Alert News

EFCC Arraigns Former Benue Electoral  Chairman,  Loko, Over N1.1Billion Fraud By Editor  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, arraigned Dr. Tersoo Joseph Loko, a former Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSEIC), over an alleged N1.1 billion fraud involving public funds. Loko was brought before Justice M. S. Abubakar of the Federal High Court in Makurdi, Benue State, alongside 10 other defendants.  The defendants are accused of participating in the diversion and misappropriation of public funds amounting to N1,100,000,000. The case forms part of ongoing investigations into the handling of funds by officials entrusted with managing state-level electoral institutions.  According to the EFCC, it has intensified scrutiny of such agencies amid growing concerns over financial accountability and transparency in the conduct of elections across Nigeria. The arraignment of the former BSEI...

Court Remands Mohammed, Ex-NEDC Project Coordinator, Abuja Socialite Over ‘N2.28bn Fraud’   By Editor  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Danjuma Mohammed, a former project coordinator with North East Development Commission (NEDC), and Prince Chibuike Echem, an Abuja socialite, over alleged N2.28 billion contract fraud. Mohammed and Echem were arraigned on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court alongside one Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large, on a 54-count amended charge. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mohammed previously served as the national coordinator of multi-sectoral crisis recovery project (MCRP) at the NEDC. The EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired to defraud Kenneth Ejiofor Ifekudu, the managing director of Diamond Leeds Limited. “That you Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed being the National Coordinator of Multi- Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project, (MCRP) North East Development Commissio...

Teachers, Students Extol Gov. Okpebholo For Renovation Of Army Day Secondary School By Editor  Students, teachers, and management of Army Day Junior and Senior Secondary School, Ekenhuan, Benin City, have commended Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the comprehensive renovation and remodelling of the school. The principals of the Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, speaking separately with newsmen, described the intervention as timely and life-changing, noting that the school was previously in a deplorable condition before the governor’s intervention. According to the Junior Secondary School Principal, Itohan Emokpai-Ogbebo, "classrooms were dilapidated, roofs leaking, and learning conditions unsafe for students and teachers alike.  “I assumed duty October 15, 2024, when I came, the state of this school was in a mess, I cried in my heart, I saw students sitting on the floor, sitting on the window, they were not enough classrooms. We had ...

Police Apprehend Six In ₦7.7B Telecom Hack, Seized 400 Laptops  By Editor  The Nigeria Police Force has arrested six suspects for allegedly hacking a major telecom company and diverting airtime and mobile data worth N7.7 billion. According to a statement on Wednesday by the Force Spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspects gained unauthorized access to the company’s core systems, exploiting compromised staff login credentials. The arrested individuals—Ahmad Bala, Karibu Mohammed Shehu, Umar Habib, Obinna Ananaba, Ibrahim Shehu, and Masa’ud Sa’ad—are accused of orchestrating the illegal diversion of telecom resources, causing massive financial losses. During the operation, police recovered two mini plazas and retail outlets, over 400 laptops, 1,000 mobile phones, and a Toyota vehicle linked to the suspects. Investigators also traced a substantial amount of money to the suspects’ bank accounts. Hundeyin said the investigation began after the telecom company reporte...

Benin High Court Issues Form 49 Against Edo State Officials By Editor  A Benin High Court has issued Form 49, a notice to show cause, against several Edo State officials, including the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, the General Manager of Edo Geographical Information Service, and Dr. Abdulwashiu Oyakhire, Secretary of the Edo Lands Restitution Committee.  This notice is in response to alleged disobedience of a court order or judgment  The Form 49 notice requires the officials to appear in court and show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt of court. This development is part of an ongoing legal battle over land disputes in Edo State. This followed a case in Suit Number  B/672/2023 instituted in a Benin High Court by Mayer Uyiekpen Ologbosere and Portcall lnternational Farms Limited over a parcel of land measuring approximately 200.309 hectares marked and delineated in the surv...

ESSC Boss Optimistic As Team Edo Targets Glory At Niger Delta Sports Festival By Editor  The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has expressed strong confidence in Team Edo’s readiness to both host and win the second edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival. In a statement by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Enabulele said all facilities earmarked for the games are in excellent condition and fully prepared for the festival. Reflecting on Team Edo’s performance at the maiden edition, where the state finished third and narrowly missed second place, he said the goal this time is clear improvement. “At our first outing, Team Edo finished third. This time, we are determined to do better,” he said. According to him, Team Edo will compete in all 16 sports at the festival, ensuring full representation. He added that the team plans to camp for 14 days, well above the festival’s minimum requirement of seven days, to guaran...

Edo Airline: CRPP Regional President Vows To Take Okpebholo To Court  ...Laments About Infrastructural Amenities Ravaging State  Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin The Regional President of Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), Dr. Samson Isibor, has condemned and lampooned on the idea initiated by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo for conceiving the concept to establish Air carrier otherwise called Airline in the state. Dr. Isibor made the statement in a press release signed and issued to the journalists in Benin city,  appealed to Governor Okpebholo to stop the wasteful spendings that are not beneficial to the people of Edo State. He vowed that if  the governor refused to stop the project that they are  ready to take him to court.   "The CRPP is not happy with the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpeholo Priotising some self-adulation projects that should not be immediate priority of any government that is not people oriented. " Any...

TUESDAY FLAT OUT OPINION: Ali Baba And A Midnight Honour By Suyi Ayodele (Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, January 27, 2026) https://tribuneonlineng.com/the-killing-of-olufon/ The celebrated British author, Jeffrey Archer, on July 4, 1993, published a bestseller titled Honour Among Thieves. The novel takes its roots from a phrasal pithy saying. The phrase, honour among thieves’, on the surface, underscores the fact that among dishonest and dishonourable people, there are sets of rules and principles which are considered sacrosanct, and all must respect. A deeper analysis of the phrase takes us to the level where we understand that members of the underworld or those involved in one despicable act or the other always find a means to project one another in positive ways. This tendency is not limited to individuals or groups. Nations and international bodies on the various politico-economic divides of the world do such too. It is called group solidarity or fraterni...

NPFL26:MD22:. BENDEL INSURANCE FC SUCCUMB TO SHOOTING STARS,HOST BARAU MIDWEEK  Bendel Insurance Football Club, Sunday evening suffered a 1-0 defeat in the hands of arch rivals Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan after their show of resilience and strong intent to continue their nine game unbeaten run came under strong resistance. Substitute Qamar Adegoke scored the only goal of the match in the 73rd minute to halt the Benin Arsenals' impressive run. The Benin Arsenals started the  high intensity match at the Lekan Salami stadium with winning mentality and purpose with strength for strength and skills for skill until the second half heartbeat goal came. Insurance FC made several good attempts to equalize but were unlucky to get it. One of the brightest opportunity was Chinedu Nwosu' 77th minute that went an inch away from the net. Bendel Insurance FC have remained unbeaten in nine games. The last time they tasted defeat was at Plateau Utd in the first round. Recal...

Monday Lines OPINION:Fela’s Wizkid By Lasisi Olagunju  (Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Monday, 26 January, 2026).  The Cambridge English dictionary defines 'Wizkid' as “a young person who is very clever and successful.” Collins Dictionary defines it as “a person who is outstandingly successful for his or her age.” Wisdom Library says “'Wiz' is a shortened form of 'wizard,' connoting skill, talent, and expertise, while 'kid' implies youthfulness or being junior. When combined, 'Wizkid' suggests a young, talented, and skilled individual, particularly in a specific field.” Fela and Wizkid? The space between the nose and the forehead is not as short as it appears. A noisy digital skirmish: a torrent of online exchanges; an endless war of words. All between Seun Kuti and Afrobeat super star, Wizkid, with his fans, over a reported off-hand tweet that super-rich Wizkid had surpassed Fela Anikulapo Kuti in music and social stature. Seun...

Alleged Cyberstalking: Court Adjourns Case Against Ex-NBA Benin Chairman To Feb 23 By Editor  A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City on Monday adjourned to 23 February 2026 the cyberstalking case involving a four-count charge of cybercrime and obstruction of the course of justice against a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch, Mr Ede Asenoguan. The case, which also involves one Jessica Iguodala, currently at large, is contained in a charge sheet marked FHC/B/121C, sighted by journalists in Benin City. The prosecution alleged that the defendants, in March 2025, intentionally transmitted, or caused to be transmitted, communication through a computer system, particularly social media, containing allegations that harmed the reputation of Mr Uyi Oloton.  The alleged offence is said to be punishable under Section 24(2)(c)  and 27(1)(b) of  the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act It was further alleged that the form...

Edo Govt Constructing Over 250 KM Of Roads Across State ---Akhabue Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin  Edo State Commissioner of Works, Hon. Felix Akhabue, has posited that at present Edo State government is constructing over 250 kilometres of roads across the state. Akhabue made the statements during the inspection tour of all government road projects in Edo South Senatorial District in the state. He disclosed that, more roads are going to be captured in the next few months, and added that those roads are done with quality materials. "As at today, the state government is constructing over 250 kilometres of roads across the state. And more projects are still coming and and more roads are going to be captured in the next few months. Speaking on how contractors are selected to carry out the project, Hon Felix Akhabue, said it is a competitive bidding, that contractors bid for the job. He asserted," Well is a competitive bidding and contractors bid for the job. We ensure that b...

Govt. Okpebholo Visits Aviation Minister Keyamo, Pushes For Edo Air Initiative By Editor  The Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, in Abuja, where both leaders held extensive and forward-looking discussions on the future of aviation in Nigeria, with a strong focus on advancing Edo State’s aviation sector. The high-level engagement centered on the proposed Edo Air initiative, a strategic project of the Edo State Government aimed at strengthening the state’s aviation ecosystem, improving air connectivity, stimulating economic activities, and opening new investment opportunities across the state. Speaking during the meeting, Governor Okpebholo described the engagement as a key part of his administration’s economic development drive. He said, “Today, I met with the Honourable Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SA...

NIS To Launch South-South Zonal Office In Benin  ...As Enabulele Pledges To Cooperate With Shaibu By Editor  The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Rt.Hon.Comrade Philip Shaibu has reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling the core mandate of the institute decentralization and raising qualified coaches and sports administrators in order to close the  wide deficit in the country. The NiS boss and former deputy Governor of Edo State restated this on Thursday, January 22 when he paid a working visit to the Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele . He said that he was in Benin to formally brief his state Sports Commission chairman on plans for the commencement of operations of the NIS South-South Zonal Office in Benin City, Edo State and to seek his cooperation in his quest to deliver on the mandate to make NIS more effective and accessable by all Nigerians in the sports comm...

Niger Delta Sports Festival: Enabulele Hosts NDDC Boss Ebie, Reaffirms Edo’s Readiness For Historic Second Edition As preparations intensify for the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Sports Festival, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, on Thursday received the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, who was in company of the project consultant of the festival, Dunamis Icon Limited, led by Sir Itiako Ikpokpo. The high-level courtesy visit was aimed at reviewing the level of preparedness, strengthening collaboration, and reaffirming the commitment of all stakeholders toward delivering a successful and impactful festival. In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Edoko Wilson Edoko, Hon. Enabulele described the visit as timely and strategic, noting that the Niger Delta Sports Festival remains a critical platform for grassroots sports development, youth empowerment, and regional integration...

Niger Delta Sports 2026: Ikpokpo Expresses Confidence   Event Will Revive True Niger Delta Sporting Spirit  Iduozee Efe Paul, Benin  The Managing Consultant of Dunamis Icon Limited, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, has expressed strong confidence that the event will revive true Niger Delta sporting spirit. He therefore posited that there will be a zero-tolerance policy on age cheating and the use of performance-enhancing drugs ahead of the 2026 Niger Delta Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State. Sir Ikpokpo made the statements on Tuesday during a press briefing at the Media Centre at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin city. He confirmed that Edo State will host the 2nd edition of the Games, also known as the Niger Delta Games with over 3000 athletes and officials expected to participate. The event is sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and privately driven by Dunamis Icon Limited. He said the Niger Delta, once a majo...

Edo Governor Commissions Reconstructed Oredo Girls  School In Benin By Editor  Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, commissioned the reconstructed Oredo Girls Secondary School, Awo Street, off First East Circular Road, Benin City, bringing to an end years of abandonment of the facility. The governor was warmly received by jubilant students and staff of the school, who expressed gratitude to the Okpebholo-led administration for reviving what they described as a long-abandoned project and restoring hope to the learning environment. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Governor Okpebholo said the visible improvement in staffing and infrastructure at the school was a clear indication that his administration’s intervention in the education sector was yielding results. The governor said, “One thing that gives me joy today is the number of teachers I am seeing in this school. I remember that sometime ago when I visited, I saw ...

TUESDAY FLAT OUT An Imam And Humanity’s True Definition By Suyi Ayodele (Published in the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, January 20, 2026) https://tribuneonlineng.com/an-imam-and-humanitys-true-definition/ A Muslim friend, at the weekend, drew my attention to a 58-second video of how Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) responded to the woman who daily hauled debris at the Prophet whenever he passed by her house. According to the narrator, the woman, who lived in Mecca during the time of the Great Prophet (PBUH), disliked the Prophet so much that every morning, whenever the Prophet passed by her house, she would throw debris at the man. The Prophet, the narrator said, would silently walk through the debris, saying nothing. That act went on for a long time.   Then one day, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) walked by the woman’s house and he noticed that nobody threw any debris at him. The Prophet found that unusual and asked about the woman. A neighbour told the Prophet that the woman was s...