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Court Jails ISWAP Commander 20 Years As Terror Gang Leaders Face Fresh Trial.
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.
Social media personality and Oyo-based herbal vendor, Eniola Fagbemi, widely known as Sisi Alagbo, has issued a public apology following the circulation of a private video online.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
News reports that she reacted to the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, where she admitted responsibility and expressed regret over the controversy.
Sisi Alagbo said she was deeply sorry to anyone who felt hurt or disappointed by the video.
In her words, “I own my mistakes, and I apologise with all sincerity for the video circulating online. I am deeply sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me.”
She also disclosed that the backlash has had a serious impact on her emotional health, saying she has been unable to eat or sleep properly since the video went viral.
“I am already passing through a lot. I can’t eat or sleep for days. Even sleeping medicines aren’t working for me any longer,” she said.
Appealing for forgiveness and understanding, she added, “Please forgive me. I don’t want to injure myself. I only have a little strength left.”
The incident adds to a growing trend of leaked private videos involving public figures in Nigeria, with personalities such as Tiwa Savage and Moyo Lawal previously facing similar situations.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, alongside the National Publicity Secretary of the Obi–Kwankwaso Movement, Justin Ijeh, has called for adherence to Nigeria’s informal zoning practice, saying it promotes fairness, equity, and national stability.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Tanko maintained that the idea of a southern presidential ticket is based on fairness and political balance, noting that the current presidency is already held by the South.
He explained that Peter Obi had aligned with this position by agreeing to serve only one term of four years if elected.
Tanko said: “Yes, we are concerned about zoning. That was why we’ve been asking the ADC to zone the presidency to the southern part of this country, considering the simple fact that the Presidency has been zoned to the South.
“As you speak right now, what we have is a southern presidency. So, once you have a southern president, it simply means that even if there is going to be a replacement for the existing president, it should come from the South for them to complete their tenure.
“I think it is only fair to do that. And that was why Mr Peter Obi has also agreed that he’s going to do only four years.”
Tanko further expressed optimism that Obi would emerge as the consensus candidate of the opposition if a unified arrangement is reached, adding that his popularity—especially among young Nigerians—remains strong.
He said Obi enjoys massive public support across the country, describing moments of public reception during recent travels as overwhelming and emotional.
According to him, “That is because he’s the most popular candidate in the country at the moment… especially among the youth. Anywhere he goes, he is adored.”
Tanko added that large crowds and emotional displays of support reflect the level of trust Nigerians have in Obi’s leadership potential.
Similarly, Justin Ijeh noted that while zoning is not provided for in the constitution, it has become a political tradition that helps maintain inclusiveness in Nigeria’s diverse society.
He argued that, in the current political climate, it would be appropriate for the presidency to remain in the South in line with existing convention, warning that deviating from it could create avoidable political tension.
Ijeh said zoning, though informal, remains a stabilising mechanism that helps balance representation in the country’s power structure.
The Ugandan government has detained 62 Nigerian nationals over allegations of illegally running a church in the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The development was confirmed in a statement posted on the government’s account on Wednesday. According to the Ugandan National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC), the suspects were also found to be living and working in the country without valid permits. The agency said the arrests followed an intelligence tip-off indicating that the individuals were operating unlawfully without the necessary documentation. “Following a tip-off, our enforcement team has arrested 62 Nigerian nationals operating illegally in Adjumani (without work permits). The group, primarily found operating a church among other things, is now being processed for prosecution under Uganda’s immigration laws,” the statement read. The spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Simon Peter Mundeyi, said the suspects often present themselves as gospel preachers while allegedly engaging in other unlawful activities. He added that they are currently being held at the ministry’s Namanve facility, where they are undergoing legal processing that could lead to deportation, fines, or blacklisting. “They often pose as gospel preachers while engaging in other irregular activities. Acting on intelligence, we moved in and apprehended them,” Mundeyi said. He further disclosed that preliminary investigations showed conflicting accounts from the suspects, with some claiming they were deceived into coming to Uganda with fake job offers, while others are being investigated over alleged involvement in cyber-related fraud and other offences.
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