A decades-old United States investigation involving Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to the spotlight after a Washington lobbying firm engaged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar circulated U.S. government records concerning the case to officials in the Trump administration and members of Congress.

Von Batten-Montague-York, a U.S. lobbying firm working for Atiku, has been pushing for the release of records relating to a long-running Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) battle over documents held by U.S. law-enforcement agencies.

The firm said it had distributed more than 60 pages of Department of Justice documents and related court materials concerning a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving funds that U.S. authorities alleged were connected to narcotics proceeds.

The renewed controversy intensified after an FBI declaration filed in a U.S. federal court in August 2026 reportedly stated that records sought in the FOIA case were compiled during an FBI investigation involving multiple individuals suspected of drug-trafficking offences. The declaration also identified Tinubu as a subject of the investigation, according to excerpts published by the lobbying firm.

What do the records concern?

The documents relate to a U.S. investigation dating to the late 1980s and early 1990s and a subsequent civil forfeiture case filed in federal court in Chicago.

According to accounts of the records, U.S. authorities investigated financial transactions and alleged that certain funds deposited into U.S. bank accounts represented proceeds connected to narcotics trafficking or money laundering.

The 1993 case resulted in the forfeiture of some funds to the U.S. government. However, the proceeding was civil rather than a criminal prosecution, and Nigerian courts have previously noted that there was no established U.S. criminal conviction against Tinubu arising from the matter.

Lobbying campaign

Von Batten-Montague-York, which was reportedly retained by Atiku under a 12-month agreement worth about $1.2 million, has argued that U.S. authorities should release additional records connected to the investigation.

The firm has also urged U.S. agencies to disclose documents sought through FOIA requests filed by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan.

The campaign has placed the historical case back into the political spotlight at a particularly sensitive time, as Nigeria moves toward the 2027 presidential election.

Presidency rejects allegations

Tinubu’s administration has rejected the lobbying campaign as politically motivated.

The Nigerian Presidency said the lobbying firm’s activities were part of an effort to create controversy around the president ahead of the 2027 election, accusing it of presenting political claims as though they represented the official position of the U.S. government.

The controversy therefore centres on two separate issues: what the U.S. government records actually contain and whether their release establishes wrongdoing by Tinubu.

At present, the available documents and reporting establish that Tinubu was connected to a U.S. law-enforcement investigation and that funds associated with the historical case were subject to civil forfeiture proceedings. They do not, by themselves, establish that Tinubu was convicted of drug trafficking or that he committed a criminal offence.

With the FOIA litigation continuing, further records could provide additional information about the investigation and the U.S. government’s historical assessment of the case.

The post FBI Files Put Tinubu’s 1990s US Drug Investigation Back in Spotlight as Atiku-Linked Lobbyist Pushes for Records appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

Britain is entering a new and uneasy phase of the Russia-Ukraine conflict — one in which the battlefield thousands of miles away is increasingly connected to life at home.

The warning signs are coming from two directions.

On the military front, Russia has threatened that British military targets could become targets in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Moscow has accused Britain and France of “playing with fire” after London agreed to share classified missile technology with Ukraine, potentially allowing Kyiv to produce its own long-range weapons.

At the same time, the British government is stepping up preparations for emergencies at home. Ministers are developing a national resilience campaign encouraging households to take practical steps such as keeping essential supplies available. The government has also begun updating its long-standing crisis plans and announced major exercises designed to test Britain’s response to potential hybrid attacks.

None of this means Britain has been told that a Russian missile strike is imminent. The government’s preparedness programme covers a much wider range of possibilities, including cyberattacks, extreme weather, infrastructure disruption and other national emergencies.

But the timing is difficult to ignore.

Britain is supplying increasingly sophisticated military support to Ukraine. Russia is responding with increasingly direct warnings toward the countries supporting Kyiv. And inside Britain, officials are telling the public that resilience can no longer be treated as something that belongs only to the military or emergency services.

The result is a new question hanging over Europe:

What happens if a war that began in Ukraine starts creating direct consequences for the countries supporting it?

For ordinary Britons, that does not necessarily mean sirens or missiles tomorrow. It does mean governments are preparing for a world in which cyberattacks, attacks on infrastructure, supply disruptions and military escalation are no longer distant possibilities.

Britain is not currently at war with Russia.

But the language has become sharper, the military preparations more serious, and the message to the public increasingly clear:

Prepare for disruption before it happens — because the next crisis may not stay on the battlefield.

The post Britain Braces for the Fallout: As Russia Threatens UK Targets, London Tells Citizens to Prepare for Crisis appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

Breaking: Nollywood great Taiwo ‘Ogogo’ Hassan is dead

veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as “Ogogo,” has passed away at the age of 66.

• Date of Demise: He passed away on Sunday, 23 August 2026.
• Cause of Death: He succumbed following a difficult battle with Stage 4 cancer.
• Confirmation: His daughter, Kira Taiwo, tearfully confirmed the news of his death during an emotional live broadcast. 

Prior to his passing, his daughters had publicly shared his diagnosis and appealed to medical professionals for alternative treatment options and advanced care. While earlier social media claims and death rumours circulated in the days leading up to August 23 and were initially debunked by his family, prominent Nigerian media outlets like Vanguard News and Peoples Gazette verified his passing on Sunday afternoon.: Nollywood great Taiwo ‘Ogogo’ Hassan is dead

The post Breaking: Nollywood great Taiwo ‘Ogogo’ Hassan is dead appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

The fire outbreak is currently raging at SPAR, a popular shopping outlet in Calabar, this Saturday morning.

The fire, which reportedly started inside the shopping outlet, has sent thick smoke billowing across the city, while fierce flames can be seen from Barracks Road, about 100 yards away from the scene.

Firefighters had reportedly arrived at the scene and are making efforts to put out the raging flames.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

Watch video

The post Fire outbreak at popular SPAR shopping outlet in Calabar [VIDEO] appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

The Victims

Flight and Crash Details

Status of the Investigation

The post Seven people killed on a luxury safari charter helicopter in Kenya (video) appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

VeryDarkMan has raised fresh concerns over the laboratories reportedly selected for the court-ordered DNA paternity test involving Liam, the son of late Nigerian singer Mohbad.

The controversial social media activist alleged that two of the three laboratories chosen for the DNA process may not be equipped to conduct the specific tissue-based testing required because Mohbad’s body had been embalmed for more than two years.

According to VeryDarkMan, the court had directed the parties involved to provide laboratory options, with three facilities eventually selected: DNA Diagnostics Center in Fairfield, Ohio, Alpha BioLab in Warrington, United Kingdom, and Advanced IS Pathology Laboratory Limited in London.

He claimed that a member of Mohbad’s father’s team contacted the two laboratories that were not submitted by his side to verify whether they could carry out the required testing before any samples were collected.

VeryDarkMan said Alpha BioLab responded to the inquiry, stating:

«”Unfortunately we cannot assist as the body has already been embalmed.”»

He further claimed that Advanced IS Pathology Laboratory Limited responded that it does not provide such services.

The development reportedly left VeryDarkMan questioning how the laboratories were selected and whether the DNA testing process had been adequately verified.

VeryDarkMan speaks on Mohbad’s DNA test

Explaining the importance of the test, VeryDarkMan said a conventional DNA swab would not be suitable because of the condition of Mohbad’s remains. He noted that a tissue-based test could involve biological materials such as bone, skin or teeth.

The activist also referenced a statement allegedly made by Mohbad during an argument, which was reportedly mentioned by the late singer’s friend, Prime Boy, during the coroner’s inquest.

«”I only moved closer to you once and I don’t even know if this baby is mine.”»

VeryDarkMan argued that the conflicting claims surrounding Liam’s paternity make an independently verified DNA test necessary.

He also referred to an alleged private DNA test whose result was reportedly inconclusive, although the details have not been publicly established by all parties involved.

“This DNA must be done,” VeryDarkMan said, stressing the need for the paternity question to be resolved through a credible testing process.

The latest development adds another layer to the long-running controversy surrounding Liam’s paternity and the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death. The claims about the laboratories and the testing process remain allegations attributed to VeryDarkMan and should be treated as such pending independent verification or an official statement from the relevant parties.

The post VeryDarkMan Raises Fresh Alarm Over Labs for Mohbad’s Son Liam’s DNA Test appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke has been officially declared the winner of the Osun State Governorship Election, securing his re-election for a second term.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) State Returning Officer, Joshua Ogunwole, announced the final certified results on Sunday morning following an overnight collation exercise in Osogbo.

Final Certified Election Results
According to official figures released by [Channels Television’s INEC data breakdown](https://www.instagram.com/p/DcF4FnqlvK5/), the final vote counts for the top three candidates are:

*
* Ademola Adeleke (Accord Party): 511,067 votes 🏆 (Declared Winner)
* Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress – APC): 444,815 votes
* Najeem Salaam (Action Democratic Congress – ADC): 17,180 votes
* Total Valid Votes Cast: 985,079 votes [1, 2]
*

Key Local Government Area (LGA) Triumphs
The race concluded with Adeleke securing a constitutional spread by winning 19 out of the 30 LGAs across the state, while Oyebamiji claimed the remaining 11 LGAs:

*
* Ede South: Adeleke won his home base decisively with 26,188 votes compared to Oyebamiji’s 6,219.
* Irewole: Oyebamiji dominated his own home LGA, securing 29,972 votes over Adeleke’s 10,934.
* Ejigbo: Despite being the home of ADC candidate Najeem Salaam, Adeleke won the LGA with 18,458 votes, beating out the APC (16,195) and leaving Salaam in third place with 5,053.

* Ilesa East: Oyebamiji won a major symbolic victory at the polling unit of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, carrying the LGA with 16,208 votes over Adeleke’s 12,280.
*

Field Violations & Disruption Metrics
While the electronic collation via the IReV portal provided transparency, observers noted a tense atmosphere:

*
* Overvoting Cancellations: Official results in areas like Boluwaduro, Ayedaade, and polling unit 006 were partially cancelled or adjusted due to localized overvoting.
* Violence: Armed thugs disrupted voting at Ward 04, Unit 13 in Ejigbo, resulting in scattered materials and a brief halt to the count before security intervention.
* Vote Trading: Independent watchdogs reported widespread instances of open cash-for-votes transactions across multiple rural polling stations.
*

The final certified details and reactions can be followed via

The post BREAKING: INEC Declares Ademola Adeleke Winner of Osun Governorship Election appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

• Violence at Polling Station: Violence erupted at Polling Unit 13, Ward 04 in Ejigbo LGA—the base of African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Najeem Salaam. Thugs attacked the unit and smashed the ballot boxes. The Department of State Services (DSS) subsequently arrested the primary suspect. 
• Widespread Vote Trading: Civil society networks monitoring the poll under the EU Support to Democratic Governance hub flagged 323 electoral offences across 726 sampled units, documenting 103 distinct cases of open vote buying and selling. 
• Security & Logistical Intimidation: Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke publicly accused security personnel of targeted voter intimidation and overreach. Civil society groups validated three separate instances of security officials harassing voters in Osogbo and Ejigbo. 

• Abogunde Compound, Ede North (Ward 02, PU 009): Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke (Accord Party) comfortably secured his own polling unit with 421 votes. 
• Ilesa East LGA Unit: The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, recorded a landslide victory at the polling unit of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, routing Accord 256 votes to 43. 

The post Osun Decides 2026: Tension Rises as INEC Uploads Over 80% of Results to IReV Portal appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

Tinubu Signs Deep Offshore Tax Incentive Order to Attract $50bn Investment

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed a new fiscal framework designed to unlock up to $50 billion in investment in Nigeria’s deep offshore oil and gas sector.

The President approved the Deep Offshore Oil and Gas Projects Incentives (Tax Remission) Order, 2026, as part of efforts to revive major offshore projects that have remained stalled because of investment and regulatory challenges.

The new order introduces a clearer and more predictable investment framework, replacing project-by-project negotiations with defined eligibility requirements and implementation procedures.

According to the Presidency, the policy is intended to provide greater certainty for investors while protecting Nigeria’s long-term economic interests. It is also expected to support the development of major deepwater projects and strengthen crude oil and gas production.

Tinubu targets $50bn deepwater investment

The Federal Government expects the new deep offshore tax incentives to attract as much as $50 billion in fresh investment, potentially reviving large-scale projects that require significant capital and advanced offshore technology.

One of the projects expected to benefit from the renewed investment environment is the proposed Bonga South West development, which has an estimated investment requirement of about $10 billion.

The framework is also aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading destination for deep offshore oil and gas investment in Africa.

New incentives to boost Nigeria’s oil sector

Under the new policy, eligible offshore developments can access supplementary incentives subject to specific conditions, including requirements relating to Nigerian content and domestic project execution.

The Presidency said qualifying projects will be encouraged to maximise activities carried out within Nigeria where commercially and technically feasible.

This could increase opportunities for Nigerian engineering companies, fabrication yards, marine logistics operators, technical service providers and other businesses connected to the oil and gas value chain.

Government seeks higher oil production and jobs

The Tinubu administration said the policy is not solely focused on attracting foreign capital but also on increasing domestic economic activity generated by major offshore developments.

The government expects renewed investment to support oil production growth, job creation, local supply chains and industrial development.

The latest deepwater investment framework represents another major oil and gas policy measure by the Tinubu administration as Nigeria seeks to attract long-term capital and strengthen its position in the global energy market.

With the new 2026 Deep Offshore Tax Remission Order, the Federal Government hopes to restart delayed offshore oil projects, increase investment in Nigeria’s energy sector and unlock billions of dollars in potential economic activity.

The post Tinubu Signs Deep Offshore Tax Incentive Order to Attract $50bn Investment appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

Tension has reportedly heightened in Osun State ahead of the governorship election following an alleged attack in which two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were killed.

The incident is said to have occurred amid growing political tensions in the state, with allegations of violence involving suspected political thugs.

The reported killings have raised fresh concerns about the safety of political supporters and voters ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The APC has previously raised concerns over alleged attacks on its members in Osun, while rival political camps have traded accusations over political violence in the state.

The latest development comes as security concerns continue to dominate preparations for the election. Earlier incidents have included alleged attacks linked to political activities and an attack on an INEC Permanent Voter Card collection centre in Osun.

Details surrounding the latest incident, including the identities of the deceased and circumstances leading to their deaths, remain subject to confirmation.

The development is likely to intensify calls on security agencies and political parties to prevent further violence and ensure a peaceful conduct of the Osun governorship election.

The post Osun Election: Two APC Members Reportedly Killed in Fresh Political Attack appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.