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Court Jails ISWAP Commander 20 Years As Terror Gang Leaders Face Fresh Trial.

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According to Nivo News, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Hussaini Ismaila, a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province, to 20 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the verdict on Tuesday, marking a major turn in the case after Ismaila — also known as Mai Tangaran — reversed his plea from not guilty to guilty on four counts under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013. Prosecutors accused him of coordinating a series of violent attacks on police formations in Kano State in 2012.

The assaults targeted multiple security installations, including the Police Headquarters in Bompai, the Mobile Police Base on Kabuga Road, the Pharm Centre Police Station, and the Angwa Uku Police Station, leaving several people injured. Ismaila was eventually arrested on August 31, 2017 in Tsamiyya Babba Village, Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The case experienced prolonged delays due to interlocutory appeals and a trial-within-trial evaluating the voluntariness of his statements. The Department of State Services presented five witnesses, including operatives and eyewitnesses, after which Ismaila opted to change his plea.

His lawyer, P. B. Onijah of the Legal Aid Council, urged the court to consider his client’s remorse and willingness to admit guilt to prevent further delays. Justice Nwite subsequently convicted him on all four counts, sentencing him to 15 years on the first count and 20 years each on the remaining three, with all sentences to run concurrently. The prison term is to be calculated from the date of his arrest in 2017. The court also ordered that he undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation after serving his sentence.

Meanwhile, the court has fixed January 15, 2026 for the continuation of the trial of two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba. They are facing a 32-count charge filed by the DSS for offences spanning terrorism, kidnapping, illegal mining, terrorism financing, and arms procurement between 2015 and 2024.

Usman pleaded guilty to one economic-related count but denied the others. He had previously been handed a 15-year sentence for using illegal mining proceeds to finance terrorism and kidnapping. Abba maintained his not-guilty plea.

The charges claim the duo bombed the Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State, underwent weapons and explosives training, kidnapped several security operatives—including a Customs officer and an Immigration officer who was later killed—and collected millions in ransom payments used to buy arms and train recruits in Mali and Sudan.

During Wednesday’s hearing, defence counsel B. I. Bakum requested that the accused be transferred to a correctional facility to ease trial preparations, but DSS counsel David Kaswe objected, citing procedural requirements. Justice Nwite ordered the defence to follow due process and adjourned the matter to January 15, 2026.


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EFCC Arrests Controversial Archbishop Over Naira Ritual, Investigation Ongoing.

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According to Nivo News, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have taken into custody Archbishop Angel Oyeghe over allegations of conspiracy, naira mutilation, and suspected money laundering.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Benin Zonal Directorate of the anti-corruption agency arrested Oyeghe on Tuesday. The self-proclaimed Archbishop, who heads the Faith Healing Ministry in Warri, Delta State, was apprehended after a video circulated online showing several individuals under her supervision spraying naira notes on a live cow during a church event.

The EFCC stated that it is pursuing other individuals connected to the incident, noting that the actions of the suspects violate Section 21 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

Archbishop Oyeghe has provided useful statements to investigators and will be formally charged in court once the ongoing investigation is completed.


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Oshoma Blames Past PDP Leaders For Party Crisis, Says Wike Was Called In Too Late.

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According to Nivo News, human rights activist Liborous Oshoma has attributed the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the failures of its past leaders. Speaking on Arise News, Oshoma accused Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike of destabilizing the party ahead of the 2027 elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Oshoma stated that the PDP turned to Wike for support after former leaders abandoned the party during its most critical moments. He explained, “I would not just start the crisis of PDP from 2023. I would first and foremost blame the past presidents that the platform of the PDP produced for abandoning the party when it needed them most. At that time, it suddenly dawned on them that there was no money to run the party. Some persons went to mortgage the party to Modu Sheriff. Atiku had left. Obasanjo had torn his PDP card. And then they quickly ran to Wike.”

He further argued that this move effectively “mortgaged the party’s future” to the then Rivers State governor without fully considering the repercussions. Highlighting the party’s legal disputes, Oshoma pointed to the prolonged conflict between the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, noting, “It shows truly that something is wrong.”

Oshoma also criticized Wike for turning against PDP leaders he previously supported, stating, “You said you wanted Uche Secondus out, he went out. Atiku was your problem, Atiku had gone. Now Damagum came. You were in hot romance with him until now. Enough should be enough.”

On the contentious Ibadan convention, Oshoma condemned the persistent clashes between courts of coordinate jurisdiction, explaining, “It’s sad and unfortunate that at this day and time, we’re still having a ping-pong of judgments and court orders. When courts of coordinate jurisdiction clash, you pick and choose which to obey. In this case, the last court order, from Oyo State, was obeyed, and they went ahead with the convention.”


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Promoter Warns Joshua: Victory Over Paul Crucial For Fury Clash.

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British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has been issued a stern warning ahead of his December return to the ring, with promoter Frank Warren stating that any hopes of facing Tyson Fury will vanish if Joshua fails to defeat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Joshua is scheduled to fight Paul on December 19 in what many analysts describe as a risky encounter. Warren emphasized that Joshua cannot afford any mistakes, noting the pressure on him following a painful loss to Daniel Dubois last year, where he was knocked down multiple times before the fight was stopped in the fifth round.

“It’s how he beats him, if he beats him. AJ is coming off a significant loss. Five or six times he was on the floor in that fight. It was a tough night for him,” Warren said, highlighting the scrutiny Joshua’s upcoming performance will face.

Despite previous setbacks, plans remain for Joshua to compete in Riyadh in February, with a potential fight against Fury in September still on the long-term roadmap under Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh. Warren insists the immediate focus is simply to get past Paul.

While Joshua is widely seen as the favourite, Warren acknowledged Paul’s growth in the sport. “Jake Paul has faced criticism for choosing easy opponents, but he’s a professional who trains hard. Facing a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist is a massive step up, but it’s a fight that will generate huge attention given his huge following in America,” Warren noted.

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