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Angry Defence Minister Musa Goes To Court Over False Resignation Report

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Christopher Musa
Christopher Musa

By Adesina Soyooye

“I am not going anywhere. The President is happy with what we are doing. This is the handiwork of people uncomfortable with the administration’s improving security record” – Minister Musa

 

General Christopher Musa (rtd), Nigeria’s Minister for Defence, is so angry over social media reports which claimed he was considering a resignation from office, that he has vowed to go to Court.

 

Musa, on emerging from about an hour’s meeting with his Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, swore that he would meet in Court with whoever fabricated the story that he was resigning from office as Nigeria’s Minister for Defence.

 

He told State House Reporters that he was shocked when his attention was drawn to the story because he had neither discussed it with anybody, nor had it ever crossed his mind.

 

He said that the President was satisfied with the progress being made so far as it concerns the security situation in the Country, and insisted that the purveyors of such falsehood were not comfortable with the progress.

 

Minister Musa:

“I am not going anywhere. I have never discussed this. I don’t even know who the person is that brought that information. But whoever it is, we will take legal action against them.

 

“Whoever it is,  I am sure we will get them. He will come and explain who gave him such information. It is a deliberate attempt to undercut public confidence in the administration’s security gains.

 

“We are surprised. I was shocked when I saw that. I don’t know where that came from. But you always expect that there will be people who will not be happy when things are going well. Security is improving, things are getting better, and for them, that is a sad point. They always want to make it look as if it is not so.

 

“I just came back from briefing Mr President on the current security situation, and he is very happy with us. We are going to continue doing well.

 

“I want to seize this opportunity to appreciate Nigerians for all the support.

 

“The support has been massive. To defeat the terrorists and the bandits is a whole-of-society approach. Nigerians have keyed into it, and things are getting better, and they will continue to improve.”

 

Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff was nominated Minister of Defence by President Tinubu on December 2. 2025.

 

On the day he was sworn into office, General Musa declared Nigerians an all-out war against terrorists, bandits and other such criminal activities, and promised Nigerians that they would now sleep with both eyes closed.

Fasoranti Returns As Ondo SSG

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Taiwo Fasoranti and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa

By Ayodele Oni

 

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the re-appointment of Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

 

A statement on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan stated that the appointment takes immediate effect.

 

Dr. Fasoranti was the SSG until March 30, 2026 when he resigned to contest in the Senate primaries of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) for Ondo Central Senatorial District.

 

He participated in the national Assembly primaries of the APC, won but the national leadership of the party replaced his name, thus paving way for the second tenure of the incumbent senator representing Ondo central, Adeniyi Adegbonmire.

 

Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti brings to the office a wealth of experience in public administration, policy formulation, and governance.

 

Governor Aiyedatiwa congratulates Dr. Fasoranti on his appointment and charges him to justify the confidence reposed in him by serving the people of Ondo State with dedication, integrity, and commitment to the Our Ease agenda of his administration.

Bauchi Empowers 1,250 Youths With N625 Million For Various Agricultural Ventures

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Bala Mohammed - Governor of Bauchi State
Governor Bala Mohammad

By Ayodele Oni

 

Bauchi State Government has warned beneficiaries of agricultural enterprises fund not to spend the money to marry wives.

 

The governor presented cheques totalling ₦625 million to 1,250 youths to launch various agricultural enterprises across the state.

 

The beneficiaries recently completed a rigorous, state-funded two-week intensive training scheme at the International Skills Acquisition Centre (ISAC), located at CSS Farms in Gora, Nasarawa State.

 

The programme covered modern techniques in fisheries, poultry, livestock breeding, crop farming, and animal feed production.

 

Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Bununu community of Tafawa Balewa local government area of the state, Governor Bala Mohammed stated that the ₦500,000 startup pack given to each graduate is a deliberate investment in the state’s economic future rather than an act of charity.

 

“This intervention is an investment in productivity, enterprise, employment generation, and the future prosperity of our state.

 

“I urge you to invest these resources wisely to establish sustainable enterprises, create employment opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to food security” he said.

 

The Governor noted that the initiative builds on the success of a similar phase in 2021, where 1,000 participants received ₦450,000 each.

 

Many beneficiaries from that premier batch have since expanded into self-reliant employers of labour and community role models.

 

The success of the initial phase prompted the administration to expand the intake to 1,250 youth and women for the 2025/2026 cohort.

 

However, the Governor issued a stern warning against mismanaging the funds, strictly cautioning the recipients against diversionary spending.

 

“You must not use the money to marry wives; that is not the purpose. The Ministry of Agriculture is hereby directed to closely monitor the utilization of the money. Anyone who does anything different should be sanctioned” he stated.

 

To ensure transparency and safety, the Governor added that all payments are being issued via cheques directly through the Ministry of Agriculture, ensuring no beneficiary leaves the venue shortchanged or harassed.

 

Reactions from the beneficiaries have been highly positive. Yusuf Alkasim, a fishery graduate who has already set up local ponds in his family compound, expressed gratitude and stated that the ₦500,000 grant would enable him to scale up his capacity and hire local hands.

 

Another graduate, Mustapha Abdullahi, stated that he plans to immediately set up a processing plant for vital animal feeds using his startup capital.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture has set up a dedicated monitoring team to supervise the startups and offer technical support to ensure the program meets its economic targets

Labour Party Leadership Holds Interactive Session With VP Candidate, Hajja Bintu Konto

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Labour Party Leadership Meeting

The National Leadership of the Labour Party on Tuesday held an interactive session with the Party’s Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2027 General Election, Hajja Bintu Konto, at the National Secretariat in Abuja, during which the leadership reaffirmed its confidence in the presidential ticket of Dr. Chibuzo Sunday Okereke and Hajja Bintu Konto.

 

Speaking at the session, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Distinguished Senator Nenadi Usman, expressed profound satisfaction with the choice of Hajja Bintu Konto as the Party’s Vice Presidential Candidate, describing her nomination as a reflection of the Labour Party’s enduring commitment to equity, inclusion and social justice.

 

According to Senator Usman, the choice of Hajja Konto perfectly aligns with the Party’s enduring philosophy of “Mama, Papa, Pikin,” which embodies the humane character and inclusive ideals of the Labour Party. She noted that by presenting a woman as its Vice Presidential Candidate, the Labour Party has once again demonstrated its unwavering belief in equal opportunity and social justice, standing out as the only major political party in the 2027 presidential race to accord women such a strategic and prominent place on its presidential ticket.

 

The National Chairman expressed confidence that Hajja Konto’s intimidating credentials, sterling professional accomplishments and extensive humanitarian experience would greatly enrich governance when she and the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Chibuzo Sunday Okereke, assume office in 2027.

 

Senator Usman also used the occasion to extol the exemplary leadership of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, whom she described as the poster child of the Labour Party and a shining example of democratic governance in Nigeria. She particularly commended the recently enacted social welfare legislation in Abia State aimed at providing support for senior citizens, describing it as a practical demonstration of people-oriented governance.

 

She urged Nigerians and states desirous of experiencing similar dividends of democracy to embrace and vote for the Labour Party in future elections, noting that the transformation taking place in Abia State is a clear testament to what Labour Party governments can deliver.

 

On his part, the Party’s Presidential Candidate, Dr. Chibuzo Sunday Okereke, expressed delight at being paired with Hajja Bintu Konto, whom he described as a humble, dependable and highly experienced partner.

While commending the Labour Party for recognising the indispensable role of women in nation-building, Dr. Okereke observed that neglecting women in governance is akin to attempting to clap with one hand, particularly considering their significant contribution to Nigeria’s population and national development.

 

He paid glowing tribute to Hajja Konto’s record as a distinguished development advocate and public health expert whose interventions have positively impacted countless lives across the country. According to him, his presidency would only be complete with Hajja Konto serving as Vice President, just as Nigeria would stand to benefit immensely from their combined experience, competence and shared vision for national renewal.

 

Dr. Okereke also applauded Senator Nenadi Usman for her leadership and pivotal role in Hajja Konto’s emergence, describing the National Chairman as an exemplary leader and an inspiration to women across the country.

 

In her remarks, the Vice Presidential Candidate, Hajja Bintu Konto, expressed profound appreciation to the leadership and members of the Labour Party for the confidence reposed in her. She described Senator Nenadi Usman as a woman with a golden heart whose unwavering commitment to justice, fairness and national service continues to inspire countless Nigerians.

 

Hajja Konto pledged to devote herself wholly to the service of the nation if elected Vice President in 2027. She emotionally recounted her humanitarian engagements during the early days of the Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria, recalling how, despite the painful loss of her husband to the conflict, she continued to traverse communities across the region to provide relief and support to victims of the insurgency.

 

She assured Nigerians that the invaluable field experience she acquired over the years would be deployed in addressing the country’s security challenges and advancing people-centred policies.

 

The Vice Presidential Candidate further stated that her decision to join the Labour Party was informed by her conviction that the Party remains the only political platform with a clear vision, genuine commitment and practical roadmap for addressing Nigeria’s leadership challenges and rebuilding the nation.

APC Tackles Governor Makinde, Challenges Him To Fix Health, Educational Sectors

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Seyi Makinde

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has been urged by opposition Party in the State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to fix the rot bedeviling the Health and Educational sectors in the State.

 

The APC lamented what it described as unacceptable degree of rot in the critical sectors of the state’s economy, urging the Allied Peoples Mandate, APM, Presidential Candidate at the forthcoming 2027 Elections to take urgent actions to fix the problems in the interest of the masses.

 

The call from the APC is coming against the backdrop of a viral video being circulated on social media in which an unidentified man was caught on tape lamenting non-availability of doctors and other medical personnel to attend to his patient at the Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu-Ibadan.

 

Leveraging on the viral video, the APC via a statement by its Publicity Secretary in the State, Olawale Sadare, decried the state government handling of matters relating to the welfare and well-being of the citizens beyond the usual claims of regular payments of salary and pension as well as some cosmetic projects being made possible by the federal government’s monthly release of huge allocations and others in form of grants, subvention and interventions.

 

Sadare said, “Despite the mellifluous access to funds, the Makinde administration has been found wanting in the delivery of good governance in all ramifications.

 

“Apart from local government council officials who exist only in titles, most commissioners and other appointees are not visible or productive because Gov. Makinde runs a one-man show.

 

“In the health sector, payment of staff salary and rehabilitation of some Primary Health Center facilities are the only achievements Gov. Makinde can lay claim to as Lautech Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Adeoyo State Hospitals in Yemetu and Ring Road, Ibadan as well as the General Hospitals in several towns are in ruins.

 

“There are no functional test laboratories in Oyo public hospitals while equipment such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-ray machines are nowhere to be found.

 

“The viral video of the visibly angry man who seen lamenting non-availability of doctors in Adeoyo State Hospital, Yemetu was a testament to the rot in the system but the most unfortunate thing is that the State Commissioner of Health is not visible anywhere.

 

“More over, the situation in most of the public primary and secondary schools leaves much to be desired as facilities such as classrooms are in deplorable condition in addition to teachers being put under the pressure of excessive deductions from salary and allowances.

 

“As a matter of fact, we are concerned about the likelihood of things going worse before the expiration of Governor Makinde’s maximum tenure because he has not left anyone in doubt of his determination to prioritize personal ambition and politicking to the detriment of the good people of the state who desire quality leadership and value for the huge resources at his disposal,” Sadare added.

 

The APC is however calling on the Makinde led State administration to address this issue with utmost urgency.

Tears Flow As Slain NURTW Leader, Toba Ijaya, Is Buried

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Toba Ijaya Burial

By Akinwale Kasali

 

The remains of assassinated National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Organising Secretary  Lagos State Chapter, Toba Ajiboye, popular as Toba Ijaya, was laid to rest Tuesday at Ketu, Area of Lagos.

 

Family members, colleagues, friends and sympathizers gathered to bid him farewell with tears flowing freely like a river.

 

A mammoth crowd of mourners were seen in a circulated video crying profusely as he was buried.

 

Recall that the Toba Ijaya died after succumbing to gunshot injuries sustained when unidentified gunmen attacked his vehicle in the Fadeyi area of Lagos.

 

Following his assassination, the Lagos State Police Command launched a manhunt for the assailants.

 

His death has continued to generate mixed reactions, as the late Ajiboye was described as a humble and easy glloing person.

 

While many mourned him as a loyal union leader, philanthropist and community benefactor, others argued that his legacy could not be separated from longstanding allegations of violence and controversies surrounding transport union politics in Lagos.

 

But the Chairman of the Lagos State NURTW, Mustapha Adekunle, popularly known as Sego, described Ajiboye as a loyal ally, dependable friend and committed union leader.

 

“The news of the sudden passing of Comrade Toba Ajiboye has left me deeply saddened and heartbroken. It is difficult to come to terms with the loss of such a loyal, dependable, and committed ally.

 

“Comrade Toba Ajiboye was more than an ally; he was a trusted friend, a man of steadfast loyalty and unwavering commitment, and a true pillar of TeamSego and SegoNation. His friendship, unwavering support, and selfless dedication to the union over the years will forever remain etched in my heart,” Sego said in a tribute shared on Facebook.

 

Though, the Police are still hunting for his assailants.

Two Convicted Top Terrorist Commanders Slaughtered Teacher, Killed Military Personnel – Fmr DSS Director – Amachree

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Dennis Amachree

By Ayodele Oni

 

A former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has revealed that the convicted two top Ansaru commanders, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, were behind series of human slaughtering and killing of military personnel by terrorists.

 

Speaking in an interview with TVC , Amachree said he supports the DSS’s decision to seek the maximum punishment of death for the two convicted terrorists.

 

He stated that they are members of a terrorist group responsible for killing many Nigerians.

 

Amachree said the group once recorded and shared a video on social media showing them slaughtering a teacher.

 

He also stated that the same terrorist group had carried out attacks that led to the killing of senior Nigerian military officers, including generals.

 

In Amachree’s words: “These are people that have been killing people all around. They are part of the people that put a teacher on social media right in front of cameras and slaughtered him like a ram, they have been shooting and killing our generals.

 

DSS has hinted that it would appeal against the death sentence judgement.

 

The retired secret service officer in his new biography also revealed what he described as authentic story of how the late Head of State, Gen Sani Abacha died.

 

According to him, the former military Head of State, died from a cardiac arrest during an intimate encounter with his girlfriend.

 

Amachree made the claims in his newly released memoir, DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield, excerpts of which were published by The Nation on Tuesday.

 

The retired intelligence officer also dismissed long-standing conspiracy theories surrounding the circumstances of the late dictator’s death.

 

Amachree, who served as Assistant Director of Operations and Intelligence at the Lagos DSS Command when Abacha died in June 1998, said the late military ruler suffered the fatal episode at about 4:05 a.m. at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

 

Amachree revealed that the woman, who was with Abacha at the time panicked after discovering he had become unresponsive and left the Presidential Villa before the incident became known to security officials.

 

He alleged that the woman, described as a pharmacist, who was in Abuja for a conference, had accompanied her elder sister, said to have been Abacha’s girlfriend, to Aso Rock earlier that night.

 

“At approximately 2.40 am, shortly after Gen. Useni left, Abacha’s girlfriend, an Igbo lady (name withheld), arrived at the Aso Rock Guest House from the Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel.

 

“With her was her younger sister, a pharmacist who was in Abuja for a conference. The Head of State had just bought his girlfriend a new SUV, and they decided to stop by to say hello to ‘Oga’.

 

“Abacha was taken with the younger sister, and after a short while, the girlfriend returned to the hotel, leaving the pharmacist alone with the Head of State,” he wrote.

 

Amachree further claimed that the woman realised Abacha was no longer responding during the encounter.

 

Recalling the encounter, he quoted the woman as saying, “I did not kill him, he died on top of me.”

 

He added,”My team located and brought her to my office. I interrogated her myself. The first thing she said to me was: ‘I did not kill him, he died on top of me.’ After her detailed account, I called the Director in Abuja, and she was immediately flown back.”

 

Amachree argued that the woman’s account contradicted several theories that have circulated over the years regarding Abacha’s death.

 

“The lady pharmacist’s account, on whom Abacha apparently had a coitus-induced cardiac arrest, remains the true position, and puts an end to the conspiracy theories and half-truths that have gone viral,” he said.

 

Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from November 1993 until his death on June 8, 1998, died while in office.

 

His sudden death has remained the subject of speculation for nearly three decades, with numerous conflicting accounts emerging over the years.

PFIPC Scandal: We Received Mandate From OAGF To Open Two Domiciliary Accounts For Phantom Agency

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Adeniyi Adeyemi

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

 

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday confirmed that  accounts were  actually opened for the disputed Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, PFIPC.

 

The Source reports that the Office of the Accountant -General of the Federation, in the wake of the PFIPC scandal, had insisted that the phantom interventionist agency does not have accounts at the apex financial institution in the country as its self-acclaimed Director -General DG Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi could not perfect all the conditionalities precedent for the opening of domiciliary accounts.

 

The Presidency, a couple weeks ago had, in a statement, accused Prince Adeyemi of deceiving some Government officials into according his fake agency official status, including an office space, a waiver for the employment of staff, and a directive from the Office of the Accountant -General of the Federation, AGF, for the CBN to open domiciliary accounts for the agency.

 

However in a move that sharply contrasted with the position of the Presidency, the OAGF maintained that the process of opening accounts for the agency was stalled following the inability of the the DG, Prince Adeyemi to present all the necessary documents needed for the account opening.

 

But speaking at the occasion of the inauguration of the National Assembly Adhoc Investigative Committee  on Monday, Hamisu Abdullahi ,a Director at the CBN, informed that the regulatory financial institution received an official nod from the OAGF to open two domiciliary accounts for the phantom agency.

 

According to Abdullahi who stood in for the Governor of the CBN, while one of the accounts opened on July 30, 2025, was dollar- denominated, the second was in pounds Sterling.

 

This is as he explained that the accounts were not able to be fully activated owing to the failure of the officials of the agency to avail the bank of the names of the signatories to the accounts.

 

“The process for opening the account requires a mandate from the office of the Accountant -General of the Federation AGF. So once we receive that mandate, we perform all the necessary verification to confirm that this mandate is actually coming from the office of the Accountant -General.

 

“So once we confirm that, we have some internal procedures, too, which we follow to open those accounts.

 

“On the 30th of July 2025, we received a mandate dated 29th July 2025, from the office of the Accountant -General of the Federation to the Central Bank of Nigeria to open two domiciliary accounts for the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

 

“Based on that mandate, we did the normal verification to confirm the genuineness of the mandate and also process the account opening.

 

“And two accounts were actually opened: a domiciliary account, one dollar account and one pound sterling account for the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council.

 

“Those two accounts remain inactive with zero balance and have never been operated.

 

“There have been no foreign exchange allocations, no remittances, no inflows and no outflows. The accounts have maintained zero balance from inception to date”, Hamisu stated.

 

Further speaking, the CBN Director emphasized that in all the processes, the bank never had  direct dealings with Adeyemi, or any of the officials of the agency as the law only allows it to interact with the OAGF even in matters relating to Ministries and MDAs .

It’s Fake News, Defence Minister Not Resigning – Ministry

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General Christopher Musa - Defence Minister

By Adesina Soyooye

 

The office of the Minister of Defence, General  Christopher Musa, rtd has debunked the news story circulating online to the effect that the Minister was set to quit his office.

 

A statement from the Minister’s office on Monday, dismissed the resignation  story as not only fabricated but malicious, baseless and completely misleading.

 

It, also, said the story was a threat to public trust and appealed to the Media to confirm stories from official channels before going public.

 

The statement issued on Monday, July 20 said the office became aware of the story when it saw it online.

 

According to the statement, “General Christopher Gwabim Musa (Rtd), OFR, is fully focused on his work and has not indicated any intention to leave office.

 

“He remains dedicated to driving the Federal Government’s national defence and security agenda, including overseeing the country’s broader defence strategy and delivering on his mandate.

 

“The Minister continues to carry out his day to day responsibilities without interruption.”

DSS To Appeal Life Sentence Verdict For Two Terrorists Commanders, Seeks Penalty

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DSS-Nigeria

By Ayodele Oni

 

Not satisfied with the court verdict on two terrorists Commanders, the Department of State Services (DSS) is set to appeal Monday’s life sentence handed two top commanders of the Ansaru Terror organization by a Federal High Court, Abuja.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite had, shortly after Mahmud Usman, a.k.a Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar, the self-styled Emir of Ansaru; and Abubakar Abba, a.k.a Mahmud al-Nigeri/Malam Mamuda, pleaded guilty to all the 32-count charges against them, sentenced both men to life imprisonment.

 

However, a top official of the Service, said they considered the life sentence as too light a punishment for the crimes allegedly committed by the Ansaru commanders.

 

The official pointed out that the Service found it curious that, both convicts were on the verge of pleading guilty to the charges, but changed their minds shortly after some persons believed to be members of the same Ansaru organization kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.

 

“For the nearly 60 days the kidnappers held on to the pupils and teachers of Oriire, the Ansaru commanders in our custody changed.

 

“One of the top conditions the abductors gave was the unconditional release of these same Ansaru commanders in exchange for the Oriire kidnap victims.

 

“From ‘not guilty plea,’ the two men at the penultimate court session, said they were undecided on what plea to take.

 

“Justice Nwite even had to hand them an ultimatum to make up their minds on or before Monday’s sitting. After the Oriire rescue, they came to court to plead guilty to all the charges,” he added.

 

According to the top official, allowing the two terror commanders walk away with life sentences would not serve the cause of justice for the two Oriire teachers beheaded by their abductors.

 

“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teachers was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders.

 

“It, therefore, wouldn’t be fair to see two men beheaded and their families are made to live with the losses without adequately bringing the culprits to book,” he declared.

 

Abubakar Abba, the commander of Ansaru terror group, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, prosecuted for alleged terrorism by the Department of the State Service (DSS) was given a life imprisonment by the Federal High Court, Abuja

 

Abba a.k.a. Abu Bara’bagged the life jail along his co-accused, Mahmud Usman a.k.a. Isah Adam/Mahmud on Monday when they pleaded guilty to the 32- count terrorism charges brought against them by the DSS on behalf of the federal government.

 

Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the jail term while delivering judgment in the case.

 

The two convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment in counts 30 and 31 while they were sentenced to 20 years in the rest of the charges.

 

The Judge ordered that the jail term on the other counts should commence from the date of their arrest.

 

The convicts were arrested in separate operations between May and July 2025 by the DSS.

 

‎They were slammed with a 32-count terrorism charge, including terrorism and terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, funding terrorism, fabricating Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), among other charges.

 

They are accused of coordinating sleeper cells, attacks, and ties to groups in the Sahel/Maghreb.

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On arraignment, Usman had pleaded guilty to one-count of illegal mining for funding terrorism/arms and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.