
News
Police arrest ex-Presidential Aide Obono-Obla for alleged forgery
The Cross River State Police Command has taken Okoi Obono-Obla, a lawyer and former presidential aide, into custody over allegations involving forgery and the fraudulent acquisition of his academic and professional legal qualifications.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday, released a statement on Thursday, February 19, 2026, to clarify the situation following rumors that the lawyer had been abducted.
The police clarified that “The Cross River State Police Command wishes to address misleading reports circulating on social media alleging that Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla was kidnapped or taken by unknown persons in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area.”
According to the official account, the arrest took place at approximately 12:00 noon near Abuja Park in Ugep. The command explained that the action was taken “pursuant to a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police alleging offences bordering on forgery and obtaining admission or professional qualification/entry into the legal profession by false pretence.”
The police emphasized that the arrest was a lawful exercise of their statutory powers to investigate criminal allegations.
Currently, Obono-Obla is being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Calabar. The police noted that his family and legal counsel are aware of his location and that his lawyer is participating in the ongoing process.

To quell public concern, the statement added: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Command categorically states that allegations of kidnapping or involvement of unidentified security outfits are false, unfounded, and entirely without factual basis.”
In response to the arrest, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed concern and promised to monitor the situation.
Enome Amatey, the Chairman of the NBA Calabar Branch, said that while they were aware of the incident, the initial details were quite vague. “We’ve heard about his arrest. Unfortunately, we don’t know which agency arrested him. The circumstances are hazy,” he remarked on Thursday.
Amatey told reporters that the association is committed to ensuring that Obono-Obla’s constitutional rights are protected. “We hope his rights will be respected, that he will be given a fair opportunity to defend himself and access to proper legal representation,” he stated.
He further assured that the NBA would intervene if necessary, saying, “We will ascertain which agency arrested him, and if need be, our human rights committee will wade into the matter.”

News
My govt cares – Tinubu reassures Nigerians amid worsening insecurity, hardship

President Bola Tinubu has restated that his government is committed to addressing the country’s main problems, including economic difficulties, power shortages and safety issues.
Speaking in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Tinubu stated that his government is still focused on policies aimed at helping the poorest and most at-risk Nigerians.
He said: “We won’t stop moving forward, and we’ll keep looking for ways to help those who are struggling.
“This is a government that really cares.”
He noted that having steady power supply is very important for development, stressing that industrial growth and learning new skills mostly rely on having dependable electricity.
“You can’t have industrial growth, learning new skills, or people gaining strength without having enough power.

“I promise Nigerians that we will provide electricity to support our country’s development,” he said.
The president also thanked Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, for the way he leads the state.
“Diri has shown the strength of leading with a clear purpose, and I am here today making a promise that the challenges we face, along with the legacy of those who led this country, including the battles and difficulties of ensuring security, will be met with hard work to properly equip and train our men and women in the Armed Forces. We will defeat terrorism and banditry.”

News
BREAKING: Ebonyi Catholic Bishop, Peter Chukwu is dead
The Catholic Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese, Dr Peter Chukwu is dead.
A source said the Bishop died where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.
Meanwhile, a social media influencer, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, in a post on his Facebook page, mourned the demise of the Bishop.
He wrote, “A very bad one for us in Ebonyi State. The loss of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, Dr Peter Chukwu is a terrible loss.
“This loss is huge. God knows why, but it’s painful losing him in his 50s. A refined man and Associate Professor. This loss is beyond Ezza’s loss. It’s well. We can’t take war to God’s place. Kidney transplant issue. NCN.”
The authorities of the Catholic Church is expected to issue an official statement announcing the demise of the Bishop.


News
Terrorism: Ex-Borno senatorial candidate jailed 10 years
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced former senatorial candidate in Borno State, Babagana Habeeb, to 10 years’ imprisonment for aiding terrorism through the sale of petroleum products to insurgents.
The trial judge, Peter Lifu, convicted Habeeb on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting terrorism filed by the Federal Government.
Habeeb, a fuel dealer based in Maiduguri, had pleaded guilty to the charge upon arraignment, admitting that he sold fuel to members of the Boko Haram operating in the North-East.
The convict, however, claimed that the transactions might have been carried out by attendants at his filling station.
During the proceedings, Habeeb appealed for leniency, kneeling in the dock as he urged the court to temper justice with mercy.
He told the court that he had two wives and six children and had been in detention for over 10 years without contact with his family.

Counsel to the Federal Government, David Kaswe, opposed the plea, arguing that the support provided to the terrorist group had serious consequences.
Kaswe submitted that the supply of fuel enabled the insurgents to power motorcycles used in attacks, leading to loss of lives and displacement of communities.
He urged the court to impose a stiffer penalty, noting that although the defendant had spent over a decade in custody, a 20-year sentence would be appropriate.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu held that there was no evidence establishing that the defendant was a member of Boko Haram or had undergone weapons training.
He, however, ruled that the admission of selling fuel to the insurgents was sufficient to sustain the charge of aiding terrorism.
The judge also noted that the prosecution did not challenge the defendant’s claim of prolonged detention.
Justice Lifu consequently sentenced Habeeb to 10 years’ imprisonment.
He ordered that the sentence should take effect from the date of the convict’s arrest and detention.

-
News21 hours agoNew Anambra Govt House collapses six months after construction
-
News3 days agoBREAKING: Crisis hits APC as new factional Chairman emerges
-
News2 days agoUS Embassy suspends visa appointments in Abuja office
-
News2 days agoDHQ confirms deaths of terrorists and soldiers in Borno attack
-
News3 days agoAmupitan speaks on most dangerous weapon against 2027
-
News2 days agoOhanaeze demands Nnamdi Kanu’s release, bans ‘Eze Ndigbo’ title outside Igbo land
-
News2 days agoBrigadier-General feared killed in fresh Boko Haram attacks in Borno
-
Politics3 days ago#OccupyINEC Protest: Obi, Kwankwaso, Atiku, others accuse INEC of bias, demand Amupitan’s resignation




