Everest News

06/11/2025

STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE

WE’RE ENGAGING THE WORLD DIPLOMATICALLY, PRESIDENT TINUBU TELLS FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday in Abuja, stated that Nigeria remains on a steady growth trajectory, with more promise of stability and prosperity as economic reforms continue to yield results and gain national and international acceptance.

The President spoke at the Federal Executive Council after the swearing-in of two ministers, Dr Bernard Mohammed Doro, and Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh (SAN). Doro will manage the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, while Udeh will oversee the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.

On the current state of the economy and the relationship between Nigeria and the United States, President Tinubu assured that the Federal Government was engaging with the world diplomatically.

“The most important thing is the fact that despite the political headwinds and the fear of our people, we will continue to engage with partners.

“The success of the $2.3 billion eurobond that was oversubscribed by 400% is the most assuring. So, the task ahead is immense; we are engaging the world diplomatically, and we assure all of you that we will defeat terrorism in this country.

“The task ahead is immense, but it is our resolve to move forward with unity and purpose, guided by the Renewed Hope Agenda to build a prosperous, inclusive and resilient Nigeria."

On the security challenges facing the country, President Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, charged Nigerians not to succumb to despair, assuring that the government will defeat every form of terrorism and secure every part of the country.

He called Ministers and other officials to ensure consistency in communication and avoid discordant messaging.

"Do we have problems? Yes. Are we challenged by terrorism? Yes. But we will defeat terrorism. We will overcome the CPC designation. Nigeria is one happy family, and we shall spare no effort until we eliminate all criminals from our society. We want our friends to help us as we step up our fight against terrorism, and we will eliminate it," President Tinubu assured.

During the cabinet meeting, President Tinubu, who directed Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to brief the Council on the nation's economic performance, stated that the government will continue to sustain and consolidate the gains.

Earlier in his address, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy noted that the macroeconomic indicators showed the economy had picked up, with one of the best results in the last decade.

Edun said: "The reforms that have been taken under your Renewed Hope Agenda, so bold and sometimes unpopular, are rooted in a clear objective to build a competitive economy that attracts, creates jobs and lifts millions out of poverty.

“In Q2 2025, Nigeria's GDP grew by 4.23%, the highest in a decade, outside the COVID rebound. Thirteen sectors recorded growth above 7% up from nine sectors in the previous quarter.

“The industrial sector nearly doubled its growth from 3.72% to 7.45%, reflecting rising productivity and investor confidence. Inflation eased to 18.02% in September 2025. As we know, foreign exchange reserves topped $43 billion, and our trade surplus reached N7.4 trillion.

“Clear examples of macroeconomic stability, as the consumer spending basket published earlier this year shows, our citizens now spend maybe about half of the income on basic needs, food, shelter and clothing, as compared with almost 90% previously.
“This signals a country moving from subsistence towards productivity and indeed affluence.’’

The minister said the vision of reaching a one trillion dollar economy by 2030 was achievable by pursuing a 7% annual growth and a commitment to ending poverty as a moral imperative.

“Nigeria's removal from the Financial Action Task Force Grey List marks a major milestone in strengthening our financial integrity and confidence.

“At the recent World Bank/IMF annual meetings, global leaders commended our reforms, our progress and the revised IMF growth forecast of up to nearly 4% and improved credit ratings,’’ the minister added.

He said there was an urgency to mobilise domestic resources and provide investment to finance infrastructure, as well as drive sustainability and job-rich growth.

Yesterday's hugely successful $2.35 billion Eurobond issuance, in which the order book peaked at over $13 billion, is a testament to continued investor confidence in our country, our reform agenda and Mr President's leadership.

“Despite the political headwinds which we are all aware of, the market shrugged off those political considerations and focused on the economic fundamentals of Nigeria’’ he stated.

For greater inclusivity, Edun urged ministers overseeing sectors such as infrastructure, mining, education, health, agriculture, the blue economy, digital innovation, arts, and culture to collaborate with sub-national governments to identify and package projects that meet investor expectations.

“Every Naira must be optimised to sustain momentum amid global liquidity constraints. Where there is less funding from multilateral institutions, we must rely on our own resources. The next phase of reforms will remove barriers holding back investors. We will review tariffs and import restrictions to stimulate productivity and investment,’’ he said.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)

November 6, 2025

04/11/2025

PRESS RELEASE

TERRORISM: DSS GIVES UPDATE ON PROSECUTION OF TERROR SUSPECTS

On November 19, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja will continue the trial of two terrorism suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Abubakar Abba, who are wanted internationally.



Usman (aka Abu Bara'a) and Abba (aka Isah Adam and Mahmud Al-Nigeri) were captured in a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation in July by the Department of State Services (DSS), after several months of chasing them.



The two are believed to be leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate



Usman, the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, allegedly coordinated various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also believed to have masterminded several high-profile kidnappings and robberies, the proceeds of which were used to finance terrorism over the years.



Abba, Usman's chief of staff and deputy, is alleged to have led the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell, which operated around the Kainji National Park, located on the border between the states of Niger and Kwara, as well as the Republic of Benin.



The Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), in a statement issued on August 16, claimed Mamuda received training in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. He is said to have specialised in weapons handling and IED fabrication.



Usman and Abba are being tried on a 32-count terrorism charge, and on which they were arraigned in late August. One of the counts related to illegal mining, to which Usman pleaded guilty and has since been sentenced to 15 years. Abba pleaded not guilty to all the 32 counts.



The DSS is also prosecuting another terror suspect, Khalid Al‑Barnawi, accused of being the mastermind of the August 26, 2011, bombing of the United Nations Complex in Abuja, in which 20 people were killed and more than 70 others injured.



Captured in 2016, Al Barnawi is facing trial along with four other terror suspects - Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu aka Bello Maishayi.



The trial has been delayed for an extended period due to legal and procedural issues, including the suspects being occasionally brought to court without any counsel appearing for them.



The DSS recently requested the court to grant accelerated hearing in the case, a request Justice Nwite granted.



On October 23 and 24, a trial-within-trial was conducted, during which videos of the defendants' confessional statements were played in the courtroom.



On August 11, the DSS arraigned five men before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.



The five are: Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.



Over 40 people died in the attack, while over 100 individuals sustained injuries.



The five defendants were arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, in which they are accused among others, of being members of Al Shabab terrorist group, with cell in Kogi State.



The defendants are also alleged to have carried out the attack in furtherance of their religious ideology.



They pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which Justice Nwite ordered that they be remanded in the custody of the prosecuting agency.



In a ruling on September 10 the judge rejected their request for bail on the grounds that they were not only charged with offences that capital in nature, they are also accused of being members of a notorious terrorist organisation.



Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecuting lawyer that the evidence against the defendants was strong and could not be overlooked.



The judge said the argument by the DSS that the defendants would jump bail was not disputed by them and deemed to be true.



Also undergoing trial are the suspects arrested in connection with the Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on June 13 2025.



The attack, in which dozens of people were killed and 107 injured, drew worldwide condemnation. President Bola Tinubu paid a condolence visit to the state and demanded the arrest of the killers and attackers.



On June 24 2025, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, announced the arrest of 26 suspects in connection with the massacre.



In August 2025, the DSS filed terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, against nine suspects. Two suspects, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi of Awe local government area of Nassarawa state, who are still at large, were charged with four counts of terrorism, among which is the concealment of information about the attacks, before they were staged in Abinsi and Yelwata villages between June 13th and 14th.



In total, the DSS filed six separate charges against the arrested suspects, who are now undergoing trial. They are Adamu and Abdullahi are Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, and Pyeure Damina.



The DSS also charged two other suspects, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede of Guma local government area of Benue State, with three counts for allegedly carrying out reprisal attack against the terror suspects involved in the Abinsi and Yelwata attacks.



Their trial, which is ongoing, before Justice Nwite's court began with their arraignment in early September, with the defendants pleading not guilty.



Director General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, said;



" The various arrests and trials of terrorism suspects showed that Nigeria's security agencies have been diligent in dealing with the perpetrators of terror in the country. The men we are prosecuting are separate from the hundreds of suspects under the military's protective custody, whose cases are being handled by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. In July last year, 125 of the terrorists were convicted.



"We shall continue to make the suspects accountable for disrupting the peace of our country, in consonance with the rule of law."



Favour Dozie.

Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications

Department of State Services (DSS)

4 November, 2025

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

Let's Celebrate The Gallantry Of the Nigerian Troops..

04/11/2025

China warns US against interfering in Nigeria’s internal affairs

The Chinese government has issued a stern warning against any form of external interference in Nigeria’s domestic affairs, following threats by United States President Donald Trump of possible military action over alleged persecution of Christians.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, November 4, the spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, said Beijing “firmly supports the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as it leads its people on the development path suited to its national conditions.”

Ning described Nigeria as China’s “comprehensive strategic partner,” stressing that Beijing stands by the West African nation amid growing international tension.

“China firmly opposes any country using religion and human rights as an excuse to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, and threatening other countries with sanctions and force,” she said.

China’s remarks comes das after President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a ‘’Country of Particular Concern’ over what he described as a ‘’Christian genocide’ happening in Nigeria.

04/11/2025

Half a word is enough for the wise....

NAFDAC OFFICIALS WERE ASSAULTED AND BEATEN BY TRADERS AT TRADE FAIR COMPLEX YESTERDAY...

EVERYWHERE IS QUIET!!! NO OUTRAGE...

Oscar Paul, the Representative of Traders in Trade Fair Lagos, spoke candidly to his fellow Traders: “WE ARE PLAYING WITH OUR LIVELIHOOD.”

Traders were reportedly sending messages in their WhatsApp group, urging each other to come out and attack NAFDAC officials and the security personnel accompanying them.

ONCE AGAIN: The usual noisemakers remain silent, but once the Trade Fair is shut down because of these actions, the “Tribalism” narrative will suddenly emerge.

Stop selling fake goods to Nigerians if you don’t want visits from NAFDAC…

02/11/2025

Tinubu well ahead of orchestrated game unfolding in US – Onanuga

The presidency on Sunday said President Bola Tinubu, is “well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America”. The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on X, a day after US President Donald Trump threatened to carry out attacks in Nigeria in response to purported anti-Christian violence.

Trump had in a Saturday statement said the United States would immediately cut off all assistance to the African country “if the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians.” He noted that he instructed the recently renamed Department of War to “prepare for possible action”. But Onanuga maintained that Tinubu had taken decisive steps by implementing sweeping changes in the nation’s military leadership and setting clear expectations for them.

“President Bola Tinubu was well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America as he told the new service chiefs on Thursday what Nigerians expect of them. No more excuses, he said. Nigerians want results,” Onanuga wrote. The president had charged the security chiefs to carry out their duties with “patriotic zeal” and to be “innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous”. Tinubu also emphasised the need to deploy technology where necessary and vowed to provide full support to the armed forces.

“Security threats are constantly evolving, constantly mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South,” the president had said. “We must not allow these new threats to fester. We must be decisive and proactive. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.” Similarly, Tinubu is expected to meet with Trump, over the recent claims of Christian genocide in the country.

02/11/2025

TRUMP"S THREAT OF WAR!

Imagine a deranged & sociopathic meglomaniac & tyrant, a recalcitrant and unrepentant schoolyard and dockside bully and a cheap and shameless godless scumbag like President Donald Trump
threatening our country with violence, military action and invasion. What a nerve!

Permit me to put the matter in context. A friend of mine sent the following words to me last night after reading his threat of war & military action.

She wrote,

"How I wish we can simply ignore this petulant man spewing utter childish rubbish all over the place. They can categorise us as they like, that is on them and there is nothing we can do OR ought to do about that. He should bring it on. Let them send their troops and let us see. The same Islamic Terrorists that THEY FUNDED to destroy us. Serves us right, We had the CHANCE to stand and be counted on the right side of history, before God with the genocide that is been committed by Israel and funded & supported by America. For all its worth, South Africa STOOD & REPRESENTED. We were nowhere to be seen or heard. AND YET look at this!"

She concluded by saying the following,

"it is not his fault or the Americans' fault, it is SOLELY ours. I pray this is a wake-up call for us as leaders, as a nation & Africans. These people are NOT our friends, have never been & will never be; neither should we tolerate having them as our masters, or elders!"

I concur with this deeply courageous lady who has said it as it is. Frankly I couldn't have put it better myself.

My response to her was as follows.

"You are right. They are evil and, if he carries out his abominable threat, there will be a war. We shall not leave the country but we will fight it out with them. We behaved like cowards and allowed them to demonise us with no response. I do not know what is wrong with Nigerians but this will be the greatest challenge they have ever faced and maybe after it is all over they will appreciate the importance of having bold, articulate and courageous leaders & disavow themselves of their accursed cowardice, ignorance, pettiness, weakness, envy & complacency".

I meant every word.

Trump, a fascist & an associate of the globally recognized Hi**er of the 21st century, Prime Minister Benjamin , has refused to call the Israeli Zionist N***s and the UAE-backed RSF butchers of Darfur, Sudan mass murderers and genocidal maniacs but he is calling our people the "killers of Christians" and is desperately trying to label our nation with the genocide tag and create a crisis in Nigeria.

I am not surprised. Permit me to tell you why.

In my essay titled "Christian Genocide and the Danger of Mischaracterisation" which was published one week ago I wrote, inter alia, the following.

"Our Government must refuse to allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the words of middle-ranking American Governnent officials who are not members of the MAGA inner circle & who do not truly represent the very hardline and extreeme views of the right-wing Christian fundamentalist & anti-Muslim forces that Trump holds dear. If they really want to know what Trump is thinking but has so far refused to voice about Nigeria it would be wise for our Government to consider the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio , Senator Ted Cruz , Congressman Riley Moore & Congressman Chris Smith far more than the soothing and encouraging words and expressions of support from "friendly faces" in the Trump administration who have deep ties with & a soft spot for Nigeria but who are not at the heart of the power configuration like Trump's Lebanese brother in-law and Special Advisor on African Affairs, Massad Boulus, . American doublespeak & subterfuge is an art and we must never take them for their word or drink from their poisoned chalice. As the Bible says "their speech is as smooth as butter but war is in their heart".

Sadly our Government did not pay heed to my words & instead took the comforting words of Boulus as the position of Trump. How wrong they were!

What a profound miscalculation & grave error.

They succumbed to a sucker punch & two weeks later a devastating right cross was delivered to their chin.

I saw it coming but they didn't.

This decisive blow came when Trump not only claimed that Nigeria is the most dangerous country for Christians to live in the world but also designated us as "a country of concern" falsely alleging that "more Christians are killed in Nigeria in one day than in the rest of the world put together".

He also said that he intends to do "far more against Nigeria" and that "this is just the beginning".

He proved his words by going a step further the following day by threatening to send military forces to our country & kill our people.

What he did not say but which is obvious is that a regime change orchestrated by them may also be on the cards.

That is their objective & desire. That is their style & modus. That is their character & nature.

That is their history and practice in foreign lands whose resources they covet & only a fool will deny it.

Yet it did not stop there.

On the same day Pete Hegseth , the American Secretary of War, went even further & threatened to launch air strikes & attacks on Nigeria to "protect our Christian brothers".

This is the brazen threat & nonsensical rubbish that some in our midst have been cheering all night.

They forget that bombs & instruments of war when deployed by American-backed mercenaries, American proxies or American soldiers do not make any distinction between Christians & Muslims or ethnic groups.

Once they deploy, begin the carnage & the bombs begin to fly we shall ALL die or be displaced.

Worse of all those in high places that do not have the intelligence, knowledge or understanding to discern the grave implications of all this & gullible members of the Christian community in Nigeria that are applauding this absurd narrative and course of action will soon find out that we are being pushed the way of Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Congo, Gaza, Lebanon and Somalia only ours will be one hundred times worse.

As much as I despise them and their evil ways, I doff my hat to the Americans, the Zionists & their local collaborators and co-conspirators for achieving their devil-inspired & sinister purpose & pulling off this great evil all in an attempt to destabilise, destroy & divide our nation & push us into a religious war after which they will send in the monster
& what is left of his mercenary Blackwater Army to supposedly "protect Christians" but in reality to secure & steal our rare earth & vast mineral resources.

That is really what this is all about: the violent acquisition of our rare earth. Sadly most in our country just don't get it.

It has nothing to do with religion & everything to do with re-colonising us, balkanising us & destroying us.

Our Government & our people must recognise this for what it is and rise to the challenge.

We must unite, close our ranks, bury our differences & jointly resist the bullies with contempt, defiance, faith & courage. They shall not conquer us & we shall never bow before them.

There is no doubt that both Muslims & Christians are being subjected to genocide by Western & Israeli backed terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, Ansaru & ISWAP in our country.

This is a matter of concern & with no international support our security forces have made progress against them in the last two years.

Despite this has threatened our nation with war & seeks to divide us on religious lines.

The Nigerians that are applauding him are ignorant & naive because you need to be a fool to believe that Trump genuinely cares about genocide or Christians.

If he did there would be no genocide of Christians and Muslims in Gaza, Darfur or Congo today.

He is interested in only one thing: sparking off a religious war in Nigeria & sending in his troops to bomb & occupy us & corner our rare earth, our oil reserves & our mineral resources.

That is the goal and the sooner our Government and people appreciate this the better.

Whatever your views and whichever side of the divide you stand on our nation has now been threatened with war and it is incumbent upon all sons and daughters of Nigeria to stand firm, prepare for it and defend our sovereignty and every inch of our sacred soil.

We may not have their weapons or money but we have God. Trump will not survive the wrath of the God of Nigeria and he will surely fail.

To be sure this is not about President Tinubu or his Government: it is about our fatherland and our people.

It is about our manifest destiny and our future which some seek to destroy and shatter.

It is about our self-respect, dignity, pride and honor.

It is about the preservation of our noble heritage.

No-one will shed our blood or "Gaza us" and escape it.

If attacked, by either Erik Prince's CIA-backed private army of ruthless mercenaries or by American forces themselves, we must be ready to die fighting for our women, children, faith, dignity and nation.

To hell with the Yankee N***s. We do not fear them and we will never bow before them.

They can choose not to help us to fight the terrorists that they sent to plague and destroy our land but they must NEVER threaten us with brazen acts of aggression, violence or an invasion.

We are a mighty nation with an ancient history of struggle and resilience.

We are a strong nation with the most formidable and remarkable people on earth who have excelled in all fields of human endeavour.

Despite the numerous challenges we face, by the power of God, we will fight back as best as we can and in the end we shall prevail.

We shall never be subjugated, broken, divided, decimated or enslaved.

Drop one bomb on our people, whether Christian or Muslim, and the fire of God will burn you, the Sword of the Lord will cut you and the plagues of of the Lord will afflict you.

It happened to Pharaoh, Sennacherub, Herod and Nebuchadnezzar and it will surely happen to you.

He shall deliver us from your evil because He is a God of justice and the oppressed. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Do your worse and let the Lord strike you down.

(FFK)

02/11/2025

EFCC Arraigns Fake Contractor for N111m Fraud in Kaduna

The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Bashir Bello Ibrahim, a former Kaduna State government contractor and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Formal Act Legacy Limited before Justice A. M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna for fraud.

He was arraigned on a seven-count charge, bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, advance fee fraud and money laundering.

One of the charges reads: “That you Bashir Ibrahim Bello (being Managing Director of Formal Act Legacy Limited) and Formal Act Legacy Limited sometime in the month of July, 2024 at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria conspired between yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: obtaining the sum of N37,300,000 (Thirty Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira only) under false pretence, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Another reads: “That you Bashir Ibrahim Bello ( being Managing Director of Formal Act Legacy Limited) and Formal Act Legacy Limited sometime in the month of July, 2024 at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria conspired to commit an offence to wit: money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering ( Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) & (4) of the same Act.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him and based on his plea, prosecuting counsel, Fortune Amina I. Asemebo asked the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel M. T. Mohammed moved a motion for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application. The court, however, could not entertain the bail application.

Justice Aikawa ordered for the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application.

The petitioner in the matter had alleged that he was introduced to the defendant by three persons, Josephine Washima, Mamuda Nyelong and Nalara Tanimu, sometime in 2024, who paraded themselves as contract facilitators and that they convinced him that the defendant would award him contracts for the construction of solar-powered boreholes which will be installed in different locations across the North Eastern region of the country in his capacity as the United Nations Sub-African regional coordinator.

Having been convinced, the petitioner said they made him pay the sum of over N37,300,000 (Thirty Seven Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira ), in the guise of a facilitation fee. He paid the money into the bank account of Washima for which five notification letters of award of contracts for the drilling of 20 solar-powered boreholes were given to him.

He further alleged that he executed one slot of the contract consisting four solar-powered boreholes behind Specialist School, Sabon Abuja Jahun, Nurses Quarters and Water Board Quarters, all in Karin Madaki, Bauchi State and was not paid but later realised that the contract was a fraud for which he had to petition the EFCC.

01/11/2025