Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against removing Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 elections.
Shittu, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, warned that any move to replace Shettima could jeopardize Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term.
He made this statement during an interview on AIT’s Focus Nigeria program.
There has been speculation that Tinubu may pick another vice-presidential running mate ahead of the 2027 election.
But the presidency had dismissed such claims, stressing that the president would make his decision known when election campaigns start officially.
President Tinubu
However, Shittu said: “Shettima was not nominated as vice president because of whatever cleavage he had with ANPP, on his own merit he got it. Shettima as a person merits it, so to start clinching on history is not part of it.
“I would vote for Shettima any day because he merits it, he is a very intelligent vice president. I don’t know what he has done for people to think that he would act differently. I don’t think Shettima deserves any prevarication on his continuity in Tinubu’s team.
“If there are any such suggestions from any quarters, I think we must be very careful about it.”
On replacing Shettima, he said: “It would bring a lot of disruptions if that move is made and it could endanger the possibility of Tinubu’s second presidency. They must continue, you don’t punish anybody for doing anything wrong.”
A man identified as Ibrahim Abubakar has been sentenced to three months in prison by a Magistrate Court in Kano for burning car tyres and polluting the environment.
The Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, through its lawyer Barista Bahijjah H. Aliyu, took Abubakar to court after he was caught breaking environmental and public health laws.
Police officers on patrol in the Tukuntawa Gidan Radio area arrested Abubakar while he was burning tyres; an act that produces dangerous smoke and harmful to people’s health.
The case followed complaints from residents of the area.
In response, the Director of Pollution Control in the ministry, Ibrahim Nasir, led a team to investigate the matter. The ministry then took the case to court.
During the court session, the prosecutor presented strong evidence showing the health risks caused by burning of tyres.
The judge, Auwalu Yusuf, found Abubakar guilty and gave him an option of either paying a fine or serving three months in prison.
Police arrest two suspects for gruesome murder of young woman in Lagos
The Yobe State Police Command has issued a warning to residents against the diversion, vandalism, or sale of farm tools and relief materials distributed by the State Government.
The warning was conveyed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Dungus Abdulkarim, following a directive from the government during the launch of an agricultural empowerment initiative aimed at boosting food production, ensuring food security, and improving the well-being of citizens.
Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ado, emphasized that anyone caught violating the government’s directive will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
“The Command is committed to maintaining security, safety, and protecting life and property”, he said.
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Legal Advisor Jacob Mark has stated that Peter Obi should not be concerned about Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), if he wishes to rejoin the party.
In an interview with Arise News, Mark addressed the notion that Wike, who is currently in an APC government, controls the PDP.
Mark said that Wike’s influence on the PDP is overstated when asked if the FCT minister supports the effort to reintroduce Peter Obi, one of the 2027 presidential contenders, to the party and if he will support his (Obi) candidature.
“Wike is not a member of the PDP. This is because in the last one year or more, he has not attended any PDP meeting,” he said.
“And when I hear people say he’s in charge or he’s in control of PDP, I really get worried, because it appears we are very lazy in terms of investigation.
“I am in Kaduna today because we had a state caucus meeting where we are preparing for our bye-elections in one of the federal constituencies, and the entire structure of the PDP is here. Nobody is aware of whatever Wike is doing in Abuja.
“We are concerned about our party, and we are running it independent of the national body without discussing who is feeding anybody.”
According to Mark, the former governor is unknown in the northern parts of the nation, and he questions why anyone would assume that he is in charge of the PDP.
“Wike has very little, if I can say, zero influence in Kaduna state as far as the PDP is concerned. So when people talk about Wike running PDP or PDP being in his hands, I wonder what they really mean,” he added.
“Is it because he has friends in the National Working Committee? Or is it because some people have sold their conscience and are doing things that he wants at the national level, or in Abuja. Wike’s powers or control are being exaggerated.
“And with due respect to him, I’m not sure he also understands that he is limited in whatever they are ascribing to him. He does not control the PDP.
“And with the effort that the founders of the PDP have put in in the last two months, we can say with all honesty that the PDP is being regrouped and refocused to look at the issues and be the opposition party that Nigeria is looking for.
Wike
“And given the opportunity in the next few months, when we properly strategize and refocus, Nigerians will see a more vibrant political party.
“Honestly, we are so happy. Personally, I’m so happy that some of the people who have left the PDP have left the party because they were just a problem.
“Because whether you like it or not, the moment you step aside, other people take your position, and that is growth. I love progression.
“I love the fact that people are no longer standing still and blocking every other person from making progress. We have been in this party from the beginning. Some of us could not grow beyond what we are because some people refused to move. People refuse to retire. Why is there retirement in the civil service?
“So the departure of some people has given way for many other people to grow. We need to see the emergence of a new crop of people, not a recycling of people who ought to be elders, who are still wearing the jersey to play the football match.
“So for me, Wike is a hard working person in his own right. If he says he’s a member of the PDP, that’s his cup of tea, but we don’t see him. He has not attended NEC in the last one year.
“The PDP has done many things. He has never participated and does not contribute to anything PDP is doing. In fact, he has boasted that he has supported opponents of the PDP in several states to make sure the PDP fails.
“So what kind of member of the party is that? So in Abuja, maybe they have a problem with him, or they have a relationship with him, but we don’t know him. In my state and the several states in the country, go to Plateau, go to Benue, go to any other state, Wike is unknown.”
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, has strongly condemned the recent attack on a Muslim cleric in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, by a masquerader during a cultural procession.
According to MPAC, the incident involved a masquerader identified as Lobanika, who allegedly used a stick to knock off the cap of an Imam who was peacefully standing by the roadside, allowing the procession to pass.
The Islamic advocacy group described the act as a “brazen disregard for civil norms and individual rights,” calling it both provocative and deeply offensive to Islamic sensibilities.
In a statement signed and made available to our reporter on Friday by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC criticized the incident as a violation of the Imam’s constitutionally guaranteed rights to dignity, religious freedom, and public safety.
The organization further warned against the increasing misuse of cultural traditions as a cover for lawlessness and religious intimidation.
“No culture, tradition, or festival has the right to infringe on the rights of any Nigerian.
“The act of forcibly removing an Imam’s cap, a symbol of religious identity and modesty, is an affront to both human dignity and Islamic values”, the statement read.
MPAC called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately investigate the incident and prosecute the masquerader and any accomplice.
The organization also urged the Oyo State Government to regulate masquerade festivals to ensure they comply with the law and respect the rights of all citizens.
In addition, MPAC called for traditional and community leaders to be held accountable when cultural processions become platforms for harassment, violence, or extortion.
While urging Muslims across the country to remain peaceful and law abiding, MPAC warned that such provocations must not be interpreted as an invitation to silence or submission.
“The Nigerian Constitution remains the supreme law of the land. Neither masquerades nor traditionalists are above it,” Kamor stated.
MPAC affirmed its commitment to seeking justice for the victim and vowed to continue advocating for the protection of Muslim communities and all peaceful citizens in Nigeria.
Mr. Valentine Obienyem, a media assistant to Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, has described the accusation against his principal of planning a coup to overthrow President Bola Tinubu a dangerous joke that has gone too far.
Along with calling the accusation irresponsible, seditious, and ridiculous, he added that in a functioning society, the person making the accusation would be detained right away to provide a more thorough explanation of what he knows. He also questioned the identity of the accuser and the reason for his lack of detention.
In a statement titled “Coup Plot Allegation: A Dangerous Joke Taken Too Far”, Mr Obienyem disclosed that one Arabambi alleged that Mr Peter Obi, alongside the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Joe Ajaero, Senator Victor Umeh, and members of the Nenadi Usman faction, are plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Obienyem’s statement read, “In his petition to security agencies, Arabambi alleged that Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, alongside Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero; Senator Victor Umeh; and members of the Nenadi Usman faction, are plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
“This allegation is not just absurd, it is dangerous. Why has the man not been arrested?
2027: Allegation of coup plot by Peter Obi to remove Tinubu, dangerous hoax — Obienyem
“Coup plotting is not child’s play. It is a serious national security offence. To casually accuse citizens, especially prominent and responsible figures of attempting to topple a democratically elected government is not only reckless but seditious in itself.
“In a functional society, such an accuser would be arrested immediately to give a fuller account of what he knows. Who is this man, and why hasn’t he been arrested? If his allegation carries any weight, then the security agencies must take it seriously by interrogating him thoroughly, identifying his sources, and presenting evidence.
Peter Obi
“However, if, as it appears, this is mere political mischief, he must face the full consequences of peddling such a dangerous falsehood. Why are we like this in this country, so frivolous with matters of grave national importance?”
“A coup is not a term to be bandied around like a political insult. It is treason. To accuse someone of it, especially in a democratic society, is to risk social unrest, undermine confidence in our institutions, and endanger lives. This is not politics; it is lunacy dressed in propaganda.
“Nigeria deserves better than this brand of politics. We must not allow desperation and factional rivalry to blind us to the red lines of national stability and security.”
Data Breaches in Nigeria: 150,000 Accounts Compromised in First Half of 2025
Data Breaches in Nigeria: 150,000 Accounts Compromised in First Half of 2025
A new report from the cybersecurity firm Surfshark reveals that over 150,000 Nigerian accounts were compromised in the first half of 2025. While this number is alarmingly high, there is a glimmer of hope: data breaches fell by a significant 73% between the first and second quarters, dropping from 120,000 to 31,800 incidents.
Data Breaches in Nigeria: 150,000 Accounts Compromised in First Half of 2025
Despite this positive trend, the sheer volume of affected accounts highlights Nigeria’s ongoing vulnerability in the digital world. As Surfshark’s Product Manager, Sarunas Sereika, noted, in the wrong hands, this stolen data can be used for things like identity theft, scams, or sold on the dark web.
Third in Sub-Saharan Africa: Since 2004, Nigeria has seen 23.3 million breached accounts, making it the third most affected country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Widespread Password Leaks: Of those accounts, around 13 million had their passwords leaked. This puts more than half of all affected users (56%) at high risk of having their accounts taken over, being extorted, or having their identity stolen.
One in Ten Nigerians Affected: The report calculates that statistically, 10 out of every 100 Nigerians have been impacted by a data breach at some point, underscoring the scale of the problem.
Global Trends and Evolving Threats
Globally, the situation is different, with the number of leaked accounts jumping by 34% in the second quarter of 2025. The United States, France, India, Germany, and Israel were the most affected countries.
Data Breaches in Nigeria: 150,000 Accounts Compromised in First Half of 2025
Cybersecurity experts from Surfshark warn that attackers are constantly evolving their tactics. To stay safe, they recommend:
Strong security practices
Frequent password updates
Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for all your accounts
How the Data Was Collected
Surfshark’s findings are based on a meticulous process of collecting and anonymizing data from over 29,000 publicly available databases. The report treats each unique email address as a separate account, with many breaches also exposing other sensitive information like phone numbers, passwords, IP addresses, and zip codes. The findings exclude countries with populations under one million to ensure a more accurate statistical overview of the threat landscape.
Data Breaches in Nigeria: 150,000 Accounts Compromised in First Half of 2025
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia of Benue State has submitted the first batch of commissioner-nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation, following constitutional requirements.
The Governor’s spokesperson, Tersoo Kula, announced this in a statement on Friday.
He noted that the move represents a major step toward strengthening the machinery of governance and promoting efficient service delivery across key sectors.
He noted that the “second batch of nominees is expected to be forwarded to the House of Assembly in a matter of days”.
The nominees in the first batch included:
Hon. Theresa Odachi Ikwue
Hon. Dr. Benjamin Ashaver
Hon. Dr. Adamu Margaret Ijaguwa
Hon. Dr. Peter Oboh Egbodo
Dr. Yangien Timothy Ornguga
Hon. Denis Iyaighgba
Hon. James Dwem
Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche
The governor had on Wednesday dissolved the state executive council, retaining only the office of Chief of Staff, which is now occupied by former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Moses Atagher.
In a staggering show of Wall Street confidence, Mark Zuckerberg’s personal wealth ballooned by an incredible $26.7 billion on Thursday—one of the largest single-day gains ever recorded for a tech executive.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Fortune Soars by a Record $26.7 Billion in a Single Day!
This massive jump was a direct result of Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook) announcing a phenomenal second-quarter earnings report that sent its stock to an all-time high.
Zuckerberg, who co-founded Facebook and serves as Meta’s CEO, is now worth an estimated $266.7 billion, placing him firmly as the third-richest person in the world. As the owner of about 13% of Meta’s shares, he watched his fortune increase by more than 11% in just 24 hours.
A Blockbuster Earnings Report
So, what fueled this record-breaking day? Meta’s numbers were simply outstanding:
Growing Users: The number of daily active users across Meta’s family of apps—including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—climbed to an impressive 3.48 billion. This shows that people are more engaged than ever, even with tough competition from rivals like TikTok.
On a call with analysts, Zuckerberg attributed this incredible performance to the company’s growing focus on artificial intelligence (AI). “AI allowed us to drive more advertising revenue and deliver better experiences,” he explained, signaling that their massive investments in this technology are paying off big time.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Fortune Soars by a Record $26.7 Billion in a Single Day!
A Surprising Success Story
While Meta is heavily focused on its AI and metaverse ambitions, a small but powerful win came from an unexpected place: hardware. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses—which let users take photos, make calls, and interact with an AI assistant—have been a huge hit, selling more than 2 million pairs since their launch in October 2023. This success has been so significant that Meta has already launched a new model in partnership with Oakley.
Zuckerberg’s Legacy and Future
Zuckerberg famously started Facebook from his college dorm room in 2004. In the two decades since, he’s built a tech empire that includes Instagram, WhatsApp, and a push into virtual reality. The company’s name change to Meta in 2021 was a clear sign of his long-term vision.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Fortune Soars by a Record $26.7 Billion in a Single Day!
Despite his immense wealth, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have pledged to give away 99% of their Meta shares to charity during their lifetimes. For now, though, his fortune continues to climb, driven by a record-breaking quarter that solidifies Meta’s position as one of the most powerful and innovative technology companies on the planet.
A former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Gombe State, Nafi’u Bala, has declared himself the national chairman of the party.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday night in Abuja, Bala accused the leadership under David Mark of unlawfully taking control of the party and transferring its structure to outsiders under the guise of forming an opposition coalition.
He condemned the action as political hooliganism, stating that it violates the principles and provisions of the ADC constitution.
“The plan to hand over our party’s future to powerful outsiders who were never part of us, while ignoring the duties of elected party leaders, is completely wrong and unacceptable,” he said.
Bala added that bonafide members of the party will challenge the takeover in court.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently recognize him as the rightful chairman of the party.
Recall that recently, opposition politicians and some ADC leaders adopted the party as the coalition platform for the 2027 elections.
In his resignation letter dated July 30 and addressed to the PDP Chairman of Ward 1 in Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Melaye cited the party’s inability to rescue Nigeria from what he described as “the prevailing political cankerworms” as the reason for his departure.
His exit marks a significant shift in his political trajectory, following years of active involvement in the PDP.
“This decision has become imperative due to the lack of potency and capacity by the party to deliver the Nigerian people from the prevailing political cankerworms that have eaten deeply into the fabric of our dear nation,” Dino wrote.
The close ally of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is a key member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Dino becomes the latest chieftain to resign from the PDP following the formation of the opposition coalition.
Former Senate President David Mark, Atiku, Dele Momodu are among those who have left the party.
Mark is currently the interim national chairman of the ADC, the platform adopted by the opposition coalition.
Meanwhile, Mark has warned members of the coalition to be committed to ADC, stressing there would be no room for anti-party activities.
According to Mark, Obi left the PDP for the Labour Party (LP) before the party’s presidential primaries in 2022.
His clarification follows recent comments by former party acting National Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, who suggested that Obi may soon return to the PDP.
Corroborating Sheriff’s disclosure, a close ally of Obi, Katchy Ononuju, said the former LP presidential candidate would return to the party because the party has agreed to zone its presidential ticket to the South.
However, Mark expressed reservations over claims that the PDP is ready to hand its presidential ticket to Obi.
In an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, Mark said: “I’m not sure anyone denied Peter Obi the ticket when he was interested in 2023, he left before the primary of the PDP to join LP so he was not denied. He had the right of choice and he elected to go to the Labour Party.
“While so many people are of the opinion that he may come back to the PDP, I think the decision is entirely his and I’m not sure that the PDP as a party has sat down to say that he should come back and take the ticket of the party. These are generally personal opinions that are built on cogent reasons.
“There is no doubt that Peter Obi following his showing in 2023 is a brand that any political party will like to hold, same way, there is no doubt that PDP has been a brand.
“So if two brands come together, it’s easy to predict the result but I don’t think that we have gotten there yet where the party has taken the decision that it must be Peter Obi.
“He’s a very fine brand that many people believe in him and are following him but if he comes to Party he could be a good sell, so if there is a candidate anywhere who is sellable, it won’t be wrong for any political party to woo the candidate to fly its ticket.”
Leaders of the ADC’s Kogi State chapter presented Dino Melaye with the party’s membership card in his office, marking his formal entry into the party.
Melaye shared the development in a video posted on his X handle on Thursday.
The membership card was presented to Melaye by the ADC leader in Kogi State, Kingsley Temitope alongside, the state Secretary, local government chairman, secretary, Ward Chairman, and Secretary.
Donning an attire with the inscription of ADC, Temitope said, “I present to Distinguish senator Dino Melaye the membership card of African Democratic Congress. He is a full member and has started contributing to the party even before we presented him with the membership card.”
Responding, Melaye wrote: “SDM fully ADC.”
This comes as Melaye officially resigned his membership from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Melaye resigned due to PDP’s failure to rescue Nigeria from “the prevailing political cankerworms”.
Troops of the Nigerian Army successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt and rescued a couple who were attacked by suspected bandits near Zuma Rock in Niger State.
The Akwa Ibom State High Court has sentenced 30-year-old Joshua Okon Archibong to death by hanging for his role in a string of violent crimes, including armed robbery, murder, and kidnapping along the Uruan and Oron waterways.
Archibong, a native of Ekpene Ibia in Uruan Local Government Area, was identified as a member of a notorious gang of sea pirates. He was convicted by state high court on a four-count charge related to conspiracy and armed robbery.
He met his waterloo in November 2019, during one of his operations in Ndon Ebom village, Uruan where he, alongside one Udeme and Isaac now at large robbed motorcyclists and roads users one of whom raised the alarm which attracted the villagers and he was arrested and while his gang members escaped.
Popularly known as “Benji Kasiah,” who was convicted by state high court, the convict, who is a primary school dropout, had confessed in his extrajudicial statement to participating in an attack in February 2019 on a boat ferrying passengers, rice, and fish from Adadia Beach, and in April 2019, during another operation at Akpa Inne Waterways, the gang shot two vigilante members from Esuk Odu village who attempted to confront them.
Archibong revealed that the gang maintained hideouts in Inne Emman village and Ufak Ibuot Creek in Uruan, where they stored stolen goods and held kidnapped victims, including an expatriate abducted at a construction site in Mbiaya Uruan.
He also confessed to the murder of a police sergeant and the kidnapping of two individuals, for whom they collected a ransom of N200,000 in December 2018.
In one particularly gruesome account, the convict by State high court admitted to shooting a boat driver on 15th August 2019 at Ufak Ibuot Waterway for refusing to stop the vessel, an action which resulted in a stray bullet killing a pregnant woman onboard.
He also disclosed that he sought spiritual protection from a native doctor in Oku Iboku, Itu Local Government Area, to evade police arrest while avoiding state high court.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Archibong guilty of murder and armed robbery. He declared that Joshua Okon Archibong, be hanged by the neck until he is dead or by lethal injection.
With the judgment, the court has brought closure to one of the state’s most high-profile criminal cases, marking a significant victory in the fight against sea piracy and violent crime in Akwa Ibom waterways.
