Author: Tribune Online

Groups under the auspices of the Stop Financing Factory Farming Coalition have urged the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to

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Child rights lawyer and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Yakurr I State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly election, James Ibor, has alleged that the state legislature is deeply compromised by bribery and undue executive influence.

According to him, the situation has weakened the constitutional principle of checks and balances and reduced the Assembly to what he described as an extension of the executive arm of government.

Speaking in an interview, Ibor alleged that executive bills sent to the legislature are often accompanied by financial inducements.

“Every executive bill that leaves the state house to the legislative house goes there with an envelope. Anytime you hear them fight, it means somebody has converted that envelope,” he claimed.

The PDP candidate further accused lawmakers of prioritising personal interests above the welfare of the people, alleging that many legislators focus more on securing loans and acquiring property shortly after assuming office.

He lamented what he described as the absence of vibrant opposition voices in the Assembly, saying this had encouraged complacency and weakened legislative scrutiny.

“There is no robust argument, examination or review of proposals. Our state is highly indebted and there is zero opposition. Everything is ‘the ayes have it,” he said.

Ibor dismissed suggestions that he could become isolated or intimidated if elected on the PDP platform, insisting that he was prepared for political resistance.

“My mantra has always been taking the battle to the enemy. I am taking the battle to the enemy camp. My only distraction will be the fight. Of course, I don’t expect them not to fight back, but I will not be distracted,” he stated.

He maintained that support from civil society groups, his constituents and advocates of good governance would ensure that he would not become a lone voice in the Assembly.

Cross River Assembly members compromised – PDP candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos has pledged a new direction and good governance for the people of the state. The pledge came following the conclusion of the party’s primary elections for aspirants seeking to contest seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and governorship positions ahead of the […]

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…Seeks N1bn Compensation Over Alleged Police Brutality

For 26-year-old Abraham Emmanuel, the 2026 New Year celebration in Bwari, Abuja, was supposed to end quietly at home after exchanging greetings with family and friends.

Instead, within moments, his life changed permanently.

Speaking exclusively with THE WHISTLER, Abraham recounted how what began as a calm crossover night ended with the loss of his right eye after an alleged police raid in the Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory.

“We had just closed from church, and everyone was in a celebratory mode. There were no fights, quarrels or threats.

“I had just finished wishing my family and friends a happy New Year. Never knew that moments later I would be losing an eye.”

According to Abraham, his parents had travelled when the incident occurred.

“My parents were not even around, they travelled. So, I decided I should step out and sit by the passage of the house. Before I knew it, I saw people running.”

He told THE WHISTLER that confusion erupted outside his residence during the crossover night between December 31, 2025 and January 1, 2026.

“So, while I was still standing in front of my house, still waiting for my friend to come out and join me, the next thing I felt was a sharp pain in my right eye. Immediately I turned, I saw the DPO of Bwari Division dispersing teargas. Blood started gushing from my face. It was my friend who came out, saw me and rushed me to the hospital. Otherwise, I would have passed out.”

According to him, a vigilante operative assisted in taking him to a nearby hospital.

“So, it was my friend and a vigilante who drove me to the nearby hospital on his bike. So, that was where the stitch, the main place that the tear gas hit me.”

Abraham said he initially did not realise the extent of the injury.

“I had no idea that it had already affected my eyes when it was stitched at General Hospital Bwari.”

However, after being referred to Asokoro General Hospital, doctors reportedly delivered devastating news.

“But a nurse at the hospital advised me to go for a further check-up at Asokoro General Hospital. So, when I went there, the doctor attended to me, she did what she had to do and told me outrightly that I had lost my right eye.”

According to him, doctors were eventually forced to remove the eye during surgery to prevent complications affecting the other eye.

“The surgery was carried out at Asokoro General Hospital. It’s not as though they stitched the eye; they removed the eyeball and told me they couldn’t leave it because it would affect my left eye.”

Months after the incident, Abraham said he still cannot afford an artificial eye due to the financial burden the surgery has already placed on his family.

“They asked me to follow up and advised that I get an artificial eye, but I haven’t been able to raise money for it. I don’t even know what it will cost me, as the other surgery to take out the eye had cost my family a lot.”

He told THE WHISTLER that efforts to seek intervention from police authorities have so far produced no results.

“We’ve gone to the Force headquarters, tried to see the IGP, and we’ve also gone to the State CID.”

For Abraham, the trauma extends beyond the physical injury.

“All I need is justice. My life has changed forever. I no longer have the drive. Sometimes it gets depressing. I look at myself in the mirror. I don’t recognise myself anymore.”

A barber by profession, Abraham said the injury has affected his ability to support himself and his family.

“I am a barber. I’ve been the one supporting my family, but I’m struggling to be there for myself.”

Despite the emotional toll, he insisted that his demand remains straightforward.

“All I want is justice. I don’t deserve to lose my eye and I also don’t believe anyone should be dehumanised by the police.”

He also expressed fears about his safety, noting that the Divisional Police Officer named in the suit still serves within the community.

“The DPO who carried out this act moves freely. He threatens my safety as the DPO of our community. All I want is for him to face the full arms of the law. I need justice, my safety needs to be guaranteed.”

According to Abraham, the psychological impact of the incident continues to haunt him daily.

“The trauma of these incidents haunts me. Whenever I see a police van, I instantly get scared that somebody might just come out to shoot. This isn’t a healthy way of life and I sure do not deserve what happened to me.”

Court documents obtained by THE WHISTLER showed that Abraham has now approached the Federal High Court in Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/286/2026, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights against the Nigerian Police Force and CSP Babayola Muhammad Musa, the Divisional Police Officer of Bwari Division.

The matter came up before Justice Hauwa Joseph Yuwa of Federal High Court 12, Abuja, on Monday, May 25, 2026, for mention.

Speaking with THE WHISTLER after proceedings, Abraham’s counsel, Barr. Anthony Idanosi Eruaga, explained that the matter came up for mention and that the respondents initially challenged the application over the absence of a medical report from Asokoro General Hospital.

“The matter was slated today for mention.

“So after mentioning the case, the counsel on the other side, the respondent counsel, told the court that they earlier filed a preliminary objection but withdrew the objection based on our further and better affidavit.”

According to Eruaga, the initial court filing contained hospital receipts but lacked a certified medical report.

“When we filed the matter, we did not attach the medical report from Asokoro Hospital.

“We have now attached it to our affidavit. So based on what they queried, we have filed it, which was the reason for the withdrawal.”

The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 25, 2026, for hearing.

Eruaga further told THE WHISTLER that the legal team remains confident because of the medical evidence, alongside other evidence now before the court.

“Abraham will get justice because we have concrete documents backing the case. Initially, they queried that we only exhibited receipts, claiming that we could go anywhere and get receipts from the hospital.”

According to him, the medical report directly linked the injury to tear gas exposure.

“But since we now have a certified medical doctor who signed the medical report, we will get justice. In it, the doctor emphasised that there were remnants of tear gas because the police had claimed that the tear gas wasn’t responsible for the damaged eye. But the report explicitly stated that it was the tear gas that injured his eye.”

He added, “And we are hopeful that Abraham will get justice.

“He will get justice. As far as the law is concerned under the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abraham will get justice.”

Court documents obtained by THE WHISTLER showed that Abraham is seeking several reliefs, including “Damages for One Billofy” and a “Written apology by all the Respondents to the Applicant for losing his eye.”

The suit also seeks, “A declaration that the shooting of tear gas at cross over night to the new year, 2026 at the front of the Applicants father’s house on the 31st day of December 2025 which lead to the damage of the Applicant’s eye by the Divisional Police Officer CSP Babayola Muhammad Musa for not committing any offence known to law is unlawful, illegal, null and void.”

The police counsel in the matter was identified in court as Barr. F. Uguagu.

Speaking to THE WHISTLER in continuation of the proceedings, the President of Springs Aid Foundation, Comrade Kenneth Chima, said the organisation had resorted to the courts after what it described as prolonged inaction by the Nigerian Police Force over the matter involving Abraham.

He noted that the case is before Justice Hauwa, expressing optimism that the court would intervene where, in his view, administrative and police processes had failed.

“We are at the Federal High Court because we felt that the Nigerian Police Force has not given us justice, and we want to take justice to them.

“We are very sure and optimistic that justice will be given by her, because for the past five months we have been on top of this case. Letters have been written to the FCT Commissioners of Police and the Police Service Commission; at the same time, we have written twice to the IGP. One to the Former, Kayode Egbetikun, and another to the current, Olatunni Disu.

“And no action has been taken. One of the saddest things is that the DPO continues to laud over the victims of the Bwari residents. And to make matters worse, there was a protest in Buhari over this issue, and I was called upon to address the protesters and pacify them”.

Chima recalled a meeting which had earlier resulted from a protest in Bwari, noting that the Area Commander, ACP Fatima, was present and assured the residents of Buhari Area Council that they would do something about it.

However, he alleged that nothing has been done.

“The continued silence of the Nigerian Police Force has indeed undermined the public trust of the Nigerian populace.

“And at the same time, it creates a big stain and doubt on institutional accountability. What then becomes the justice system, when an individual is more than the entire Nigerian Police Force? When do they become a justice system? When they can’t prevail on an airing officer? It raises serious doubts. And this is why we are here, to seek justice.

“The police claims reports have been done. What have they done about the report? Is it not unfortunate that these victims will continue to see the same man as their chief security officer in that locality? Is it too hard for them, or is there something they are not telling us? Are they poking us?

“So the actions of certain officers of this nature create doubts. It creates doubts and it will continue to make it so difficult for some of us to bridge this gap.”

Reiterating his position for justice, Chima said, “We will pursue this case to a logical conclusion. And we are hopeful justice will be brought to the doorstep of the Nigerian police force and against CSP BabaYola, the DPO of Buhari Police Division, FCT Command.”

However, THE WHISTLER contacted the Spokesperson FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh following its findings, but messages sent on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at about 6:13 pm via WhatsApp received no response.

A follow-up call made same day also went unanswered. As of the time of filing this report, no response had been received.

FEATURE: Abuja Barber Battles Trauma After Losing Eye To Police Tear Gas is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nuru Garwa, a former Special Adviser on Community Development to Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, has been arrested over alleged links to a kidnapping syndicate operating in the state.

This was disclosed in a post on X by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region.

Makama revealed that the suspect, who recently resigned from his appointment to contest for a seat in the State House of Assembly, was arrested on May 24 following an ongoing investigation into the abduction of an eight-year-old boy.

He said that the victim was abducted on May 13 while returning home from a Quranic school.

According to him, the kidnappers reportedly contacted the family and initially demanded a ransom of N50 million before negotiations reduced the amount to N17 million, which was eventually paid.

The security expert disclosed that the family later contacted the Violent Crime Response Unit in Katsina State, which commenced a discreet investigation into the incident.

He added that preliminary investigation reportedly led to the arrest of six suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate on May 23. Further investigation led to the arrest of the ex-governor’s aide. 

“The arrest of the initial suspects provided further intelligence that led operatives to the alleged kingpin identified as Nuru Aliyu Garwa.

“Security operatives who searched the suspect’s residence reportedly recovered N7.5 million cash concealed inside a “Ghana-Must-Go” bag, believed to be part of the ransom proceeds.

“Investigators also recovered a motorcycle allegedly used for operational activities by the gang, alongside other items considered relevant to the investigation.

“The suspect is currently in custody while investigations continue to determine the full extent of his alleged involvement and identify other possible accomplices linked to the kidnapping network,” he said.

Ex-Katsina gov’s aide arrested over ‘kidnap ransom share’

Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has said she has mentally moved away from marriage, while still expressing her desire to have more children, especially a daughter. She made the remarks during a livestream with TikTok personality Jarvis during her Children’s Day carnival in Asaba, Delta State. “But for some reason, I’ve checked my mind out of […]

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The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Ugochukwu Bond Anyaehie, has disclosed plans to upgrade the university’s Pre-Science Centre, located at Mbaukwu community, into a mini-campus structure with attendant facilities upgrade and student enrolment. Prof Anyaehie disclosed this on Thursday during a courtesy call to the traditional ruler of Mbaukwu in Awka South Local Government […]

The post UNIZIK upgrades Anambra community’s pre-science centre to mini-campus appeared first on Tribune Online.

No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead and 10 others severely injured in a fatal road accident that occurred on Thursday at Iyana Egbado along the Abeokuta–Lagos Expressway.

The lone crash involving a white Mazda E2000 bus with registration number KRD809XC, carrying a total of 20 passengers, happened at about 11:12 a.m.

According to the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Ogun State Sector Command, Odunsi Afolabi, the passengers comprised of six adult males, eleven adult females, one male child, and two female children.

Afolabi stated that two children, one man and two women were killed in the crash while 10 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries with five others left unhurt.

“The crash occurred at about 11:12 am and was reported at 1115HRS. FRSC rescue operatives from RS2.28 Itori Unit Command arrived at the scene at 1120HRS, with a response time of five minutes.

“Out of the twenty persons involved, five persons were killed, comprising one adult male, two adult females, one male child, and one female child. Ten persons sustained varying degrees of injuries, while five persons escaped unhurt,” the statement said. 

Afolabi ascribed the cause of the crash to excessive speed and overloading, adding that the injured victims were rushed to General Hospital, Ifo, and Oreofe Specialist Hospital, Itori, for prompt medical attention, while the corpses of the deceased victims were deposited at the General Hospital Morgue, Ifo.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the probable causes of the crash were speeding and overloading. The road was paved and weather condition at the time of the incident was cloudy,” he said.

Reacting to the incident, the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, sympathized with the families of the victims and urged motorists to avoid speeding, overloading, and all forms of traffic violations capable of endangering lives.

Ogunjobi also advised drivers to ensure strict compliance with traffic rules and regulations, especially during this festive period, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility.

Two children, three others killed in Ogun auto crash

Aba South Local Government Area has been crowned Champions of the Maiden Abia Soccer Fest competition, defeating Ukwa West Local Government Area 2-1 via penalties.

Both teams played out 1-1 in regulation time at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba.

The Abia Soccer Fest competition, which is sponsored by the Governor Alex Otti administration is a grassroot football talent hunt which began in August 2025 at ward level through to the Local Government and State level finals.

During the competition, 166 matches were played across the 184 wards in the seventeen Local Government Areas of the state in the first phase of the competition.

The second phase had a total of 36 matches played across four centres of Ohafia, Umuahia, Ntigha and Aba.

Aba South Wins Abia Soccer Competition is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said that Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, and

The post Gov Yusuf, Ganduje remain my political protégés — Kwankwaso appeared first on Tribune Online.