El-Rufai pleads not guilty to amended wiretapping charges

The Department of State Services on Thursday, arraigned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count amended charge bordering on alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security.

El-Rufai, who appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

At the resumed proceedings, DSS counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to take his plea, adding that a further amended five-count charge was filed on April 13.

He urged the court to substitute the earlier three-count charge with the amended one.

Counsel to the defendant, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), confirmed he had been served with the amended charge and indicated that he was not opposing the substitution.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to May 18, 19, and 20 for hearing.

Senate begins screening of Tinubu’s ministerial nominee

The Senate on Thursday commenced the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominee for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqha Darma, marking the latest step in the administration’s efforts to strengthen its cabinet.

The minister-designate was ushered into the chamber at exactly 12:32 pm, where he appeared before lawmakers in plenary for the constitutionally mandated exercise.

As of press time, senators had begun questioning the nominee on his qualifications, policy direction, and readiness to manage the critical housing portfolio.

The screening follows a formal request transmitted to the upper chamber by the President on Wednesday, seeking Darma’s confirmation as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who read the communication from Tinubu during plenary, subsequently referred it to the Committee of the Whole for consideration, directing that the panel report back as soon as practicable.

Cross River dismisses report of new COVID-19 cases

The Cross River Government has dismissed reports alleging 10 new COVID-19 symptomatic cases, describing the claim as misleading and inaccurate, while reaffirming that only one confirmed case exists in the state.

The rebuttal followed publications claiming the state had identified additional persons showing COVID-19 symptoms, raising concerns among residents about a possible resurgence of infections across communities.

Dr Henry Ayuk, the Commissioner for Health, earlier confirmed a COVID-19 case involving a Chinese national working in the state, who was currently receiving treatment and responding well.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Calabar, Ayuk clarified that as of April 23, 2026, Cross River had only one confirmed COVID-19 case and no new confirmed or suspected cases recorded.

He explained that the 10 individuals referenced in the report were contacts traced from the single confirmed case, noting that contact tracing remained a standard public health response to contain potential spread.

According to him, the individuals are not symptomatic and do not meet the criteria for suspected cases, adding that they are currently under home isolation and monitored daily by health officials.

Ayuk emphasised that the isolation measure was purely precautionary and should not be interpreted as evidence of new infections, reiterating that the state had not recorded any additional COVID-19 cases.