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Kano Governor, Yusuf Officially Defects To APC

Abba Yusuf, the Kano State Governor, has officially rejoined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Yusuf defected to the ruling party on Monday at the Coronation Hall of the Kano Government House.

He was made received into the party by former National Chairman of the APC and ex-Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; the Deputy President of the Senate; the Senator representing Kano South, Senator Barau Jibrin; the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata; and other party leaders.

The governor said his return to the APC was anchored on the need to work more closely with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.

Recall that Yusuf, who was elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party in 2023, reigned from the party alongside several members of the Kano State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives.

More to come…

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Tanker And Underground Tanks Destroyed As Fire Ravages Filling Station In Ibadan (Photos)

A petroleum tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), along with two underground tanks, was destroyed in a fire that gutted a fuel station in Ibadan.

According to Daily Post, it was learnt that other properties worth millions of naira were destroyed during the inferno.

The incident occured at SAO petroleum station in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday morning.

Chairman, Oyo State Fire Service, Hon Maroof Akinwande confirmed the incident on Monday.

Akinwande, in a statement, noted that the fire fighting operation was carried out in conjunction with men of Federal Fire Service and other firemen from some private companies.

He added that police officers from the police headquarters in Eleyele provided security cover to the firemen.

He said, “Upon arrival, we met a MACK trailer tanker loaded with 45,000litres capacity of premium motor spirit (PMS) and two underground tanks engulfed by fire.

“Our officers swiftly got into action , launched articulated attacks and use professional technical know how with the aid of foam chemical compound to curtailed the fire from resulting to serious inferno.

“The firefighting took hours before it was completely extinguished. The operation was jointly carried out with Federal Fire Service, SWEETCO Fire Brigade, Zartech Fire Brigade and CBN Fire Brigade.”

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I Am Ready To Defend Myself – Ex-AGF, Malami Accuses DSS, EFCC Of Violating His Rights

Abubakar Malami (SAN), a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has accused security agencies of actions said to be aimed at frustrating his constitutional right to fair hearing and effective legal defence.

In a statement issued on Saturday morning by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami’s office expressed concern over what it described as a pattern of conduct by state agencies following charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to the statement, although the Federal High Court granted Malami bail, the EFCC allegedly delayed the submission of his international passports to the court for about one week, despite the passports being a key condition for the perfection of bail.

The office claimed that the delay prolonged Malami’s detention and obstructed the execution of what it described as a valid court order.

The statement further alleged that immediately after Malami perfected his bail and was released from the Kuje Custodial Centre, he was rearrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to his aides, Malami was detained for five days without access to his lawyers or family members and was only allowed to meet his legal team on Friday after what they described as prolonged isolation.

The office described the detention as a violation of his fundamental human rights.

Malami’s camp said the detention occurred at a critical stage when he was required to prepare his defence in an EFCC interim forfeiture proceeding before the Federal High Court.

It argued that denying him access to legal counsel during this period impaired his ability to consult with his lawyers, prepare court filings and give instructions.

“This amounted to a clear frustration of due process,” the statement said.

The statement alleged that the sequence of events suggested a pattern where arrest precedes investigation, with evidence sought after detention.

It claimed that such an approach violated the rule of law and constitutionally guaranteed rights, accusing the DSS of adopting similar practices.

Malami’s office stressed that bail granted by a court must be respected, warning that no agency should undermine judicial orders through what it described as coordinated delays, rearrests or denial of access to legal representation.

“Mr. Malami remains ready to defend himself fully in court and in accordance with the law, and calls on all state institutions to respect court orders, constitutional guarantees, and the rule of law,” the statement added.

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A Shame Of A Nation – How Nigerians Reacted After National Grid Collapsed

Nigerians have criticised the Federal Government over what they described as the embarrassing and frequent collapse of the national power grid.

Earlier, 626BLAZE reported that Nigeria’s national electricity grid suffered a total collapse on Friday, plunging parts of the country into blackout in the first such incident recorded in 2026.

According to the figures from the Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, power generation fell to zero megawatts, while electricity supply to all 11 distribution companies dropped completely by about 1 p.m.

NISO disclosed that the affected distribution firms include Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja and Yola, all of which recorded zero load allocation at the time of the collapse.

A cross-section of Nigerians, who spoke to Daily Post on the development, said the regular collapse of the national grid is a national embarrassment.

Paul Igbashangev said it was quite disheartening that Nigeria had continued to experience this very often.

 

He said: “It’s quite unfortunate that our country at this level is always talking of national grid collapsing. The frequent grid collapse is a concern, and we are hoping the authorities will find a lasting solution soon. It is affecting businesses and households alike.”

 

Another Nigerian, Iwuchukwu Ike, said nothing is working under this administration, lamenting that since coming on board of the administration, it has been from one drama to another.

“The national grid has collapsed again? It’s quite painful that this thing is collapsing on every eke market day.

“I could remember how Peter Obi went to Egypt to see how they’re getting it right. APC supporters mocked him. Now see us see Disco,” he said.

On his part, Ngozi Ikechukwu, said it is too much to bear the current economic hardship.

“See what these people who promised us heaven on earth are doing to us. How can we be battling with national grid collapse when the year has just started?” She queried.

Also speaking, Mustapha Audu said that the Federal Government should adopt the Compress Natural Gas, CNG, to put an end to the constant collapse of the national grid.

“I think what the Federal Government should do is to get a CNG electricity conversion solution to this national grid collapse. A country of 200 million people having a nationwide blackout without a natural disaster like a hurricane? A shame of a nation,” he said.

According to another respondent, Adamu Yusuf, some people are playing politics with the national grid for their selfish purposes.

He said: “There is nothing serious about the frequent collapse of the national grid. Some group of persons are just playing politics with it to make money

“National grid is something that is supposed to take years before collapsing, but it has become business as usual and nobody is asking them.”

On his part, Adah Joseph said the regular collapse of the national grid affects the national economy, causing a decline in the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

“It’s rather unfortunate that the devastating effects of the constant collapse of the national grid has continued.

“This also affects individual businesses of different kinds, especially food related businesses that need constant power supply for the use of refrigerators.

“And as it also affects Nigerians in different aspects, including health facilities.

“It is high time, therefore, that the government included our power sector amongst topmost  priorities to end this embarrassment,” he posited.

In the same vein, Augustine Oyiwona urged the government to invest massively in new transmission lines and substations, stressing that most of them are more than 40 to 50 years

He said: “Manual systems should be replaced with a modern real time grid monitoring system. Transmission Company of Nigeria,TCN, should be run like a technical utility and not a ministry desk.

“As passed by the National Assembly and signed into law, the state governments should legally be made to generate, transmit and distribute power.”

According to another respondent, Paul Igbadi, “To me, it is like total negligence on the side of our government.”

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UNILAG Law Graduate D!es Just One Day After Her Convocation

Maryam Agoro, a recent law graduate from the University of Lagos, has tragically passed away just one day after participating in her convocation ceremony, leaving her family, friends, and classmates in profound grief.

The sad news surfaced on social media after a user identified as @plantcodesss shared the news on X.

The late graduate was said to belong to the University of Lagos graduating class of 2023.

The University of Lagos had earlier held its 2024/2025 convocation ceremony on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, within the school premises.

The event brought together students who had completed their studies.

Shortly after the ceremony, news emerged that one of the graduates from the Faculty of Law had passed away, just a day after celebrating her achievement.

In her post, the social media user spoke about the late graduate’s strength and the way she inspired people around her, even while facing health struggles in the past.

She recalled how her sister, Evidence, had always supported the young woman and believed she would recover after seeing her in a poor condition some time ago.

She explained that the graduate had been full of joy during the convocation and deserved to be celebrated for completing her studies despite the challenges she faced.

She wrote: “You did your convocation yesterday and today you’re no more. You deserve to be celebrated and you will be.

“My sister, Evidence was always rooting for you and after seeing you in that miserable condition the last time, I hoped you’d get better.

“I know you’re smiling from where you are because ‘UNILAG didn’t end you.’ You ended UNILAG, in joy.”

Friends, former classmates and members of the UNILAG community shared messages of sympathy and prayers, describing the death as painful and shocking.

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90-Year-Old Iya Oge Of Lagos, Opral Benson, Found Safe In Liberia After Being Reported Missing

Opral Benson, the Iya Oge of Lagos who was earlier declared missing by her family, has reportedly been found in Liberia.

A source close to the family confirmed the development on Tuesday evening, saying the 90-year-old socialite may be experiencing age-related health challenges.

“They have located her in Liberia. I think she might be suffering from dementia due to old age,” the source told Sahara Reporters.

Benson’s family had raised the alarm on Sunday after her whereabouts remained unknown for more than 48 hours.

In a public notice, the family said she was last seen on January 13 and had not returned home since, describing the situation as time-sensitive.

“The family reports that Mama Opral Benson has been missing since Tuesday, January 13, 2026. She has not returned home and her current whereabouts are unknown,” the notice read.

They appealed to members of the public to assist with information that could lead to her location.

“Anyone who has seen her, or has any information, no matter how small, is urged to contact us immediately.

“Call 08037039214. Alternatively, please report to the nearest police station. This is time-sensitive. Please share immediately.”

Efforts to reach the family through the phone number provided in the notice were unsuccessful, as calls went unanswered and text messages were not returned as of the time of filing this report.

Born on February 7, 1935, Opral Benson is an American-Liberian and Nigerian entrepreneur and socialite.

She holds the prestigious traditional title of Iya Oge of Lagos and was married to the late Chief T.O.S. Benson from 1962 until his death.

A former university administrator, Benson has had a long career in education, fashion, and corporate administration. She manages a fashion and beauty school in Lagos and previously served as a director at Johnson’s Products, the Nigerian affiliate of the multinational brand.

In 2012, she was appointed Honorary Consul of Liberia in Lagos, further strengthening her ties to both Nigeria and Liberia.

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Anthony Joshua’s Family Questions Trial Of Driver Over Tragic Car Crash

The driver charged in the car crash that injured Anthony Joshua and killed two of his friends appeared in a Nigerian court on Tuesday, as the star boxer’s uncle questioned whether a trial was “really worth it”.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was driving the former two-time heavyweight champion, Joshua, and two of his friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, when their Lexus SUV rammed into a stationary truck.

Kayode faces multiple charges of reckless driving, as well as a charge of driving without a licence.

Dressed in black trousers and a hoodie, Kayode appeared downcast and tried to avoid journalists’ cameras outside the courtroom in Sagamu, in the country’s southwest.

“We are very lucky that our son didn’t d!e. But taking this man to court is something we don’t see any reason for,” Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, told AFP at the boxer’s family home.

“This is my own personal opinion that the trial is not really worth it. Because we think accidents can happen anywhere in the world.”

At the same time, he added, “we sense the opinion of the people of the town” is that “this man must be prosecuted. That he was overspeeding.”

The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun State, on the section of highway where the crash occurred, told AFP in the aftermath of the December 29 incident that preliminary investigations showed the vehicle was travelling at excessive speed and suffered a burst tyre before the collision.

Kayode’s court appearance on Tuesday was brief, as the judge adjourned the case until February 25 after the prosecution requested a delay.

His lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told journalists outside the courtroom that he agreed to the adjournment “in the interest of justice.”

Nigerian police and state officials said Ayodele and Ghami d!ed at the scene, while Joshua and Kayode sustained minor injuries.

Ghami was Joshua’s long-time strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was his personal trainer, according to British media.

Adedamola Joshua told AFP that Kayode had been his nephew’s driver for three years and that there had never been any complaints.

His nephew, a British national of Nigerian heritage, frequently visits southwest Nigeria, where he has friends and family.

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Court Adjourns Case Against Anthony Joshua’s Driver, New Date Announced

The trial of 46-year-old Adeniyi Kayode, driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the road accident that claimed the lives of two friends of heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, has been adjourned to February 25, 2026.

Recall that Kayode was charged to Sagamu Magistrate Court, on the 2nd of January  with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding.

He was charged on a four count charge  which includes dangerous driving Causing Death, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F: 135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State).

“Reckless and Negligent Driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the same Act. Driving Without Due Care and Attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act and driving without a valid national driver’s license, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act.

The case was adjourned after the prosecuting counsel, Richard Nigiwe, informed the court that they had four witnesses, but only three were in attendance.

Richard called for the adjournment of the case to allow the prosecution counsel to duplicate the case tile to the office of the Attorney General of the state through the office of the department of public prosecution for advise and in the interest of justice.

The request was initially rejected by the counsel to the defendant, Abiodun Olalekan, who expressed the readiness to forge ahead with the case.

However, giving her ruling on the request for adjournment, the court granted the application and adjourned the case to the 25th of February for further hearing.

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Court Resumes Hearing In Case Involving Anthony Joshua’s Driver

A Magistrate Court in Sagamu, Ogun State, has resumed proceedings in the case against Adeniyi Kayode, the driver of a Lexus SUV involved in the de@dly road crash that k!lled two close associates of heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua.

Kayode, 46, was arraigned before the Sagamu Magistrate Court on January 2, with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding.

He is facing a four-count charge bordering on dangerous driving causing de@th, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention resulting in bodily harm and property damage, as well as driving without a valid national driver’s licence.

The charges are said to be contrary to various provisions of the Federal Highway Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Ogun State.

The court had earlier granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties.

The case stems from a tragic accident that occurred on December 29, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where the Lexus SUV reportedly collided with a stationary truck.

The crash led to the de@ths of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, both close associates of the former world heavyweight champion.

Joshua and the driver were said to have sustained minor injuries in the incident. The boxer was later discharged from the hospital after being certified medically stable to continue his recovery at home.

Following the tragedy, Joshua, accompanied by his mother, visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay his last respects as arrangements were made to repatriate the bodies of the deceased to the United Kingdom.

Ayodele and Ghami were laid to rest after a funeral prayer held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque, followed by burial at Hendon Cemetery.

Their de@ths, particularly Ghami’s as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach and Ayodele’s as his personal trainer and confidant, drew widespread tributes from across the global boxing community.

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Sultan Of Sokoto Declares January 20 First Day Of Sha’aban 1447AH

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has announced Tuesday, January 20, 2026, as the first day of Sha’aban 1447AH.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Monday, January 19, 2026, by Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council.

According to the statement, Monday, January 19, 2026, marked the 29th day of Rajab 1447AH, which, in line with Islamic tradition, is the designated day for the sighting of the new moon that determines the commencement of Sha’aban.

The Sultan had earlier declared Monday, December 22, 2025, as the first day of Rajab 1447AH, thereby placing the crescent sighting for Sha’aban in accordance with the Islamic lunar calendar.

The Sultan urged Muslims across the country to use the period for prayers, peace, and continued devotion to Allah.