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Democracy Day: Eighty Inmates Pardoned by Niger State Governor

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At least eighty inmates have been pardoned by Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago in various correctional centres in the state, while also approving the immediate payment of their fines to enable the inmates to rejoin their families.

Secretary to the State Government in Minna, Alhaji Abubakar Usman on Monday said that the gesture was to mark the 2023 Democracy Day, while explaining that the release of the inmates was in line with the prerogative of mercy granted to the governor by the Constitution.

Usman said that the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy recommended the release of the 80 inmates based on old age, ill health and good behaviour.

Usman appealed to the inmates to make use of the opportunity to engage in useful ventures and shun any act that could lead them back to prison.

He also admonished them to be law-abiding and engage in legitimate endeavours by taking advantage of various empowerment windows.

The SSG called on the people of the state to use the period to reflect on their roles in peace-building and support for good governance.

He also enjoined them to support the programmes and policies of the administration designed to bring rapid development to the state.

Usman reassured that the government would ensure that the dividends of democracy were felt in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

He urged the people of the state not to allow despondency to replace hope, adding that they should renew their commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and imbibing tolerance, patriotism and discipline.

The SSG said the government was very concerned about the security challenges in the state and fully prepared to tackle the situation.

NAN

Crime

Two Police Officers Killed in Deadly Attack on Checkpoint Along Agbani Road, Enugu

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Gunmen suspected to be linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), launched a sudden and unprovoked attack on a Police Distress Response Squad (DRS) team in Enugu State, resulting in the deaths of two officers and the destruction of a patrol vehicle.

The incident occurred on the night of Thursday, January 15, 2026, along Agbani Road, near the Police Detective College area in Enugu metropolis.

According to the Enugu State Police Command, the assailants opened fire on the officers without warning during a routine operation.

The police team responded immediately with return fire, forcing the attackers to flee. Several of the assailants reportedly sustained gunshot injuries during the fierce exchange.

Tragically, two officers suffered severe gunshot wounds and were rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment, where they were later confirmed dead by medical personnel.In the chaos, the operational patrol vehicle caught fire and was burnt.

Reports indicate the attackers used a snatched Lexus 330 Jeep for the operation.In a swift follow-up, police operatives recovered the bullet-riddled Lexus 330 Jeep that had been carjacked from its owner and used by the gunmen in the attack.

Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered an intensified manhunt involving tactical and intelligence units to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

He emphasized that the Command is leveraging actionable intelligence to sustain the pursuit and bring the perpetrators to justice.

CP Giwa appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could aid the ongoing investigation, assuring that the police remain fully committed to preventing such subversive and violent acts from going unpunished.

The attack marks a fresh escalation in security challenges in the region, with police maintaining a resolute stance against criminal elements.

The identities of the slain officers have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.

The Enugu State Police Command extended condolences to the bereaved families and colleagues of the fallen officers.

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Supreme Court Orders Sule Lamido ₦1.35bn Corruption Trial to Resume

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In a landmark unanimous decision delivered today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has set aside the July 2023 ruling of the Court of Appeal that discharged former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his sons Mustapha and Aminu Lamido, and their associated companies from corruption charges.

The five-man panel, led by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, upheld the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), declaring it meritorious.

The apex court has now directed the defendants to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja to continue their defense against the allegations.

The long-running case stems from a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office, and related offenses. The EFCC accuses Lamido of laundering approximately ₦1.35 billion in alleged kickbacks from contractors during his tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015. His sons and companies Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited are also implicated in the alleged financial misconduct.

After the prosecution closed its case, the defendants filed a no-case submission at the trial court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. The Federal High Court rejected the submission, ruling that the evidence presented was sufficient to require the defendants to enter a defense.

The defendants successfully appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal, which discharged them in July 2023. Dissatisfied, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that the appellate court erred in law by halting the trial despite a prima facie case having been established.

Today’s ruling reinstates the charges and paves the way for the trial to resume at the lower court, marking a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most prominent high-profile corruption prosecutions spanning over a decade.

Legal analysts view the decision as a reinforcement of the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring accountability in public office cases, with the matter now set to proceed to full trial and potential conclusion.

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Tragic: Husband’s Body Found Days After Wife’s Killing

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The body of Ayoola Ayanwale, the prime suspect in the brutal killing of his wife, has been discovered in Ogun State, bringing a shocking and grim conclusion to a case that has gripped public attention.

According to residents of River Valley Estate, Ayanwale’s lifeless body was found on Friday evening in the Sotubo area, just days after the violent death of his wife, Mrs. Ayobami Ganiyatu Ayanwale.

Personal items believed to belong to the deceased suspect were recovered at the scene, raising immediate questions about his movements in the days following the alleged murder of his wife and the circumstances surrounding his own death.

The grim discovery comes barely 48 hours after security agencies launched a statewide manhunt for Ayanwale, following the Thursday night killing that left Mrs. Ayobami Ganiyatu Ayanwale dead and sparked widespread outrage across the state.

The incident has once again thrust the issue of domestic violence into the national spotlight, with many residents and activists calling for stronger measures to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent such tragedies.

Police authorities have yet to release an official statement on the cause of Ayanwale’s death or confirm whether foul play is suspected. An investigation into both deaths is ongoing.

The double tragedy has left the local community in mourning and disbelief, with many asking how a domestic dispute escalated into such fatal consequences for both parties involved.

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