At the PDP headquarters, National Chairman Tanimu Turaki SAN, flanked by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, addressed the press and announced, “Due to some incidents caused by those who are the enemies of progress, the enemies of democracy, we have decided to postpone this meeting till tomorrow.”
Airlines May Place VeryDarkMan, Mr Jollof on No-Fly List After In-Flight Clash
Popular social media activist VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Otse, and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, known as Mr Jollof, may be placed on a no-fly list by airlines following their clash aboard a United Nigeria Airlines flight on Monday.
Spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Micheal Achimugu, stated on his X handle that prosecution can only proceed after investigations are concluded and management decisions are made.
He, however, noted that the authority, “as with previous cases, will advise the airlines to blacklist the passengers,” signalling possible flight restrictions for both men pending the outcome of the probe.
Mao Ohuabunwa Rejects Expulsion, Says Move by PDP Faction Is ‘Unauthorised’
Mao Ohuabunwa, a factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees aligned with the Wike camp, has dismissed his purported expulsion from the party, describing the action as illegitimate.
In a statement issued by his media office on Monday, the former Abia senator insisted that those behind the announcement lacked the authority to do so, labelling the gathering that carried out the decision as “unauthorised.”
He also disowned an announcement calling for a meeting at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, stressing that only the duly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting and the National Executive Committee session slated for Tuesday would hold as planned.
BBC Says It Has Had No Contact From Trump’s Lawyers Since $5 Billion Lawsuit Threat
The BBC says it has not received any communication from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s legal team after he announced plans to sue the broadcaster over a controversial edit in a Jan. 6 documentary.
The dispute stems from a BBC Panorama documentary that critics say misleadingly edited Trump’s 2021 speech by removing his call for supporters to protest “peacefully” and stitching remarks made nearly an hour apart into what appeared to be a continuous statement.
Although the BBC issued an apology and confirmed it would not rebroadcast the documentary, it insisted the error did not amount to defamation.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said on Monday that no further communication had come from Trump’s lawyers since his public threat to file a lawsuit seeking between $1 billion and $5 billion in damages.
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One last week, vowed that legal action would begin “sometime next week.” His legal team, when asked for comment, pointed back to the former president’s remarks, suggesting litigation is still being prepared.
The controversy has already triggered the resignations of BBC News CEO Deborah Turness and Director-General Tim Davie.
Trump’s legal counsel had previously sent a notice of intent to sue the BBC, demanding retractions, apologies, and compensation over what it described as “false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements.”
While the BBC expressed regret for the way the clip was edited, it maintains there is “no basis for a defamation claim.”
Police Deploy Tactical Teams, Military, Vigilantes To Rescue 25 Abducted Kebbi Schoolgirls
Police authorities have deployed additional operatives to Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State as the search intensifies for 25 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga.
Bandits stormed the school on Sunday night, killing the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, before whisking several students away.
In an update on Monday, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed that 25 students were taken during the attack.
He said a combined security force — including police tactical units, military personnel, and local vigilantes — has been deployed and is currently combing known bandit routes and surrounding forests in an effort to rescue the girls and apprehend the attackers.
According to the police:
“On November 17, 2025, at about 0400hrs, information received revealed that a gang of armed bandits with sophisticated weapons, shooting sporadically, stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga… Unfortunately, the suspected bandits had already scaled through the fence of the school and abducted 25 students from their hostel.”
The police added that the school’s Vice Principal was shot dead, while another staff member, Ali Shehu, sustained a bullet wound to his hand.
Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to securing lives and property, urging residents to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive of ongoing security operations.
FCT Police Deny Assassination Attempt On Naval Officer Involved In Wike Clash
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has refuted media reports alleging that naval officer Lt. Ahmed Yerima was the target of an assassination attempt in Abuja.
Yerima, who was recently involved in a widely publicised confrontation with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over a disputed land parcel in Abuja, was reported on Sunday to have been trailed by unidentified men dressed in black and riding in two unmarked Hilux vans.
According to the reports, the alleged pursuit began around 6:30 p.m. near the NIPCO filling station along the Kubwa Expressway and continued through Gado-NASCO Way, with Yerima said to have escaped through a “strategic manoeuvre” during a high-speed chase.
However, the police have dismissed the claims as entirely baseless.
In a statement, FCT Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh described the reports as false, unverified, and capable of inciting public fear.
“The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to publications circulating on social media alleging an attempted assassination on Lt. Ahmed Yerima. The command wishes to categorically state that no such incident has been reported or recorded anywhere within the Federal Capital Territory,” she said. “The public is advised to disregard this false information and desist from spreading unverified claims capable of causing unnecessary panic.”
Further checks by TheCable showed that Yerima, who was driving a vehicle with tinted windows, was stopped earlier by police operatives along Kubwa for routine identification before being allowed to proceed.
The controversy comes less than a week after Yerima led a team of soldiers involved in a heated face-off with Wike on November 11 — an incident that has since gone viral, inspiring skits and sparking nationwide debate about civil-military relations in the FCT.
Why Petrol Pump Prices Dropped Nationwide — Dangote Refinery
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has clarified that the recent drop in petrol pump prices across the country was driven solely by its internal price adjustment, dismissing speculation that the reduction resulted from a government policy decision.
In a statement issued to The Flagship, the refinery explained that the price change was triggered by a 5.6 percent reduction in the refinery’s ex-depot prices for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), not by the Federal Government’s suspension of 15 percent import tariffs.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the factor that prompted the price adjustment was our own reduction of PMS gantry and coastal prices on November 6,” the refinery said. “The subsequent change in pump prices is now being wrongly attributed to a tariff decision in an attempt to distort the facts and misinform the public.”
According to the company, its gantry price was cut from ₦877 to ₦828 per litre, while the coastal price dropped from ₦854 to ₦806 per litre.
Dangote Refinery emphasised that the adjustment reflects its pricing strategy and market realities, noting that any attempt to link the nationwide pump price reduction to government tariff suspensions is inaccurate.
US Congress to Probe Alleged Christian Genocide in Nigeria on Thursday
The United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa will on Thursday, November 20, 2025, begin an investigation into President Donald Trump’s recent redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged widespread killings of Christians.
According to an invitation issued to members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the hearing will take place at 11:00 a.m. in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., and will also be streamed via live webcast. The session will be chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).
Two panels are expected to testify before the committee, consisting of senior U.S. State Department officials and Nigerian religious leaders. Witnesses include Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs, Jonathan Pratt; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Jacob McGee; Director of the Center for Religious Freedom, Nina Shea; Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese; and Oge Onubogu of the Centre for Strategic & International Studies.
Trump’s Redesignation and Threats
Nigeria was first designated a CPC by Trump in 2020 before being removed from the list by President Joe Biden. But on October 31, 2025, Trump again placed Nigeria on the CPC list, citing alleged severe violations of religious freedom and what he described as an existential threat to Christians.
He claimed thousands of Christians were being killed by radical Islamist groups and threatened military intervention if the Nigerian government failed to address the situation. The U.S. President also warned he would halt all aid to Nigeria, adding that any intervention would be “fast, vicious, and sweet.”
Congressional Review
The hearing will examine the extent of religious persecution in Nigeria and consider policy actions such as targeted sanctions, humanitarian support, and enhanced cooperation with Nigerian authorities to curb violence. A related bill is already before the U.S. Senate, sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz.
Tinubu Rejects ‘Genocide’ Label
President Bola Tinubu, reacting via his official X handle, dismissed Trump’s assertions, insisting that the characterisation does not reflect Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to religious freedom.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” Tinubu said. “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality.”
Pope Leo XIV Raises Alarm
Pope Leo XIV also expressed concern over attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and other countries. In a message shared on his verified account, the Pope lamented ongoing persecution and highlighted Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and Bangladesh as hotspots where worship centres face repeated assaults.
He called for an end to violence and prayed for victims, including families affected by recent massacres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kivu region.
Tinubu Sends Emissary to Plateau
In response to ongoing tensions, President Tinubu dispatched Dr. Abiodun Essiet, his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (North Central), to Plateau State to promote peace and rebuild inter-communal trust.
Essiet met with Christian leaders, Fulani Miyetti Allah representatives, Irigwe community leaders, and youth groups. According to the presidency, the move is part of efforts to strengthen community-based peace structures and foster long-term stability in the region.
Doctors In England Launch Strike Over Pay and Job Prospects
Thousands of doctors in England went on strike on Friday, marking the 13th walkout by medical staff since March 2023. The five-day strike, beginning at 0700 GMT, involves resident doctors—those below consultant level—who make up roughly half of hospital medical staff.
The walkout comes amid disputes over pay and the availability of training posts, with the British Medical Association (BMA) arguing that doctors need a 26% pay increase to restore their earnings to the real value they held two decades ago. The union is also demanding more training positions to allow doctors to progress toward consultancy roles. Currently, more than 30,000 applicants compete for just 10,000 training posts, leaving many without permanent positions despite years of training.
The strike was criticised by the UK Labour government’s health minister, Wes Streeting, who said the union leadership was “choosing confrontation over care” and described the action as political posturing. He highlighted that doctors have received a 28.9% pay increase over the last three years, the largest across the public sector during that period.
The industrial action comes amid a prolonged cost-of-living crisis in the UK, which has triggered strikes among teachers, nurses, ambulance workers, lawyers, train staff, and border personnel over the past three and a half years.
Doctors picketed hospitals, including St Thomas’ in central London, holding placards as they pressed their demands for fair pay and career advancement opportunities.
The government and union are expected to enter negotiations to seek a resolution during the ongoing strike.
Paystack Suspends Co-Founder Ezra Olubi Over Sexual Misconduct Allegation
Paystack has suspended its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, following a sexual misconduct allegation involving a subordinate that began circulating online on Wednesday, November 12.
The company confirmed the suspension, stating that a formal investigation had been opened. According to Paystack, its board is in the process of appointing an independent third-party investigator to ensure a fair and confidential review.
“As of Thursday evening, November 13, 2025, Ezra has been suspended from all duties and responsibilities pending a formal investigation,” the company said, adding that no further comments will be made until the inquiry is concluded.
The allegation has also revived attention around dozens of explicit tweets posted by Olubi between 2009 and 2013, resurfaced screenshots showing sexually charged comments about colleagues, meetings, and minors. The renewed spotlight has intensified public scrutiny as he has not responded to requests for comment and has deactivated his X account.
The development comes as the African tech ecosystem continues to confront multiple incidents of workplace misconduct among senior executives. In October, the CEO of Kenyan IT firm Pawa IT Solutions, Oscar Limoke, was fined by a court following sexual harassment and assault claims brought by a former staff member.
Founded in 2015 and acquired by Stripe in 2020, Paystack remains one of Africa’s most influential tech companies. Its handling of this case is being closely watched within and outside the ecosystem, raising questions about workplace governance, internal accountability, and leadership conduct.
Paystack, which has long emphasised values such as transparency and respect, reiterated its commitment to a safe work environment.
“In line with our internal policies, we have established a fair, transparent, and structured review process to conduct a thorough investigation,” the company said.
More details to follow…
PDP Gears Up for Convention Despite Court Order
Preparations for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention are in full swing in Ibadan, Oyo State, despite a conflicting court order restraining the opposition party from proceeding with the event scheduled for November 15–16, 2025.
Delegates began arriving in the city on Friday, while the Lekan Salami Stadium, venue of the convention, has been fully decorated in the PDP’s red, white, and green colours. Party officials were seen inspecting facilities ahead of the convention, with the PDP declaring publicly that it is ready to proceed.
The build-up to the event has been marked by judicial contradictions. An Oyo State High Court ruled last week that the party should continue its preparations for the convention. Days later, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued a conflicting order, halting the exercise and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to supervise or recognise it.
Amid the confusion, a faction led by Sam Anyanwu on Thursday announced a postponement of the convention, but the Umar Damagum-led leadership rejected the claim, insisting the dates remain unchanged.
On its official social media handle, the PDP reaffirmed that November 15–16 remain “irrevocable dates” for the elective national convention, a position endorsed by stakeholders during a meeting on Thursday night at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja. Attendees included members of the National Working Committee, serving and former governors, National Assembly members, Board of Trustees (BoT) members, and state chairmen.
Meanwhile, former Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the party to suspend the convention altogether and instead set up a caretaker committee to steer its affairs. Saraki, who served two terms as governor of Kwara State under the PDP, said such a step would promote reconciliation and restore confidence among members preparing for future elections.
“This is the path to true reconciliation and stability of the party,” Saraki wrote on X, arguing that a caretaker committee remains the only viable solution amid the leadership tussle and conflicting judicial directives.
Despite these calls, the PDP appears resolved to press ahead with the convention as scheduled, setting the stage for an intense political showdown over the weekend.