Divers and rescue workers have intensified efforts to recover the flight recorder and the remains of victims one week after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft crashed into a swamp in Igbokoda, Ondo State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The ATR-42 aircraft crashed on October 5 in Ilaje Local Government Area, killing all 25 people on board.

According to Premium Times, recovery teams have retrieved aircraft fragments and human remains from the crash site. However, identifying the victims has proved difficult because of the condition of the recovered remains.

During a visit to the site on Monday, the newspaper observed that rescuers were still searching the muddy waters for the aircraft’s black box. The report added that the team might have identified the precise location where the aircraft went down.

A swamp buggy operator participating in the recovery operation disclosed that rescuers had retrieved part of a body believed to belong to the pilot from a section of the wreckage near a tyre.

The operator, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the force of the crash had shattered the aircraft into pieces, making the recovery of intact bodies unlikely.

He said, “We found the body of the pilot, but it was cut in the middle and half of it is what was brought out.

“Apart from that, there have been little pieces of the plane here and there. We have little hope of finding anything like the main body because the impact shattered the plane to pieces.

“The place is deep, and much of it is muddy. We are now focused on finding the black box. That is the directive we have, and after we find it, I would not know what next will happen.”

Meanwhile, technicians were seen at the riverbank assembling flotation equipment for swamp buggies, also known as amphibious excavators, to assist the ongoing recovery efforts.

One of the technicians explained that the attachments would enable the machines to stay afloat and move more effectively through the challenging swamp terrain.

“Today, we attached the floaters of a swamp buggy which was taken to the site for work. Once we are done with this one (pointing to the one under construction), the same thing will be done,” he said.

Lawyers representing individuals accused of plotting a coup against President Bola Tinubu have accused the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) of preventing them from having confidential consultations with their clients.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The lawyers, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olalekan Ojo, reportedly refused to proceed with interviews on Monday after the agency allegedly assigned an official to remain with them and listen to their conversations.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, one of the lawyers said the legal team was surprised to discover that they would not be allowed to meet their clients privately when they arrived at the DIA facility.

“When we, including the learned Silk, Olalekan Ojo SAN, arrived at the DIA today (Monday) to interview our clients, to our surprise, we were not availed privacy with our clients, as a DIA staff was attached as a companion to listen to our conversations,” the lawyer said.

According to the counsel, the lawyers present jointly objected to the arrangement and agreed not to proceed with the interviews unless the agency’s personnel left the consultation area.

“This nauseating arrangement was contested, and all the counsel present agreed that we would not proceed with the interview until the companions are removed,” the lawyer stated.

The legal team said it communicated its concerns to the DIA coordinator, but the official reportedly insisted that agency personnel must be present during the consultations.

Following the disagreement, the lawyers resolved to maintain their position that discussions with their clients should take place without third-party interference.

“We are strongly advised that we should all follow suit and insist that no other person should be present while we conduct interviews with our clients,” the lawyer said.

The team further disclosed that Ojo advised the lawyers to document the incident and formally notify the court while awaiting a resolution.

“The learned Silk has also advised that all lawyers present there should report this ugly incident to the court in writing while we wait for a resolution,” the lawyer added.

Background Of The Alleged Coup Case

According to SaharaReporters, the alleged coup plot became public after the military arrested serving and retired officers in late September 2025.

The Defence Headquarters initially linked the arrests to disciplinary issues before later acknowledging that an investigation into an alleged plot to overthrow the government was underway.

Subsequently, a General Court Martial was established to handle the military proceedings, while prosecutors brought separate charges against six alleged conspirators before the Federal High Court.

The defendants involved in the civilian proceedings have denied the allegations against them. Some have also challenged the admissibility of statements and other evidence presented by the prosecution.

Investigators allege that the purported plot involved plans to take over strategic government and military installations and gain control of key communication facilities.

The military proceedings are being held at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) three days to address the alleged unlawful exclusion of his name from the final list of candidates for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

INEC reportedly omitted Pantami’s name from the final list of candidates for the governorship poll scheduled for February 6, 2027.

In a letter dated October 12, 2026, and addressed to the INEC chairman, Pantami’s legal representatives, Ahmed Raji & Co., demanded that the commission publish his name as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate within three days.

The letter, signed by lead counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN), maintained that Pantami was duly nominated by the PDP after winning a fresh primary election conducted on September 29, 2026.

According to the lawyers, Pantami is a registered PDP member from Pantami Ward in Gombe State. They stated that he purchased the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, underwent screening and received clearance before winning the initial primary held on May 26, 2026.

The legal team further explained that the PDP submitted Pantami’s personal details and Form EC9 to INEC on August 8, 2026. The commission subsequently published his name on August 29, 2026, in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

However, the May 26 primary was later challenged in two separate cases before the Federal High Court in Gombe State. The plaintiffs questioned Pantami’s membership of the PDP.

Raji stated that the court resolved the issue of party membership in Pantami’s favour in judgments delivered on September 24, 2026.

In one of the cases, the court reportedly held that the absence of Pantami’s name from an exhibit presented before it was not sufficient evidence to establish that he was not a party member.

The letter stated: “In the second suit, the court also held that the non-appearance of Pantami’s name in an exhibit tendered was not conclusive proof of non-membership. Membership of a political party is ordinarily a matter within the domestic affairs of the party.”

The lawyers explained that although the court nullified the May 26 primary over issues relating to its conduct, it directed the PDP to organise a fresh exercise within 30 days.

The order, according to the letter, required the party to give all aspirants who had been cleared on May 14, 2026, the opportunity to participate in the fresh primary.

Pantami’s legal team said the PDP complied with the court’s directive, notified INEC and conducted the new primary on September 29, 2026. Officials of the electoral commission reportedly monitored the exercise, in which Pantami emerged as the winner.

The lawyers consequently questioned INEC’s decision to exclude his name from the final list of candidates published on October 10, 2026, without providing an explanation.

They insisted that the commission should take immediate steps to correct what they described as an unlawful omission.

In the letter, the firm said it had received clear instructions from Pantami to demand that INEC publish his name as the PDP’s governorship candidate no later than Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

“We have our Client’s firm and unequivocal instructions to demand that the Commission, on or before Wednesday, October 14, publish and circulate the name of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP for the office of Governor of Gombe State,” the letter stated.

The lawyers also urged INEC to confirm in writing the corrective measures it had taken to resolve the matter.