By Patrick Idowu

Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the inauguration of Guinea’s President, Mamadi Doumbouya, and later attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland.

In a statement on Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima would attend Doumbouya’s inauguration on Saturday, January 17, at the GLC Stadium, Nongo, Conakry.

According to Nkwocha, the visit underscores Nigeria’s leadership role in ECOWAS and its support for Guinea’s return to constitutional order after a four-year transition. He added that the trip would also help deepen bilateral economic ties, noting that Nigerian exports to Guinea recently rose to $3.29 million.

From Guinea, the Vice President will proceed to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, for the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, scheduled for January 19 to 23, 2026.

The forum, themed “A Spirit of Dialogue,” will focus on global cooperation, frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, and sustainable economic development.

Shettima is expected to engage global leaders and investors on Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and investment opportunities before returning to the country.

The trip comes as Nigerians continue to await President Tinubu’s return from an overseas engagement that began last year.

By Patrick Idowu

The Rivers State House of Assembly has directed the Chief Judge of the state to constitute a seven-member committee to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, gave the directive during plenary on Friday, citing relevant constitutional provisions guiding impeachment proceedings.

Amaewhule said the House, in line with Section 188 of the Constitution, resolved by voice vote that the allegations against the governor be investigated.

He added that the resolution would be immediately communicated to the Chief Judge for further action.

“By this voting, the Rivers State House of Assembly has resolved that the investigation into allegations of gross misconduct against the Governor shall proceed,” the Speaker said.

The development followed a reversal by four lawmakers who had earlier called for reconciliation between the Assembly and the executive.

At a press conference in Port Harcourt on Friday, the lawmakers said the impeachment process should continue, accusing the governor and his deputy of encouraging attacks on the Assembly through their media aides.

They said their appeal for a political solution was ignored, insisting that the process was now unavoidable due to what they described as persistent constitutional violations.

The lawmakers stressed that the matter was constitutional, not ethnic or political, and vowed to allow the impeachment process to run its full course.

By Patrick Idowu

Abubakar Abdullahi, the Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State who famously sheltered 262 Christians during an attack in the area, has died.

His son, Saleh Abubakar, confirmed the death on Friday, saying the cleric passed away on Thursday night at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.

According to him, the Imam had been hospitalised for 10 days after being diagnosed with a heart-related ailment and had experienced unstable health since the diagnosis.

Imam Abubakar died at the age of 90. He is survived by 19 children, 12 boys and seven girls.