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Judge Threatens to Strike Out Metuh’s Case, Attacks Prosecution Lawyer

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There was drama in court on Monday after former Peoples Democratic Party, spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, on trial for alleged fraud, collapsed in the court room.

The judge, apparently frustrated by the actions of the prosecution and defence teams, also threatened to discharge the accused.

Mr Metuh is facing trial for alleged diversion of N400 million from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

He is facing, alongside his company, Dextra Investment, a seven-count charge for the alleged offence.

Mr Metuh has been brought to court on a stretcher several times, since February this year.

His lawyers had told the court in 2016 that Mr Metuh has an injury in his spinal cord after he fell from a chair during a meeting with his party members and was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja.

Shortly after the fall, Mr Metuh’s team of lawyers made an application for him to be allowed to travel abroad for proper treatment of the injury.

Several attempts by the lawyers, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, for the defendant to be allowed to travel, failed.

After the judge, Okon Abang, questioned the authenticity of a medical report signed by a Nigerian doctor from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Hospital, the lawyers contacted a doctor from a London-based hospital and obtained another medical report, in a bid to secure the court’s approval for Mr Metuh to be allowed to travel abroad for treatment.

The court, however, refused the application on the grounds that Mr Metuh did not appeal its previous decision refusing him to travel for medical reasons.

After arriving the court, in an ambulance on Monday,the defendant was called to the dock as usual but fell flat to the ground while approaching the dock which was quite close to his seat.

Before Mr Metuh’s fall, the judge, Mr Abang, noted his steps and asked that the defendant remained on his seat, but Mr Metuh appeared to have reached the floor, before hearing the order.

Shortly after he fell to the floor, the judge stood down the matter to allow for medical practitioners to access the defendant.

A medical doctor working with the court arrived the court room and assessed the defendant for a short while, before the case was recalled.

After recalling the matter, Mr Abang asked three of his court officials to explain what had happened.

According to the court officials, “Mr Metuh defied the warnings of the judge to remain on his seat but insisted on entering the dock.”

Mr Abang then ordered the defence team to proceed with the day’s plan, by calling its witness.

Responding, however, Mr Etiaba informed the court that he would like to recuse himself from the matter.

Mr Etiaba explained that the manner in which the case was proceeding, had forced him to consider suspending his appearance as a counsel in the matter.

The request by the defence lawyer further infuriated Mr Abang who overruled it and attempted to proceed with the trial by directing questions to Mr Etiaba on the matter.

The defence lawyer, however, refused to provide answers to the said questions.

Mr Abang also frowned at the prosecution’s refusal to object to the request for adjournment as well as the withdrawal of Mr Etiaba.

The judge threatened to discharge the defendant, if the prosecution was unwilling to “seriously prosecute his case.”

He adjourned the matter till Tuesday (Today).

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Innovation Meets Vision As Glo Partners Samsung to Unveil New Galaxy S26

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In a convergence of technology and vision, digital solutions leader Globacom has entered a partnership with global electronics giant Samsung to introduce the much-anticipated Galaxy S26 Series to the Nigerian market. It is a device conceived for a generation that lives, works and dreams in real time.

The unveiling, held at Globacom’s corporate headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, gathered an august assembly of high-net-worth customers, industry figures and members of the media. The atmosphere was not merely ceremonial; it was symbolic — a quiet affirmation that when global engineering meets indigenous connectivity, innovation finds its true signal.

As part of the partnership, Globacom has commenced an exclusive pre-order window for its subscribers. Each Galaxy S26 purchased at any Gloworld outlet nationwide is bundled with 18GB of complimentary data under the Glo Smartphone Festival Data Plans delivered as 3GB monthly for six months.

In addition, customers receive a distinguished Platinum Number eSIM, accompanied by up to 10GB of extra data monthly. It is a proposition crafted not as an afterthought, but as a deliberate statement of value.

The Galaxy S26 Series itself is a study in assured sophistication. It fuses next-generation processing power with a sleek, immersive display, enhanced camera intelligence, durable battery performance and privacy screen technology. Its Agentic AI capabilities introduce a more intuitive user experience, one that anticipates need, protects data and enhances productivity.

In essence, it is a device built not merely to function, but to empower.

Speaking at the event, Samsung’s Product Manager, Sellout Platinum, Mr. Solomon Osibeluwo, described Globacom as the first partner to host the S26 masterclass session — a testament, he noted, to the enduring strength of the relationship between both organisations. He reaffirmed Samsung’s commitment to deepening this alliance, adding that the S26 Series has been meticulously engineered to enrich the calling, browsing and overall digital experience of Nigerians.

In his address, Globacom’s Head of Gloworld, Mr Mohamed Rabie, underscored that the collaboration is anchored on delivering real and measurable value. Premium technology, he remarked, must travel with meaningful benefit. He expressed pride that Globacom stands as the first partner to offer both the masterclass engagement and immediate pre-order advantages following the device’s launch in Nigeria.

Encouraging Nigerians to experience the device firsthand at Gloworld outlets nationwide, Rabie concluded with quiet conviction: “this moment transcends the unveiling of a smartphone. It signals the unfolding of new possibilities powered by intelligence, sustained by partnership, and carried on the dependable wings of connectivity”.

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FCCPC Uncovers Patterns of Price Manipulation by Local Airlines

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has uncovered patterns of price manipulation perpetrated by some local airlines during the last festive season.

The findings are contained in the interim report released on Thursday by the Commission’s department of Surveillance and Investigations, according to a statement signed by the Director, Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, and made available to The Boss.

Recall that the Commission announced an industry-wide investigation earlier in January.

The forensic exercise benefitted from data collated by the Commission from airlines operating local routes in the country.

The report compares domestic airline pricing from the December 2025 festive period with post-peak January 2026 fare levels.

Preliminary analysis indicates that fares recorded during the December peak were materially higher than those observed in the post-peak period across several routes despite relative stability in critical operating variables like fuel price, government taxes and foreign exchange.

The differences observed in fares therefore appear to reflect airlines’ arbitrary pricing decisions, including yield management and capacity allocation, rather than any variation in regulatory fees.

Route-level analysis shows that higher fares coincided with periods of reduced seat availability during predictable seasonal demand peaks. On some high density routes, peak fares were clustered within relatively narrow ranges across several operators.

For instance, on certain corridors like Abuja-Port Harcourt, peak fares were several times higher than corresponding post-peak levels. On selected routes, the difference in the price of a single ticket reached approximately ₦405,000. Median fares across the sampled routes also rose markedly during the festive window when compared with post-peak benchmarks.

However, the interim report recognises that seasonal demand pressures, scheduling constraints and fleet utilisation may also affect pricing during peak travel periods.

These factors remain under consideration as part of the Commission’s ongoing review.

Commenting on the release of the interim report, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the review is part of the Commission’s statutory responsibility to promote competitive markets and safeguard consumers.

“This assessment is intended to provide clarity on pricing behaviour during predictable peak travel periods. The Commission’s role is not to disrupt legitimate commercial activity, but to ensure that market outcomes remain consistent with competition and consumer protection principles under the law,” Mr. Bello said.

He noted that the Commission is conducting further structural and route-level analysis before reaching any conclusions.

“It is important to emphasise that this is an interim report. Our next action will be dictated by full facts established at the end of the review exercise.  Then, the Commission will decide whether any regulatory guidance, engagement or enforcement steps are necessary, strictly in accordance with the law,” he said.

The report identifies the possible relevance of Sections 59, 72, 107, 108, 124 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, which respectively address the prohibition of agreements in restraint of competition, the prohibition of abuse of a dominant position, the offence of price-fixing, conspiracy to commit offences under the Act, the right to fair dealings, and the prohibition of unfair, unreasonable or unjust contract terms.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bello announced that foreign airlines will come under FCCPC radar after the ongoing review of local airlines in view of widespread complaints of exploitative fares they allegedly charge Nigerians on certain routes compared to fares in neighbouring countries that are of equal distance.

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Many Killled, Houses Torched As Terrorists Unleash Deadly Attacks on Adamawa Communities

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At least 25 ⁠people were killed and several houses torched after ​gunmen attacked two villages late on Tuesday in Adamawa State, northeast ‌Nigeria, residents and the ‌state governor said on Wednesday.

The attackers struck Kirchinga in Madagali ⁠district ⁠and Garaha in neighbouring Hong, two villages on the edge ​of the Sambisa Forest where Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operate.

The twin raids highlight the enduring insecurity in Nigeria’s ​northeast, the epicentre of a 17-year Islamist insurgency, despite years of ⁠military ⁠campaigns.

Abubakar Lawan Kanuri, the ⁠village ​head of Kirchinga, told Reuters the attackers arrived on Tuesday evening ​dressed in military uniforms ⁠that initially led residents to mistake them for soldiers on patrol. He said 18 bodies were recovered after the gunmen swept through the community.

In Garaha, seven people were killed when ⁠gunmen on more than 50 motorcycles stormed the village and attacked ⁠a nearby military base, said resident Musa Isa, who added he “narrowly escaped.”

They advanced from several directions and hit the military base, killing three soldiers. Four fleeing residents were shot, and a school was also burned. Many villagers have since fled to Mubi, the nearest big town, Isa said.

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri condemned the attacks ⁠as “cowardly acts of terrorism” and vowed not to “let terrorists undermine our efforts to restore peace and stability,” according to a statement from his spokesman.

Source: usnews.com

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