The Federal Government has declared Thursday, October 1, 2026, as a public holiday across the federation to commemorate the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the official declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, extending warm congratulations to Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on reaching another milestone in the country’s national history.

The announcement was contained in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani.

In his goodwill message, Dr. Tunji-Ojo praised the warmth, welcoming spirit, and exceptional resilience of the Nigerian populace. He highlighted the country’s vast human capital and rich natural resources as enduring attributes that position Nigeria as a leading voice on the African continent.

The Minister stressed that peace and political stability remain indispensable prerequisites for achieving sustainable socioeconomic growth and national development. He called on citizens across all geo-political zones to reflect on the sacrifices of Nigeria’s founding fathers and emulate their selfless patriotism to build a prospering nation for future generations.

“As we celebrate 66 years of our independence, we should always remember that there is hope for our country. Our diversity is our strength, and our collective determination remains the foundation upon which a stronger and more prosperous nation will be built,” Tunji-Ojo stated.

The military has again postponed the ruling of the General Court Martial sitting over the alleged coup plot case involving some military officers accused of attempting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The ruling, which was earlier scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, has now been rescheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026.

In a notice issued to members of the court and other concerned parties, the military said the sitting earlier adjourned to Wednesday had been postponed.

“The GCM sitting earlier adjourned to Wednesday, 30 September, 2026, has now been postponed to Monday, 5 October, 2026,” the notice stated.

“The new sitting is scheduled to commence at 10am at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess, Asokoro, Abuja.

The notice, signed by Major M.U. Ardo, the Liaison Officer, did not state the reason for the postponement but expressed regret over any inconvenience caused.

The latest development marks the fourth time the ruling has been deferred, further delaying a decision in the military trial.

The ruling is expected to determine the admissibility of statements allegedly obtained from some of the accused officers, following a trial-within-a-trial conducted by the court.

Defence lawyers had challenged the admission of the statements, alleging that some of the accused officers were coerced by officials of the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, into making or reproducing statements they said contained false information.

During the trial-within-a-trial, the defence argued that the statements did not meet legal requirements for admissibility, alleging that lawyers or witnesses selected by some of the accused officers were not present when the statements were taken.

The defence also questioned the absence of video recordings showing the officers writing their statements in the presence of their chosen witnesses, as required under relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The lawyers further alleged that some of the officers were not properly cautioned or adequately informed of their rights before making the statements.

The prosecution, however, presented evidence seeking to establish that the statements were made voluntarily and without improper pressure.

Some of the accused officers gave contrary testimony, alleging that they were subjected to coercion, intimidation, inducement and physical abuse during their detention.

According to evidence presented before the court, some officers alleged that they were made to believe that reproducing particular statements would facilitate their release.

They further claimed that some statements had already been prepared by intelligence officials and that they were compelled to copy or sign them, despite allegedly having no knowledge of certain matters contained in the documents.

Some of the accused officers also told the court that they did not personally originate or write the statements attributed to them, alleging that they were forced to reproduce pre-written documents containing claims or admissions they considered false or unrelated to their knowledge.

The General Court Martial is presided over by Air Vice Marshal H.I. Alhaji of the Nigerian Air Force.

The proceedings are being conducted at the Scorpion Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja.

The court’s decision on the admissibility of the disputed statements is expected to determine whether the evidence can be relied upon in the ongoing proceedings.

A Flydubai passenger plane travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after its two pilots reportedly got into a physical fight in the cockpit.

The Boeing 737, operating as Flight FZ1073, was diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia after transmitting emergency signals.

The aircraft first sent a general emergency signal before transmitting another indicating possible unlawful interference.

The signal triggered a security alert in Israel, with fighter jets reportedly scrambled over fears that the plane had been hijacked.

However, an Israeli official told Reuters that the signals were sent after the pilots became involved in a physical altercation.

The aircraft later landed safely at Tabuk airport.

Flydubai confirmed that an incident occurred and said all passengers were safe and accounted for.

Flight-tracking data showed the plane made a sharp descent before diverting to Saudi Arabia.

Passengers reportedly heard shouting from the cockpit, while Israeli media reported that one of the pilots may have been injured.

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain under investigation.

The aircraft was carrying about 150 passengers and was operating a regular Flydubai service between Dubai and Tel Aviv.

Israeli authorities said the situation was under control and arrangements were being made to return the passengers to Israel.