News
A’Court sacks Zamfara gov, orders rerun
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party winner of the election.The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bello Matawalle, had challenged the outcome of the March 18 governorship election at the tribunal but his petition was dismissed for lacking in merit.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the Court of Appeal declared the election as inconclusive and ordered INEC to hold a fresh election in two local governments.
The appeal court further held that the tribunal failed to properly evaluate the evidence brought before it and that the appellants placed credible evidence before the tribunal.The court also held that the INEC Results Viewing Portal cannot be used for collation of results as done by the Tribunal, adding that IREV is meant to view results.
Reading the lead judgement Justice Sybil Nwaka Gbagiz ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in three Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state, where elections had not been held previously or where results from various polling units were not counted.
She said, “This appeal is hereby allowed. The March 2023 Governorship election held in Zamfara state is inconclusive. INEC is hereby directed to hold fresh elections in Birnin Magaji, Bukun Yum LGA, and Maradun Local Government Areas.”
18-Year-Old Drowns in Kano Pond
The Kano State Fire Service has confirmed the death of 18-year-old Abdullahi Aminu, who drowned after falling into a pond at Kofar Gabas in Danbatta Local Government Area of the state.
The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Sani Anas, disclosed this in a statement signed by the service’s Public Relations Officer, Saminu Abdullahi, on Wednesday in Kano.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.
Abdullahi said the service received a distress call from the Danbatta Fire Station at about 3:28 p.m. from Aminu Lawan, the victim’s father, who reported that his son had drowned in the pond.
“Upon receiving the report, we immediately deployed our rescue team to the scene,” he said.
He said the victim was eventually brought out of the pond dead.
The spokesperson said the cause of the incident was still under investigation, adding that the deceased was later handed over to the Secretary to the District Head of Danbatta, Alhaji Baba Ado Sarkin Bai.
Abdullahi sympathised with the family of the deceased and urged residents to exercise caution around ponds and waterways, particularly during the rainy season.
(NAN)
Passengers were left stranded in Abuja and Lagos on Tuesday as aviation unions shut down operations of Air Peace over allegations that the airline was frustrating workers’ unionisation and withholding ticket sales charges owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The disruption affected flights in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu, with about 70 flights reportedly grounded.
The situation escalated when an Air Peace driver allegedly drove a large bus onto the airside during the unions’ picketing exercise.
The NCAA confirmed the incident and said the driver could face prosecution for allegedly obstructing movement within the airside. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) subsequently towed the vehicle away.
NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, said the authority had ordered that the driver be identified and arrested.
He said, “During the enforcement of the picketing, a driver drove the large bus to the runway, parked and left the place. We have ordered that the driver in question be identified and arrested for onward prosecution. How can somebody block the runway? That is seriously uncalled for. We will investigate, and the necessary portions of the Act will be invoked.”
However, Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Whiskey-Osifo, denied that the bus blocked the runway.
The incident occurred as the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), commenced picketing of Air Peace.
The unions accused the airline of frustrating workers’ efforts to unionise and failing to remit the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) allegedly owed to the NCAA.
A NUATE official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) owed about N25bn in TSC, with Air Peace accounting for approximately N15bn.
“There’s a meeting between the airline operators association. You are aware of the cause of the strike: TSC issues amounting to about N25bn. The total accrued to AON is N25bn.
“Air Peace is having the highest amount of N15bn, and secondly, they are denying airline workers of organising and to form unions, which is a fundamental right. Those are the two things that we are fighting for,” the official said.
The unions had earlier issued three warnings to airlines over the alleged non-remittance of the charge before threatening to commence picketing.
The five per cent TSC is collected from passengers on airline tickets and is required to be remitted to the NCAA for distribution among relevant aviation agencies to support their operations.
Air Peace, however, rejected the allegations, insisting that it had remitted the TSC to the NCAA and questioning why its operations were singled out for disruption.
Whiskey-Osifo said the unions targeted Air Peace’s major operational hubs in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu, effectively grounding its network.
“The unions picketed our operations across board. Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, stopping those places, which are our hubs, those places where we do night stops. So they basically grounded all our operations,” he said.
He added that while the unions had threatened to picket all Nigerian airlines, other carriers, including Ibom Air, Enugu Air and Aero, operated flights.
“They stated that they were going to picket all Nigerian airlines. However, the likes of Ibom Air, Enugu Air, even Aero, operated flights today. And you solely picked on only Air Peace, disrupting flights, the first flight out of Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu,” he said.
The Air Peace spokesperson also said the airline’s workers did not want to join the unions.
“The reason why they are singling out Air Peace is that Air Peace staff, number one, don’t want to join the unions. We don’t want to join at all,” he said.
According to him, Air Peace workers had staged a peaceful protest against unionisation but alleged that union members later infiltrated the demonstration and caused a confrontation.
“We came out to protest peacefully, but unfortunately, they hampered our operations,” he said.
The unions, however, maintained that workers’ right to organise was non-negotiable.
Achimugu said the AON had appealed to the unions to suspend the picketing to allow discussions with the affected airlines, particularly Air Peace, whose chairman is also a senior executive of the association.
“The AON pleaded with the unions to suspend it while they schedule a meeting, especially with Air Peace management,” he said, adding that the unions had been informed that a meeting could take place on Wednesday.
The NCAA spokesperson said the industrial action affected several airlines operating from specific terminals in Lagos and Abuja.
“I know that a number of airlines operating from specific terminals in Lagos and Abuja were disrupted. Take, for instance, in Abuja, a terminal that was shut down; it affected airlines like Air Peace, Aero and a host of others,” he said.
By Tuesday evening, Air Peace said it had begun restoring its operations.
“We are operating flights already. Flights will operate today irrespective of the situation,” the airline said.
The airline disclosed this in a public notice issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, saying operations at the airport had been temporarily suspended after union workers denied staff access to the terminal.
According to the airline, the development may affect some of its flights operating through Abuja as it works to adjust its network.
The statement said, “Please be informed that due to an ongoing industrial action at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where union workers are denying staff access into the airport terminal, operations at the airport have been temporarily suspended.”
“Consequently, some of Enugu Air flights may experience rescheduling until further notice, as we work to adjust our network,” it added.
The airline apologised to affected passengers, assuring them that their safety and wellbeing remained its priority.
It advised passengers to check their email, SMS and the airline’s official social media platforms for updates on their flight status before proceeding to the airport.
“For assistance with rebooking and enquiries, please contact our Customer Service Team,” the airline said.
The development comes amid an ongoing industrial dispute involving aviation unions and airline operators, which has disrupted flight operations across the country.
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority had appealed to aviation unions to suspend the industrial action, saying a peace meeting convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, could not hold after airline operators failed to attend.
In a statement signed by the NCAA Director-General, Chris Najomo, on Tuesday, the aviation regulator acknowledged the impact of the industrial action on passengers and other stakeholders.
The NCAA said it was “aware of the ongoing industrial action by aviation unions and its impact on passengers and other stakeholders.”
The regulator said the grievances could have been addressed at a meeting convened by the minister the previous week, but the meeting was called off after airline operators failed to attend.
“The matter would have been addressed at the meeting convened by the Honourable Minister last week, but the meeting could not be held as the airline operators failed to honour the invitation,” the NCAA said.
The industrial action has also affected the operations of Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, after aviation unions shut down its operations as part of their demands.
The NCAA subsequently appealed to all parties to return to the negotiating table.
“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable,” Najomo said.
The aviation regulator also assured passengers that the industrial action had not compromised flight safety.
“The NCAA assures the travelling public that flight safety remains uncompromised, and that the Authority continues to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities,” Najomo said.
He, however, apologised for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and urged passengers to remain patient as efforts continued to resolve the dispute.
Air Peace also described the disruption as temporary and apologised to affected and stranded passengers.
The airline said passengers scheduled to travel later on Tuesday were being contacted and provided with updates as the situation developed.
Enugu Air similarly urged passengers to monitor its official communication channels for updates and contact its customer service team for rebooking and other enquiries.
Nigerian Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji has revealed why he allegedly became involved in a plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, citing insecurity, corruption, economic hardship and concerns over the welfare of military personnel.
Premium Times reported how the alleged plot was discussed, funded and later revived before security agencies disrupted it in September 2025.
Ma’aji is among several serving military officers currently facing proceedings before a General Court Martial over the alleged plot. Six retired military personnel and civilians are also being prosecuted separately before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
All the defendants have denied wrongdoing.
In a statement attributed to Ma’aji during interrogation, he said discussions about military intervention began in 2023, towards the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
According to his account, the discussions were driven by concerns over the worsening security situation, corruption, poor governance and growing economic difficulties in the country.
Ma’aji said he and others believed Nigeria was heading towards a dangerous situation and began identifying military officers who shared their concerns about the state of the nation.
He said the initial plan did not progress because the group lacked sufficient funds, manpower and logistics.
The colonel reportedly said he personally financed some of the activities by selling properties and receiving contributions from members.
He allegedly sold three houses in Kaduna State and a student hostel at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to raise funds for activities linked to the group.
Failed Promotion and Revival of Alleged Plot
The alleged movement was later revived after Ma’aji failed to secure promotion to brigadier general for the second time in 2024.
He said some officers contacted him following the failed promotion and urged him to revive the plan.
Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah was identified as one of the officers who allegedly pushed for the revival.
According to the documents, Bappah travelled from Ibadan to Abuja to meet Ma’aji and discuss the matter.
He was also reportedly considering selling a plot of land in Bauchi to raise funds, although the property was not eventually sold.
Following the alleged revival, meetings were held at different locations in Abuja, including Brookville Hotel and Greenland Hotel in Lokogoma.
Ma’aji said the meetings involved some officers who had participated in the earlier discussions, while additional individuals were also introduced.
He, however, denied that his failed promotion was the main reason for the alleged plan.
Instead, he cited several national policies and challenges, including the removal of fuel subsidy, naira reforms, taxation, electricity tariffs, corruption and insecurity.
He also referred to the #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protests, saying the demonstrations reflected the level of frustration among Nigerians over unemployment, economic hardship and poor living conditions.
Concerns Over Military Welfare
Ma’aji also raised concerns about the welfare of members of the armed forces.
He reportedly complained about military salaries, the treatment of wounded soldiers, housing, healthcare and the condition of retired personnel.
He said he was particularly concerned about soldiers who sustained injuries during military operations and were allegedly left without adequate support.
The documents further revealed allegations that the group attempted to recruit more officers, soldiers and civilians.
Some individuals were reportedly approached through existing relationships, while meetings were allegedly used to discuss possible roles within the movement.
Ma’aji also spoke about an alleged proposal to mobilise members of the Civilian Joint Task Force from the North-East.
He said the idea was to bring some of the personnel to Abuja, although the plan was not fully developed.
No Fixed Date for Alleged Coup
Ma’aji maintained that there was no fixed date for the alleged coup because the group was still trying to secure additional resources and recruit more personnel.
According to his account, the alleged operation was expected to take place at night and involved plans to place some senior military officials under arrest.
However, he said preparations had not reached the point of execution when security agencies intervened.
Ma’aji named several serving and retired officers while discussing the alleged movement. He also denied the involvement of some people mentioned during the investigation, saying certain officers had merely been informed about the discussions.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
The alleged plot came under security investigation after Ma’aji was arrested on September 29, 2025, shortly before the Federal Government cancelled the October 1 Independence Day parade.
He was subsequently interrogated between October 18, 2025, and February 19, 2026, according to records cited in the investigation.
The Defence Headquarters initially described the detention of the officers as an internal process aimed at maintaining discipline within the military.
It later confirmed that an alleged plot had been uncovered and said officers found culpable would face military judicial proceedings.
By February, about 40 serving and retired military personnel, police officers and civilians had reportedly been arrested or questioned in connection with the investigation.
In April, the Federal Government filed 13 charges against six defendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Those charged include retired Major-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, retired Navy Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Police Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Presidential Villa electrician Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Islamic cleric Abdulkadir Sani.
The defendants pleaded not guilty.
Several serving officers, including Ma’aji, are facing separate court-martial proceedings.
The admissibility of statements obtained during the investigation has also become an issue in the cases.
Some defendants have challenged the statements attributed to them, arguing that they were not made voluntarily.
The prosecution has rejected the claims, maintaining that proper procedures were followed.
The court consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine whether the disputed statements were made voluntarily before deciding whether they could be admitted as evidence.
Sylva Denies Funding Allegation
Meanwhile, former Bayelsa State governor Timipre Sylva has denied allegations that he financed the alleged plot.
Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under Buhari, said through his spokesperson that he had no involvement in planning or providing logistics for any coup attempt.
Five people linked to him are facing separate charges over allegations that they concealed his whereabouts, while nine properties associated with him are under an interim forfeiture order.
The allegations contained in Ma’aji’s statement remain subject to judicial proceedings, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
The Kano Emirate Council has dismissed as false a viral video alleging that Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II obtained a carry-over in one of his law courses at Northwest University, Kano.
The video, which circulated widely on social media platforms on Sunday, purportedly suggested that the former Central Bank of Nigeria governor had failed to meet the academic requirements for one of his courses.
Sanusi is currently enrolled as a 200-level undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) programme in Common Law and Sharia at the university.
However, Muhammad Ado, Secretary in the Office of the Emir, described the claim as untrue, insisting that the Emir remained on course to graduate with a first-class degree.
According to Ado, the Emirate’s records showed that Sanusi needed only one additional point to attain a first-class grade.
“We attended a programme organised by Law Students in the university on Saturday, and a student took the video. But it’s not true.
“In our calculations, it remains only one point for the Emir to attain first class. Sunday Dare was a visiting lecturer at the programme,” Ado said.
A student of the university, Ibrahim Abubakar-Danmasani, also dismissed the claim, saying examinations at the institution had not commenced as of Sunday.
He said the examinations were expected to begin on Monday.
Sources within the university also corroborated the position of the Emirate Council, saying the viral video did not reflect the Emir’s actual academic standing.
The sources attributed the video to some youths who allegedly recorded and circulated it as a prank.
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