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ICPC re-arraigns PFIPC boss Adeyemi on 22 counts of alleged forgery The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), on 22 counts of alleged forgery and impersonation. Adeyemi appeared before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday after an earlier eight-count charge was withdrawn over jurisdictional concerns. Prosecutors alleged that Adeyemi forged an appointment letter purportedly signed by presidential chief of staff Femi Gbajabiamila to establish the nonexistent agency. The ICPC also accused him of using forged documents to obtain over N27 billion for the agency’s establishment and N3.8 billion for personnel expenses. Other allegations include bribery and obtaining N20 million under false pretences. Adeyemi denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all 22 counts. His lawyer sought bail, citing prolonged detention and health concerns. Justice Halilu Yusuf directed the defence to submit a written bail application. The court adjourned proceedings until November 9 for trial and possible consideration of bail.

DoorDash offers $17bn to acquire Instacart in major grocery delivery deal US food delivery giant DoorDash has offered $17 billion to acquire Instacart in a deal that could significantly reshape the grocery delivery industry. The proposed acquisition would combine two major delivery platforms operating across the United States and Canada. DoorDash said Instacart would retain its brand and application, while its 600,000 independent shoppers would continue fulfilling customer orders. The companies also plan to combine their subscription benefits, allowing customers to access services through a single membership payment. Instacart users would gain access to approximately 50,000 additional stores available through DoorDash. DoorDash CEO Tony Xu said the combination would help smaller retailers compete against larger businesses. The proposed deal comes amid growing competition from Walmart, Amazon and other delivery providers. DoorDash operates in 40 countries and completed more than three billion orders last year, compared with Instacart’s 338 million. The acquisition would strengthen DoorDash’s position in the expanding grocery delivery market.

Nigeria drops six places to 121st out of 133 countries in 2026 Chandler Good Government Index Nigeria has dropped to 121st position out of 133 countries assessed in the 2026 Chandler Good Government Index, reflecting a decline in its global governance ranking. Nigeria fell from 116th position in 2025, placing it among the world’s lowest-performing countries in government effectiveness. The index evaluates 35 indicators across seven pillars, including financial stewardship, leadership, institutional strength and public welfare. Nigeria ranked 80th in financial stewardship, 114th in global influence, 118th in leadership and foresight, and 122nd in institutional strength. It also placed 123rd in laws and policies, 124th in helping people rise, and 132nd in healthcare. Mauritius emerged as Africa’s highest-ranked country at 55th globally, followed by Rwanda at 62nd and Botswana at 70th. Chandler Governance Group’s Director of Knowledge, Dinesh Naidu, urged governments to learn from international experiences. “Every country faces its own governance challenges and is driven by varying priorities. Governments that are willing to take stock of the evidence and learn from peers to strengthen their institutions are well placed to achieve real improvements,” Mr Naidu said.

Switzerland suspends financial support for Doctors Without Borders over sexual abuse scandal in Chad Switzerland has suspended $1.52 million in funding to Doctors Without Borders (MSF) following allegations of sexual exploitation involving humanitarian workers in refugee camps in Chad. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation withheld CHF1.25 million from its annual CHF6.25 million commitment to the organisation. Swiss authorities accused MSF of failing to adequately report allegations involving staff members and Sudanese refugees. An internal investigation identified 59 allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation, including claims that humanitarian assistance was exchanged for sex. MSF subsequently dismissed 18 employees, including six affiliated with its Swiss branch. The organisation acknowledged shortcomings in its handling of the allegations. “This misconduct represents a serious breach of MSF’s values and responsibilities,” MSF Secretary General Laura Leyser said. Swiss authorities are considering further sanctions and an independent investigation. The government also plans to introduce stricter reporting requirements for humanitarian organisations receiving public funding from 2027.

Abdul El-Sayed's father linked to board of Islamic charity accused of aiding Saddam Hussein The father of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed serves on the board of an Islamic charity previously accused of transferring funds to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime. Imam Mohammed El-Sayed is a board member of Life for Relief and Development, a Michigan-based organisation investigated over alleged sanctions violations. US military personnel and FBI agents raided the charity’s Baghdad facilities in 2004 amid suspicions of financial misconduct. Federal authorities subsequently accused the organisation of transferring money through Jordan into Iraq. “LRD’s highest management levels—i.e., its President—knew of the conduct giving rise to the apparent violations and directed the funds transfers to Iraq via Jordan,” US authorities stated. The charity reached a $780,000 settlement with the government in 2014. A former public relations coordinator also pleaded guilty to violating federal sanctions laws. The report did not establish any wrongdoing by Abdul El-Sayed or his father. His campaign and the charity were contacted for comment.

NAFDAC secures five-year prison sentence for fake Goya oil producer The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has secured the conviction of an Aba businessman for producing and selling counterfeit Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Innocent Okoye, Managing Director of Chikason Industrial Nigeria Limited, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦5 million fine. Justice K. O. Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Umuahia, delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Okoye was convicted on two counts relating to the manufacture and sale of counterfeit olive oil. NAFDAC said its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate uncovered the illegal production facility during an operation in Aba in April 2026. The agency subsequently arrested Okoye and subjected recovered products to laboratory analysis before initiating prosecution. NAFDAC warned Nigerians against purchasing suspiciously packaged Goya oil, particularly products sold in plastic bottles, stressing that counterfeit food products pose serious public health risks.

APC insists Uzodimma remains Imo West candidate despite court ruling The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has insisted that Governor Hope Uzodimma remains its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general elections, despite a court ruling favouring former Governor Rochas Okorocha. A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday declared Okorocha winner of the party’s senatorial primary and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him. However, APC spokesperson Onwuasoanya FCC Jones maintained that Uzodimma won the primary through majority support. “The party wishes to state without any confusion that His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, remains the candidate of our party for Imo West Senatorial District, having won the primaries of our great party with the overwhelming support of the majority of our party members,” Jones stated. The party said its legal department would review the judgment and determine its next action. Jones also urged supporters to remain focused on securing victory in the forthcoming elections.

NAFDAC destroys counterfeit goods worth ₦8bn across North-Central Nigeria The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed counterfeit, expired, adulterated and banned products valued at over ₦8 billion across Nigeria’s North-Central region. NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State. Adeyeye, represented by Deputy Director Joseph Edor, said the products were confiscated from factories, markets, shops and motor parks across the region. She explained that most destroyed items were banned alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers smaller than 200 millilitres. The restriction, she said, aims to reduce alcohol abuse among young people, particularly schoolchildren. “Research has shown that early exposure to alcohol affects the brain and other vital organs such as the liver and kidneys,” she said. Other destroyed products included counterfeit medicines, expired drugs, adulterated food items and unsafe cosmetics. NAFDAC warned manufacturers and traders against distributing prohibited products, stressing that offenders would face prosecution. The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health nationwide.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang reportedly targeted in Chinese spy plot US intelligence agencies reportedly uncovered a suspected Chinese espionage operation involving a businesswoman with close ties to Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang. American officials concluded that Alice Huang, a Chinese executive associated with Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed, was passing intelligence to Beijing. Surveillance reportedly revealed her relationship with Jensen Huang, raising concerns about potential access to sensitive information involving Nvidia and US technology policy. President Donald Trump was briefed on the findings about a year ago but reportedly took no action. US authorities had also investigated Megaspeed over suspicions that advanced Nvidia artificial intelligence chips were reaching China despite export restrictions. Nvidia denied wrongdoing, maintaining that its interactions with customers were routine. “Jensen’s interactions with Ms. Huang are not unusual or unexpected. Meetings with customers are part of a C.E.O.’s job; Jensen talks with thousands of customer executives every year,” spokesman John Rizzo said. China dismissed the allegations as “groundless smears and slanders.”

NYT: Obama-era probe found evidence suggesting Rep. Ilhan Omar’s past marriage was a sham, officials say Federal investigators reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting that US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar entered into a fraudulent marriage with a man suspected of being her brother to help him obtain permanent residency in the United States. Current and former law enforcement officials said the FBI and Department of Homeland Security investigated Omar’s 2009 marriage to British citizen Ahmed Nur Said Elmi during the Obama administration in 2016. Investigators reportedly discovered evidence suggesting the marriage was fraudulent, but prosecutors declined to pursue charges because the alleged offence fell outside the five-year statute of limitations. Officials said Elmi obtained a provisional two-year green card through the marriage but abandoned his application for permanent residency after immigration authorities requested additional documentation. The Trump administration has now revived the investigation, examining Omar’s marriage and her family’s immigration history. However, authorities have not publicly established that Elmi is Omar’s brother or that she committed marriage fraud. Omar’s spokesperson, Jackie Rogers, rejected the allegations. “Rep. Omar has repeatedly and unequivocally denied this baseless, disgusting conspiracy theory,” Rogers said. “This is a desperate political smear designed to distract from Trump’s failed presidency and two years of Republican failure in Congress.” Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington residence on October 12 as part of the investigation. Democrats have condemned the renewed scrutiny as politically motivated, particularly ahead of next week’s midterm elections, where Omar is seeking a fifth congressional term.

Tinubu defends fresh borrowing, says loans will secure Nigeria’s future President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s fresh borrowing from international financial institutions, insisting the loans will finance infrastructure projects and create economic opportunities for future generations. Tinubu made the remarks in an essay shared Thursday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, amid criticism from opposition leaders. “The real question is not how much we borrow, but what we build, what value we create and what future we leave behind,” Tinubu stated. He identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, electricity grid upgrades and port modernisation as projects expected to stimulate economic growth. The President said the investments would reduce transportation costs, generate employment and support Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. He also cited improving economic indicators, including declining inflation and rising foreign reserves, as evidence of progress. “Securing financing is not the achievement. Completing the project, delivering value and improving the lives of Nigerians is the achievement,” he added.

Tinubu defends fresh borrowing, says loans will secure Nigeria’s future President Bola Tinubu has defended his administration’s fresh borrowing from international financial institutions, insisting the loans will finance infrastructure projects and create economic opportunities for future generations. Tinubu made the remarks in an essay shared Thursday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, amid criticism from opposition leaders. “The real question is not how much we borrow, but what we build, what value we create and what future we leave behind,” Tinubu stated. He identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, electricity grid upgrades and port modernisation as projects expected to stimulate economic growth. The President said the investments would reduce transportation costs, generate employment and support Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. He also cited improving economic indicators, including declining inflation and rising foreign reserves, as evidence of progress. “Securing financing is not the achievement. Completing the project, delivering value and improving the lives of Nigerians is the achievement,” he added.

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde announces resignation European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has announced her resignation, confirming she will leave office on February 7, 2027, nine months before her tenure expires. The development was confirmed by the ECB in a statement released on Thursday, October 29. Lagarde informed the bank’s Governing Council and European Council President António Costa of her decision. “The Governing Council thanked President Lagarde warmly and gave her a long standing ovation,” the ECB stated. The institution did not disclose reasons for her early departure. Lagarde, who assumed office in November 2019, previously served as managing director of the International Monetary Fund and France’s finance minister. Her resignation comes amid economic challenges facing Europe, including inflationary pressures and rising borrowing costs. European leaders will appoint her successor, with former Dutch central bank governor Klaas Knot and Spain’s Pablo Hernández de Cos emerging as potential candidates. The appointment process is expected to begin immediately.

Italian men find Edo girls irresistible — Oshiomhole recounts ambassador’s remark Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has revealed how an Italian ambassador allegedly told him that Italian men could not resist women from Edo State. Oshiomhole made the disclosure during Tuesday’s Senate plenary while discussing human trafficking and the need for cooperation between Nigeria and Italy. The senator recalled urging Italian authorities to discourage demand for trafficked Nigerian women rather than focusing solely on preventing trafficking from Nigeria. He quoted the ambassador as saying, “Your Excellency, I’m sorry, Italian people cannot resist Edo girls.” Oshiomhole responded, “If they cannot resist, they need the reorientation. Let them deal with Italian people and not Edo people.” He argued that tackling demand was essential to ending trafficking. Senate President Godswill Akpabio jokingly asked whether Oshiomhole had investigated the attraction. “I couldn’t do that because I’m a Catholic and I’m happily married,” Oshiomhole replied. The Senate subsequently called for stronger enforcement of anti-trafficking laws and improved rehabilitation programmes for victims.

'I am scared': Swiss model who accused Trump of rape fears for safety Former Swiss beauty queen Beatrice Keul, who has accused US President Donald Trump of rape, has expressed fears for her safety following renewed public attention to her allegations. Keul, a former Miss Switzerland runner-up, raised concerns after House Democrats released a report detailing her allegations against Trump. “I am scared,” Keul told the publication. The report has brought renewed scrutiny to accusations involving the US president, although the allegations remain disputed. Keul’s claims concern an alleged sexual assault involving Trump, which she says occurred years before his presidency. The White House has strongly rejected the allegations. “None of these allegations are true,” White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told Newsweek in a statement on Monday. The development comes amid renewed political scrutiny of Trump’s past conduct and allegations of sexual misconduct. The latest disclosure has also drawn attention to Keul’s concerns about her personal security following the publication of the congressional report.

US man kills wife's alleged lover after finding him in bed with her, children A California man has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his wife’s lover to death upon discovering him in bed with her and their two children. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, as reported by New York Post, Ismael Pinedalopez, 34, allegedly attacked Nicholas Garcia, 28, with a pocketknife on October 24, 2026, in Anaheim. Prosecutors said Pinedalopez returned home early and found Garcia wearing underwear in bed alongside his wife, their two-year-old daughter and four-year-old son. Garcia sustained multiple stab wounds and died at the scene. “Violence is never the answer, and it is truly heartbreaking that these young children had to witness their father commit such a horrific act of brutality in their own home,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. Pinedalopez was arrested and charged with murder and a weapon enhancement. His wife and children escaped unharmed. He faces 26 years to life imprisonment if convicted.

Italian ambassador told me their men cannot resist Edo girls — Oshiomhole . Senator Adams Oshiomhole has revealed how an Italian ambassador allegedly told him that Italian men could not resist Edo women during discussions on human trafficking. According to The Punch, Oshiomhole made the disclosure during Senate plenary on Tuesday while advocating stronger cooperation between Nigeria and Italy to combat trafficking. The former Edo governor said he had urged Italian authorities to discourage citizens from exploiting trafficked Nigerian women. He recalled the ambassador’s response: “Your Excellency, I’m sorry, Italian people cannot resist Edo girls.” Oshiomhole insisted that Italy must address demand rather than placing responsibility solely on Nigerian communities. “The law of economics is that without demand, there will be no supply, but when demand is strong, supply will find its way. So I think this really is a national problem,” he said. He urged both governments to strengthen anti-trafficking measures, stressing that tackling exploitation required coordinated efforts against trafficking networks and their customers.

Ebola: FG announces N45bn biosecurity project for Lagos, Abuja, three other airports The Federal Government has approved N45.08 billion for a biosecurity and disease surveillance system across five international airports amid concerns over Ebola and other infectious diseases. Health Minister Ali Pate announced the approval on Wednesday following the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu. Pate said the project would operate under a 20-year public-private partnership involving BioHealth Consortium. The airports include Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. The system will feature pathogen detection equipment, wastewater surveillance, laboratory facilities and a national surveillance operations centre. “This is not Ebola. It is all pathogens of huge public health threats,” Pate explained. He said the initiative would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to detect and respond to infectious diseases entering through international borders. The minister also confirmed that Nigeria’s recent Ebola patient had recovered, while contact tracing and quarantine measures continued. “Our goal is to contain it. We don’t want to be in a situation whereby we have community transmission,” he said.

O'Keefe faces felony charges after posing as Islamic voter... American conservative activist James O’Keefe and content creator Cam Higby have been charged with felonies following a controversial voting stunt at a polling station in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Prosecutors filed charges on Wednesday, October 28, accusing both men of unlawful voting and identity theft after they allegedly impersonated registered voters in August. The pair reportedly wore mock Islamic attire, adopted fake Arab accents and attempted to expose perceived weaknesses in Minnesota’s voter registration system. Both offences carry maximum penalties of five years in prison each. “Free and fair elections are the bedrock of democracy, and their protection is one of our highest priorities,” Hennepin County prosecutor Mary Moriarty said. Authorities confirmed that no fraudulent votes were cast during the incident. However, Higby denied wrongdoing, stating, “I never voted, I never signed an affidavit, and I never violated a law.” The charges come amid growing national debates over election security and voter identification requirements across the United States.

NLC president: N1m minimum wage would wreck economy The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has warned that increasing Nigeria’s minimum wage to ₦1 million could collapse the country’s economy. Ajaero made the statement during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, October 29. The labour leader explained that although discussions were ongoing between the NLC and the Federal Government over a possible minimum wage review, addressing the rising cost of living remained the priority. “N1,000,000 minimum wage will collapse the Nigerian economy,” he stated. Ajaero emphasised that the government must tackle the economic challenges responsible for rising prices and strengthen the purchasing power of the naira rather than focus solely on increasing workers’ salaries. He maintained that improving purchasing power would provide more sustainable relief for Nigerian workers struggling with inflation and economic hardship. His remarks come after the Federal Government recently approved a ₦70,000 transport allowance for workers amid rising fuel prices and mounting living expenses nationwide.