A Kano State High Court on Friday sentenced Shuaibu Abdulkadir to death by hanging for the brutal murder of 22-year-old Rumaisa Shuaibu, who was pregnant with his child. Justice Farida Dan Baffa delivered the verdict after ruling that the prosecution team successfully proved the charge of culpable homicide beyond reasonable doubt. Abdulkadir, a resident of Farawa in the Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, had been standing trial since his arraignment on August 23, 2025. He was prosecuted under Section 221 of the Kano State Penal Code, which carries the death penalty. During the trial, the prosecution counsel, led by Barrister Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, presented three vital witnesses to the court. They included the victim’s husband, Ibrahim Muhammad; the defendant’s fiancée, Asiya Abdulmalik; and the investigating police officer, ASP Chindo Chiwa. Key evidence tendered before the court included a video recording of the incident, a flash drive with electronic evidence, the defendant’s written confession alongside its English and Hausa transcripts, photographs of the victim, his mobile phone, and the knife used to commit the crime. Reacting to the judgement, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude (SAN), described the conviction as a major milestone. He noted that the verdict underscores the Ministry of Justice`s commitment to professional prosecutions, upholding the rule of law, and protecting victims` rights. Maude also commended Barrister Aliyu for his exceptional dedication, urging other state prosecutors to continue handling serious crimes with integrity to maintain peace and security across the state.

Bashir Ahmad, a former digital media aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has strongly advocated for the death penalty as the only fitting punishment for convicted kidnappers, arguing that life imprisonment is far too lenient. Ahmad made the assertion via his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday. He was reacting to a recent judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which sentenced three terrorists involved in the abduction of students and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the convicts—Abdulrazak Umar (alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (alias Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (alias Abu Itisar)—were sentenced by Justice Salim Ibrahim. The trial judge ruled that the jail terms would take effect from the specific dates of their arrests. Prior to the final verdict, defense counsel had pleaded with the court for liberal sentencing. The lawyers urged the judge to temper justice with mercy, noting that the defendants were first-time offenders who had readily pleaded guilty to the charges. However, reacting to the judicial outcome, Ahmad maintained that the severity of kidnapping warrants the ultimate punishment. "Life imprisonment seems too lenient for the crime of kidnapping," the former presidential aide wrote. "In my view, the appropriate punishment for convicted kidnappers should be the death penalty."

It began with a scratched headlight on an unbearably hot afternoon in Maiduguri, Borno State. It ended 47 years later inside a royal palace, leaving behind a trail of stolen youth, systemic failure, and an unforgiven abuse of power. Now 78, a survivor of Nigeria`s correctional system has shared his harrowing journey from a 13-year-old sugarcane hawker to a 60-year-old prison veteran, all because of an accidental traffic mishap and a vindictive police officer. Decades ago, the teenager was helping his father, a local sugarcane farmer, by pushing a rented wheelbarrow through the state capital. While seeking shade, he accidentally knocked off the sidelight of a parked vehicle. Terrified but guided by his conscience, the young boy waited 30 minutes for the owner to return from a nearby mosque. Instead of appreciation for his honesty, the boy met with violence. The car owner, who turned out to be an influential police officer, beat the teenager, threatened intervening bystanders with a pistol, and threw the boy into a police cell. "I spent the whole night there. No food, nothing," the survivor recalled. "One week passed. Then two. One month. I kept asking myself: Has this man forgotten me? I was barely 13 years old. I cried every night." Without a formal trial, the teenager was remanded at the Maiduguri Prison. What was meant to be temporary detention turned into nearly five decades of administrative oblivion. To prevent him from being traced, or perhaps by bureaucratic routine, prison officials bounced him across correctional facilities nationwide. He was moved from Borno to Bauchi, transferred through prisons in the East and West—including Ibadan—before landing at the Kano State Prison. By the time he arrived in Kano, he was 60 years old. Fellow inmates and wardens simply knew him as "Baba." "Behind those walls, people assume everyone is a criminal," he said. "Nobody believed my story." His salvation came during the twilight of a state governor`s administration. During a routine prison visit, the governor spotted "Baba" and asked about his age and crime. The revelation that the elderly man had been entering his 47th year of detention for a childhood accident threw the entire prison yard, including the governor, into tears. An immediate investigation unmasked the officer responsible for the initial arrest. Decades later, the rogue policeman had risen to become a powerful, highly respected monarch. In a dramatic turn of events, the governor drove the freed man—still wearing his prison uniform—straight to the monarch`s palace. Confronted with the living ghost of his past, the traditional ruler lowered his head in shame, offering to build the man a house, purchase a car, and fund a marriage. The survivor rejected the offers. "He took my youth. He took my future. He took my life. I lost contact with my family. No mother, no father, no siblings," he told reporters. "I told him, `In this life and the next, I will never forgive you.`" Following an official executive amnesty, the former governor helped rehabilitate the survivor, setting up a retail provision shop to sustain him. Reflecting on his journey during his 78th birthday, the resilient survivor remains at peace with his new life, though the scars of a stolen childhood remain permanent. "My life is prison, and prison is my life. At my age, what life will fit me? But today, I am alive, and I am happy."

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made a startling revelation, accusing his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, of actively bankrolling a clandestine plot to impeach him during their first term in office. Obasanjo disclosed that Atiku provided ₦5 million to the leadership of the House of Representatives to ignite the legislative coup. The explosive allegation emerged as a direct counter-reaction to recent comments made by Chief Olusegun Osoba. The former Governor of Ogun State had sparked fresh debates after revisiting the controversial political maneuvers and alliances that shaped the outcome of the 2003 general elections. According to Obasanjo,THENEWSCREDIT reports that the legislative rebellion was spearheaded by the late Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba. The former president asserted that Na’Abba’s hostile actions were fully instigated and engineered from within the walls of the presidency by his own deputy. Detailing the timeline of the betrayal, Obasanjo stated that Atiku capitalised on his temporary absence from the office on a specific Friday. The former Vice President allegedly invited Speaker Na’Abba to a private meeting, where he systematically convinced him that the administration must be restricted to a single term. To guarantee the execution of the plan, financial mobilization was immediately deployed during the closed-door session. Obasanjo explicitly stated that Atiku handed over the sum of ₦5 million directly to Na’Abba to facilitate and kickstart the logistical work required for the impeachment process. However, the inner circle of the presidency was already monitoring the subversion in real time. Obasanjo revealed that the entire interaction, including the exchange of funds, was completely compromised by his internal security architecture and promptly flagged. THENEWSCREDIT further gathered the covert operation was intercepted and fully documented by the then-Chief of Staff to the President. Obasanjo highly praised his top aide, describing him as a thoroughly trained, professional intelligence officer who meticulously recorded the breach and presented the evidence directly to him. Despite the gravity of the political mutiny within his own cabinet, the former military general maintained that he remained entirely unbothered by the threat. Obasanjo concluded that he stayed calm throughout the crisis because he knew the instigators lacked any legitimate constitutional basis to remove him.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has issued a strict warning to residents of the ancient city against photographing, filming, or recording the legendary Oloolu masquerade. The monarch issued the preventive directive ahead of the annual cultural festival to prevent a breakdown of tradition and civic order. The monarch, who is a former executive governor of Oyo State, also reiterated the age-old tradition completely barring women from catching a glimpse of the masquerade. According to historical customs, it is considered a strict taboo for any female to look upon the Oloolu during its public appearance. The authoritative directives were contained in an official press statement released on Friday. The document was signed and made available to journalists by the Chief Press Secretary to the Olubadan, Chief Solomon Ayoade. Historically regarded as the biggest and most revered masquerade in the ancient city of Ibadan, the Oloolu commands immense spiritual and cultural significance. The palace announced that the highly anticipated annual festival and its accompanying procession will officially commence this coming Monday. Residents and visitors have been strongly advised by the palace administration to respect and strictly abide by the regulations guiding the movement of the masquerade. The monarch emphasized that maintaining absolute compliance with these rules is essential to preserving the cultural sanctity of the Ibadan heritage. To guarantee public safety, the frontline traditional ruler has specifically enjoined local security agencies to remain on high alert throughout the period. The security operatives are tasked with proactively preventing any clashes, lawlessness, or breakdown of law and order during the festival activities. In the official statement, the Olubadan extended his warning to the Oloolu handlers, other Egungun leaders, and religious adherents to maintain absolute peace. The palace urged all members of the public to desist from any provocative activities that could trigger a crisis during the procession.

The Senate has advanced a critical bill to compel global social media giants operating in Nigeria to establish physical operations within the country. Stakeholders overwhelmingly backed the proposal on Thursday during a public hearing in Abuja organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Cyber Security. The public hearing also received broad support for a separate, forward-looking bill seeking to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Committee Chairman, Senator Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central), declared that both pieces of legislation aim to strengthen Nigeria`s digital economy and drive rapid technological advancement. Sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), the social media legislation seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023. The amendment mandates that all foreign social media companies operating within Nigerian borders must establish and maintain physical offices in the country to ensure better regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, the separate AI Academy bill is sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South). According to the committee, while the social media bill improves cyberspace protection, the proposed academy will serve as a premier centre of excellence for artificial intelligence education, research, and innovation. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate Leader Senator Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), described both proposals as nationally significant. Akpabio clarified that the bill requiring physical offices is not intended to stifle tech innovations but rather to promote greater corporate accountability and engagement. Defending the bill against economic anxieties, Senator Nwoko dismissed concerns that the proposed law could discourage foreign direct investments or target tech firms. He emphasized that the legislation is neither punitive nor hostile, but rather encourages global platforms to become true corporate citizens of Nigeria. The lawmaker argued that nations with smaller populations and digital markets have successfully attracted global tech hubs, including the UK, UAE, South Africa, and Brazil. He noted that these local offices handle vital functions ranging from software engineering and cloud services to regulatory compliance, trust, safety, and local customer support. Citing Ireland’s transformation into a European tech giant via Meta, Google, and TikTok, Nwoko insisted Africa’s largest digital market should enjoy similar job creation and tax revenues. The Senate Committee will now review all submitted stakeholder memoranda before presenting its final report for further legislative action.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-West region, has strongly rejected a proposed legislative amendment passed by the Senate that criminalises religious preaching and informal trading inside commercial vehicles. Warning that the bill could severely restrict citizens’ constitutional rights, the religious body declared that the piece of legislation requires a critical review to prevent unnecessary public friction. The controversy follows the Senate`s passage of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Amendment Bill, 2026. The new bill proposes a strict N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading, or preaching inside commercial vehicles. Additionally, it introduces severe penalties—including a N50,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both—for motorists who refuse to cooperate with FRSC officials during roadside breath tests conducted on reasonable suspicion. In a statement issued on Thursday by the South-West Chairman of CAN, Bishop Barnabas Akinsanya, the Christian body acknowledged the Federal Government’s commitment to improving road safety and reducing avoidable road crashes across Nigeria. The association stressed that it remains fully supportive of every genuine effort aimed at protecting human lives and promoting responsible road use nationwide. However, the association expressed deep-seated worries regarding the provisions prescribing sanctions for preaching in commercial buses and the outright prohibition of hawking. CAN argued that while the government has a constitutional responsibility to ensure public safety, it bears an equal obligation to uphold the fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, including the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression. The regional body cautioned that prohibiting religious preaching without empirical evidence that it poses a direct threat to public safety could create a dangerous impression of religious restriction. CAN warned that such a move is highly capable of generating avoidable public tension at a time when national unity should be prioritised. Turning to the economic implications, the statement highlighted that millions of Nigerians depend heavily on legitimate informal trading within the transit system for their daily survival. Rather than adopting punitive measures that worsen economic hardship, the association urged the government to focus on policies that create employment, reduce poverty, improve public transportation, and strengthen citizens` welfare. Consequently, CAN respectfully appealed to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withhold his assent to the bill in its current form. The body called for immediate and broader consultations with relevant stakeholders, including religious organisations, civil society groups, legal experts, transport unions, and road safety professionals to produce a more balanced legislation. Reiterating its commitment to constructive engagement with the government, the Christian group concluded that Nigeria needs laws that unite rather than divide. The body emphasised that the nation must focus on legislation that protects human lives without unnecessarily restricting freedoms, thereby strengthening public confidence in democratic governance.

The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has thrown down a bold gauntlet to political opponents and critics across Nigeria. The former governor has openly claimed to be the first state chief executive in the nation’s democratic history to complete an eight-year tenure without owning a single personal house. Aregbesola, who served as the executive governor of Osun State between 2010 and 2018, made this staggering revelation while addressing a large gathering of his loyal political supporters. The declaration, captured in a video that began trending heavily across various social media platforms on Thursday, has since sparked widespread national debate regarding political accountability and asset ownership. THENEWSCREDIT reports that In the viral footage, the former minister vehemently asserted that his entire two-term administration was spent living in a property owned by a close associate rather than a personal estate. He challenged anyone with contrary evidence regarding his real estate holdings to come forward publicly and present their findings to the Nigerian populace. "I’m the first governor in Nigeria to rule a state for eight years without owning a house of my own," Aregbesola confidently stated to the cheering crowd. "I stayed in my friend’s house for eight years as a governor in my father’s land. Whoever says that what I’m saying is not true should come out and show me the house I own." The former governor`s unconventional revelation stands in stark contrast to the typical public perception of Nigerian political officeholders, who are frequently accused of accumulating massive wealth and luxury real estate portfolios while in power. By framing his lack of personal property as a badge of honor, Aregbesola sought to distinguish his leadership style as one uniquely centered on selflessness. During his double tenure at the helm of Osun State, Aregbesola’s administration focused heavily on populist policies aimed at uplifting the socio-economic status of ordinary citizens. His cabinet aggressively prioritized aggressive human capital development projects designed to combat institutionalized poverty, mitigate severe youth unemployment, and eradicate hunger across the state`s local government areas. Furthermore, his time in the Osun Government House was defined by massive structural investments in the state`s foundational systems, particularly in public education, healthcare delivery, and community infrastructure. His loyalists often point to these large-scale interventions as proof that state resources were directed into public development rather than personal enrichment. Following his gubernatorial service, Aregbesola transitioned to national governance, serving as the Minister of Interior under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. Having recently transitioned into his executive role within the ADC, this latest public declaration appears aimed at redefining his political legacy as he positions himself for future national influence.

Veteran broadcaster and CEO of Triple A Multimedia Network, Akin Akinborode, popularly known as "KOGOKOGO," has called on online radio On-Air Personalities (OAPs) to transition from mere presenters to community leaders by treating their audience as family. He made this declaration on Thursday, July 23, 2026, while delivering a keynote presentation titled "The Relationship Between Online Radio OAP and Listeners" at the grand finale of the one-year anniversary of Treasure Online Radio, held at the Ise Oluwa Ni Cooperatives Hall. THENEWSCREDIT reports that Akinborode emphasized that the survival and profitability of digital broadcasting rely heavily on the emotional bond between the presenter and the listener. Unlike traditional terrestrial radio which relies on expensive transmitters, masts, and localized FM/AM airwaves limited to a 50–100km range, online radio utilizes servers and the internet to achieve global reach. This borderless nature allows listeners in Ogbomoso, Lagos, the United Kingdom, and Canada to stream the same broadcast simultaneously 24/7, turning the global audience into a tight-knit community. Despite its borderless reach, the veteran broadcaster identified major hurdles facing online stations, including high data costs, erratic power supply, and low local adoption. To combat data costs, he recommended that stations strike "batal" partnerships with network providers, trading advertisement slots for data bundles. He also urged stations to deploy solar power, inverters, and automated transmission software to keep stations running smoothly during power outages or when presenters are offline. THENEWSCREDIT reliably gathered that to bridge the local adoption gap, Akinborode advised OAPs to actively promote their stations using grassroots, mouth-to-mouth awareness campaigns in local markets, schools, churches, and mosques. He stressed that presenters must create meaningful, localized content that directly addresses community issues. Furthermore, he reminded operators to protect their stations from legal liabilities by using royalty-free music, securing proper streaming licenses, and consistently airing clear copyright disclaimers. The lecture highlighted building long-term audience trust through intentional, authentic engagement, emphasizing a shift from traditional broadcasting to a two-way relationship where listeners feel seen and valued. OAPs are urged to humanize their presence by utilizing video live-streams, sharing personal stories, and actively conversing with listeners by incorporating social media comments and voice notes into broadcasts. Furthermore, fostering community requires extending engagement beyond airtime through dedicated communication channels and maintaining strict consistency in scheduling, content delivery, and providing valuable, actionable information. The presentation also highlighted interactive on-air techniques, advising OAPs to use local proverbs, emojis, and playful slang to make listeners feel at home. He recommended running weekly call-in segments, highlighting a "comment of the day," and hosting interactive airtime giveaways to increase real-time engagement. By showing open gratitude, tracking listener locations via digital analytics, and directly messaging loyal fans, presenters can successfully turn casual listeners into brand evangelists. Akinborode concluded by linking tight audience relationships directly to financial sustainability, noting that high listener loyalty creates reliable profit points. Advertisers and corporate sponsors are naturally drawn to highly engaged, interactive digital communities. By combining traditional advertisements, securing dedicated show sponsorships, and hosting paid localized services like birthday shoutouts and anniversary surprise programs, online radio stations can easily unlock self-sustaining revenue streams.

Former Lagos State Governor and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has dismissed speculations of a 2027 presidential ambition, stating firmly that he is content with his current role outside active politics. Speaking during a live interview on TVC News, Fashola also addressed his visible silence on the performance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He revealed that he maintains a direct, private line of communication with the President, making public criticism on television entirely unnecessary. Responding to questions about why he has refrained from publicly assessing the current administration, Fashola disclosed that President Tinubu recently reached out to him personally to seek strategic input ahead of the 2027 general elections. "He calls me today, and he says, ‘Today, identify one area where my administration must improve as we count down to 2027. What would you advise me?’ So, I will speak to the President on TV? I’ve told myself I would not do that," Fashola stated. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the former minister emphasized the importance of preserving confidential channels of communication, countering suggestions that the current administration suffers from operational blind spots. "There are no blind spots in this administration. You can’t be shouting at somebody whose ear you have," he added, noting that he has already offered private counsel on several key national issues. Despite expectations from the public that his exit from cabinet responsibilities would make him a more vocal social commentator, Fashola reiterated that his stance on governance remains institutional rather than performative. When asked directly if he would throw his hat into the ring for the presidency in the next election cycle, Fashola dismissed the idea with a smile. "President of what? I’m president at home," he said, signaling an absolute end to his aspirations for elective office. Reflecting on over two decades in public life—spanning his tenure as Chief of Staff, an eight-year governorship in Lagos, and eight years as a federal minister—Fashola described his journey as an "unimaginable privilege" aimed at inspiring the next generation of Nigerian leaders. THENEWSCREDIT further gathered,he declined to clear up long-standing political rumors regarding his preferred successor during the 2015 Lagos governorship race, which featured Kadri Hamzat and Olasupo Sasore. Fashola concluded by confirming his active membership in the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC), while drawing a sharp boundary regarding his post-office conduct. "There is a thin line between intervention and interference," he cautioned.