Nigerian News: Morning Headlines – 04 September 2026

Presidency Clarifies Tinubu Not Facing Criminal Case in US Over FOIA Records

The Presidency has clarified that the ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case involving records relating to President Bola Tinubu before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a civil records-disclosure dispute, not a criminal case.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the case did not amount to a criminal charge, trial or judicial finding against Tinubu. He noted that recent reports and commentaries had created a false impression that the President was facing criminal proceedings in the US.

“It is not a criminal case against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, nor has the court found him guilty of any criminal wrongdoing,” Onanuga said, adding that the case concerns requests for access to records held by various US government agencies.

According to Onanuga, the case dates back to 2022, when Aaron Greenspan, whom he described as someone who works with Nigerian opposition figures including David Hundeyin and Atiku Abubakar, filed FOIA requests with several US agencies for records relating to Tinubu.

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Dozens Feared Dead After Inhaling Toxic Fumes at Rivers Jetty

Dozens of people are feared dead after inhaling fumes from a petroleum product at a jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, with figures reported between 37 and 43.

The incident occurred on Thursday at the Okari Jetty in the Okrika Mainland area, where youths from Okrika and neighbouring communities had reportedly gathered to load petroleum product from an illegal tapping point.

Authorities are yet to release a final casualty count, and the circumstances surrounding the alleged oil siphoning operation remain under investigation.

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Terrorists Using Palliative Motorcycles to Wreak Havoc, Says Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), on Thursday said terrorists are using motorcycles distributed to Nigerians as palliatives to carry out attacks across the country.

Musa advised state governors and lawmakers to stop giving out motorcycles as palliative items, arguing that a number of them eventually end up in the hands of terrorists, who use them to facilitate and enhance their operations.

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Coup Plot Against Tinubu Was Real, Sylva Under Investigation — Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has confirmed that a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu was real, saying those responsible wanted to remove the President and seize power.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Musa said the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are still investigating the alleged involvement of former Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, in the plot.

He assured that once investigations are concluded, more information on those involved and the circumstances surrounding the plot would be made public, adding that those involved acted for misguided reasons.

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Obi Says Ready to Die Protecting His Votes in 2027, Promises Reformed Nigeria

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has declared that he is ready to lose his life while protecting his votes in the 2027 election.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday, Obi urged Nigerians to guard against a repeat of the “irregularities” witnessed during the 2023 general election.

Obi also said the country would not be the same if he were elected president, explaining that difficulty many Nigerians face in obtaining foreign visas stems from the nation’s poverty. “No rich man will open their door for poor people, that’s why many countries are denying Nigerian visas,” he said, adding, “By the time we are done reforming Nigeria, Nigerians won’t like to be travelling outside like now. Even when they apply for a visa, they can easily get it.”

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Two Dismissed Police Officers Arraigned Over Killing of UNIPORT Graduate

The Rivers State Police Command has arraigned two police officers dismissed over the killing of a 22-year-old University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony Obodo.

The officers, Corporal Alfred Louis and Corporal Michael Ejekwu, were arraigned before a magistrate’s court sitting in Port Harcourt and were subsequently remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.

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Fubara Signs N1.84tn 2026 Rivers State Budget Into Law

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has signed the state’s N1.84tn 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, hours after the Rivers State House of Assembly passed it.

Fubara assented to the bill on Thursday at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, describing it as a “breath of fresh air” that would usher in a new phase of development and cooperation in the state.

The budget, titled “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,” was passed by the Martin Amaewhule-led House earlier the same day after lawmakers reviewed some provisions in the governor’s original proposal. It was unanimously passed by 26 lawmakers and is expected to cover the fiscal year ending September 2, 2027.

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Naira Appreciates to N1,405/$ in Parallel Market

The naira on Thursday appreciated to N1,405 per dollar from N1,410 recorded on Wednesday in the parallel market.

The currency also gained in the official window, appreciating to N1,322.5 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

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Kwankwaso Warns Parties Against Relying on Number of Governors for 2027

Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has warned political parties against relying on the number of governors they control as a guarantee of victory in the 2027 general election.

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, spoke on Thursday at the NDC Town Hall Meeting in Rivers State. He argued that several governors, particularly in the North, had performed poorly and might struggle to campaign for their parties ahead of the elections.

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Oyo Police Arrest Six Over Counterfeit Euro Notes Worth N14.15 million

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested six suspected fake currency dealers and recovered 89 pieces of counterfeit €100 notes valued at €8,900 (N14.15 million) in Ibadan.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Ibadan, saying the suspects were allegedly linked to the possession, circulation and production of counterfeit euro currency.

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Emir of Gumel Dies at 84

The Emir of Gumel in Jigawa State, Dr Ahmad Muhammad Sani, has died at the age of 84.

The first-class traditional ruler died in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, after a 46-year reign. Announcing the death, the Secretary to the Jigawa State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, said the state received the news with “heavy hearts and profound sorrow.”

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El-Rufai Deliberately Planned Killing of Our People in Southern Kaduna — Defence Minister

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has accused former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai of doing a lot of terrible things in the state during his tenure, including deliberately causing division along religious lines.

Musa alleged that El-Rufai deliberately planned the killing of people in Southern Kaduna, adding that there is no way the people there can be happy with him. He described the state as having been toxic under El-Rufai’s leadership and claimed the former governor would send bulldozers to demolish the homes of people he had unresolved issues with.

He added that the incumbent Governor, Uba Sani, has been correcting some of El-Rufai’s ills since assuming office.

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Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage From Tinubu

The Federal Workers Forum has asked the Federal Government to review the salaries of federal civil servants and raise the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.

The request was contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. It was signed by the forum’s National Coordinator, Andrew Emelieze, and its General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele, and sent to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

The group also proposed a new salary structure placing the highest federal civil service salary at N1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1 officers, saying the adjustment was necessary given the rising cost of living.

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She Ran Away From Set — Actor Clemson Cornell Reveals Why Liz Benson Refused to Act With Him

Nollywood actor Clemson Cornell, popularly known as Agbogidi, has recalled an experience with veteran actress Liz Benson while filming a scene in which he played a native doctor.

According to the actor, his appearance and portrayal were so convincing that Liz Benson became uncomfortable and initially believed a real traditional healer had been brought to the set. He made the revelation while speaking on the “Where Is The Lie” podcast, which aired on YouTube on Wednesday, September 2.

Cornell explained that the veteran actress refused to continue with the scene, becoming convinced that the production had brought someone who genuinely practised traditional spirituality rather than an actor.

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Ogogo Wanted to Meet My Second Daughter — Kira

Kira Taiwo, daughter of late veteran Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has spoken about the emotional toll of losing her father, saying she had hoped he would live long enough to meet her second child.

In a tribute shared on Instagram on Thursday, Kira described her father as “the best,” writing, “My daddy. THE BEST. I can’t even get a hug anymore… This is what heartbreak means, mehn.”

Kira, who is expecting her second child, said one of the most painful realities of her father’s death was knowing he would never meet the baby, adding that she had desperately wished for more time with him before his passing.

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‘I Will Paint Myself Black’ — Pundit Makes Shocking Osimhen Bet

Turkish football pundit Adnan Aybaba has vowed to paint his entire body black if Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen finishes the season with more goals than Dusan Vlahovic and Romelu Lukaku in the Turkish Super Lig.

Aybaba made the bold declaration while speaking on the Turkish sports programme Telegol, arguing that Vlahovic is a better footballer than Osimhen and should finish ahead of the Nigerian striker in the race for goals.

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Anthony Joshua Yet to Sign Contract for Tyson Fury Fight

Anthony Joshua is yet to sign the contract for his proposed heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury, according to British promoter Frank Warren, despite Fury having already completed his side of the agreement.

The delay is linked to disagreements over venue and other contractual details, putting the long-awaited all-British showdown at risk of further postponement. Joshua’s original contract favoured a UK venue, with Wembley Stadium among the options, but organisers and broadcasters Netflix and Saudi-backed Sela are pushing for the fight to be staged at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Warren said the conflicting contracts must be amended before the bout can be finalised, with Joshua’s camp now needing to resolve the outstanding issues.