In a short video that he posted alongside the photographs of Viktor Babaryko, he said the prisoner had "looked well", claimed he was cheerful and that the two had chatted, joked and "even laughed" together.

Walking out of the prison in the capital, Abuja, Bala looked tired, but cheerful dressed in a white T-shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops.

His mood seemed upbeat and cheerful, which served to remind me that the second coming of Trumpov is not actually the apocalypse.

It was cheerful and rhymed but lacked oomph.

There are not the usual cheerful street decorations nor the giant Christmas tree in front of the Nativity Church, built over the spot where it is believed that Jesus was born.