The Untold Story Of How Tinubu’s Second Term Ambition Stalled Kano Emirate Stool Appeal At Supreme Court

April 21, 2026

Aminu Bayero and Sanusi Lamido — Emirs Aminu Ado Bayero and Mohammad Sanusi II

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Monday, April 20, 2026, pulled off what could pass as the longest adjournment of a pending litigation in the chequered history of the Judiciary with the announcement of April 19, 2027, as the new date for the continuation of proceedings in the festering tussle for the control of the revered traditional throne of the ancient Kano Emirate.

While the unusual judicial move may have jolted not a few, keen observers of the almost three-year struggle for the throne have come to perceive the development as representing part of a well-scripted blueprint for the actualization of the second term ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Instructively too, the unusual adjournment to some, appears to highlight the stark reality about institutional capture in the country’s democratic arrangement of late.

What could have ordinarily passed as just a routine change of baton within the leadership structure of the Kano Emirate snowballed into a full blown tussle following the alleged partisan roles of the powers-that-be.

The President, it is alleged, in concert with some Kano political figures, including then National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, had queued behind the factional 15th Emir Aminu Ado Bayero to continue to stake his claim to the throne following his controversial dethronement on Thursday, May 23, 2024, by Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf.

Governor Yusuf had rallied the subservient Kano State House of Assembly to hurriedly amend the State’s Emirate Council laws to pave for the reinstatement of the 16th Emir of Kano, Mohammad Sanusi II, after shoving aside Bayero.

Interestingly, Sanusi, as the 14th Emir of Kano, was deposed by the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in 2020 and replaced with Emir Bayero whose late father, Ado Bayero was the 13th Emir.

As at the time of his dethronement,

Emir Aminu Bayero, who was out of Kano state, was said to have initially decided to accept his fate as the will of God.

But with Governor Yusuf, his then political godfather and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Emir Sanusi, cousin to the Governor, on the other side of the political divide (New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP), some APC chieftains marshalled by then National Chairman Dr Ganduje, allegedly collaborated with Federal authorities to escort back to Kano, the deposed 15th Emir Bayero.

While Emir Sanusi holds court at the Kofar Kudu main palace in the City ,Emir Bayero operates from the Nasarawa mini palace which serves as a monsleum for past Emirs.

Similarly, while the Kano state Government recognizes and provides all the logistical supports including security, and legal costs for Emir Sanusi, the Federal Government, through some APC stalwarts in the state continue to allegedly back Emir Bayero.

Besides the general air of tension and anxiety generated by the unusual situation whereby Kano Emirate hosts two Emirs at a time, the development also resulted in the severe disruption of the cultural heritage of the people.

For the past three years, the ancient and rich cultural and religious Sallah Dubar festivities have not been held over fears of eruption of violence and instability.

Security agencies, particularly the Police, have, in the last three years, suspended the Sallah Dubar celebration, citing the insistence of the two rival Emirs to observe the festivities simultaneously, as well as the high possibility of clashes between their supporters as major reasons for their action.

Expectedly, the two contending forces have since turned to the Courts in a bid to assert their authorities on the throne with a plethora of litigations from both sides.

However, the Supreme Court in 2025, in an effort to enforce sanity amidst conflicting and embarrassing judicial pronouncements,moved to consolidate all the appeals from both parties.

The consolidation exercise had, also, rekindled hopes of the prolonged tussle coming to end sooner than later, with both parties waiting with anxiously for the final decision by the apex court.

However, the unusual long adjournment of proceedings by the country’s apex court has, in the main, not only raised questions about motives, but also the presumed independence of the Judicial arm of Government in the country.

This magazine gathered that the unprecedented long adjournment may have been allegedly instigated by the need to protect the political interest of President Tinubu in the swing state of Kano.

According to an impacable source, the President, after the recent realignment processes in the State, which has seen political actors going in opposition directions, does not want to be caught in-between the Emirate stool crisis.

“Don’t forget that the President, for the same political reason, was initially a big factor in the refusal of the deposed 15th Emir Aminu Bayero to accept his fate.

“In fact, it is a well known fact that the Federal Government, through one prominent security chief has been the lifewire of Emir Bayero in the face of the Kano State Government’s efforts to boot him out of the throne.

“When this crisis began in 2024, the Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, his former leader, Emir Sanusi, who is closely related to the Governor, were on one side .

“On the other hand, the Federal Government , through some powerful forces and APC members from Kano were backing Emir Bayero.

“Now, the situation on the ground is dicey in that, you know politicians, nothing is too much for them to sacrifice to achieve their ambition.

“The problem appears to be that when they were negotiating with Governor Yusuf to join APC, they may have relegated the Emirate throne crisis to the background.

“May be, they had taught that it will not become an issue in the election of 2027. But the truth is that the outcome of the Emirship crisis will have serious implications both for the President and the Governor.

“So, I am not surprised that they have moved to put everything on hold until after the election. But I doubt if it will help them because the people are already aware of the game they are playing.

“We know that Bayero may have been sacrificed. Yes. This is because the Governor is a blood relation of Emir Sanusi, and nobody is expecting him to turn his back at him now, after taking the risk of installing him in the first place. But the people are not deceived. Even the Bayero camp, is aware of what is going on.

“The President is just trying to be smart politically”, a source volunteered.

He, however, expressed serious concern and regret that the Judiciary, rather than reassuring and re-building its image, has, instead, continued to engage in actions that undermine and erode public trust and confidence.

“Although ,they (Supreme Court) may explain away this weird adjournment by insisting they want to concentrate on resolving political matters ahead of the 2027 elections, I am not sure the people will believe them .

“This is because their antecedents of late suggests that this may be yet another decision influenced by the executive branch of Government.

“I, for one ,will not be convinced that this is not another disappointing case of state capture because if the Supreme Court is not under pressure to halt the Emirate case, they can decide the matter in weeks if not days. After all, they are not taking any new arguments from the parties. Theirs is to examine pronouncements already made by the trial and Appeal Courts”, he added.

Labour Party: Appellate Court Dismisses Abure’s Appeal, Affirms Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker NEC

Suleiman Anyalewechi

April 21, 2026

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has affirmed the judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court which recognized the Senator Esther Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party, LP, as the authentic national leadership of the party.

The Source reports that Honourable Justice Peter Lifu of Abuja Federal High Court had in January, 2027, ruled to affirm the Supreme Court verdict of April 4, 2025 , sacking the Julius Abure-led National Executive Committee NEC of the LP.

The apex court in the judgment, while holding that issues bordering on the internal and leadership leadership issues of political parties are non-justiciable, also, declared the Nnewi National Convention that threw out Abure-led leadership as null and void.

The Supreme Court noted that the controversial Convention came long after the tenure of the Abure-led NEC had elapsed.

But dissatisfied with the trial Court’s judgment, Abure approached the Appellate Court seeking a reversal, and also an order mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise him as the duly elected National Chairman of the LP.

However, in a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the Appellate Court, comprising Justices Oyejoju Oyewumi ,A B Mohammed ,and Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, April 21,2026, while affirming the trial Court’s earlier ruling, held that the apex court of the land had conclusively settled the leadership tussle in the LP with the nullification of the Nnewi Convention that purportedly threw up Barr Abure for a second term in office as the National Chairman.

The Appellate Court similarly agreed with the position of the trial Court in ordering the Electoral Commission to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led interim national leadership of the party.

Citing Section 251 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, the Court of Appeal panel, equally held that the Court is empowered to compel Government institutions, including INEC to perform their statutory functions as was done by the trial court.

The Appellate court concurred with the trial Court, that the September 4, 2025, constitution of the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee was in tandem with the “doctrine of necessity,” to avoid a leadership vacuum.

The panel berated both the Abure-led NEC ,and the Nasarawa state High Court over abuse of Court processes ,and engagment in forum- shopping on a matter that had earlier been conclusively settled by the highest court in the land.

The Panel consequently dismissed Abure’s appeal ,and awarded N10 million against him.

Meanwhile, Senator Usman while reacting to the Court’s verdict, appreciated party faithful across the country for their patience, support and understanding.

This was as he described the ruling as a victory for the rule of law and democracy, commending the Judiciary for its courage and steadfastness in upholding justice ,in the face of deliberate attempts by some forces to undermine the integrity of the system.

Fresh Outbreak Of Covid-19, As Chinese Tests Positive Of Virus In Cross River

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

After three years of no record of infection, the Cross River State Government has confirmed a fresh case of COVID-19, raising concerns about a possible resurgence of the virus in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Calabar, the state capital.

He revealed that the index case involves a Chinese national working with Lafarge, who arrived in Nigeria on March 17 before falling ill weeks later.

According to Ayuk, the patient’s condition deteriorated at a state medical facility, prompting an emergency transfer to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where further medical investigations were conducted.

“At UCTH, samples were taken in line with established protocols, and it was subsequently confirmed that he had symptoms consistent with COVID-19,” Ayuk said, adding that the patient is currently responding to treatment.

Despite the development, the commissioner attempted to allay fears, stating that the state’s health system had been strengthened to effectively respond to infectious disease outbreaks.

He noted that the last confirmed COVID-19 case in Cross River was recorded in 2022, stressing that preliminary findings suggest the patient may have contracted the virus within Nigeria.

“The incubation period for COVID-19 ranges between two and 14 days. However, this individual arrived in the country on March 17 and only began showing symptoms on April 10, which exceeds the typical incubation window,” Ayuk explained.

Health authorities have since launched contact tracing efforts to identify individuals who may have been exposed to the patient.

The state has also activated its emergency response centre and deployed rapid response teams to Akamkpa Local Government Area, where the patient is based.

“There is no way to completely stop the virus, but we can prevent an outbreak by containing it effectively and ensuring it does not lead to fatalities,” Ayuk added.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Coordinator in Cross River, Dr. Yewande Olatunde, warned that COVID-19 has not been eradicated globally and urged residents to remain vigilant and adhere to public health guidelines.

PDP Loses Five Lawmakers As Reps Witnesses Gale Of Defection

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

The House of Representatives again witnessed a fresh round of defections on Tuesday, with several Lawmakers crossing party lines ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development came as the House resumed plenary from the Easter recess, during which the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, read multiple letters of defection on the floor.

Responding to concerns that the trend could signal a drift toward a one-party state, Kalu dismissed such fears, describing the movements as a reflection of democratic freedom.

“This is to show the country that no party is stifled. People are leaving the majority party for minority parties and vice versa. This is the beauty of democracy,” he said.

Among the notable defections was Thaddeus Attah, representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos, who defected from the Labour Party, (LP), to the African Democratic Congress, (ADC).

In his letter, Attah attributed his decision to the prolonged leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which he said had hindered his effectiveness in representing his constituents.

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), recorded the highest number of losses, with five lawmakers defecting, while the All Progressives Congress, (APC), lost two members in the latest political realignments.

Those who defected from the PDP to ADC include Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State) and Seyi Sowunmi (Ojo Federal Constituency, Lagos State), alongside three other PDP lawmakers whose identities were included in the formal list of defectors read in the chamber.

Also joining the ADC is George Ozodinobi (Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia Federal Constituency, Anambra State), who defected from the Labour Party, alongside one former APC member, completing the ADC’s intake from the exercise.

The ruling APC simultaneously gained members from opposition ranks during the same session, underscoring a broader wave of political realignment across parties in the Green Chamber.

Lawmakers cited internal party crises, leadership disputes, and worsening factional tensions as reasons for their movement.

Shehu Sani To Emerging Public Officers: Prepare For Two Sides Of Power

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

A former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, has counseled those aspiring to public office to be prepared for the two sides of power.

According to Sani, “Power is brutal not just in Nigeria, but in other countries.”

He maintained that there is nothing happening now that had not happened before, citing his experience while at the Senate.

Sani posted in his X account that: “During our time in the Senate, we spent almost the whole four years escorting our Senate President Bukola Saraki to multiple Courts in Abuja.

“In one court it’s forgery and criminal conspiracy, and in another it’s false declaration of assets.

“Sometimes, I had to attend to my own Civil and Criminal charges in Kaduna, then rushed to Abuja to escort him.

“Senator Dino too was dragged to Courts in Abuja and Kogi where he had issues with the Governor. At a point Brother Dino had to climb a tree to save himself from the fangs of power.

“Power is brutal not just in Nigeria.Trump was also criminally charged to different Courts and he too is today charging some of his critics. Anything you see happening today had happened yesterday.

“Those of you who are young and want to seek for public office in the future, just prepare yourself for the two sides of power; The Sweet side and the dangerous side.”

El-Rufai’s Legal Team Fumes As Kaduna High Court Denies Him Bail, Adjourns To June

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Legal Team defending former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has hinted of a possible appeal against the decision of the State High Court to deny the former Governor bail.

The State High Court ruled against the bail request by El-Rufai, on Tuesday, and shifted it to June 26, citing concerns that his status could enable him interfere with ongoing investigations.

Justice Darius Khobo ruled that the allegations of financial impropriety against him are weighty enough to justify continued detention.

The Court had, initially; reserved ruling for April 21, but shifted the date to allow for further consideration of filings and responses.

El-Rufai is facing multiple charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), bordering on alleged abuse of office, financial misconduct, and irregular payments during his tenure between 2015 and 2023.

The former governor has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

The case is being heard alongside a parallel proceeding at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, where El-Rufai was recently granted bail under stringent conditions, including financial guarantees and reporting requirements.

At Tuesday’s session, the prosecution urged the court to deny bail, citing the gravity of the allegations and potential risks, while defence counsel argued that the charges are bailable and that their client poses no flight risk.

Counsel to the former governor, Ubong Akpan, in a reaction stated that the defence disagrees with the ruling, but acknowledges the court’s reasoning.

He confirmed that the legal team will immediately challenge the decision by filing the necessary papers.

The defence also alleged that the case is politically motivated, describing the proceedings as an extension of that agenda.

Alleged Coup Plot: FG Files 13-Count Charge Against General, Others, Declares Fmr. Minister Sylvia At Large

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Suspects to be arraigned Wednesday

All is now set for the arraignment of some military personnel and civilians arrested and detained in connection with an alleged coup plot against the Government of President Bola Tinubu.

The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The suspects include former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, now at large, a retired Major General, a retired Naval Captain, a serving police inspector and three others over their alleged involvement as coup plotters in a plot to wage war against Nigeria and commit acts of terrorism.

The other suspects are, Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (retd), Captain (NN) Erasmus Victor (retd), Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni and Abdulkadir Sani

The charge, was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

It accuses the defendants of offences ranging from treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

According to the government, the defendants conspired in 2025 to undermine the Nigerian state.

The charges read that the defendants, “conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overthrow the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to alert authorities.

The charge states that they, “knowing that and was intended to commit treason, did not give the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President or a Peace Officer.”

In a related count, the defendants were also accused of failing to take preventive steps, as they allegedly “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence.”

Beyond treason, the Federal Government is prosecuting the defendants for terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The charge alleged that they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Particularly, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru are accused of participating in meetings tied to terrorist activities.

Prosecutors claim they acted “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilize the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The charge also accuses the defendants of providing support for terrorism, alleging that they “knowingly and indirectly, rendered support” to facilitate acts of terror.

In addition, the prosecution alleged a deliberate suppression of intelligence, stating that the defendants “had information which would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism, but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable.”

The case further traces financial transactions allegedly linked to terrorism financing, with multiple defendants accused of handling proceeds of unlawful activities.

Bukar Kashim Goni is alleged to have “indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000 which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing,” while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2 million from a similar source.

Zekeri Umoru, according to the charge, “without going through a financial institution, accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10 million” and also retained an additional N8.8 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.

Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of taking possession of N1 million linked to the same alleged scheme.

All financial-related counts were brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In October 2025, the federal government abruptly cancelled the military parade scheduled for Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebrations, initially attributing the decision to administrative concerns.

However, speculation soon emerged suggesting the cancellation may have been linked to an alleged coup attempt, though the Defence Headquarters later dismissed such claims.

The military authorities insisted at the time that the cancellation had no connection to any subversive activity.

By late October 2025, reports indicated that about 16 military officers had been arrested in connection with the alleged plot, while two others were said to be on the run.

In January 2026, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that an internal investigation had uncovered involvement of some personnel in what it described as a coup-related scheme.

Speaking then, Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, said the findings followed standard military disciplinary procedures and that affected officers would face military judicial processes.

“We conducted thorough investigations in line with established procedures, and it was established that some personnel were involved in a coup-related plan,” he said.

In subsequent months, families of the detained officers called on President Tinubu to ensure that the suspects were tried in open court rather than through internal military proceedings, Vanguard reported.

At a press briefing in Abuja in March 2026, relatives also demanded access to the detained officers, expressing concern over their prolonged detention without full disclosure of proceedings.

By April, family members staged a protest at the National Assembly , urging authorities to expedite the trial process and grant them access to their relatives.

Since the Fourth Republic, which started on May 29, 1999, Nigeria has enjoyed an uninterrupted democracy, including the transfer of power from one administration to another.

In several countries in Africa, including in West Africa, soldiers have seized control, suspended the constitution and dissolved political parties.

Jonathan Replies Atiku, Says: “I Was Not Naive, Didn’t Need To Be 100 Years For Presidential Seat”

Adesina Soyooye

April 21, 2026

By Adesina Soyooye

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has responded to the unprovoked jab thrown at him by former Vice President and perennial Presidential Aspirant, Atiku Abubakar.

Recall that Atiku, had, in an interview with Arise Television, described Dr. Jonathan as inexperienced and attributed Jonathan’s alleged challenges and mistakes as President to that.

Atiku: “I know Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly, when he was faced with challenges.”

In what has been described as one of Atiku’s worst public outings in recent times, probably made in a bid to project himself as the best of all the Presidential Aspirants in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, he did not, also, spare the likes of Peter Obi, a former two-term Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Aminu Tambuwal, two- term Governor and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as Rotimi Amaechi, two- term Speaker of House of Assembly, two- term Governor and two-term Minister of Transportation, Rabiu Kwankwaso, two- term Governor, former Minister of Defence and former Presidential Candidate.

Not a few Nigerians have expressed surprise at Atiku’s choice of words and language.

Dr Reuben Abati, Arise Television’s Anchor, accomplished columnist, and former Presidential Adviser to Jonathan, has since dismissed Atiku as rude and arrogant. Abati, also, reminded Atiku that while he has, for years, been aspiring to be President, Jonathan had already been President of Nigeria, an office Atiku has still not occupied.

But in a decent and dignified response to Atiku, Jonathan, while speaking in Abuja at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria’s Awards Ceremony, told Atiku that he did his best as President, and added that there is no President or Governor, no human being anywhere in the world, that does not make one mistake or the other. He also mounted a robust defence of his records.

Jonathan: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’

“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a Governor or a President will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.

“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?”

And defending his decisions in office, he noted that while mistakes are inevitable, he did his best.

Jonathan pointed at Nigeria’s diplomatic achievements under his Government, especially, its election to the United Nations Security Council.

He said: “I’m talking to Diplomats, so I can say that during my period, I knew what I did for us to appear in the UN Security Council two times. If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate through that process.”

For the records, while Jonathan had been a Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President, Acting President, President, and presently, a very respected World Citizen, Atiku, politically, has only been a Vice President and a perennial Presidential Candidate.

RANKED 2026 Industry Dialogue Draws Africa’s Media Leaders

Tosin Olatokunbo

April 21, 2026

The 2026 edition of RANKED, Africa’s leading report on digital news media performance, will be officially unveiled on April 23, 2026, at Amber Residence, Ikeja, Lagos.

Published by SquirrelPR and organised by Squirrel Media Technologies in partnership with KT Communication, the annual report has become a key reference point for understanding media visibility, audience behaviour, and influence across the continent.

This year’s edition delivers a more expansive and nuanced analysis of the African media ecosystem, covering 13 countries across Anglophone and Francophone Africa, its widest geographic scope to date.

A key finding from the 2026 report reveals a decline in readership traffic across all markets tracked, pointing to shifting audience behaviours and increasing fragmentation in how content is consumed. Despite this trend, the report highlights a consistent rise in media influence, suggesting that authority, credibility, and audience trust are becoming more critical metrics than sheer traffic volume.

Beyond traditional traffic tracking, the latest edition introduces deeper performance indicators, including local versus foreign audience traffic by news outlet, domain authority rankings, and audience growth across key sectors. These additions provide a more holistic view of how media platforms are evolving and where influence is being built across Africa’s digital landscape.

The report will be officially launched at the event, making it available to media professionals, PR practitioners, and communication leaders seeking data-driven insights into the continent’s rapidly changing media environment.

Speaking ahead of the launch, James Ezechukwu, Co-founder of SquirrelPR, described the report as an essential tool for industry stakeholders.

“The Ranked report has evolved into an invaluable resource for media relations and communications professionals across Africa. In an environment where traditional metrics are no longer sufficient, this report provides clarity on what truly drives influence and visibility. It helps practitioners move beyond assumptions and make more strategic, data-driven decisions in how they engage with the media,” he said.

The event will feature an expert-led panel session with prominent industry voices, including Muyiwa Matuluka, CEO of Techpoint Africa; Rasheed Bolarinwa, Head of Communications at Polaris Bank; Damilola Bright-Ukwenga, Communications Manager, ScribeTribe Africa; and Olufemi Ajasa, Online Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, among others.

The session will explore the theme: “The Reality of Digital Media Performance in Africa: Navigating the Future Through Data and Tools.”

Ilaro Raid: Police Uncovers Cult Network, Recover Weapons

Akinwale Kasali

April 21, 2026

Cult Networks uncovered during Ilaro Raid

By Akinwale Kasali

Following an intelligence report, operatives of the Ilaro Division of the Ogun State Police Command have dismantled a suspected Cult Network in a swift operation.

The operation led to the arrest of four suspects linked to assault, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.

The suspects, identified as Samson John, 25, Olufowora Michael, 28, Odeh Samuel Ejeh, 25, and Olajide Jeremiah, 28, were apprehended following a distress report lodged at the division, triggering an immediate tactical response by the police.

Police authorities disclosed that the incident dates back to April 16, 2026, when the complainant reported that earlier in the day, at about 1pm, a gang led by one of the suspects, stormed his residence in Ilaro and launched a violent attack.

The attackers reportedly assaulted the victim, issued threats with dangerous weapons including an axe, and forcefully dispossessed him of his mobile device, identified as an iPhone 14 Pro Max, before fleeing the scene.

Acting on credible intelligence and deploying rapid response strategies, the police tracked down the suspects and effected their arrest in a coordinated operation that underscored growing vigilance within the command.

A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of a locally made pistol, an axe, suspected traditional charms, and the stolen iPhone, all of which have been secured as exhibits in the ongoing investigation.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the development, noting that the operation reflects the command’s renewed resolve to clamp down on cultism and violent crimes across Ogun communities.

Further investigations have since been escalated to the State Criminal Investigation Department, where the suspects are currently in custody as detectives intensify efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang.

Commending the operatives for their professionalism, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for criminality and vowed that perpetrators of violent acts would face the full weight of the law.

The Ogun State Police Command urged residents to remain alert and cooperative, stressing the importance of timely intelligence in crime prevention, while reiterating its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the State.

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