The 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national elections faced a delay following a “deliberate, coordinated, and sustained cyberattack” on its electronic voting portal.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Disruption: Although voting was scheduled to begin at 12:00 a.m. WAT on Saturday, the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) was forced to delay the process due to the attack, which was described as a calculated assault on its technical infrastructure.

• Response: The ECNBA’s IT and cybersecurity team, working with the Election Voting Service Provider, activated security protocols and countermeasures to neutralize the threat and restore the platform’s integrity.

• Security Warning: The committee warned all eligible voters to ignore any unofficial links claiming to provide alternative voting channels, emphasizing that such sites could be part of the malicious campaign. The only authorized voting portal is www.ecnbaovs.org.ng.

• Status: Despite the technical setback, the electoral process remains under the committee’s full supervision, with candidates, agents, and observers present at the designated monitoring center. The ECNBA has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and transparent election and promised to provide further updates through official channels.

Following England’s 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized England manager Thomas Tuchel for his tactical decisions. Trump specifically questioned the choice to move captain Harry Kane into a defensive role after England had secured an early lead, describing the maneuver as “unusual” and a potential mistake. These tactical adjustments, which included switching to a back-five formation to protect the lead, were reportedly met with frustration from some England players and provided Argentina the opportunity to rally and secure their spot in the final against Spain. Despite the backlash, Tuchel maintained that his decisions were made with the team’s best interests in mind.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

During a reception at Trump Tower, President Trump also discussed the controversy surrounding U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, who had his automatic one-match suspension—issued following a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina—stayed by FIFA for 12 months. Trump joked about his personal involvement in the matter, claiming he had lodged a complaint with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to “let the guy in the game”. Ultimately, the U.S. team was able to field all its players for the subsequent match against Belgium.

World Cup Success

President Trump praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the success of the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Trump labeled the tournament “the most successful sporting event, maybe in the history of the world,” a sentiment Infantino supported by describing the event as a monumental human, social, and cultural achievement.

The Department of State Services (DSS) intends to appeal the prison sentences recently handed down to three individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses, as the agency views the punishments as insufficient given the gravity of the crimes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Convictions and Sentences

• Jamilu Ibrahim: Sentenced to 32 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Kano. He was reportedly arrested while allegedly transporting four Rocket Propelled Grenades and 832 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition intended for a bandit leader.

• Rayya Haruna: Sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Federal High Court in Kano.

• Audu Adamu Tubali: The 80-year-old village head of Salihawa in Katsina State received a 10-year prison sentence from a Katsina State High Court.

Rationale for the Appeal

• Security sources have characterized these sentences as a “slap on the wrist,” arguing that they fail to serve as an effective deterrent against arms trafficking and the support of terrorist or bandit groups.

• The DSS intends to pursue all legal avenues to ensure the convictions align with the severity of the offenses, particularly noting that the weapons recovered from these convicts were reportedly more lethal than those involved in other cases where the death penalty was imposed.

• The agency pointed to the recent death sentence handed to Hauwa’u Mukhtar—who was caught transporting 438 rounds of ammunition—as a precedent for requiring stiffer penalties in these current cases.

• The proposed appeals are part of a wider DSS strategy to obtain judicial outcomes that provide stronger deterrence against criminal networks operating in the region.