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    Olukoyede Orders Withdrawal of Charges against Maryam Shehu,  Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  EFCC,  Mr. Ola Olukoyede has compassionately ordered the withdrawal of charges preferred against Maryam Isah Shehu and  Abubakar Shuraim Abdulhamad, who were, on Thursday August 20, 2026 arraigned  before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja ,   for alleged cybercrime and peddling malicious information against the Commission.  While the  Commission considered the arraignment of the two defendants for cyber stalking to be contrary to Section 24(2) (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (As Amended) 2024 and punishable under Section 24 (2) (c) (ii) of the same Act, the Executive Chairman,  nonetheless,  considered the passionate pleas and  apologies  of Shehu’s father and appeals of well-meaning Nigerians ...

 FG DECLARES TUESDAY 25TH AUGUST, 2026 AS PUBLIC HOLIDAY TO MARK EID UL MAWLID The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, 25th August 2026, as public holiday to mark this year’s Eid ul Mawlid, commemorating the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. In a statement, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Magdalene Ajani, says the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government. The Minister urges Nigerians to reflect on the virtues of compassion, humility and service, while using the occasion to pray for peace and national unity. The statement also calls on citizens to celebrate with restraint and mutual respect, assuring that the Federal Government remains committed to safeguarding lives and property and maintaining peace across the country.

 Hayden Panettiere’s Mother Says Family Tried to Remove “Wrong Person” From Her Life Before Her Death Hayden Panettiere’s mother, Lesley Vogel, has linked her daughter’s estrangement from the family to a “t0xic individual” and said the family had tried unsuccessfully to remove that person from the actress’ life. “Although my daughter and I were estranged, it was not for lack of care or love,” Vogel told Entertainment Tonight. She added: “Hayden was a beautiful and talented young woman who unfortunately became involved with the wrong person, and although her family tried to extricate him from her life, we were unable to be successful.” Vogel had previously identified that person as Hayden’s on-and-off boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, who was reportedly with the 36-year-old actress when she was found dead in a South Carolina apartment on Sunday. “This person in her life that we have been trying to get rid of for quite some time was with her at her death, and that was Brian Hickerson,” Vog...

 NORTHERN SENATORS FORUM CONDEMNS TERROR ATTACKS IN ADAMAWA AND SOKOTO STATES, CALLS FOR URGENT ACTION ON STATE POLICE BILL The Northern Senators Forum has condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Adamawa and Sokoto States that claimed more than 36 lives this week. A statement by the Chairman of the forum  Senator Abdulaziz Yaradua Adamawa, says suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Gaya community in Hong Local Government Area on Monday night, killing eight people including one Police Inspector, and burning two houses. And in Sokoto, suspected Lakurawa terrorists opened fire on worshippers during Friday prayers in Ungushi village, Kebbe Local Government Area, killing about 30 people. Four soldiers were earlier killed in the area  same day. The Forum further calls for urgent action on the State Police Bill and stronger support for community vigilante groups, saying decentralized policing is critical to stop further loss of innocent lives.

 LASG CONVENES STAKEHOLDERS' ENGAGEMENT TO ADDRESS PAYMENT DELAYS BETWEEN SUPERMARKETS, SMEs The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, on Tuesday, August 18th, convened a Stakeholders’ Engagement meeting between supermarket owners, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and relevant Regulatory Agencies to address the growing concern of delayed payments and promote compliance with agreed payment terms. The engagement, which was held at the MCCTI Conference Room in Alausa, Ikeja, brought together Industry Stakeholders for meaningful conversations, as well as collaborative efforts aimed at fostering transparency, encouraging timely payments, and strengthening trust between businesses and their Partners. Speaking at the Event, the Director of the Agribusiness Support Unit, Mrs. Muminat Osiefa-Atitebi, who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Hon. Folashade Bada Ambrose-Medebem, un...

 Kaduna Pastor Honours Islamic Scholar For Training Over 10,000 Almajiris A Kaduna-based Christian cleric, Pastor Yohanna Buru, has honoured Muslim scholar Sheikh Usman Mohammed Mai-Mota (Gwalli) for dedicating more than 50 years to Islamic education and training over 10,000 almajiris. Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, led a delegation of Christian clerics to Sheikh Usman’s school, where they presented him with an award in recognition of his contributions to Islamic education and community development. Speaking during the presentation, Buru said Sheikh Usman had spent over five decades teaching the Qur’an, Hadith, Tafsir, Arabic and other aspects of Islamic studies to children and young people from different parts of Northern Nigeria. He noted that many of the students who passed through the scholar’s school had gone on to become Islamic scholars, Arabic teachers and lecturers in various institutions and learning centres across the cou...

 TWO DAYS AFTER THE REPORT OF A MISSING 56-YEAR OLD MAN AT AWKUZU, ANAMBRA POLICE UNCOVERS HIS MURDER, ARRESTS THE MASTERMIND, A FRIEND AND TWO OTHERS  The Anambra State Police Command has uncovered the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of a 56-year old man, Mr Kelechi Madu, in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the State. The revelation followed the arrest of his friend, Mr Ifeanyi Nwankwo, 32 years old, who allegedly confessed to plotting the murder and engaging two others to execute the act. Following the report, on 18th August 2026 from the wife of the deceased that her husband had gone out on the evening of 17th August 2026 and had not returned home, Police operatives, in collaboration with members of the local vigilante group and the deceased’s family, immediately commenced inquiries and a search operation to establish his whereabouts. In the evening of same day, however, the wife returned to the station in distress and reported that her husband had been fo...

 A 17-year-old Kansas student has fatally collapsed on the first day of football practice. The small Kansas community of less than 100 residents in Rozel, Kansas, has been left stunned and heartbroken after a tragic first day of practice for the football team at Pawnee Heights High School.  At approximately 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18th, with temps still hanging around 90°, the football team was engaging in conditioning training. The humidity was nearly 60%.  As the students worked on getting into 'game day shape', the school's fullback and wide receiver, Rylan Reece, suddenly collapsed. 911 was called immediately, and within minutes, first responders were on the practice field administering life-saving measures on Rylan.  Sadly, despite the best efforts of first responders, Rylan was pronounced deceased. The loss has deeply affected the tight knit small community. Many in the community knew Rylan. His mother is an active volunteer in the school district, and his...

 EFCC Arraigns Alleged Three Land grabbers, Two Firms in Abuja The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 arraigned three alleged land grabbers, and two firms before Justice Ngozika. C. Nwabulu, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,  High Court, Maitama,  Abuja. The defendants are Paul Olufemi Ogunlana, Olaniyi Rufai, Dauda Bashir, Unified Luxury Homes Limited and Utopian Planning Ltd. The defendants allegedly defrauded one Lucky U Odigie of the sum of N23, 000,000:00 (Twenty Three Million Naira), after presenting themselves as land owners and obtained the sum from him for the purchase of the land under false pretence. According to the petitioner, the defendants and their companies, approached him with a Power of Attorney to sell a parcel of land, measuring about 2.2 hectares and located at Gausa district, off airport road, Abuja, which turned out to be false. Odigie said the defendants told him that the...

 91-year-old Georgia woman earns GED after nearly three years of classes, becoming state’s oldest recipient in a decade Helen Woodyard had carried a simple goal with her for years: earning her GED. After watching all four of her children receive their diplomas, she wanted to accomplish the same thing herself. On her 88th birthday, she decided it was time to return to school, beginning a journey that would take nearly three years to complete. At age 91, Woodyard walked across the stage at West Georgia Technical College and received her GED, making her the oldest person in Georgia to earn the credential during the past decade. More than 30 members of her family attended the graduation ceremony to celebrate the milestone. Woodyard said her family was proud and happy to see her accomplish something she had wanted for so long. Her educational journey began in 2024 when she enrolled in adult education classes at the college. Over nearly two years, she completed 958.75 hours of coursework...