Spotlights
REVEALED! Afe Babalola gives conditions for truce with Farotimi, as powerful personalities intervene
For truce in the ongoing criminal defamation matter, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) might have given conditions to Dele Farotimi, it was learnt yesterday.
The police are prosecuting Farotimi, a Lagos lawyer in Ado-Ekiti, following a petition by Chief Babalola, who alleged criminal defamation of his character in the book: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, written and published by Farotimi.
Farotimi is before a Magistrate’s court and the Federal High Court both in Ado Ekiti for criminal defamation and cybercrime respectively.
He has been remanded in Ado-Ekiti Correctional Center since last week.
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election Peter Obi, accompanied by the Southwest Coordinator of his campaign in that election, Mr. Sola Ebiseni, visited Chief Babalola in Ado-Ekiti on Monday over Farotimi’s ordeal. The duo also visited Farotimi where he is kept in Ado-Ekiti prison.
Sources said yesterday that during the two-hour meeting between Obi and Chief Babalola, the legal giant reportedly gave the conditions.
The conditions are for Farotimi to retract his not guilty plea and thereafter publish the rebuttal in major newspapers.
It was gathered that before Obi’s visit, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Hassan Kukah had reached out to Chief Babalola on the issue.
Farotimi was one of the spokesmen of the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation in 2023.
Farotimi, was arrested in Lagos last week and taken before Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun in Ado-Ekiti for criminal defamation.
He was remanded till December 10.
But on Monday, he was arraigned before the Federal High Court on cybercrime and subsequently granted bail for N50 million.
Yesterday, when he returned to the Magistrate’s court, the remand order was extended till December 20.
Babalola was said to have told Obi to ask Farotimi to plead guilty to the criminal defamatory charge, failing which he must prove his allegation against him.
“Baba Afe told Obi that he (Babalola) has nothing to gain by Farotimi’s incarceration. If he says the allegations are false and offers apology in some newspapers, then, the case can be withdrawn,” a source said.
The source added that, Farotimi, who reportedly told Obi that he did not invite anybody to plead on his behalf, demanded that the case against him be withdrawn first as pre-condition for his apology.
Another source confirmed that the Monday’s visit of Obi and Ebiseni to Babalola was not at Farotimi’s behest but an Obi initiative.
The source said Obi took the step to identify with a member of his presidential campaign team who is in trouble.
It was learnt that Obi requested Ebiseni to accompany him to see Babalola.
The source, who also confirmed the interest already shown by Obasanjo and Kukah in the matter, said he believed it would be resolved.
Farotimi will remain in prison custody till December 20 when Magistrate Adeosun will rule on his bail application.
Babalola had petitioned the Police over aspects of the 104-page book he considered as defaming him.
Farotimi, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge preferred against him by the Police.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, Police prosecuting counsel, Samson Osobu, opposed the appearance of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, for the defendant.
Osobu told the court that the SAN, Olumide-Fusika, under the law, cannot appear before a magistrate’s court.
He cited a July 16, 2024 judgment of a Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, to buttress his position.
But in his submission, Olumide-Fusika explained that the Ekiti State magistrate court law allows lawyers, irrespective of status and title, to appear in magistrate’s court, especially in criminal matters.
The senior advocate urged the court to reject the argument by the prosecuting lawyer, noting that the verdict he cited might not have put into considerations all magistrate court laws across the country.
The magistrate said he would step down his ruling in order to read the judgment cited by the prosecutor.
He, however, asked Olumide-Fusika to step down and allow the most senior lawyer in the defendant’s team to continue the case.
A member of the defence team, Taiwo Adedeji, continued the case on behalf of Farotimi.
The court then adjourned the case till December 20.
The court room and the premises were filled to capacity with crowds, many of them taking sides.
There was even a clash outside the court by supporters of the lawyer standing trial and those against him.
The Nation/OperaNews
Spotlights
From Petrol To Gold Resources: List Of Countries US Has Invaded, What Will Happen If Trump Strikes Nigeria
The recent statement by President Donald Trump regarding a potential intervention by the United States in Nigeria has elicited a range of reactions among Nigerian citizens, provoking a contentious debate.
THE PAPERS reports that President Trump cautioned that if the Nigerian government fails to address the alleged persecution of Christians, the United States military may take action against those responsible for these alleged atrocities.
While various activists, both domestically and internationally, have condemned this assertion, they have urged the Nigerian populace to remain vigilant against any such measures from the United States, citing concerns based on the historical context of U.S. military interventions in other nations.
US Invasion By Records
The United States has invaded numerous countries, with some notable examples including Afghanistan, Iraq, Panama, the Philippines, and Mexico. Invasions have occurred throughout history, from early conflicts like the Mexican-American War to more recent ones in the Middle East. Others are: Nicaragua, Japan, Iraq, Korea, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Grenada, Bolivia, Liberia, Vietnam
Meanwhile, Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has explained why the threat by the administration of United States President Donald Trump to invade Nigeria militarily should not be regarded as a welcome development.
However, Sowore, in a statement on Sunday, cautioned that the threat should not be celebrated, explaining that a military intervention could cause more harm to the nation.
According to him, the US President “does not care about Nigerians, not Christians, Muslims, or anyone else.”
Sowore stressed that the nation’s deliverance will “never come from abroad; it must come from within, through real leadership, not the Tinubus of this world, and national renewal.”
The statement reads: “The latest threat by US President Donald Trump @POTUS to launch military action in Nigeria, allegedly to protect Christians, may sound appealing to some. Still, history has shown this to be perilous.
Whether you are Christian, Muslim, animist, or non-religious, no one should celebrate such rhetoric. The United States and its allies have a long record of military interventions that leave nations more unstable than before.
They failed to secure peace in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, or Syria, and they will not bring salvation to Nigeria through bombs or boots on the ground.
What Nigeria truly needs is not a foreign savior, but legitimate accountable leadership, one that protects all citizens, upholds justice, and ends the cycles of corruption and violence that have left the nation broken.”
US President Donald Trump has threatened to carry out attacks in Nigeria in response to purported anti-Christian violence, saying he instructed the recently renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action”.
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said the United States would immediately cut off all assistance to the African country “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians”.
The US “may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities”, Trump added, without specifying which groups or alleged “atrocities” he was referring to.
“I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!” he wrote.
The Nigerian government did not immediately respond to Trump’s threat.
The social media post comes a day after the US president announced that Nigeria would be added to the Department of State’s list of “Countries of Particular Concern”, which is set up to monitor religious persecution around the world.
In recent months, right-wing lawmakers and other prominent figures in the US have claimed that violent disputes in Nigeria are part of a campaign of “Christian genocide”.
While human rights groups have urged the Nigerian government to do more to address unrest in the country, which has experienced deadly attacks by Boko Haram and other armed groups, experts say that claims of a “Christian genocide” are false and simplistic.
Ebenezer Obadare, a senior fellow for Africa Studies at the Washinton, DC-based Council on Foreign Relations, said that Trump was right in identifying a lacking response from the Nigerian government towards Boko Haram.
Obadare said that those facing persecution in Nigeria included “not just of Christians…but Muslims, non-Christians, agnostics, everybody in between”. He added that the Trump administration should work with Nigerian authorities to address the “common enemy”.
“This is precisely the moment when Nigeria needs assistance, especially military assistance,” Obadare said. “The wrong thing to do is to invade Nigeria and override the authorities or the authority of the Nigerian government. Doing that will be counterproductive.”
A few hours before Trump’s threat, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu released a statement stressing that his government “continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions”.
“The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said on Saturday.
“Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it. Nigeria is a country with constitutional guarantees to protect citizens of all faiths,” the statement continued.
“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths.”
Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed his country’s commitment to protecting all of its citizens.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion,” Ebienfa wrote in a statement on Saturday.
“Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is our greatest strength.”
As the Nigerian Army intensifies its crackdown, authorities find themselves on high alert, mobilizing their resources in a determined effort to track down and apprehend those believed to be behind this audacious plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The atmosphere is charged with tension, as whispers of betrayal and conspiracy ripple through the community, leaving many on edge about what the future holds.
Military investigation into the alleged coup plot has reportedly uncovered a trail of N45 billion disbursed from the bank accounts of the Niger Delta Development Commission to some politically exposed persons and the soldiers detained in connection with the rumoured conspiracy to topple President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Earlier this month, Sahara Reporters reported that 16 Nigerian Army officers were detained for allegedly planning a coup d’etat to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
The online newspaper had linked the alleged coup to the cancellation of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day by the Federal Government.
However, the military, in a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, denied the report linking the detention of the 16 military officers to a failed coup.
Multiple reports on Tuesday stated that some Nigerian Army personnel raided the Abuja residence of ex-governor Timipre Sylva, also a former Minister of State for Petroleum, in connection with the alleged coup plot currently under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency.
Sequel to the discovery, the Defence Intelligence Agency investigators grilled some top NDDC officials about the sources of the fund, beneficiaries and how it was utilised.
The development has set off panic alarms at the NDDC headquarters over alleged links to the financing of subversive activities.
The Federal Government had also denied the coup plot against Tinubu’s administration. The Defence Headquarters described reports of a coup attempt as “false, misleading, and malicious” and stated that 16 military officers in custody are being investigated for professional misconduct, not a coup plot.
While details of the interrogation of the NDDC officials remain unclear, investigators are said to be scrutinising a series of high-value transactions carried out in recent months allegedly linked to politically-exposed persons.
They include a shoreline project awarded to a former governor in the South-South to the tune of N45bn, some of which allegedly found its way to the account of some of the detained officers.
Security sources with knowledge of the ongoing probe confirmed that the interrogation of the NDDC top shots was “part of a broader intelligence-based inquiry into the movement of public funds.”
Sources in the NDDC disclosed to The PUNCH that many top officials are apprehensive that the development may trigger a broader probe into the commission’s financial dealings.
They affirmed that the invitation of the top NDDC executives had triggered widespread anxiety among senior officials.
According to one insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, “Since the news broke about the interrogation of the top shots, the atmosphere here has been uneasy. Many directors are being cautious about their movements and communications.”
Some executive directors who maintain close administrative ties with the embattled NDDC top shots are said to be worried about the development.
The development has sparked intense speculation within the commission, with staff expressing concern that the investigation could widen and implicate other senior officials.
The NDDC spokesperson, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, declined comments when asked about the quizzing of the commission’s officials.
Meanwhile, Sylva has denied alleged involvement in the coup plot.
His Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, said the rumour in some quarters is the handiwork of ‘’desperate and self-seeking politicians trying to actualise their ambitions in 2027.’’
Bokoru explained that no reason was provided for the raid. He further clarified that the former governor’s Yenagoa residence was not raided by the operatives.
He confirmed that Sylva and his wife, Alanyingi, were out of the country at the time.
Explaining their absence, Bokoru said Sylva was in the United Kingdom for routine medical checks and would soon be on his way to Malaysia to attend “a professional conference.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.
“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently.
“It is important to state unequivocally that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, and his esteemed wife, Her Excellency, Alanyingi Sylva, were both outside the country at the time of the incident.
“As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.
“The next development I was made aware of, regrettably, were reports circulating across social media and other platforms concerning the raid on his residence.
“While the Defence Headquarters has already debunked the swirling rumours of a coup in Nigeria, it is important to state emphatically that Chief Timipre Sylva, CON, has no involvement whatsoever—either in planning or in logistics—with any such plot.
Meanwhile, investigations have progressed into the alleged attempted coup by some Nigerian soldiers arrested in September, with more than 30 suspects now set to face trial, according to PREMIUM TIMES.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the suspects, including senior military officers, are expected to be tried in both civil courts and military court martials.
The officers allegedly planned a violent takeover in which top government officials were marked for assassination.
Earlier, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a special panel was investigating individuals implicated in the failed attempt. The panel has now prepared a preliminary report that will be submitted to President Bola Tinubu, according to a source.
The report indicates that more than 30 suspects may face trial, while about seven others remain at large. Those found not to have a case to answer are expected to be released.
“The seven people could not be found in their homes, and their telephone numbers have been dead since this matter started,” one source said. “So they are still on a manhunt.”
It is unclear whether Timipre Sylva, a former Bayelsa governor and petroleum minister, is among the seven people at large. Mr Sylva recently confirmed that his home was raided by soldiers but denied any involvement in a coup plot.
“During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property.
“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. To the best of my knowledge, the officers involved did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently,” Mr Sylva’s spokesperson, Julius Bokoru, said.
Mr Bokoru also confirmed that Mr Sylva was not in the country during the raid and did not disclose when he plans to return to Nigeria.
Next Step by Investigators
The Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel, Emmanuel Undiendeye, a major general who is also the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), is expected to meet with the Chief of Defence Staff and other service chiefs in the coming days to determine next steps.
“The president will also be briefed,” another source confirmed.
Military officers among the suspects will first face court martials before possible civil proceedings, while civilians implicated in the alleged plot will be tried in civil courts, our sources said.
PREMIUM TIMES had earlier published the identities of 16 top military officers allegedly involved in the failed attempt. The officers were arrested in late September after intelligence reports indicated they were holding secret meetings and planning to overthrow the government. Fourteen of the detained officers are from the Nigerian Army, while two are from the Navy and Air Force.
The identities of the newly arrested suspects remain unclear.
Although the Defence Headquarters had released an ambiguous statement on the alleged coup attempt, sources said military authorities now appear ready to make categorical statements about the coup and those arrested.
“In the days to come, the Defence Headquarters is likely to issue a statement telling Nigerians about the findings from the investigation so far,” one source said.
Mother of all Betrayals: MURIC Reveals Who ‘Betrayed’ Tinubu To Trump
The United Church of Christ in Nigeria (UCCN/HEKAN) has raised the alarm over the killing of Reverend Yahaya Kambasiya and the abduction of more than 20 persons during a violent attack in Farin Dutse, Kauru Local Government Area.
Kaduna attack sparks panic in community
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 28 October, when heavily armed bandits stormed the community, firing sporadically and sending residents fleeing into nearby bushes. Several villagers, including worshippers at the HEKAN Church, were abducted.
Kaduna: Church condemns attack as callous and inhumane
In his statement, the President of HEKAN Reverend Dr. Amos Kiri described the attack as “callous, inhumane, and wicked” expressing his profound sadness at the attack on the clergy and the Christian communities in the area.
“With a very heavy heart, on behalf of the HEKAN Headquarters, we are compelled to inform the world of the tragic event that happened in Farin Dutse, Kauru LGA, where our pastor and other individuals in the area were attacked by bandits,” Dr. Kiri declared.
Pastor killed after leaving hiding place
Citing a field report from Rev. Dauda Gambo, Chairman of the HEKAN Kauru District Church Council, Dr. Kiri explained that Reverend Kambasiya and others initially hid in a farm, Punch reported.
Believing the attackers had left, the pastor emerged, only to be shot in the back and killed instantly.
“The bullet pierced through his chest, and he died instantly. His remains have been deposited in a morgue, and we are consulting with his family on burial arrangements,” the statement said.
Aattacks on HEKAN communities
Dr. Kiri remembered previous attacks, saying some of the previous attacks included the abduction of approximately 50 individuals, including the HEKAN pastor Francis Lawal, who passed away in captivity. This happened on the 4th of December 2024.
On 19 October 2025, four members of the HEKAN Kakude Local Church were kidnapped and are still in captivity.
“The attacks our members have been undergoing in Kauru are worrying. We urge the concerned authorities to go after the bandits and rescue the kidnapped. The families of the victims are going through a lot in trying to come to terms with the trauma,” he said.
Spotlights
Two Suspected Coup Plotters From Northern States On The Run As Military Makes Fresh Arrests
Two military officers are on the run after they were named among those who allegedly plotted a coup to terminate Nigeria’s democracy, as reported by TheCable.
The military authorities have continued to make arrests after preliminary interrogating 16 of the suspects who were seized in the first week of October over the botched plot.
According to TheCable, 18 officers were to be arrested, but two fled and are now believed to be out of the country.
JM Ganaks, a major with service no N/14363, who hails from the federal capital territory, is at large, military sources informed TheCable.
He was a member of the regular close 58 of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and his station is listed as Jaji, Kaduna state.
Also on the run is G Binuga, a captain with service no N/167722.
His station is listed as DHQ SOF Bida, Niger state, and he was a member of the regular course 64.
Binuga is from Taraba state.
MORE ARRESTS…
TheCable understands that some of the arrested suspects have made “useful statements” to the authorities.
The information extracted has helped secure more arrests, with a source estimating that over 30 officers are now in custody.
Some of the arrested officers are keeping mum, but many are said to be “very cooperative”.
Contrary to widespread reports, the coup was not to be executed on October 1, as arrests were only made in the first week of the month.
Military authorities have yet to officially confirm the coup plot.
Defence Headquarters (DHQ) said the ongoing investigation of 16 officers is a “routine internal process aimed at ensuring [that] discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks”.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, member representing Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, leave to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, over alleged forgery of election results.
According to Naija News, Justice M.G. Umar, in a ruling delivered on September 23, 2025, on an ex parte motion filed by Ogah, held that the lawmaker had provided sufficient material evidence in his affidavit to justify the court’s decision.
Onyejeocha, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had dragged Ogah of the Labour Party (LP) to the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, claiming victory at the 2023 general elections.
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However, Ogah alleged that Onyejeocha tendered forged results at the tribunal to back her claims, a case she eventually lost.
In April, Onyejeocha, through a media aide, dismissed the allegations as false, insisting they had been settled. “All the allegations in the petition are false. They are not only false, but they have been trashed out long ago,” she said.
Ogah, however, proceeded to the Federal High Court, urging it to grant him leave to seek an Order of Mandamus compelling INEC to investigate and prosecute Onyejeocha for forgery.
He alleged that after he was declared the winner by INEC, “Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha forged the results in respect of the polling units listed, whose results were tendered during the trial of the petition at the Election Tribunal to prove the allegations contained in the petition.
“That Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha forged Exhibit 3 and passed them off as the official election results and documents of the respondent, and the respondent vehemently disputed the authenticity of Exhibit 3 during the trial of the Election Petition.
“That Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha even attempted to deceive the judiciary by presenting the forged documents, i.e. Exhibit 3, to the Election Tribunal and Court of Appeal as documents that were issued by the respondent.”
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In his ruling, Justice Umar held that the application had merit, stressing that the court must exercise its discretion “judicially and judiciously.”
He ruled, “I have considered Order 34 Rules 1, 3, and 4 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, upon which this application is based, and I am of the view that it is trite that in an application of this nature where the Court is required to exercise discretion, it must be so considered judicially and judiciously.
“Consequently, I am satisfied that the applicant (Ogah) has placed relevant materials in the affidavit in support of this application, and this Court is thereby persuaded to exercise discretion in favour of the applicant.
“An order is hereby made granting leave to the applicant to apply for an Order of Mandamus against the respondent, compelling the respondent (INEC) to investigate and prosecute Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha for the electoral offence of forging the election results of the polling units within the Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State.”
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has reacted to the allegations of forgery of electoral results in the 2023 general election in Isikwuato/Umunneochi, saying there is no cause for alarm, as reported by The PUNCH.
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