Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially rejected assertions made by former Osun State Governor and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, regarding the impact of political defections on the 2027 general elections. In a robust rebuttal issued on the morning of January 29, 2026, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, characterized Aregbesola’s recent public commentary as an attempt to diminish the momentum of the ruling party. The APC maintained that the recent wave of high-profile defections—most notably that of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf—is a testament to the party’s growing national appeal rather than a…

Ex-FIFA President Blatter Supports Boycotting 2026 World Cup In US • Considering bans on some of the qualified countries. Former President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), Sepp Blatter, has joined growing calls for a boycott of the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled to be jointly hosted by the United States, citing concerns over the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration. Blatter, who led world football’s governing body from 1998 to 2015 before resigning amid corruption investigations, expressed support for a proposed fan boycott in a post on X on Monday. His comments aligned with…

Shari’ah council demands for removal of INEC chairman Sheikh Bashir Umar, president of the council made the call on Tuesday during the Council’s 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture. The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has renewed its call for the immediate removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, insisting that his continued stay in office poses a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process. The Council said muslims across the country would not recognise or legitimise any election conducted under the leadership of an INEC chairman whose integrity is under…

Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) Announces Debut Dates in Nigeria By Elegbede Abiodun The Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) has officially announced June 3–6, 2026 as the dates for its maiden edition, scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria. AICFF, a continental platform dedicated to amplifying Christian films from Africa and around the world, while strengthening production quality, professional training, distribution, and market access for faith-based content within Africa will shapen a new narrative in Christian based films. • The festival will feature: Film screenings from Africa and the global Christian film community; • Panel discussions and industry…

Manny Ita The Nigerian Air Force has launched an investigation into reports of civilian casualties following an aerial operation in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State. Local sources confirmed on Thursday, January 29, 2026, that at least two people were killed and several others, including children, sustained injuries when a surveillance helicopter reportedly opened fire on the Kurgi community on Sunday afternoon. Residents described the aircraft as hovering over the area for several minutes before striking individuals in their homes and those going about their daily activities. One resident, Sulaiman Sanusi, described the attack as “shocking and…

Manny Ita Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Nollywood actress Angela Okorie at the Suleja Correctional Centre following her arraignment on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The actress faces a three-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/278/2025, bordering on conspiracy, criminal defamation, and cyberstalking. The police allege that Okorie conspired with one Ifeoma Mbonu, who remains at large, to defame fellow actress Mercy Johnson Okojie by labeling her a “blood-sucking demon” in various social media posts. According to the prosecution, these actions violate the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act of 2015. ​The defendant pleaded…

Manny Ita The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially unveiled a new regulatory framework introducing the Interim Service Authorisation (ISA), featuring a streamlined application fee of ₦250,000. Announced on January 29, 2026, this “sandbox” license is specifically designed to allow startups, tech firms, and existing operators to test cutting-edge technologies—such as 5G use cases, Open RAN, and Satellite Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity—in a live market environment before committing to full-scale commercial licenses. ​The initiative, championed by NCC Executive Vice-Chairman Dr. Aminu Maida, aims to lower the barrier to entry for local innovators and minimize the financial risks associated with unproven technologies.…

Manny Ita The Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) has formally approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn a National Industrial Court ruling that suspended their indefinite strike. Filed on the morning of January 29, 2026, the application for leave to appeal seeks to stay the execution of an interlocutory injunction recently obtained by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The union leaders argue that the lower court’s directive violates their constitutional right to fair hearing and collective bargaining, particularly as their demands for salary arrears and pension remittances remain unaddressed. The ongoing friction stems from a list of 14…

Manny Ita The Federal Government has announced the deployment of military retirees to secure ungoverned spaces and bolster rural safety, in a significant tactical shift to address the nation’s persistent security challenges, The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, confirmed the initiative today, January 29, 2026, noting that the move is designed to leverage the vast experience of veteran personnel in areas where active-duty forces are currently overstretched. This strategy follows a series of recent security incidents, including an ambush in Katsina that left three police officers dead on January 28, and a continued surge in banditry displacing communities in…

Manny Ita The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction restraining the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) from proceeding with its planned certification convocation and policy dialogue session originally scheduled for today, January 29, 2026. Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the order on Wednesday evening following an ex parte motion filed by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), which is challenging the BPP’s statutory authority to conduct the Nigeria Public Procurement Certification Programme (NPCP). The court directed the BPP and the Attorney-General of the Federation to appear by 12 noon today to…