Ridoola's blog

Tragedy struck in Kasuwan-Garba town, Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, on Saturday evening as residents lynched and set a woman ablaze over an alleged blasphemous remark against Prophet Muhammad. The victim, identified as Amaye, a local food vendor, reportedly made the controversial remarks in her restaurant after a customer jokingly expressed interest in marrying her, citing the tradition of the Prophet. A source told our correspondent that Amaye was initially taken to the palace of the District Head of Kasuwan-Garba, who handed her over to security operatives for investigation. However, before the matter could be resolved, a mob overpowered the security officers, lynched her, and set her body ablaze. Confirming the incident, Abbas Adamu Kasuwan-Garba , Chairman of Mariga LGA, stated that normalcy had since been restored to the town. ALSO READ: Ebonyi LG chairman considers resigning as warlords behead man on his farm Similarly, the spokesperson of the Niger Sta...

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Brazil, describing it as a waste of scarce national resources. In a statement released in Abuja over the weekend, Adebayo said the difference between Nigeria and Brazil lies in leadership, not potential. He argued that Tinubu could have simply turned to the SDP manifesto for answers instead of embarking on foreign trips. According to him: “What they have is a poverty reduction manifesto and set of programmes and policies. If you look at the Bolsa Familia, which reduced poverty by 27 percent in Brazil in four years under President Lula da Silva’s government, it is the opposite of the ‘subsidy is gone’ approach that has increased poverty exponentially in Nigeria. ALSO READ: Nigeria, Brazil seal $1.1bn deal to boost agriculture "If you look at the way Petrobras is run compared to the way President Tinubu has been running the NNPC, th...

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said suspended Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the state House of Assembly will resume duties on September 18, when the state of emergency in Rivers elapses. Wike made this known on Saturday after casting his vote in the ongoing local government elections at Polling Unit 7, Ward 9, Rumuepirikom Community, Obio-Akpor LGA. Describing the polls as “peaceful” compared to previous elections in the state, the former governor said the exercise was crucial for sustaining governance at the grassroots. “ What this election means is that by September 18, when the state of emergency expires, the governor and state House of Assembly will come back to their jobs. Remember that the Supreme Court had nullified the other election, and if this election was not conducted, it means there would be no governance at the grassroots,” Wike said. ASLO READ: Fubara accused of sponsoring anti-Tinubu campaign over Rive...

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has cautioned young Nigerians to be mindful of their expressions on social media, stressing that reckless posts could land them in costly legal battles. Sani’s warning comes amid reports that Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi , is considering legal action against activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju over alleged defamatory statements. In a Facebook post, the former lawmaker noted that while freedom of expression remains a constitutional right, individuals must also be prepared for the legal consequences of slander or defamation. Recalling his own political battles, Sani said he was once dragged to five different Kaduna High Courts by the then-governor of Kaduna State. ALSO READ: Buhari never honoured anyone like Tinubu did to him - Shehu Sani “My advice to young comrades on social media is not to be afraid of expressing your views, but always keep money to pay your lawyers in case you are dragged to the courts,” he sa...

A Maryland court has sentenced a 37-year-old man, Nicholas Francis Giroux, to life in prison plus 20 years for the brutal killing of rising Nigerian boxer, Isaiah Olugbemi, in 2024. Giroux, from Odenton, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in February 2025 and was handed the maximum sentence on August 26, 2025. “This was a cruel and senseless murder that took the life of someone with great promise,” Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said after the sentencing. “ The callousness and lack of remorse on the part of this defendant is really disturbing. He deserves this sentence. And to the family and friends of Mr. Olugbemi, I hope today provides some sense of justice.” Olugbemi, 27, was shot multiple times on June 17, 2024, in the 500 block of Meadowmist Way, Odenton. Surveillance footage showed Giroux firing repeatedly until the boxer collapsed, then shooting him three more times. ALSO READ: Frank Caprio: 5 things you should know about America’s nicest judge ...

A human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has filed a legal action against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos for blocking him on X - the microblogging platform formerly known as Twitter. Ogun said he noticed that in 2021, Sanwo-Olu blocked him on his official X handle, attributing the decision to his constructive criticisms of the Governor's policies and his demand for accountability regarding the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre that was perpetrated under his watch. Filing the suit before the Federal High Court in Lagos, the lawyer claimed that Sanwo-Olu's decision to block him on the social media platform took an emotional and mental toll on him. He described the Governor's action as “ wrongful, unconstitutional, arbitrary and constitutes a gross violation” of his fundamental rights to freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination based on political opinion. ALSO READ: Forgive Fubara as you did Sanwo-Olu - Bode George tells Tinubu in June 12 message Therefore, ...

Contrary to speculation circulating online, former President Goodluck Jonathan has not ruled himself out of a potential return to office in the 2027 election. Since he was voted out in 2015, the former Governor of Bayelsa State has consistently been linked with a potential return to office in every subsequent election cycle. However, that has usually ended up as mere speculation. Recently, speculation about Jonathan taking another shot at the presidency has resurfaced, with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) admitting to efforts to convince him to return to active partisan politics. The opposition party has even gone a step further, zoning its presidential ticket to the south for 2027. Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Bala Mohammed , recently declared that the party is seeking a Christian candidate from the south in 2027 to form a formidable force alongside a northern Muslim as running mate. ALSO READ: PDP looking to field a Christian cand...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Renaissance group has praised the reconciliation efforts of the committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, describing the intervention as pivotal in preventing the party from collapsing under internal disputes. In a statement issued on Thursday, August 28, Bashir Sulaiman , convener of the group, commended both Saraki’s Reconciliation and Strategy Committee and the PDP Governors’ Forum under Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State for “restoring peace where many expected chaos.” “I am very impressed by what Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, and PDP Governors Forum led by Governor Bala Mohammed have done to get the PDP back on track,” Sulaiman said. “They were tasked with resolving disputes and preparing the party for its convention, and they have delivered with precision and dedication.” The PDP has been in turmoil since the 2023 general election, with key figures such as Sunday Udeh-Okoye, Setonji Koshoed...

Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has ignited a political firestorm by declaring he would rather cast his vote for President Bola Tinubu than support former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, should the opposition nominate him. The controversial statement, made during a live television interview, arrives amid a simmering legal dispute between the two men after Obi’s lawyers, EJESIMEN & CO MADIBA CHAMBERS, SAN, threatened a lawsuit against Adeyanju for alleged defamatory remarks. The legal notice specifically referenced a social media post from August 21, where Adeyanju accused Obi of stealing from the Anambra State coffers to invest in his family business. How Obi Allegedly Tried to Bribe Adeyanju Adeyanju had also claimed that Obi had once attempted to offer him money, an assertion he claimed was " 100% true." Obi's legal team demanded a public retraction and an unreserved apology. Peter Obi invited me during the 2023 campaig...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may appear to have its strategy laid out ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with recent moves suggesting the party may settle for a Christian candidate to wrest power from President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Last week, the opposition party announced that it had zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, a move widely viewed as an attempt by the party to correct what many perceived as an error in 2023, when it fielded a Northerner for the election despite widespread agitations for the return of power to the South. Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar , a Muslim from Adamawa State, won the party's bitterly contested primary but faced stiff opposition from fellow party members, particularly the G-5 group spearheaded by then-Rivers State Governor and incumbent Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike . Wike , having lost out on the ticket, insisted that power must return to the s...

Imo State is stepping boldly into a new era of growth and opportunity. Under the leadership of Governor Hope Uzodimma, the Heartland State has become a hub of innovation, industrial promise, and human capital development, positioning itself as one of Nigeria’s most attractive destinations for investors. From reclaiming security across communities to laying the foundation for industrial expansion, Senator Uzodimma has placed Imo on the path of sustainable progress. The Orashi Power Plant stands tall as a beacon of energy and industrial hope, while investments in technology and digital skills are empowering Imo’s youth to thrive in today’s digital economy. Visit www.eyeonimo.com IMO, A STATE ON THE RISE The administration has also made deliberate efforts to harness the state’s natural endowments. With Africa’s largest gas reserves and the natural beauty of Oguta Lake, Imo is striking a balance between its industrial drive and tourism, energy, and entertainment. Nollywood continues to...

Although still over a year away, the 2027 general election has come under scrutiny following the release of voter registration data by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the first week of the exercise. On August 18, 2025, the electoral commission commenced the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. It stated that the online pre-registration will run from the aforementioned date to Wednesday, December 10, 2025, while physical/on-site registration at designated centres will commence on Monday, August 25, 2025. After the first week of online pre-registration, INEC reported that 1,379,342 Nigerians had completed the pre-registration process, comprising 661,846 (47.96%) males and 717,856 (52.04%) females. However, the regional spread of the figures has raised curiosity in some quarters, as the South-West leads the pack with 67% of the national total. ALSO READ: Your views are personal, not our position - ADC replies Baba-Ahmed Raising conc...

The fall of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, once a powerful government insider and nephew of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, has become one of the most talked-about stories across Africa. Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and influence in Equatorial Guinea’s corridors of power, Engonga is now serving time in prison after a court sentenced him to eight years for embezzlement on August 27, 2025. Engonga rose quickly through the ranks, holding top positions such as Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) and later the Directorate-General of Insurance and Reinsurance. These roles gave him access to sensitive financial matters, and he was seen as one of the president’s most trusted relatives. The Scandal Engonga rose quickly through the ranks, holding top positions such as Director-General of the National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) and later the Directorate-General of Insurance and Reinsurance. These roles gave him access to sensitive financial mat...

The recent sentencing of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Nigeria's Osun State, to 56 months in a U.S. federal prison has sent shockwaves through both his community and the traditional institution of kingship in Nigeria. His conviction for his role in a multi-million dollar COVID-19 loan fraud scheme represents a rare and significant case, highlighting the growing intersection of traditional authority and modern-day financial crime. This analytical piece chronicles the timeline of the monarch's legal battles, offering a detailed look into how a respected traditional ruler became entangled in an international criminal case. How It Started Before his legal troubles, Oba Joseph Oloyede held a prominent position in both Nigerian and American society. A graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and a Master of Business Administration holder from Enugu State University of Science and Technology , he also pursued further education in the United States, earning ...

Ruslan Obiang Nsue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been convicted of illegally selling off a plane belonging to the national airline. In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the country's apex court ordered the convict to either compensate the state for the missing aircraft or serve a six-year jail term for the offense, Supreme Court press director Hilario Mitogo told reporters in a WhatsApp message. According to Mitogo, the court ruled that Nsue could avoid jail if he paid around $255,000 to the airline, along with damages and a fine to the state. However, the court acquitted him on separate charges bordering on embezzlement and abuse of office. Siblings tussle for power? Nsue, a former director of the national carrier Ceiba Intercontinental, was convicted for selling the ATR 72-500 plane to a Spanish company without the approval of the company's board and pocketing the cash. In 2023, Equatorial Guinea'...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified that the 2027 presidential ticket remains open to all interested aspirants, despite a wave of endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid. Speaking at an interactive session with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, APC’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Mohammad Argungu , stressed that the party would not shut its doors to competition during the primaries. He said while Tinubu had earned wide recognition for his performance in office , the APC remained committed to democratic principles. “We will definitely not close our doors (to other presidential aspirants. When the time comes, our timetable will be made known. READ ALSO: FULL LIST: 7 crucial endorsement backing Tinubu's 2027 presidential bid "Anybody who wants to aspire for the presidency under the APC will not be denied the opportunity to purchase the expression of interest and nomination forms to exercise ...

The political temperature in Abia State is rising as traders in Aba, the state’s commercial hub, mount stiff resistance against what they describe as a suffocating ₦3.1 billion annual levy imposed by Governor Alex Otti’s administration. The pushback has gained momentum after a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professor Uche Ikonne openly criticised Otti for “ placing undue burdens on struggling business owners at a time of biting economic hardship.” For years, Aba has been the lifeline of Abia’s economy, home to tens of thousands of traders, artisans, and small-scale manufacturers. However, the new levy has triggered outrage, with many business owners warning that it could cripple the already fragile local economy. Professor Ikonne echoed these frustrations, arguing that no government that claims to represent the people should demand such payments during a time of inflation and widespread unemployment. “Aba traders cannot be paying ₦3.1 billion annually amid econ...

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) decision to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South has stirred fresh controversy, unearthing the competing interests, deep-seated anxieties, and constitutional debates that continue to shape Nigeria’s political future. At first glance, the resolution, announced after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja, appears to be a concession to unity. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the PDP Governors Forum, confirmed that he “sacrificed” his ambition for the sake of consensus. “Politics is not about personal interest, it’s about self-actualisation within the framework of party decisions, manifesto, and national development,” Mohammed said, urging Nigerians to see zoning as an instrument of peace rather than exclusion. Yet, behind the rhetoric of sacrifice lies a much messier reality. Security expert and public affairs analyst, Dr. Mohammed Sani, paints a very different picture. He argues that what l...

Adamawa State-born entrepreneur and industrialist, Bashir Abdullahi Haske, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of peddling falsehoods over claims that he's evading justice under the guise of a medical emergency. The businessman also rejected the anti-graft agency's allegations of his involvement in multi-million-dollar fraud, describing the claim as a political witch-hunt. In a statement issued by his legal representative, Nkemakolam Okoro, on Monday, August 25, 2025, Haske categorically denied the allegations, explaining that, contrary to EFCC’s claims, he voluntarily honoured the agency's invitation, appeared before investigators, and provided comprehensive answers to all questions. Okoro said, despite submitting documentary evidence clearly proving the legitimacy of his financial dealings and businesses, the commission denied his client administrative bail, even after he satisfied all the conditions imposed. He alleged that the accused was...

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has announced plans to activate a 260,000-strong rapid deployment counter-terrorism brigade, backed by an annual $2.5bn funding requirement, in what could become Africa’s boldest regional security initiative yet. The decision was unveiled at the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration.” ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray, represented by Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah , warned of the rising threats. “West Africa, particularly the Sahel, has emerged as the epicentre of global terrorism, accounting for 51 per cent of worldwide terrorism deaths in 2024. We cannot afford inaction,” Touray said. Escalating Terrorism Burden: Nigerians Paid N2.23 Trillion In Ransom In 2024 A December 2024 survey report from the National Bureau of Statist...

There is growing unrest in Nigeria following the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission’s (RMAFC) proposal to raise the salaries of President Bola Tinubu, governors, ministers and other senior government officials. The move has been met with stiff opposition from labour unions, political figures, and activists who argue that such a review is ill-timed and insensitive, given the current economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians. The RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Shehu, while addressing journalists in Abuja, said the current pay structure for top government officials is “inadequate, unrealistic, and outdated”. He disclosed that the President currently earns ₦1.5 million monthly, while ministers receive less than ₦1 million, figures that have remained unchanged since 2008. “Paying the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ₦1.5 million a month, with a population of over 200 million people, is a joke,” Shehu argued. He maintained that while the commission is n...

South African opposition leader Julius Malema has cautioned African nations against excessive borrowing from global financial institutions, warning that such loans are a “debt trap” that could undermine the continent’s future. Malema, who leads South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), gave the warning on Sunday in Enugu while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference. According to him, leaders across Africa continue to mortgage future generations by taking loans with little accountability. “The debt trap of Africa to our foreign colonisers must be stopped. Our leaders commit future generations to debts, yet they will not be here when the colonisers come to collect,” he said. The firebrand politician disclosed that his party has already introduced the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill in South Africa’s parliament to regulate foreign borrowing. Under the proposed law, the National Treasury woul...

Traditional rulers and community leaders in Ogun State have commended Alhaji Yusuf Kamorudeen, Personal Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Duties, for sponsoring a skill acquisition programme aimed at empowering young people across the state. The month-long initiative, organised by the Alliance for Kamosky Group, kicked off in Ado-Odo earlier in August and is designed to train students and young adults in all 20 local government areas of Ogun State in various vocational skills. Alliance for Kamosky is a coalition of friends and supporters of Yusuf who share his vision of uplifting society by supporting the less privileged. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Olofin of Ado-Odo, Oba Olusola Idris Adebowale Lamidi-Osolo , represented by Chief Quadri Gafar-Iseki , urged participants to make the most of the training. ALSO READ: Tinubu's aide denies involvement in harassment of communities in Ogun He said: "These skills have the potential to promote self-reliance ...

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), calling for disciplinary measures against three top judges over what he described as gross judicial misconduct in his ongoing trial. In a strongly-worded petition personally signed by him and shared through his lawyer, Umesi , Kanu accused Justices Binta Nyako , Haruna Tsammani , and Garba Lawal of miscarriage of justice. He insisted that their handling of his case amounted to judicial abuse that has left an indelible stain on Nigeria’s legal system. Kanu, who was extradited from Kenya in June 2021 and has remained in detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility in Abuja, chronicled what he termed “a catalogue” of infractions committed by the judges. He urged the NBA, currently holding its annual conference in Enugu, to investigate the allegations and hold the judges accountable. According to him, only decisive action from the Bar can ...

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said that his political ambition is not driven by desperation to occupy Nigeria’s highest office in 2027. Instead, he insists that his priority is to see the country move towards a safer, better, and more prosperous future. Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, made the comments through his representative, Professor Ola Olateju of Achievers University, Ondo State. He spoke on Saturday during a ceremony in Lagos, where defectors from the PDP and the Labour Party (LP) were formally welcomed into the African Democratic Congress (ADC). According to him, his political journey has never been about self-interest but about working towards building a government that delivers on the hopes of Nigerians. ALSO READ: 2027: Tinubu will be in trouble if Obi, Atiku run on single ticket - APC chieftain warns “Atiku Abubakar’s plan is to build a better Nigeria. It’s not about him being presid...