Author: GANUX

 

The trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, continued at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with Justice James Omotosho presiding.

 

The prosecution presented more evidence to support claims that Kanu was involved in terrorism.

 

A witness known as named BBB, led by the prosecuting lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo, resumed testimony.

 

He spoke about a letter written by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to the Department of State Services which accused Kanu of terrorism, murder and inciting violence against Nigerian security agencies.

It was dated June 17, 2021, and was admitted as Exhibit PWF after the defence, led by Kanu Agabi, raised no objection.

 

The witness read from the letter, “He instructed, through his broadcast, that police and army seen, should be brought down and their guns seized and used.”

 

The letter also listed violent acts, saying Kanu’s words caused attacks on police stations, correctional centres, and public property.

 

The court also accepted a written statement by Kanu to the DSS on July 17, 2021, where he declined to write anything new, saying he had already said all he needed to. This was marked as Exhibit PEG.

 

A flash drive that reportedly contains Kanu’s broadcasts was also admitted, despite an objection by the defence. It was marked as Exhibits PWA and PW1.

 

The court played several video and audio recordings. In one clip, dated December 12, Kanu is heard speaking from “the blessed land of Biafra” and warning against “Fulani domination.”

 

He also warned Southeast governors, saying, “No Fulani parading as herdsman shall be allowed in our land.”

 

In another video, a voice the DSS said is Kanu’s is heard saying, “Go and burn down Lagos,” “Set Murtala Mohammed Airport on fire,” “Burn down that Tinubu hotel,” “Go into the bush, collect policemen’s guns and kill them.”

In a different clip, the voice said, “Every Federal government building in Lagos should be set on fire. Any government vehicle you see, burn them. Manufacture your own weapons, ambush them.”

 

Another audio recording played in court had the same voice telling people, “Any police officer you kill, go to their station and set it on fire. Kill them. They are janjaweeds.”

The voice also said, “Tinubu is in trouble, he cannot run. Anywhere he runs to in this world, we will find him.” “If we don’t behave like mad people in this zoological republic, this revolution will not work.”

“Start killing soldiers now, set ambush for them, dig holes on the roads so that when their vehicle comes it will somersault and they will die.”

 

The court was told this audio came from the October 2020 End SARS protest with people calling in from different parts of Nigeria to update Kanu.

 

One caller from Ogbor Hill in Aba said they needed guns.

 

The voice replied, “Join the elite Biafra volunteer force and you will understand how things work.”

 

Another recording had the same voice declaring a total sit-at-home in the Southeast, “Nobody is allowed to come out no matter who you are. If you dare open your shop tomorrow, we’ll burn you inside that shop!”

 

In another clip, the voice tells someone on the phone, “There are some guns already in Edo State. Take those guns and kill some army officers. Take their guns and use them to attack others.”

 

The prosecution witness said these recordings were played to Kanu and that “he admitted that he made them.”

 

The last video showed Kanu speaking at a gathering where he said weapons were needed for the Biafran cause.

 

He said, “The Fulani ethnic group wants to take over the entire country as they took over Hausa territories. The only way to stop this is by a revolution.”

 

The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, has banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in the state.

 

The governor made the announcement on Tuesday at the inauguration of a reconstituted committee on “revocation of illegal hotels, brothels, shanties, and criminal hideouts and curbing the menace of antisocial vices” at the council chambers of the government house in Maiduguri, the state capital.

 

Zulum also reconstituted and re-empowered the committee to purge the state of all forms of criminality and antisocial vices in the Maiduguri metropolis and surrounding environments.

 

The governor said the ban on sales and consumption of liquor and alcoholic contents stems from the rising cases of clashes among rival groups, cultism, prostitution, drug abuse, thuggery and theft, which have led to loss of lives and valuables.

He also co-opted the military, police, civil defence, and several other security agencies, including the civilian JTF, to join the committee for a holistic approach.

 

He also stated that former and current serving personnel of the Nigerian security forces have played a significant role in influencing the civilian populace into criminality, radicalism, prostitution and other vices, heightening terrorism threats in the state.

 

“I am happy to know that army officers are here, especially the military, police, and others are here because most of these activities were committed by whom? Some of them are dismissed army officers, dismissed security officers, current army officers, men and officers, including civilians.

“So, there should be no sacred cow in this matter if we want the Maiduguri metropolis and indeed the state to get rid of insurgency, terrorism and other sorts of criminalities,” Zulum said.

 

India launched military strikes on Pakistan on Wednesday and Pakistan claimed it shot down five Indian Air Force jets, in an escalation that has pushed the two nations to the brink of a wider conflict.

 

The escalation puts India and Pakistan, two neighbors with a long history of conflict, in dangerous territory, with Islamabad vowing to retaliate against India’s strikes and the international community calling for restraint.

 

New Delhi said the strikes are in response to the massacre of 26 people – mostly Indian tourists – who died in April when gunmen stormed a scenic mountain spot in the India-administered part of Kashmir, a disputed border region. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denies.

 

-What happened with India’s strikes?-

 

India launched “Operation Sindoor” in the early hours of Wednesday morning local time (Tuesday night ET) in both Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

 

Indian officials said nine sites were targeted, but claimed no Pakistani civilian, economic or military sites were struck. They said the 25-minute operation targeted “terrorist infrastructure” belonging to two militant groups – Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

 

The name ‘Sindoor’ appears to be a reference to the red vermilion, or powder, many Hindu women wear on their foreheads after marriage. The April tourist massacre – which singled out men as victims – left several Indian women widowed.

 

But Pakistan is painting a different picture of the strikes – saying civilians were killed and mosques were hit. CNN has yet to verify those claims.

 

A Pakistani military spokesperson said six locations were hit with 24 strikes. Some of those strikes hit the densely populated province of Punjab, Pakistan’s military said, and were the deepest India has struck inside Pakistan since 1971, when the two countries fought one of their four wars.

 

-How did Pakistan respond?-

 

Pakistani security sources claimed they had shot down five Indian Air Force jets and one drone during India’s attack.

They did not say exactly where, or how, the jets were downed – but said three Rafale jets were among those planes. India’s Rafale fighter jets are prized military assets that it bought from France only a few years ago.

 

India has not confirmed any planes were lost. CNN has not been able to verify the claim and has reached out to India’s government and military for comment.

 

An eyewitness and local government official said an unidentified aircraft crashed in the village of Wuyan in Indian-administered Kashmir. Photos published by the AFP news agency showed aircraft wreckage lying in a field next to a red-brick building.

It was not immediately clear from the photos who the aircraft belonged to.

 

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday the country “has every right” to respond, calling India’s actions an “act of war.”

 

-How many casualties are there?-

 

At least 26 civilians were killed and 46 injured by India’s strikes, a Pakistan military spokesperson said, according to the news agency Reuters.

 

Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s military, said those killed include teenagers and children – the youngest of whom was three years old.

 

Eight civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir were also killed by shelling by Pakistani troops from across the border, a senior Indian defense source told CNN.

 

CNN/Reuters

 

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has shared his thoughts on his career trajectory while celebrating a significant accomplishment in his music career after surpassing 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time.

 

This achievement follows the release of his fifth studio album, 5ive, which has continued to garner widespread attention.

 

In a moment of reflection, Davido expressed pride in how far he has come, emphasising that his success was not the result of industry endorsements or influential mentors.

 

Unlike many of his contemporaries who had early backing from key figures in the music industry, he built his career independently through perseverance and dedication.

Nonetheless, Davido was quick to attribute much of his success to divine grace and the unwavering support of his fans.

 

He wrote, “No co-sign, built from the ground up! Just God, good music and the best fans! I Appreciate you guys fr [for real]!

 

“Who wan even CO-SIGN big man like me ?? Hmmm another angle sha 5️⃣”

 

5ive, Davido’s April 18, 2025 release, includes 17 tracks and has become a runaway success, amassing millions of streams and sitting comfortably at the top of Afrobeats charts.

 

The National Association of Polytechnic Students has issued a five-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund board to provide a detailed breakdown of fund disbursement.

 

The student loan scheme has come under intense scrutiny following allegations by the National Orientation Agency that some institutions, in collaboration with banks, have been making fraudulent deductions from student loan disbursements.

 

Last week, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission said its preliminary probe revealed that while NELFUND had released N100bn as students loan, N71bn is accounted for.

 

These allegations triggered a wave of outrage, culminating in a protest on Monday by members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, who blocked the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

 

In a communique issued on Wednesday, which was signed by the President, Eshiofune Oghayan and Senate President, Oyewumi Ayomide, NAPS said it would mobilise protests nationwide should the NELFUND fail to reveal breakdown of how polytechnics received funds.

 

“We issue a five-day ultimatum to the NELFUND board to publicly provide detailed breakdown of how funds were disbursed. Specific figures showing how polytechnic students benefited.”

 

The association further threatened to take actions should their demands not be met.

“Organise a mass protest with 0.9% of Nigeria’s 28.1 million students; File petitions with the DSS and EFCC for a full-scale investigation; Pursue democratic means, use all democratic means to seek justice”, the statement partly reads.

 

PUNCH Online had reported that on Sunday, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr in an interview on Channels Tv’s Politics Today debunked the allegation of missing N71 billion students’ loan.

 

He said, “We are all looking for this so-called money. First of all, let me be very clear. No money has been stolen.

 

“The President, in his wisdom and well-intentioned programme, decided that he was going to set up the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.

 

“So the funds that we’ve been given is to bridge the gap for those who don’t have the money to be able to attain the education.

 

“No money is missing. No money has been stolen. There had been some issues with what happened at the phase of this where human intervention comes in.”

 

Inter Milan on Tuesday night edged Barcelona 7–6 on aggregate after a pulsating 4–3 extra-time win at San Siro.

 

The result sees Inter book their place in the final following a 13-goal tie that now ranks among the highest-scoring knockout fixtures in the competition’s history.

 

The first leg ended 3–3 at Camp Nou, and with the second leg mirroring that scoreline after 90 minutes, Francesco Acerbi’s stoppage-time equalizer forced extra time.

 

Substitute Davide Frattesi then sealed the winner to send the San Siro into raptures and eliminate a devastated Barcelona.

 

According to a curated list shared on the official UEFA Champions League website early Wednesday morning, the Inter–Barça clash now shares the record for most goals in a knockout tie with two other epic encounters:

 

The 13-goal thriller now joins an elite club of Champions League knockout ties with the most goals ever scored — equalling the joint-record held by Liverpool vs Roma (2017/18) and Bayern vs Sporting CP (2008/09).

 

Here is a full list of 18 games with most goals in a UCL knockout tie:

 

Most Goals in a Champions League Knockout Tie (13 goals)

Inter Milan 7–6 Barcelona (2024/25 Semi-finals)

 

Liverpool 7–6 Roma (2017/18 Semi-finals)

 

Bayern Munich 12–1 Sporting CP (2008/09 Round of 16)

 

Other High-Scoring Knockout Ties (12 Goals)

Lyon 10–2 Werder Bremen (2004/05)

 

Chelsea 7–5 Liverpool (2008/09)

 

Barcelona 10–2 Bayer Leverkusen (2011/12)

Arsenal 2–10 Bayern Munich (2016/17)

 

Man City 10–2 Schalke (2018/19)

 

Atalanta 8–4 Valencia (2019/20)

 

Arsenal 9–3 PSV (2024/25)

 

(*Monaco advanced on away goals)

 

11 Goals — Legendary Ties

Real Madrid 6–5 Manchester United (2002/03 Quarter-finals)

 

Chelsea 6–5 Bayern Munich (2004/05 Quarter-finals)

 

Manchester United 8–3 Roma (2006/07 Quarter-finals)

 

Real Madrid 9–2 Schalke (2013/14 Round of 16)

 

Bayern Munich 7–4 Porto (2014/15 Quarter-finals)

 

Barcelona 6–5 Paris Saint-Germain (2016/17 Round of 16)

 

Real Madrid 6–5 Manchester City (2021/22 Semi-finals)

 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures are yielding results, especially within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system.

 

His remarks come amid nationwide concern following JAMB’s release of results showing that out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 420,000 scored above 200 — meaning more than 78 percent failed to meet the 200-mark threshold.

 

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa said the drop in performance reflects a significant decline in examination malpractice due to JAMB’s tightened security protocols.

 

“That’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done the proper way,” the minister said. “JAMB conducts its exam using a computer-based testing system. They’ve implemented strong security measures, and as a result, fraud or cheating has been completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.”

 

Alausa disclosed that upon assumption of office, the education ministry conducted a full review of the country’s examination systems.

 

As part of broader reforms, he announced that both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council will begin transitioning to computer-based testing by November 2025, starting with objective papers.

The full CBT model — including essay sections — will be adopted by the May/June 2026 examination cycle.

 

“We have to use technology to fight this fraud,” Alausa said. “There are so many ‘miracle centres’, and that is simply unacceptable. People cheat during WAEC and NECO exams and then face JAMB, where cheating is nearly impossible. That’s the disparity we’re seeing now. It’s sad,” the minister said.

 

He also warned that exam malpractice undermines academic integrity and demoralizes diligent students.

 

Alausa said,“The worst part of cheating is that it disincentivises the hard-working ones,” he said. “If I’m preparing for WAEC or NECO and I know some classmates already have access to the questions, do you think I’ll still study hard? No, I’ll be tempted to join them. That’s how good students are corrupted, and that’s exactly what we must stop.”

 

Alausa stressed that the ministry remains committed to using technology-driven solutions to restore credibility in Nigeria’s examination and admissions processes.

 

A former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday explained why he issued a former Ministry of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji licence to run the Geometric Power plant in Aba.

 

Commissioning the newly built substations of the Geometric Power at Ogbor Hills substations, Aba, Obasanjo recalled that his administration issued a licence to Nnaji to run the Geometric Power Plant as an indigenous power generation and distribution company with the conviction that Nigeria has the potential to make it great and expressed his joy with the progress the company has so far made.

 

Obasanjo revealed that his action followed the declining nature of commerce in Aba, which was known for industrialisation, adding that with the progressive records of Geometric Power in Aba, more industries will come into the city.

 

“When I was giving you the encouragement, two people came to me to ask why I was giving Nigerians such responsibility, that they would disappoint me. You have not disappointed me, and you did not disappoint all those, including all the people who supported you to realise this project.

 

“The lesson to learn again here within ourselves, among ourselves and by ourselves is that we have what it takes to develop,” he said.

 

He extolled the persistent and consistent virtues of Nnaji and urged him to extend the distribution of power to other local government areas of the state.

Speaking at the occasion, the state governor, Alex Otti, said his administration is determined to tackle the epileptic nature of power supply in the state, as plans have been concluded for the takeover of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company in the state with the acquisition of megawatts of power.

Otti announced that already, the installed capacity of Geometric Power generation is 141 megawatts, which he said is enough for the 9 local government areas’ ring fence, noting the level of the dilapidation of infrastructure at the substations, which would have been a disaster if the company injected power into them without rebuilding them.

 

Otti said that the essence of governance is to step in where the private sector is not meeting up, stressing that the absence of power supply brings underdevelopment, unemployment and increased poverty, and called on the traditional rulers in Osisioma LGA to protect the infrastructure in their domain.

 

In his address, the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Geometric Power Group, Nnaji, said, “Establishing a reliable ecosystem for Aba has been a labour of dedication and strategic investment.”

 

He thanked Obasanjo for his vision to birth a power generation and distribution company that would sustain the growth of business in Aba and environs and thanked God for Otti for leading the pathway, stating that Geometric Power has been working closely with the Aba business community and other stakeholders to meet the demand of the consumers.

 

Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director of Aba Power Limited, Bar. Ugochukwu Opiegbe, enumerated steps taken by the company to ensure efficient service delivery in Aba.

 

In her vote of appreciation, the Group Managing Director of Geometric Power Group, Agatha Nnaji, said, “The vision for Geometric Power in Aba has always been about more than just electricity. It is about igniting potential and powering a new era of growth and prosperity.

“We are committed to continuing this journey, ensuring a sustainable and reliable power supply that underpins the city’s ambition for generations to come.”

 

President Bola Tinubu is meeting the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

 

The governor arrived the premises at about 03:45 pm Tuesday, alone, our correspondent observed.

 

Tuesday’s meeting is the Governor’s first encounter with the President since he defected to the governing party, the All Progressives Congress.

 

On April 23, 2025, Oborevwori became the first incumbent governor of Delta State to abandon the Peoples Democratic Party since 1999.

 

His predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, commissioners, local government chairmen, and the grassroots machinery moved en bloc to the APC after a closed-door meeting in Asaba.

Okowa was the PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

 

Delta’s wave of defection follows similar realignments in Rivers and Cross River, trimming the PDP’s governorship map to ten states and shaking a region once regarded as a fortress for the opposition.

 

Feelers from the APC identified Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Aba Yusuf of Kano and suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, as four new converts expected to join the party in the coming weeks.

 

The PDP, Labour Party, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party are currently grappling with internal crises compounded by defections to the APC, which has left their parties in disarray.

 

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has assured students it was working assiduously towards building a technology driven system that would improve easy access to its loans.

 

This was as the FUND disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid with many more currently undergoing verification process to enable their payments.

 

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer NELFUND,Akintunde Sawyerr gave the assurances on Tuesday in Abuja, while addressing Polytechnics , Monotechnics and Institutes at a Stakeholders Engagement Session/ Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.

 

Sawyerr noted that the FUND was targeting a platform where students could access loan with confidence and without stress in a manner that was transparent and accountable.

He said: “At NELFUND our mission goes beyond giving loans. It’s about opening doors, it’s about making sure every young Nigerian who is willing to learn and grow has a real shot regardless of their background, location, or chosen path of study.

 

“For too long, many students, especially in technical institutions, have faced steep financial barriers; some drop out, others have never even applied. This is the gap we at NELFUND are here to close. But we know we can’t do it alone.

 

“This is a shared mission. It belongs to all of us, government institutions and the private sector alike. This technical workshop marks a major step forward.

 

“We’re not only providing financing, we’re building a technology-driven system that makes it easier for students to apply, for institutions to verify, and for funds to be disbursed with speed, fairness, and accountability.

 

“We’re aiming for access without stress, a platform students can use with confidence; transparency and trust so that no one is left wondering where their application stands; partnership with purpose because your feedback, your data, and your cooperation are critical to making this work. We rely on you as our institutional partners to help us bring this vision to life.”

 

Sawyerr who commended the institutions for providing technical expertise, practical hands-on training that fuels industries and empowers communities over the years, said besides teaching skills, they have built careers, created employers and strengthened economies.

 

“You know your students, you understand their struggles, your insights will help us tailor this system to reflect the realities on ground, not just assumptions on paper.

 

“To NBTE, we value your steady leadership in shaping and regulating technical education. Your collaboration is key as we move forward fully.”

The NELFUND boss urged the institutions to partner with the FUND to deliver a system that was not just functional or sustainable, but one that was transformative

 

“As we move forward fully, integrating NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, let us remember at the heart of all of this is a student, a young Nigerian with dreams, with ambition, and the courage to pursue them. Everything we do must serve that student.

“The only way to make it happen is by working together, listening to one another, and staying grounded in real-world challenges. I encourage you all to engage fully today share what’s working and what is not, and together let’s build something that lasts.”

 

NELFUND ‘s Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid, with more verifications currently ongoing.

 

Mustapha who explained that the failure of not having the number of registered students tally with the number of students whose application process was deemed successful was from the part of students and not NELFUND, said there was an urgent need to bridge the gap.

 

“We have 576,000 registration in our portal and we have 516,00 applications. The difference between that 576,000 and 516,000 is the 516,000 completed the application.

 

“The 576,00 started but they were not able to complete the process maybe because of data, or they are not really interested, they just want to test the system.

 

“But we want to close this gap, and with your support, we’ll be able to close this gap, so that all of them will be able to access the Institutional Loan, because it’s different from the upkeep Loan which is N20,000 a month.

 

“The Institutional Loan is what we give upfront. So, all applications that we pay to the institution are coming from here. Presently, we have paid for at least N320,000 students, presently, and we are still doing more verification, and that’s why we are here, so that we can do more verification, so that you can do more from your own side.”

 

Mustapha also disclosed that the FUND was considering connecting directly to institution’s portal to get the data they need, and how student could apply to their institutions portal without necessarily reaching out to NELFUND.

 

“One other thing that we’re trying to do going forward is to send some of our IT to all the institutions so that we can see how possible it is we connect directly to your portal instead of saying please send us data. How can we connect using an API which makes it easier to get the data of any student coming to us directly from your portal and not from our portal. So we don’t need to be collecting any data again.

 

“At the same time, we’re thinking of seeing how is it possible that a student can apply to your portal without coming to us. So it makes it so easy for the student when they’re doing registration, when they’re doing payments, they can select either to apply for NELFUND loans and the process will go through your portal. So you have all the data without ever reaching to NELFUND. All we need is for you to give assurance these are your students and if we have that, we pay you directly. It makes it simpler and faster for all the students.”