Politics

Reported

Detained El-Rufai tags Trump, Macron and UN in appeal for a fair trial

31 Oct 2026, 06:42 GMT

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has taken his legal battle to the international stage, appealing for a fair trial in a social media post that tagged several world leaders and international bodies.

What he posted

In a post on X on Friday, 30 October 2026, under the hashtag #FairTrial, El-Rufai reportedly said that access to justice and a fair hearing are basic human rights, not favours to be granted at will. He tagged US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, the United Nations and its Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, the European Union, the African Union, the UK government and major media organisations. He did not make a specific formal request, but observers said the post was aimed at drawing international attention to his case.

His legal situation

El-Rufai has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 2026, after being transferred from the EFCC. He faces corruption and money-laundering charges in cases at the Federal High Court and the Kaduna State High Court. He was briefly released in March to attend his mother's burial. On 9 October, the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed his challenge to a refusal of bail, and on 26 October a Federal High Court in Abuja rejected his no-case submission in a separate case brought by the DSS, ordering him to open his defence on 25 November.

The other side

El-Rufai and his supporters say his detention is politically motivated. The ICPC rejects this, saying it has followed due process.

Background

El-Rufai governed Kaduna from 2015 to 2023 and was once a close ally of President Bola Tinubu before falling out with the ruling party. He has since aligned with the opposition.

El-Rufai tagged Trump, Macron, the UN and rights groups.
He has been in ICPC custody since February.
The ICPC says it has followed due process.

More gist

PoliticsReported

Olusegun Obasanjo — Photo: Helene C. Stikkel / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Obasanjo says debt is worse than leprosy, calls Tinubu's borrowing remark 'nonsense'

30 Oct 2026, 20:49 GMT

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reportedly hit back at President Tinubu's past remark that borrowing is not leprosy, saying debt destroys generations while leprosy destroys only one person. He spoke at a forum in Abeokuta, a day after Tinubu defended his government's new loans.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised President Bola Tinubu's attitude to government borrowing, reportedly describing the President's past comparison of debt to leprosy as nonsense.

What he said

Speaking at a public forum in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, 30 October 2026, Obasanjo said debt was worse than leprosy because leprosy destroys only one person, while debt destroys generations. He was responding to a remark Tinubu made in April, when the President said borrowing was not leprosy and that the country simply had to work hard to repay its loans.

Other points

Obasanjo reportedly recalled that when he started his farm 47 years ago, one naira was worth more than a dollar, compared with about ₦1,500 to the dollar today, and asked what Nigeria had done with that time. He questioned whether the country's leaders understood its needs, criticised Nigeria's reliance on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and said Nigeria was advised not to subsidise its farmers while rich countries support theirs. He also warned against relying too heavily on foreign-trained economists whose advice may not suit Nigeria. The forum was focused on using artificial intelligence to solve grassroots problems.

Background

Obasanjo, who led Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, is credited by supporters with securing relief from much of the country's foreign debt in 2005. His comments came a day after Tinubu published an essay defending his government's new external loans, arguing that debt should be judged by what it builds and pointing to falling inflation and rising reserves. The President has asked the Senate to approve new borrowing of about $20.5 billion and €1 billion, which opposition figures including Atiku Abubakar have criticised.

What happens next

The Presidency had not responded to Obasanjo's remarks at the time of the report, and the debate over debt is likely to feature strongly in the 2027 campaign.

2027 electionsReported

A Nigeria Police armoured vehicle (stock image) — Stock image: theglobalpanorama / Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

Sokoto ADC governorship candidate says his convoy was attacked near airport

31 Oct 2026, 06:42 GMT

Manir Muhammad Dan'iya, the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, says his convoy was blocked and shot at near the Sokoto airport on Friday night, damaging his vehicles. He blames state security personnel, while police say anyone found responsible will face the law.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for governor of Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan'iya, has alleged that his convoy was attacked near the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport in Sokoto on Friday night, 30 October 2026.

What he says happened

According to his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, the incident happened at about 9pm, shortly after Dan'iya had seen off former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at the airport. He alleged that members of the Sokoto State Marshal and Community Guard blocked the convoy, saying they were acting on orders to keep ADC members out of the state. He said efforts to calm the situation failed before shots were fired. Dan'iya reportedly escaped unhurt, but his bulletproof vehicles were damaged, and he said two Department of State Services officers attached to his security team were taken away. He also said he had noticed unusual deployments at several entry points into the state earlier in the day.

Official response

The Sokoto State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufae, said the command would take necessary action and that anyone found responsible would face the law. The Sokoto State Government and the Marshal and Community Guard had not publicly responded at the time of the report, and the allegations have not been independently verified.

What he is asking for

Dan'iya reported the matter to the state Commissioner of Police and asked the Inspector-General of Police and the head of the DSS to investigate and secure the release of the two officers. He also called on the state government to explain the alleged orders.

Background

The incident is the latest in a string of reported attacks on opposition figures as campaigning for the January 2027 elections intensifies. On the same day, AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore said he was attacked in Ado-Ekiti, and an APC rally in Katsina was disrupted earlier this week.

2027 electionsReported

Peter Obi — Photo: VOA / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Obi promises to go into the bush himself to rescue kidnap victims if elected

31 Oct 2026, 06:42 GMT

NDC presidential candidate Peter Obi has reportedly told a rally in Bayelsa State that he would personally go into forests to rescue kidnap victims if he becomes president. He also promised free primary education and at least 10,000MW of electricity, and criticised President Tinubu's foreign trips.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has reportedly promised to personally lead efforts to rescue kidnap victims if he is elected in 2027.

What he said

Speaking at a campaign rally in Bayelsa State on Friday, 30 October 2026, Obi said that if anyone kidnapped schoolchildren or anyone else under his government, he would go into the bush himself. He said he had recently travelled by road through several states, including Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa and Ebonyi, and that Nigeria's roads must be made safe. He said his government would start by uniting the country so that no region or group felt left out.

Other promises

Obi reportedly pledged that public money would be managed openly, that an NDC government would work with states to make primary education free, and that it would aim to generate, transmit and distribute at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity. He claimed current supply is far lower.

Criticism of Tinubu

Obi criticised President Bola Tinubu for not visiting Bayelsa, where oil was first discovered in Nigeria, and repeated his claim that the President spends a large part of the year abroad. The Presidency has previously rejected such claims, and had not responded to the latest remarks at the time of the report.

Background

Obi has held a series of town halls and rallies this week, including in Nasarawa, where he said election riggers would be jailed, and in Ebonyi. Insecurity, including kidnappings on highways and in schools, remains one of the biggest issues for voters ahead of the January 2027 elections.

Naija newsReported

A Nigerian 500 naira note — Photo: CBN / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

FG announces ₦50,000 monthly cash relief for vulnerable households

30 Oct 2026, 20:49 GMT

The Federal Government has announced a ₦50,000 monthly cash transfer for vulnerable households under a new scheme called NERSI. Officials say beneficiaries do not need to apply or pay anyone, and will receive a text message asking for consent before payment.

The Federal Government has unveiled a new monthly cash transfer of ₦50,000 for vulnerable Nigerian households, as part of efforts to ease the pressure of high living costs.

What was announced

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) in Abuja on Friday, 30 October 2026, describing it as a presidential initiative. He said the programme would reach millions of Nigerians, although the exact number of beneficiaries and how long the scheme will last were not given. The amount could be reviewed over time in line with the cost of living.

How it will work

Officials reportedly said beneficiaries do not need to apply, pay any fee or register through agents. Payments will be made through licensed digital financial service providers. Each beneficiary will first receive a text message asking for their consent before money is sent to their bank account or mobile wallet. The ministry warned people never to share their PIN or Bank Verification Number with anyone, and provided an official helpline for complaints.

Background

The announcement follows the government's recent approval of a ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for federal workers, which labour unions are divided over, and comes as opposition parties attack the government over the cost of living ahead of the January 2027 elections. Previous cash transfer schemes have faced complaints about who was selected and about fraudsters pretending to register people.

What to watch out for

Nigerians are being urged to be wary of anyone asking for money or personal details to 'enrol' them in the scheme, as officials say no such registration is needed.