Suspended Senator Natasha (Kogi Central) has arrived the National Assembly complex in the company of supporters.
The National Assembly complex and surroundings were taken over by security operatives in the early hours of Tuesday over Natasha’s plan to resume despite the Senate yet to lift her suspension.
The suspended senator has however arrived, trekking to the complex with supporters.
There is increased security presence in and around the National Assembly Complex over the plan by suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s plan to resume plenary today.
The security, comprising operatives of the Department of State Services, Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps among others are highly visible at the main gate of the National Assembly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), annex gate Villa gates into the complex.
The Nation observed that all vehicles bound for the National Assembly are being thoroughly frisked and those who could not produce their Identification Cards were denied entrance.
The Catholic Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, John Bakeni, has lauded the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Army for successfully rescuing a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Alphonsus Afina, who was kidnapped on June 1, by Boko Haram insurgents.
Father Afina’s kidnap in Gworza, Borno State, had grabbed global headlines, as he had served as a priest in Alaska from September 2017 through 2024.
Kidnapped with the priest were, at the time, an unspecified number of fellow travelers on the Liman Kara- Gwoza road in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.
It was gathered that Father Afina and 10 women were on Monday rescued by DSS operatives in the State.
The operatives were supported by troops of the Nigerian Army. No ransom was paid for the rescued victims.
Bishop Bakeni, who doubles as the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno State, commended the gallantry and intelligence of the DSS operatives who rescued the 11 persons unhurt.
According to the Bishop, the Catholic community worldwide was excited at news that Father Afina was rescued after nearly two months in the hands of insurgents.
According to the Bishop, Father Afina was travelling from Mubi, Adamawa State, to Maiduguri, when his vehicle was ambushed at a military checkpoint after a rocket-propelled grenade struck one of the vehicles in his convoy, killing one occupant.
DSS officers in Zamfara State, also with support from troops of the Nigerian Army, last week rescued 32 kidnap victims in Shinkafi LGA of the state.
Security sources disclosed that the rescued victims included 27 women and five young boys, who have spent between two and four months in captivity.
It was gathered they have been handed over to the state government for medicare and documentation.
State governments have retained N250 billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds they accessed instead of utilising the resources to develop basic education.
Executive Secretary Dr Aisha Garba disclosed the twist to the UBEC arrangement yesterday at a financial management training programme in Abuja.
The most common issue with the UBEC fund was the failure of states to provide counterpart funding to enable them to access it.
Dr. Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Razaq Akinyemi, said: “The basic challenge remains not only accessing the remaining UBE Intervention Fund, but importantly, the slow utilisation of the Fund with over N250 billion still being retained as unutilised in the coffers of the 36 SUBEBS & FCT-UBEB as at today.”
UBEC is funded as a first-line charge from the collectable education tax and other sources.
It is made available to states after their counterpart funding for the development of basic education.
Lapses identified by the UBEC boss include slow access to the UBE Matching Grant, slow utilisation of the fund, non-compliance with the fund utilisation guidelines, diversion of funds, non-deduction and remittance of taxes, non-compliance with the due process in the award of contracts for the execution of basic education projects, non-adherence to the approved action plan, among others.
Garba emphasised that UBEC’s goal is to ensure that participants understand and carry out the very crucial responsibility of ensuring that every naira allocated to the UBE programme is accounted for and effectively utilised in ways that add value and have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of the Nigerian child.
The training is for state officials who are managing the universal basic education to enable them to widen their knowledge and develop better skills.
It is a three-day event which started yesterday.
“This edition of the training is thus another critical milestone in our collective pursuit of ensuring transparency, accountability, and prudence in the management of public resources entrusted to us for the delivery of quality basic education.
“That is why we have carefully ensured that this particular training is expected to cover a range of pertinent areas including the new template for preparing SUBEB Action Plans, Overview of the Nigerian Tax Reforms Act, 2025, financial infractions, violations resulting in audit queries & red flags in the execution of UBE funded projects, Procurement Procedures, and maintenance of financial records, among others,” Dr. Garba said.
However, it is not all gloom. The UBEC boss highlighted some of the good deeds in recent times.
“Between January and June, 2025, N92.4billion being UBE Matching Grant has been accessed by 25 states and FCT,” she said.
The Commission disbursed N19billion, being the 2023/2024 Teacher Professional Development (TPD) fund, to 32 states & FCT.
It gave out N1.5billion SBMC School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) fund to 1,147 communities in the 36 states and FCT.
“This training, therefore, seeks to equip the fund managers with the skills required for making the necessary changes so as to address the challenge from issues of access, to timely utilisation as well as effective oversight and accountability at the grassroots.”
UBEC is a federal agency saddled with coordinating all aspects of the UBE programme implementation.
It was introduced in 1999 as a reform programme aimed at providing greater access to, and ensuring the quality of, basic education.
Its vision is to be a world-class education intervention and regulatory agency for the promotion of uniform, qualitative and functional basic education in Nigeria.
Its mission is to operate as an intervention, coordinating and monitoring agency to progressively improve the capacity of states, local government agencies and communities in the provision of unfettered access to high-quality basic education in Nigeria.
The attention of the editors of THISDAY and ARISE Media Groups has been drawn to false claims of misrepresentation of facts by the Board and Management of First HoldCo Plc in a sponsored post in some publications in an attempt to trample on our constitutionally guaranteed free speech and the freedom of the press as the Fourth Estate of the Realm as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) under the Right to Freedom of Expression and the Press states that:
“The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”
First HoldCo Plc, in it latest market action, an off-market sale of 10.4 billion shares valued at N324.47 billion on Wednesday July 16th, 2025, has brazenly affronted Laws and Regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria put in place for good governance and transparency as follows:
The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX)
Disclosure of Beneficial Ownership
•Any person acquiring 5% or more of a listed company’s shares (directly or indirectly) must be disclosed. Disclosure must include: identity of the beneficial owner; shareholding category (e.g., director, substantial shareholder, insider); and whether the holding is direct or via a trustee/nominee.
Material Transaction Disclosures
•The NGX requires timely and comprehensive disclosure of any transaction that involves a significant volume of shares or may materially impact investor perception or market price. Partial or delayed disclosure violates the principles of fair, orderly, and efficient markets.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Rule on Issuers’ Disclosure Obligations
•Listed companies must disclose material facts fully, frankly, and without omission. The SEC holds issuers accountable for any attempt to suppress, misrepresent, or under-report major transactions. The use of indirect vehicles (e.g., trustees, bridge holders) does not exempt issuers from disclosure obligations.
Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020
Section 7 – Acquisition of Significant Shareholding
•Any person or entity acquiring 5% or more of the shares in a bank or bank holding company must obtain prior written approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Approval is required again at higher thresholds: 10%, 20%, 25%, 50%, and 75%. Acquisitions made through nominees, proxies, trustees, or other indirect structures (such as a ‘Bridge Holder’) fall under this provision.
Section 9 – Notification of Shareholding
•Once a 5% stake is acquired, both the acquiring party and the institution (First HoldCo) must formally notify the CBN of the change in shareholding structure.
Section 27 – Disclosure and Transparency
•Financial institutions must disclose: their beneficial ownership structure; all related-party transactions; and any information that may materially affect stakeholders. Failure to provide full and frank disclosure is considered a violation of the Act.
Section 45 – Insider Lending and Conflicts of Interest
•Requires disclosure and regulatory approval for any transaction involving directors, officers, or related parties, especially if it affects control or ownership.
Section 65 – Prohibition on Lending Against Own Shares
•Explicitly prohibits any bank from granting loans or advances secured by its own shares. Any funding or financing arrangement involving the purchase of First HoldCo shares using credit from FirstBank would violate this section.
In line with the constitutional rights of the Nigerian media to ask questions , report facts and seek clarity where matters involving shareholders are opaque, other Nigerian media outlets have reported the following by First HoldCo Plc in its lack of transparency and full disclosure of it recent share sale to a trustee it described as a “Bridge Holder “ of First HoldCo Plc.
1. The Guardian: “Otedola Tightens Grip on First Bank with 40% Stake Acquisition”
2. BusinessDay: “Otedola Buys Out Otudeko, Increases Stake in First Bank to 36.7%.”
3. MoneyCentral: “Otedola Increases FirstHoldCo Stake to 40% with Buyout of Otudeko.
4. Punch: “ First Holdco’s N323.4bn Share Transaction Sparks Speculation over Otedola’s Stake”
5. Daily Independent: “First Holdco N1 Trillion NPLs Cast Shadow Over Otedola’s Takeover
In a July 18th letter written to the Chief Executive Officer of the NGX Regulation Ltd, First Holdco Plc referenced BusinessDay Newspaper’s reporting of the opaque off-market transaction.
So, why is First Holdco Plc singling out ARISE and THISDAY media groups for such intimidation in an attempting to gag the press and evade accountability?
The Nigeria media has only asked these questions because First Bank has not complied with Nigerian laws and regulations regarding full disclosure.
For instance, it has reported a N324.47 billion share acquisition of 10.4bn shares off market, but when it came to disclosure, it disclosed only N195 billion on the stock exchange contrary to Nigerian stock exchange rules that requires frank and full disclosures and no omission of facts that could disadvantage investors.
In asking these questions, First Bank has disclosed that there is a “Bridge Holder” confirming ARISE and THISDAY reports that the share acquisition was held by a trustee. A bridge holder, as described by First Bank, in simple language, is a trustee which was confirmed by the Attorney General to be Stanbic IBTC Bank.
So who is this bridge holder? How much are they holding? Who provided the funds which markets are claiming to be First Bank. Can they deny or confirm this?
Especially under the BOFIA Act, which says no bank shall grant any loans or advances on the security of its own shares. There are also Prudential Regulations on credit facilities granted by any bank to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers.
First Bank is also required by law to follow both CBN regulations and FCCPC rules. So far, these transactions have not been in compliance with these rules.
And it is the constitutional duty of the media to ask questions. And that is what we are asking. So instead of hiding and trying to intimidate the press and bully its practitioners, what we require is full disclosure from First Bank in line with Nigerian laws for market confidence. This especially at this time when the CBN has gone above and beyond to return the financial markets to orthodoxy.
Finally, FirstHoldCo refers to an unrelated transaction by a related entity: General Hydrocarbons Ltd claiming falsely that it’s being owed. First Bank used GHL assets to secure its loan of $400m from AMCON and has not paid nor has it met FBN’s commitments to GHL. FBN went to court 3 times before Justices Alagoa, Justice Dipeolu and Justice Obile all of the Federal High Court and lost all three cases to GHL. The case now in arbitration.
The Federal Government has faulted the claim by the Leader of the British Conservative Party, Ms. Kemi Badenoch, that Nigeria law does not allow women to pass on citizenship to their children.
Badenoch had claimed that she cannot pass on her Nigerian citizenship to her children because she is a woman.
In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on Sunday, Ms. Badenoch said while many Nigerians are taking advantage of the UK’s relatively easy citizenship acquisition process, it remains “virtually impossible to get Nigerian citizenship. I had that citizenship by virtue of my parents; I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman”, she said.
Reacting to the claim, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, told The Nation that Badenoch’s claim was disturbing because it lacks veracity.
“This is a false and very disturbing narrative because Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution allows citizenship by descent to children born abroad, if either parent is a Nigerian citizen, with no gender distinction,” he said.
Also, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga described Badenoch’s claim as false.
In a post on his X handle yesterday, Onanuga said Badenoch owed her fatherland an apology for the misleading statement.
He said: “Britain should send our lost daughter, Kemi Badenoch, home for a proper re-education. Section 25 of our Constitution defines who has the right to Nigerian citizenship.
“Kemi Badenoch lied. She owes her fatherland some apology.”
Quoting Section 25 of the Nigerian Constitution, Onanuga emphasised that every person born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either of their parents is a Nigerian citizen.
Quoting the section, he said: “25. (1) The following persons are citizens of Nigeria by birth, namely- (a) every person born in Nigeria before the date of independence, either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents belongs or belonged to a community indigenous to Nigeria; Provided that a person shall not become a citizen of Nigeria by virtue of this section if neither of his parents nor any of his grandparents was born in Nigeria.
“(b) every person born in Nigeria after the date of independence, either of whose parents or any of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria; and (c) every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria. (2) In this section, “the date of independence” means the 1st day of October 1960.”
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of twelve Commissioners of Police (CP) to the next rank of Assistant Inspectors General (AIG).
The Commission also approved the promotion of 16 Deputy Commissioners to substantive Commissioners and 27 Assistant Commissioners to Deputy Commissioners.
PSC refused to promote one Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) who was said to be absent during the promotion exercise, but his name was not mentioned.
The Commission also approved the promotion of 145 Chief Superintendents of Police to Assistant Commissioners which included General Duty Police Officers and specialists such as Officers from Airwing, Medical Doctors and Dentists, Pharmacists, Lab Scientists, physiotherapists and Nurses. Others are Priests, Airwing and aircraft Engineers.
Twenty-nine Superintendents of Police, all Specialists (Info-Tec, Works and AFIS) were also promoted to the next rank of Chief Superintendents of Police. The Commission also approved the promotion of 38 Deputy Superintendents (Specialists) to the next rank of Superintendents.
The twelve Commissioners of Police promoted to the rank of Assistant Inspectors General of Police are Johnson Oluwole Adenola, current Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, former Principal Staff Officer to the Inspector General of Police and former Deputy Commissioner Operations, Delta State Command; Ako Benedict Gabriel, Current CP Anti-Fraud; Ahmadu Tijani Abdullahi, CP Jigawa state; Emmanuel Adegbola Aina, acting AIG Intelligence, Force Intelligence; Omolara Ibidun Oloruntola; Hassan Abdu Yababet, CP, Police College Jos; Bretet Emmanuel Simon; CP Taraba; Enyinnaya Inonachi Adiogu, CP FCID, Gombe Zonal Command; Aminu Baba Raji; CP Special Unit, FCID, Alagbon; Mohammed Mu’azu Usman, CP Eastern Ports, Portharcourt Festus Chinedu Oko, acting AIG DLS Department, Force Headquarters and Ronke Nurat Okunade, Special Fraud Unit FCID Annex Lagos.
The 16 Deputy Commissioners promoted to full Commissioners are; Uduak Otu Ita; Sheikh Mohammed Danko; Charles Ezekwesiri Dike; Nnana Oji Ama, DC Intelligence FCID; Gabriel Onyilo Eliagwu; Abiola Reuben Olutunde; Yakubu Useni Dankaro; Michael Adegoroye Falade; Aina Adesola and Umar Ahmed Chuso.
Others are: Emefile Tony Osifo; Innocent Ilogbunam Anagbado; Musa Mohammed Sani; Victor Avwerosuo Erivwode, DC SEB, FCID; Omoikhudu Philip and Sylvester Edogbanya.
According to a statement on Monday by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the 27 Assistant Commissioners of Police elevated to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners are; Shehu Idris; David Adio Alalada acting DCP Admin, Enugu State Command; Dalhatu Basher; Hamzat Tambai; Abdulkarim Nuhu, Area Commander Port Harcourt; Olufemi Akinwale Akinola; Sani Fudaiku Kura; Yakubu Isah; Isa Abubukar Adamu; Sunday Omonijo and Sunday Akinlolu Okunola.
Others are Abimbola Shafkat Abdulraheem; Adekunle Murisiku Tokosi; Ibrahim Sumaila Musa; Mohammed Jega Musa; Musa Jibril; Ali Isa Gumel; Dankal Umar Bello; Suleiman Ladi Abdullahi; Suleiman Sade; Ahmed Ataka Tanko and Shehu Aliyu. ACP Ndidiamaka Alifi Oguamalam, Police College Ikeja; Magawata Mode; Adedeji Adeniyi; Bello Zaurah Tukur; Mohammed Muntari Mati and Mohammed Ajose were also promoted to Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Zubairu Maina, Olufikayo Abimbola Fawole, Stephen Olusola Olatise, Buhari Abdullahi and Akaniyere Etuk were some of the Chief Superintendents promoted to the next rank of Assistant Commissioners.
Others include Lateef Jaiyeola, CSP Admin, Force Education; Agbemoroti Clement Oloruntoba acting ACP Admin Zone 17 Akure and former DPO Bode Osi Olaoluwa, Osun state; Magaji Kabomo Mohammed, IGP Monitoring Unit; Chinedum Aniagbaso, ICT Force Headquarters; Abdullahi Mohammed Deba, Gender Unit, Force Intelligence; Mohammed Sani Idris, Commander SPU BASE 7 Abuja; Barau Dalhatu Bafarawa FCID and Ugwuodo Chika, Homicide section, FCID Abuja.
Adeoye Benjamin Oyekunle acting ACP X squad, Akure Ondo state Command; Sani El-Mustapha, CRU, Force Headquarters; Sani Mohammed Babainna and Olabode Olawole of the Airwing Unit among others.
The successful Officers underwent examination and interview sessions conducted by the Commission.
DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd, Chairman of the Commission’s Standing Committee on Police matters coordinated the promotion exercises and presented the report to the Commission in Plenary for consideration and approval.
PSC Chairman Hashimu Argungu said the promotion exams have come to stay in line with global best practices and advised the Officers to sit up or to be shown the way out.
Argungu said the Police Force of the 21st Century must be good enough to hold their own anywhere and ensure that Nigeria is freed from criminals and criminality.
He congratulated the successful candidates and urged them to rededicate themselves to the service of their nation.
Mohammed Babangida, son of former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming he rejected his recent appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The federal government had announced his appointment last week alongside seven others.
However, on Monday, social media was flooded with a letter allegedly written by Babangida to President Tinubu, thanking him for the offer but purportedly turning it down due to personal and professional reasons.
Reacting swiftly through the Ibrahim Babangida Media Office in Minna, Babangida described the letter as fake and politically motivated.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Mahmud Abdullahi, spokesperson for the Media Office, said Babangida immediately dismissed the letter as a fabrication by mischief makers when it was brought to his attention.
“It is a concocted letter from disgruntled elements. I am ready to serve as the chairman of the Bank of Agriculture,” Babangida was quoted as saying.
Abdullahi further explained that a closer examination of the letter revealed discrepancies, including a forged signature and an incorrect phone number on the letterhead.
“There is no truth in that letter. The members of the public should disregard it,” he concluded.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined the request by a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, for the release of his international passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom (UK) on health grounds.
In a ruling on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite found that the medical report, attached to Bello’s application was not signed by its maker as required.
Justice Nwite noted that the report, marked as Exhibit B, which was the medical report provided by a doctor, was not signed by its maker, and as such, could not be accorded any probative value.
The judge stressed that an unsigned document carries no weight in law and therefore, considered worthless.
He said: “In other words, Exhibit B is devoid of probative value and cannot be relied upon by the court.
“The defendant has failed to place sufficient materials before this court for his passport to be released for him to travel. Consequently, this application is hereby refused.”
The judge faulted the argument by the prosecution that the application constituted an abuse of court process.
He noted that Bello’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) had argued among others, that his client was a known hypertensive patient for about 15 years.
On the prosecution’s argument that Bello’s sureties were not involved in the defendant’s application, noting that the case was only between the prosecution and the defence.
He said, “The counsel to the complainant did not cite any section of the law that says sureties should be given notice or made a party in the motion on notice.
“The counsel did not cite any law, whether locally or internationally, to back his argument.
“On the abuse of process of court, it is the argument of the complainant that the instant application is incompetent and amount to abuse of court process.
“It is not in dispute that the applicant is standing trial before this court and FCT court and it is not in dispute that the applicant was granted bail in this court on December 13, 2024 and at FCT High acourt on December 19, 2024.
“The FCT High Court, in its ruling, said that the applicant must seek the leave of the court. Hence, this instant application does not amount to abuse of court process.
“It is also the fact that this court and the FCT High Court are courts of coordinate jurudiction,” Justice Nwite stated.
He then adjourned till October 7 for continuation of trial.
The ex-governor is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/98/2024,in which he is among others, allegedly laundering N80, 246,470, 088.88 purportedly belonging to Kogi State.
Medical services across Nigeria may face a total shutdown by Thursday as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to begin a nationwide strike if the federal government fails to meet its demands before the expiration of its 21-day ultimatum.
The association, which represents doctors nationwide, issued the warning over unresolved issues surrounding remuneration and welfare.
NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, stated that the association would be left with no option but to withdraw services if its demands are not met by July 23.
He specifically condemned a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, describing it as a violation of previously agreed terms concerning allowances for medical and dental officers.
“We have rejected that circular outright,” Audu declared. “We expect that any new directive affecting our members should result from mutual consultation, not unilateral imposition.”
He emphasized that the unresolved issues are critical to the survival of the already strained healthcare system in Nigeria and require urgent government attention.
Audu further disclosed that although the NMA has held meetings with senior government officials, including the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, no meaningful resolution has been reached.
He warned that the government’s continued delay could plunge the country’s health sector into crisis if immediate steps are not taken to avert the looming strike.
“The last meeting held two weeks ago included all relevant stakeholders—the Health Ministers, Permanent Secretary, Director of Hospital Services, and a representative from the Ministry of Labour,” he said.
“We were meant to reconvene last week, but the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari disrupted the schedule.”
Audu explained that the next meeting is expected to involve the Ministry of Finance and the Salaries and Wages Commission whose circular triggered the protest, as well as officials from the Ministry of Health.
With the July 23 deadline fast approaching, the NMA has urged the Federal Government to take the matter seriously and act swiftly to prevent avoidable disruptions to healthcare services across the country.
“We are running out of time. If we don’t meet within the next few days and resolve these critical issues, industrial action may be inevitable,” Audu warned.
He added that doctors are not eager to abandon their posts, but would not allow government policies to undermine their welfare and the quality of healthcare delivery in the country.
The NMA had on July 2 given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to withdraw the disputed circular and address other pressing demands, failing which it would initiate a nationwide strike.