Five men accused of orchestrating the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria, have pleaded not guilty to nine terrorism charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja. This shocking development comes nearly three years after one of Nigeria’s deadliest church attacks, which left over 40 worshippers dead and scores wounded. The Arraignment: Denial in the Dock The accused—Idris Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdul Malik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar were formally arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite. All five men denied the nine terrorism counts leveled against them by the Federal Government.…
Author: wahalaupdate
In a chilling reminder of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis, unknown armed men abducted Saadu Dauda, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), along the Katsina-Ala–Takum road in Benue State over the weekend. This latest attack exposes alarming vulnerabilities on a critical transport corridor and raises urgent questions about government action and protection for youth serving the nation. A Violent Roadblock and a Fateful Target Dauda was traveling in a Toyota Carina II, registration number KLD 108 AA, with six other passengers from Takum in Taraba State heading towards Katsina-Ala, Benue State. The vehicle was stopped abruptly at a…
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has unequivocally rejected interest from Premier League side Arsenal, declaring his sole ambition is to join Serie A giants Inter Milan. This steadfast stance has intensified the ongoing transfer saga, generating frustration and legal tensions involving his current club Atalanta. The Transfer Stalemate: Lookman’s Unwavering Demand The 27-year-old winger is currently embroiled in a bitter dispute with Atalanta. The club has refused to sanction his move to Inter Milan, holding out for a hefty €50 million transfer fee. Despite two rejected Inter bids, Lookman has shown no willingness to entertain alternatives, including Arsenal’s advances. Lookman’s…
An unsettling scene erupted on August 10, 2025, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos when a female passenger arriving on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo violently confronted flight attendants and airport security. This disturbing episode has once again highlighted deep-seated challenges in airline passenger management and airport security in Nigeria. Incident at Lagos Airport: What Went Wrong? The passenger, identified as Comfort Emmanson, appeared visibly agitated as she clashed with airline staff on the airport tarmac. Videos circulated on social media showed her yelling aggressively at officials who attempted to calm her. Eyewitnesses reported that she physically assaulted…
The father of Ukpo Nwamini David, the young man at the center of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu’s notorious kidney transplant controversy, has reportedly died. According to Boniface Nwamini Ukpo, a son of the deceased, his father passed away on Sunday bereft from heartbreak linked to the saga that unfolded in 2022. A Family Shattered: Death Attributed to Saga Stress Boniface Nwamini Ukpo confirmed the death, lamenting the estrangement within the family since the scandal broke. “We have not spoken with my brother David since this ordeal started,” he revealed to Newsmax. He added, “My father has been sick…
The political tension within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State intensified as Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the sole PDP member in the National Assembly from the state, issued a dramatic warning about the party’s fate. Speaking at a press conference in Owerri, Ugochinyere claimed that the PDP in Imo would collapse rapidly if he withdrew his support and structure. Ugochinyere’s Political Clout and Party Crisis Ugochinyere asserted, “I have a structure that has a member in every family in Ideato Federal Constituency. I won my election while in exile. If there is anyone that should be begged, it…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a fierce warning to its members caught endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the rival All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 presidential election. In a definitive statement released by the National Working Committee (NWC), the party declared that anyone engaging in such “anti-party activities” stands to face rigorous disciplinary sanctions. Rising Tensions within PDP Ranks The controversy comes as some prominent PDP members have publicly declared support for Tinubu, intensifying internal party conflicts. These endorsements, openly favoring the APC, directly contravene the PDP Constitution. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba,…
Akpabio Makes Public Appearance Following Rumours of Hospital Stay in London Senate President Godswill Akpabio was visibly present at a high-profile birthday event in London on Thursday night, defying swirling speculations about his health. The celebration was for Nela Duke Ekpenyong, spouse of Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong. And Akpabio’s attendance triggered a wave of questions given recent reports claiming he was hospitalized in London under urgent medical care. Rumors of Hospitalization and Emergency Treatment The controversy ignited when former presidential spokesman Jackson Ude tweeted that, Akpabio was admitted to a London hospital due to an undisclosed medical emergency. The reports alleged…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is actively working to grant voting rights to prison inmates across Nigeria. Signaling a potentially transformative step in the country’s electoral landscape. INEC’s Commitment to Enfranchising Inmates At a recent meeting in Abuja, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu confirmed the commission’s efforts to extend voting privileges to inmates. This move aligns Nigeria with several African countries like Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa, where prisoners are already allowed to vote. Yakubu emphasized the need for legal clarity and backing from the National Assembly to ensure smooth implementation. “The ongoing electoral reforms must include clear provisions…
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently announced a six-month ban on renowned Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as Kwam 1, following an alleged unruly incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The decision was disclosed by the NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs, Michael Achimugu, amid intense controversy surrounding the events of August 5, 2025. Incident Sparks Safety Concerns and Legal Action Kwam 1 was accused of attempting to board a ValueJet flight carrying an unidentified liquid that was later confirmed to be alcohol, a prohibited item on Nigerian flights. Aviation security officials and the flight…