Justice Mohammed Garba Umar struck out the case on Monday following an application by the prosecution, which said the Federal Government had reviewed the case and decided to file a fresh charge before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, moved the application on behalf of the government.

Oyedepo told the court that a review by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had identified legal issues with the existing charge.

He explained that the alleged offences involving the documents in question fell within the jurisdiction of the FCT High Court rather than the Federal High Court.

The prosecution informed the court that a new charge had already been filed at the FCT High Court and asked Justice Umar to strike out the existing case to allow Adeyemi to be arraigned afresh.

Counsel to Adeyemi, Ibrahim Angulu, did not oppose the application.

The judge subsequently granted the request and struck out the charge.

Adeyemi had been facing an eight-count charge alongside two other defendants whose whereabouts were unknown. The allegations included conspiracy and forgery.

The case arose from allegations that Adeyemi operated the purported PFIPC using documents allegedly forged to present the organisation as a government-backed agency.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had previously stated that its investigation found that Adeyemi was not appointed by the Federal Government and that the purported council was not established by any valid law or government instrument.

The allegations against Adeyemi remain subject to judicial proceedings, and the striking out of the charge followed the prosecution’s decision to pursue the case before another court.

The incident occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, causing panic among residents of the riverine community. Earlier reports had described the aircraft as a helicopter, but the NAF later identified it as an ATR-42 aircraft operating a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.

According to the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the rescue operation was being conducted in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

The Air Force said further details would be released as the operation progresses.

The aircraft reportedly crashed in the Igbokoda area, with earlier reports indicating that the wreckage was located close to the Naval Base. The incident has drawn the attention of security and emergency agencies as efforts continue to establish the condition of those aboard.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, later disclosed that preliminary information indicated 25 passengers and seven crew members, making 32 people on board. He said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft at about 9:13 a.m. while it was travelling from Benin to Lagos.

The exact number of casualties and the condition of those on board were not immediately confirmed as rescue operations continued.

The Ondo State Police Command also urged residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information while authorities work to establish the full circumstances of the accident.

The cause of the crash has not yet been established.

Sixty-six years ago today, our flag was raised, for the first time, over a free and sovereign nation. Since then, we have journeyed together as one nation, bound by our collective trust in the great promise of Nigeria: that a country of our size, our bountiful resources, our cultural diversity and, above all, our extraordinary people can build a giant in Africa; that in this blessed and fertile land we can build a united, strong and prosperous nation; a land of regional authority and global consequence.

Our journey has not always been easy. In truth, it has generally been too hard for too many. We have known moments of great hope and periods of profound disappointment. We have endured war, military rule, economic crises, insecurity and political upheaval. Yet through it all, Nigeria, with the indomitable spirit of its people, has endured.

It has endured through the efforts of the farmer who rises before dawn to work his land. The trader who opens her shop each morning, hopeful for a productive day. The teacher who believes in the children entrusted to her care and the young entrepreneur who refuses to surrender ambition to circumstance. We are grateful for the men and women of our Armed Forces and security services who place themselves in harm’s way so that the rest of us may live in peace.

Through every difficulty, generations of Nigerians have continued to believe in one thing: that this country of ours will be better.

This faith, which sustains us all, is the inheritance of independence. Our founding fathers did not struggle merely for a flag, an anthem or a place among the nations of the world. Independence carried a larger promise: that Nigerians would have the freedom to shape their own destiny and build a nation capable of providing opportunity, dignity and a better life for its people. Sixty-six years later, Almighty God has made it our responsibility to deliver that promise.

Today, as we celebrate our independence, we must speak honestly about the journey so far, the choices we made, and the country we are determined to build from here.

For too long, the promise of Nigeria was undermined by choices that postponed difficult decisions and allowed deep economic distortions to grow.

By 2023, poverty was rising, and hope was nearly gone. The country’s situation was darker than ever. We had no choice but to act.

Nigeria was like a sick patient who receives the terrible news that he has cancer. His doctor explains that the treatment will be difficult and painful, but that it offers a strong prospect of recovery. The patient has a choice. He can begin treatment, endure its discomfort and fight the disease. Or he can ask only for morphine, dull the pain and leave the cancer to spread.

For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came.
They focused on symptoms while allowing the disease to take hold deep within the fabric of our society. We spent enormous sums sustaining inefficient arrangements that were never intended to last. We hid from difficult truths and passed the consequences from one generation to the next.

When this Administration assumed office, we resolved to do things differently. We chose to excise the cancer. The reforms that followed were difficult. The side effects were real. Yet, we must never confuse the medicine with the disease.

Our reforms did not create the weaknesses in our economy. They confronted them. Now, as certain influential but regressive voices would have us abandon the treatment and return ourselves to the abuse of addictive subsidies, we must resist their siren song. We must remember why we began this journey and how far we have already come.

Aisosa made the remarks while discussing how technology can support agriculture and improve food production and distribution in Nigeria.

According to him, while AI has the potential to provide farmers with information and modern farming techniques, it cannot replace the basic infrastructure required to move agricultural produce from farms to markets and households.

He said, “AI will not create a policy that will prioritise or elevate the status of commercial agriculture to processing what will consume over what we export.”

He also questioned how technology could significantly reduce food prices when farmers in many communities still struggle with poor roads and transportation.

“Talk about accessibility, talk about roads, talk about transportation. The technology to do these is already on ground. That’s why I talked about leveraging what is on ground,” he said.

Aisosa cited farming communities in Edo State as an example, noting that many are located in interior areas where poor road networks make it difficult for farmers to transport their produce.

“AI advances will not fix roads for us. Most of the farming communities in Nigeria, in Edo State for instance, are in the interiors and the roads are not good. The roads are bad. AI will not fix these. Technology will not fix these. State policies, government policies and priorities on agriculture is what will fix these,” he said.

The technology expert, however, noted that technology could play an important role in helping farmers access information, weather forecasts and modern agricultural techniques.

He recalled that two decades ago, Nigerians who wanted to know the following day’s weather forecast had to wait for the main news before receiving the information.

“Twenty years ago, if you wanted to know the weather forecast of tomorrow, you would listen to the main news. After watching the main news today, you can see weather updates on your phone,” he said.

According to him, advances in technology have made such information more accessible, as weather updates are now available on mobile phones with internet access.

He said this development has also made the work of agricultural extension agents easier, as information on modern farming techniques can now be disseminated more quickly to farmers.

“Technology has so much tremendously advanced in the past two decades and it is now accessible. The weather updates is very much available in all phones now with an internet. So, modern farming techniques, the information is spread easily. The work of agricultural extension agents is so much easier now,” he said.

Aisosa stressed, however, that accessibility to agricultural technology depends on the availability of basic infrastructure and other necessities.

He explained that Nigeria has both subsistence and commercial agriculture, with subsistence farmers generally operating on a smaller scale and having limited access to funds, while commercial agriculture involves individuals or government entities with greater financial capacity.

He urged farmers, particularly those operating commercially, to invest in machinery and other tools that can improve productivity.

The expert said technology can be developed to address agricultural challenges, but such innovations may have limited impact if farmers lack electricity, good roads and transportation.

He said, “In Nigeria, if one doesn’t have electricity and roads, the technology can be created but cannot be useful because of the other necessary things that are not on ground.”

He therefore called for greater attention to government policies, infrastructure and investment in agriculture, stressing that technology should be leveraged alongside existing systems and infrastructure rather than treated as a standalone solution to Nigeria’s food crisis.

Idris, popularly known as “Ibro”, died in the United Kingdom on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at the age of 77. His death was confirmed by his nephew, Shehu Ahmed, according to AIT.

Following the development, Governor Ododo directed that the Nigerian and Kogi State flags be flown at half-mast across government offices and designated public institutions during the mourning period.

The governor also announced that Idris would receive a state burial, with the Kogi State Government taking responsibility for the burial arrangements and expenses.

Ododo described the former governor’s death as a major loss to Kogi State and Nigeria, recalling his years in public service and his contribution to the development of the state.

Idris governed Kogi State from 2003 to 2012 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He initially won the governorship election in 2003 and later returned to office after a 2008 re-run election following the nullification of his 2007 election by the courts.

His death has also triggered tributes from political figures and associates. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan described him as an important figure in Kogi’s political history and the PDP, saying his passing had created a significant loss for the state.

Before entering politics, Idris was a businessman with interests in construction, furniture manufacturing and hospitality. He founded Ibro Trading Company and also established a furniture factory and Ibro Hotel.

Ayodele Ayo-Akande, Technical Assistant, Governance and Digital Communication, Ekiti State, said the initiative had provided a foundation for building a state-wide innovation ecosystem and creating opportunities for young people.

“If I were to identify one major achievement of this tenure, it would be the establishment and development of the Ekiti Start-Up Garage as a foundation for a state-wide innovation ecosystem,” Ayo-Akande said.

He explained that the Garage was more than a physical facility, as it provides opportunities for talent discovery, mentorship, technology development and collaboration among young innovators.

According to him, the initiative is designed to connect young people with business opportunities and help turn innovative ideas into practical solutions and businesses.

Ayo-Akande said the establishment of the Garage demonstrated the administration’s commitment to making innovation a practical driver of economic development in the state.

He, however, noted that the achievement should not be considered in isolation, as the government had also been developing other structures required to sustain a digital economy.

He listed innovation hubs, skills programmes, funding mechanisms, policy frameworks and digital infrastructure among the initiatives supporting the state’s technology ecosystem.

Ayo-Akande said the broader vision was to create an environment where young people could discover their talents, acquire relevant skills, develop products, access mentorship and funding, and build sustainable businesses without leaving Ekiti.

The centre was commissioned on Tuesday, September 15, on behalf of the First Lady by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima.

The facility is one of six ICT Experience Centres selected for the pilot phase of the initiative, with one institution representing each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Similar centres have already been commissioned at Ekiti State University, the University of Cross River State and Anambra State Polytechnic, while centres at Kaduna State University and Taraba State University are also ready for commissioning.

Tinubu also announced plans to extend the programme to 15 additional tertiary institutions across Adamawa, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Yobe and Zamfara states.

The centres are equipped with ICT laboratories, interactive digital displays, conference facilities and exhibition spaces to support learning, research, creativity and technological development.

The First Lady described the initiative as an opportunity for young Nigerians to gain knowledge and develop innovative solutions, urging students to use the facilities responsibly to improve their communities and the country.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, represented by Olajide Babatunde, said the centres would help equip young Nigerians with skills in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics and other emerging technologies.

He added that the intervention would contribute to reducing the digital skills gap and improving the employability of Nigerian graduates.

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, urged the university to maximise the facility by promoting innovation, creating employment opportunities and developing practical solutions to societal challenges.

The Vice-Chancellor of KWASU, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, described the centre as an investment in Nigeria’s future, saying it would strengthen research, entrepreneurship and engagement between the university and its host community.

The demonstration was organised by an initiative called Democratism, with robots marching in circles while carrying flags and broadcasting messages through loudspeakers.

Among the machines at the protest was Agibot A3, an AI-powered humanoid robot, alongside other robots including bipedal humanoids and dog-like quadrupeds.

The robots displayed signs and flags as slogans including “Defend workplaces,” “Time for rules” and “Don’t wait, regulate” were played through loudspeakers.

Human organiser Grzegorz Kulis said the protest was designed to draw attention to the possibility of robots and AI replacing people in both physical and cognitive jobs.

“We particularly want to address the issue of the potential replacement of people both by humanoid robots and by artificial intelligence in cognitive work,” Kulis said.

He warned that governments and society need to respond quickly to the rapid development of the technology.

“If we don’t react now, we may soon have a problem,” he said, calling for regulations to protect workers.

The demonstration also highlighted how rapidly robotics technology is developing, with organisers arguing that robots are no longer simply a distant concept but are increasingly capable of performing tasks in the real world.

The protest comes as Poland and other European Union countries implement new rules governing artificial intelligence. The EU AI Act uses a risk-based approach, imposing stricter requirements on AI systems considered capable of causing greater harm.

Poland has also introduced legislation to establish a national framework for supervising AI and created a Commission for the Development and Safety of Artificial Intelligence.