The Council of State on Thursday approved the exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy for 175 persons across various categories.
The decision followed a presentation by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s recommendations based on the report of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, at Thursday’s Council of State meeting held at the State House, Abuja.
Although the full names of the beneficiaries are yet to be published, our correspondent gathered that pardons were granted to one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Herbert Macaulay and former FCT minister in the Babangida regime, Maj-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (retd).
Members of the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four are also beneficiaries.
“Herbert Macaulay and Vatsa are among the two major ones on that list,” a source who attended the meeting told our correspondent.
Macaulay, often called the “father of Nigerian nationalism,” was twice convicted by the colonial authorities in Lagos.
In 1913, while in private practice as a surveyor, he was tried for misappropriating funds from an estate he administered and sentenced to prison; historians have long debated the fairness of that prosecution.
In 1928, after his Lagos Daily News published incendiary claims during the Eleko (Oba of Lagos) agitation, he was convicted of sedition in the so-called “Gunpowder Plot” case and jailed for six months with hard labour.
Vatsa, a poet, former FCT minister and member of the Supreme Military Council, was executed by firing squad on March 5, 1986, after a secret military tribunal convicted him of treason over an alleged coup against then military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, his childhood friend.
The case has remained controversial for decades, with periodic calls for a posthumous pardon.
Out of the 175 beneficiaries, 82 inmates were granted a full presidential pardon, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state explained, “82 of the inmates were granted full pardon, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
“The decision underscores the President’s commitment to justice and correctional reform.”
The meeting, chaired by President Tinubu, also ratified key appointments, including Dr. Aminu Yusuf from Niger State as Chairman of the National Population Commission and Tonge Bularafa as Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State in the Commission. Both appointments received unanimous approval.
Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General and daughter of President Bola Tinubu, along with Niger State Governor, Umar Bago; Minister of Youth and Sports, Ayodele Olawande; and Chairman of the Nigerian Community in Greater Manchester, Alhaji Abiola Kumoye, are expected to attend the Nigeria @65 National Day celebration in Manchester this Saturday.
Several entertainment figures, including Zack Orji, Saidi Balogun, Nino B, Seyi Law, Konga, and Danfo Driver, are also billed to perform at the event.
Speaking with Tribune Online on Tuesday evening, Kumoye said the celebration aims to honour Nigeria’s heritage, culture, and national identity beyond its borders.
He explained that the annual event serves as a reminder of the country’s journey and promotes unity among Nigerians living abroad.
“The Nigerian community in Greater Manchester, like many Nigerian diaspora communities worldwide, celebrates Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary as a way to honor our heritage, culture, and national identity, even while living abroad.
“Celebrating Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary in Manchester, United Kingdom, allows us to reflect on our nation’s journey, share our cultural values, and foster a sense of unity among Nigerians in the diaspora.
“Such events also provide an opportunity to educate others about Nigerian history, showcase the richness of Nigerian culture through food, music, and dance, and promote positive contributions that Nigerians make in the UK.
“It helps to strengthen ties within the Nigerian community and maintain a connection to home, while also acknowledging the shared history and experiences that bind them to Nigeria, regardless of location,” Kumoye said.
ARREST OF THE NOTORIOUS ARMED ROBBERS INVOLVED IN THE ROBBERY THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF ARISE NEWS STAFF SOMTOCHUKWU CHRISTELLA MADUAGWU AND THE SECURITY MAN GUARDING UNIQUE APARTMENT, BARNABAS DANLAMI
Good morning, sir
This report is following the directive of the Commissioner of Police FCT to fish out the criminal elements responsible for the robbery incident that led to the death of one Mr. Barnabas Danlami – a security guard and Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu ‘F’ an Arise TV staff (anchor, reporter, and producer) which occurred at unique apartment Gishiri village, Katampe district on 29/09/2025 at about 0330 hrs.
Operatives of the scorpion squad led by ACP Victor Godfrey acting on actionable digital and reconstructive intelligence provided by Giga Forensics, a subsidiary of EIB STRATOC, has successfully arrested twelve (12) of the armed robbers that were involved in that operation.
The suspects are:
1.Shamsudeen Hassan ‘m’ from Malumfashi LGA Katsina state 2.Hassan Isah ‘m’, 22 years from Zaria kaduna State 3.Abubakar Alkamu a.k.a. abba ‘m’, 27 years from Musawa LGA katsina state 4.Sani Sirajo a.k.a. dan borume ‘m’ 20 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state 5.Mashkur Jamilu a.k.a. abba ‘m’ 28 years from Igabi LGA kaduna state 6.Suleiman Badamasi a.k.a. dan-sule ‘m’ 21 years from Malumfashi LGA katsina state 7.Abdul Salam saleh a.k.a. na-durudu ‘m’ from katsina lga katsina State 8.Zaharadeen Muhammad a.k.a. gwaska ‘m’ 23 years from chikun lga kaduna state 9.Musa adamu a.k.a. musa hassan ‘m’ 30 years from malumfashi lga katsina state 10.Sumayya Mohammed a.k.a. baby ‘m’ 27 years from Sammaka LGA, Kaduna state 11.Isah Abdulrahman a.k.a. abbati ‘m’, 25 years from Zaria LGA, Kaduna state 12.Musa Umar a.k.a. small ‘m’ 31 years from Maiduguri LGA Borno state.
It is important to note that shortly after the robbery incident that took place 29/09/2025 at about 0330hrs at unique apartment, Katampe district Mabushi which tragically led to the deaths of somtochukwu christella maduagwu and barnabas danlami, four (4) of the suspects shamsudeen hassan, alkamu, sirajo and one other person were apprehended through the tracking of phones stollen from the apartment during the robbery (Tracking and intercept service provided by us)
During interrogation, Shamsudeen Hassan confessed that he shot the security guard when he attempted to prevent them from gaining access to the apartment. Sani Sirajo confessed to have tried to hold Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu from falling off the three-storey building but was overwhelmed by her weight. Shamsudeen further confessed that he drove the white honda CR-V jeep out of the apartment after the operation. The four suspects admitted that they each received ₦200,000 from the proceeds of the crime.
Recovered exhibits include:
One (1) fabricated ak-47 rifle Thirty-six (36) rounds of 9mm live ammunition One (1) locally made pistol One (1) pump-action gun Two (2) live cartridges Four (4) mobile phones of the victims Two (2) sharp knives One (1) cutlass Nine (9) torchlights used during the operation
In continuation of investigations, yesterday, 08/10/2025, acting on a tip-off and actionable digital intelligence also provided by us, the remaining members of the gang, Musa umar a.k.a. small, Hassan Isah and other accomplices involved in the gishiri robbery were intercepted while en route to an already planned armed robbery operation scheduled to hold at maitama in the early hours of this morning.
All suspects have confessed to the crimes, investigation is ongoing, and further developments will be communicated, sir.
Pictures of the suspects is redacted till the remaining fleeing members of yesterday's operation are arrested.
Attached are recovered exhibits and video of recovery of one of the AK47 rifle at Zuma Rock.
One has to wonder if this is the same version of CAN that showed up riding Okada and Danfo buses to support APC's muslim muslim presidential ticket back in 2023.
And they dare label Africans as corrupt?😂😂😂 Even the most dedicated Oluwole document forger will not charge 5% of this and he will still produce something of superior quality.
If you don't believe me, go and inspect the University of Chicago Degree Certificate which was created for a certain "dignified" entity in Nigerian politics
Hamas says it has agreed to release all Israeli hostages, living or dead, as part of US President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan.
In a statement on Friday, the militant group said it was prepared to “immediately engage in negotiations through mediators to discuss details of this matter”.
The Palestinian militant group also said it agrees to hand over the administration of Gaza to an independent body of technocrats, “based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support”.
“Other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are connected to a unified national position and relevant international laws and resolutions,” Hamas said.
“They will be addressed through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will participate and contribute responsibly.”
Hamas’s acceptance comes just hours after Trump offered a firm ultimatum for the group to respond to his proposal by Sunday evening.
A failure to respond, Trump warned, would cause “all HELL, like no one has ever seen before” to break out.
The White House had unveiled the 20-point roadmap for peace in Gaza on Monday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to meet with Trump in Washington.
The plan included an immediate end to military operations and the release of all hostages within 72 hours.
It also detailed that Hamas would have no governing role in Gaza. Instead, the enclave would be governed by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” and a “board of peace” made up of international leaders.
Netanyahu had agreed to the plan on the basis that it “fulfilled Israel’s war goals”.
There has been no immediate comment from Trump’s administration.
It is also unclear how or when the proposed peace deal, now accepted by Israel and Hamas, will be implemented.
Terrorists Kill Abducted ECWA Pastor In Kwara Despite Collecting N5million Ransom
Terrorists ravaging communities In Kwara State have brutally killed Reverend James Audu Issa, a pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), despite collecting millions of naira from his distressed family in ransom.
The cleric was abducted from Ekati village in the Patigi Local Government Area around August 28, 2025.
His family, church, and community members struggled for weeks to meet the abductors’ demands in the hope of securing his release.
Sources told Nupeko TV that the gunmen initially demanded N100million for his freedom.
After tense negotiations, the ransom was reduced to N5 million, which was eventually paid by the impoverished community in a desperate attempt to save the pastor.
However, after receiving the N5 million, the bandits displayed extreme cruelty by demanding an additional N45 million. Before any further negotiations could be made, they killed the cleric.
Nupeko TV wrote: “The bandits initially demanded an exorbitant ransom of N100 million.The distraught family and community were reportedly able to negotiate the sum down to N5million, which they paid in an effort to secure the pastor's freedom.
“After collecting the N5 million, the bandits reportedly exhibited extreme cruelty by demanding an additional N45 million. Tragically, before any further negotiation could take place, Rev. James Audu Issa was reportedly killed by the criminal gang.
“This act of brutality, known as a "ransom-for-murder" scenario, where victims are killed after their families bankrupt themselves, underscores the exceptional ruthlessness of the bandit groups terrorising Kwara North. The death of the pastor, particularly after the community's immense sacrifice, is a severe blow to the Ekati community and the entire Patigi Emirate, deepening the sense of despair and insecurity.”
SaharaReporters earlier reported that a police officer identified as Ezra has been abducted by bandits in the Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Thursday, between 6am and 7am, while the officer was returning from duty in Patigi town and heading toward Lade.
Sources noted that Ezra, an indigene of Ndanakun community, was riding on a motorcycle ahead of a colleague when the attackers ambushed them and opened fire.
While his colleague managed to escape, Ezra, who was riding in front, was targeted, overpowered, and whisked away to an undisclosed location.
The source said the bandits were "shooting guns sporadically."
The abduction of a serving officer underscores the growing audacity of armed groups operating across Edu and Patigi, where residents have repeatedly raised alarms about rising insecurity.
As of press time, security authorities had not issued an official statement on the attack or confirmed whether rescue efforts were underway.
Earlier on Thursday, SaharaReporters reported the abduction of two brothers by bandits while working on their cassava farm in the Edu Local Government Area of the state.
The attack occurred on Wednesday at Bokungi Zambufu community under the Lafiagi Emirate.
According to NupekoTV, eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed the farmland and opened fire “sporadically,” forcing villagers to flee.
The two brothers were unable to escape and were taken away by the gunmen.
One of the victims was identified as Mohammed Mohammed, a prominent community figure and former President of the National Association of Nupe Students (NANUS).
The report noted that the incident heightened fears among farmers in Kwara North, many of whom already faced severe threats from recurring kidnappings.
Residents accused authorities of failing to address the rising wave of attacks, warning that agricultural activities in the area are under grave threat.
Musk is now half-way to becoming the first ever trillionaire.
Elon Musk achieved yet another major milestone Wednesday, becoming the first ever person worth $500 billion. The richest person on the planet is now worth $500 billion, as of 3:30 pm Eastern, per Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires tracker. Musk, who became the first person ever worth $400 billion or more in December, is $150 billion ahead of runner-up Larry Ellison—and half-way to becoming the world’s first trillionaire.
Shares of Tesla climbed by nearly 4% Wednesday, adding an estimated $9.3 billion to Musk’s fortune, as investors continue to celebrate the prospect of a refocused Musk. The EV maker’s stock price has nearly doubled since Musk first announced on the company’s April earnings call that he would be stepping back from his role as head of President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to spend more time on Tesla. With Tesla’s market cap back within 10% of the all-time high it hit in December, Musk’s 12% stake in the company is now worth $191 billion.
And that’s excluding performance-based Tesla stock options from Musk’s 2018 CEO compensation package that would be worth $133 billion today if the award hadn’t been voided by a Delaware judge in January 2024. Forbes has discounted the value of those options by 50% pending the outcome of Musk’s ongoing appeal of the ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court. Meanwhile, in September, Tesla’s board proposed a new, record-breaking pay package that could give Musk additional stock worth up to $1 trillion (before taxes and the cost of unlocking the restricted shares) if Tesla achieves “Mars-shot” performance milestones like growing its market cap more than eightfold over the 10-year life of the award.
Tesla isn’t the only company Musk has to thank for his half-trillion-dollar fortune. His rocket maker SpaceX, which he founded in 2002, is now worth $400 billion based on a private tender offer in August, up from $350 billion last December. Musk owns an estimated 42% stake in SpaceX worth $168 billion. And then there’s xAI Holdings, which Musk formed in March, when he merged his new artificial intelligence company xAI with the social media company he acquired in 2022, X (formerly Twitter), in a deal that valued the combined company at $113 billion. Musk owns an estimated 53% stake in xAI Holdings worth $60 billion.
Hitting the $500 billion net worth mark is just the latest in a series of milestones Musk has achieved over the past half decade. Worth just $24.6 billion in March 2020, soaring Tesla shares made him the fifth person ever worth $100 billion, in August 2020. He became the world’s richest person for the first time in January 2021, with a nearly $190 billion net worth. Then, in September 2021, he became the third person ever worth $200 billion (after Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Frenchman Bernard Arnault of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH). Musk went on to hit $300 billion in November 2021 and $400 billion in December 2024.
If he keeps up that pace, Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire before March 2033, when the first of two vesting dates for his $1 trillion Tesla pay package hits. But according to Musk, that award isn’t about the money anyway.
“It’s not about ‘compensation’, but about me having enough influence over Tesla to ensure safety if we build millions of robots,” Musk wrote in a September X post. “If I can just get kicked out in the future by activist shareholder advisory firms who don’t even own Tesla shares themselves, I’m not comfortable with that future.”
DSTV succumbs, slash subscription prices by 50% for Family, Compact package and 34% for Premium, after Ghana’s Min. of Comms, threatened to cut their license.
Under the new arrangements effective October 1, customers will see their subscriptions automatically upgraded to the next bouquet.
Ghanaian DSTV subscribers are set to enjoy an unprecedented value upgrade following the conclusion of regulatory discussions between the Government of Ghana and MultiChoice Ghana.
The Minister of Communications, Digital Technologies and Innovation, Hon. Samuel Nartey George announced on Tuesday that after a committee review of DSTV pricing and subscription trends, MultiChoice has committed to a “Ghana-only” upgrade scheme that will give customers between 33% to 50% more value at no extra cost.
“MultiChoice Africa has committed to implement an unprecedented increased value offer only in Ghana, and I repeat only in Ghana, which will result in Ghanaian DSTV subscribers getting more services for less. Depending on the package you use, subscribers will get between 33% to 50% more value.”
Under the new arrangements effective October 1, customers will see their subscriptions automatically upgraded to the next bouquet. For instance, subscribers on the Padi bouquet (GHS 59) will now enjoy the Access package (GHS 99), gaining 35 additional channels at no extra charge. Those on Family (GHS 190) will be upgraded to Compact (GHS 380), which includes access to live football matches, while Compact Plus customers (GHS 570) will be elevated to the flagship Premium bouquet (GHS 865). Premium customers will also be entered into a competition to win fully paid trips to watch English Premier League matches.
MultiChoice Ghana confirmed the new campaign under the banner “We Got You”, emphasizing that customers will enjoy bigger entertainment without added fees.
“There’s a whole new level of entertainment that is coming for DStv customers,” MultiChoice Ghana said in a statement. “From 1 October, DStv Ghana will be upgrading customers at no extra cost. You’re not just paying your account – you’re unlocking more of the content you love. This means more channels, bigger entertainment, and access to the biggest matches, stories, and characters. No added fees. Just more for your money – because We Got You.”
The company outlined that Access customers will be elevated to Family, Family to Compact, Compact to Compact Plus, and Compact Plus to Premium – opening up a wide range of new channels, from Universal TV, Cartoon Network, and BBC Lifestyle to SuperSport Champions League, M-Net Movies 3, DreamWorks, and M-Net.
Managing Director of MultiChoice Ghana, Alex Okyere, described the initiative as a bold step to enrich customer experience:
“At DStv, we’re committed to bringing you the best value, through delivering the best of sports, local and international content. Testament to our mission of enriching lives, our We Got You campaign promises to give you top-tier entertainment. Pay for your subscription today and join us in celebrating a new month filled with more of what you love, on a higher package.”
– Alex Okyere, Managing Director, MultiChoice Ghana
With this regulatory-backed agreement, Ghana becomes the only country where MultiChoice is implementing such sweeping value upgrades, marking a landmark win for local consumers in the pay-TV market.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared that Nigeria now has the capacity to handle major health challenges, including cancer, even though he has often sought medical treatment abroad.
“I have always believed in good governance. Today, Nigerians can say confidently that we have well-equipped hospitals, and we can treat cr+tical illnesses such as cancer and other illnesses,” Mr Tinubu said in Owerri, Imo State, while inaugurating projects completed by Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration.
The president also attended the unveiling of Uzodimma’s book, A Decade of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria, which documents the achievements of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His remarks, however, come amid renewed cr+ticism of his frequent medical trips to France since assuming office in 2023, raising questions about his trust in the country’s healthcare system.
Turning to the economy, Mr Tinubu insisted that the APC had rescued Nigeria from collapse. “I stand before you with confidence to say that Nigeria is no longer where it was 10 years ago. We promised a change. Today, I can confidently tell you the worst is over,” he said.
He highlighted recent economic indicators:
“The second quarter of 2025, Nigeria’s economy grew by 4.3 per cent. Inflation has fallen to 20.12 per cent,” he added.
Tinubu further claimed that state governments are now financially stronger, noting: “No state governor is borrowing to pay salaries.”
Governor Uzodimma, in his address, praised the president’s reforms especially the removal of fuel subsidy saying it has boosted state revenues and made it possible for his administration to embark on more projects.
TRAGIC DEATH : SOMTOCHUKWU CHRISTELLE MADUAGWU December 26, 1995 - September 29, 2025
It is with heavy hearts that the management and staff of the ARISE News Channel announce the passing of our beloved colleague, News Anchor, Reporter and Producer, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu. Sommie tragically passed away in the early hours of Monday, September 29, 2025 following an armed robbery incident in her residence in Katampe area of Abuja that is being investigated by the Nigeria Police.
Sommie, 29, was not only a cherished member of the ARISE News family but also a vibrant voice that engaged and connected with our viewers.
Beyond the airwaves, Sommie was a lawyer who was a professional and supportive colleague and a friend to many.
We extend our deepest condolences to Sommie’s parents, siblings, extended family, friends, and loved ones at this difficult time. Sommie’s voice is now silent but her spirit, passion and legacy will endure as part of our collective memory. We remain in shock and call for a speedy investigation, apprehension and prosecution of the culprits.
At petrol stations across Russia, drivers wait in long queues. Fuel prices have rocketed, rationing has started and panic is spreading.
In the past five weeks, fuel shortages have swept from Russia’s far east to Moscow as a result of one of Ukraine’s most successful campaigns of the war – long-range drone strikes targeting oil refineries.
The attacks have reduced Russian oil refining by almost a fifth on certain days and cut exports from key ports, pushing Moscow closer to reducing oil production.
Ukraine has also been attacking oil depots, pipelines and pumping stations with a vengeance.
With Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers seemingly bypassing sanctions, Ukraine earlier this month struck the Primorsk oil port in the Leningrad region, Russia’s largest oil terminal on the Baltic Sea – the final station of the Baltic Pipeline System and a crucial hub for Russia’s maritime exports.
Kyiv is hoping its aerial offensive will weaken Russia’s ability to finance its war machine, stir domestic discontent and force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian drones attacked Salavat, one of Russia’s largest petrochemical complexes, more than 600 miles from the front line, for the second time in less than a week.
The next day Moscow announced it would extend its ban on fuel exports until the end of the year and introduce a partial ban on diesel exports to protect domestic supplies.
Although Alexander Novak, Russia’s deputy prime minister, has tried to play it down, experts say officials cannot ignore the escalating crisis as endless online videos of queues of cars illustrate the desperation of motorists.
“Domestically, the Ukrainian attacks are having a big impact,” said Luke Wickenden, an analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, an independent environment-minded organisation.
“The drones are particularly targeting facilities responsible for fuelling domestic supply, and when you combine these with increased demand, given the looming winter, fuel shortages are being seen across Russia, tightening already-stressed domestic balances.”
Ukraine began intensifying Russian energy infrastructure attacks in August, targeting key refineries, pipelines and export terminals.
Its aim is to strike at the heart of the Russian economy by disrupting oil and gas production, which accounts for a quarter of GDP.
Donald Trump has now toughened his stance on the Kremlin and believes choking off Russia’s oil revenue could force Putin to the negotiating table.
The US president is demanding that Europe completely stop buying Russian energy and punishing countries that do, floating 100 per cent tariffs on China and India if they do not wean themselves off it. Cars queue for fuel at a petrol station in Crimea Cars queue for fuel at a petrol station in Crimea Credit: Alexey Pavlishak/Reuters
At least 16 out of Russia’s 38 refineries have been hit since the start of August in large-scale and coordinated waves, often repeatedly hitting the same facilities to inflict maximum damage.
Russia’s far east and occupied Crimea were the first to suffer petrol shortages in August, followed by the Volga region and southern and central Russia.
In a number of regions, fuel is being rationed, with customers only allowed 10 to 20 litres each or only diesel being sold, according to the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper.
Most recently, the shortages have begun to hit Moscow, bringing disruption to the capital that has largely been spared by disruptions from the war.
Citizens seem oblivious as to why shortages have come about.
“We haven’t had any 92-octane petrol for almost a day, or even a week,” said one petrol station employee in central Moscow. “No one knows why. It’s just gone. They’ve banned us from filling canisters.”
In Crimea, authorities said that half of petrol stations had run out.
“The situation is critical – many stations have closed completely,” one resident told Meduza, an independent Russian outlet.
Crimean Wind, a prominent pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel, reported that Sevastopol, the largest city on the peninsula, was almost completely out of petrol.
“There are no lines for hay yet, and the prices for horses and donkeys are stable,” the channel said.
Alexander Novak said there was “indeed a slight shortage of petroleum products” but this was “being covered by accumulated reserves”.
He conceded, however, that September and October would probably be “difficult”.
What happens after that will depend on whether Ukraine can sustain such a high level of attacks and how quickly Russia can recover.
“The general consensus at the moment is that its oil exports will remain stable, but fragile,” said Mr Wickenden.
Though causing a headache for the Kremlin, say analysts, the situation is still far off from spiralling into a crisis that would derail Russia’s economy or the war machine.
“This is a major source of frustration for Moscow, as it acknowledges that Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries have had an impact on the economy,” Emily Ferris, a Russia analyst at RUSI, a London-based think tank, told The Telegraph.
However, she argued that despite it was unlikely to be what pushes the Kremlin into peace talks.
“The situation is not critical. Russia has enough oil and gas reserves, and financial reserves, to push through this inconvenience, and the goal of subjugating Ukraine is much more of a valued prize.
At the UN General Assembly this week, Mr Trump changed his tune on Russia by saying that it was facing “big economic problems” and risked losing all its occupied land to Ukraine.
However, there was no sign he would yield to the demands of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, and follow through on heavy sanctions on Moscow.
The Trump administration has so far opted for punitive trade tariffs to drain Russia’s war chest and pressure Europe into stop importing Russian oil and gas.
In response, the EU this week announced it would accelerate its plans to end Russian gas imports by the end of 2026, rather than 2027.
The move comes as part of a sanctions package intended to decrease Russia’s revenues from fossil fuels, raise the cost of its war in Ukraine and put pressure on Putin to end the war.
Hungary and Slovakia are expected to fiercely oppose the package, which requires backing from all members, yet Mr Trump has put pressure on the pro-Putin Hungarian leader Viktor Orban to halt the imports.
The Russian economy has so far withstood a barrage of Western sanctions but is currently slowing down – struggling under the weight of tighter sanctions and high war expenditure and facing high inflation and soaring interest rates.
But as Mr Zelensky said earlier this month, “the most effective sanctions – the ones that work the fastest – are the fires at Russia’s oil refineries, its terminals, oil depots”.
China’s former agricultural minister was sentenced to death on Sunday on corruption charges, with a two-year reprieve, a court statement said.
Tang Renjian accepted cash and property bribes totalling more than 268 million yuan ($38 million) between 2007 and 2024, the People’s Court of Changchun in northeast Jilin province said in a statement.
The court ruled that the bribes “caused particularly severe losses to the interests of the state and the people, and therefore warranted the death penalty”, adding that Tang had confessed to his crimes and expressed remorse.
Tang’s sentencing is the latest in President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-graft campaign that has brought down several high-level figures.
Supporters of Xi’s anti-corruption drive say the campaign promotes clean governance, but critics argue it provides the president with the power to purge political rivals.
Tang previously served as governor of the northwestern province of Gansu, as well as the vice chairman of southern autonomous region Guangxi.
His downfall follows similar graft investigations into former defence ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe.
Li was removed from office just seven months into the job, and later expelled from the Chinese Communist Party for offences including suspected bribery, state media said.
His successor Dong Jun was also reportedly placed under investigation on corruption charges.
Both the new Olubadan and Peter Obi were governors of their respective states around the same time.
They would have met each other at Governors Forums and other important occasions and functions.
One has to wonder why context and nuance doesn't matter to some of us who only seem to take delight in creating petty and insignificant conflicts.
Surely you guys are better than this, and hopefully you will prove that you are indeed capable of rising above this standard, but we won't hold our breath waiting for you to grow up.
Image 1 (Tinubu's post): "Our traditional institutions are the sacred custodians of our varied history and play a crucial role in social cohesion. They embody the resilience of our people and stand as a bridge between our proud heritage and the promise of our shared future. Today in Ibadan, as we celebrated the coronation of my brother, friend, and ally, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rasheed Adevvolu Ladoja, Arusa I, the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, I was reminded of..."
Image 2 (Atiku's post): "I congratulate my brother and compatriot, Oba Rashidi Adevvolu Ladoja Arusa I on his installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan. I acknowledge that the ancient city of Ibadan has been a signpost of republicanism in traditional leadership and that the emergence of Oba Ladoja at Show more"
Image 3 (Obi's post): "Congratulations to Oba Rashidi Adevvolu Ladoja, Arusa I. I warmly congratulate my dear brother, Oba Rashidi Adevvolu Ladoja, Arusa I, on his installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. His ascension to this revered throne is a celebration for the people of Ibadan and a source of pride for the entire Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole."
The 26-storey pig farm in Ezhou, Hubei Province, operational since October 2022, can house up to 650,000 pigs and slaughter 1.2 million annually, driven by China’s demand for pork, which accounts for 60% of global consumption, as per a 2023 FAO report.
This vertical farming innovation, managed by Hubei Zhongxin Kaiwei, uses controlled environments to optimize space and reduce disease risks, contrasting with traditional outdoor farming where African Swine Fever outbreaks killed 40% of China’s pig population in 2018-2019, per a 2020 study in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.
Critics highlight welfare concerns, noting that confinement limits natural behaviors like movement, with a 2021 MDPI study showing caged pigs exhibit higher stress levels, raising ethical questions about scaling such systems globally.
The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Ebenezer Akinyemi, on Friday, called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to order the arrest of social media influencer, Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, popularly known as Mandy Kiss, over her plan to stage a marathon sex act with 100 men in a single day.
PUNCH Online reports that Mandy Kiss fixed the event for September 30 in Ikorodu, Lagos, in an attempt to register her name in the Guinness World Records.
The GWR, however, has issued a statement clarifying that it does not monitor or endorse sexual activity as a record category and has therefore distanced itself from the proposed event.
The organisation explained that it only approves attempts that are measurable, verifiable, safe, and ethical, stressing that Mandy Kiss’s proposed record did not meet its criteria.
In an open letter to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Oba Akinyemi said that despite the GWR’s rejection of the controversial plan, Kiss had vowed to proceed with it.
The monarch described the influencer’s action as a public nuisance and a dangerous venture that could cost her life.
He urged the governor to act swiftly by directing the police to arrest her before tragedy strikes.
“From my assessment, I do not think the lady in question knows the implications of what she is venturing into. If she knows, she will not attempt the planned ugly incident.
“Can she really survive what she plans to do? I am sure that men of the Nigeria Police Force will start arresting boys/men in Ikorodu if the ill-mannered lady dies as a result of the nonsense she is planning. The best approach to adopt is to arrest the lady who is currently constituting a public nuisance.
“She is insisting that she will go ahead with her plan despite the rejection of her disgraceful proposal by the Guinness World Records”, the monarch said.
Akinyemi argued that such behaviour undermines the values of Lagos State and tarnishes the image of President Bola Tinubu and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who both hail from Lagos.
“Lagos State is your home state and the home state of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Mandy Kiss, whose attitude makes her look like a mentally unstable person, should not be allowed to stigmatise the name that Lagos State has built for many decades.
“Lagos State, which parades a very disciplined First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and other great people with rich culture and highly religious and revered personalities, should not allow the ill-mannered Mandy Kiss to destroy its image of excellence,” he said.
The monarch further recommended that Mandy Kiss be handed over to her family in Ogun State, where Governor Dapo Abiodun could ensure she is rehabilitated in a psychiatric hospital.
“Let me also propose that after arresting Mandy Kiss, she should be sent back to her parents in Ogun State, where my no-nonsense Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, will direct her re-arrest for the purpose of sending her to a rehabilitation centre like a psychiatric hospital for her insanity to be removed,” he added.
The royal father also stressed the need for stronger government regulation of social media content to curb moral decay among youths.
“Without mincing words, the conduct of Mandy Kiss and her co-travellers has now necessitated the need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to regulate the way our youths behave, especially on social media. The moral decay in society needs to be given priority attention before everything goes out of hand.
“Our children who go on the internet for legitimate reasons will be exposed to the arrant nonsense that some content creators like Mandy Kiss engage in, and this practice may increase the number of youths engaging in social vices.
“As we all know, some countries where socially unacceptable films are produced regulate the activities of such practitioners on social media platforms, so Nigeria should not be an exception if it toes the noble way of regulating activities of morally deficient youths on the internet,” he said.
Konquest: That's a really gross thing to do... Taking these infants away after murdering their economically and socially vulnerable biological mothers. These kids will NEVER get to know who their real parents or direct families are except there's a DNA database of Mexicans and/or Latinos which can be matched. It's just crazy what some insidious men and women doing to make quick and filthy money.
This is the same thing the "baby factory" and child trafficking notorious cartels headquartered in the South East of Nigeria (especially in Anambra and Imo States) have been doing for years and even operate this almost covertly outside the South East of Nigeria in places such as Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and some Middle Belt and far-Northern States such as Kano. But fortunately, they keep getting caught in police sting operations. Children from several ethnic groups from Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Edo, etc, have been stolen and separated from the families by these SE child trafficking gangs and taken back to either Anambra and Imo States to be sold and these criminal gangs are most active in these two SE States.
I've always proposed the death sentence via hanging, electric chair, and lethal injections for these kinds of child stealing and child trafficking crimes including drug trafficking and more. The death penalty during the General Muhammadu Buhari-led military regime of 1984 to 1985 had the death penalty for hard drugs trafficking which led to the execution of 3 men (Bartholomew Owoh, Barnard Ogedegbe, and co) back in the early 1980s and I remember that led to a drop in drug trafficking cases through the airport or wherever. The IBB-led military dictatorship from 1985 to 1993 discontinued those executions. The advanced countries of Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia aren't stupid for having the death penalty in their legal system to serve as a deterant.
A vigilante was shot, and seven kidnapped victims were rescued after a fierce gun battle between security operatives and bandits in a forest near Owa-Onire, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The joint operation on Wednesday was led by a security operative attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser in collaboration with police officers and local vigilantes.
The security team stormed the kidnappers’ hideout, where they encountered armed resistance.
The development, it was gathered, followed a sustained search and rescue effort in the wake of recent abductions in the area.
3 children found dead in father’s car in BornoOlubadan: Tinubu, Atiku, others for Ladoja’s coronation today
A heavy exchange of gunfire was said to have ensued, forcing the criminals to abandon their captives and retreat deeper into the forest.
Seven victims were said to have been rescued in the operation.
The police confirmed the incident, adding that the injured vigilante operative who sustained a gunshot injury during the encounter is responding to treatment.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, three motorcycles and nine empty AK-47 rifle magazines were recovered from the bandit’s hideout.
She listed those rescued as Adam Khadijat, Mamud Miriam, Mumini Ahmed, Hamadu Haruna, Afusatu Ladan, her nine-month-old son, Usman Ladan and Abibat Umaru, adding that the victims have since been reunited with their families.
The Nigeria Police Force has declared Okoro Prince Nkemakolam wanted over alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, assault, threat to life, fraud, and criminal breach of trust.
The declaration was made public on Thursday via a Special Police Gazette Bulletin posted on the Force’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to the bulletin, the warrant for Nkemakolam’s arrest was issued by the High Court of Abuja, and the case is being handled by the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (INTERPOL) and the Head of the National Central Bureau at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
“The above-named person is hereby declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force. A warrant of arrest was issued against him by the High Court of Abuja,” the bulletin stated.
Nkemakolam is accused of attacking a complainant with a machete and knife, leaving the victim with severe head and body injuries that required extensive stitching. The police noted that the victim “escaped death by the whiskers.”
The suspect, aged 38, is described as of medium height and build, with a copper complexion and a square-shaped face. He typically dresses in Western-style clothing and is fluent in the Igbo language.
Authorities stated that he was last seen in Benin/Abakaliki, specifically in the Umobo community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The Nigeria Police Force has urged members of the public with credible information on his whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact INTERPOL at Force Headquarters, Abuja, via 080622129151.
Doctors could be exempted from the new $100,000 fee for high-skilled US H-1B visa applications imposed by the Donald Trump administration, Bloomberg reports.
The executive order which was released Friday noted that the application fees can be waived if the secretary of Homeland Security determines that the hiring of these workers on an individual basis, or to work for a specific company or industry is “in the national interest”.
Citing an email from Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, on Monday, Bloomberg reported that “the Proclamation allows for potential exemptions, which can include physicians and medical residents”.
The H-1B visa has served as a gateway for some of Nigeria’s brightest minds to enter the US workforce, acting as a crucial launchpad for building long-term careers in America.
Data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services showed that tech, education, and medicine were among the top employment sectors for foreign skilled workers.
Amazon secured more than 10,000 H-1B visas in the first half of 2025, while Microsoft and Meta Platforms had more than 5,000 approvals each.
The programme allows for 65,000 visas annually, with an additional 20,000 for applicants with advanced degrees.
Nigeria was ranked 11th as the largest export of talents to the US and the first in Africa.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s father, Errol Musk, has been accused of sexually abusing five of his children and stepchildren since 1993, according to the New York Times.
The outlet reported that the allegations may explain why Elon Musk, who briefly served as an adviser to Donald Trump’s administration, rarely speaks about his father, according to Guardian US.
It added that family members had reached out to Elon Musk for help, leading him at times to step in.
Errol Musk, 79, dismissed the claims, telling the Times they were “nonsense” and “false”.
The paper, citing letters, emails, and interviews, said Musk, who has at least nine children and stepchildren and has been married to three women, “maintains a powerful grip over much of the family”.
Elon Musk did not respond to the Times’ request for comment.
Court and police records referenced by the Times showed that the earliest accusation was made in 1993, when a four-year-old stepdaughter said he had touched her at their home.
A decade later, she alleged he was caught sniffing her dirty underwear. The report also said that he had been accused of abusing two daughters and a stepson.
Three law enforcement investigations were launched, the Times reported. Two ended without action, while the outcome of the third was unclear.
“There was no evidence because this is nonsense,” Errol Musk said in a statement. He insisted “the reports are false” and accused relatives of “putting the children up to say false things” and attempting to extort Elon, his eldest son.
Elon Musk has spoken sparingly about his father, but previously told Rolling Stone in 2017 that Errol Musk had done “almost every evil thing you could possibly think of”.
Recalling his childhood, he said, “I felt sorry for my father, because my mother had all three kids. He seemed very sad and lonely by himself. So I thought, ‘I can be company.’”
He added: “I didn’t really understand at the time what kind of person he was … It was not a good idea.”
Without detail, he went on: “My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil.”
A signing out celebration of students of Auchi Polytechnic, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, has reportedly turned tragic with two persons feared killed.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, following the successful completion of the last examination paper of a suspected cult leader in the school. It was gathered that a party was held at a popular hotel, where a rival confraternity group, was also said to be celebrating the signing out of some members. Both cult groups, Movement and Eiye, were said to have fired gunshots into the air as they exchanged banters. The celebration mood however took a twist after shots fired into the air hit and damaged a rival member ML Mercedes Benz SUV. A witness who simply identified himself as Omorowa said: “The colleagues of the member whose car was hit by bullet, became enraged alleging that the shot was targeted at them. ”Though the other group claimed no one was in the said car, but the development led to confrontation between Eiye and the movement, otherwise known as Aye.” It was gathered that as the disagreement boiled over, a colleague of the member whose car was damaged, used a car to run over a member of the rival group, leading to the death one persons. Sources ources also confirmed that another person was also shot dead in the ensuing chaos. The State Police Command Spokesman, CSP Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, however said only one person was killed.
The letter was written by the foundational president of the Czech Republic, Mr Thomas Masaryk, shortly before his mysterious death on September 14th 1937, and it has been in the custody of the Czech National Archive since 2005, having been donated by Antonín Sum, a personal assistant of Jan Masaryk ( the former President's son, who himself died in 1948).
Mr Antonin Sum stipulated that he had been instructed to ensure that the message inside the envelope must remain sealed for 20 years after handing it over.
The instruction given is that the sealed letter is to be opened on the 19th of September 2025 at the official summer residence of the President of the Czech Republic, in the presence of the current President of the Czech Republic, Mr Peter Pavel, and other high ranking government officials.
The envelope is thought to contain Masaryk’s final reflections or thoughts, possibly dictated to his son Jan Masaryk, during his final days. It is not confirmed whether these were literally his "last words", nor exactly how extensive the text will be.
A court in Zambia has sentenced two men to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to kill President Hakainde Hichilema.
The BBC reports that Leonard Phiri, a Zambian, and Jasten Mabulesse Candunde, a Mozambican, were convicted under the country’s Witchcraft Act after being arrested in December 2024.
The police said they were found in possession of assorted charms, including a live chameleon, and are alleged to be practising witchdoctors.
In his ruling, Fine Mayambu, the presiding judge, said the evidence showed the men intended to use the charms against the president.
“It is my considered view that the convicts were not only the enemy of the head of state but were also enemies of all Zambians,” Mayambu ruled.
The case, closely followed by the public, marked the first time anyone was put on trial in Zambia for attempting to use witchcraft against a sitting president.
The defendants were reportedly hired by a fugitive former lawmaker to bewitch Hichilema.
Despite claiming to be traditional healers, the court said the men admitted ownership of the charms.
“The two accepted ownership of the charms. Phiri further demonstrated that the chameleon’s tail, once pricked and used in the ritual, would cause death to occur within five days,” Mayambu said.
Agrippa Malando, who led the defence team, pleaded for leniency, arguing they were first-time offenders who should be fined. But the judge declined the request.
The judge said the Witchcraft Act, dating back to colonial rule in 1914, remains relevant to protect society from fear and harm caused by those who profess to wield supernatural powers.
“The question is not whether the accused are wizards or actually possess supernatural powers. It is whether they represented themselves as such, and the evidence clearly shows they did,” he added.
The court handed the men two years for “professing” witchcraft and six months for possessing charms.
Since the sentences will run concurrently, they will serve two years, effective from their arrest in December 2024.
Dickson Jere, a lawyer, noted that prosecutions under the Witchcraft Act are rare.
Jere said the law was originally intended to protect vulnerable groups, particularly elderly women, from mob attacks after being accused of causing harm through witchcraft.
Witchcraft has also been at the centre of controversy in Zambia’s ongoing dispute over the burial of former President Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa in June.
The government insists he should be buried in Zambia, against the wishes of his family — a position critics claim is linked to “occult reasons”.
A Nigerian politician will condemn everything when in opposition but once they get to power will do the same thing they condemn. The interesting thing is their followers will condemn with them and support with them with no logical and rational thinking of their own.
A doctor in the United Kingdom abandoned a patient on an operating table under anaesthetic to have sex with a nurse in another room, a medical tribunal has heard.
Dr Suhail Anjum, 44, and the unnamed nurse were caught in a “compromising position” by a “shocked” colleague at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester.
According to the BBC, the incident, which occurred in September 2023, came to light during a fitness to practise hearing after Dr Anjum who had been living in Pakistan applied to resume work in the UK.
He did not contest the evidence presented against him by the General Medical Council (GMC) and admitted his behaviour had been “shameful”.
The consultant anaesthetist had told colleagues he needed a “comfort break” and asked another nurse to monitor the male patient halfway through surgery. Instead, he went to another operating theatre in Ashton-under-Lyne where he had sex with a woman identified as Nurse C.
Andrew Molloy, representing the GMC, said the colleague who walked in on them had been “shocked and quickly walked through the theatre to the exit doors”.
Dr Anjum, who was absent for about eight minutes, later returned to complete the procedure. Mr Molloy confirmed that “no harm came to the patient when Dr Anjum was absent from the theatre and the procedure went on without further incident”.
The nurse who discovered the pair reported the matter to her line manager.
During the hearing, Dr Anjum admitted to engaging in sexual activity with Nurse C and acknowledged his actions could have put the patient at risk.
He said he knew she was “likely to be nearby” when he left the operating theatre.
Dr Anjum told the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service he wanted to resume his medical career in the UK, describing the incident as a “one-off error of judgment”. Giving evidence, he said: “It was quite shameful, to say the least. I only have myself to blame.”
He admitted letting down colleagues and the NHS trust, adding: “I offer my sincere apologies to everyone involved and I want the opportunity to put this right.”
The doctor said the incident came after a “stressful time” for his family, when he and his wife were struggling “to connect as a couple” following the premature birth of his daughter.
Politics › Tinubu Pardons Herbert Macaulay, 174 Others by DiamondsAreFore(op): 6:57pm On Oct 09, 2025
