Author: Daily Post Nigeria

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has discharged socialite and nightclub owner, Mike Nwalie, popularly known as Pretty Mike, alongside his club supervisor, Joachim Hillary, after upholding their no-case submission in a drug-related suit instituted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa ruled that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the defendants.

“The evidence placed before the court does not disclose a prima facie case requiring the defendants to enter their defence,” the judge held, noting further that the material presented by the prosecution, “at its highest, raises mere suspicion, which cannot ground a criminal conviction.”

Pretty Mike, who owns the Proxy Lagos nightclub located in Victoria Island, and Hillary had earlier been arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of prohibited substances, and allegedly permitting the use of the premises for illicit drug activities.

The NDLEA had informed the court that its operatives conducted a raid on the nightclub on October 26, during which they allegedly recovered 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, weighing 384.662 kilograms, as well as 200 grams of cannabis.

According to the agency, the substances were intended for use at an illegal drug-related gathering, and it sought to prove that the defendants were aware of and exercised control over the items recovered on the premises.

The prosecution also urged the court to order the forfeiture of the nightclub, describing it as an instrument used in the commission of a crime.

However, counsel to the defendants, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, argued that the prosecution failed to establish any direct link between his clients and the alleged offences.

“The prosecution has not led any credible evidence establishing ownership, possession, or knowledge of the alleged substances by the defendants.

“Mere suspicion, however strong, cannot take the place of proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Ojukwu submitted.

He further contended that the evidence presented was inconsistent and legally insufficient to warrant the defendants being called upon to open their defence.

In his ruling, Justice Lewis-Allagoa agreed with the defence, holding that the case did not meet the required legal threshold.

“I find that the prosecution has not made out a prima facie case against the defendants,” the judge ruled.

“To require them to enter their defence would amount to speculation rather than judicial reasoning,” he added.

Lagos court discharges Pretty Mike, supervisor in NDLEA drug case

A former Chairman of Okene Local Government and House of Representatives aspirant for

The Nasarawa State Government has announced the selection of Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed-Eko as the new Osu Ajiri of Udege Chiefdom in Nasarawa…

The International Monetary Fund has warned that rising global debt and persistent energy price shocks triggered by the escalating Middle East conflict could significantly weaken the global economy, with public debt projected to reach 100 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2029.

In its latest Fiscal Monitor report released on Wednesday, the IMF said intensifying geopolitical tensions have compounded existing fiscal vulnerabilities, as higher interest rates and surging energy prices continue to strain government finances, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies.

The Fund also cautioned that the global economy faces heightened recession risks if crude oil prices remain elevated above $100 per barrel through 2027, amid ongoing supply disruptions linked to the conflict.

Director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, Rodrigo Valdés said governments should avoid broad-based fuel subsidies despite mounting political pressure, stressing that such measures distort price signals and could worsen the global energy imbalance.

Instead, he recommended targeted and temporary cash transfers to cushion vulnerable populations without undermining necessary market adjustments.

“We don’t have oil. We don’t have energy. Energy needs to be more expensive for everybody so that the adjustment happens and consumption declines,” Valdés said, underscoring the importance of allowing prices to reflect supply realities.

He added that attempts by governments to suppress rising energy costs could have unintended global consequences, pushing prices even higher and delaying demand adjustments needed to stabilise markets.

According to the IMF, global public debt rose to 93.9 per cent of GDP in 2025, up from 92 per cent in 2024, and is expected to climb further to 100 per cent by 2029, earlier than previously projected.

The Fund noted that this would mark the highest level of government indebtedness since the aftermath of World War II.

Debt levels are projected to continue rising beyond that period, reaching 102.3 per cent of GDP by 2031, driven by structural spending pressures, weaker revenue growth, and higher borrowing costs.

Interest payments are also rising sharply, accounting for nearly 3 per cent of global GDP in 2025, compared to about 2 per cent four years earlier, further squeezing fiscal space for governments.

The IMF highlighted emerging risks in global debt markets, including the increasing role of non-traditional investors such as hedge funds, which it described as less stable long-term holders of sovereign debt. It also pointed to declining debt maturities, making countries more vulnerable to short-term interest rate fluctuations.

Additional fiscal pressures identified in the report include rising security expenditures, increased spending on energy transition and climate change, as well as growing debt servicing costs at a time when government revenues have not kept pace.

The Fund further warned that trade and financial fragmentation, political instability, and sudden market corrections, including in fast-growing sectors such as artificial intelligence, could tighten global financial conditions and dampen growth.

Valdés stressed that while the world is not yet at a crisis point, delays in implementing fiscal reforms could significantly increase risks.

“We’re not at a crisis point, but the more countries delay adjustment measures, the steeper the eventual correction and the higher the risk of disorderly fiscal consolidation,” he said.

He urged governments to begin planning credible fiscal consolidation strategies once immediate economic pressures ease, noting that while some countries have made progress, many still lack clearly defined plans to stabilise their public finances over the medium term.

The IMF reiterated that restoring fiscal buffers, improving revenue mobilisation, and ensuring efficient public spending will be critical to navigating the current global economic uncertainty and safeguarding long-term growth.

Oil Crisis May Push Global Economy Into Recession, IMF Warns is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told CNN in an interview on Quest Means Business on Tuesday that the oil prices will not crash immediately even if the war stops today.

The Nigerian Army has stepped up its offensive against bandits in Bauchi State, leading to the destruction of several camps, including the notorious Azuge and Hari camps, significantly disrupting criminal activities in the area.

Troops have also recorded fresh successes in ongoing clearance operations across criminal enclaves in Bauchi.

A report from Army Headquarters in Abuja explained that troops of the 33 Artillery Brigade, working in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), carried out a major clearance operation in the Dajin Madam Forest.

According to the report, “Troops have neutralised a number of bandits during the operation, while others fled under sustained military pressure.”

It further explained that 19 family members of the bandits, comprising six women and 13 children, were taken into custody, while several motorcycles used by the criminals were destroyed to limit their mobility.

According to the report, security forces also recovered a cache of items, including an AK-47 magazine, packs of tramadol, police and military uniforms, as well as two horses, indicating attempts by the criminals to impersonate security personnel.

The report stated that troops have since established a firm hold in the forest to consolidate gains and prevent any regrouping by fleeing bandits.

In a related development, troops conducted a follow-up operation in Mainamaji as part of efforts to exploit gains from recent airstrikes on bandit hideouts. The Army said the operation recorded no contact, suggesting that sustained military pressure has weakened bandits’ presence in the area.

The Army reiterated its commitment to maintaining pressure on criminal elements until lasting peace is restored and urged the public to support security agencies with timely and credible information.

Army destroys bandit camps in Bauchi

The Federal Government has expanded its maternal and newborn health programme to 32 states and recorded nearly 79,000 emergency medical transports nationwide as part of efforts to reduce preventable deaths among women and newborns.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed this during a ministerial press briefing in Abuja to mark Safe Motherhood Day 2026, according to a statement shared on the ministry’s official X handle on Wednesday.

Pate said Nigeria has made progress in expanding access to maternal health services but still faces challenges in ensuring timely, high-quality, and respectful care.

He explained that this year’s theme, “Closing the Gap: From Coverage to Quality Care for Every Mother,” underscores a shift toward prioritising quality, timeliness, and equity in healthcare delivery.

“Central to the intervention is the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), now operational in 32 states. The programme targets leading causes of maternal and neonatal deaths through data-driven strategies aimed at strengthening service delivery, emergency obstetric care, and referral systems,” the ministry said.

Pate, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom, highlighted progress under the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System, noting that emergency services are now active in 136 MAMII local government areas, with 612 ambulances deployed across 340 LGAs and Emergency Medical Teams nationwide.

According to him, 78,962 beneficiaries have been transported, with pregnant women accounting for about 60 per cent of cases so far.

The ministry further stated that the government, through the National Health Insurance Authority, is expanding access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services, a development aimed at addressing financial barriers.

It added that over 32,000 women and 1,700 newborns have benefited across more than 250 health facilities.

According to the ministry, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Muyi Aina, pointed out that investments in frontline services are improving access and continuity of care with increasing antenatal attendance reflecting growing confidence in the health system.

The ministry also noted that in recent data, antenatal care attendance has increased by 20 per cent in programme areas, while 166,463 previously unregistered pregnant women have been identified and linked to care across eight states.

It added that the government has also distributed over 111,000 maternity kits nationwide and supplied essential maternal and newborn commodities to 968 primary healthcare centres, benefiting an estimated 1.2 million women and newborns.

Additional support includes the distribution of 243,198 family planning commodities, more than 10,000 reproductive health equipment units, and the recruitment of over 5,000 health workers.

Development partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), commended Nigeria’s progress and reaffirmed their support for ongoing reforms, particularly to strengthen quality and system coordination.

The Federal Government further reiterated the need for sustained collaboration across all levels, calling on state governments, health workers, communities, and partners to scale efforts and ensure that ongoing reforms translate into improved outcomes for every Nigerian mother and newborn.

FG Expands Maternal Health Programme, Records 79,000 Emergency Responses is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nigerian Army troops under Operation Hadin Kai have repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters in Benisheikh, Borno State, preventing what could have been a takeover of the town.

Sources told security analyst Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 11:15 p.m. on April 14, 2026.

According to the sources, soldiers from the Headquarters 29 Task Force Brigade came under heavy attack but were able to hold their ground and repel the insurgents, forcing them to retreat in confusion.

The sources confirmed that no soldier lost his life during the clash. However, three personnel were injured in the exchange of gunfire.

The wounded soldiers have been taken to the 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital, where they are receiving treatment.

The military said it could not immediately confirm how many of the attackers were killed or injured.

It added that troops are still combing the area to track down fleeing fighters and assess the damage.

Officials noted that while the general security situation in the region is currently calm, it remains unpredictable.

Troops repel insurgent attack in Borno

Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA) has taken a decisive step to enhance transparency and accountability in

Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure firm, Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), has rolled out a suite of new services designed to