News
Alleged Coup Plotters Plead Not Guilty
Consequently, they are remanded in the DSS custody following Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjournment of the matter till April 27 for commencement of trial and for bail hearing.
Six persons linked to an alleged plot to topple the government of President Bola Tinubu have pleaded not guilty to the charges in the case holding at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Consequently, they are remanded in the DSS custody following Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjournment of the matter till April 27 for commencement of trial and for bail hearing.
Retired Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana (brought to the courtroom in a wheelchair), retired Naval Captain Erasmus Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani are accused of having conspired in 2025 to “levy war against the state” and overthrow the President.
The Attorney General, Lateef who instituted the lawsuit attended as the lead prosecutor in the matter.
The defendants face a 13-count charge which includes the allegation that they shared over N71 million for terrorism financing, failed to report prior knowledge of a treasonable plot by one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, and neglected to prevent it.
Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva is named but remains at large.
Subsequent counts allege that the accused knew of an impending act of treason and terrorism by Colonel Ma’aji and others but failed to disclose it to the relevant authorities, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based cleric, is accused of indirectly retaining N2,000,000 in a Jaiz Bank account, while Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly retained N50 million in his First Bank account. Zekeri Umoru faces charges of accepting N10 million in cash from Colonel Ma’aji and retaining nearly N8.8 million in a Zenith Bank account — all sums reasonably suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
After the defendants took their plea, the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi prayed the court to remand the defendants in DSS custody.
He urged counsel to all six defendants to follow protocols, assuring that none of them would be barred from accessing their clients if they do so.
Fagbemi noted this after a number of the defendants’ clients said they had not been allowed access while they were on remand in custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency DIA.
An angry mob has set a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus on fire after it reportedly crushed a commercial motorcyclist to death at Ogolonto Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road in Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, 2026. Eyewitness accounts and social media reports indicate that the motorcyclist was riding alone along the restricted BRT lane when the collision happened. He died at the scene.
Enraged residents and youths then attacked the bus driver and set the vehicle ablaze. Police officers and officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), who were nearby, intervened promptly and rescued the driver unharmed.
The identity of the deceased motorcyclist and the exact circumstances of the crash had not been officially confirmed at the time of filing this report. It was also unclear whether any arrests had been made in connection with the burning of the bus.
News
ARISE News Wins Seven Honours At Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
• ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female)
ARISE News has emerged as one of the major winners at the just ended Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA).
ARISE News won seven honours across television broadcasting, news reporting, presentation and production during the ceremony.
The awards recognised the network’s achievements in television journalism and programming, with ARISE News winning the Best TV Channel (Viewer’s Choice) category.
The network’s flagship breakfast programme, The Morning Show, also won the Best TV Talk Show award, further strengthening its recognition in television broadcasting.
ARISE News Anchor and host of What’s Trending Ojy Okpe was named Best Newscaster (TV – Female).
Rufai Oseni was named Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Male), while Vimbai Mutinhiri-Ekpeyong received the Nigerian Broadcaster of the Year (Female) award.
The recognition extended to the network’s newsroom, with Ovieteme George winning Best TV News Reporter (Male) for his contributions to television news reporting.
Behind the camera, Sam Adeyemi received the Best Camera Operator/Cinematographer award, recognising his work in television production and visual storytelling.
News
Meta removes 3.7 million accounts in West Africa scam crackdown
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has removed more than 3.7 million Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages and groups linked to suspected scam networks operating in West Africa.
The joint operation led to 28 arrests, identified more than 30 suspected scam centres and rescued 117 people allegedly trafficked and forced to work in scam compounds in Ghana.
The company announced the crackdown in a statement on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. It involved 14 technology companies and law enforcement agencies from 10 countries.
The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency coordinated the operation with the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies. Nigerian authorities were involved.
Other countries included Ghana, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.Tech companies that took part included Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, Coinbase, Starlink and Adobe.
Meta said the partnership let participants share intelligence across digital platforms, countries and financial systems to identify criminal networks.
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