A federal high court sitting in Ikoyi has discharged Pretty Mike, the nightclub owner, and club supervisor Joachim Hillary, ruling that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) failed to prove a prima facie case
against them.

Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa, the judge, upheld the defendants’ no-case submission on Wednesday, effectively terminating the drug-related prosecution at the preliminary stage.

The duo faced charges including conspiracy, unlawful possession of hard drugs, and permitting illicit drug activities at Pretty Mike’s Proxy Lagos nightclub in Victoria Island.

The NDLEA claimed that during an October 26 raid on the club, officers recovered 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) weighing 384.662 kilograms, plus 200 grams of cannabis sativa.

The agency alleged the substances were destined for an illegal drug party and sought forfeiture of the club as an “instrumentality of crime”.

Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), the lead defence counsel, however, filed a no-case submission, arguing that prosecutors presented no credible or admissible evidence directly linking his clients to the alleged offences.

He contended that the evidence led was weak, inconsistent, and insufficient in law to warrant the defendants being called upon to open their defence.

According to him, mere suspicion or circumstantial assertions without clear evidential linkage could not sustain a criminal charge.

The defence further argued that the prosecution failed to establish ownership, control, or knowledge of the alleged substances by the defendants, thereby falling short of the legal threshold required to prove criminal liability.

In his ruling, Alagoa agreed with the defence, holding that the prosecution’s evidence did not meet the minimum standard required to sustain the charges.

The judge thereafter upheld the no-case submission and discharged both Pretty Mike and Hillary without calling on them to enter their defence.

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Nigeria’s total public debt rose to ₦159.28 trillion as of December 31, 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on Tuesday.

The debt stock increased by ₦5.99 trillion from ₦153.29 trillion recorded at the end of September 2025, representing a quarterly rise of approximately 3.9%.

On a year-on-year basis, the public debt grew by ₦14.61 trillion or 10.1% from ₦144.67 trillion in December 2024.

The increase is attributed to fresh domestic and external borrowings during the period. The DMO noted that the December 2025 figures are provisional, with naira conversions based on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official exchange rate.

This latest surge brings Nigeria’s total public debt close to the ₦160 trillion mark, highlighting the continued reliance on borrowing to finance government operations and projects.

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Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has awarded a total of N151.2 million to 30 recently promoted security officers attached to the Government House in Makurdi.

The governor announced that 26 male officers received N5 million each, while four female officers got N5.3 million apiece.

He made the announcement shortly after decorating the officers at the Old Banquet Hall of Government House.

Alia described the cash award as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to fairness, inclusiveness, and recognition of excellence in the security sector.

“This rare and first-of-its-kind gesture is in recognition of their dedication and exemplary service to the state,” the governor said through his Principal Special Assistant on Print Media, Donald Kumun.

He charged the promoted officers to justify their new ranks by displaying higher levels of discipline, professionalism, and commitment to protecting lives and property.

The breakdown of the promotions includes:

22 Police officers elevated from Inspector to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP); one Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officer promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Corps I; two to Corps Assistant I; three State Fire Service officers to Assistant Superintendent of Fire I; one to Assistant Superintendent of Fire II; and one Federal Road Safety Corps officer to Road Marshal Assistant I.

This latest award brings the total amount disbursed by Governor Alia to Government House security personnel to N316.2 million, following an earlier reward of N5 million each to 33 officers.

The governor assured continued collaboration with all security agencies in the state and pledged policies aimed at improving their welfare.

He also appealed to the families of the officers to continue providing moral support.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stressed that Nigeria’s future will be shaped not by rhetoric, but by deliberate actions, strong institutions, and sustained discipline.

The President made the remarks while commissioning the newly completed NRS building, where he stated the importance of consistency, courage, and collective resolve in national development.

“History will not judge us by what we said but by what we build, the institutions we strengthened and the discipline we sustain,” Tinubu said.

He added that the task of national renewal requires more than just promises, noting that progress must be based on concrete efforts and unity of purpose.

“The work of national renewal demands consistency, courage, and collective resolve. Nigeria’s future will not be determined by chance; it will be determined by the choices we all make together,” he stated

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The Supreme Court has scheduled April 22, 2026, to hear the appeal filed by Senator David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the party.

A five-member panel led by Justice Lawal Garba fixed the date after all parties adopted their processes in the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026.

Mark is seeking an order to stay the execution of the Court of Appeal’s judgment delivered on March 12, 2026, which had dismissed his earlier appeal.

The dispute stems from a ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 4, 2025, which refused some injunctive reliefs sought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the ADC.

In the March 12 judgment, the Court of Appeal upheld objections that Mark’s appeal was incompetent.

The apex court’s decision on April 22 is expected to provide clarity on the leadership of the ADC ahead of future political activities.

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Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has reacted to allegations surrounding the past social media activities of an individual linked to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Joash Amupitan.

Akpabio claimed that Amupitan, just like everyone, was entitled to personal political preferences, saying he was just a mere lecturer.

Speaking on Tuesday during the commissioning of the new NRS building in Abuja, Akpabio addressed concerns over a resurfaced post allegedly attributed to Amupitan, which some critics have cited as evidence of partisanship.

According to him, the statement in question merely said “victory is sure” without specifying any political party, adding that it had been misinterpreted.

Akpabio also clarified that the individual was not the chairman of INEC at the time but a lecturer, stressing that private citizens are free to support any candidate or party of their choice.

He, however, noted that individuals occupying sensitive public offices must act in the interest of the entire country and maintain neutrality in their conduct.

The remarks come amid calls by the
African Democratic Congress (ADC) and some Nigerians for the resignation of the
INEC chairman over alleged partisanship linked to past posts on X.

Akpabio said: “And they said let us attack the people going to do the election. And they brought out a tweet they said the chairman of INEC said victory is sure.

“But he didn’t say victory is sure for APC. He did not say victory is sure for PDP, he just said victory is sure. And the man said that it’s manipulated. Nobody wants to hear. But for me, whether manipulated or not, he said victory is sure.

“He was not chairman of INEC. He was just a mere lecturer. Anybody can support anybody he wishes to, but when you are on a seat, you have to think of all the entire country and all the populace, and that’s what they
are doing.”

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The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Federal Government and the Plateau State Government over the abduction of a University of Jos student, John Arum, warning of nationwide protests if urgent action is not taken.

In a Tuesday statement signed by its National President, Olushola Oladoja, the student body expressed outrage over the incident, describing it as a reflection of worsening insecurity across the country.

NANS said Arum was kidnapped while travelling to Kaduna, with disturbing evidence of his captivity already circulating publicly.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students expresses its utmost grief, outrage, and condemnation over the abduction of one of our own, John Arum, a student of the University of Jos, who was kidnapped while travelling to Kaduna,” the statement read.

It added that visuals from captivity showed “duress and inhumane conditions, brutality, and torture,” while the abductors have reportedly demanded a ransom of ₦30 million.

The association described the development as a troubling indicator of the country’s deteriorating security situation, particularly for students.

“The horrifying incident that has happened to John is yet another grim reminder of the steady and unacceptable decline in the safety and security of Nigerian citizens, especially students, who continue to be vulnerable targets of criminal elements across the country,” it stated.

NANS further criticised what it called the slow and inadequate response of security agencies and government authorities, warning that inaction could deepen public frustration.

“Silence, delay, or half-measures in moments when decisive and brutal actions are required only embolden perpetrators and deepen public despair,” the statement added.

The association demanded immediate deployment of intelligence and security resources to secure Arum’s release, alongside regular public updates on rescue efforts.

It also called for broader measures to tackle kidnapping and violent crimes nationwide.

“As an organisation, our demands are bold and very clear, and failure to meet these demands within the stipulated timeframe will compel Nigerian students… to embark on a nationwide solidarity protest and total shutdown of socio-economic and academic activities across the country,” it warned.

Reaffirming its stance, NANS said it would not remain silent while students continue to face abduction and violence.

“Under my leadership, NANS will not remain silent or stand idly while our colleagues are hunted, abducted, and brutalised. It is unacceptable and must not continue. The time for decisive action is now,” Oladoja said.

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction led by David Mark has expelled Nafiu Bala, the party’s factional chairman, over alleged anti-party activities.

The party also expelled several members, including Leke Abejide, a member of the house of representatives, Kingsley Temitope, Obinna Norman, Kennedy Odiong, and Stella Chukwuma.

Binos Yaroe, senator representing Adamawa south, moved a motion to expel the party members on Tuesday at the party’s national convention
in Abuja, and it was adopted by delegates through a voice vote.

Addressing delegates at the event, Chinedu Idigo, the party’s organising secretary, accused the ousted members of undermining the party by fueling internal divisions.

“They have sown seeds of discord within the party and sought to create factions, doubts, and confusion across the polity, the public, and regulatory authorities, thereby causing instability within the party,” he said.

“They were given time to retrace their actions but failed to do so.”

Since July 2025, when an opposition coalition took over the ADC’s leadership, the party has been embroiled in internal disputes, with Bala alleging that the Mark-led leadership was illegally appointed as the national chairman.

On April 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) derecognised Mark-led faction following an interim ruling of the court of appeal.

The supreme court has fixed April 22 to hear an appeal filed by Mark against a suit instituted by Bala, challenging his leadership.

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