BREAKING NEWS: The supreme court has dismissed the trial of the former chief security officer to the late military head of state, General Sani Abacha, Hamza Al-Mustapha in the murder of the wife of the late politician,MKO Abiola, late Kudirat Abiola.

BURKINA FASO FOILS COUP ATTEMPT

Burkina Faso's Military junta announced that it had foiled what was described a sophisticated plot to assassinate its military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana revealed the details in a national television broadcast, stating that intelligence services intercepted the operation in its final stages.

He alleged that the plotters had planned to assassinate the head of state and then strike other key institutions, including civilian personalities, alleging that the conspiracy was funded from neighbouring country.

Sana said authorities uncovered a leaked video in which the plotters discussed their intentions, including assassinating Traoré either at close range or by planting explosives at his residence shortly after 11 p.m. local time on Saturday, January 3.

The conspirators allegedly planned to follow up by targeting other senior military and civilian figures, mobilizing soldiers and civilian supporters, and disabling the country's drone-launch base to prevent foreign intervention.
Sana added that the situation was under control and urging citizens "not to be misled, out of naivety, into dangerous schemes.

When Power Rewrites Jurisdiction: Legal Implications of Maduro’s Capture, Universal Jurisdiction and Trump’s Nigeria Playbook — Opinion by Dr. Seun Solomon Bakare

In this opinion piece, Dr. Seun Solomon Bakare critically examines the United States’ capture and transfer of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to New York, arguing that while the act may appear morally justified, it presents profound legal and jurisdictional challenges under international law. He contends that the operation represents more than a criminal arrest, instead signalling a dangerous precedent where power, rather than law, determines jurisdiction, forum, and enforcement.

Bakare explains that international law restricts the use of force to narrow circumstances such as self-defence or UN Security Council authorisation, noting that criminal indictments do not justify cross-border military seizures. He argues that doctrines like universal jurisdiction allow prosecution of certain crimes but do not permit armed enforcement on foreign soil, especially against a sitting head of state protected by immunity under international law.

Drawing comparisons with Nigeria’s experience under the Trump administration—through sanctions, visa restrictions, and external pressure—Bakare warns that unilateral enforcement bypassing domestic and regional accountability mechanisms undermines principles such as complementarity, subsidiarity, and regional justice. He cautions that collapsing the distinction between prosecution and regime change risks transforming international criminal law into a contest of raw power, where legality becomes secondary to capability.

The article concludes that without credible domestic and regional accountability systems, global justice risks devolving into coercion by the powerful, threatening the very foundations of the post-1945 international legal order.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Wife Captured by U.S., Flown to Manhattan Prison Pending Trial

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been captured by U.S. forces and flown to New York City, where they will be held in a federal prison in Manhattan pending trial on criminal charges.

The operation, involving both military and law enforcement components, took place in Caracas, Venezuela, early Saturday morning and included airstrikes and ground maneuvers. This marks the first time a sitting Latin American head of state has been removed and brought to the U.S. to face federal charges.

Maduro has long faced U.S. indictments for narco-terrorism conspiracy and drug trafficking, charges he denies. U.S. authorities confirmed the couple will be processed under federal law, highlighting that the action combines security enforcement with criminal prosecution.

IBB Rejects Bandits’ Surrender

Former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has urged the Federal Government to reject any surrender offers from bandits.

He said bandits should be fully neutralised through decisive military action, not dialogue, warning the military not to give room for surrender.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi has been awarded the highest state honor of France, the Order of the Legion of Honour, which is granted by the head of state for exceptional military or civilian achievements.

The award was presented on behalf of President Emmanuel Macron by General Fabien Mandon.

#worldnews

Is Yakubu Gowon Dead? Aide Breaks Silence, Debunks Viral Death Rumours

Social media was awash with unverified claims that former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), had died, sparking confusion and concern nationwide. However, his personal assistant, Adeyeye Ajayi, has firmly denied the rumour, confirming that Gowon is alive, healthy, and actively participating in public engagements. Ajayi urged Nigerians to avoid spreading false information, stressing the importance of responsible social media use, especially when it concerns prominent national figures.

"How can I sit quietly in my office when government officials, including directors, are being attacked and beaten?"
— Wike defends his clash with Lt. A.M. Yerima

Reacting to the recent incident involving a naval officer, Minister Nyesom Wike expressed concern about the safety and morale of government officials, saying:

“How can I effectively serve as a minister when government officials are being attacked and intimidated? These are public servants, yet they face threats while sitting in their offices, trying to perform their duties. How can they carry out their responsibilities if they feel unprotected?

“I’ve had calls from respected figures like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former President and head of state, or General Theophilus Danjuma, who are retired generals. When they encounter a problem, they call a minister directly. There’s no intimidation, no threat just respect. And I ensure their issues are addressed promptly. That is how respect and protocol work.

“This is very different from situations where serving officers engage in acts of indiscipline. For instance, when a serving major general attacked a control, I immediately wrote a letter to the President and the Chief of Defence Staff, who was the Chief of Army Staff at the time, to address the matter. Everything falls under the authority and control of the military, and proper channels must be observed.

“Before I assumed office, contracts had been awarded to develop areas close to military barracks. Contractors were chased away. I intervened, involving the late Chief of Army Staff, Chief Olabanji, and other relevant defense officials, to find solutions without conflict. I have always respected established processes, and I continue to prioritize resolution through dialogue rather than confrontation.”

“No Bloodshed!” — Historian Reveals How Gowon’s Final Words During 1975 Coup Showed His True Love for Peace

In a recent interview on the Edmund Obilo Show, historian and author Adebayo Adeolu, who wrote “Sani Abacha: Nigeria’s Most Powerful Defence Minister and Head of State,” revealed a powerful and often-overlooked detail about General Yakubu Gowon’s fall from power in 1975.

Adeolu disclosed that when news of the coup reached Gowon, the then Head of State ordered his aides and security personnel not to resist or spill any blood.

“When Gowon was going to be overthrown, he said, ‘make sure nobody’s killed, we have seen enough of it,’” Adeolu quoted.

According to the historian, Gowon’s reaction reflected his deep weariness with Nigeria’s cycles of violence — particularly after the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), which he had led. Instead of clinging to power, Gowon chose peace over conflict, showing a level of restraint rare among military rulers of his time.

“That single moment showed Gowon’s moral strength and his genuine desire for a peaceful Nigeria,” Adeolu said, describing the act as one of the most humane moments in Nigeria’s military history.


Gowon, who was attending the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Summit in Uganda when he was ousted, quietly accepted his removal and later devoted his life to reconciliation and peacebuilding — cementing his reputation as a statesman of grace and humility.

'Under My Watch, America Couldn’t Act in Africa Without Informing Nigeria’ — Fmr. Pres. Obasanjo.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says that during his time as Nigeria’s Head of State, the United States under late President Jimmy Carter did not take any major action in Africa without informing Nigeria.

Obasanjo made the statement on Monday in Abeokuta during the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat organized by the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

His remarks come amid ongoing reactions to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that America could deploy troops to Nigeria if the Federal Government fails to stop killing linked to jihadist groups. 

The Federal Government has since rejected Trump’s comments, insisting insecurity affects all groups and is being addressed.

While Obasanjo did not mention the controversy directly, he recalled a period when Nigeria was regarded as Africa’s clear leader. He said Nigeria once commanded strong international respect, noting that Carter would always notify Nigeria before any U.S. move in Africa.

“They were not seeking permission, but they would inform us,” he said.

Obasanjo added that his administration and that of the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed restored Nigeria’s global standing after what he described as a loss of confidence following independence.

“At independence, the world saw Nigeria as a giant. Soon after, we lost that. When Muritala and I came in, we brought it back,” he said.

Addressing the youths at the retreat, Obasanjo urged them to be “positively disruptive” to take up leadership roles rather than waiting indefinitely. He cited examples of sit-tight leaders across Africa and cautioned that if youths leave the future to current leaders, “there may be no tomorrow left to inherit.”

“You have the numbers,” he said, “but the number only matters when you use it.”

Trump’s threat: America couldn’t do anything without our knowledge under my watch – Obasanjo.

In a veiled remark on the ongoing controversy over President Donald Trump’s military invasion threat on Nigeria, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday disclosed that under his watch as the Nigeria’s Head of State, late United States President Jimmy Carter would not do anything in Africa without his knowledge.

It would be recalled Trump, in a series of posts on X between October 31 and November 1, condemned continued killings in Nigeria, declaring America’s readiness to send its military to Nigeria if the Federal Government failed to stop the killings by jihadist groups, the remarks which has sparked divergent reactions from both the Federal Government and prominent Nigerian leaders and religious organizations in past weeks.

The federal government particularly rejected Trump’s allegations, insisting that the country’s insecurity affects all religious groups.

Speaking on Monday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat (6.0) organised by the Youth Development Centre, an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Obasanjo did not make a direct remark to the ongoing controversy, but he tactfully recalled how the US under Carter held Nigeria in high esteem.

Obasanjo and Cater, who died recently in December 2024, were regarded as best of friends.

In January this year, Obasanjo held a memorial service in Abeokuta in honour of Carter, where he paid glowing tributes to the late US President who died at age 100.

According to Obasanjo, right from independence, the world and indeed America saw Nigeria as Africa’s leader, saying the country lost the confidence at some point before the Muritala-Obasanjo military regime “brought it back. “

Going down memory lane, Obasanjo said Cater as the US President would not do anything on African soil without informing the Nigerian government when he was Head of State.

Cameroon’s Paul Biya re-elected for 8th term with over 53% of vote.

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 92, has been re-elected for an eighth term with 53.7 percent of the vote, according to official results announced by the Constitutional Council Monday.

Rival candidate and former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary came second with 35.2 percent, the council said. Chiroma had claimed victory against the incumbent two days after the October 12 election, and called for demonstrations.

Four people were killed on Sunday in clashes between security forces and supporters of the opposition in the economic capital Douala, according to the region’s governor.

Security forces initially used tear gas before firing “live ammunition,” according to protesters interviewed by AFP.

Since last week, supporters of Issa Tchiroma, who according to his own tally won 54.8 percent of the votes against 31.3 percent for Biya, have taken to the streets to defend his claimed victory.

Most analysts expected Biya, the world’s oldest serving head of state, to secure another seven-year term in a system that critics say has been increasingly rigged.

Biya is only the second head of state to lead Cameroon since independence from France in 1960.

He has ruled with an iron fist, repressing all political and armed opposition, and holding onto power through social upheaval, economic disparity and separatist violence.

Cameroon Opposition Leader Claims Election Victory Ahead of Official Results.

Cameroon’s opposition candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has declared himself the winner of Sunday’s presidential election a bold move coming days before the country’s electoral authority is expected to release official results.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Tchiroma asserted that “our victory is clear and must be respected,” urging the government to “accept the truth of the ballot box” or risk “plunging the country into turmoil.” He also vowed to publish detailed regional results soon, maintaining that “the people have chosen.”

Although tally sheets from polling stations can be made public, only the Constitutional Council is legally empowered to proclaim final results a restriction the government has warned remains a “red line that must not be crossed.”

Tchiroma’s declaration echoes that of Maurice Kamto in 2018, when he similarly announced victory against longtime ruler Paul Biya before official results were out. Kamto was later arrested, and his supporters’ rallies were violently dispersed.

President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for 43 years and remains the world’s oldest sitting head of state, is seeking yet another term. However, Tchiroma, a former employment minister, has drawn surprising enthusiasm from younger voters, turning the race into one of the most closely watched in years.

As both camps circulate tally sheets and blackboard results on social media, each side continues to claim victory setting the stage for possible post-election tension in the Central African nation.

Tinubu Grants Posthumous Pardon to Late Major General Mamman Vatsa

The family of Major General Mamman Vatsa has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu following the posthumous pardon of the celebrated poet and senior military officer, nearly 39 years after his execution.

Vatsa, executed in 1986 after being convicted by a secret military tribunal for allegedly plotting a coup against then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, was finally cleared through the exercise of presidential clemency, alongside Herbert Macaulay and other notable figures.

In a statement from Minna, Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, family spokesperson and former state Commissioner for Information, described the pardon as “the greatest moment of relief since the general’s death.”

He said:

“Today is the happiest moment in the life of the family after 39 years of sorrow and sadness following the killing of our late father, brother and uncle. Though nothing can bring him back to life, the family is consoled by this display of statesmanship by our dear president. He has written his name in gold, and history will forever remember him.”


Jonathan emphasized that the family has long maintained Vatsa’s innocence, calling the coup charge a “frame-up” and the trial a “stage-managed process” fueled by envy and hatred. He added:

“Justice can never be denied but can only be delayed. The family is convinced that the late Vatsa must be happy in his grave today by this singular act of compassion by President Tinubu. This goes to show that truth doesn’t expire.”


He also recalled that General Domkat Bali, a member of the military council at the time, had publicly questioned the evidence against Vatsa and whether execution was justified.

While some of Vatsa’s closest relatives, including his wife and several children, are no longer alive to witness the pardon, the surviving family members celebrated being part of this historic moment.

“The family still maintains that the late General Vatsa was innocent of the coup. But we thank President Tinubu for his magnanimity in granting him the state pardon,” Jonathan concluded.

This was How Nigeria's military Head of State, General Sani Abacha (1993-1998) handled strike by labour unions NUPENG & PENGASSAN

2027: Jonathan keeps mum as northern opposition intensifies pressure.

Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, pressure is mounting on former President, Goodluck Jonathan to join the race.

The former president is under pressure, especially from the northern opposition, to declare his interest to run against President Bola Tinubu.

Jonathan served as Nigerian president for about five years.

The former Bayelsa State governor became a president by chance following the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in May 2010.

Yar’Adua served as the president of Nigeria from 2007 until his death in May 2010.

He won the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April, 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 2007.

On Thursday May 6, 2010, Jonathan was sworn in as 14th head of state and 4th executive President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

After completing the tenure of Yar’Adua, Jonathan contested and won the presidential election in 2011 but was defeated by the coalition of political parties under the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015, in his second attempt.

IBB not statesman, stop lying to yourself Farotimi counters Adesina.

Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has faulted the description of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), as a statesman.

Farotimi, in a post on X on Tuesday, said celebrating Babangida with such titles only helps to normalize the “evils” he claimed the former leader visited on Nigerians.

“Not telling these ruinous cretins exactly what they are, contributes towards the normalization of the evils that they have visited on the people, and this mutual affirmation strategy is what has helped to sustain the evil. IBB is no statesman, and you can stop lying to yourself,” he wrote.

His reaction followed a congratulatory message by the former president of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who had hailed Babangida as one of Nigeria’s “foremost elder-statesmen” in a birthday tribute.

Adesina praised the former Head of State’s “patriotic fervor, devotion and commitment to Nigeria’s peace, unity and progress,” while wishing him continued good health as he marked his 84th birthday.

DAILY POST reported that Babangida, who ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, celebrated his 84th birthday recently.

#fintternews #farotimicounteradesina

Gumi warns Tinubu over alleged Mossad plot to assassinate Muslim leaders in Nigeria.

Prominent Islamic cleric, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, has raised concerns over the alleged presence of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, in Nigeria.

In a statement on his social media page, Gumi claimed that the development could lead to the “clandestine murder of Muslim leaders in Nigeria”.

The cleric referenced the death of former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, alleging he was poisoned on the night he hosted the late Palestinian leader, Yasir Arafat, in Abuja.

“How can this genocidal apartheid government have a footing in Nigeria?” he queried, warning that President Bola Tinubu was “ill-advised” on the matter.

According to Gumi, any such collaboration “will cost him (Tinubu) a lot more than he may gain”.

#Gumi warns Tinubu #Prominent Islamic cleric, Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi

“I Was at King’s College When My Uncle Murtala Mohammed Was Killed” – Emir Sanusi Recalls Emotional Moment

Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, Remembers Late Head of State

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has revealed where he was when Nigeria’s former Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, was assassinated on February 13, 1976.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sanusi disclosed that he was a student at King’s College, Lagos, and that Murtala was his guardian and uncle at the time.

Reflecting on the military leader’s legacy nearly 50 years after his death, Sanusi described Murtala as a gentle and humorous man, despite the tough image the public held of him.

> "We knew him as Uncle Kawu Murtala. I grew up in his house, spent weekends and holidays with his children. He was my guardian while I was at King's College," Sanusi shared.

#EmirSanusi #MurtalaMohammed #KingsCollege #NigeriaHistory #LeadershipLegacy

BREAKING: Buhari’s Body Leaves London For Katsina State [VIDEO].
The body of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has departed London for his hometown of Daura in Katsina State, where he will be laid to rest.

The late president’s remains were flown aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft.

Buhari, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 81, died at a private clinic in the United Kingdom where he had been receiving medical treatment.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in London on Monday morning to accompany the body back to Nigeria. His visit followed a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who ordered high-level representation for the repatriation.

Buhari served as Nigeria’s civilian president from 2015 to 2023 and was also a former military head of state.