Indications emerged that the allegations against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, over a petition of involvement in an alleged $5 million bribery scheme aimed at overturning a court order restraining Nestoil Limited and its affiliates from tampering with their assets in a $1 billion debt recovery dispute is baseless and mere distractions.

The allegations surfaced barely one week after Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted a Mareva injunction inSuit No. FHC/L/CS/2127/2025, empowering First Trustees Limited and FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited to take possession of Nestoil’s assets pending determination of the case.

Investigations by our judiciary correspondent revealed that the story flying on some online platforms is aimed at diverting attention on the issues raised in the matter.

More details later

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has issued a statement reacting to remarks attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding plans to launch military operations against the group in Nigeria.

In a propaganda message circulated on its usual communication channels, ISWAP described Trump as a “reckless American tyrant,” alleging that he was being influenced by “evangelical Christian and Jewish advisers” during his administration. The group claimed that the comments signaled what it described as an attempt by the U.S. to project itself as a “global defender of Christians.”

The extremist group further claimed that such rhetoric would draw the U.S. into conflicts in other countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, where militant attacks have resulted in large-scale casualties. According to ISWAP, this development aligns with what it called the broader strategy of the Islamic State movement to stretch the U.S. military across multiple conflict zones.

The group cited battlefields in Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan and the Lake Chad Basin as areas where it believes Washington could become overextended if it decides to intervene militarily.

ISWAP also issued a directive to its fighters, urging them to avoid large gatherings, limit movement and reduce the use of smartphones, citing what it called a likelihood of intensified U.S. surveillance and drone activity. The warning was extended to other Islamic State affiliates globally.

In the statement, the group called on Muslims in West Africa to “unite” and take the alleged U.S. threat seriously, accusing the West of what it termed “crimes against African Muslims.”

BY: Fabian Apechihin 
The Federal Government has officially opened applications for the **Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (RHAMP)** — a nationwide initiative designed to revolutionise Nigeria’s agricultural sector through large-scale mechanisation and the empowerment of young and female agripreneurs.  

The programme, managed by the **Bank of Agriculture (BOA)** in partnership with **Heifer Nigeria**, is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader plan to modernise farming, boost productivity, and reduce dependence on manual labour in the agricultural value chain.  

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, **Dada Olusegun**, announced on Thursday, November 6, 2025, that the application process is **free of charge** and currently ongoing. Interested Nigerians are encouraged to apply via the official portal — [https://boanig.com](https://boanig.com) — before the **deadline of November 10, 2025**.  

### Key Features of RHAMP  
The RHAMP initiative aims to create a new generation of **mechanisation service providers** across Nigeria, with a focus on **women and youth** who often face barriers in accessing capital for tractors and heavy machinery. Existing mechanisation firms seeking to expand their fleets are also eligible to apply.  

The programme offers affordable access to **tractors and modern implements** through a structured **leasing arrangement**, complete with a **three-year servicing plan** at certified workshops or mobile maintenance hubs.  

Repayment is designed to be flexible — tied to actual usage and earnings — allowing beneficiaries to gradually offset costs as their businesses grow.  

To ensure accountability, the scheme incorporates **digital monitoring via IoT technology** to track equipment usage and maintenance schedules in real time.  

### Government Reaffirms Commitment to Modernising Agriculture  
Officials say RHAMP marks a major step toward **modernising Nigeria’s food system**, strengthening **rural livelihoods**, and improving **farm productivity** nationwide. It also aligns with President Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to enhance **food security** and lower production costs for small and medium-scale farmers.  

The initiative builds on the first phase of RHAMP, launched in June 2025, which distributed **2,000 modern tractors**, **50 industrial-grade bulldozers**, **12 mobile workshops**, and **over 8,000 specialised farming implements** across several states.  

At the launch, President Tinubu described RHAMP as a **“bold step toward a sustainable agricultural future”**, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to achieving food sufficiency and economic diversification through agriculture.  

He noted, “Today, we take a monumental leap forward with the introduction of state-of-the-art tractors through our new agricultural mechanisation programme. We are very proud of what we are doing.”  

The Federal Government is now calling on **women, youths, and mechanisation companies** to seize this opportunity. The Bank of Agriculture emphasised that RHAMP is not just about providing tractors but about **building a network of trained, equipped, and financially supported service providers** capable of unlocking Nigeria’s full agricultural potential.  

Officials expressed confidence that the programme will **enhance food security, create jobs**, and support the administration’s **Renewed Hope Agenda** for national development.