted by the Chief Magistrate Court in Bwari, Abuja, to allow the anti corruption agency more time to complete its investigation into allegations involving money laundering and abuse of office. The new remand order was issued on Thursday in the presence of el-Rufai’s legal representative. It will remain in effect until Thursday, March 19, 2026. Chief Magistrate Okechukwu John Akweke approved the request after hearing an…
Author: Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
The United Arab Emirates has halted operations at its huge Ruwais oil refinery after a drone attack caused a fire in the industrial area where the facility is located. The refinery, operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, can process about 922,000 barrels of crude oil each day and is one of the largest refineries in the world. People familiar with the matter said the company is currently assessing the extent of damage at the plant. They requested anonymity because the details have not yet been publicly released. Authorities in Abu Dhabi earlier confirmed that emergency services were responding…
Nigeria’s Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has reportedly connected several high-value properties in Egypt to Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State. Investigators reportedly uncovered the properties during an ongoing probe into financial dealings linked to El-Rufai’s time in office between 2015 and 2023. Sources familiar with the investigation said the assets consist of three villas and six apartments located in affluent areas of New Cairo, a modern district in Egypt’s capital city. The villas are located in Arabilla Estate and Banafsik Estate, where properties typically sell for between $1,000,000 and $1,300,000. Four apartments are…
Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader after the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The announcement was made on Sunday, March 8, 2026, by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible under the country’s constitution for selecting the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. State media reports said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen following what the council described as a “decisive vote.” In a statement released through Iranian state outlets, the Assembly of Experts urged citizens to remain united and support the country’s new leader during a period of uncertainty. The body…
A political advocacy organisation in Nigeria has asked the federal government to either bring formal charges against former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai or release him from detention. The call was made by the Coalition Political Action Committee through its convener, Aminu Datti-Ahmed, during a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. The group said that keeping the former governor in custody beyond the period allowed by law would violate the Nigerian Constitution as well as international human rights standards. El-Rufai had responded to an invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria’s main anti-corruption agency, on…
In a recent address, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorized an increase in salaries and allowances for the nation’s armed forces personnel. This came to light during an evening gathering where top officials and military leaders met to break their fast amid the ongoing Ramadan period. The event, held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, brought together key figures including the vice president, members of the federal executive council, the national security advisor, the chief of staff to the president, the minister of defence, service chiefs, members of the armed forces, paramilitary agencies, and other senior government officials. Speaking first,…
Former Governor of Zamfara State and Senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, Abdulaziz Yari, has launched a political support platform aimed at mobilising nationwide backing for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election. The initiative was announced in a statement released on Saturday by political aides to the former governor and the National Facilitators of the movement, Mohammed Abubakar and his deputy Emmanuel Osita. According to the statement, the newly created group is known as The Renewed Hope Network. The organisers explained that the idea emerged after Yari held consultations with political stakeholders, grassroots leaders, youth organisations,…
In a bold move to improve access to clean water, Mal. Muawiyah Yusuf Muye, Media Adviser to Distinguished Senator Abubakar Sani Bello and aspirant for the Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency seat, has initiated the construction of 20 solar-powered boreholes across multiple communities in the Agaie/Lapai Federal Constituency and Niger South Senatorial District. The project officially began on Saturday, 7th March, in Agaie town. It aims to tackle one of the most urgent needs of rural residents: reliable and sustainable access to potable water. The construction is expected to be completed within one month, providing immediate relief to thousands of households. The…
Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Policy Communication, has defended his appearance on the international television programme Head to Head on Al Jazeera following widespread criticism on social media. The interview, hosted by journalist Mehdi Hasan and broadcast on Thursday, quickly generated strong reactions online after clips from the discussion circulated widely on the social media platform X. During the interview, Hasan confronted Bwala with several statements he had made before the 2023 Nigerian general election when he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, a major opposition political party in…
Nigeria’s Labour Party is facing a deepening leadership dispute after the faction loyal to the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, warned Senator Nenadi Usman against dissolving elected party officials across the country. In a statement released on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, said the leadership aligned with Abure considers any attempt to remove ward, local government, and state executives unlawful. The statement said the party leadership was reacting to comments from what it described as a faction of the party that is backing a caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman, a former Nigerian…