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Maina

Ex-Pension Task Force Boss Abdulrasheed Maina Hospitalised After Slumping in Abuja

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Former Chairman of the now-defunct Pension Reform Task Force, Abdulrasheed Maina, has been hospitalised after slumping while attempting to access his office in Abuja. The incident occurred on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, according to a statement released on Wednesday by his media assistant, Emmanuel Ekwe. Ekwe explained that Maina’s collapse was caused by complications arising from an untreated knee injury, which led him to lose balance and fall, hitting his head on a staircase. “Dr Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, slumped on the evening of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, while attempting to access his office premises,” the statement read. “The incident followed complications from an untreated knee injury, which caused him to lose balance and fall, resulting in his head hitting the staircase.” According to the statement, medical personnel on ground immediately administered first aid before rushing him to a private hospital in Abuja for urgent treatment. Maina is said to be receiving intensive medical care and remains under close observation. One of the attending doctors reportedly advised that air ambulance evacuation be considered if his condition does not stabilise within a short period. “The family appeals to the public for prayers, understanding, and respect for their privacy at this critical time. Further updates will be communicated as developments unfold,” Ekwe added. Maina is a controversial figure in Nigeria’s public space, best known for his role in the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms and the high-profile corruption case that followed. In November 2021, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on money laundering charges involving ₦2.1 billionlinked to pension funds and sentenced him to eight years in prison. His appeal was dismissed in May 2023, when the Court of Appeal upheld both the conviction and the forfeiture of assets. Despite the sentence, Maina was released from Kuje Correctional Centre on February 25, 2025, after benefiting from statutory remission for good conduct, with his sentence calculated from his arrest in October 2019. Since his release, he has largely kept a low profile, though developments surrounding him continue to attract public attention due to the scale of the pension scandal.

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APC Chairman Yilwatda Yet to Resign Ministerial Post, Sparking Legal Concerns

Wike–Fubara Rift Not Party’s Business – APC Chairman, Yilwatda

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National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has clarified the party’s position on the lingering political tension involving Rivers State Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, stressing that the dispute does not fall within the APC’s jurisdiction. Speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Yilwatda explained that both actors belong to different political parties, making the conflict outside his scope as APC chairman. “When it comes to the issue between Wike and Fubara, it’s not within my purview as the national chairman of APC. Wike is in PDP, Fubara is in APC,” he said. Addressing the reported impeachment moves in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Yilwatda noted that the matter concerns APC lawmakers and should be treated strictly as an internal party affair. “The issue of impeachment is not about Wike now; it concerns APC House of Assembly members. That is something I can discuss. It’s an internal matter, and we have mechanisms within APC to resolve such issues,”he added. The APC chairman also emphasized the importance of restraint and maturity in managing party disputes, insisting that sensitive discussions should not be played out in public. “We don’t put these discussions in the public. Issues can be resolved through in-house activities that require maturity to address. Wike is not a problem in APC,” Yilwatda said. His remarks come amid heightened political tension in Rivers State, as internal power struggles and impeachment talks continue to dominate public discourse.

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Super Eagles would have qualified for 2026 World Cup if i were still NFF President — Amaju Pinnick

Tammy Abraham Once Agreed to Play for Super Eagles But Changed His Mind – Pinnick

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Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick has revealed that Tammy Abraham had initially agreed to represent the Super Eagles before ultimately choosing to play international football for England. Abraham, who recently returned to the Premier League after completing a four-and-a-half-year move to Aston Villa in the January transfer window, was eligible to play for Nigeria through his father despite being born in London. According to Pinnick, extensive efforts were made by the NFF to convince the striker to switch allegiance to Nigeria before he was capped by England. Speaking on The Playzone and Dangolo Way podcast, Pinnick disclosed that discussions with Abraham had reached an advanced stage before the forward changed his mind at the last minute. “Tammy Abraham, we sat like this. We had agreed that he would come to play, but at the last moment he changed his decision,” Pinnick said. The former NFF boss noted that he believed his personal relationship with Abraham’s father would help influence the decision, but the plan did not materialise as expected. Pinnick used the situation to highlight the long-term benefits of committing to one’s national team, stressing that international football can sustain a player’s career even when club opportunities decline. “Iwobi is playing for the Super Eagles today. I know the role we played. If Iwobi had played for England, he would have stopped playing for England five or six years ago,” he explained. “If your football club doesn’t support you, your national team will. The display at the last Africa Cup of Nations was notable.” Expressing regret over Abraham’s decision, Pinnick suggested the striker’s career trajectory might have been different had he chosen Nigeria. “Now he’s 28 and has returned to Aston Villa, but I can tell you that I regret it. I spoke to his father, we grew up together.He would have played for Nigeria. Agbonlahor played three games and that was it.” Abraham eventually committed to England and has earned 11 caps, scoring three goals for the Three Lions. However, he has not featured for England since a UEFA Nations League match against Italy in June 2022. The revelation adds to ongoing conversations around Nigeria’s efforts to attract foreign-born talents and the difficult decisions players face when choosing between heritage and birthplace on the international stage.

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Death Has Been Unkind to Us In The Senate – Akpabio

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Senator Okechukwu Ezea, who represented Enugu North, describing the loss as another painful blow to the 10th Senate. Akpabio made the remarks on Tuesday at a tribute night held in honour of the late lawmaker at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, where he reflected on the heavy toll death has taken on the Senate in recent years. He recalled that within the last two years, the Senate has lost three serving members in quick succession — Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (Anambra South), Godiya Akwashiki (Nasarawa), and now Senator Ezea. “The last two years have been particularly heavy for us in the Senate. We have lost colleagues in quick succession — men of intellect, courage and vision.Each loss reminds us of our own mortality and the urgency of service,” Akpabio said. Describing Ezea’s passing as especially painful, the Senate President noted that death struck just as the nation was preparing to enter a new year. “Just days to the New Year, and only hours before the clock would usher in another chapter, death paid another painful visit.It was a cruel reminder that time does not wait for any man,” he added. Akpabio urged politicians to remain grounded in humanity, stressing that lasting legacies are built on compassion and service, not power or wealth. “History teaches us that what truly endures is not power, position, or wealth, but love, compassion, and the good we do for others.Politics must never make us lose our humanity.” Also speaking at the event, Senator Nenadi Usman, Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, described Ezea as a principled and loyal party man, noting that he remained committed to the Labour Party despite intense pressure. “Despite pressures from various quarters, he remained committed to the Labour Party on whose platform he was elected… Until his passing, he remained the only Labour Party member in the National Assembly from Enugu State who, on principle, kept faith with the party that entrusted him with that mandate,” she said. Usman added that Ezea’s loyalty to the party dated back years before the 2023 elections, recalling his 2007 governorship bid under the Labour Party as evidence of his political strength and consistency. Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi also paid tribute, offering condolences to the late senator’s family, friends, and colleagues, and urging them to draw comfort from the legacy he left behind. The tribute night drew several prominent figures, including former Senate President Ken Nnamani, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Victor Umeh, and former Voice of Nigeria Director-General Osita Okechukwu, among others.

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Marcus Rashford Rejects Manchester United Return

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Marcus Rashford has reportedly ruled out a return to Manchester United, choosing instead to continue his career with Barcelona despite renewed interest from his former club. According to The Touchline, the England international is unconvinced by United’s current sporting direction and believes his personal ambitions align more closely with Barcelona’s long-term vision. The presence of head coach Hansi Flick is said to have played a key role in strengthening Rashford’s confidence in the project at Camp Nou. Manchester United’s interest is understood to have resurfaced following recent changes within the club’s technical setup. Interim manager Michael Carrick reportedly made direct contact with Rashford, identifying him as a central figure in plans to rebuild the club’s attacking structure ahead of the new season. However, sources suggest Rashford remains reluctant about a return, citing ongoing uncertainty around United’s long-term plans. The forward is believed to feel the club is still searching for stability and clarity, making a comeback unattractive at this stage of his career. By contrast, Rashford is said to be fully settled in Spain and committed to his future with Barcelona. Since arriving last summer, he has adapted smoothly to life at the club, forging strong relationships within the squad and embracing the environment. Speaking recently to SPORT, Rashford made his intentions clear: “What I want is to stay at Barca. It’s the ultimate goal. The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge club, built to win titles.” He added that his experience at the club has been overwhelmingly positive, praising the atmosphere and reaffirming his determination to help Barcelona compete for major honours.

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France Summons Elon Musk, Raids X Offices in Cybercrime Probe

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French authorities have summoned billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk for a voluntary interview and carried out a search of the French offices of social media platform X as part of an ongoing cybercrime investigation, the Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed on Tuesday. The operation, conducted with support from EU police agency Europol, is connected to a probe launched in January 2025 over allegations that X’s algorithm may have been used to influence French political discourse. In a statement, prosecutors said: “A SEARCH IS BEING CONDUCTED TODAY AT THE FRENCH PREMISES OF THE X PLATFORM.” They added that summonses for voluntary interviews scheduled for April 20, 2026, in Paris were sent to Elon Musk and former X CEO Linda Yaccarino, describing them as the platform’s de facto and de jure managers at the time of the alleged incidents. Yaccarino stepped down in July 2025 after two years in the role. Paris cybercrime prosecutors had earlier requested a police investigation in July 2025, following complaints filed in January 2025. The complaints alleged offences including manipulation and extraction of data from automated systems, reportedly carried out “as part of a criminal gang.” One of the complaints was submitted by Eric Bothorel, a lawmaker from President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party. He accused X of reducing the diversity of political opinions and pointed to what he described as Elon Musk’s direct personal involvement in platform management following his 2022 takeover. According to prosecutors, the scope of the investigation was later widened after additional reports raised concerns about X’s AI chatbot, Grok, including allegations that it contributed to the spread of Holocaust denial content and sexual deepfake material. X has strongly denied the allegations. In January 2025, the company’s France director, Laurent Buanec, defended the platform, stating that X operates under “strict, clear and public rules” designed to combat hate speech and disinformation. The company has also described the investigation as politically motivated. The probe has attracted international attention. The United States condemned the investigation in July, warning it would defend the free speech rights of Americans against what it called foreign censorship. Separately, the European Union in late January opened its own investigation into X over Grok’s alleged generation of sexualised deepfake images involving women and minors. The EU action comes despite repeated warnings from the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has threatened retaliation against what it views as tech regulations that restrict free speech and unfairly target American companies.

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Senator Natasha Opposes Akpabio’s Appeal at Supreme Court

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a counter-affidavit at the Supreme Court, challenging an appeal brought by Senate President Godswill Akpabio over proceedings at the Court of Appeal. According to reports, documents show that the counter-affidavit was sworn to by a Senior Legislative Aide to the senator and filed in response to Akpabio’s Motion on Notice dated January 21, 2026. In the filing, the respondents asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the application in its entirety, arguing that it discloses no prima facie cause of action and amounts to an abuse of court process. They stated that the Court of Appeal had already concluded hearing in the substantive appeal on November 28, 2025, and reserved the matter for judgment. According to them, approaching the Supreme Court at this stage is an attempt to interfere with an appellate process that is already at an advanced stage and awaiting final determination. The respondents further maintained that the Senate President was given full opportunity to present his case before the Court of Appeal in strict compliance with the Rules of Court. They said the brief of argument filed by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was properly before the lower court, complied with procedural requirements, and was never formally challenged during the proceedings. A key issue raised in the dispute relates to an alleged breach of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021, which limit briefs of argument to a maximum of 35 pages. The respondents claimed that while the legal teams representing Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly and another respondent complied with the page limit, the Senate President’s brief exceeded the prescribed length. They also alleged that the defect was not regularized within the period allowed by the Rules, prompting the Court of Appeal to reject the over-length brief and proceed with the hearing based on valid and properly filed processes. On the substantive issues, the respondents argued that the grounds of appeal relied upon by the appellant raise issues of mixed law and fact, for which prior leave of court is required. They insisted that no such leave was sought or obtained, rendering the appeal incompetent from the outset. The counter-affidavit also addressed complaints bordering on adjournment and denial of fair hearing, stating that the grant or refusal of an adjournment falls within the discretionary powers of the court. It argued that the Court of Appeal exercised its discretion judicially and judiciously and that the appellant was not denied fair hearing at any stage of the proceedings. The respondents urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the application in its entirety, with Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan describing the appeal as a deliberate attempt to delay or frustrate the delivery of judgment by the Court of Appeal

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Social media

Spain Moves To Ban Under 16’s From Social Media

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced that his government will ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media. “Platforms will be required to implement effective age verification systems — not just check boxes, but real barriers that work,” Sánchez said during an address to the plenary session of the World Government Summit in Dubai. “Today our children are exposed to a space they were never meant to navigate alone … We will protect [minors] from the digital Wild West.” The proposed ban, which is set to be approved by the country’s Council of Ministers next week, will amend a draft bill currently being debated in the Spanish parliament. Spain’s ban is included in a wider package of measures that Sánchez argued are necessary to “regain control” of the digital space. “Governments must stop turning a blind eye to the toxic content being shared,” he said. That includes a legislative proposal to hold social media executives legally accountable for the illegal content shared on their platforms, with a new tool to track the spread of disinformation, hate speech or child pornography on social networks. It also proposes criminalizing the manipulation of algorithms and amplification of illegal content. “We will investigate platforms whose algorithms amplify disinformation in exchange for profit,” Sánchez said, adding that “spreading hate must come at a cost — a legal cost, as well as an economic and ethical cost — that platforms can no longer afford to ignore.” Spain joins a growing chorus of European countries hardening their approach to restricting kids online. Denmark announced plans for a ban on under-15’s last fall, and the French government is pushing to have a similar ban in place as soon as September. In Portugal, the governing center-right Social Democratic Party on Monday submitted draft legislation that would require under-16’s to obtain parental consent to access social media.

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