The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has arrived at the Federal High Court Abuja for his trial.
Kanu who arrived in court in the presence of his lawyers on Wednesday, also spoke on the killings in the South East.
He insisted he was all for peace, and had no hand in the murder of the soldiers.
“I condemn in its entirety all of the killings, because IPOB was founded on a non-violent principle, and we maintain that stand. And some of these soldiers, we were told are also our people, and his family is in mourning right now.
“So I condemn all the killings. I don’t want that. We are fighting for freedom, so, how can we want violence? We want people to be free. We have suffered a lot in Africa, from slavery in Arabia, Europe and now slavery in America. This is when to focus on this continent, and be what God wants us to be, so that they will know that we know what we are doing,’ he told journalists in court.
His legal team earlier submitted a full list of judgements in the matter to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja.
The leader of the team, Barr Nnaemeka Ejiofor, told journalists that the judgements were from both domestic and international, courts directing the release of the IPOB leader.
He said the decision to forward all the pronouncements was in response to the statement credited to the AGF that he was not aware of Kanu’s case and that his fate would be resolved by the court.
Ejiofor also asked President Bola Tinubu, to release Kanu and respect the various judgements, directing the IPOB leader’s release.
On May 24, Fagbemi said the offence of the detained IPOB leader is a difficult one, and can only be resolved by a competent court of law.
He also pointed out that there was a remarkable difference between Kanu’s case and that of Omoyele Sowore.
Days earlier, Kanu’s lawyers filed a preliminary objection at the Federal High Court Abuja, asking the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, to decline jurisdiction to proceed with the trial against him.
Part of the issue for determination, was whether the court has the jurisdiction to try Kanu for any, or all the offences charged against him in Counts 1, 2, 4,5 and 8, to quash the said counts on the ground that the law which the said counts were predicated, was unconstitutional.
Justice Nyako dismissed the request by Kanu for the restoration of his revoked bail, and the removal from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), to a house arrest or prison custody.
Kanu has been in DSS custody since June 2021 when he was arrested in Kenya, and has since resumed terrorism-related trial levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed ownership of the aircraft which crashed on Monday in Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
Ehimen Ejodame, NAF Director of public relations and information, said the aircraft was on a “routine mission” when it crashed in the early hours of Monday.
In a statement, the air force spokesperson said a rescue operation is underway.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026,” the statement reads.
“The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
“Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing.
“The NAF is committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing Search and Rescue efforts. Further details will be communicated in due course.”
The Ondo state police command had earlier confirmed the incident, but said details surrounding the crash were still emerging.
Residents had, however, informed that the crash occurred in a swampy terrain opposite a naval base.
Portugal’s Economy Minister, Manuel Castro Almeida, says Cristiano Ronaldo matters to Portugal in ways that reach far beyond football. “Many people know Portugal only because of Cristiano Ronaldo,” he stressed.
His comments land as the fallout from Ronaldo’s sudden exit from the national team camp continues to dominate the headlines.
Speaking in remarks carried by the Portuguese website The Resident from the Now channel, the minister painted Ronaldo as a huge asset for Portugal’s image on the world stage. “Cristiano Ronaldo has an enormous impact in promoting and highlighting Portugal’s image,” he said. He went further still, likening the Portugal star to “the most famous company in Portugal”
On the row between Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus, Castro Almeida pleaded ignorance. He insisted he was “not an expert” and refused to judge who was in the right.
His focus stayed on Ronaldo’s wider worth to Portugal and its standing abroad.
That global recognition, the Economy Minister argues, makes Ronaldo “a value and an asset” to the country. “It would be good if Portugal could continue to rely on this asset,” he said.
He added: “From the angle of enhancing Portugal’s image and reputation, Cristiano holds extremely important value, and it would be very good for Portugal to continue to benefit from this potential.”
There is palpable apprehension in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, following the killing of three persons in suspected cult clashes between Friday and Sunday, forcing residents to flee and traders to shut their businesses.
The latest violence has heightened fears across the city, with residents and other stakeholders calling on the state government and security agencies to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed.
The first incident occurred on Friday evening at a lounge around Owo-Eba, in the Owode-Ilesa Garage area.
Report quoted sources as divulging that a rival gang stormed the lounge where Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as Small Rugged, and others were relaxing and opened fire.
Taoreed, who was alleged to be linked to the Eiye confraternity, although the claim could not be independently verified, was killed alongside another man identified only as Osha.
Four other persons sustained gunshot injuries when the assailants allegedly fired sporadically while fleeing the scene. The shooting triggered panic along the Ilesa Garage-Ayepe axis, as residents ran for safety and shop owners hurriedly closed their businesses.
Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, described it as a suspected cult clash.
Ojelabi said: “The command is aware of a shooting incident suspected to be cult clash around Owo-Eba area, Osogbo. Two persons died at the spot, one identified as Small Rugged, while the other’s name is yet unknown. Four other people sustained gunshot injuries and have been rushed by the police to a nearby hospital for treatment.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan Zungura, had directed tactical teams to apprehend those responsible. No arrest had been announced as of press time.
About 48 hours later, violence erupted again in the Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo on Sunday morning, leaving a man identified as Taoheed Ojoiku dead.
Residents said the incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m., throwing the area into chaos.
Ojoiku was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.
The circumstances surrounding the attack were not immediately clear. However, sources said it might have been connected to Friday’s killings, raising fears that the incident could be a reprisal attack.
Residents have urged the state government and security agencies to intensify surveillance and security operations across the city to prevent further clashes and restore normalcy.
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