The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has initiated legal action against activist Omoyele Sowore over comments he made on social media, referring to Egbetokun as an “illegal IG.”

Sowore is facing three charges related to Cybercrime under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, ETC) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.

According to the charges, filed in a suit marked FCH/ABJ/23/25, Egbetokun accused Sowore of intentionally and knowingly sending messages through his verified Twitter account, where he referred to the IG as “illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun.”

 The police allege that these publications were false and aimed at causing a breakdown of law and order.

Count one of the charge sheet reads, “That you, Omoyele Sowore, on December 13, 2024, did intentionally send messages through your verified X handle account, ‘Omoyele Sowore,’ calling the Inspector General of Police ‘illegal IGP Kayode Egbetokun,’ knowing it to be false and intending to cause a breakdown of law and order.”

In count two, Sowore is accused of making threats intended to incite Nigerians against the Nigeria Police Force and damage the reputation or property of the IG or the force.

Count three involves a statement Sowore allegedly made on December 20, 2024, which said: “The illegal IG of Nigeria Police Force, Kayode Egbetokun, will make the next #ENDSARS inevitable! He is working tirelessly towards it. Just a matter of time. #EgbetekunMustGo #Revolution.”

The police alleged that Sowore’s messages were aimed at causing unrest and undermining the authority of the police.

Sowore is set to appear before Justice Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja today (Wednesday).

His legal team, led by Marshall Abubakar, confirmed that the charges will be heard in court.

Deji Adeyanju, a political activist, stated that the charges represent an abuse of the legal process, promising a strong response in court.

Sowore was arrested on Monday after refusing to accept bail conditions set by the police following allegations of obstructing public officers and cyberstalking.

The charges have been brought in the context of ongoing tension between Sowore and the Nigerian authorities, particularly after a viral video he posted in December that alleged police extortion at a checkpoint in Lagos.

Sowore’s refusal to meet bail conditions, which included providing a Level 17 civil servant as a guarantor and surrendering his passport, led to his detention at the IRT detention facility in Abuja.

The ruling All Progressives Congress has knocked former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for accusing the APC of poor leadership and encouraging opposition parties to set aside their differences and form a united front ahead of the 2027 election.

This was as the Presidency accused the APC chieftain of treachery over how he had been dragging the Federal Government and the ruling party recently.

El-Rufai had described the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency” at a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria on Monday.

The former governor also lamented the lack of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC, saying, “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”

El-Rufai urged political parties to set higher standards for candidates and delegates, noting that the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate should not suffice for party nominations.

Reflecting on the APC’s foundation, El-Rufai said the ruling party was originally established to combat corruption, rebuild the economy, and enhance security.

He, however, said the goals had been abandoned.

The APC chieftain, therefore, urged opposition parties to unite and form a broad coalition to challenge the ruling party and protect democracy.

He alleged that the crises within the opposition parties were being orchestrated by sponsored mercenaries.

“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’

“There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties. This is dangerous. For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbarriga and suits.

“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” El-Rufai appealed.

The Presidency has since reacted to his scathing criticism.

Reacting via a post on his official X account, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, expressed disappointment, saying El-Rufai’s remarks would have been different if he had been in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

He tweeted, “My Senior brother if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position?

“History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam, a Ji soron Allah mana.”

Similarly, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said El-Rufai would have done well by channelling his concerns and observations to the party leadership instead of always seeking to denigrate it in public.

Ibrahim, however, added that the former governor is entitled to his opinion.

He said, “The beauty of democracy is that it gives people the right to express their own opinion. El-Rufai, as an individual, party member, former governor, ex-minister, and a well-respected politician, is entitled to his opinion. But that is not to say that is exactly what is happening in the APC.

“It’s all a question of views, perspectives and circumstances surrounding issues. I wouldn’t want to go deep into the internal issues of the party, and the position of El-Rufa today with regards to the party. But I can assure you, the APC is a listening party. The APC, under the leadership of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, gives people the chance to ventilate their views.

“If there is any grouse or any misunderstanding, he always gives people the chance to come and talk. So, El-Rufai knows best how to channel this complaint, and if there are certain things he wants done to sanitise what he feels is going wrong, he knows what to do. I can assure you, the party will give him the listening ear.”

Meanwhile, opposition parties in the country have backed El-Rufai, saying the ruling APC has abandoned its campaign manifestoes and promises to Nigerians

No fewer than 1,088 suspects linked to various financial crimes have been arrested in separate operations in 2024.

The operations also led to the recovery of $11,450,000 and N142,261,254,228.80, according to a statement on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Adejobi said the arrests and recoveries were part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to address its placement on the Financial Action Task Force grey list.

He said, “In February 2023, Nigeria was placed on the Financial Action Task Force grey list, designating the country as a high-risk jurisdiction for money laundering and terrorism financing.

“In response to this critical situation, the Nigeria Police Force has been actively tackling these issues through the establishment of specialised units such as the Special Anti-Fraud Unit, the National Cybercrime Centre, and the newly launched Anti-Money Laundering Unit.

“Over the past year, these specialised units have made significant strides in combating financial crimes, resulting in the arrest of 1,088 suspects, securing 152 convictions, and recovering a total of $11,450,000 and N142,261,254,228.80.”

Adejobi said the National Cybercrime Centre had been particularly instrumental, accounting for the arrests of 751 cybercrime suspects and recovering N8.82bn, $84,000, and 115,237.91 USDT.

He added that one of the centre’s achievements was a cyber attack on Flutterwave, resulting in the arrest of 179 suspects involved in laundering over N11bn.

Adejobi said, “A notable achievement includes Operation Butterfly Net, addressing a cyberattack on Flutterwave, which led to the arrest of 179 individuals involved in laundering over N11bn.

“In addition to the proactive efforts of the NPF, the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Sections has bolstered the framework surrounding financial investigations. The training of over 2,000 officers across various units in money laundering and terrorism financing investigations is reflective of the Force’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s global standing in combating financial crimes.”

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects, including a 25-year-old mother of two for armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms as well as also recovering one pump action gun and other incriminating items.

The spokesman for the command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement on Tuesday, that the arrest followed a reported incident on January 22, 2025, at the police station where the suspects and one other, who is still at large, dispossessed a victim of her personal belongings around the Oko Community Hospital.

Ikenga added that the joint security team comprising police and vigilante operatives, acting on intelligence-driven investigation carried out the arrest on January 24, 2025.

He said, “The joint security team comprising police operatives at the Oko Divisional Headquarters and operatives of the AVG Amaokpala acting on the intelligence-driven investigation on January 24, 2025, by 4.54 pm, arrested one Michael Chinweze aka ‘Small’, ‘M’, aged 20 years, a native of Iwollo, Eziagu LGA of Enugu State and Mmesoma Agba ‘F’, aged 25 years from Enugwu-Nanka in Anambra.

“During the arrest, the police recovered one pump action gun, one mobile phone, a black handbag, two tiny glasses suspected to be used in inhaling hard drugs.

“The arrest follows a reported incident on January 22, 2025, at the police station where the suspects and one other who is still at large dispossessed a victim of her personal belongings around the Oko Community Hospital.

“The items forcibly taken at gunpoint include: one red Cub motorcycle with Reg No: WER 137 GV valued at N1,300,000 only, her bag containing one Techno mobile phone, one ATM card and a cash sum of N38,000 only allegedly realised from the victim’s daily business in the shop.

“During interrogation of the suspects, Michael confessed to the crime and said that he stole the gun from a security post in a hotel at Amaokpala.

“Preliminary information also revealed that the first husband of Mmesoma (a mother of two) was earlier neutralised by the police in a gun battle with the gang members during a criminal operation.”

He added that the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, had ordered the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka and charged the operatives to redouble efforts at arresting the other suspects currently on the run.

Similarly, the command said it had launched an investigation into the killing of a yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man who was shot dead along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway of the state.

Some eyewitnesses near the scene of the incident said the victim was accosted by some gunmen who were riding in a Toyota Sienna vehicle, attacked him along the road and shot him in the stomach.

One of the eyewitnesses who craved anonymity said, “The attack happened on Thursday morning along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway. The victim was shot in the stomach by the gunmen who were riding in a Toyota Sienna vehicle.

“They shot him and abandoned his lifeless body and fled the scene. The police operatives from Ozubulu Division were alerted and they came the following day to remove the corpse.”

However, the Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack and removal of the lifeless body in a statement on Tuesday.

Ikenga said a spot observation by the police response team and reports from eyewitnesses at the scene revealed that the victim was shot in the stomach.

He said, “In the early hours of January 23, 2025, police operatives attached to Ozubulu Divisional Headquarters responded to a distress call along the Onitsha/Owerri Express Road and recovered the body of a yet-to-be-identified young man.

“The command hereby seeks assistance from members of the public for possible identification of the victim and other information that will facilitate the ongoing investigative proceedings.

“A spot observation by the police responding team and report from eyewitnesses at the scene reveals that the victim was shot in the stomach by suspected armed men who abandoned his lifeless body and fled the scene.

“Meanwhile, the body has been deposited at the morgue and further developments shall be communicated, please.”

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has tackled the former governor of Kaduna, Nasir El-Rufai, over his public criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

While addressing a national conference in Abuja on strengthening democracy in Nigeria, El-Rufai labelled the state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”

He accused the APC of straying from its founding ideals and fostering poor leadership.

The ex-governor, who shared the report on his X handle on Tuesday, expressed concern over the absence of internal democracy and active party structures within the APC. He stated, “I no longer recognise the APC. No party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.”

He condemned the quality of leadership emerging from political parties, blaming it on unqualified delegates. “You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today,” he said.

El-Rufai urged political parties to raise standards for candidates and delegates, emphasising that the constitution’s minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate should not be enough for nominations, while lamenting that the APC’s founding goals of combating corruption, rebuilding the economy, and enhancing security have been abandoned.

“The problems that led to the creation of the APC remain unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them. The distance between me and the party is widening.

“There are internal mercenaries in the PDP, hired and motivated to destroy the party. The Labour Party is also facing similar issues. Peter Obi himself told me, ‘I don’t know what’s happening in the party I contested with.’

“There seems to be a deliberate project to destroy opposition parties,” he alleged.

Citing a poll that showed 75% of registered voters might abstain from the 2027 elections, El-Rufai warned of a potential crisis.

“This is dangerous. For those of us who lived half our lives under military rule, we know what it is. We don’t want a military rule, but we also don’t want civilians behaving like the military in their babbar riga and suits.

“This is a national emergency, and we must act before history repeats itself,” he added.

Reacting to El-Rufai’s post, Bwala questioned the former governor’s stance, asking if he would have held the same position were he part of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

“My Senior brother, if you were to be in the government and cabinet, would you have held and expressed the same position? History is replete with examples. It is a government you participated in its formation, that you now want to unseat. Haba Mallam, a Ji soron Allah mana,” Bwala wrote.

Two people, including an adult and a teenager, have died, while five others sustained injuries after a two-storey building under construction collapsed in Lagos.

The incident occurred at Mega Mall Estate, Mobile Road, Inikpa Villa, Ikota, Ajah.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident, with its Lagos Office Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, stating that the immediate cause of the collapse remains unknown.

“Information indicates that more people are likely trapped in the rubble. Search and rescue operation is ongoing. Investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of collapse,” Farinloye said.

The injured, all men, have been rescued and transported to the hospital for treatment. Rescue operations are continuing, as authorities work to ascertain the total number of people affected

Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has completed his medicals ahead of a high-profile move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr.

Bayer Leverkusen have since agreed to a €60 million transfer deal for the 24-year-old striker, reports SkySport Germany.

Boniface is set to earn a staggering €15 million net per season with the Riyadh-based club.

Reports of Al-Nassr’s interest in the Akure-born forward gained momentum recently, with the club seeking a replacement for the outgoing Anderson Talisca.

Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations were progressing between the two clubs, with Boniface central to the transfer talks.

The move comes just a week after Boniface extended his contract with Bayer Leverkusen until 2026. Upon confirmation, he will become the second most expensive player to leave the Bundesliga club following Kai Havertz’s €80 million move to Chelsea in 2020.

Boniface will join an elite squad at Al-Nassr, featuring global stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte.

The striker initially joined Leverkusen in July 2023 for €20.5 million. He had a remarkable debut season, scoring 14 goals in 23 Bundesliga matches and helping his team clinch the league title without suffering a single defeat. Boniface’s stellar performances earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award, having won the monthly equivalent four times.

Despite being sidelined with a thigh injury since November, Boniface has managed to net eight goals in 15 games this season for the German side.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has signed a new law imposing a 21-year jail term for cult members and their sponsors. 

The development was announced on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhllor. According to the statement, the previous law addressing cult-related offences has been repealed and replaced with stricter penalties to deter cult activities. 

Ikhllor emphasised the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and security across the state, warning the public against engaging in actions that could jeopardise Edo’s growth and development.

The statement read: “It is hereby announced for the information of the public that the Edo State Secret Cult (Prohibition Law) 2018 has been repealed by the Edo State House of Assembly.

“By virtue of the repeal, the Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Prohibition) Law, 2025, has been passed by the Edo State House of Assembly and signed into law by the Governor of the State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, effective from 24 January 2025.

“Please be informed that in the new law, there are provisions for stricter penalties for anyone found guilty of secret cult-related offences in the state.

“Section 5 of the law prescribes 21 years of imprisonment for financial and material sponsors of secret cults.

“Additionally, Section 6 of the law provides for 10 years of imprisonment for those who knowingly harbour members of a secret cult or permit secret cult meetings or activities to take place in any house, building, or location under their control.”

The statement further noted that, in addition to the 10-year jail term for those who harbour cult members, such individuals would have their properties confiscated and demolished by the state government.

It added: “Section 12 of the law clearly states: ‘Any person found to be a cultist under Section 4, who assaults, injures, maims, or kills any person(s) or destroys any property in furtherance of the activities of any secret cult, is guilty of an offence and is liable to 21 years of imprisonment without an option of fine. In the case of a fatality, the perpetrator(s) shall be liable to the death penalty upon conviction, and any properties in their name, as well as their place of residence, shall be confiscated and demolished by the State Government.’

“The general public is, by this notice, advised to take heed and refrain from acts detrimental to the peace, growth, and development of Edo State.”

Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has denied opposing the idea of forming a coalition that would wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Obi, who had earlier rejected efforts by other opposition leaders to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, made a u-turn on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

While rejecting the idea, Obi said he won’t endorse any coalition if the motive is solely to grab power.

Speaking in Abuja on the sideline of a two-day national conference on Monday, January 27, 2025, the former Governor of Anambra said he’s “not interested in any coalition to take power.”

But on Tuesday, Obi took to X to clarify his position on the efforts by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders to form a coalition.

He wrote: “I have observed that my honest interview yesterday was misquoted by many media outlets, creating a false narrative that misrepresents my position. Let me set the record straight. I am not against coalition. In truth, I am for it, not for a power grab but to position Nigeria for greatness.

“I have not, and will never advocate for any coalition or alliance that does not prioritise the welfare and progress of the ordinary Nigerian.

“Any discussion about governance must be centred on what it means for everyday Nigerians and how it will address critical issues such as access to quality healthcare and education and pulling people out of poverty.

“Too often in our nation’s history, individuals and groups have come together solely for the purpose of taking power for power’s sake. Such endeavours, devoid of genuine purpose and vision, have only deepened our challenges, leaving the ordinary Nigerian to bear the brunt of bad governance. This is what I stand firmly against.

“Leadership must be about service, not self-interest. As I have always maintained, the New Nigeria is possible.

“But it requires us to change the way we think about power. It is not about grabbing it; it is about using it responsibly to transform lives and secure a brighter future for generations to come.”

Selena Gomez has been seen in tears over Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, following criticism from some quarters.

The 32-year-old singer and actress, who is of Mexican heritage, appeared to respond to the president’s stringent immigration policies.

The crackdown has included promises of the largest deportation in U.S. history, with the White House recently sharing images of men in shackles boarding a military plane, captioned: “Deportation flights have begun.”

In the now-deleted video posted on Monday, Gomez tearfully said, “I just want to say that I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked. The children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”

Following backlash online, Selena Gomez replaced the video with a post on her Instagram story, writing, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.”

That post, too, has since been removed.

Among her critics was Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Parker, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Gomez should “be deported.”

Gomez appeared to respond in another Instagram story, writing: “Oh Mr Parker, Mr Parker. Thanks for the laugh and the threat.”

Gomez recently starred in the Oscar-nominated Spanish-language musical Emilia Perez, portraying one of four Mexican women linked to a cartel.

Her video followed Donald Trump’s signing of 10 executive orders on immigration, including measures to accelerate mass deportations and tighten border security. These policies have already led to significant changes.

The Trump administration has reportedly conducted immigration raids in multiple cities this week, including Chicago, New York City, and Aurora, Colorado, with plans for more operations in other cities next week, according to NBC News.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices have been instructed to meet quotas of 1,200 to 1,500 arrests per day.

The administration’s expanded arrest priorities now include anyone in the country illegally, not just those with criminal records, public safety or national security risks, or migrants stopped at the border