Author: Damilola

The Federal Government has formally discontinued the criminal prosecution of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi Central. A notice of discontinuance was filed in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/195/2025, involving the federal government and Natasha. The document, dated December 12, 2025, was filed under sections 108(1), 108(2)(a) and 108(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. “The Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation intends to discontinue proceeding in this matter,” the notice stated. It was jointly signed by M.B. Abubakar, director of public prosecutions of the federation, and Aderonke Imana, assistant chief state counsel, on behalf of Lateef…

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has alleged that he was informed he had been marked for elimination as a Boko Haram member on the same day a United States military airstrike was carried out in Nigeria. Gumi made the assertion while speaking to worshippers in a video that has since gone viral. The clip was shared on Sunday by an X user identified as #General_Somto. According to the cleric, he received a phone call early that morning from an unnamed contact in Abuja who briefed him on discussions at a high-level national security meeting. He claimed the caller told him…

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has described British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua’s survival in a recent road accident as an act of divine mercy. Adeboye made the remark on Sunday during the church’s monthly thanksgiving service, using Joshua’s experience to illustrate what he called the preserving power of God’s mercy. Joshua narrowly escaped death in a crash that occurred last Monday on the ever-busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The accident, however, proved fatal for two of his close associates — Ayodele Kelvin, a 36-year-old Nigerian-British national, and Gami Sina, also 36 and a…

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said American oil companies would be allowed to enter Venezuela and exploit its vast crude reserves following a dramatic US military operation that resulted in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro. In the early hours of Saturday, US forces launched coordinated airstrikes on Caracas. Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown to New York City, where they are expected to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offences. Speaking at a news conference in Florida, Trump said US energy firms would play a central role in rebuilding Venezuela’s oil sector.…

Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Saturday night directed Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez to take over as interim leader following the dramatic removal of President Nicolás Maduro by the United States. In its ruling, the court instructed Rodríguez to “assume and exercise, in an acting capacity, all the attributes, duties and powers inherent to the office of President to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defence of the nation.” The justices further stated that Rodríguez would take over “the office of President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in order to guarantee administrative continuity and the comprehensive defense of the Nation.” The court…

United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, telling him to “watch his ass” or risk military action, coming just hours after U.S. forces carried out a dramatic operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump made the remarks during a press interaction at his Mar-a-Lago resort, in a video later shared by BRICS News on X.com on Saturday. Asked to clarify an earlier threat directed at Petro, the U.S. president doubled down. “Well, he has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine, and yeah, I…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that it will resume industrial action on January 12, citing the government’s continued failure to resolve key welfare and professional issues affecting its members. The decision was reached during an emergency National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on January 2. In a statement signed by NARD President, Muhammad Suleiman, the association said the strike is scheduled to begin at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026. Ahead of the planned action, the NEC directed all 91 NARD chapters across the country to convene congress meetings and subsequently hold press briefings…

Venezuela’s Defence Minister, Vladimir López, has accused the United States of carrying out what he described as a “criminal military aggression” against the country following a series of early-morning explosions in the capital, Caracas. The blasts, which occurred on Saturday, reportedly knocked out electricity in parts of the city. The development came hours before US President Donald Trump announced on social media that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been captured by US forces. In a video statement shared online, López said Venezuelan airspace was violated in the early hours of the day, calling the incident “the most…

The United Nations (UN) has reaffirmed that cervical cancer can be prevented and effectively treated when women have timely access to screening, vaccination, and appropriate medical care. In a statement issued on Friday, the UN noted that cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer affecting women globally, adding that January is set aside each year for cancer awareness campaigns. Cervical cancer is a disease of the reproductive system that begins in the cervix and can spread to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 660,000…

Canada deported 366 Nigerian nationals between January and October 2025 as immigration enforcement reached its most aggressive level in more than a decade, according to official figures obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Data from the CBSA removals programme also showed that 974 Nigerians are currently listed under “removal in progress,” meaning they are awaiting deportation from the country. The statistics, last updated on November 25, 2025, placed Nigeria ninth among the top 10 nationalities deported from Canada during the period under review. Nigeria also ranked fifth among countries with the highest number of individuals awaiting removal. Historical…