In Cross River state, the Bassey Otu administration faces public protests after approving millions for government house refurbishments at a time pensioners demonstrated against unpaid entitlements
Zamfara state has also drawn public ire. In 2023, Gov. Dauda Lawal approved over N14 billion for the renovation of the government house and lodges amid the insecurity crisis and unpaid salary arrears.
Zamfara state has also drawn public ire. In 2023, Gov. Dauda Lawal approved over N14 billion for the renovation of the government house and lodges amid the insecurity crisis and unpaid salary arrears.
In Bauchi state, N16.1 billion was allocated towards renovating the government house and annexes in Abuja and Kaduna in 2023, while gratuity arrears since 2012 have ballooned to N24 billion. The state’s debt profile has also surpassed N200 billion.
In Gombe state, the Muhammadu Yahaya-led administration approved N43.1 billion in 2023 for a new governor’s residence, High Court and House of Assembly complex. The amount is 360 per cent of about N12 billion yearly earnings of the state, with a huge debt overhang.
The Oyo State Government, for one, recently approved N63.5 billion for the reconstruction of its government house, drawing strong criticism from political groups and civil society organisations.
The amount surpasses the state’s allocations for health (N59.41 billion), agriculture (N18.76 billion) and pension payments (N25.9 billion).
Amid weak social services, states stake nearly N200b on renovations
State governors are facing public backlash for prioritising multi-billion-naira state house face-lifts at the expense of essential services –healthcare, education and infrastructure –which the country is in dire need of turning around the economy.
The country is grappling with an infrastructure deficit estimated at $30 trillion by Moody’s. Budgetary allocations, even when consistent, do not bridge the deficit gap.
A total neglect of infrastructure spending could widen the gap, increase the cost of business operations and slow down the pace of economic growth.
From Northwest to Southwest and Southeast to Northeast, almost all states are throwing big budgets into office renovation projects. If the Oyo State Government, which is seeing its fair share of controversy over a big office renovation project damns the consequence of its plan and goes ahead, three states across the country would have spent N122.7 billion on the opulence in three years. Oyo state plans to spend N63.5 billion while Gombe and Bauchi spent N43.1 billion and N16.1 billion respectively in 2023.
Going by the accounts of other state governments, many of which are shrouded in secrecy, expenses on renovations may have hit N200 billion in the last three years, including the proposal for new renovations.
Health and education are also taking the back seat in spending priority. The two sectors are critical for the long-term sustainable growth of an economy. They play a crucial role in determining the productivity of the future generation, who are saddled with enormous debt, in the case of Nigeria.
While state governments fritter away scarce resources on frivolities, allocations to the growth sectors are scanty. This year, the 36 states earmarked N6.05 trillion for education and health. The amount is 21.7 per cent of the aggregate state budgets for the year, estimated at N27.87 trillion.
Education allocation, according to data analysis by The Guardian is N3.83 trillion or 13.74 per cent of the entire spending envelope for the year. Health, a sector known for obsolete equipment and poor remuneration, a reason many personnel have fled the country for greener pastures, will get N2.22 trillion from states’ spending in the year. The amount translates to a mere eight per cent of the total budget.
But the situation is even worse. With both the federal and state governments facing a revenue crisis, funds would be moved from capital projects, where both education and health are partly categorised, to recurrent expenditure. In many cases, most states record less than 50 per cent budget performance in the critical areas of spending.
The Guardian reported that the Federal Government budgets for both 20224 and 2025 have been bungled by poor funding with most ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) awaiting funds release to start the execution of this year’s budget almost mid-way into the year.
There is scanty information on the progress of the state budgets. But with both tiers of government feeding from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the state of the states may not be significantly better.
Over the past three years, governors across various states have embarked on extravagant construction and renovation of their offices, often at the expense of critical sectors.
In some states, even pension payments have suffered while billions are committed to the rehabilitation of government houses.
The Oyo State Government, for one, recently approved N63.5 billion for the reconstruction of its government house, drawing strong criticism from political groups and civil society organisations.
The amount surpasses the state’s allocations for health (N59.41 billion), agriculture (N18.76 billion) and pension payments (N25.9 billion).
The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) condemned the move describing it as “fiscal irresponsibility”, calling on Gov. Seyi Makinde to redirect the funds to sectors that directly impact citizens’ welfare.
“This is a gross misplacement of priority,” SPN declared, dismissing Makinde’s rationalisation rooted in exchange rate volatility and debt servicing pressure.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state also lambasted the decision. In a communiqué issued after its quarterly meeting, the APC stakeholders criticised the government for what they called “wasteful spending” and “financial recklessness”, citing Makinde’s alleged disregard for due process.
They also decried the government’s payment of N14.3 billion for instrument landing system (ILS) equipment at the Ladoke Akintola Airport, in addition to previously paid N42 billion for the project and an additional N10 billion.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Oyo state cannot be said to be rich. Despite receiving over N22 billion monthly from federal allocations and nearly N10 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR), the administration’s rising debt – estimated at N500 billion – and continued profligacy betray poor planning and governance.”
In Gombe state, the Muhammadu Yahaya-led administration approved N43.1 billion in 2023 for a new governor’s residence, High Court and House of Assembly complex. The amount is 360 per cent of about N12 billion yearly earnings of the state, with a huge debt overhang.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the move, stating: “It is outrageous that while the government cannot fund the University of Science and Technology in Kumo or meet basic education needs, it commits N43.1 billion to luxury.”
In Bauchi state, N16.1 billion was allocated towards renovating the government house and annexes in Abuja and Kaduna in 2023, while gratuity arrears since 2012 have ballooned to N24 billion. The state’s debt profile has also surpassed N200 billion.
A former APC governorship candidate, Abubakar Sadique, berated the government’s priorities, saying: “Pregnant women are dying in ill-equipped hospitals while several children are out of school. Yet, elite comfort is taking precedence.”
Renovation of the government house of Kano State has been a continuous exercise. This year, over N335 million was set aside for government house renovation while N258 billion was set aside for health and education.
The state approved a total budget of N719.76 billion in the 2025 fiscal year. Out of the total, N457.08 billion (64 per cent) is allocated to capital expenditure, while N262.67 billion (36 per cent) is earmarked for recurrent spending.
Education is N168.35 billion (31 per cent), health is N90.6 billion (16.6 per cent) and agriculture is N21.04 billion (3.83 per cent).
Despite the emphasis on social investment, the government also earmarked more than N335 million for various renovation and security upgrades at the government house. Renovation of the family wing will cost N100 million while furnishing of the presidential villa is allocated N35 million. Installation of the automated intelligence surveillance system is to attract N200 million.
While the allocations to health and education suggest a human capital focus, the significant spending on government house upgrades has sparked a conversation about the state’s spending priorities amid economic challenges.
In Osun state, secrecy surrounds what Gov. Ademola Adeleke spent to renovate the government house between 2022 and 2024. Though the facility was completed in April 2024, nearly a year and a half after Adeleke’s inauguration, he had been living in his private residence in Ede.
When asked for financial details, the governor’s spokesperson directed inquiries to the Ministry of Works, which Adeleke himself oversees.
Zamfara state has also drawn public ire. In 2023, Gov. Dauda Lawal approved over N14 billion for the renovation of the government house and lodges amid the insecurity crisis and unpaid salary arrears.
In Cross River state, the Bassey Otu administration faces public protests after approving millions for government house refurbishments at a time pensioners demonstrated against unpaid entitlements . In Niger state, former Gov. Abubakar Bello spent nearly N2.9 billion upgrading the government house, even as rural schools lacked desks, toilets and other basic amenities.
Across other states – Zamfara, Taraba, Anambra, Benue and Abia – a similar pattern of elite-centric investment continues. Zamfara has N11 billion spent on government house construction. Taraba in 2015 spent N14 billion for a similar purpose.
Three years ago, Anambra state spent N6 billion on government house renovation in 2022.
In Benue and Abia states, controversial spending on government buildings continues to raise concern, with Abia’s former government house now being considered for conversion into a five-star hotel.
The previous administration of Abia spent over N5 billion on government lodges in Umuahia and Abuja while public hospitals were denied basic facilities like electricity and gloves.
The trend has drawn criticisms from stakeholders across disciplines. Dr Adebukola Ayoola, a political scientist from the University of Ilesa, described the fixation on governor offices’ face-lifting renovation as “a waste and misplaced priority”, citing the urgent need to fund agriculture, roads and education. He suggested the governors’ decision may be tied to political ambitions.
When did Tinubu change his name to Omoyele Sowore?
SoftSport: This whole thing is really surprising, how can someone stay in prison for two weeks just because of an old video that many people have seen before? Thank God for president Tinubu, because things are more open now, and we hope the court gives Dr. Ahmad bail today.
Bauchi Court To Decide Today On Bail Of Lecturer Detained For Sharing Old Video Of Governor Mohammed’s Son Dancing
A Bauchi court is set to decide today (Thursday) on the bail application of Dr. Abubakar Ahmad, a lecturer at the Federal College of Horticulture, who has been detained for two weeks following his arrest by the Nigerian police.
The arrest was allegedly ordered by Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, son of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
Dr. Ahmad was reportedly picked up over an old social media post that featured a video of Shamsudeen dancing with his wife.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore brought the case to public attention.
In a post shared on social media on Thursday, Sowore described the arrest and detention as “unjust,” blaming what he called the “tyrannical behavior” of Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed.
Sowore stated that Dr. Ahmad has been unjustly detained for two weeks in Bauchi over a harmless old video.
"The court is set to rule on Dr. Abubakar Ahmad's bail application today in Bauchi, following two weeks of unjust detention, due to the actions of tyrannical Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, son of Bauchi Gov Bala Mohammed," he wrote.
On June 20, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that Ahmad’s wife, Fatima Muhammad, had asked Shamsudeen Bala, to release her husband from detention.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, Fatima tearfully appealed for mercy, saying that her husband was arrested and jailed after Shamsudeen filed a defamation case against him for a video he shared on his social media platform.
SaharaReporters gathered that the video in question had been circulating online for over seven years and was shared by many others.
She said Shamsudeen Bala and her husband had known each other in the past and urged him to consider the family’s suffering before taking such drastic action.
“I’m begging Shamsudeen Bala to please reconsider his decision and order the release of my husband. Since he was remanded, we’ve been running up and down with no success,” she said.
Fatima also called on the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to intervene and help persuade his son to withdraw the case, noting that the family’s wellbeing was at stake.
“This matter can be resolved amicably. I'm pleading not just as a wife but as a mother and a fellow human being. Our lives have been thrown into chaos. Please, let mercy prevail,” she said.
“We are in pain. Things have become very difficult for us since my husband was detained. Please, help us.”
Ahmad was reportedly arrested and detained after he honoured a police invitation concerning a complaint filed by Shamsudeen Bala.
Ahmad’s lawyer, Ahmed Hassan, Esq., earlier told SaharaReporters that although a judge had directed the case file to be sent to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bauchi for investigation, the police still obtained a remand order to keep his client in custody.
"Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, the governor’s son, filed a case against my client, Abubakar Ahmad, who is a lecturer at the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa, Gombe State. He is alleged to have posted a video showing Shamsudeen and his wife dancing," Hassan said.
"As a result, Shamsudeen filed a case before Chief Magistrate Court No. 2 here in Bauchi. When we appeared in court with my client, the judge, 'suo motu', ordered that the case file be referred to the State CID for proper investigation."
He further explained: “On the 11th of this month, while I was away for other official engagements, a police officer called my client and asked him to appear before the State CID in Bauchi. My client informed me, and I advised him, as a law-abiding citizen, to honour the invitation.
“But as soon as he arrived, he was detained by the police under the pretext of conducting an investigation based on a court order. On June 11, I delegated my junior colleague to accompany him. They were there until evening, but bail was not granted. The following day, June 12, we returned to secure his release — still unsuccessful.
“On June 13, which was a Friday, while we were at the High Court preparing to file the necessary application for his bail, the police filed a remand proceeding against him.”
Hassan stressed that under Nigerian law, the police have only 24 hours to investigate and charge a suspect in court.
“According to the provisions of our current laws, remand proceedings are only meant for serious cases like kidnapping, rape, or homicide — cases that require time-consuming investigations,” he said.
“But in this case, the allegation is simply defamation and causing public disturbance—offences that can be investigated within an hour. Yet they filed a remand proceeding just to keep my client in custody under the guise of an ongoing investigation.”
He also insisted that his client was not the original source of the video.
“The video was not originally posted by my client. It has been online for about seven years and has been shared by multiple individuals. It was already trending even before Shamsudeen’s father became governor. It’s been on social media for a long time,” he said.
When I read things like this that contains so much fundamental ignorance, I realise why the South East might never produce a president in this country's history. In fact the only way we will ever see an igbo president is if Igbos have a country of their own
kettykin: This woman is really a very strong woman for surviving these people. Not only did she take care of her husband and retain power in the state, she stood by the husband till the last minute.
These people are very lucky it is not an mbaise, ngwa ,ohafia , awka or obosi woman they are dealing with, those ones would have shown them who is indisputably in charge by putting her son as the next governor.
A 46-year-old Nigerian woman broke down in tears while revealing she has never been married, is “still a virgin,” and is struggling with spiritual battles.
In a recent interview on Agidigbo FM, the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said despite being hardworking and independent since her youth, she has faced constant rejection and isolation.
She shared her desire for a romantic partner, explaining that ‘I’m not the one pushing men away. Those who approach me either see me as too old or only want intimacy”.
“I have been making money since I was young. All of a sudden, everything went down. I am not the only child of my parent. There are many, but I am the only one still with her. The other children also have challenges. I am 46 years old. I have never had sex. If there’s anything you can use to test me, you can do it,” she said.
“I am not the one pursuing the men away from me. I am selling goods. I do not like following men all around, but I do know how to run after men. Three years ago, I discovered that men see me as an aged woman.
“When children see me, they call me grandma. I noticed that it was becoming too much. That is why I am here for you to help me.”
She said she believes her struggles may be spiritual, recalling a prayer session where she was told “a veil has been placed over me, blocking my blessings”.
“I have gone to the mountains to pray about it. During one of the prayer sessions, I was told a veil had been used to cover me and had not allowed me to receive help,” she said.
“Only married men approached me. And they only want sex.”
MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder by 50 per cent, dropping it from ₦20,000 to ₦10,000.
The company announced that the move aimed to attract more customers and curb declining subscriptions.
According to the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, in a statement released on Tuesday, the offer was a way of rewarding customer loyalty and delivering enhanced value to subscribers.
“We want to ensure our customers feel appreciated and have access to the best entertainment every day. The ‘We Got You’ campaign is about making premium content more accessible and showing that DStv offers something for everyone, not just football fans.
“By repositioning itself as a platform for daily value, DStv aims to encourage content discovery across a wider array of genres, including movies, drama, kids’ programming, and news.
“This means more channels, more shows, and more reasons to tune in every day,” the statement added.
The company also announced a promotional offer granting subscribers a free upgrade to the next DStv package tier when they pay for their current plan in full between June 16 and July 31, 2025.
Multichoice maintained the price slash, and the free upgrade initiative is a response “to the noticeable economic impact on the everyday lives of Nigerians.”
This was coming after it lost 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025.
Recall that MultiChoice Nigeria increased its DStv and GOtv bouquet prices three times within 12 months — first in April 2023, followed by another hike in November 2023, and a third announced in April 2024, which took effect on May 1.
EXCLUSIVE: At least five more Iranian nationals were arrested on Monday in addition to the 11 announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday morning.
On Monday, 45-year-old Mohammad Hassanpoor was arrested by officers in Baltimore and given a "Third County Notice." He was previously criminally convicted of "assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury," where he was sentenced to just under a year behind bars.
He was also previously sentenced roughly three months behind bars for "battery: spouse/ex sp/date/etc." and sentenced to two years for stalking.
Kaveh Abedi, 45, was arrested in Chicago on Monday for "violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act" and had a 2001 conviction for selling cocaine.
Arish Rustami was also arrested and has a prior sex offense, and Abdolmohammad Raghibzadeh was taken into ICE custody on Monday. He’s had a deportation order since November 2005 from an Arizona immigration judge, and he’s currently an Iranian citizen, according to ICE.
In 1999, he previously faced arrests for "domestic violence, vandalism and intimidation" and faced 90 days behind bars and five years of probation as a result. He faced two other arrests and jail time for "violations of probation of the previous crimes."
In May 2006, Raghibzadeh could not get proper paperwork to go back to Iran, so he was given an "order of supervision" and then released. But in 2007, he was arrested again by sheriffs in Santa Ana, Calif., for not following probation and had to spend the rest of it at the California Chino Detention Center, according to ICE.
Sahand Yousefinasrabadi was arrested Monday by federal authorities "during targeted enforcement action" in Forth Worth, Texas. Yousefinasrabadi was convicted in Sept. 2013 of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and he was asked in October 2013 to leave the U.S. by an immigration judge.
The arrests come amid concerns about Iranian sleeper cells in the United States following the strikes on nuclear sites in the Middle Eastern nation. While there is currently a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, DHS noted the arrests made since Sunday.
"Under Secretary Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden’s fraudulent parole programs or otherwise," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement about the initial 11 arrests that were publicly announced.
"We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don’t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump’s mandate to secure the homeland," McLaughlin added.
Notably, Yousef Mehridehno was arrested by ICE on Sunday in Mississippi and was on a "known or suspected" terror watchlist as of February.
Former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps member Mehran Makari Saheli was arrested by ICE in Minnesota, and DHS said he has "admitted connections to Hezbollah" and stayed in the U.S. despite being court-ordered to leave in June 2022.
During the Biden administration alone, 729 out of the roughly 1,500 Iranian nationals that came into the country illegally were released into the U.S.
This is what a lot of people don't seem to understand.
It is not in either Russian or Chinese interests to have weapon grade nuclear power in Iran as it will mean that they can no longer exercise any influence over their middle eastern stooge.
The best that Iran can hope for is to stick to the 20% uranium enrichment needed for generating nuclear energy for electricity.
Iran is effectively a pariah state, even to its so called allies and fellow BRIC conspirators
It is unlikely that Putin would jeopardise his “romantic relationship” with Mr Trump for the sake of preserving ties with the ayatollahs, Arkady Dubnov, an independent Russian political analyst, said
Vladimir Putin will not intervene in his ally Iran’s war with Israel, in order to appease Donald Trump, Moscow insiders have revealed.
They said that Putin did not want to provoke the US president, to avoid a tougher line from the White House on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Telegraph spoke to four current Russian officials and diplomats, as well as several retired officials. They all spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Kremlin had calculated that Mr Trump would not risk starting a war with Iran, they said, but was re-evaluating its appraisal of the mercurial, America First president after the US air strikes on the Islamic republic.
On Monday, Putin hosted Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, in Moscow two days after Mr Trump sent bomber planes to strike Iran’s three main nuclear sites.
The Russian president told Mr Araghchi in televised comments: “The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification.”
Putin may have condemned the US strikes when hosting the chief diplomat of a key ally in the war with Ukraine, but away from the cameras the Russians are far more cautious.
The bombing of Iran “broke the pattern of thinking in Moscow, where officials had assumed Trump wouldn’t so readily abandon his self-proclaimed image as a peacemaker”, a serving Russian diplomat told The Telegraph.
“For us, first Israel’s decisive strike on Iran and the US’s active involvement was a cold shower and a game changer. Now the situation looks dangerous to us,” said another envoy.
Putin would prefer to appease Mr Trump so his illegal war in Ukraine can continue, despite the two leaders ostensibly holding peace talks over the conflict.
One Russian diplomat told The Telegraph: “Some officials believe that if we stay flexible and avoid pressing the Iran issue too hard, we might get some relief from the United States on the Ukraine front.
“They hope the White House will understand, that there will be no serious new sanctions, and that Trump will tolerate the continuation of the special military operation as it is now.”
Another diplomat said: “Our relationship with the US is already complicated because of Ukraine, and there is already some frustration and irritation from Trump about our stance.” Avoiding risk
“Adding a Middle East disagreement on top of that is seen as an excessive political risk we would rather avoid,” a different diplomat added.
It is unlikely that Putin would jeopardise his “romantic relationship” with Mr Trump for the sake of preserving ties with the ayatollahs, Arkady Dubnov, an independent Russian political analyst, said.
The war in Ukraine continues to drain Moscow’s military, economic, political and diplomatic resources, sharply limiting its capacity to act elsewhere, including in a conflict where it has significant economic stakes and in a region where it has historically wielded influence.
Since Mr Trump entered the White House, Russia has routinely offered itself as a mediator in talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, according to a government official familiar with foreign policy planning.
Before the recent escalation, Mr Trump had not rejected the idea outright. But he has since come out against it in strong terms.
Putin’s offer to mediate in the conflict between Israel and Iran was swiftly dismissed by both Israel, which has a large Russian-speaking community, and the United States.
Russia might have once acted as a guarantor, but today it lacks the leverage even to influence Tehran directly.
A former senior Kremlin official said: “Negotiating only works when you have something to bargain with. We can hardly influence Iran’s position right now. We simply do not have the tools.
“And if we are talking about surrender, what kind of terms can we possibly secure for that country?”
Following the heated end to Real Madrid’s Club World Cup match against Pachuca, controversy erupted over an alleged racist incident involving Antonio Rudiger and Pachuca captain Gustavo Cabral.
Rudiger accused the Argentine defender of making racist remarks during the closing minutes of the game, leading the referee to signal FIFA’s anti-racism protocol. This move triggered an official investigation into the matter.
However, Cabral responded publicly to the claims, firmly denying any racist intent or language used during the exchange.
In a post-match statement, the 39-year-old clarified his side of the incident and attempted to explain what really happened on the pitch.
Cabral claimed that the words he used were part of a heated but non-racist argument typical of football at the highest level. “It was just an argument,” he told the press. He clarified that the word he used was “sh*th*le”
“The referee signalled racism, but there was nothing of the sort. I used the phrase ‘cagón de mierda’, which is something we say a lot in Argentina. It’s not racist. I repeated the same thing over and over.”
He further explained, “If you check the video, you’ll see that I was telling him ‘you f*****g sh*t, get up.’ That’s what I said. I never used anything racial or offensive in that way.”
The alleged incident sparked immediate concern from Real Madrid and manager Xabi Alonso, who stated in his press conference that the club fully supports Rudiger and that FIFA’s investigation must now take its course.
“We believe Antonio. Racism is unacceptable,” said Alonso.
At this stage, FIFA has not issued an official verdict, but the investigation remains ongoing. While Cabral has strongly defended himself and denied any racist intent, the situation continues to attract attention, and further clarity is expected in the coming days.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has arraigned two self-proclaimed Islamic clerics, Saheed Aremu and Tolani Osuolale, for “defrauding” a medical doctor of N280 million.
They allegedly perpetrated the act under the guise of performing spiritual rituals on the money.
The defendants were arraigned at the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a five-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud, obtaining by false pretences, impersonation, conspiracy, and stealing.
The police said the defendants deceived the victim, Patrick Eloka Akaraiwe, into believing that his money required spiritual fortification before he could invest in a property acquisition.
The incident occurred between November 2020 and September 2023 in Ibadan, Oyo state, and the Oworonshoki area of Lagos.
The defendants, posing as Islamic spiritual leaders (Alfas), allegedly collected $200,000 (approximately ₦280 million) from the doctor in three instalments.
Daniel Osiagor, the presiding judge, ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The judge adjourned the matter to July 18 for the hearing of the bail application.
A large group of youths took to the streets of Katsina on Sunday in a public demonstration in support of Iran, amid escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and Israel.
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by social media user Oyindamola (@dammiedammie35), dozens of people could be seen waving Iranian flags and holding banners as they marched in unison through a street in the northern city. Chants in solidarity with Iran echoed through the air, as the demonstrators made their position on the ongoing Middle Eastern crisis clear.
LEADERSHIP reports that the Katsina protest came against the backdrop of an intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel, two regional powers locked in a long-standing rivalry that escalated dramatically earlier this year.
Tensions reached a boiling point in April 2025, when Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles toward Israel in what it described as retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on its consulate building in Damascus, Syria. The airstrike killed several members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including senior commanders. Iran’s unprecedented retaliatory attack on Israeli soil marked a historic shift in the nature of hostilities between the two countries, transitioning from proxy confrontations to direct military engagement.
In response, Israel struck Iranian military infrastructure inside Iran, further fueling concerns of a full-scale regional war that could draw in multiple actors, including the United States, Gulf nations, and other militant groups aligned with Iran.
The conflict has since simmered, with both nations engaged in cyber warfare, intelligence operations, and military posturing, even as the international community calls for de-escalation.
Nigeria, a nation with a sizable Muslim population and long-standing diplomatic ties with both Iran and Israel, has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict.
As of the time of filing this report , it remained unclear whether the protest was organised by any particular group or was spontaneous in nature. Authorities was yet to issue a statement regarding the protest, and there were no reports of violence or arrests.
Ebonyi, with debts exceeding N19 billion, spent over half a billion naira to sponsor just 33 people. Sokoto, owing nearly N59 billion, disbursed N1.44 billion in cash gifts to pilgrims.
Ten Governors Spend Over N13bn on 2025 Hajj While States Sink in Debt
Despite mounting debt burdens, at least 10 Nigerian state governments have collectively spent more than N13.1 billion on the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, an FIJ review has shown.
The 2025 Hajj officially ended on Monday, with over 1.67 million Muslims — thousands of them from Nigeria — completing the religious rites in Saudi Arabia.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said return flights for Nigerian pilgrims began on Monday. Seven Nigerian pilgrims were reported dead during the trip and were buried in Saudi Arabia.
As pilgrims begin to return home, FIJ shifted attention to the cost of state sponsorship, especially at a time when most states are battling debt and struggling to fund basic services like healthcare, education and infrastructure.
In Sokoto State, Governor Ahmed Aliyu gave N450,000 in cash to each of the state’s 3,200 pilgrims, bringing the total expenditure to N1.44 billion.
Ebonyi State, with 33 pilgrims, spent a considerable N551 million. Out of this, N285 million came from the state government, while local government councils contributed N266 million, an average of about N16.7 million per pilgrim.
In Niger State, government support for about 3,000 pilgrims reportedly cost N3.02 billion, amounting to just over N1 million per person.
Katsina State also spent generously. Dikko Umar Radda gave out N250,000 each to 2,047 pilgrims, bringing the total to about N511.75 million. Lagos, the most indebted state in the country with over N853 billion in domestic debt, gave N74,000 each to 1,315 pilgrims — equivalent to 180 Saudi Riyals — costing the state roughly N97.4 million.
In Bauchi, Governor Bala Mohammed offered 300 Saudi Riyals, or around N124,000, to each of 2,000 pilgrims. The total amount spent was about N248 million, despite the state owing over N145 billion.
Gombe State took a different route entirely. Inuwa Yahaya, the state governor, committed $500 in cash to each of the state’s 969 pilgrims. At the exchange rate of N1,532 per dollar, the total came to roughly N742.4 million.
Yobe State allocated N135.6 million for its 1,098 pilgrims to buy sacrificial rams and observe the tradition. Each person received 300 Saudi Riyals, or around N124,000.
In Jigawa, the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Board said it transferred N6.3 billion directly to the Hajj Commission for its pilgrims but did not provide further breakdowns. Kano spent N361 million on 3,155 pilgrims, averaging about N114,400 per person.
Some states, like Osun, confirmed they provided support to pilgrims using public funds but have yet to disclose how much they spent.
So far, spending declared by state governments has surpassed N13.1 billion. The real figure is likely higher, as several states have not made their spending public.
These expenses, again, come at a time when many states are failing to meet key obligations. For example, Bauchi, with over N145 billion in debt, still found N248 million for pilgrim support.
Ebonyi, with debts exceeding N19 billion, spent over half a billion naira to sponsor just 33 people. Sokoto, owing nearly N59 billion, disbursed N1.44 billion in cash gifts to pilgrims.
These spending figures raise questions about the priorities of state governments while citizens continue to struggle with delayed salaries, underfunded hospitals and failing schools.
Politics › Re: State Governments Lavish ₦2 Billion On Office Renovations by BlackViper(op): 10:56am On Jun 26, 2025
