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Tag: NAN

  • Federal High Court Adjourns Malami’s Trial Until February 27

    Federal High Court Adjourns Malami’s Trial Until February 27

    Abuja – The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned the trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, until February 27.

    The adjournment, handed down by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, followed the declaration of a public holiday by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Nwike, ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday.

    A visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to Court 6 on the 3rd floor of the high-rise building at around 9 a.m. revealed that very few court staff were present. No lawyers, litigants, or the defendants were in attendance. Some lawyers and litigants who arrived were reportedly turned away due to the work-free day.

    The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Malami and his son on February 3 on a five-count charge relating to terrorism and illegal firearms possession. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, also alleges that Malami, during his tenure as AGF, refused to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were handed to him.

    Additionally, Malami and Abdulaziz are accused of storing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, Kebbi State, without lawful authority. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Following the arraignment, prosecuting lawyer Calistus Eze requested that the court remand the defendants in DSS custody and set a trial date. Defence lawyer Shuaibu Aruwan, SAN, sought bail, noting that the duo had been in DSS custody for over two weeks.

    Justice Abdulmalik rejected the oral bail request, emphasizing that the court requires a formal application for bail. She subsequently ordered that Malami and his son remain in DSS custody and adjourned the trial until February 27.

  • ABU Denies Allegations of Secret Nuclear Weapons Project

    ABU Denies Allegations of Secret Nuclear Weapons Project

    Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has dismissed as false a viral social media video alleging that the institution was involved in developing a nuclear weapon for Nigeria.

    The university’s Director of Public Affairs, Malam Auwalu Umar, made this known in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Zaria.

    Umar described the AI-generated video as “misleading and baseless,” saying it was designed to misinform the public about Nigeria’s peaceful nuclear energy programme.

    The video had claimed that Nigerian scientists secretly enriched weapons-grade uranium in Kaduna during the 1980s, alleging that ABU researchers obtained centrifuge equipment from the AQ Khan network in Pakistan.

    “The claims are entirely unfounded. Most ABU scientists at the Centre for Energy Research and Training (CERT) were still undergoing training abroad during the 1980s and could not have participated in uranium enrichment,” Umar said.

    He explained that ABU had never received any equipment related to centrifuge construction or nuclear weapons development, adding that the only nuclear facility at the university in 1987 was a 14 MeV Neutron Generator, which became operational in 1988.

    “Nigeria’s first nuclear reactor (NIRR-1) was established much later in 1996 under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Technical Cooperation Programme and commissioned in 2004,” he added.

    Umar stressed that Nigeria’s nuclear activities had always been transparent and strictly for peaceful purposes, in compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Pelindaba Treaty, which prohibit nuclear weapons development.

    He reaffirmed that the Centre for Energy Research and Training, founded in 1976, works in collaboration with the IAEA and international partners from the United States, Russia, and China.

    “ABU has never been involved in any secret weapons programme,” Umar said. “From its inception, the university has focused on the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology for national development.”

    He recalled that ABU’s founder, Sir Ahmadu Bello, had shown early interest in peaceful atomic research following his 1960 visit to the Museum of Atomic Energy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States, two years before the university was established.

    Umar reaffirmed ABU’s commitment to advancing science and technology for the benefit of humanity and to upholding Nigeria’s international obligations on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

  • Troops Strike: 17 terrorists dead, 85 arrested, 10 freed

    Troops Strike: 17 terrorists dead, 85 arrested, 10 freed

    Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 17 terrorists, arrested 85 suspects, and rescued 10 kidnapped victims in coordinated operations across the country over the past 48 hours, the Army confirmed.

    A credible source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the apprehended suspects included Boko Haram informants, logistics suppliers, terrorist collaborators, drug peddlers, and kidnappers, while the rescued victims are currently undergoing profiling and medical evaluation.

    In the North East, troops under Operation Hadin Kai engaged in multiple counter-terrorism operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in Borno and Adamawa States. Units of the 202 and 222 Battalions came under ambush in Goni Kurmi and Kashomri villages, Konduga LGA, neutralizing several terrorists. Troops of the 195 Battalion, working with the Department of State Services (DSS), also apprehended a notorious Boko Haram/ISWAP informant and ransom collector at Customs IDP Camp, Jere LGA.

    Additional operations saw troops recover an AK-47 rifle, rescue two escapees, and apprehend three major logistics suppliers with food items and materials intended for ISWAP cells in Alagarno, while in Adamawa, the 144 Battalion intercepted seven vehicles and nine motorcycles carrying 368 bags of cement suspected for terrorist enclaves in Madagali LGA.

    In the North West, troops under Operation Fansan Yamma conducted stabilization operations in Sokoto and Zamfara States, apprehending 69 drug peddlers in Sokoto South and five terrorist collaborators in Gudu LGA. They also rescued a civilian injured in a terrorist attack along Faru–Bagabbuzi Road, Maradun LGA, Zamfara.

    In North Central, troops of Operation Enduring Peace rescued a kidnapped victim at Dorowa, Barkin Ladi LGA, Plateau, and another operation at Rawaya Village, Gashish District led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, a revolver, six magazines, and over 1,200 rounds of ammunition. Troops under Operation Whirl Stroke also apprehended two suspected kidnappers in Idadu Town, Doma LGA, Nasarawa and destroyed a terrorist camp in Gbagir, Ukum LGA, Benue, seizing mobile phones and customized vehicle plates.

    In the South South, Operation Delta Safe intensified efforts against oil thieves. Troops intercepted a wooden boat in Omoku, Rivers carrying 840 litres of illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) and arrested a suspect, while in Ughelli North, Delta, they seized a vehicle carrying 2,500 litres of illegal condensate.

    Across all theatres, troops recovered at least 15 assorted weapons, 21 magazines, over 1,200 rounds of ammunition, along with cash and logistical materials. The Army reaffirmed its commitment to denying terrorists and criminal elements freedom of action and commended the troops for their professionalism, resilience, and high morale.

  • Kwara Residents Resist Hotel Establishment In Ward

    Kwara Residents Resist Hotel Establishment In Ward

    Landlords and residents of four communities in Okoerin Ward, Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, have opposed the establishment of hotels and alcohol-serving joints in their neighborhoods.

    The affected communities include Ifesowapo, Alalubarika, Osere, and Okoerin, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Alhaji Abdulwahab Opeloyeru, chairman of Ifesowapo and spokesperson for the four communities, explained on Monday in Ilorin that the decision followed a security meeting convened by landlords and residents. The meeting was prompted by the ongoing construction of a hotel in the densely populated area.

    Opeloyeru expressed concerns that hotels and alcohol outlets pose security risks and could negatively influence the youth in the communities. He stated, “Establishing a hotel in this area will encourage social vices and disrupt the existing peace and harmony.”

    He further said that the communities had formally communicated their opposition to the hotel owner and notified the State Police Command as well as the State Town Planning Authority to ensure safety and maintain peace in the area.

  • FCT Traders Demand Modern Shops, Better Amenities at Zone 3

    FCT Traders Demand Modern Shops, Better Amenities at Zone 3

    Traders at the Zone 3 Neighbourhood Centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised alarm over the rising cost of doing business and the deteriorating state of facilities in the area.

    Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, the traders described the market environment as deplorable, citing inadequate amenities, poor sanitation, and unaffordable shop rentals as major challenges threatening their livelihoods.

    Mr. Obiora Iheanacho, a furniture dealer, lamented that the limited space at the temporary site had created serious parking problems for both traders and customers.
    “Most of us deal with furniture, but the shops are too small, and it is making our operation difficult,” he said, urging the government to construct modern shops that meet traders’ operational needs.

    Another trader, Mr. Obiora Okeke, appealed to authorities to remove abandoned vehicles blocking the frontage of the market to free up parking spaces.
    “It is a safety hazard and a major inconvenience. We need a solution to this parking problem to ensure that our customers can access our shops easily,” he said.

    For Mrs. Blessing Joseph, the soaring rental fees — currently ranging from ₦1.5 million to ₦2 million annually — have become unbearable.
    “I am struggling to keep up with the annual costs of rent. We need more affordable options to survive. The government should look into ways of regulating rent prices to make it more affordable,” she said.

    Similarly, Mrs. Martha Ubeh expressed concern over poor sanitation within the market premises, describing the state of the toilets as “embarrassing and unhealthy.” She called for urgent improvement in hygiene facilities to safeguard traders’ and customers’ health.

    The traders urged the FCT Administration to intervene with lasting solutions that would improve infrastructure, reduce rental costs, and create a more conducive environment for business activities.

  • NAN, MENA partner on training, exchange programme

    NAN, MENA partner on training, exchange programme

    The Nigerian News Agency on Friday expressed its readiness to renew the working relationship with the Egyptian-owned news agency, the Middle East News Agency (MENA).

    Mr. Buki Ponle, Managing Director of , revealed this when he paid a courtesy call to Amb. Ihab Awad, the Egyptian ambassador to Nigeria, at his office in Abuja.

    NAN reports that the director general was received in the company of Mr. Tarek Mahfauz, Deputy Head of the Egyptian Mission in Nigeria.

    Ponle recalled that at the beginning of its operations in 1978, it located one of its foreign offices in Cairo, Egypt, as a result of the cultural, social and economic ties between the two countries.

    The delegation with the Egyptian Ambassador Ihab Awad and Mr. Tarek Mahfauz, Deputy Head of the Egyptian Mission in Nigeria

    He told the ambassador that he was looking past the funding shortfall that previously led to the office’s closure; but he willing to reopen it due to various mutual benefits in news exchange and other services.

    “We started our operations in Egypt in 1978 immediately we started our operations in Nigeria. So we had about 10 international offices in addition to the ones we had in Nigeria. The office in Cairo served the entire North African region.

    ”Despite all the current underlying challenge; We continue to cover African events with a special interest in North Africa. This is because Africa is at the center of our development problems in . When we started, we had a news exchange program with MENA, but it fell through at one stage.

    Mr. Buki Ponle and Ambassador Ihab Awad

    “Now we want these programs to be renewed. We want to re-establish a real partnership with our sister news agency in Egypt, so that we can have a continuous flow of information.

    “Over the years, Egypt and Nigeria have been like children of the same mother. We share so many things in common: socially, culturally, economically, including trade and commerce. We want all these areas to be promoted and that can be achieved when we have a news exchange channel.

    “We report things that happen in Egypt to our Nigerian and Egyptian audiences alike,” he said.

    Ponle expressed his optimism that the association will correct some erroneous notions, help to place problems correctly and present in the proper perspective the abundant opportunities that abound in the respective nations.

    “The truth is that there have been so many distortions and misinformation that must be corrected and properly located due to the communication gap that has existed.

    “However, when we report in our own way and style, that is positive reporting, that is Solutions Journalism. Problems that have been distorted will undoubtedly return to their proper perspectives.

    “This will help us weed out the negativity and fake news. These are some of the things that we will benefit from this association. And you are in a good position to facilitate this and make our reporting more appreciated on the African continent,” she said.

    In his comment, Amb. Awad welcomed the visit with the promise to take action immediately and drive forward the process leading to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NEMA and in view of the mutual benefits.

    Awad said he was very much looking forward to meeting with the MD after the information he gleaned from his own predecessor about the strength and coverage capabilities of , especially on the African continent and beyond.

    He reiterated the importance that the Egyptian government and its mission in Nigeria attach to Egypt’s operations and their readiness to ensure success at both ends.

    “I have been looking forward to this opportunity to meet you. Of course, I can safely say that since I got here or even before my arrival. My predecessor had noted in particular the importance he attached to the embassy’s interaction with . We hold our relationship with you in very high regard.

    “We also take as very important the issue of reporting with transparency and sincerity on the main events and events that are taking place in our respective countries. This is because the media is the most influential and effective way of shaping the mindset and perception of populations.

    “Although social media is also becoming very important, traditional media is still very influential and is an integral part of our overall push to improve the Egypt-Nigeria relationship. This is the role of this embassy and the role of the Nigerian Embassy in Cairo.

    “So, I can’t agree with you enough that we need to take collaboration to the next level. We have to revive our cooperation in the media. I think this visit will give that push we need to achieve the result.

    “We will have to receive agreement templates from the two agencies, their objectives and see how they can converge and speed up the process of signing the MoU,” he assured.

  • Osinbajo reveals what will happen if war breaks-out

    Osinbajo reveals what will happen if war breaks-out

    Nigeria cannot bear the cost of another civil war because it will not augur well for the country, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

    Osinbajo disclosed this at an interactive forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Anambra for governorship aspirants coordinated by the State chapter of the APC Patriots in Abuja.

    He furthered explained that the significant thing about the kind of conflict in this part of the world, developing countries, is that it is usually a war without end.

    “Those people that think they have some money stored up somewhere will eventually run out of money.

    “And everyone who thinks he can hide somewhere won’t even find a place to hide at the end; nobody will be left out if war breaks out.

    “Even if you don’t suffer, children, parents, young and old people and relations will suffer. We can’t bear a war in this country, he said.

    All the political elite must stand up to the challenge by speaking the fact and taking actions to address the current situation in the country.

    Read more: Osinbajo in Ikenne for APC membership revalidation

    “If we don’t stand against disunity and keep quiet and remain under the radar, then the enemies of peace and those who want to promote conflict will have their ways.

    “Any moment this happens, we going to find ourselves running helter-skelter,” Osinbajo said.

    “I pray that our country will never know conflict, but what I am sure about is that every war is a result of elite failure to speak up the facts and tell the truth to their communities.

    “At the end of the day, it is the political elite that figures out what occurs in each society; keeping silent would prompt a more risky circumstance,” he said.

    Vice President Osinbajo said only the elite could make a tremendous difference just by the words they speak and while they stand for the interest of the country and the general public.