Boko Haram’s Suicide Bombings In Maiduguri Barbaric, Says Governor Zulum

Governor Babagana Zulum has condemned the bombings in parts of Maiduguri on Monday evening, describing the explosions as cruel and cowardly.

Governor Babagana Zulum has condemned the bombings in parts of Maiduguri on Monday evening, describing the explosions as cruel and cowardly.

Mr Zulum, currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, expressed sadness over the incident, which he said targeted innocent people during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement by his spokesman, Dauda Iliya, the governor called for increased vigilance and heightened security measures, particularly in places of worship and other public areas.

“I am deeply saddened by the explosions that occurred in parts of the metropolis on Monday evening. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric and inhumane,” Mr Zulum said.

He noted that the recent surge in attacks might be linked to ongoing military operations against insurgents in Sambisa Forest and other hideouts.

Bandits

The governor, however, assured residents that the military and other security agencies were on top of the situation and had put in place adequate measures to prevent further security breaches in Maiduguri and across the state.

Mr Zulum urged residents to remain calm, continue their lawful activities, and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to security agencies.

ICPC Arraigns Visa Agent For Alleged Forgery, Attempt To Obtain UK Visa With False Documents

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a visa agent, Mr. Adediwura Adesina Stanley, before the Lagos State High Court over allegations bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and the use of false documents in an attempt to obtain a United Kingdom visa.

Mr. Stanley was arraigned on March 11, 2026, before Hon. Justice I. Ijelu in a case marked Charge No: ID/27584C/2026.

According to the charges filed by the Commission, the defendant allegedly conspired with two other individuals, Mr. Olufemi Samuel Adewunmi and Mr. Oluwayemi Oyinkan, to forge financial documents intended to deceive the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) division of the UK Home Office.

The prosecution informed the court that the forged documents included a corporate payslip and a United Bank for Africa (UBA) bank statement, which were allegedly prepared and submitted to facilitate the grant of a visa.

Mr. Stanley is facing charges under Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act (Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) for conspiracy to forge and forgery.

He was also charged under Section 17(1)(c) of the ICPC Act 2000 for knowingly using documents containing false statements with the intent to deceive, as well as Section 25(1)(a) of the same Act for allegedly making false statements to a public officer.

Following the arraignment, defence counsel moved an application seeking bail for the defendant, but the prosecution team, led by Mrs. Yvonne Williams-Mbata, opposed the application and filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk and could potentially interfere with prosecution witnesses if admitted to bail.

During the proceedings, a legal clarification arose when defence counsel informed the court that he had filed a “reply” to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.

However, Justice Ijelu noted that the current procedural law does not provide for such a reply in the circumstances.

Despite the prosecution’s objections, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant and resident in Lagos State.

Both sureties are also required to provide evidence of payment of income tax, show proof of means of livelihood, and submit verifiable residential addresses.

ICPC

The sureties are further required to depose to an affidavit undertaking that the defendant will not travel outside the country while the matter is pending before the court.

In addition, the defendant was ordered to deposit his international passport with the court registry and is prohibited from travelling outside Nigeria throughout the duration of the trial.

Justice Ijelu thereafter adjourned the matter to April 1, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

Signed
J. Okor Odey, Anipr
Spokesperson for the Commission

We Will Resist Plot To Make Tinubu Only Presidential Candidate In 2027, Says ADC

We will resist plot to make Tinubu only presidential candidate in 2027, says ADC … Party alleges APC Plan to impose expelled member on leadership.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused powerful figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe, an expelled member of the party, as ADC National Chairman. The party described the move as part of the elaborate plot by the ruling party to ensure that President Tinubu emerges unopposed as the only serious contender on the ballot in 2027.

In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the move as a calculated attempt by elements within the ruling establishment to manufacture confusion within the ADC and weaken the only viable opposition platform left in the country.

The party maintained that there is no legal basis for any confusion as its leadership remains firmly under Senator David Mark following a combined meeting of the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee witnessed by INEC officials in July 2025.

The party vows to employ every legitimate means to resist plots by anti-democratic forces within the ruling party to end competitive democracy in Nigeria.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has uncovered a desperate and sinister plot is allegedly being orchestrated by powerful figures within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into recognising a certain Nafiu Bala as the National Chairman of the ADC.

This brazen attempt to undermine and destabilise the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections is reportedly being driven by an APC governor in collaboration with a senior security official based in Abuja as part of the plot to impose President Tinubu on Nigerians as the sole presidential contender in 2027.

At the centre of this scheme is Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe, an expelled member of the ADC who has recently been parading himself as a leader of the party while collaborating with external political interests. Mr. Gombe, who once claimed to be Deputy National Chairman under the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, was duly expelled from the ADC after engaging in actions that were inconsistent with the party’s constitution, its principles, and the collective decisions of its leadership.

It is therefore shocking, though not surprising, that elements within the ruling establishment are now attempting to use him as a willing instrument of destabilisation and plot to forcefully take over the leadership of the ADC.

The objective is clear: to manufacture confusion within the ADC, sponsor illegitimate leadership claims, and ultimately cripple the only credible opposition platform that Nigerians are increasingly looking to as a genuine alternative, thereby leaving Nigerians no choice in the next general election, despite widespread suffering that the ruling party has brought on the people.

It may be worth reiterating that a properly constituted combined meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), witnessed by officials of INEC, transferred leadership to the coalition led by Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola in July 2025.

This exercise was duly acknowledged by INEC with a formal recognition of the David Mark leadership in September 2025. And most recently, on March 6, a Federal High Court had dismissed a case challenging Mark’s leadership of the party, affirming a well- grounded Supreme Court judgement that matters of leadership is wholly an internal affair of political parties.

ADC, Tinubu

We therefore wonder at the level of desperation that is driving these anti-democratic forces to continue in their sinister efforts to impose expelled individuals on the party or manipulate its internal structures through external political pressure on judges and electoral officials.

Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive where the ruling party seeks to capture, infiltrate, or manufacture opposition parties for its own political convenience and survival. Such actions represent a dangerous assault on democratic pluralism and the constitutional right of Nigerians to freely organise and support credible political alternatives.

We therefore call on the general public, party members, and democratic institutions to disregard the activities and claims of Mr. Nafiu Bala Gombe and those backing his illegitimate adventure. We know them and their game plans and we will resist them by all means necessary. We will defend our democracy.

The ADC remains united, focused, and committed to building a strong democratic alternative for Nigerians. No amount of intimidation, infiltration, or political engineering will derail this mission.

Signed:
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi National Publicity Secretary African Democratic Congress (ADC)