A prominent member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has claimed that there was a plot by certain individuals to destabilize Kano State and push the federal government into declaring a state of emergency in the state.

Speaking on Jigsaw, a political program aired on AIT on Tuesday, Galadima alleged that those behind the plot were doing so without the knowledge of President Bola Tinubu.

“On the Kano situation, because unknown to him, and I can beat my chest that he didn’t know, Tinubu didn’t know what happened, what was arranged,” he said.

Galadima further claimed that the scheme involved setting up both the Kano state government and the Emir to create a situation that would justify the declaration of a state of emergency.

“There was a grand design to set up the Kano state government, including the Emir, such that they could declare a state of emergency,” he added.

He also mentioned that the plan included a high-level meeting in Abuja and the intentional absence of a key individual, who was being positioned to become the Emir of Kano.

“There was a meeting in a senior official of government’s house in this Abuja, and the man that was supposed to be appointed Emir was sent to Umrah, and as I speak to you now, he is in Saudi Arabia,” Galadima said.

According to him, the plot was for the Emir to be detained in Abuja upon his arrival, with the military on standby to declare the throne vacant.

“Their thinking is that once the Emir is invited today, he will be detained in Abuja. Once he’s detained, the military will be put on alert and the throne will be declared vacant,” he alleged.

When asked to name the individual in question, Galadima declined to do so. “No, I don’t want to mention names. Go and find out who is in Saudi Arabia out of the princes in Kano. Everybody in Nigeria knows what is happening,” he responded.

This revelation came shortly after Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), withdrew an invitation to Muhammadu Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, to appear at the police force headquarters in Abuja. The police had earlier invited Sanusi for questioning over alleged killings during the recent Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has granted an order restraining the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), from appointing sole administrators or their equivalents to oversee the 23 local government areas in the state.

Naija News reports that Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed issued the ruling in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu, against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity.

The court, after reviewing the motion ex parte filed on March 28, 2025, granted several reliefs, including an interim injunction preventing Ibas and his agents from making such appointments.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed noted that the applicant’s request for an injunction and other necessary orders was valid, and set April 14, 2025, as the date for the hearing of the substantive matter.

The leadership crisis in Rivers State stems from the expiration of the tenure of elected local government chairmen in June 2023.

These chairmen, originally elected under former Governor Nyesom Wike, had sought an extension of tenure, which was granted by 27 defected state lawmakers loyal to Wike.

When Governor Siminalayi Fubara assumed office, he dissolved the councils and appointed caretaker chairmen. This action sparked a fierce political battle between Fubara’s camp and Wike’s loyalists. The struggle for control over local governments has become a central issue in the state’s political power dynamics.

Despite the ongoing tensions, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) proceeded with local government elections on October 5, 2024.

However, the faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to Wike, led by Tony Okocha, challenged the RSIEC’s actions in court.

This legal battle culminated in a Supreme Court ruling on February 28, 2025, which favoured the Wike-backed APC faction.

Following this judgment, Governor Fubara removed the chairmen installed through the now-nullified election and directed the heads of local council administration to assume interim leadership until new elections could be held.

Governor Fubara’s decision was strongly opposed by the APC and the group of defected lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule.

They accused Fubara’s camp of targeting RSIEC officials and attempting to bypass constitutional procedures.

Supporters of Governor Fubara argued that the Sole Administrator was moving to appoint administrators for the local government areas—a move the court has now prevented, maintaining that it would be an unconstitutional act.

The legal battle continues, with the case now adjourned for further hearings on April 14, 2025.

The decision of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to suspend crude supply to the Dangote and other refineries affected the output of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in March.

A Reuters survey found that OPEC oil output fell in March as Nigeria curbed deliveries to domestic refineries.

In March, supply from Nigeria, Iran, and Venezuela fell by 50,000 bpd each, the survey found.

Nigerian supply was said to have declined “due to reduced deliveries to the Dangote refinery, offsetting higher exports.” Reuters stated that Nigeria is pumping slightly above its OPEC quota. 

In March, OPEC pumped 26.63 million barrels per day, down 110,000 bpd from February’s total, the survey showed, with Nigeria, Iran and Venezuela posting the largest drops of 50,000 bpd each.

 Iranian and Venezuelan supply had dropped on renewed United States attempts to curb the flows.

The PUNCH learnt that NNPC delayed the delivery of seven cargoes of crude oil it allocated to the Dangote refinery last month.

A report by S&P Global said the supply was delayed by the NNPC over the failure of both parties to agree on payment terms.

The report disclosed that the cargoes were to deliver around 245,000 barrels per day in April. This amounts to 7.2 million barrels in 30 days.

“According to trade sources and Nigerian port authorities, NNPC has allocated seven crude oil cargoes to deliver around 245,000 barrels per day to the Dangote site in April but is yet to agree on payment terms,” the report stated.

The PUNCH gathered that the NNPC and Dangote have been embroiled in disputes over payment terms following the seeming termination of the naira-for-crude deal.

Aside from the seeming termination of the naira deal, it was gathered that the credit facilities given to Dangote were withdrawn.

Sources said the refinery is now expected to submit letters of credit before the delivery of crude cargoes.

An NNPC official declined to comment on the matter, saying transactions are not done in the open.

In October 2024, the NNPC began the naira-for-crude deal with the Dangote refinery as part of an initiative to deflate Nigerian fuel prices.

However, according to NNPC figures, the national oil companies delivered roughly 280,000 b/d of crude to Dangote in naira by March 10, falling shy of the 385,000 b/d agreed under the deal, S&P Global said.

As the six-month deal ended yesterday, there are growing concerns that the FG may not renew it, and this has caused a hike in fuel prices after the Dangote refinery announced the suspension of naira fuel sales.

However, in addition to foreign exchange shortages and debt concerns, NNPC is now battling new challenges with instability and pipeline sabotage in Rivers State, clouding its production outlook.

In contrast to government rhetoric, the Dangote executive expressed scepticism over whether a new naira-for-crude deal would go ahead.

“We are not even sure whether it will be renewed,” he said.

Besides challenges for NNPC, he argued that the obligation for Dangote to sell its oil products in naira under the deal had become a drag on its operations.

He said that the refinery was left exposed to price fluctuations by pegging contract prices to dollar-based benchmarks and converting them into naira at the point of sale.

Earlier, it was reported that crude oil grades from Nigeria faced tepid demand in the April trade cycle as ample availability of lower-priced alternatives such as US WTI, Caspian CPC Blend, and other Mediterranean grades enticed European buyers.

The report stated that the trade cycle has since shifted to May, “with as many as 15 April-loading Nigerian cargoes looking for buyers,” according to market participants quoted by Argus Media.

Meanwhile, the African Export–Import Bank, a key investor in oil and gas projects, has earmarked $3bn to finance the purchase of refined products within Africa as part of broader plans to boost refining capacity, a senior executive said.

Africa exports around 80 per cent of its crude oil and 45 per cent of the natural gas it produces, leaving the fast-growing continent heavily reliant on imported refined products, according to the bank and analysts.

According to Reuters, a lack of storage infrastructure and older refineries with relatively small output capacity characterise the energy landscape of sub-Saharan Africa.

In another development, crude prices slipped further on Tuesday as Brent fell to $63.23 per barrel and WTI to $59.82.

Experts said the downward trend of crude oil will impact negatively on the 2025 budget, which benchmarked crude prices at $75 per barrel.

However, it was argued that the crash would result in cheaper fuels at filling stations.

Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-rufai have been urged to perish their ambitions for 2027.

The call was made by the National Vice Chairman (North West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress. APC, Garba Datti Muhammad.

Datti, a lawmaker, who hails from Kaduna State and served as a member of the House of Representatives representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency for 16 years, stated this in an open letter to Atiku.

He asked the 2023 PDP presidential candidate to perish the thought of another presidential contest and remain the statesman that he is, noting that he has been contesting for the presidency since 1993.

“As we approach the next general elections, you are at it again. However, this time around, having sensed that your party, the PDP may not cede the presidential ticket to you, you are now considering joining forces with some aggrieved politicians to form a coalition to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.

“For you, Alhaji Atiku, our former Vice President, my freehearted advice is, in your best interest and the interest of Nigerians, it is better you drop the idea of contesting for president in 2027, by which time you would have already turned 80 years.

“Wazirin Adamawa, you should rather remain the elder statesman that you currently are. Methinks you shouldn’t waste your time and resources. At least, you should take your cue from another former Vice President, Arc. Muhammad Namadi Sambo, who has been operating in the background and remains an elder statesman since he left office in 2015,” he said.

Hon. Datti said Atiku should not listen to some politicians such as El-rufai who, according to him, are dangling the carrot of a coalition to him ahead of 2027.

Turning to El-rufai, the Kaduna lawmaker urged the former Kaduna State governor to reconcile with the APC as he is a founding member of the party who toiled to see its success.

According to him, it is on record that he was part of the founding members of the APC, adding that having worked for the party tirelessly and served as governor under its platform for eight years, it is rather worrisome that he decided to leave APC at this critical point.

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has alleged that there are ongoing efforts to fabricate falsehoods against the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in a bid to prevent his return to office.

Eze made this claim in a statement issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, condemning what he described as an attempt by allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to discredit Fubara through misinformation.

He pointed to a recent press briefing by the former Head of Service of Rivers State, George Nwaeke, claiming that Nwaeke had been pressured to make damaging statements against the Governor.

During the press briefing, Nwaeke alleged that Governor Fubara was responsible for the fire that engulfed the House of Assembly Complex, orchestrated through his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie, and former Obio/Akpor Council Chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo.

He also accused the Governor of fueling the state’s political crisis and praised President Bola Tinubu for imposing emergency rule in Rivers State.

However, in a twist, Nwaeke’s wife publicly dismissed her husband’s statements, claiming he had been coerced into making them.

She revealed that he had been invited to Abuja by Ogidi, a loyalist of Wike and a Commissioner at the National Population Commission.

She later clarified in an interview that her husband had resigned from his position as Head of Service after refusing to sign a document falsely implicating Governor Fubara in an alleged $15 billion fraud.

Eze, in his statement, accused Wike of actively working against reconciliation efforts in Rivers State, despite President Tinubu’s directive for stability.

He asserted that the FCT Minister’s main agenda was to ensure that Fubara remained out of office indefinitely.

“An interest that runs antithetical to democratic norms and the collective stance of Rivers people,” Eze stated.

He further alleged that the Sole Administrator had been given a fresh mandate to create a wave of false accusations against Fubara, with full media backing, as part of the effort to block his reinstatement.

“With the unhealthy vendetta of George Nwaeke against the Governor, facts abound that the Sole Administrator has a new mandate; to concoct a floodgate of falsehood against Gov. Fubara with full media support, in a bid to stop the Governor from coming back to the Brick House. This will be a shame to us all if we keep quiet and allow this evil to sail through,” he warned.

Eze commended Nwaeke’s wife for speaking out in defense of her husband’s integrity and protecting her family’s reputation.

He called on President Tinubu to uphold the truth and resist the “false narratives and cocktail of lies” being peddled by those seeking to undermine democracy for personal gain

Fresh developments have emerged following the visit of state governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to former President Muhammadu Buhari at his Kaduna residence on Monday.

The governors, led by the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the All Progressives Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, held a closed-door meeting with Buhari, where they praised his achievements during his tenure.

Naija News reports that the APC governors expressed their appreciation for Buhari’s legacy, noting that his leadership laid a strong foundation for future development in Nigeria.

However, the visit, officially framed as a Sallah courtesy call, had an underlying purpose. According to sources close to the meeting who spoke with Vanguard, the governors also sought Buhari’s help in preventing his loyalists from defecting to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) ahead of the 2027 general election.

The governors’ concern arose from the growing speculation that key figures within the APC, particularly those from the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the bloc that formed the backbone of Buhari’s political base were considering defection.

The CPC is seen as the largest faction within the APC, and the governors feared that the loss of this bloc could deal a significant blow to the party’s future prospects.

Reports indicate that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was the first high-profile figure to defect, claiming that he had Buhari’s blessing to leave the APC for the SDP.

Other former ministers who served under Buhari, including former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and former Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, were said to be planning to join the SDP as well.

The governors expressed concerns that the defection of prominent figures such as El-Rufai, Malami, and Nwajiuba could severely weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

They urged Buhari to speak to these figures, especially Nwajiuba and Malami, and advise them against leaving the APC.

Buhari’s Response And Speculation

However, sources revealed that Buhari appeared to distance himself from the situation, stating that individuals like Nwajiuba and Malami should have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding their political affiliations.

He reportedly declined to interfere with their choices, reflecting his longstanding stance of not imposing his political will on others.

While Buhari’s response may be seen as a reflection of his commitment to individual autonomy, it has sparked fresh speculation about the potential defections and their implications for the future of the APC.

This development comes at a crucial time for the party, which is already grappling with internal disagreements and external pressures as it prepares for the 2027 general election.

The APC has been dealing with internal conflicts, including disagreements over the selection process for its presidential candidate.

In 2022, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) adopted indirect primaries to elect its presidential candidate, rejecting a consensus arrangement, which caused friction, particularly among those from the CPC faction

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) convened a forum on Tuesday with stakeholders to discuss the increasing concerns regarding unclaimed and unused subscriber recharges.

This forum represented a significant regulatory initiative aimed at safeguarding telecom consumers while providing operational clarity for service providers.

The executive vice-chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, underscored the necessity of achieving a balanced approach that respects consumer rights while promoting industry sustainability.

Maida, who was represented by the executive commissioner for stakeholder management, Rimini Makama, stated that this engagement is vital for developing policies that prioritize consumer protection while fostering a dynamic and competitive market.

“As the telecommunications sector continues to advance, it is essential to tackle emerging challenges, such as the status of prepaid balances on inactive lines.

The forum concentrated on a draft guidance framework that details the procedures for managing unutilized airtime on churned lines, specifically those disconnected after 12 months of inactivity,” he explained.

He noted that under the proposed regulations, affected subscribers would be granted a 12-month grace period to reclaim their unused credits, contingent upon verifying their ownership.

Chizua Whyte, the head of legal and regulatory services at the NCC, emphasized the commission’s legal responsibilities and the importance of the new guidelines in promoting transparency and accountability within the telecommunications industry.

“This draft seeks to ensure subscribers maintain rightful access to their purchased credits while operators gain clarity in their responsibilities.

“It also prohibits monetisation of unclaimed airtime, instead mandates service-based redemptions such as data or voice bundles,” she said.

She also mentioned that the commission has specified essential provisions in the draft guidelines, which mandate operators to inform subscribers about the forfeiture of airtime and related policies.

Whyte emphasized that consumer education initiatives would be essential to promote widespread understanding.

Additionally, she noted that operators must conduct audits of churned accounts and report any unclaimed balances.

Whyte indicated that a compliance period of 90 days has been established, with penalties for non-compliance, while the NCC is expected to finalize audit reviews within a span of 10 days.

A summary of the forum highlighted the importance of aligning with international best practices, as countries such as the U.S., the EU, and India prioritize transparency and alternative service options instead of cash refunds.

This forum is part of a larger initiative aimed at enhancing billing transparency, building consumer trust, and ensuring regulatory clarity as outlined by the NCCE.

Attendees at the forum included mobile network operators, consumer advocacy organizations, legal professionals, and various industry stakeholders

Rajitha, a 30-year-old teacher has killed three children.

The lady from Ameenpur Mandal in Sangareddy district, India, killed the children—12-year-old Sai Krishna, 10-year-old Madhu Priya, and 8-year-old Gautam—to start a new life with her former classmate, Sooru Shiva Kumar.

She initially claimed that they had fallen ill after eating curd rice on March 27, but investigations later revealed that she had suffocated them one by one to clear the way for her to marry Shiva.

She staged their deaths as food poisoning to cover up the crime.

Rajitha’s unhappiness in her marriage to A. Chennaiah, a 50-year-old water tanker driver 20 years older than her, had been growing for some time.

Chennaiah’s first wife had passed away during childbirth, and in 2013, he married Rajitha, with whom he had three children.

However, reports indicated that Rajitha resented her life with Chennaiah and longed for an escape.

Her affair with her former classmate, Shiva Kumar, who she hoped to marry, became the driving force behind her tragic actions.

Driven by a desire to build a new life with him, Rajitha decided to eliminate any obstacles standing in her way. She killed her children and pretended they had died from food poisoning, hoping to deceive everyone around her.

The police investigation, led by Sangareddy DSP Paritosh Pankaj, soon uncovered the truth.

When her motive became clear, the case sent ripples through social media, and concerned individuals flooded the comments section, expressing disbelief over the horrific crime.

The Achimota Circuit Court has sentenced a 22-year-old hairdresser, Nicky Isabella, to five years in prison for trafficking two young Nigerian women into Ghana under the guise of employment.

Isabella, popularly known as Bella, lured the victims to Ghana under the pretext of offering them jobs, but upon arrival, she forced them into prostitution.

Isabella, widely known as Bella, deceived the victims, aged 22 and 23, by promising them supermarket jobs in Adjiringanor, Accra. But upon their arrival in May 2024, the narrative took a dark turn: instead of employment, they were forced into prostitution and stripped of their earnings.

The case was heard before Mrs. Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, who delivered the judgment on Friday, April 4, 2025, after a full trial.

According to Ghana Broadcasting Corporation on Monday, prosecutors disclosed that Isabella, in collaboration with an accomplice named Nelly (still at large), orchestrated the cross-border trafficking.

Upon arrival, Isabella reportedly seized their earnings and forced them to swear an oath on a Bible. As part of the oath ritual, she cut pieces of their pubic hair and threatened to use them in rituals if they disobeyed her instructions.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Isaac Babayi, who led the prosecution, described the crime as premeditated, exploitative, and deeply harmful, urging the court to hand down a firm sentence as a deterrent.

In her ruling, the trial judge considered several factors, including Isabella’s young age, her status as a first-time offender, and the period she had already spent in custody. However, she also noted Isabella’s lack of remorse and the severity of the offence.

Isabella, who had no legal representation throughout the trial, broke down in tears as the sentence was handed down.

Court documents confirmed that Isabella admitted to forcing the women into sex work, taking their money, and using spiritual threats to control them. A search of her residence revealed a notebook tracking the victims’ earnings and a bundle of human hair, believed to be part of the coercive tactics she employed.

The two victims have since been rescued and are now receiving psychosocial support.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation to apprehend Nelly, her co-conspirator

Commenting on the case, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Ayariga, Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, reiterated the country’s zero tolerance for human trafficking.

“Ghana is not a haven for human traffickers. Those who lure vulnerable people into Ghana and force them into prostitution will face the full force of the law,” he stated.DSP Ayariga revealed that the Unit secured nine convictions last year, including a landmark 20-year sentence, and reaffirmed its resolve to continue pursuing traffickers with full force.

“We are not slowing down. We will continue arresting, investigating, and prosecuting offenders. No form of human trafficking or migrant smuggling will be tolerated in Ghana. Justice will prevail,” he said.

Atiku Abubakar’s Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy, Demola Olarewaju, has revealed the biggest mistake allies of former President Muhammadu Buhari will make with President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Olarewaju, whose principal was the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said Buhari’s boys in the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC bloc of the All Progressives Congress, APC, are making a grave mistake by trusting Tinubu in 2027.

He warned that Tinubu would use and dump them, just as he did with the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

Posting on X, he wrote: “The biggest mistake Buhari Boys in the CPC bloc would make ahead of 2027 is to trust Tinubu. Anybody, in fact, shouldn’t make that mistake, including old ACN allies.

“If he gets what he wants, he’ll dump them like El-Rufai and consolidate power more than anyone ever before him.”

Olarewaju also alleged a plot to replace the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, with someone from the Southwest.

“Lagos Boys want an INEC Chairman from the SW that they can control easily and directly for Tinubu while also being in a position to use him to manipulate state gubernatorial elections and sell it to the highest bidder for themselves – they just want to cash out at this point.

“The agenda for the next INEC Chairman is for one person to control him on behalf of Tinubu, but also still use him to influence and sell state gubernatorial elections.

“Those two men both want to be President after Tinubu, on the idea that the SS still has 4 years to go from GEJ,” he added.