₦airaland Forum

The Kebbi State Government has raised concerns over the emergence of a new terrorist group known as the ‘Sai Mallam’ sect in parts of the state, particularly in Argungu Local Government Area.

The state’s Security Adviser, retired Col. Danladi Ribah, expressed concern over the group during a stakeholders’ security meeting with the Deputy Inspector-General of Police supervising the North-West geopolitical zone, Suleiman Mohammed Abdul, at the Presidential Lodge in Birnin Kebbi.

According to Ribah, members of the group were initially detected in smaller numbers in Zuru before their presence became more pronounced in Argungu.

“Without an iota of doubt, ‘Sai Mallam’ adherents are present in large numbers in Argungu. They were earlier detected in Zuru, though in smaller numbers,” he said.

He noted that the group was first identified in Sokoto State, where security agencies were able to contain its activities.

Ribah assured residents that the state government was working closely with security agencies to address the threat and prevent further spread of the group.

He said Governor Nasir Idris had continued to provide logistical, material and financial support to security agencies to strengthen operations against bandits, Lakurawa, Mamudawa and other criminal elements.

According to him, Lakurawa fighters enter Kebbi through Sokoto State and the Republic of Niger, while members of the Mamudawa group infiltrate the state through Kwara and Niger states.

He added that bandits operating in Kebbi often launch attacks from neighbouring Zamfara State.

“Kebbi State Government is on top of the situation and will continue to do whatever is necessary to safeguard the lives and property of the people,” Ribah said.

Speaking at the meeting, the District Head of Ambursa, Alhaji Isa Haruna Rasheed, called for increased funding for police commands to enhance operations and improve the welfare of personnel.

The Borno State Government has admitted that the inclusion of a N4bn rail project in its 2025 Budget Implementation Report was an administrative error, following concerns raised by a civic accountability organisation over the reported execution of the project.

The clarification followed a report by Tracka, published on June 15, which questioned the state’s claim that N2bn was spent on rail construction projects in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and another N2bn in Jere Local Government Area, with both projects listed as 100 per cent completed.

According to Tracka, field visits conducted in May 2026 found no evidence of recently executed rail construction or rehabilitation works in the affected areas.

The organisation said it observed old and deteriorating rail infrastructure at the Maiduguri Railway Terminus and along rail corridors in MMC and Jere LGAs.

“There was no visible evidence of recently completed rail construction or rehabilitation works, no active construction sites, no contractor presence, and no project signage indicating that N4 billion worth of projects had been executed,” Tracka said.

Responding in a statement released on Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said an internal review conducted by relevant ministries confirmed that no rail project was awarded, funded or executed by the state government during the 2025 fiscal year.

The statement read, “The attention of the Borno State Government has been drawn to recent reports circulating in the public space alleging that the sum of Four Billion Naira (₦4,000,000,000) was spent on rail construction projects in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area without any evidence of execution on the ground.


“The Government considers it necessary to clarify the matter in the interest of transparency, accountability, and providing the public with accurate information.”

Tar said consultations with the Ministry of Budget, Ministry of Transport and Energy, and other relevant agencies showed there was no record of any rail construction project undertaken by the state government within the period under review.

He added that no Executive Council approval was sought or obtained for any rail project, no budget clearance was requested, no contract was awarded, and no funds were released for such a project.

“For the avoidance of doubt, projects of this nature must follow established due process, including formal proposal, Executive Council approval, budget clearance, contract award, and subsequent release of funds.

“None of these procedures were initiated or concluded in relation to any rail line project during the 2025 fiscal year.

“It was, however, noted that the inclusion of rail project entry in the 2025 Budget Implementation Report, indicating 100 per cent completion, was an administrative error and does not reflect the true position of the matter as the said project was neither executed nor paid for,” it added.

Tar said steps were being taken to correct the records and prevent a recurrence.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency, due process and accountability in the management of public resources.

“The government also appreciate the vigilance of citizens, civil society organisations, and stakeholders in promoting good governance and public accountability,” it added.

African Democratic Congress chieftain, Dele Momodu, has predicted that the 2027 presidential election will be a tough contest for President Bola Tinubu.

Momodu made the remark during an interview on Nevon Media with journalist Oseni Rufai on Friday, expressing optimism that the ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, would emerge victorious.

According to him, Atiku could defeat both Tinubu and Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Peter Obi, if he secures strong support in the North while remaining competitive in the South.

“As I predicted, Atiku will win the majority of the North, and if he is able to compete favourably in the South, it will be over for President Tinubu and Peter Obi,” he said.

"Atiku will secure at least 25% of the votes in 26 states while also dominating the North, which is where the bulk of the votes are,” he added.

Momodu also referenced Nigeria’s constitutional requirements for winning the presidency, noting that a candidate must secure the highest number of total votes as well as at least 25% of votes in two-thirds of the states.

He expressed confidence that Atiku could meet the threshold by consolidating support in high-voting northern states.

He said, “Once you get voluminous votes from the north, it will leave the south limping. That’s why Tinubu is desperate to make sure that they delete some parties. Especially because of Atiku. And the north has already played a strategic thing this time. That move is so strategic that they made sure there is no strong leader competing against Atiku in the north.

“Now, Kwankwaso is a running mate. The north will not play second fiddle, just like in the south they are blaming anybody who is competing against Tinubu as a traitor, the same way the north is treating anybody who does not support Atiku as a traitor. So, that’s number one. So, that’s a different scenario from 2023.”

He added, “He (Atiku) will then navigate his way to the south. In the south, there is no way he will not compete well in Osun State. There is no way.”

This comes despite repeated endorsements of the president by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party.

Momodu insisted that the people of Osun, not the governor, will ultimately decide the outcome.

His comments come as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In[b] the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu won with about 37 per cent of the vote, drawing strong support from the South-West and significant votes across other regions.[/b]

"It's been a very arduous and long...almost eleven years, it's been traumatic, not just for me, but for my family and friends..."

Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, says she is grateful the case against her is finally over after a UK court… pic.twitter.com/0Bs3Le6wZF

— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) June 17, 2026

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday awarded a fine of one million Naira against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its embattled National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over the application seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ADC and Aregbesola had, in separate motions, asked Justice Peter Lifu to recuse himself from the suit filed by an aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, citing alleged bias.

Delivering a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Lifu held that the motions lacked merit and were devoid of credible evidence aimed at frustrating the order of the Supreme Court for an accelerated hearing of the case.

The judge held that the reasons advanced in the affidavits by the applicants were extraneous.

According to him, the court has painstakingly considered all three processes by parties and by affidavit evidence; there is no iota of bias found.

“There is no element of bias being painted by the applicants as alleged,” he said.

The judge recalled that the motions for recusal were filed even when the court had yet to assume jurisdiction on the case.

“Where then is the element of bias in the motions for recusal?’ he asked.

The judge, who described the applications as “an abuse of court process”, said the motions were fundamentally defective.

“The law is settled that allegations of bias are grave allegations which are not made lightly.

‘Whoever alleges bias must provide clear evidence.

“It becomes apparent that the applicants have failed completely to prove the allegations.

“It is a cheap attempt to blackmail and intimidate the court.

“As I said, nobody can intimidate the court,” he said.

Justice Lifu held that judges should be careful to “accede to such baseless allegations so that they don’t allow litigants to choose judges that suit them.”

He further described the applications as “forum shopping”.

He said the applicants made the allegations so that the case could be assigned to another judge that would do their bidding.

“Parties cannot choose which court they should be heard in.

“Matters are assigned to judges by the administrative head of the court, and no applicant can choose who to hear and determine their matters.

“A judge must be firm in doing justice and not dance to the whims and caprices of counsel.

“No court worth its salt should allow this,” the judge said.

Justice Lifu, who said the entire application was based on speculation, said if allowed, lawyers could use this as a tool against the court when they know a case would not favour them.

According to him, if this application is granted in the absence of credible evidence, it will set a dangerous precedent.

“On the whole, I found no merit in the application, and it is hereby dismissed with N500,000 cost each against the applicants and in favour of the plaintiff,” the judge ruled.

Earlier when the case was called, a lawyer, Kalu-Kalu Agu, who appeared for Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of ADC, challenged the judge from delivering the ruling, having ordered the deregistration of ADC in his judgement on Monday.

NAN reports that Agu, on behalf of Ukandu, had filed a motion seeking to be joined in Gombe’s suit.

The lawyer reminded the judge of his previous day’s judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC, having failed to meet the constitutional threshold.

“My lord, the clerk of this court did mention the matter is slated for a ruling today.

“In view of your lordship’s ruling and the continuous existence of the 1st defendant (ADC) in this matter, and having been declared dead, I don’t see any reason why this ruling should continue.

“In your judgment, this court ordered INEC to deregister the 1st defendant. So in the eye of the law, the 1st defendant is not existing,” Agu submitted.

“Are you a party in this suit?” Justice Lifu asked.

“Yes, I am my lord,” Agu responded.

“Who joined you, or did you join yourself in your chambers?” the judge asked.

In his reaction, Gombe’s lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, disagreed with Agu’s submission that he was a party in the suit.

Emukpoeruo said he was yet to read the judgement mentioned by Agu; hence, it had no relevance in the instance proceedings.

He said by Order 9 Rule 14(4) of the court, until Ukandu is joined by the judge, he is yet to be a party.

When Agu attempted to respond to Emukpoeruo’s submission, the judge threatened to invoke the powers of the court on him.

Realwan Okpanachi, who appeared for Aregbesola; Suleiman Usman, SAN, lawyer to Sen. David Mark; and Peter Oyewole, who represented Chief Ralph Nwosu, also made their respective submissions.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu said the instant case was distinct from Monday’s matter, where a judgement was delivered against ADC.

After the ruling, the case was adjourned until June 23 for hearing of all pending applications.

NAN reports that Gombe, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining Sen. Mark, the embattled National Chairman of ADC; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary; and members of their interim National Working Committee (NWC) from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.

He had argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other NWC members as the party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Gombe had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as the 1st to 5th defendants, respectively, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for David Mark’s leadership of the party

Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, has addressed an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, and the wider public, arguing that the push for state police alone will not resolve Nigeria’s insecurity and instability challenges.

In the letter, shared on Monday across her social media handles, she maintained that comprehensive restructuring of the country remains, in her view, the more sustainable path to addressing the underlying issues.

In the memorandum, titled “State Police Is Not the Answer. Restructuring Nigeria Is,” she said the Tinubu administration’s renewed push for State Police has reopened a major policy debate.

Ezekwesili wrote: “The Tinubu administration’s renewed push for State Police has reopened one of the most consequential public policy debates in Nigeria’s democratic history.”

She noted that the proposal reflects concerns over insecurity in the country.

“The country’s security architecture is failing. Terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent extremism, communal conflicts and organised criminality have overwhelmed the capacity of a centrally controlled police force to secure lives and property across a country of more than 230 million people,” she stated.

She added: “For many citizens, therefore, State Police appears to be an obvious and long overdue solution.”


Citing survey data, she stated: “Recent Afrobarometer findings show that 79 per cent of Nigerians consider kidnapping and abduction a serious national problem; 33 per cent personally know someone who has been kidnapped within the last five years; and 63 per cent say they or a family member felt unsafe in their home or neighbourhood during the previous year.”

She added: “These are not merely security statistics. They are indicators of a profound crisis of state effectiveness and citizen confidence.”

On the proposal for State Police, she wrote: “Yet the fact that State Police is necessary does not mean it is sufficient.”

She further stated: “The danger confronting Nigeria today is that the country may once again mistake a symptom for the disease itself.”

She continued: “The security crisis is real, but it is not fundamentally a policing crisis. It is the manifestation of a deeper constitutional, governance and political economy crisis that has steadily eroded state capacity, weakened accountability and undermined the effectiveness of public institutions.”

She added: “The central question before Nigeria should not be whether governors ought to control police forces. The more important question is whether the constitutional architecture governing the Nigerian federation remains fit for purpose.”

The ex-minister also spoke on Nigeria’s constitutional structure.

She stated: “At the heart of the problem lies a constitutional order that concentrates excessive authority, fiscal resources and political power at the centre.

“Although Nigeria describes itself as a federation, many of its institutional arrangements bear the characteristics of a highly centralised state.

“The Constitution allocates powers among three categories – the Exclusive Legislative List, the Concurrent Legislative List and residual powers reserved for the states.”

“The Exclusive Legislative List contains sixty-eight items reserved solely for the Federal Government, while the Concurrent List contains only a limited number of shared subjects.”

She stated, “This imbalance matters because the State Police debate focuses on only one item among dozens. Police is merely one of sixty-eight subjects constitutionally monopolised by the Federal Government.”

She added, “The question therefore is not whether policing should be decentralised. It should.”

She further stated, “This arrangement is neither accidental nor historically inevitable.”


She wrote: “What Nigerians often describe as federalism today is therefore, in many respects, a unitary system wearing federal clothing.”

On insecurity, she stated: “The consequences of this constitutional distortion are evident across every major sector of national life.”

“Insecurity is one manifestation. Economic underperformance is another. Weak public service delivery is yet another.”

“Nigeria’s security crisis and economic crisis are therefore not separate phenomena. They are products of the same constitutional dysfunction.”

The geographical spread of insecurity further demonstrates this reality, she noted, adding that state police might be necessary but cannot solve the ills bedevilling the nation.

She stated, “The proper national conversation is not ‘State Police or no State Police.’ The proper conversation is whether Nigeria is prepared to redesign a constitutional order that has concentrated too much power at the centre.

“State Police will be necessary. But necessity does not make it the solution to a dysfunctional Nigeria.”

“Nigeria does not merely need a new policing architecture. It needs a comprehensive restructuring agenda anchored in a new constitutional settlement.”

“Restructuring the dysfunctional territory and system that our beloved country has become is THE BOLD CONVERSATION AND ACTION that Nigerians can no longer afford to postpone.”

“No more tragically costly delays.”

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to warn, in the strongest possible terms, against any attempt to use the judiciary as an instrument to undermine democracy and plunge Nigeria into a major political crisis.

We are deeply alarmed by the judgment reportedly delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a case filed by the so-called National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the de-registration of the ADC and four other political parties. This judgment stands in direct conflict with constitutional principles and all known judicial processes and procedures.

The facts are straightforward. The plaintiffs had argued that the ADC and four other political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to continued registration. However, in its counter-affidavit filed before the court in May, INEC, the constitutional body empowered with the registration, regulation, and supervision of political parties in Nigeria, categorically maintained that the ADC had not violated any registration requirements, had not failed any constitutional electoral-performance threshold, and that no legally recognised basis existed for its de-registration.

INEC further made it clear that the de-registration of a political party cannot be driven by political pressure, sentiment, or the wishes of interested parties. It must be based strictly on constitutionally established grounds, none of which had been proven against the ADC.

Apart from INEC's firm position in support of the party, the ADC finds it troubling that the trial judge was aware of a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal issued on May 22, 2026, directing a stay of proceedings on the matter. The judge, however, chose to flagrantly and contemptuously disregard a clear order of a superior court in a manner that brings into question all known judicial traditions.

The ADC considers this development not merely a legal dispute, but a dangerous escalation capable of destabilising the nation's democratic process. Our position is anchored on the role that agents of the ruling party have played in this matter. It would be recalled that the case has been championed directly by individuals working with the President's Chief of Staff. The decision of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who is a second defendant in the matter, to join the matter as a plaintiff in April, is an absurdity, which sends a signal that is impossible to ignore.

We are therefore left in no doubt that this latest development is a continuation of the ruling party's persistent efforts to undermine the opposition, especially the ADC. We also find the timing of this ruling quite curious. Despite all the obstacles placed in its way, the ADC has risen to the task and met all benchmarks and deadlines. Therefore, coming at a time when the party has concluded its primaries and is fielding candidates for all positions in the next election, especially the presidential election, it is clear what this is all about.

However, the ADC would like to warn that any attempt to eliminate the country's major opposition party through judicial manoeuvring, thereby sabotaging the political aspirations of hundreds of its candidates, is a direct invitation to anarchy.

This is why we consider this ruling reckless, provocative, and even incendiary. Those who believe they can manipulate institutions of state to narrow the democratic space must understand that they are playing with forces far greater than partisan interests.

At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling under crushing economic hardship, escalating insecurity, widespread unemployment, and growing national anxiety inflicted by the APC, it is deeply disturbing that powerful forces appear more interested in eliminating political opposition than confronting the real crises.

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have set ablaze Primary and Secondary schools in Kautikari village, Chibok local government area of Borno State.

This is coming after the pupils of Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, Askira-Uba, were abducted for almost a month without a trace.

Security sources said the assailants invaded the town, which has suffered multiple attacks, around 7pm on Saturday.

“No casualty so far but residents were forced to flee into the bush for safety,” one of the sources said.

A resident also revealed that the terrorists attacked the village months back but they did not destroy any public or private property.

“I wonder why they set ablaze the Primary School and Day Secondary School. Such attacks are unusual,” he said.

All efforts to speak to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, was not successful as his phone was not answered.

Major General Abubakar Rabe (rtd) who was abducted in Katsina State exactly two weeks ago is dead.

Rabe was kidnapped alongside his wife around the Matazu area of Katsina while travelling for a wedding.

Rabe was last seen in a video where his captors demanded release of some bandits and seized livestock.

In the four-minute, two-second video circulated on social media, the couple were seen standing and relaying the demands of their captors.

Speaking in the video, the wife of the retired army general conveyed the abductors’ demand for the release of three of their members identified as Sani, Aminu, and Nasiru.

According to her account, two of the detained individuals were arrested in Jikamshi, while the third was arrested in Kano.

She further appealed to the Katsina State Government and the leaders of five local government areas to facilitate compliance with the demands in order to secure their release.

The retired army general, who spoke briefly in the video, called for efforts to ensure peace, stating that the abductors had expressed interest in dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

But in a statement on Saturday, Nasiru Mu’azu, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Katsina, said Rabe died from complications of diabetes and hypertension.

“The Katsina State Government, with a heavy heart and deep sense of loss, wishes to inform the general public of the tragic passing of Retired Major General Rabe Abubakar.”

“It is with profound sadness that we confirm the General’s death while in bandits captivity. Despite the relentless and concerted efforts of the State Government and various Security Agencies to secure his safe release, the situation ended in this tragedy.

“The deceased Retired General died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension.

“His abduction and subsequent death are not only a loss to his family and Katsina State but a monumental loss to the entire country.

“His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, extends his deepest condolences to the family of the late General and the country at-large. The Governor has described this incident as a “dark moment” and a reminder of the urgent need for a collective and intensified front against the criminal elements threatening the peace of our communities.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time. May the soul of the departed Retired Major General Rabe Abdulakdir rest in eternal peace.”

It is unclear if the deceased’s wife has been released or is still in captivity.

"A parliament that does not listen is just an expensive building."

— Bukola Saraki, former Senate president#June12 pic.twitter.com/JuaMiccj8z

— Channels Television (@channelstv) June 12, 2026

Power generation companies have said the Federal Government is yet to begin the payment of the N3.3tn power sector debt approved by President Bola Tinubu in April, despite official assurances that implementation of the settlement plan had commenced.

The generation companies, under the aegis of the Association of Power Generation Companies, also rejected the Federal Government’s reduction of the debt from about N4tn to N3.3tn, insisting that the full amount remains outstanding.

Speaking during a webinar on Monday organised by the APGC, the association’s Chief Executive Officer, Joy Ogaji, said no payment had been made to most generation companies under the debt settlement arrangement.

“You know that this acceptance of the government is like a moving target. Earlier, the government said the debt was N2.3tn. About a month or two after, it increased to N2.8tn.


“The last one was N3.3tn before they appointed a new special adviser on power. Now, let me tell you that from that N3.3tn or N2.8tn, to date, we have not received a dime. Nothing has been received by the GenCos,” she stated.

The PUNCH recalls that presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga had announced on April 5 that President Tinubu approved a plan to settle longstanding debts in the electricity sector under the Presidential Power Sector Financial Reforms Programme.

According to Onanuga, N3.3tn was agreed upon as a full and final settlement of legacy debts accumulated between February 2015 and March 2025 following a verification exercise.

He also stated that implementation had begun, with 15 power plants signing settlement agreements worth N2.3tn, while the Federal Government had raised N501bn to support the payments.

However, Ogaji maintained that generation companies had not received any payment from the approved debt settlement.

She added that the N501bn bond earlier raised by the government was still being disbursed.

Ogaji said the N500bn bond raised by the government is still being disbursed.

“The N500bn bond that they said they raised by December and January this year, as I speak to you, they’ve not even finished disbursing. I believe that they are planning the disbursement until the end of the election,” she stated.

On whether generation companies had accepted the Federal Government’s N3.3tn debt figure, Ogaji said they had not.

“We have not accepted N3.3tn; the GenCos have not accepted it because when we reconciled our debt to the gas suppliers, we owed them over N4tn,” she said.

According to her, gas suppliers also rejected any proposal that would reduce the amount owed to them.

“And we also engaged the gas suppliers to tell them that the government was proposing to remove 50 per cent of what we are requesting, 70 per cent of which money belongs to the gas suppliers.

“We ask them if we should accept. They responded and said we’re on our own. The gasCos said they didn’t have any contract with the government, but we continue to owe them to the last dime, and they are not going to concede to even one naira,” she said.

Ogaji explained that only five generation companies agreed to the terms attached to the Federal Government’s bond programme.

“When the FG floated the N500bn bond, they said they would give GenCos 50 per cent, that is, a 50 per cent cut of their current debts. The GenCos rejected it, except for five: Geregu, Ibom Power, FIPL, NDPHC, and Mabon Energy. These are the five receiving payments; they signed that bond,” she added.

She added that no other generation company had received payment under the arrangement.

“Nothing has been done about the N3.3tn or the N6.8tn, which has now ballooned to over N7tn, and still growing,” Ogaji said.

In January, the Federal Government said it had taken steps to resolve the sector’s debt burden through the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme.

The Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, said at the time that five generation companies operating 14 power plants had signed settlement agreements with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc following the issuance of a N501bn bond.

According to Verheijen, the five companies — First Independent Power Limited, Geregu Power Plc, Ibom Power Company Limited, Mabon Limited and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited — agreed to a negotiated settlement valued at N827.16bn, to be paid in four instalments.