President Bola Tinubu on Friday appointed new heads for the armed forces in a major overhaul aimed at strengthening the Nigeria’s security structure, the presidency said in a statement.

General Olufemi Oluyede was named Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa. Major-General Waidi Shaibu becomes Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke is the new Chief of Air Staff, and Rear Admiral Idi Abbas was appointed Chief of Naval Staff.

Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence, according to the statement signed by presidential adviser Sunday Dare.

The presidency said the changes were part of efforts to “strengthen the national security architecture” amid ongoing security challenges across parts of the country, including insurgency, banditry, and maritime threats.

Meet The New Service Chiefs and Their Profiles

General Olufemi Oluyede – Chief of Defence Staff

Oluyede previously served as Chief of Army Staff and commanded the Infantry Corps in Jaji, Kaduna. A member of the 39th Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he was commissioned in 1992 and has taken part in several operations, including ECOMOG in Liberia and counterinsurgency missions in Nigeria’s northeast.

He has received multiple military honours, including the Corps Medal of Honour and Grand Service Star.

Major-General Waidi Shaibu – Chief of Army Staff

Shaibu, 53, was born in Kogi State and commissioned into the Armoured Corps in 1994. A graduate of the Nigerian Defence Academy, he also holds degrees in public administration, strategic studies, and security studies from universities in Nigeria and the United States.

He has commanded several formations, including 7 Division and Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai in Maiduguri, and has participated in multiple counterterrorism operations.

Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke – Chief of Air Staff

Aneke, 53, joined the military in 1988 and was commissioned as a pilot officer in 1993. He has held senior roles at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters and served as Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He holds degrees in physics, management, international affairs, and strategic studies, and has flown multiple aircraft including Gulfstream and Falcon jets.

Rear Admiral Idi Abbas – Chief of Naval Staff

Abbas, 56, from Kano State, was commissioned in 1993 after earning a degree in chemistry. An Above Water Warfare specialist, he has held key operational and administrative posts, including Maritime Guard Commander at NIMASA, Flag Officer Commanding Central Naval Command, and Chief of Defence Civil–Military Relations.

He was most recently a senior research fellow at the Nigerian Army Heritage Centre.

Tinubu, who took office in 2023, has repeatedly pledged to overhaul Nigeria’s security forces to tackle long-running conflicts and restore stability across Africa’s most populous nation.

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The FCT Minister says he cannot testify in Kanu’s trial based on media reports alone.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that he will only appear as a witness in the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, if he is formally summoned by the court.

Wike made this clarification during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, stressing that his name appearing in the newspapers does not automatically make him a witness in the ongoing case.

“You don’t become a witness by reading the newspaper. Nobody has served me any process; nobody has subpoenaed me,” Wike said.
“So, because I saw Wike listed, I will not begin to run helter-skelter. No, you don’t do that. If I am served, if I am subpoenaed to come and give a witness or give evidence, I must obey the court; I must appear.”

When asked why Kanu listed him as one of his witnesses, the Minister said he had no idea.
“If you see Nnamdi Kanu, you ask him, ‘Why did you list me? I did not go and say I want to be a witness,’” he said.

Wike also declined to comment on whether Kanu’s continued detention should be resolved through a political settlement.

Kanu, who is currently facing terrorism charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, has reportedly listed several top figures as “compellable witnesses” in his defence.

Among those named are a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd); former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma; Minister of Works Dave Umahi; and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The IPOB leader has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his extradition from Kenya in June 2021.

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President Bola Tinubu has announced major changes in Nigeria’s military leadership, appointing General Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), replacing General Christopher Musa.

The shake-up, revealed on Friday in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, also saw new appointments across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Under the new military hierarchy, Major-General W. Shaibu becomes the Chief of Army Staff, Air Vice Marshal S.K. Aneke takes over as the Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas assumes office as the Chief of Naval Staff.
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major-General E.A.P. Undiendeye, retains his position.

According to the statement, the changes are part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement read.

“He charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them by further enhancing the professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

All the appointments take immediate effect.

General Oluyede’s elevation to CDS marks a rapid rise within the military leadership. He was appointed acting Chief of Army Staff in December 2024, following the death of Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja.

Nottingham Forest began a new chapter under manager Sean Dyche with an impressive 2-0 victory over FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night at the City Ground.

The win marked Forest’s first European triumph since the 1995/96 season, ending a decade-long wait for continental glory.

Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring in the 19th minute from the penalty spot after a handball in the area, while Brazilian forward Igor Jesus sealed the result with another spot-kick in the 77th minute.

The disciplined performance also saw Forest earn their first clean sheet since April, signaling an immediate impact from Dyche’s trademark defensive organization.

READ ALSO: Nottingham Forest Appoint Sean Dyche as Head Coach Until 2027

The hosts, who had gone 10 games without a win prior to Dyche’s arrival following Ange Postecoglou’s sacking, frustrated a Porto side that entered the fixture unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions. Dyche’s compact 4-4-2 setup neutralized Porto’s attacking threat, with goalkeeper Matt Turner rarely tested throughout the encounter.

The victory lifts Forest into a promising position in their Europa League group and gives fans renewed optimism for the rest of the campaign. Dyche hailed the result as “a foundation to build on” as he looks to restore stability and resilience to the side.

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Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore was reportedly arrested on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after meeting the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Eyewitnesses said Sowore was whisked away by security operatives on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, moments after leaving the courtroom where he had exchanged greetings with Kanu.

The activist, known for his outspoken stance on governance and civil rights, had earlier shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) confirming his meeting with Kanu, describing him as “powerful and unrelenting.”

Reacting to the arrest, prominent human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong condemned the incident on X, calling it “preposterous” and a violation of judicial integrity.

Effiong wrote:

“The arrest of Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja moments ago is preposterous.
The police and the Tinubu regime are making a mockery of our judicial system.
He should be freed immediately.
Stop the shenanigans.”

As of press time, the reason for Sowore’s arrest remains unclear, and authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the incident.

A video circulating online shows the moment the activist was surrounded by police officers before being taken away from the court premises.

This development comes just hours after Nnamdi Kanu told the court he would be representing himself following the withdrawal of his legal team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).