The recap of top 10 latest happenings that you might have missed this Saturday evening, 24th January, 2026
Ogun admits error over oil exploration site as community kicks
Indigenes of Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State have petitioned Governor Dapo Abiodun over an alleged plan to shift the approved site for oil exploration from Tongeji Island to another location.
In the petition dated January 23, 2026, and signed by the Baamofin of Ipokia Kingdom, Barrister Lawal Orisadare, on behalf of Concerned Ipokia Local Government Indigenes, the community urged the governor to clarify the exact location approved for oil exploration in the state.
The petitioners alleged that some individuals were already using the media to reinterpret the governor’s earlier statement that President Bola Tinubu had approved oil exploration at Tongeji Island
Newlywed wife kills husband with rat poison in Jigawa
A newlywed wife has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command over the alleged poisoning of her husband, who died after consuming a meal prepared by her.
The incident occurred on January 23, 2026, at about 1700hrs at Gauza village in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Confirming the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Dutse, the state capital, on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Command, SP Shi’isu Adam, said the deceased reportedly took his lunch at home before he suddenly fell seriously ill.
According to the police spokesperson, the man was rushed to the hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
Following the incident, detectives from the Jahun Division swung into action and arrested the wife of the deceased as the principal suspect.
SP Shi’isu Adam said that “during interrogation, the suspect confessed to poisoning her husband’s food with rat poison.”
He added that the “suspect claimed she sent her cousin to purchase the rat poison used in committing the act.”
2027: ‘Obi or Nothing’ mindset threatens party’s winning chances – ADC
The African Democratic Congress has cautioned supporters of its presidential aspirants against insisting on a “must-be-my-candidate” mindset, warning that such divisive loyalty could undermine the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.
Speaking during the virtual ADC Coalition Hours on Saturday, the National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, urged supporters to back all aspirants collectively, stressing the importance of unity in strengthening the party’s presidential bid.
In July 2025, the ADC became the coalition platform adopted by opposition figures seeking to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.
Since then, under the leadership of former Senate President, David Mark, as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary, the party has been strengthening its structures nationwide and working to gain the trust and support of Nigerians.
Nigerian nurse loses licence for sleeping during shift in Australia
A Nigerian-born nurse, Chimzuruoke Okembunachi, has had her nursing licence cancelled in Australia after a tribunal found she repeatedly slept during night shifts at an aged care facility, putting elderly patients at risk.
As reported by Daily Mail on Friday, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on January 20th ruled that Ms Okembunachi’s actions in March 2024 amounted to professional misconduct, leading to the cancellation of her nursing registration.
Ms Okembunachi, 25, began working at Hardi Aged Care in Guildford, western Sydney, in February 2024. Barely a month later, she was suspended and subsequently resigned.
During the tribunal proceedings, it emerged that between March 13 and 27, she was the sole registered nurse on night shifts supervising three or four assistants-in-nursing (AINs) and about 100 residents
2027: Barau urges ex-lawmakers to back Tinubu, insists on power rotation
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, has urged former lawmakers to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 to enable him fully implement his reform agenda.
Barau made the call on Saturday at the 2026 National Summit of Former Legislators, themed “National Unity and Nation Building: Beyond 2031,” held in Abuja.
The summit was organised by the National Forum of Former Legislators, with the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, as convener.
A statement released in Abuja by Barau’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, disclosed that the event was attended by former Senate Presidents Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, former Speakers of the House of Representatives Patricia Eteh and Yakubu Dogara, among others.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila and some former legislators.
Barau said Tinubu should be allowed to complete two terms in office in line with the rotational principle adopted since the return to democracy in 1999.
“I appeal that we should abide by the principle of rotation, which has brought sanity and equality since the beginning of the Fourth Republic,” Barau said.“
Of course, now the President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is in his first term and, as noted by other speakers, let’s not reinvent the wheel.
NELFUND loan repayment not yet due for any applicant — Tinubu’s aide
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, has clarified that beneficiaries of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund are not yet required to begin repayment of their student loans and urged Nigerians to disregard contrary claims circulating online.
In a statement on his official X page on Saturday, Dada explained that repayment will only commence after a two-year moratorium following the completion of the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
“As it stands, the scheme will clock two years in March 2026 from the day the first applications were made, and not a single one of the applicants would have reached the repayment stage. Kindly discard any other information contrary to these,” he said.
Dada also shared a video of NELFUND Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, who described the repayment process as “seamless, transparent, and fair.”
Police arrest masquerades over breach of public peace in A’Ibom
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested and detained three persons over alleged involvement in violent and disorderly conduct carried out under the guise of masquerade activities in Etinan Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in Uyo on Saturday, the suspects were arrested on Friday at about 4:45pm.
John said operatives of the command received a distress call from an anonymous source over a breach of public peace by masquerades at Mbioto II Village, Etinan LGA, and swung into action.
According to her, the suspects — Kenneth Bassey, 31; Ofonime Isaac, 25; and Paul Samuel Bassey, 21 — all males, have been detained and are assisting operatives with vital information.
Stop preaching division, exceptionality, ADC warns presidential aspirants’ supporters
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned supporters of presidential aspirants to stop preaching division and exceptionality ahead of its June primaries.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, gave the warning while speaking on a live audio conversation on X (formerly Twitter) on the state of the nation and polity on Saturday in Abuja.
Abdullahi also said that holding the 2027 general elections in 2026 as proposed would offer a double-edged sword for ADC, stressing that the party would struggle to heal wounds.
He, however, pointed out that an early election would, on the other hand, work for ADC; according to him, Nigerians are tired of the present administration.
Defamation: Court stops activist, orders Facebook to remove posts on Senator Natasha
A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped UK-based activist Dr. Sandra Duru (Prof Mgbeke) and Meta Platforms (Facebook’s operator) from sharing allegedly defamatory content about Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The court granted an interim injunction pending the suit’s determination, citing a “serious question to be tried” and potential “irreparable damage” to the senator’s reputation.
The judge ordered Dr. Duru to refrain from posting defamatory content about Akpoti-Uduaghan on social media.
The ruling was delivered by Justice I. Mohammed in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/229/2025, was sequel to a motion on notice filed by the claimant, seeking urgent judicial protection against what she described as sustained online attacks on her reputation.
Hit-and-run driver kills woman in Rivers
A hit-and-run driver has killed an unidentified middle-aged woman along Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred near the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) office at Mile 3, Diobu.
An eyewitness, Mrs Racheal Ichendu, told NAN that the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday.
She said that the driver of an unidentified saloon car knocked down the woman while she was crossing the road.
“After hitting the woman, the driver immediately fled the scene to evade arrest,” Ichendu said.
She added that police officers later arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.
