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Presidency dispels Tinubu’s illness rumour
Presidency dispels Tinubu’s illness rumour
The Presidency yesterday dispelled the rumour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s illness.
The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) had quoted sources as saying that preparations were underway by the president’s medical team to potentially fly him abroad for urgent medical attention.
According to information gathered by The ICIR, the President had reportedly been bedridden for several days, resulting in his absence from key state functions. In his stead, Vice President Kashim Shettima has represented the Presidency at some official engagements.
The medium also quoted an Aso Rock insider as saying that several of Tinubu’s scheduled activities had been cancelled since the beginning of the week.
According to the ICIR, it is also believed that the remainder of his weekly agenda has been cleared to allow his medical team to monitor his condition closely.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had told The ICIR that “people just tell you all kinds of rumours that have no basis at all.”
He insisted that the president was working. “He was in his office yesterday (August 5). I was with him. I went to see him. He came to work.”
Last night, Daily Trust independently contacted Onanuga who dismissed the rumour of the president’s illness.
On why the president did not attend any public function since last week, Onanuga replied that the president could choose to work from home.
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“There is nothing wrong with the president, he is okay. He can choose to work from home. He can choose to work from anywhere. I tell you nothing is wrong with the president,” the presidential spokesman told Daily Trust.
According to the ICIR, Tinubu was last seen publicly on Friday, August 1, where he attended the opening of the Progressive Media Summit, themed ‘Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development.’
He appeared healthy during the event where he encouraged young Nigerians in the digital media space to leverage their platforms for national progress.
Days earlier, on July 29, the president led the reception for the Super Falcons upon their return to Nigeria after a remarkable victory at the WAFCON Championship in Morocco. The president stood for an extended period, personally congratulating the team before announcing generous rewards for both players and their coaches. The rewards stirred public debate and criticism from some quarters.
His absence at a similar reception for the victorious D’Tigress team on August 3 raised questions, especially as Vice President Shettima stood in for him at the event.
According to the ICIR, despite the president’s absence, the presidency has continued issuing official statements. One such release on August 6 announced Tinubu’s directive for the rollout of free healthcare for low-income retirees and an increase in pensions. The release included a photograph of the President with the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, though it did not specify when the meeting occurred.
The ICIR investigation revealed that the meeting had taken place days earlier before it was sent out as a press release at the President’s private residence, not his office. Onanuga later confirmed this.
On the same day, another press release conveyed Tinubu’s condolences to Ghana following a tragic air crash that claimed the lives of the Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and several others.
Presidency dispels Tinubu’s illness rumour
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metro
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged murder of Pa Biliaminu Taiwo in Fiditi, Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, in November 2019.
The organisation also called for appropriate legal action against Ojo Akinlabi, following his reported arrest in connection with the killing.
In a press release dated October 23, 2026, MURIC said the petition was submitted to the Commissioner of Police on October 22 and acknowledged by the commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to the organisation, Pa Taiwo was allegedly hacked to death inside a mosque in Fiditi in November 2019.

MURIC urged the police to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the case and ensure that anyone found culpable was prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The group also called on the authorities to ensure that the case was handled in a manner that would prevent justice from being frustrated.
“Murder is not a bailable offence,” the organisation said, urging the police to ensure that the suspect was brought before a court of competent jurisdiction and that any decision concerning his custody or release complied with the law.
MURIC further alleged that Akinlabi had a history of violent attacks, including incidents involving the use of knives allegedly coated with poison. However, the organisation did not provide supporting details of the alleged incidents in the statement.
The group described the allegations as a matter of concern and called for appropriate action by the relevant authorities.
Reaffirming its commitment to the protection of human rights and the rule of law, MURIC said allegations of criminal conduct should receive the attention of law enforcement agencies and be subjected to due process.
The statement was signed by Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Secretary of MURIC in Oyo State.
The organisation concluded its appeal with the declaration: “Justice delayed must not become justice denied.”
As of the time of the statement, MURIC had not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest or the current status of the police investigation. The allegations against Akinlabi have not been independently verified, and any determination of criminal responsibility remains a matter for the courts.
MURIC petitions Oyo police over 2019 murder of Muslim cleric in Fiditi
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Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a man accused of impersonating a permanent secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) after he was allegedly caught using a forged number plate bearing the inscription “PRESIDENCY”.
The suspect was arrested on October 20, 2026, after police operatives intercepted a Lexus LX570 sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Maitama District, Abuja, at about 8pm.
According to the police, the concealed number plate carried the registration number 10B218 FG.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the documents presented to support the registration were allegedly forged.
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Adeh said the suspect had claimed to be the legitimate holder of the number plate, prompting further investigations that reportedly uncovered the alleged fraud and impersonation.
“The vehicle and its occupant were promptly arrested for investigation and subsequent prosecution,” the police said.
The command added that investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court upon their conclusion.
The police urged residents to remain law-abiding, cooperate with security operatives and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
The arrest comes amid concerns over the unauthorised use of official government and diplomatic number plates in the FCT. Police authorities have previously raised concerns that such plates could be used by unauthorised individuals to evade scrutiny or facilitate criminal activities.
The suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and the allegations remain subject to the outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.
Police Arrest Man Over Fake Presidency Number Plate in Abuja
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metro
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
Accra, Ghana — A routine breakup escalated into a catastrophic act of arson this week, leaving a young man homeless and his former girlfriend in police custody. The Ghana Police Service has arrested a young woman accused of deliberately setting her boyfriend’s rented apartment on fire after he ended their relationship. The shocking trigger for the split? The woman had answered a phone call on his mobile device without his permission.
According to preliminary police investigations, the couple became embroiled in a volatile and heated argument over the breach of privacy. The confrontation spiraled rapidly out of control when the boyfriend, reportedly furious that she had answered his phone, decided to end the relationship on the spot. Rather than accepting the breakup, the woman’s anger reportedly boiled over into a dangerous and premeditated rage.
In the aftermath of the breakup, authorities allege that the woman intentionally ignited a fire inside the man’s rented home in an act of vengeance. Eyewitnesses described a scene of sheer chaos as flames rapidly consumed the residence, forcing neighbors to flee and local fire services to be summoned to battle the inferno. Dramatic images from the scene reveal a landscape of utter devastation, with the apartment reduced to a pile of charred debris and twisted metal. While no casualties have been reported, the property damage is extensive, and the young man has effectively lost his home and belongings.
The Ghana Police Service acted swiftly following the incident, apprehending the young woman who is now in police custody facing potential charges of arson and destruction of property. Local neighbors have expressed profound shock at the severity of the attack, with one bewildered resident telling reporters, “It is just a phone call. To burn down a whole apartment because you were broken up with? It is a very sad day for us here.” The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days as the police finalize their case, serving as a chilling reminder of the dangerous consequences of unchecked anger.
Woman Arrested for Torching Ex-Boyfriend’s Home in Fit of Jealous Rage
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