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Shock as Court Rejects El-Rufai’s Bail Application, Orders Continued Detention

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A Kaduna State High Court has rejected the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ordering that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) pending the determination of his trial.

The ruling was delivered by Justice D.H. Khobo, who held that the seriousness of the allegations against the former governor, as well as concerns over possible interference with ongoing investigations, made the grant of bail inappropriate at this stage.

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El-Rufai had approached the court seeking release on bail pending trial over a nine-count charge filed by the Federal Government through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.

He argued that the offences were not capital in nature and that he posed no flight risk, citing his community ties, fixed residences, and willingness to cooperate with investigators.

He also told the court that he voluntarily returned to Nigeria to honour official invitations and challenged the validity of the charges, describing them as defective.

Additionally, he raised health concerns, requesting bail on medical grounds.

However, the prosecution opposed the application, insisting that the alleged offences were serious and economically damaging, with a likelihood that the defendant could interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations.

In his ruling, Justice Khobo held that the gravity of the charges and the risk of interference outweighed the arguments for bail.

The court also ruled that insufficient medical evidence had been provided to justify release on health grounds.

The judge therefore ordered that El-Rufai remain in ICPC custody and directed that the trial proceed on an accelerated basis, fixing early hearing dates for the case.

The former governor will remain detained as proceedings continue in the high-profile corruption trial.

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The Guardian’s Abuja GM Passes On

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Lady kidnapped in Abuja narrates experience

Chuks Nwanne, general manager of The Guardian’s Abuja operations and former Saturday editor of the newspaper, has passed on.

Eniola Daniel, a senior multimedia reporter at The Guardian, announced Nwanne’s death in an X post on Saturday.

It was gathered that Nwanne died on Saturday after a protracted illness.

Daniel described Nwanne as a “prolific entertainment writer” and his teacher, saying he would be deeply missed.

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A native of Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nwanne joined The Guardian in 2008 as an entertainment reporter.

He later became an editorial assistant at The Guardian Life Magazine, the newspaper’s weekly lifestyle publication.

Nwanne also served as assistant editor, entertainment and lifestyle, while overseeing the youth, travel and tourism sections of The Guardian on Saturday.

He held a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, and a master’s degree in communication studies from Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.

He attended several training programmes and conferences in Nigeria and abroad.

Beyond journalism, Nwanne was the founder and creative director of the Ogbunike Cave Carnival, an annual three-day cultural festival established to promote the Ogbunike Cave, a major tourist attraction in Nigeria.

He was married and had three children.

Daniel expressed condolences to Nwanne’s family, describing his death as a loss to Ogbunike, Anambra, the music and entertainment industry, and journalism.

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Petrol Tanker Fire Ravages Houses, Vehicles in Calabar

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Man Bravely drives Burning Truck out of Residential area in Delta

A road accident, involving a tanker truck conveying petroleum products opposite the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat, Cross River State, ignited a fire, leading to the destruction of several shops and affecting vehicles.

These transpired on Sunday, when the tanker accidentally overturned which led to the fire that spread to nearby shops and buildings.

Fortunately, the tanker driver was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.

Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said that officers from the Odukpani Division were deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further harm.

The Command said the Fire Service had also been alerted and was expected to deploy personnel to contain and extinguish the fire.

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As of the time of filing this report, no death has been confirmed.

However, the police said a number of shops and vehicles had been affected by the inferno.

The Command urged residents and motorists to keep away from the immediate area and allow emergency responders unhindered access to the scene.

It also advised members of the public to exercise caution around the area because of the risk posed by the burning petroleum tanker.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said further updates would be released as verified information became available.

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Tinubu Gov’t Does Not Engage, Everybody Is Its Enemy — Ajaero

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Fuel Subsidy: NLC Sets February Date for Nationwide Unrest

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to meaningfully engage with organised labour, alleging that the government has remained aloof despite repeated attempts to open dialogue.

Ajaero made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast, where he spoke about the relationship between the labour movement and the Federal Government over the past few years.

According to the NLC president, the government has not been engaging with labour and only responds when workers and other groups take steps to force its attention.

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“For the past two, three years, you know, it’s not a government that is engaging. This government doesn’t engage,” Ajaero said.
He described the administration as “aloof”, stressing that meaningful engagement had been lacking between the government and organised labour.

Ajaero recalled that the NLC had, by December 17, 2025, announced plans to take its grievances to the streets after months of attempts to communicate with the President.

He said the labour movement had written to President Tinubu from June through December but received no response.

“Well, by December 17th, 2025, we pulled out that we are going to the streets. After writing a letter from May, sorry June, to December to Mr. President and there was no response,” he said.

According to him, the planned action eventually led to the intervention of some state governors, who facilitated an interface between labour and the government.

He said the intervention became necessary after other channels of communication, including the office of the Minister of Labour, had failed.

“Because the whole channel—whether through the Minister of Labour or any other office—failed, collapsed. So some governors met with us, and since that time we have talked once or twice,” Ajaero said.

However, the NLC president suggested that the situation had not significantly improved, alleging that the issues raised by labour since December had largely been left unresolved.

“And those issues… December last year to now, they’re just doing their business. Everybody is their enemy,” he added.

 

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