After more than two decades of internal conflict, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS) has successfully resolved its 24-year ownership crisis, which had caused divisions within the church and led to widespread destruction of property across its global branches.

Addressing the media in Uyo, the Chairman of the BCS Board of Trustees, Sister Victoria Clarke, announced that the organization has now registered a new board with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), officially settling the long-standing leadership dispute.

Clarke emphasized that the new board comprises carefully selected individuals known for their integrity, who will now oversee the affairs of the church.

“These trustees are now at the helm of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. They are the only legally recognized body authorized to administer and represent the church globally. This marks a new beginning, where the true beauty and purpose of the Brotherhood will shine forth to the world,” she stated.

Clarke also addressed misconceptions surrounding the church’s leadership, reaffirming that its founder, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, remains the Sole Spiritual Head.

She dismissed claims that his second son, His Holiness Roland Olumba Obu, had taken over the church’s leadership.

“The Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is not a hereditary institution. Leader Olumba Olumba Obu remains the Sole Spiritual Head and the Promised Comforter. He has no assistant or deputy,” she declared.

While acknowledging Roland Olumba Obu as the second son of the leader, Clarke made it clear that the church does not recognize him as its spiritual head.

“We respect and honor him as the Leader’s child, but he is not God, and the Brotherhood does not acknowledge him in that capacity,” she added.

A fatal accident on the Benin-Auchi highway in Edo State claimed the lives of 12 passengers on Saturday morning after a Toyota Hiace bus collided with an oncoming truck, resulting in a fiery explosion.

The Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cyril Mathew, confirmed the incident, which occurred around 5 am at Igueoviobo community, near an army checkpoint.

According to Mathew, the bus, which departed Zuba in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and was en route to Benin City, veered into the path of the oncoming truck heading toward Auchi.

The collision ignited a fire that engulfed the entire bus, leaving no survivors.

“The crash was likely caused by fatigue, as the bus driver may have dozed off behind the wheel,” he stated.

FRSC officials managed to identify the victims using the vehicle’s passenger manifest and have since contacted their families.

Meanwhile, the truck driver and his assistant, commonly referred to as the “motor boy,” escaped unhurt.

In response to the tragedy, Mathew reiterated the importance of road safety, urging drivers to take adequate rest before embarking on long journeys to prevent fatigue-related accidents.

Legal luminary and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has faulted former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, for expressing regret over the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election without offering a direct apology to M.K.O. Abiola’s family and Nigerians.

Speaking at a lecture in honor of Pastor E.A. Adeboye’s 83rd birthday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) headquarters in Mowe, Ogun State, Olanipekun described Babangida’s recent autobiography as contradictory, stating that while it acknowledged the subversion of the people’s will, it lacked any real remorse.

“Despite the public regret expressed in the book, there was no word of apology to the late M.K.O. Abiola, his family, or Nigerians who were denied their mandate,” Olanipekun said.

Beyond Babangida’s stance on June 12, Olanipekun emphasized that Nigeria’s current structure is unsustainable, advocating for urgent restructuring to ensure stability and progress.

“I strongly believe that this amoebic configuration will not take us far. Until we restructure, Nigeria will continue to struggle,” he asserted.

During the panel session, Justice Eni Esan (rtd.), Chairperson of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, commended Olanipekun’s lecture, supporting his call for constitutional reforms.

“I agree with him, Nigeria needs a new constitution. We have been treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes. The political class must be willing to let go of the status quo for true progress to happen,” she said.

She also blamed corruption and cultural biases for Nigeria’s stagnation, noting that some regions still discourage education, making national reorientation crucial.

Similarly, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Pastor Leye Oyebade, emphasized the importance of strong institutions in driving justice and national progress.

“We need institutions that can function independently. Law enforcement, prosecution, and the judiciary must work hand in hand for effective governance. Without political will, we cannot implement the necessary constitutional overhauls,” Oyebade added.

The Kano State Government has earmarked N8 billion for this year’s Ramadan feeding program, aimed at assisting the less privileged during the holy month.

Governor Abba Yusuf made the disclosure on Friday at the Government House, Kano, during the official distribution of 1,250 cartons of dates donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, the governor expressed appreciation to the Saudi Consul-General in Kano, Khalil Adamawi, for the continued generosity towards the state.

“This is the fourth time the state has received such donations, and it comes at a crucial period when the government is working hard to alleviate food scarcity and economic hardship faced by citizens,” Yusuf stated.

He further described Kano as the most peaceful state in northern Nigeria, highlighting that the stability of the state has attracted migrants from across the region, adding pressure on infrastructure, healthcare, and social services.

“Ramadan this year comes at a very challenging time when Kano is the only haven of peace in the North, increasing the burden on government resources,” the governor noted.

Governor Yusuf also appealed to the Saudi Arabian authorities to support the state by building a psychiatric hospital and renovating the Displaced Children Camp, emphasizing the need for improved welfare services.

In his remarks, Commissioner for Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Adamu Kibiya, praised Saudi Arabia for its humanitarian support globally and thanked them for assisting Kano’s residents.

On behalf of Saudi Arabia, Consul-General Ahmad Adamawi reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to humanitarian aid and lauded Governor Yusuf for his ongoing infrastructural, health, and educational projects.

The donated dates were distributed to Associations of People with Disabilities, Islamic clerics, and other beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, in a separate Ramadan message, Governor Yusuf urged business owners to reduce prices of essential commodities to enable citizens to observe the holy month with ease.

He also called on residents to support one another, particularly the vulnerable, and to focus on worship and prayers for the continued progress of the state.

A chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Hon. Attom Magira, has taken legal action against the Borno State government following the demolition of his multi-million naira shopping mall in Maiduguri.

The four-storey plaza, located along Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, opposite the State Low-Cost Housing Estate, was recently pulled down by the state government as part of an ongoing demolition exercise targeting structures deemed illegal.

However, Magira argues that his property was lawfully acquired and fully approved by relevant authorities.

Speaking through his lawyer, Hamza N. Dantani of Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, Magira said he had approached the Borno State High Court to challenge the demolition, describing it as unlawful.

In the suit Alhaji M. Attom Magira v. Borno State Urban Planning and Development Board (BOSUPDB) (Suit No. BOHC/MG/CV/8/2025), Magira seeks to establish that his building complied with all town planning regulations and should not have been targeted.

Dantani alleged that the demolition was politically motivated and carried out under direct instructions from Governor Babagana Zulum’s administration.

“The demolition of my client’s shopping mall is not just an attack on an individual’s investment but a blatant disregard for the rule of law and the economic future of Borno State,” Dantani stated.

He further noted that Magira had secured a statutory right of occupancy and obtained all necessary approvals, including development permit no. BSUPDB/DC/2194 for his property.

Despite the state government’s ongoing crackdown on unauthorized buildings, it has yet to provide an official explanation for the demolition of Magira’s plaza.

Dantani stressed that the investment was meant to create employment opportunities and boost local businesses in a state already struggling with economic hardship and insecurity.

“In a region devastated by terrorism and economic challenges, such an investment should have been protected, not destroyed due to political persecution,” he added.

Ms. Hadiza Musa Baffa, the woman at the center of a paternity dispute with former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss his application seeking to prevent the submission of a DNA test result in court.

The legal battle stems from allegations of false marriage, adultery, and other related offences against Turaki, following claims that the two cohabited between December 2014 and August 2016.

The paternity of Baffa’s child has since become a point of contention.

On February 18, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the case to allow the respondents—the Nigerian Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rita Oki Oyintare—to file a response explaining why Turaki’s request should not be granted.

Baffa’s lawyer, Usman Chamo, confirmed that they have filed both an affidavit and a counter-affidavit opposing Turaki’s application.

In her affidavit, Baffa argued that allowing the ex-minister’s request would be unfair and cause irreparable harm to both her and her child.

She accused Turaki of attempting to suppress evidence, stating that he filed the suit only after learning that the DNA test had been conducted and allegedly confirmed him as the child’s biological father with 99.9% certainty.

She also refuted Turaki’s claims about a previous court order restraining the police from acting on any complaints, asserting that the order was obtained through misrepresentation and was later vacated by the judge.

“The applicant is fully aware that the DNA test is the only scientific means to confirm or refute his paternity. His attempt to block its use raises serious questions about his intentions,” she stated in her affidavit.

Turaki, in his motion dated February 11, 2025, is seeking an interim injunction to prevent the police from presenting or relying on the DNA test result, which was conducted at DNA Labs Limited on November 5, 2024.

He alleged that DCP Oyintare detained him for six hours at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Garki, Abuja, where he was allegedly forced to provide a swab sample for the test.

He claims that despite his objections, the sample was taken before he was released around 10 p.m. that night.