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.

The reported resignation of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee has transformed what was already a difficult period for Nigerian football into a potentially defining leadership crisis.

Rather than being viewed only as another resignation within the country’s football administration, the development could have immediate consequences for the NFF’s transition to its next electoral cycle, with the federation’s executive committee election scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Reports on Thursday indicated that Gusau and a number of board members had stepped down amid mounting criticism of the federation’s handling of Nigerian football. However, the full details of the reported resignations and their formal implications remained unclear at the time of publication, with Gusau expected to address journalists in Abuja.

Why the resignations matter beyond Gusau

The most significant issue arising from the reported departures is not simply who leaves the NFF, but what happens to the federation’s decision-making structure in the weeks before its scheduled election.

The NFF had already published a detailed roadmap for the September election, including candidate screening, publication of cleared candidates and the campaign period. The reported exit of a large proportion of the 13-member Executive Committee could therefore introduce fresh uncertainty into a process that is already well underway.

The NFF’s electoral regulations also contain provisions dealing with continuity during the electoral process, meaning the reported resignations will need to be considered within the federation’s statutes and electoral framework rather than treated as an automatic collapse of the institution.

A crisis built over more than one result

The pressure on the Gusau administration has intensified following a succession of disappointing results involving Nigeria’s national teams.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons suffered a historic setback after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Falcons’ failure was particularly damaging because Nigeria had appeared at every previous edition of the Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.

The NFF itself acknowledged the seriousness of the Falcons’ setback earlier this month, issuing an apology to Nigerians and President Bola Tinubu after the team failed to secure direct qualification.

The federation subsequently inaugurated a fact-finding committee to investigate the causes of Nigeria’s recent poor performances, with particular attention on the Super Falcons’ failure to reach the next Women’s World Cup.

Financial scrutiny adds another layer

The leadership crisis has also unfolded against the backdrop of reported scrutiny of the management of funds released for Nigeria’s national teams.

Reports have linked the situation to investigations into the utilisation of a N17 billion intervention fund approved by the Federal Government in 2024 to address outstanding payments, including players’ wages and bonuses.

The financial questions have increased the pressure for greater transparency and accountability within the federation, although the reported investigations and allegations should not be treated as proof of wrongdoing by any individual unless established by the relevant authorities.

The September election is now a central question

With the NFF election only weeks away, the reported resignations raise an important question: can the federation maintain a credible electoral process while dealing with a leadership vacuum?

The NFF announced in July that its 2026 Executive Committee election would be held in Lafia on September 27. Its published timetable provides for candidate screening from August 27 to 30, publication of cleared candidates on August 31 and a campaign period beginning September 14.

That timetable makes the timing of the reported resignations particularly significant.

Any disruption to the administration of the federation could create uncertainty for candidates, delegates and other stakeholders unless the NFF quickly clarifies who has authority to manage its affairs and how the electoral programme will proceed.

Nigerian football now needs clarity

The immediate priority for Nigerian football is therefore likely to be institutional clarity.

Stakeholders will want answers on the status of the reported resignations, the composition of the Executive Committee, the authority responsible for running the federation in the interim and whether the September election timetable remains unchanged.

The NFF has previously demonstrated that it has mechanisms for managing its structures during periods of transition. Its electoral code states that relevant bodies generally continue exercising their functions until the electoral process is completed, subject to the federation’s statutes and regulations.

The current situation will test those provisions.

For Nigerian football supporters, the bigger concern is no longer simply whether Gusau remains in office. It is whether the latest crisis can produce a credible reset of football administration without creating another period of uncertainty for the national teams.

If the reported resignations are formally confirmed, the NFF could be entering one of the most consequential transitions in its recent history — one in which the September election may determine not only who leads Nigerian football next, but also whether the federation can rebuild confidence after a turbulent period.

The post NFF Leadership Crisis: Gusau Exit Puts September Election and Nigerian Football’s Future Under Pressure appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

Social media activist VeryDarkMan tells critics he was invited to share firsthand accounts of insecurity, not to teach law.

ABUJA —Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has responded to criticism over his invitation to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference.

The conference, which is being held from August 21 to 28, has drawn lawyers and other prominent figures for discussions on Nigeria’s legal system and broader national issues.

Addressing the issue on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, he said he was not there to teach lawyers but to share personal experiences of violence and insecurity.

There has been a lot of debate about why I was invited to this NBA conference. I’m not here to teach you people law; I’m here to share experience,” VDM said during the plenary session.

He noted that the topic, which he referred to as “Unknown Known Gunmen,” went beyond courtroom procedure because insecurity has affected members of the legal profession, including judges.

“This is not a topic of ‘may I, my lord’ because your lords are being kidnapped,” he stated.

VDM cited the reported abduction of a judge traveling from Sokoto who was kidnapped in Kebbi on July 26 and held for about a week before release.

He also criticized the media for what he described as lazy coverage of violent attacks and their aftermath.

VeryDarkMan said his perspective was shaped by firsthand experiences at scenes of violence.

“I was the first respondent at Yelwata. I was also the first respondent when some women were killed some time ago,” he said.

He recalled witnessing the aftermath of attacks and explosions, including a Sallah Day bombing in Borno and incidents involving the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and a post office.

“I have seen blood and seen people burnt alive,” VDM added.

On the Yelwata incident, he described it as a retaliatory attack following the killing of a Fulani boy.

He maintained that the invitation allowed him to bring experiences from outside the courtroom into the discussion on insecurity.

VeryDarkMan’s appearance continues to generate debate about the role of non-lawyers in formal legal forums.

The NBA conference plenary on insecurity proceeds with contributions from security officials and legal practitioners.

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The recent interaction between Tony Elumelu and a young lady from the UBA Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) raises an interesting question about the relationship between respect, organisational culture, hierarchy, and familiarity.

During the programme’s graduation ceremony, the young graduate addressed Tony Elumelu simply as “Tony.” He corrected her and indicated that she should address him as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE.” To some observers, this was a straightforward lesson in respect. To others, particularly those familiar with UBA’s workplace culture, the young lady may simply have been following what she had been taught: that people within the organisation should address one another by their first names, regardless of rank.

This distinction is important. Calling someone by their first name does not automatically mean that the person is being disrespectful. In many modern organisations, first-name culture is deliberately encouraged because it reduces unnecessary hierarchy and makes senior leaders more approachable. It can encourage younger employees to ask questions, share ideas, challenge assumptions and speak openly without being intimidated by titles.

At the same time, the African and particularly Nigerian understanding of respect often goes beyond an individual’s intentions. Age, position and social status influence how people are expected to address one another. Words such as “Sir,” “Ma,” “Chief,” “Dr.” and “Mr.” are not merely formalities; they can communicate recognition, courtesy and appropriate social boundaries.

This is where the Elumelu incident becomes particularly interesting. If UBA has cultivated a culture in which employees are encouraged to use first names, then it is understandable that a young graduate might assume that the principle applies even when addressing the Group Chairman. Her use of “Tony” therefore may have reflected organisational conditioning rather than arrogance or bad manners.

On the other hand, leaders also have the right to establish how they wish to be addressed. If Elumelu believes that “Tony” is excessively familiar in a particular setting, correcting the young woman is entirely legitimate. Respect should not be reduced to whether someone uses a title; it should also include recognising another person’s preferences, position and the context of the interaction.

The deeper lesson is that respect and hierarchy are not necessarily the same thing. A leader can promote an egalitarian workplace without requiring every individual interaction to be informal. Likewise, a person can address a senior executive formally without feeling intimidated by him.

There is therefore a balance to be found between organisational culture and cultural sensitivity. An organisation may encourage first-name communication because it wants to eliminate fear and excessive hierarchy. But employees should also be taught that context matters. A casual conversation in the office, a formal board meeting and a public graduation ceremony may require different levels of formality.

For the young lady, this appears to have been a moment of learning rather than a serious breach of respect. For Elumelu, it was an opportunity to communicate his personal preference and reinforce the distinction he wanted to maintain. The incident becomes problematic only if a simple correction is transformed into a judgment about the young woman’s character or upbringing.

Ultimately, true respect is found more in how we treat people than in the titles we use for them. Titles can express respect, but they do not create it. Similarly, first names can create accessibility and equality, but they should not be used to disregard legitimate boundaries.

The most valuable lesson for young professionals is therefore simple: be confident enough to engage senior leaders, humble enough to recognise hierarchy, and wise enough to understand the context. And for leaders, the lesson is equally important: create an environment where people are not afraid to speak to you, while making your expectations about formality clear.

The objective should not be to choose between “first-name culture” and “African respect.” It should be to build a culture where accessibility and respect can coexist.

George Bamidele Ogunjimi Esq

jurisrepubliclegal@gmail.com

23/08/2026.

The post Respect, First Names, and Leadership: The Tony Elumelu–UBA GMAP Moment 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

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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.

Victor Osimhen scored twice and provided an assist as Galatasaray thrashed Erzurum FK 4-0 in their Turkish Super Lig encounter on Friday night.

Roland Sallai gave the defending champions the lead in the 12th minute.

The visitors continued their dominance, with Osimhen setting up Yunus Akgün for Galatasaray’s second eight minutes later.

Osimhen got Okan Buruk’s side’s third goal of the game on the dot of 45 minutes.

The Nigeria international then netted the fourth 10 minutes from time, with Gabriel Sara providing the assist.

The 27-year-old was in action for the entire duration of the game.

Osimhen has now recorded four goals and one assist in two league appearances for the Yellow and Reds this season.

The post Turkey: Osimhen hits double, bags assist in Galatasaray victory appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) may be entering a new phase of post-election assessment in Osun State following a meeting between the party’s governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

Oyebamiji met with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Friday, days after losing the Osun governorship election to incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke. The meeting was his first known engagement with the President since the poll and came as the APC weighs its response to the election outcome.

Rather than immediately conceding defeat, Oyebamiji said the APC was still examining the election results before deciding on its next course of action. He indicated that the party would communicate its position after completing its review.

The APC candidate also used the opportunity to appeal for calm among his supporters and residents of Osun, stressing that political disagreements should not degenerate into violence.

His remarks come against the backdrop of reports of attacks involving some APC supporters in his hometown of Ikire. Oyebamiji said security agencies had been informed about the incident and urged Governor Adeleke to caution his supporters against actions that could further inflame tensions.

The election produced a significant setback for the APC, with Adeleke securing 511,067 votes against Oyebamiji’s 444,815. Adeleke won in 19 local government areas, while Oyebamiji carried 11.

The timing of Oyebamiji’s visit is also noteworthy. Adeleke had met Tinubu a day earlier after receiving his certificate of return, using the occasion to commend the President for what he described as allowing a free and fair election. Tinubu, in turn, urged the returning governor to demonstrate magnanimity and promote peace and unity in the state.

For the APC, Oyebamiji’s meeting with Tinubu therefore comes at a critical point. Beyond the immediate question of whether the party will accept the election result, attention is likely to turn to how it rebuilds its structure in Osun following the defeat.

For now, Oyebamiji has maintained a cautious position, asking supporters to remain peaceful while the party studies the results. His comments suggest that the APC’s next move in Osun could depend largely on the findings of that review.

The post Oyebamiji’s Tinubu Meeting Signals APC’s Next Move After Osun Defeat appeared first on Alpha News Nigeria.