Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a housewife, Halima Umar, to 20 years imprisonment after she was found guilty of offences linked to terrorism financing, illegal arms movement, and unlawful possession of ammunition allegedly meant for bandits operating in Plateau State.

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment on Friday after the defendant pleaded guilty to two out of a four-count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The court ruled that offences involving terrorism, illegal arms trafficking, and support for criminal groups posed serious threats to Nigeria’s national security and therefore required stiff punishment.

According to details presented during the trial, Umar admitted acting as a courier responsible for transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition to suspected bandits.

A DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, who testified before the court, said the defendant was arrested on July 6, 2025, while allegedly transporting the ammunition alongside N57,100 cash.

Investigations later revealed that Umar was allegedly instructed by one Alhaji Sani to travel to Zaria in Kaduna State, where she collected the ammunition from another contact before attempting to deliver it onward.

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The prosecution further told the court that the defendant was transferred to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja on August 11, 2025, where she made additional confessional statements in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, tendered the recovered ammunition, the cash sum, and the defendant’s confessional statements as exhibits. The defence did not object to the admissibility of the evidence.

Umar also personally admitted before the court that she was in possession of the ammunition and cash at the time of her arrest.

The charges against her included providing support for terrorism-related activities under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and unlawful possession of ammunition under the Firearms Act, 2004.

Although the convict pleaded for leniency and expressed remorse, Justice Yilwa held that crimes connected to terrorism support, arms trafficking, and the movement of illegal ammunition could not be treated lightly because of their grave implications for public safety and national stability.

Following her guilty plea and the evidence presented by the DSS, the court convicted and sentenced her to 20 years imprisonment.

The conviction comes amid intensified efforts by Nigerian security agencies to tackle banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and the illegal movement of weapons across the country.

Woman Gets 20-Year Jail Term For Supporting Terrorism Activities

Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed five inspectors and initiated prosecution proceedings against three others over alleged involvement in armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office in Rivers State.

The development was confirmed on Friday during the parade of the affected officers at the Rivers State Police Command headquarters on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anthony Placid.

Placid said the disciplinary actions followed extensive investigations into multiple complaints of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, stealing, extortion, and misconduct allegedly carried out by officers operating within Rivers State and other parts of the country.

According to the police spokesperson, three inspectors attached to Zone 16 Headquarters, Yenagoa — identified as Ayanniyi Jelil, Durojaye Francis, and Olayemi Titus — were arrested over the alleged abduction and robbery of a man identified as Festus Saturday. He explained that the officers were allegedly operating an illegal patrol team along the Igboh-Etche axis when they stopped the victim and his cousin during a stop-and-search operation in November 2025.

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The officers were said to have assaulted the victims, forced them to unlock their mobile phones, and gained access to their banking applications and cryptocurrency wallets, before allegedly stealing about ₦7.3 million and $1,742. Placid further alleged that the suspects used AK-47 rifles during the operation and had carried out similar attacks on other unsuspecting residents across Rivers State. Recovered items reportedly include three Toyota Sienna buses allegedly linked to the operation, while three additional officers connected to the case are currently on the run.

In a separate case, five officers attached to the Operations Department of the Rivers State Police Command were dismissed following investigations into allegations of armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and abuse of office. The dismissed officers were identified as John Okoi, Eyibo Asuquo, Udo Ndipmong, Bright Nwachukwu, and Anele Ikechukwu.

Their case followed petitions filed by the Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation on behalf of victims who accused the officers of operating illegal patrol teams and abducting civilians around Port Harcourt. Police investigations reportedly showed that the officers routinely seized victims’ phones, accessed bank details, and transferred funds from accounts and cryptocurrency wallets.

One of the victims, Felix Favour, was allegedly forced to transfer about $4 million in cryptocurrency, while another victim reportedly lost ₦940,000 after being kidnapped along Aba Road. Another complainant, Okparaocha David Ugochukwu, was said to have lost ₦1.3 million, as well as jewellery and a wristwatch valued at over ₦6 million. Investigators also alleged that the officers falsely claimed to be operatives of Zone 16 Headquarters to intimidate victims and evade detection.

Placid said all the affected officers were subjected to orderly room trial procedures before their dismissal, while those indicted in the criminal cases have been recommended for prosecution. He added that the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to internal discipline and will not tolerate misconduct that undermines public trust, stressing that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and ensure accountability.

Police Dismiss Five Inspectors, Prosecute Three Over Robbery, Kidnapping in Rivers

Tega Dominic Breaks Silence on Alleged Affair With Frank Edoho

Media personality and former Big Brother Naija housemate, Tega Dominic, has strongly denied allegations linking her romantically to popular television host Frank Edoho, describing the claims as false, malicious and damaging to her reputation.

The controversy erupted after rumours circulated online alleging that the reality TV star was secretly involved in a romantic relationship with Frank Edoho following reports surrounding his marital situation.

Reacting to the allegations, Tega said she initially chose to remain silent in order to avoid unnecessary social media drama but was eventually forced to speak out due to the continued spread of the claims.

In a statement shared on her social media pages, the former BBNaija star categorically denied having any romantic or sexual relationship with the veteran TV host.

“I have absolutely no sexual or emotional relationship with Frank Edoho. Frank is a great guy and a very good friend of mine… There was never anything inappropriate between us,” she stated.

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According to Tega, her friendship with Frank Edoho began around mid-2025 after he sent birthday wishes to her mother. She explained that they were already familiar with each other through social media interactions and mutual contacts within the entertainment industry.

She further clarified that their only physical meeting took place in the presence of her manager, Paul Ukonu, stressing that there was never any inappropriate involvement between them.

The reality TV personality also revealed that both she and Frank Edoho were separated from their respective partners at the time they became friends, adding that she would not have hidden a romantic relationship if one truly existed.

“If there was anything romantic between us, I would not hide it,” she added.

Expressing frustration over the allegations, Tega said she has spent years carefully building her image, career and personal brand and would not allow false narratives to tarnish her reputation.

“I have worked too hard to build myself and my brand step by step to allow false accusations to stain my name like this,” she said.

The former BBNaija star also challenged those spreading the rumours to provide credible evidence to back up their claims.

She accused some bloggers and social media users of pushing unverified narratives simply to generate online engagement and attention.

“This has honestly been very upsetting for me, but moving forward, my lawyers will handle the matter appropriately. There will be consequences. This will be the only time I address this matter,” she warned.

Tega confirmed that her legal team has now been instructed to take over the matter and pursue appropriate legal action against anyone found spreading defamatory claims.

As of the time of filing this report, Frank Edoho had not publicly reacted to the allegations or Tega’s statement.

The controversy has continued to generate mixed reactions online, with some social media users supporting Tega’s decision to defend her reputation, while others continued to debate the rumours.

The incident once again highlights growing concerns over celebrity gossip, online misinformation and reputational damage fueled by unverified claims circulating rapidly across social media platforms.

Tega Dominic Breaks Silence on Alleged Affair With Frank Edoho