Bandits Kill Six People in Sokoto

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

At least six individuals lost their lives, with several others sustaining injuries, following a violent assault by bandits targeting farmers in Gandi village, located within the Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The armed assailants descended on the rural community in broad daylight on Sunday, launching their attack at approximately 3:00 p.m.

Confirming the tragic incident to journalists, the spokesperson for the Sokoto State Police Command, Ahmad Rufa’i, stated, “We confirmed six death and some casualties.”

This latest tragedy comes on the heels of a security operation late last week. In a statement released on Friday, Mr. Rufa’i reported that a joint security force comprising police operatives and military personnel successfully neutralized multiple bandits, while also recovering cache ammunition and motorcycles from the criminals.

Four reasons US shouldn’t release my FBI records – Tinubu

By: Manoah Kikekon 

Bola Tinubu and FBI 

President Bola Tinubu has formally presented arguments to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, outlining why unredacted files concerning him from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ought to remain withheld from the public eye.

In court documents submitted by his defense attorneys—Christopher Carmichael, Victor Henderson, and Oluwole Afolabi—the President maintained that the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act bar such disclosures, arguing further that no genuine public interest exists to warrant overriding privacy safeguards.

The Legal Grounds Against Disclosure

The legal push stems from an open records application filed by U.S. transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, who sought access to the federal law enforcement files. Opposing this move, Tinubu's legal team asserted that the applicant's true aim is to mine official government files for domestic political leverage in Nigeria rather than to monitor the operations of U.S. administrative bodies.

The defense team highlighted several key points for keeping the documents confidential: Statutory Exemptions: The records fall squarely under privacy provisions, specifically Exemption 7(C) of the FOIA, which shields personal details compiled for law enforcement purposes.

Absence of Recognizable Public Interest: Under established U.S. legal precedent—such as the 1989 Supreme Court ruling Department of Justice v Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press FOIA is meant to expose government conduct ("what the government is up to"), not to satisfy public curiosity about the personal backgrounds of private individuals.

Political Motivation: The lawyers argued that the requests are engineered to weaponize government documents for political opposition campaigns in Nigeria rather than to advance administrative transparency.

Speculative Claims: Assertions by the plaintiff that the files might expose secret prosecutions or covert non-prosecution agreements are unfounded, speculative, and lack supporting evidence.

Furthermore, the defense argued that even though historical fragments such as a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds in Illinois have previously entered the public sphere, individuals retain a protected privacy interest in details that remain undisclosed. Consequently, the President’s legal team urged the court to reject summary judgment motions that would compel the FBI and DEA to strip away remaining redactions.

Background and Political Reactions

The controversy traces back to a 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture case where authorities secured a forfeiture order over funds linked to an account bearing Tinubu's name. 

While opposition politicians have continuously leveraged the issue to question the President's background and fitness for office noting that the debate resurfaced aggressively during the 2023 general election cycle the Nigerian Presidential Election Petition Court ruled in late 2023 that petitioners failed to establish any criminal arrest, arraignment, or conviction abroad.

The latest legal filings have drawn sharp criticisms from opposition figures in Nigeria. Representatives from political groups, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), argued that fighting the release of the records casts an unnecessary shadow of suspicion. 

Critics contended that clearing the air would serve the President's best interests and satisfy public curiosity, while defense counsels maintain the matter is an improper exploitation of foreign freedom of information laws for local partisan gain.

President Tinubu Asks US Court to Block Release of FBI and DEA Records

By: Manoah Kikekon 

President Bola Tinubu has approached a United States federal court with a formal request to prevent the further release of investigative records tied to past inquiries from the early 1990s. Intervening directly in an ongoing legal battle, the Nigerian leader argued that disclosing these files would constitute an unwarranted violation of his personal privacy rights.

The legal tussle stems from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by Aaron Greenspan, founder of the transparency platform PlainSite. Greenspan had submitted multiple requests to several US agencies—including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)—seeking documents connected to a historical Chicago-based drug investigation.

While various agencies initially issued "Glomar" responses declining to confirm or deny the existence of the records, US District Judge Beryl Howell ruled in April 2025 that the FBI and DEA had improperly withheld confirmation, subsequently ordering them to search for and process non-exempt documents. Although thousands of pages were eventually produced with varying degrees of redactions, Greenspan pushed for summary judgment to compel fuller disclosures.

In a fresh 16-page filing submitted through his legal team, President Tinubu urged the court to reject Greenspan’s motion and allow the existing redactions and withholdings to remain intact. His lawyers maintained that FOIA was designed strictly to shed light on government operations, rather than serve as a mechanism to mine private personal information stored within public archives.

Invoking US Supreme Court precedent alongside FOIA Exemption 7(C) which shields law enforcement records from disclosures that invade personal privacy the defense team emphasized that individual privacy interests persist even when limited files or historical disclosures have previously entered public view.

“Plaintiff’s motion should be denied because FOIA is not a tool for obtaining information the government collected about private individuals,” Tinubu’s legal team argued in court filings.

Addressing arguments surrounding his status as Nigeria's head of state, Tinubu’s counsel dismissed claims that public curiosity or political background checks constitute the type of "public interest" recognized under FOIA statutes. 

They characterized allegations of a government cover-up or secret prosecution as unsubstantiated claims meant to override statutory privacy protections.

FBI Warns Informants' Lives at Risk Over Potential Release of Tinubu Files

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Bola Tinubu, FBI and US Court 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has cautioned that its informants and agents could face severe danger if sensitive records concerning Nigerian President Bola Tinubu are made public. The bureau argued that the unsealing of these documents could trigger violent retaliation against individuals who cooperated with past investigations.

The security warning was contained in a court filing submitted to Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The ongoing litigation stems from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by American transparency campaigner Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking archival records detailing historical allegations from the 1980s and 1990s.

Invoking specific FOIA exemptions, the FBI maintained that releasing unredacted files would expose third parties and law enforcement personnel to physical harm. According to legal filings presented by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, individuals linked to the historical investigations could be targeted by criminal networks or members of the public who view the information as incriminating.

“Additionally, whether they provided information or participated in the investigation as law enforcement personnel, it is likely these individuals would be violently targeted by third parties involved in the criminal activities associated with this specific drug trafficking investigation or by members of the public,” the bureau stated in the filing.

The bureau emphasized that protecting the physical safety of its sources overrides general transparency mandates in this context. Consequently, the agency relied on protective exemptions to shield names and identifying details from public viewing.

The latest filing follows mounting pressure from the U.S. district court, which pressed federal agencies to justify prolonged delays in handling the transparency requests. Judge Howell previously instructed the government to submit contested documents under seal for a private, ex parte, and in camera review, allowing the court to independently assess whether the withholding of records is legally justified.

Legal representatives and political observers tracking the case note that the review process allows the judiciary to test the validity of the FBI's security claims without prematurely compromising sensitive intelligence methods or endangering sources. Meanwhile, President Tinubu has consistently opposed the blanket release of these archival files, arguing that premature disclosures could be politically weaponized.

As the legal tussle continues in Washington, D.C., the final decision now rests with Judge Howell, who will determine whether the sealed documents remain permanently restricted or if portions will ultimately be cleared for public access.

Badagry Chairman Babatunde Hunpe Supports about 1,000 Residents with Food Palliatives

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

The Badagry Local Government has distributed food items to about 1,000 residents across its 10 wards as part of an ongoing social intervention initiative aimed at easing economic hardship.

Held on Friday at the council secretariat, the distribution brought together a diverse group of beneficiaries, including students, artisans, elderly residents, and local women. The exercise forms part of the council's "Renewed Hope Food Palliative Programme," marking the sixth edition of the intervention series.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, emphasized that food distribution is only one component of his administration's broader development agenda. He pointed to ongoing infrastructure revamps, including the restructuring of abandoned school and hospital projects, as well as local road construction.

“As we have been restructuring abandoned school and hospital projects, we are also working on the construction of roads. We have started this food palliative programme, not just the one of today. We also give out ₦100,000 every month to 200 people. We have done the sixth edition, and we will be having the seventh edition soon,” Hunpe said.

The chairman linked these local efforts to national and state policies, attributing the administration's progress to the good governance championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the development roadmap of the Lagos State Government.

Addressing the criteria for the palliative distribution, Hunpe noted that the council specifically targeted residents struggling to meet their daily needs. While 1,000 packages were handed out directly to attendees from various wards with special arrangements made for elderly residents unable to travel he recalled that past interventions had also specifically targeted 500 widows and 500 elderly citizens.

Hunpe further disclosed that the local government is gearing up to commission several completed projects, urging residents to inspect renewed facilities such as LA Primary School, Ansarudeen Primary School, and Muslim Primary School, alongside an ongoing roundabout project.

In addition to infrastructural updates, the council is moving to decentralize essential identification services to ease movement for residents.

“Before, we had only one NIN office in Badagry, but now we are increasing it to three. We are establishing one at Ajara and the second at Ikoga,” the chairman announced.

Also speaking at the event, Hon. Dr. Doyin Johnson commended the local government administration's performance, presenting a congratulatory letter to Hunpe to mark his first 100 days in office. 

Meanwhile, the Council Manager, Mrs. Avoseh Senami Oluwakemi, used the platform to encourage civic participation, advising beneficiaries to secure their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to ensure their voices are heard at the polls.

Beneficiaries expressed profound gratitude for the relief materials while offering constructive feedback for future programs. 

Hunton Selome Shade, one of the recipients, noted that the food items would go a long way for her household, while also appealing for increased administrative focus on educational support and financial palliatives for students. 

Another beneficiary, Oke Peter Monday, shared similar sentiments, thanking the local government leadership for creating opportunities that directly impact grassroots communities.

WhatsApp to charge businesses per message from October 1

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Meta is overhauling its monetization model for enterprise communications, announcing that companies utilizing the WhatsApp Business Platform will face new per-message fees starting October 1, 2026. 

This shift eliminates the previous exemptions that allowed businesses to respond freely to customer inquiries within a standard operational window.

Under the updated framework, the tech giant will begin billing for standard service messages and user-initiated utility alerts such as order updates, delivery notifications, and payment confirmations sent inside the open 24-hour customer service window. 

While these categories had enjoyed fee-free periods since late 2024 and mid-2025 respectively, Meta's updated developer documentation confirms they will now align with the billing structure used for template messages.

The policy change directly impacts organizations scaling their customer support and transactional messaging via the official platform, including commercial banks, fintech startups, e-commerce stores, telecommunication providers, and logistics firms. 

Everyday individual users and small businesses relying strictly on the standard mobile WhatsApp Business application remain completely unaffected by the update.

For businesses operating in Nigeria, the financial implications vary by message type. A chargeable service or utility message will run approximately $0.0101, translating to roughly ₦14 based on an exchange rate of ₦1,340 per dollar. 

Meanwhile, outbound marketing messages remain significantly higher, priced at around $0.062 or roughly ₦84 per message.

Meta has issued an urgent advisory to directly integrated businesses and official Solution Providers, warning them to update their billing profiles. 

Accounts lacking a valid payment method on file by September 30, 2026, will face an immediate disruption in message delivery the moment the new billing rules take effect.

2027: Badagry Leaders Promise 100% Support for Tinubu, APC, Says SMA

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

The former APC governorship aspirant, Samuel Mawuyon Ajose (SMA), has announced that political leaders and stakeholders in Badagry have firmly resolved to deliver a hundred percent block vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.

The disclosure was made public on Friday during a high-stakes reconciliation and stakeholder engagement meeting hosted at the Badagry Federation House.

The strategic gathering unfolded in distinct phases to mend fences and rally party faithful following past Primary electoral contests. The leadership first convened behind closed doors with apex party elders to map out a foolproof strategy ensuring total electoral dominance for the APC come 2027.

This was followed by a broader session involving current political officeholders, candidates, and party members. During the address, Ajose directly appealed to aspirants who missed out on tickets during the primary elections, urging them to prioritize the collective interest of the party and cast aside personal grievances for the sake of progressive victory.

“We are not working for any candidate but the party from the highest position to the lowest position. Badagry is for APC, Badagry is voting APC 100%, this is also to let you know that the reconciliation that was put forward by the SMA has achieved results. 

"By the next election, the results we are going to see will be unprecedented by the grace of God,” Ajose declared.

Addressing concerns over party unity and past internal competition, Ajose emphasized that support given to any individual stakeholder ultimately reinforces the collective structure of the ruling party.

He noted that closing ranks will guarantee that future political opportunities and appointments remain within the community rather than going to outsiders.

“Whether you voted for Sesi Whingan or Teliat Onilude, you all voted for APC, so APC is known to be for all of us. By the time we achieve that, most of the opportunities that come will be for every one of us; we can't bring strangers to fill these positions,” he added.

The successful reconciliation meeting has been widely commended by grassroots members as a vital step toward solidifying the party's presence in the Badagry Federation ahead of the 2027 polls, signaling a unified front aimed at securing resounding victories across all elective positions.