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VeryDarkMan in Trouble as Court Orders DSS to Investigate Leaked Coup Trial Evidence

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VeryDarkMan in Trouble as Court Orders DSS to Investigate Leaked Coup Trial Evidence

VeryDarkMan in Trouble as Court Orders DSS to Investigate Leaked Coup Trial Evidence

  • The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Services to investigate allegations that evidence tendered in the trial of six men accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration was displayed on social media by controversial activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate allegation by the prosecution that part of the evidence it tendered in court and served on lawyers to the six men being prosecuted for allegedly attempting to execute a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu were displayed on social media by controversial activist, VeryDarkMan. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik also ordered that if there was any evidence on social media, which contravened the court’s earlier order for witnesses’ protection, the DSS should investigate and bring the perpetrator to book. The judge said the investigation should be conducted while the trial is ongoing since all the defendants, through their lawyers, denied being involved.

Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, had mid-way into proceedings told the court that he got information that some videos tendered in the case were posted on social media by a citizen called VeryDarkMan. He informed the court that the same individual was among the audience. Oyedepo told the court that he watched the video on VeryDarkMan’s social media page and described the development as a national security concern. He noted that the post had garnered more than 6,000 online views and argued that the leak was extremely prejudicial to the proceedings. He further informed the court that VeryDarkMan was present in the courtroom and could potentially explain how he obtained the video.

When asked by the judge to respond, all the six defence lawyers took turns to deny any knowledge of how the video appeared on social media. Counsel to the first defendant, Mohammed Ndayako, a SAN, expressed support for an investigation, stating that his worry was that this was coming at the stage when they were trying to move their bail application, and he was not opposed to an investigation. While some defence lawyers suggested that members of the media covering the trial should also be investigated, counsel to the sixth defendant, Sanusi Musa, a SAN, outrightly opposed the proposal for a probe. He argued that he was surprised that the DPP said the court should investigate the matter and questioned who the suspects were, suggesting that the video might have been leaked from the court, by the DPP, or from the Ministry of Justice. He insisted that whatever the DPP said could not be acted upon without evidence and that if the prosecution wanted an investigation, they should file a formal application.

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Ruling on the issue, Justice Abdulmalik cited provisions of Section 232(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, relating to the protection of vulnerable witnesses and compliance with court orders. The judge subsequently directed the Department of State Services to investigate any evidence on social media that may have breached the court’s earlier orders. She ordered the DSS to identify and bring any culprit before the court, adding that any resulting prosecution would be treated as a separate matter from the ongoing trial.

Earlier, the prosecution urged the court to admit in evidence the statements made to investigators by the defendants. The fourth prosecution witness in the trial-within-trial being conducted to ascertain the voluntariness or otherwise of the statements, made the request while telling the court that the statements were voluntarily made by the defendants, who he said, were not subjected to any form of torture or harassment. The witness, identified as “DDD” and an officer of the Nigerian Army who participated in the investigation, was led in evidence by Oyedepo during which he denied all the allegations by the defendants, including that they were tortured to make the statements in which five of them, except the first, admitted knowing about the plot. On whether the claim by the defendants that their feet were chained, the witness said it was not true and that the defendants walked into the interview room by themselves. He argued that if it was true that they were chained, the sound of the chain would have been heard in the video that was played in court earlier on Tuesday. On why their lawyers were not present while they were being interviewed, the witness said none of them requested to have either their lawyers, family members, officials of the Legal Aid Council or a Justice of the Peace present. He disclosed that the investigation was conducted by a multi-agency team comprising the Nigerian Army, the DSS, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the EFCC, and other security agencies. Under cross-examination by lawyers to the defendants, the witness restated that the defendants did not make their statements in the presence of either their lawyers, family members, officials of the Legal Aid Council or a JP. He however insisted that they were neither tortured nor compelled to make the statements. At the conclusion of the cross-examination, Oyedepo announced the closure of the prosecution’s case in the trial-within-trial, having called four witnesses.

The judge proceeded to hear the bail applications filed by the defendants. While the defence lawyers urged the court to grant bail to their clients on liberal terms, the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the applications. Justice Abdulmalik then adjourned the matter until June 25 and June 30 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants to conduct their defence in the trial-within-trial, following which the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants would conduct theirs on July 1 and July 2. The judge also fixed ruling on the bail application for July 20.

The six men are being prosecuted over their alleged involvement in the alleged coup plot to topple President Bola Tinubu-led government. The defendants include a retired major general, Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, and a retired navy captain, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor. The rest are Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector; Zekeri Umoru, an electrician at the Presidential Villa; Bukar Kashim Goni; and Abdulkadir Sani, a Zaria-based Islamic cleric. They face 13 counts of treason, terrorism, failure to disclose information, and money laundering over the alleged failed coup. Information about the alleged secret plot was leaked to authorities last September, leading to the arrest of serving and retired military officers alongside their alleged civilian conspirators.

VeryDarkMan in Trouble as Court Orders DSS to Investigate Leaked Coup Trial Evidence

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Being Married to the Same Woman for 48 Years Can Become ‘Boring’ – Charly Boy

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Being Married to the Same Woman for 48 Years Can Become 'Boring' – Charly Boy
Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist Charly Boy real name Charles Oputa and his wife, Lady Diane Oputa

Being Married to the Same Woman for 48 Years Can Become ‘Boring’ – Charly Boy

Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist Charly Boy has stirred conversations about marriage, love, and long-term relationships after candidly admitting that being married to the same woman for 48 years can become “boring.”

The outspoken media personality, whose real name is Charles Oputa, made the remark during an interview on Yanga FM, where he reflected on nearly five decades of married life with his wife, Lady Diane Oputa.

Using a humorous analogy, Charly Boy compared his marriage to eating the same meal every day, saying routine is inevitable in long-lasting relationships.

“I’ve been married to one woman for 48 years. It is very boring. Imagine eating the same egusi for years, it’s boring now,” he said.

Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist Charly Boy real name Charles Oputa and his wife, Lady Diane Oputa

Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist Charly Boy real name Charles Oputa and his wife, Lady Diane Oputa

Although the comment quickly generated reactions on social media, the entertainer clarified that successful marriages are not built on excitement alone but on commitment, understanding and the willingness to work through challenges together.

According to him, every marriage requires continuous effort, patience and effective management, regardless of how long the couple has been together.

Charly Boy disclosed that despite spending nearly five decades together, he and his wife still argue almost every day, but they have developed a culture of resolving disagreements instead of allowing them to create lasting divisions.

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“All marriages are management, including my own. Me and my wife be like Tom and Jerry. We dey quarrel every day and we will continue to dey quarrel and settle am.

“No day we no dey quarrel. No day we no dey settle the quarrel. We go dey fix the quarrel dey go because, as oyinbo people talk say, the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know.”

The veteran entertainer explained that conflicts should not be interpreted as signs of a failing relationship, stressing that disagreements are natural when two individuals with different personalities and perspectives choose to build a life together.

Rather than avoiding arguments, he believes couples should focus on communication, forgiveness and finding common ground whenever misunderstandings arise.

The Area Fada, known for his unconventional lifestyle and outspoken opinions, has long been regarded as one of Nigeria’s most enduring public figures. Ironically, despite his rebellious image, his marriage to Lady Diane has remained one of the country’s longest-lasting celebrity unions.

Over the years, Charly Boy has consistently credited mutual respect, friendship, loyalty and acceptance as the pillars that have sustained their relationship through life’s ups and downs.

His latest comments have reignited discussions about the realities of long-term marriage, with many social media users interpreting his use of the word “boring” as a reference to routine rather than dissatisfaction.

Relationship experts often note that marriages naturally evolve beyond the excitement of the early years and are sustained by shared experiences, trust, compromise and emotional maturity.

Reflecting on his own journey, Charly Boy suggested that accepting a partner’s imperfections and choosing to stay committed despite daily challenges remain some of the biggest secrets to a lasting relationship.

His remarks have once again sparked debate online, with many praising his honesty and others arguing that routine is an unavoidable part of enduring love.

Being Married to the Same Woman for 48 Years Can Become ‘Boring’ – Charly Boy

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Why LPG Prices Won’t Drop Anytime Soon: NMDPRA Explains

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Why LPG Prices Won’t Drop Anytime Soon: NMDPRA Explains

Why LPG Prices Won’t Drop Anytime Soon: NMDPRA Explains

  • The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has attributed the rising cost of cooking gas to high landing costs, even as the Federal Government convenes an emergency meeting with security agencies including the DSS, EFCC, and the Nigeria Police Force to tackle hoarding and illegal diversion of Liquefied Petroleum Gas across the country.

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mallam Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, has blamed high landing costs for the rising cost of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), otherwise called ‘cooking gas’ in the country. Umar stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to address the recent increase in LPG prices and develop coordinated measures to improve supply, affordability, and market stability. “High landing costs continue to influence LPG prices, but the ongoing measures across the value chain would begin to ease market pressures in the coming weeks,” Umar said. He added that the authority is working with producers and other stakeholders to increase domestic supply, strengthen market oversight, and support interventions that will improve availability.

The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources convened an emergency stakeholders’ engagement involving the Department of State Services (DSS) , the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , and the Nigeria Police Force to address LPG hoarding and illegal diversion to neighbouring countries. The meeting brought together key government officials, regulators, producers, marketers, terminal operators, and industry associations to examine factors contributing to rising LPG prices and agree on practical interventions to strengthen the value chain. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, directed security agencies to support regulators in preventing diversion, hoarding, illegal storage, and disruption of legitimate supply movement along key LPG corridors. He warned that the government would not allow market forces to thwart its efforts in ensuring availability and affordability of LPG.

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In a presentation, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI), Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, identified several major factors affecting LPG pricing, including infrastructure gaps, domestic supply constraints, logistics challenges, market distortions, and global supply disruptions. The NMDPRA also attributed the supply challenges to continued exports of locally produced LPG, global supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, inadequate import volumes, and what it described as non-cost-reflective pricing practices. The regulator maintained that the full domestication of locally produced LPG would significantly improve availability and reduce pressure on prices.

Despite the challenges, the NMDPRA reported improvements following recent engagements with producers, suppliers, and terminal operators. National LPG supply sufficiency increased from 11 days to 22 days, while average daily supply rose from 4,262 metric tonnes in May 2026 to 5,040 metric tonnes in June 2026. However, the regulator projected that there could be a supply gap of 165,000 metric tonnes in the third quarter of 2026 if corrective measures were not urgently implemented. To address this, the NMDPRA announced it would issue additional import permits to bridge the projected shortfall. According to data presented at the meeting, four imported LPG cargoes were discharged in Lagos within the first 19 days of June 2026, totalling about 16,000 metric tonnes. The imports were made by marketers including Algasco LPG and Rainoil Limited. An additional 44,100 metric tonnes of locally produced LPG is expected to enter the market before the end of June.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, stated that President Bola Tinubu is concerned about the rising LPG prices for Nigerians and has directed relevant agencies to take proactive steps to address the situation. Ekpo emphasised that increased supply should be supported by efficient logistics, improved infrastructure, and transparent pricing mechanisms to ensure consumers benefit from interventions across the sector. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Patience Oyekunle, described LPG as a critical energy source for households and an important component of Nigeria’s energy transition agenda. She noted that rising LPG prices are putting additional pressure on household budgets and increasing the cost of essential goods, stressing the need for collective action to improve access to affordable cooking gas.

Stakeholders across the LPG value chain pledged their support for government efforts while highlighting challenges affecting storage, transportation, distribution, and market efficiency. The measures agreed on include intensified market monitoring, improved enforcement against malpractice, expansion of storage and distribution infrastructure, increased domestic production, enhanced product tracking systems, improved access to market data, and stronger collaboration among industry players. The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) expressed concern over what it described as profiteering by middlemen in the LPG value chain, insisting that market distortions rather than supply shortages were increasingly contributing to high consumer prices. Former Chairman of the association, Oladapo Olatunbosun, urged regulators to ensure that the benefits of improved domestic supply reached end-users and were not captured by intermediaries through excessive mark-ups and speculative trading.

Why LPG Prices Won’t Drop Anytime Soon: NMDPRA Explains

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Police Neutralise Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Ogun Forest Operation

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Police Neutralise Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Ogun Forest Operation
Commissioner of Police (CP) for Ogun State is Bode Ojajuni

Police Neutralise Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Ogun Forest Operation

  • The Ogun State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit has killed two suspected kidnappers and secured the release of an abducted victim in a successful intelligence-led operation at Ogbe village. Items recovered include a single-barrel gun, one expended cartridge, mobile phones, and ₦2.2 million cash believed to be proceeds of criminal activity.

The operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun State Police Command have secured the release of an abducted victim in an incident that happened at Ogbe village on June 11. The victim had been held captive by the kidnappers for seven days before the police intervention. They equally neutralised two suspected kidnappers while securing the safe release of the victim. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, explained that the Command swung into action upon receipt of the information by deploying its Anti-Kidnapping Unit to secure the victim’s release and bring the perpetrators to justice. Through sustained intelligence gathering, strategic surveillance, and relentless operational pressure mounted on the criminal gang, the victim was eventually released unharmed on June 18, 2026.

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Following the victim’s rescue, the police intensified efforts to apprehend members of the gang and subsequently traced them to a hideout within the state based on credible intelligence. The suspects opened fire on sighting the operatives in an attempt to evade arrest, resulting in a fierce gun duel. Two of the suspected kidnappers were killed during the exchange, while other members of the gang escaped into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds. Babaseyi said the Command would ensure that those responsible did not evade justice, while the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit intensified follow-up operations and embarked on a coordinated manhunt for the suspects. “The Command has since intensified efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing gang members, while investigations continue,” he stated.

Items recovered as exhibits from the kidnappers, according to Babaseyi, included one single-barrel gun; one expended cartridge; a mobile phone; the sum of Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦2,200,000); and other exhibits linked to the criminal enterprise. Babaseyi said the successful operation is a testament to the effectiveness of the intelligence-driven and proactive crime-fighting strategies being vigorously pursued by the Ogun State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, in ensuring the safety and security of residents across the state. The CP appreciated the gallantry, professionalism, courage, and operational effectiveness of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, stating that the success reinforces the Command’s resolve to relentlessly pursue kidnappers and other violent criminals wherever they may seek refuge. The CP reiterated that Ogun State will remain hostile terrain for criminal elements and assured residents that the Command will continue to deploy intelligence-led policing, robust tactical operations, and strategic partnerships with communities to protect lives and property.

He further urged members of the public to remain security conscious and continue to provide timely, useful, and credible information that will aid ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminality. Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the police. The Ogun State Police Command continues to appeal to residents to cooperate with law enforcement agencies by sharing actionable intelligence that could help prevent crimes and bring offenders to justice.

Police Neutralise Two Kidnappers, Rescue Victim in Ogun Forest Operation

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