By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

On Tuesday evening, the internet swirled with the report that the NNPP Chieftain, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has endorsed the planned defection of governor Kabir Yusuf Abba.

The said report was first published by the Premium Times Newspaper.

In the quest to finding the authenticity of the report, the Nigerian Tracker News digged further and found out that the report was inaccurate.

What is then Accurate?

Findings show that the accurate report is that the former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has advised his supporters, who are being pressured to join a political movement in the All Progressives Congress (APC), to sign any document indicating their agreement to do so.

Mr Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), spoke in Hausa on Tuesday in Kano while addressing some of his supporters. He described the movement his supporters are being pressured to join as the Gandujiyya movement of former APC national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Although Mr Kwakwanso repeatedly referred to the Gandujiyya movement, the statement is believed to refer to the pressure on many of his supporters to join the APC, alongside the state governor, Abba Yusuf.

Mr Kwankwaso stated that he was aware that some NNPP members holding elective or appointive offices in the state were being pressured. He said some of these officeholders were being asked to sign documents indicating that they agreed to defect to the Gandujiyya movement.

The former Kano governor urged such NNPP members to sign the documents so they do not suffer any victimisation by the state government.

“Several of our supporters who currently hold political appointments, as well as members of the State Assembly, have reached out to me in distress,” he said in Hausa, “Many of them have been unable to sleep at night; some have reportedly been hospitalised, receiving medical treatment, while others are showing signs of severe emotional strain”.

It was in the course of Premium Times Newspaper translating the Hausa language spoken in the video that it inaccurately reported that the former Kano governor has endorsed governor Abba’s planned defection.

Acknowledging its inaccurate report, the Premium Times Newspaper retract its first published story and apologized to its readers in that regard.

“Editor’s Note: We wrongly interpreted Mr Kwankwaso’s statement in Hausa to mean he was endorsing his supporters’ defection to the APC. That error, which is regretted, has been corrected in this copy,” Premium Times acknowledges.

Furthermore, the NNPP’s national spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, issued a separate rebuttal, condemning the rumours as “a wicked and shameful falsehood” propagated by individuals “devoid of any scruples.”

Johnson accused those behind the reports of attempting to legitimise their exit by falsely claiming Kwankwaso’s backing.

“If you wish to leave, then leave. Do not insult the public by pretending you have Senator Kwankwaso’s support,” he stated.

He warned that members who abandon the party would be held accountable by voters in the 2027 elections.

The statement urged the public, party supporters, and the media to disregard the speculation and rely only on official and verified sources.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The United States has delivered critical military supplies to Nigeria, reinforcing the strategic security partnership between the two nations. The transfer was confirmed by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a statement on Tuesday.

“U.S. forces delivered critical military supplies to our Nigerian partners in Abuja. This delivery supports Nigeria’s ongoing operations and emphasizes our shared security partnership,” AFRICOM stated, tagging the United States Mission in Nigeria.

The assistance arrives amid a period of intensified collaboration. In November 2025, the Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, formally requested enhanced U.S. military support to combat terrorism. This was followed on December 25 by a joint airstrike targeting terrorist positions in Nigeria’s North-West region.

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed ongoing, structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States. This partnership encompasses intelligence sharing, strategic coordination, and operational support, conducted in full respect of Nigeria’s sovereignty and international law.

The recent aid delivery underscores a sustained U.S. commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to address domestic security challenges.

The support has been welcomed in some international quarters; U.S. Congressman Riley Moore described the December joint operation as “a decisive move to protect communities and tackle the ongoing security crisis.”

The Federal Government maintains that such cooperation is a cornerstone of its multi-faceted strategy to counter terrorism and violent extremism across the nation.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has stated that the prosecution of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, is not driven by personal vendetta, clarifying that he inherited the case files upon assuming office.

Olukoyede made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, addressing public speculation about the anti-graft agency’s decision to bring corruption charges against the former justice minister.

The EFCC boss explained that investigations into Malami’s alleged financial misconduct predated his own appointment and emphasized that the commission is obligated to pursue all credible cases before it, regardless of the individuals involved.

“I have nothing personal against Malami. I met those files on the ground. These are inherited cases,” Olukoyede said. “The EFCC is an institution, and it does not operate on sentiments or personal interests. Once there is a case file and sufficient grounds to proceed, we are obligated to follow due process.”

He further noted that the EFCC’s mandate requires continuity, adding that changes in leadership do not invalidate ongoing investigations or prosecutions.

“When you come into an office like this, you inherit assets and liabilities. You also inherit investigations. The law does not allow us to pick and choose who to investigate or prosecute based on personal relationships,” he stated.

Malami was arraigned by the EFCC in December 2025 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges related to money laundering and financial crimes. He was docked alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe.

The trio faces a 16-count charge centering on allegations of unlawful asset acquisition, diversion of public funds, and laundering of proceeds believed to have been obtained corruptly during Malami’s tenure as attorney-general from 2015 to 2023.

Malami has denied all allegations, pleading not guilty in court. His legal team has described the prosecution as politically motivated and vowed to challenge the case.

Olukoyede, however, dismissed claims of a political witch-hunt, reiterating that the EFCC’s actions are strictly evidence-based and governed by the rule of law.

“We do not prosecute people because of politics. We prosecute cases. The courts are there to determine innocence or guilt,” he said.

The EFCC chairman assured the public of the commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability, pledging that all suspects would be treated fairly under the law, irrespective of their status or previous office.