The family of late former Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari has revealed how some close associates and aides allegedly influenced government decisions during his tenure.

In a new biography, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari, written by Charles Omole and launched in Abuja, Buhari’s family, including his wife Aisha and children, alongside former senior officials, shared accounts of how certain individuals controlled access to the president and issued directives to government officials without his direct approval.

According to Premium Times, the book explains that this inner circle, which included Buhari’s relative Mamman Daura, his associate Isa Funtua, and his Chief of Staff Abba Kyari, shaped key decisions, from security matters to financial transactions and appointments.

While Daura and Funtua held no official roles, they were reported to have had considerable influence over Buhari, and Kyari’s position as Chief of Staff allowed him to reinforce their directives.

Fatima Buhari, one of the president’s daughters, revealed that she discovered forged documents bearing her father’s signature and noted that speeches and official orders were sometimes altered without his knowledge.

In one incident, a speech delivered in the United States had been changed without Buhari’s approval, reflecting the level of control exerted by the aides.

Former officials, including a past police chief, confirmed that instructions circulated as presidential orders were often not authorized by Buhari.

This practice extended to security operations, appointments, and even foreign exchange matters involving the Central Bank of Nigeria, causing delays and confusion in governance.

Babagana Monguno, former National Security Adviser, recounted clashes with Kyari and Daura, who reportedly blocked funds even after Buhari had approved them, affecting the functioning of the NSA office.

The book described Buhari as a leader who trusted long-time associates and avoided public confrontations, creating room for misuse of authority.

Buhari’s children frequently acted as intermediaries, presenting facts and correcting misinformation to ensure their father was aware of key issues.

The biography provides a detailed look at the inner workings of Buhari’s administration and the influence of personal networks on governance.

The United States government has halted the processing of green card and citizenship applications from Nigerians following Nigeria’s inclusion in an expanded list of countries subject to US immigration restrictions under a directive by President Donald Trump.

According to CBS News, a US official confirmed that the Trump administration instructed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to suspend the consideration of immigration petitions from nationals of countries newly placed under partial travel restrictions, citing national security concerns and ongoing reviews of vetting procedures.

The new directive follows a presidential proclamation issued earlier this week, which imposed further limitations on nationals of countries identified as having “demonstrated, persistent, and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” deficiencies that, according to the White House, pose risks to US national security and public safety.

Nigeria is among 15 countries newly subjected to partial travel restrictions.

While the measure does not amount to a full entry ban, it temporarily suspends the processing of green card and citizenship applications submitted by affected nationals.

President Trump had previously designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” on October 31, citing allegations of widespread violence against Christian communities and broader concerns over governance, security, and cooperation with US authorities.

Under the proclamation, countries under a full travel ban include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, Syria, Laos, and Sierra Leone.

Nations under partial restrictions now include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The proclamation builds on earlier restrictions announced in June, which had already limited immigration processing for nationals of several countries.

Notably, Laos and Sierra Leone were upgraded from partial restrictions to full bans, prompting USCIS to extend the suspension of immigration benefits, including permanent residency and naturalization applications.

Previously affected nations such as Afghanistan, Burundi, Chad, Cuba, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, Turkmenistan, Yemen, and Venezuela remain subject to similar measures.

US officials stated that the suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of a comprehensive review of screening and vetting procedures, though no timeline has been given.

The review aims to safeguard the integrity of the US immigration system.

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is safe and has not been attacked or stabbed at the Sokoto Custodial Centre.

One of his lawyers, Maxwell Opara, confirmed this in a statement.

Kanu is serving a life sentence at the facility after being convicted by Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court.

The IPOB leader was transferred to Sokoto following his conviction.

Opara explained that claims of an attack on Kanu are false and that he remains in custody without any harm.

Opara also addressed Kanu’s appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which sought to move him to Kuje Correctional Centre.

The court dismissed the case, stating it was no longer relevant due to his conviction.

The lawyer said the move to Sokoto was based on the original court order, which specified that Kanu be kept in a protective custodial facility.

Efforts to clarify the reasons for transferring Kanu to Sokoto revealed that the custodial centre is considered appropriate for his sentence, as directed by Justice Omotosho.

Opara emphasized that all actions regarding Kanu’s custody are in line with the court’s directives, and he is receiving the required attention at the correctional centre.

“I want to start by telling you that nobody stabbed Nnamdi Kanu and nobody attacked him. He is here in the Correctional Centre in Sokoto.

“Secondly, there is this issue of his case that was struck out in the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, last week. That case was filed in 2022 when we asked the court to order the DSS to transfer him back to a correctional centre so he could have access to a medical doctor. But we lost at the Federal High Court and then went to the Court of Appeal.

“When the matter came up, the court said it had become academic and struck it out.

“On the issue that relates to the one he filed at the Federal High Court so he could come back to Abuja to handle his appeal, that particular judgment relating to his conviction and sentence required that he be kept in a protective custodial centre in Nigeria, but he was taken to Sokoto Correctional Centre.

“So we tried to confirm from the correctional facility why they took him to Sokoto. Were they implying that Sokoto is more protective than Abuja?

“They said no. After indicating that in the judgment and in the remand warrant, the judge specifically mentioned Sokoto, and that’s why they took him there. Hence, he filed that motion at the Federal High Court,” he said.