Connect with us

latest

Alleged Smear Plot: Banire Breaks Silence On Nestoil, Neconde Case.

Published

on

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Muiz Banire, has responded to what he described as a coordinated social media smear campaign against him and other senior lawyers representing Nestoil Limited, Neconde Energy Limited, and other defendants in a suit filed by FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited and First Trustees Limited.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a detailed statement, Banire said the attacks were directed at defence counsel not because of any proven misconduct, but due to their professional standing and reputations. He alleged that the publication behind the claims was authored by an individual he described as a fugitive from the law with a history of acting on behalf of third parties.

Banire stressed that no substantive hearing has taken place in the matter at any court level, insisting that proceedings so far have been limited to ex parte orders obtained by the plaintiffs. He said attempts to move the case forward were repeatedly stalled, alleging that the plaintiffs adopted a litigation strategy aimed at securing court orders without notifying the defendants.

According to him, the defendants challenged those orders, leading to their being set aside and the case adjourned for hearing on the merits. He added that similar ex parte orders were later obtained at the Court of Appeal and were also contested.

Banire explained that the defendants eventually approached the Supreme Court to suspend the appellate court orders, noting that all parties were duly notified. He said the Supreme Court did not hear the substantive matter but referred the issue of legal representation back to the Court of Appeal, adjourning all applications until January 26, 2026.

The senior lawyer rejected allegations that he received any illicit funds from Nestoil or any other party, describing such claims as false and defamatory. He challenged anyone with contrary evidence to come forward.

Banire also criticised the circulation of unverified allegations by legal practitioners, warning that such actions could violate the Cybercrimes Act. He expressed concern that the publication unfairly portrayed the judiciary as compromised, insisting that he had never attempted to influence any judge.

Beyond the case, Banire warned about the growing misuse of social media in Nigeria, describing it as a major national problem that fuels misinformation, reputational damage, and psychological harm. While admitting he once opposed social media regulation, he said recent experiences have shown the need for a balanced regulatory framework that protects free speech while curbing defamation, blackmail, and digital harassment.

He called for stronger enforcement of existing laws and praised security agencies for investigating and prosecuting abuses, adding that malicious online actors should not be allowed to undermine the integrity of individuals, institutions, or the justice system.

Advertisement

latest

Lagos To Host 2026 CAF Awards As Africa’s Football Stars Prepare For Big Night.

Published

on

The 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards will be held in Lagos on Wednesday, December 2, with top footballers, coaches, clubs and national teams from across the continent expected to attend the prestigious annual event.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. Nigerian time, 8 p.m. in Cairo and 6 p.m. GMT, at the Professor Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Arts, popularly known as the National Theatre.

The event will mark the return of the CAF Awards to Nigeria’s commercial capital for the first time in 12 years. Lagos last hosted the ceremony in 2014.

CAF disclosed that this year’s edition would blend football with Nigerian culture, with music and entertainment forming key parts of the celebrations.

A total of 18 award categories will be presented at the ceremony, with the CAF Men’s Player of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year awards expected to be among the major highlights.

Other categories will honour outstanding achievements by coaches, goalkeepers, young players, clubs and national teams.

Voting for the awards commenced on November 5 and is expected to close on November 20, covering both the men’s and women’s categories.

CAF Member Associations, clubs, eligible coaches and national team captains are taking part in the voting process to determine the eventual winners.

The continental football governing body said the voting arrangement was designed to ensure broad representation across African football while upholding fairness and transparency.

It added that independent monitoring would be carried out throughout the process to safeguard the credibility of the results.

Continue Reading

latest

Abacha Wanted Me Dead’ – Obasanjo Reveals Details Of His Secret Arrest

Published

on

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed how he rejected an offer of political asylum from the United States despite warnings that he could be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The former leader also recounted how he left the Nigerian Army to pursue farming before his return to the country led to his arrest and imprisonment under the administration of late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

Obasanjo shared the experience while discussing his encounter with Abacha in an interview featured in a video published by BBC News Pidgin on Tuesday.

The 89-year-old explained that he ventured into agriculture after leaving office as Nigeria’s military Head of State in 1979.

According to him, his farming business was progressing successfully until Abacha allegedly made plans to eliminate him.

Obasanjo said he had not intended to retire from the Army at the age of 42, but had reached the highest position possible in the military, having become a four-star general and Head of State.

He said, “When I was leaving government as military head of state, there was, I was leaving too early. I didn’t join the army to retire at the age of 42.

“Now I had to retire at the age of 42. At the age of 42, I had become a four-star general. There’s nothing else I can do in the army. I’ve become the military head of state. That’s the highest political office I could rise.

“So what can I do? I decided I would go into farming. It really was going well, and it went well until I was arrested. Abacha had decided that I must be liquidated; otherwise he would not be able to have his way.”

The former President further disclosed that he was unaware of the alleged plan against him until the American ambassador to Nigeria contacted him while he was travelling.

According to Obasanjo, the ambassador informed him that the US government had offered him political asylum because it anticipated that he would be arrested if he returned to Nigeria.

However, he said he rejected the offer because he believed he had committed no offence that warranted an arrest.

He explained that upon arriving in Nigeria, his passport was seized, and he headed to his farm, only to discover that security operatives had surrounded the premises.

Obasanjo said a plain-clothes police officer later approached him, claiming that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) wanted him to assist with an issue.

He recalled rejecting the invitation, insisting that the AIG should personally come to his farm if he needed his assistance.

The former leader said he eventually drove himself to the police station, where the AIG informed him that he had been instructed to arrest him.

Obasanjo added that he was subsequently detained, and former US President Jimmy Carter later intervened on his behalf, leading to his placement under house arrest.

However, he said security operatives returned one night while he was playing squash at about 1 a.m. and took him away to prison.

He said, “I didn’t know that it was a decision of Abacha that some of us must not be kept free; otherwise, he would feel unsafe. I was put in a place. Then President Jimmy Carter came. He pleaded, and then they put me under house arrest.

“Then they came one day; I was playing squash at about 1 am. They came and said they were taking me away. And they took me away, and from there, I went to prison.”

Continue Reading

entertainment

‘I Was Surprised’ – Krizbeatz Opens Up On What Tiwa Savage Was Doing At Home.

Published

on

Nigerian music producer Krizbeatz has recounted an experience from a visit to the residence of popular Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The producer shared the story while speaking about his Christian faith during an interview on the Zikoko podcast.

Krizbeatz described himself as someone who grew up in the church and has continued to maintain a connection with Christianity.

Recalling his encounter with Tiwa Savage during a music production session, he said he visited the singer’s home to work on her song titled Energy.

However, he was surprised by what he found the award-winning singer doing when he arrived at her residence.

According to him, Tiwa Savage was reading the Bible at the time.

He said, “I am the producer of Tiwa Savage’s song ‘Energy.’ The day I visited her house to produce the song, I saw her reading the Bible.”

Meanwhile, Tiwa Savage recently responded to a social media user who questioned her decision to describe herself as an African Baddie.

The controversy started after the man criticised the singer for using the description despite being in her 40s.

He wrote, “African baddie at 40… this one no serious.”

Reacting, the singer disclosed that she is 46 years old and expressed confidence in her appearance, financial status and music career.

She also dismissed the criticism while promoting her forthcoming song, African Baddie.

Tiwa wrote, “46, fine, paid, unbothered and dropping my super hottttt record ‘African Baddie’ on Friday. What exactly is the problem, boy?😂 #AfricanBaddie.”

Continue Reading

Trending