The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ratified Francis Bullem as its substantive chairman following the resignation of his predecessor, Venatius Ikem.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The trial of six individuals accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration took a fresh turn on Thursday after a Federal High Court in Abuja admitted their statements and interrogation videos as evidence.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the defendants had failed to establish their claims that the statements were obtained through torture, inducement or coercion.

The defendants had challenged the admissibility of the documents, arguing that they did not make the statements voluntarily. Their objections prompted the court to order a trial-within-trial on May 11, 2026, to determine whether the confessions were made freely.

In her ruling, the judge held that there was no evidence to show that the defendants had acted under duress. She described their claims as an afterthought and found them unconvincing.

Consequently, the court admitted the statements and video recordings as exhibits. The fourth prosecution witness, a military officer identified by the codename AAA, tendered the video recordings.

The matter was adjourned until December 7 and 10 for continuation of the trial.

The six defendants are retired Major General Mohammed Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

The Federal Government arraigned them on April 22, 2026, on 13 counts bordering on treason, terrorism, failure to disclose security information and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired to “levy war against the state to overawe the President.”

According to the charge sheet, Goni allegedly retained ₦50 million in funds suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing, while Sani and Ibrahim were accused of keeping ₦2 million and ₦1 million, respectively.

Umoru was also accused of receiving ₦10 million in cash outside the banking system and possessing an additional ₦8.8 million allegedly linked to terrorism financing.

The prosecution further alleged that Ibrahim and Umoru participated in meetings connected to the purported plot.

Speculation about a possible coup attempt emerged after the Federal Government cancelled the October 1, 2025, Independence Day parade.

Although the Defence Headquarters initially dismissed the reports, it confirmed in January 2026 that investigations had uncovered an alleged plot involving some military personnel.

Meanwhile, families of the detained officers have staged protests and held press conferences, demanding transparent trials and access to their relatives.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday received a delegation of leaders from Nigeria’s Middle Belt region at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The meeting was confirmed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, who shared photographs of the gathering on his X account.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who was part of the delegation, said the group visited to express appreciation to Tinubu and pledge their support for his re-election bid in 2027.

Dogara said the delegation acknowledged what it described as improvements in security across the Middle Belt since Tinubu assumed office, alongside other developmental gains.

“Insecurity is declining in the Middle Belt. The Abuja-Kaduna road is safer now,” he said.

He added that discussions also focused on strengthening political cooperation and mobilising support for the President within their respective communities ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, also described the growing cooperation among people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds as encouraging.

According to him, young leaders across religious and ethnic divides are increasingly engaging in conversations about the region’s future without waiting for government intervention.

“Youth leaders across the divides of faith and ethnicity are beginning to have conversations without even government support. This is quite encouraging to me that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Mutfwang said.

Other members of the delegation included Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.); Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas; and former Chiefs of Army Staff, Generals T.Y. Danjuma and Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd.).

Thomas Etuh and Dr Poju Bitrus were also among those who attended the meeting.