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Category: Featured

JUST IN: Five feared dead as bandits attack National Park in Oyo

Suspected bandits on Tuesday night attacked personnel of the National Park Service (NPS) in Oloka village, Orire Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State.

The Nation learnt that the attack occurred around 9:00 pm on January 6, 2026, catching the NPS personnel by surprise. Several officers were reportedly killed or injured during the incident.

Further details, including the exact number of casualties, are yet to be confirmed.

Read Also: Suspected bandits abduct nursing mother, infant in Ondo

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, was said to have confirmed the incident.

He said, “Yes, there was an attack by yet to be identified men against the men of the National Park. The Commissioner of Police and other service chiefs are currently on their way to the location.

“Meanwhile, the CP Femi Haruna has deployed tactical teams, Mobile Police Force officers of the NPF and EOD to the affected area to prevent further breakdown of law and order,” he explained.

Details shortly…

January 7, 2026
BREAKING: Court grants ex-AGF Malami, son, wife N1.5bn bail

The immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Wednesday secured bail in the sum of N1 billion from the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In a ruling delivered by trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, the court also granted bail to Malami’s wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, who is a co-defendant in the case, in the sum of N500 million, bringing the total bail granted to N1.5 billion.

Justice Nwite ordered that each of the defendants must produce two sureties in like sum.

The sureties are required to be owners of landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa areas of the Federal Capital Territory.

The court further directed that the defendants submit title documents of the properties for verification and surrender their international passports. The sureties were also ordered to provide two recent passport photographs and depose to affidavits of means.

Read Also: Alleged N8.7b fraud: Court rules January 7 on Malami, others’ bail

In addition, the court warned that the defendants must not travel outside the country without prior approval and ordered that they remain in custody until all bail conditions are fully met.

The matter was adjourned until February 17 for trial.

Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 16-count charge of money laundering.

He was arraigned alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, who was identified as an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a company allegedly used to launder proceeds of unlawful activities through property transactions.

Details shortly…

January 7, 2026
FULL LIST: Five notable foreign Leaders captured by US

U.S. President Donald J. Trump, on Saturday, January 3, announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following an overnight joint military operation in Caracas.

Speaking at a news conference from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump described the raid as a high-risk extraction carried out against what he called a heavily fortified target in the heart of Venezuela’s capital.

According to the U.S. President, the operation resulted in the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores de Maduro. Trump said the pair will face criminal proceedings in the United States stemming from a 2020 Department of Justice indictment that includes charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

While the detention of a sitting foreign president is rare and controversial, Maduro’s case is not without historical precedent. On a handful of consequential occasions, the United States has directly detained or removed sitting presidents or de facto heads of state abroad, actions that have often sparked lasting legal, diplomatic and sovereignty debates.

Here are notable foreign leaders who have been detained by the United States.

1. 1901 — Emilio Aguinaldo (Philippines)

During the Philippine–American War, U.S. forces conducted a covert operation to capture Emilio Aguinaldo — leader of the Filipino independence movement and head of a rival government. Although not a president in today’s sense, Aguinaldo’s detention effectively broke organized resistance and highlighted America’s expanding imperial reach at the start of the 20th century.

His capture remains a defining moment in early U.S. colonial history.

2. 1990 — Manuel Noriega (Panama)

Once a CIA asset turned adversary, Panama’s military ruler Manuel Noriega was seized during Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989–1990. After his surrender, Noriega was flown to the United States, tried in a federal court on drug trafficking charges and sentenced to prison.

Read Also: Military feat in Venezuela amazing, says Trump

His case stands as perhaps the clearest example of the U.S. treating a foreign head of state as a criminal defendant within its own legal system.

3. 2003 — Saddam Hussein (Iraq)

After the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein was found hiding near Tikrit in December 2003. His capture marked a symbolic end to the Ba’athist regime.

Following his arrest, Saddam was transferred to Iraqi authorities, tried before an Iraqi court for crimes against humanity and executed in 2006.

This remains one of the most legally formalised cases of a foreign leader detained after U.S. military engagement.

4. 2004 — Jean-Bertrand Aristide (Haiti)

The removal of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide remains one of the most disputed U.S. interventions of the modern era.

In the midst of an armed uprising, U.S. forces escorted Aristide onto a plane and flew him out of Haiti.

Washington described the move as a protective evacuation amid chaos, while Aristide later denounced it as a forcible removal, calling it a “kidnapping.”

Debate endures over whether he was “captured,” but the U.S. undeniably controlled his departure.

5. 2026 — Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela)

In a stunning and highly controversial military operation on January 3, 2026, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and transported him to New York to face criminal charges, including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in federal court on January 5 and entered not guilty pleas amid debate over the legality of the operation and claims of presidential immunity.

The Trump administration argued the action was justified by longstanding indictments and a global narcotics threat, but critics say it violates international law and sovereign norms.

January 7, 2026
Repeal, re-enactment of 2024, 2025 budgets remain constitutional — Budget Office

The Budget Office of the Federation (BOF) has affirmed the repeal and re-enactment of the 2024 and 2025 Appropriation Acts remain a valid constitutional and legislative instrument for budgetary oversight and fiscal alignment, having duly passed through the National Assembly and received presidential assent.

Reacting to some recent criticisms of the budgeting process, the BOF, in a statement on Tuesday by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, stated that where macroeconomic conditions and implementation realities require adjustments, lawful legislative action, not informal fiscal practice, is the appropriate response under Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

In the detailed press statement, the office said claims describing the repeal and re-enactment of the two Appropriation Acts as unconstitutional, illegal, or fiscally improper were based on misunderstandings of constitutional provisions and established legislative practice.

According to the BOF, Sections 80 to 84 of the Constitution clearly establish a sequenced framework for public expenditure, under which the President lays estimates before the legislature, the National Assembly authorises spending through appropriation laws, and the Executive implements expenditure strictly within that authority.

“The Constitution does not prohibit the National Assembly from repealing and re-enacting an Appropriation Act where fiscal circumstances, implementation realities, or reconciliation of fiscal instruments make such legislative action necessary in the public interest,” the statement said.

It added that once a repeal and re-enactment bill is passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President, “the resulting Act becomes valid law,” stressing that it is therefore incorrect to describe the process as a “constitutional impossibility.”

Read Also: Nigerian Tax Acts: Benefits beyond the rhetoric

On the lifespan of appropriation laws, the BOF clarified that while budgets are typically framed around a fiscal year, the Constitution does not impose an immutable expiry rule that forbids legislative extensions to allow for orderly completion of obligations, settlement of certified claims, or alignment of overlapping fiscal instruments.

“Where the National Assembly, in exercise of its legislative powers, extends the operational window of an Appropriation Act, such extension is an expression of legislative authority, not an illegality,” the office said.

Responding to allegations of expenditure without appropriation, the BOF said such claims often conflate distinct public finance concepts, including contractual obligations, statutory transfers, debt service, cash releases, and multi-year project commitments.

“The legal test is whether expenditure is supported by lawful appropriation or other constitutional or statutory charge, and whether any required legislative oversight is sought through recognised instruments such as supplementary appropriation, virement where permitted, or repeal and re-enactment,” it explained.

The office emphasised that the repeal and re-enactment process actually reinforces constitutional control of public funds by consolidating and regularising fiscal authority through an Act of the National Assembly.

On transparency, the BOF reaffirmed its obligations under the Fiscal Responsibility Act to ensure timely disclosure and wide publication of fiscal information, while noting that such transparency must respect document integrity and legislative authentication processes to avoid circulation of conflicting drafts.

Yakubu however said the office remained committed to fiscal discipline, transparency, and constructive engagement with stakeholders.

“Where macroeconomic conditions and implementation realities require legislative adjustment, the proper response is lawful legislative action, not informal fiscal practice,” Yakubu said.

He added that the repeal and re-enactment process, having gone through the National Assembly and presidential assent, “remains a constitutional and legislative instrument for budgetary oversight and alignment.”

January 7, 2026
2027: ADC rules out automatic ticket for Atiku, Obi

• Obidient Movement: Obi won’t go for anything less than presidential ticket

There is no automatic presidential ticket for any aspirant in 2027, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) clarified yesterday.

According to the party, while the consensus option would be adopted in selecting the standard bearer, members would resort to open, competitive and transparent primary, if the option fails.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who spoke on a national television, noted the growing speculation, intrigues, coalition negotiations and the defection of prominent politicians from other parties to the ADC.

However, he said that no decision has been taken on who will fly the presidential ticket, adding that all aspirants are eligible.

Abdullahi stressed: “No conversation is going on at the moment about who will be the standard bearer or who will be running mate to who. Every single issue has not been resolved regarding who will fly the flag of the party in 2027.”

Already, two chieftains, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who joined the party last week, are believed to be eyeing the ticket.

Although the Atiku camp has maintained silence on his ambition, members of the Obedient Movement, who are Obi’s followers, declared yesterday that he would not play the second fiddle.

The National Coordinator, Dr Yinusa Tanko, said Obi is the leading aspirant who will never accept to be running mate to anybody in the party.

READ ALSO: Still on Anthony Joshua’s car accident

Consensus, primary on front burner

The Publicity Secretary said that when the time comes, the first option would be consensus, driven by the need to build a broad-based and winning coalition.

He added: “But when that time comes, we are going to have a position, and our first recourse will be to try to engineer a measure of consensus based on the challenges that we have ahead of us. We are building a coalition, and we are building a winning coalition.”

Abdullahi said if consensus proves impossible, the party would not hesitate to conduct a primary that meet democratic standards.

He said: “If that doesn’t happen, of course, we are going to have competitive primary, and it’s going to be free, it’s going to be open, and it’s going to be transparent, and every Nigerian will see that this is the direction that ADC wants to go, as a party of rules, as a party that is transparent, that obeys its own laws and regulation.”

Bwala, Tanko clash on Obi’s chances

Presidential Adviser on Policy Communication Daniel Bwala and Tanko expressed contrasting views on the Obi’s chances.

While Tanko insisted that the former governor would not accept the offer of running mate, Bwala predicted that the ticket and the running mate slot will elude him.

The presidential aide added that the former governor would eventually contest for president on another platform.

Obi, who ran on the platform of the crisis-ridden Labour Party (LP) in 2023, defected to the ADC last week.

Justifying the defection in Enugu, where he was received into the party by the Interim National Chairman, Senator David Mark, he explained that he was motivated by the quest for national unity.

In its reaction, the Anambra LP said his exit would not weaken the chapter, adding that members would not also miss him.

Obi will get ADC ticket, says Tanko

Tanko, who spoke on a radio programme monitored in Ibadan, Oyo State, dismissed speculations that the ADC is under the influence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, saying that “everybody that was in that particular coalition contributed their hard-earned momone”

He added: “I am only focusing on my candidate. I’m selling my candidate to the public based on his capacity and credibility and what he has to offer Nigerians. That’s all.”

Tanko said Obi is capable of providing a “moral solution” to the country’s leadership challenges.

He emphasized that Obi’s alignment with the ADC followed extensive consultations, reflecting a people-driven strategy rather than personal ambition.

Tanko stressed: “The decision to align with the ADC came from a conglomerate of diverse groups seeking to correct Nigeria’s problems and reclaim the country for its people.

“When they came together, the ADC was chosen as the political vehicle. Ordinarily, Peter Obi would flow with the people who are calling for him.”

The coordinator said that young Nigerians involved in the process would determine Obi’s political path.

Defending Obi’s nomadic movement in politics, Tanko said structural challenges within the LP necessitated the shift.

He added: “Forces in power deliberately undermined the party’s functionality. If your house is being deliberately set on fire, would you remain inside it? There was a calculated attempt to destroy what was being built.

“Politics is a game of numbers, and that larger coalition was already evident in this grouping.”

Tanko said Obi’s chances are measured on his own viability and electability, adding: “Politics has no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. The interest here is good governance, and Peter Obi represents that.”

On Obi’s one-term pledge, Tanko said it is a promise to Nigerians, not just a political party.

He stressed: “If elected in 2027, Peter Obi would complete the remaining four years for the South and return power to the North. This demonstrates credibility and national unity.”

Bwala: Tickets will elude Obi

Bwala said Obi would be denied both the presidential ticket and running mate slot in ADC.

Speaking in an interview on The Clarity Zone Podcast, Bwala claimed that Obi lacks the capacity to serve as director-general of any coalition movement.

He said Obi lost control of the political structure he built after the 2023 election, including his influence in the National Assembly.

Bwala said: “After the election, he lost everybody he was leading. He had members in the House of Representatives. How many are there in the National Assembly?

“The only governor he had, is the governor with him or with us? In fact, I have not seen one that identifies with him at the moment. All the elections where he supported candidates, all of them failed.

“The army of Trojans that he has on social media, they attack people. They say you are two-faced, that you change party. That’s what they do every day.

“But when you say their master and hero has been changing party like a player in the Premier League changes clubs every season, they don’t like it.”

The presidential aide also accused Obi of hypocrisy over party loyalty, saying that he has switched political platforms repeatedly.

Bwala stressed: “He started with PDP, then went to APGA. In APGA, he came back to PDP. From PDP, he went to Labour.

“Right now, when you hear people talk about being between the devil and the deep blue sea, he is between ADC and Labour.

“He will not be the presidential candidate, he will not be the vice-presidential candidate. Peter Obi is going to run on a platform other than Labour and other than ADC.”

Bwala further said Obi will not secure even a quarter of the votes he recorded in the 2023 presidential election.

‘Obi’s exit won’t weaken LP in Anambra’

Anambra LP said the exit of Obi will not affect its future electoral fortune.

The chairman, Comrade Peter Okoye, said in a. statement that is solid, united and well-positioned for the 2027 general election.

The only LP member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Murphy Osaro Omoruyi, has defected to the ADC.

Omoruyi, who represents Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Constituency, said he obeyed the voice of his constituents to leave the LP.

He said: “Inspite of all efforts, the intractable crises rocking Labour Party has made my continued stay in the party, practically impossible.

“I joined the new coalition of the African Democratic Congress sequel to my resignation from the Labour Party conveyed in a letter to my ward chairman, Ward 10, Egor Local Government Area on the 30th December, 2025 which had since been accepted.”

Obi, ADC leaders visit Nwobodo

ADC leaders, led by Obi, visited former Anambra State Governor Jim Nwobodo at his Amaechi Awkunawnaw, Enugu country home.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Senator Ben Obi described Nwobodo as the “godfather of Southeast politics.”

Nwobodo spoke with fondness about Obi, recalling their shared relationships.

He reflected on the place of the Igbo in Nigeria’s political history, expressing hope that the aspiration for an Igbo presidency would one day be realised.

He said: “We are one of the people that formed this country called Nigeria. We still pray to God that one day an Igbo man will be the president of Nigeria.”

January 7, 2026
Students rally support for Tax Laws, shelve protest plan

• Tax reforms won’t affect tuition in varsities

Tax Laws have received the backing of students of higher institutions.

Apart from shelving their planned protest slated for January 14 against the laws, they will now be ambassadors, providing enlightenment to the public on the tax reform.

The students announced their new position yesterday in Abuja after a meeting of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Expanded National Executive Council (ENEC), along with other student union structures.

The meeting was briefed by the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, Taiwo Oyedele.

NANS President Olushola Oladoja told reporters in Abuja that they changed their stance against the Tax Laws after gaining a deeper understanding of the issue.

He said: “Contrary to NANS prior belief, the student body has realised that the Laws do not target the poor.

“Instead, they strengthen social protection while ensuring that higher-income earners contribute more equitably to national revenue, preventing lopsidedness and unnecessary tax burdens on a few.”

Oladoja added that the students were convinced that the Laws provide for centralised revenue generation with a clear and transparent sharing formula across the Federal Government, state governments, and local governments.

READ ALSO: Reading Nigeria’s governance signals

He said NANS has consequently agreed to serve as ambassadors of public enlightenment, committed to educating Nigerians on the purpose, importance, and benefits of the Tax Reform Laws to boost citizens’ confidence and trust in the Federal Government during their implementation.

Oladoja, who read the communique of the ENEC of NANS in collaboration with all structural student bodies, said the forum provided a platform for tax experts from the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to educate student leaders, clarify grey areas, and respond comprehensively to concerns expressed by the masses.

He explained that the ENEC of NANS was convened against the backdrop of widespread public concerns and national discourse surrounding the Tax Laws.

He recalled NANS’ earlier position on the laws, following public outcry arising from allegations of alterations by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdulsamad Dasuki, coupled with low public understanding.

Oladoja added that after extensive deliberations, presentations, and engagements, the ENEC of NANS resolved that the new laws are deliberate and well-intentioned statutes aimed at improving Nigeria’s economy, strengthening institutional frameworks for revenue generation, with provisions to protect low-income earners and vulnerable citizens.

Oyedele highlighted significant provisions that would directly benefit students and low-income earners.

He added that the laws aim to make more money available to state governments for investment in the development of education and infrastructure.

Oladoja announced the suspension of the proposed nationwide protest following the conclusion of the National Assembly’s investigation and clarifications made on the alleged alterations.

January 7, 2026
Support base swells for Tinubu in Rivers

• Elders’ Council, Dokubo Asari join forces with Wike

Support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 is gaining momentum in Rivers State.

Prominent traditional rulers, elders and political stakeholders have openly aligned with the “Renewed Hope Family” initiative spearheaded by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The latest endorsements came yesterday during Wike’s ongoing “thank you” tour of local government areas in Rivers, where the Amanyanabo of Torusarama Piri in Degema Local Government Area, Asari Dokubo, and the Rivers Elders Council pledged to mobilise support for President Tinubu.

Receiving Wike at his palace in Degema, Dokubo vowed to stand firmly behind the President, describing his support as a personal commitment rooted in gratitude and long-standing friendship.

Dokubo recalled that President Tinubu stood by him during a difficult period in his life, stressing that it was now his turn to reciprocate.

He said: “Everything that is going to happen, I will be with you in making sure that my friend, the President, succeeds.

“Everything that I am capable of doing, I will do to make sure that he succeeds.

“I was not a traditional ruler when we met in 1992. I never thought I would become what I am today. He stood by me in my most difficult period, and now it is my turn to stand by him.”

Wike said the visit was primarily to thank the people of the area for their support in 2023 and to wish them a happy new year.

READ ALSO: Still on Anthony Joshua’s car accident

He noted that although traditional rulers are expected to stay above partisan politics, his relationship with Dokubo transcended politics.

Wike said: “You are my friend, and there is no way I would come to your kingdom without greeting you and wishing you a happy new year.”

Addressing residents and stakeholders in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Wike was unequivocal about the political direction of Rivers ahead of 2027, declaring that the state had shut its doors to any alternative presidential option.

He said: “Here, we have shut the door. No other person other than Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Just follow our steps and the right thing will be done.”

The minister hinted that he would “correct the mistake” he made in the 2023 governorship contest in Rivers, a comment widely interpreted as a reference to the lingering political crisis in the state.

He urged supporters to remain focused on the larger goal of sustaining political relevance and federal support through President Tinubu’s re-election.

Wike explained that the tour was also an opportunity to appreciate Rivers people for their loyalty since 2014, when he declared his ambition to govern the state, and for embracing the “Rainbow Coalition” – an alliance cutting across party lines to back President Tinubu.

He said: “This is the only state where the two major political parties are working together to return Tinubu in 2027.

“That is why we are no longer talking about party politics but about renewed hope.”

Elders’ Council throws weight behind Wike

In Abonnema, also in Akuku-Toru LGA, the Rivers Elders Council formally keyed into Wike’s Renewed Hope Family, describing it as the surest path for the state in 2027.

Chairman of the council, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, said the decision of Rivers people to support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election was already yielding dividends, adding that the same path should be followed in 2027.

According to him, the support given to President Tinubu helped keep the state “afloat” at a critical time, and abandoning that political direction would be counterproductive.

Alabraba decried the prevailing political tensions in Rivers, noting that Wike had made enormous sacrifices for the state and deserved continued support to consolidate development and political stability.

He hailed the FCT minister as an icon of contemporary Nigerian politics, praising his pragmatic style, astute leadership and ability to inspire both the old and the young.

The elder statesman also noted that Rivers is a multi-ethnic state and credited Wike with promoting ethnic harmony during his tenure as governor.

He cited, in particular, Wike’s role in ensuring that the governorship shifted to the Ijaw ethnic group in 2023, a position he said had eluded the group for 24 years.

Alabraba said: “Let me assure you, Rivers people know where to go, and with the renewed hope agenda, that is the way to go in 2027.”

January 7, 2026
Tinubu appoints Odusote as first female DG of Nigerian Law School

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, marking a historic first for the institution.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the appointment, which takes effect from January 10, 2026, is for a four-year term.

Odusote, 54, is the Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus of the Law School.

With her elevation, she becomes the first woman to lead the institution since its establishment in 1962.

She will take over from Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose tenure expires on January 9, 2026, after eight years of service.

Announcing the appointment, the statement said the President “approved the appointment of Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the director-general of the Nigerian Law School,” adding that her emergence “will mark a historic milestone for the institution.”

Odusote obtained her Bachelor of Laws degree from Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.

She also earned a Master of Laws degree from the same university, specialising in company and commercial law, before proceeding to the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, where she obtained a PhD in Law.

Read Also: Youth leaders laud Dr. Mustapha for transforming Nigeria’s energy sector

Her research interests span public law and the administration of justice.

She joined the Nigerian Law School in 2001 as a lecturer and has since risen through the ranks, serving in key roles including Head of the Academic Department, Director of Academics, and Head of Campus.

She also spent a short period as a visiting scholar at Nottingham Trent University in the UK.

Over the years, Odusote has published extensively in reputable local and international law journals and presented papers at numerous legal education conferences.

She has also served on committees of the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Bar Association.

As Director-General, she will be responsible for the Law School’s overall academic leadership, administrative management, and strategic direction across its campuses.

The statement noted that she will also serve as the primary liaison between the institution, the Council of Legal Education, the Body of Benchers, and the Nigerian Bar Association.

January 6, 2026
NRS chair: Tax reforms will support sustainable growth
- ‘Laws not targeted at opposition figures’
The tax laws that took effect last week will support sustainable development and rapid economic growth, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), formerly Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, has said.

Speaking on a national television yesterday, Adedeji explained that while tax reform often attracts political commentary, the overriding objective remains the stability of the economy and the development of credible institutions capable of supporting long-term national progress.

He dismissed fears that the new tax reform framework could be used by the Federal Government to marginalise political opposition or target individuals based on political affiliation.

Adedeji said the reforms were driven by national interest and institutional accountability.

He responded to concerns that the new tax regime might be weaponised through selective enforcement or politically motivated scrutiny of tax compliance records.

He noted that such insinuations were misdirected, stressing that the administration’s approach to tax reform is guided by transparency, due process and a commitment to building strong and credible institutions.

Addressing a question on whether the reforms could be used to suppress opposition voices, Adedeji said: “We need to commend the courage of Mr. President, that even though there is an election coming, he is courageous enough to continue on this path of statesmanship, not of that of politicians.”

He explained that it would have been easier politically for the government to avoid far-reaching fiscal and institutional reforms ahead of an election cycle, but the President chose to continue with measures aimed at strengthening the country’s fiscal foundation and improving economic governance.

Read Also: Stransact, NRS collaborate on new tax law enlightenment

According to him, the tax reform agenda is focused on correcting structural weaknesses in the system, improving fairness, and creating a simplified and predictable compliance environment that encourages voluntary participation rather than fear or coercion.

Adedeji said the scepticism expressed in some quarters is influenced by Nigeria’s historical concerns about how public institutions have previously been perceived.

He maintained that the new framework is being designed to reduce discretion in tax administration and ensure that processes are rule-based.

He said the NRS was working to institutionalise systems that promote accountability, automation and stronger governance safeguards, so that tax administration is guided by law rather than individual judgment or political influence.

The NRS Chairman added that the reform journey places strong emphasis on trust between government and taxpayers, noting that confidence grows when citizens are assured that tax policies are not shaped by partisan considerations.

He said the administration’s approach is centred on expanding growth opportunities, sustainably strengthening public finances and creating a system where citizens can clearly see the relationship between taxes paid and improvements in public services.

He said the ongoing implementation process will continue through structured phases, with the ultimate goal of building a tax environment that supports investment, protects vulnerable groups and strengthens confidence in public administration, while insulating tax processes from political interference.
January 6, 2026
Wike, Basiru clash over Rivers politics
- Minister: leave state alone
- Party chief: resign, face politics
A crisis has broken out between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru.

The party chief and the minister are at daggers drawn over allegation of meddlesomeness in the affairs of the ruling party.

The national secretary chided Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for making an uncomplimentary remarks about Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who last month joined the APC.

He also accused Wike of making unfounded allegations on financial gratification.

He went ahead to advise him to quit as minister to face Rivers politics.

Although, Wike remains in PDP as leader of one of the factions. He has repeatedly emphasized his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.

Wike has been on a thank you visit to council secretariats in the state where he has made comments about Governor Fubara’s fitness to retain his seat.

Read Also: Wike to APC national secretary: steer clear of Rivers politics

He has used the visit to rally support for President Tinubu in what observers see as a popularity test by the minister, who controls all the levers of power in the state.

However, some of his comments he made have drawn the ire of Basiru who took exception to them.

Wike fired back at him and the party chief responded all within hours yesterday.

Basiru, who also attacked National Vice Chairman, South of the APC, Victor Giadom for “disrespecting” Fubara, said in a statement: “I take exception to Wike’s reference to a certain N600 billion largesse in the state for which I and other APC leaders are scrambling. This is nothing but cheap blackmail, which has become his stock-in-trade.

“My background, track record is that of unquestionable integrity, and I challenge him to prove his allegations, or we may meet in court.

“As to his veiled threat against me, let me remind Wike that he is not God and may be overplaying his political card. My faith is in God and will not succumb to cheap threats such as the one from Wike.

“I am one of the young Nigerians that confronted military rule, fighting for democracy, when the likes of Wike were nowhere in sight.”

Basiru said Wike’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not automatically make him a member of the APC.

He stressed: “Millions of non-APC Nigerians also support Mr. President and his own is no different. His attempt to destabilise our party in Rivers State will not be tolerated, and he cannot bring the spirit of PDP into the APC. “

On Giadom, the former Osun Central Senator said: “I find it unfortunate that a member of the NWC was referring to a governor in our party as a ‘so-called governor of Rivers State.’

“The office of the governor is an exalted position, and whoever is occupying it must be respected, irrespective of whatever political differences you have.”

But Basiru said Wike’s reaction to his earlier warning was uncalled for, stressing that he was only carrying out the responsibility of protecting the interests of the APC, its members and structures.

He wondered why a minister, who is not a member of the party, should challenge his person and office.

Basiru said: “For the avoidance of doubt, our records indicate that Minister Nyesom Wike is not a member of our party (APC). So, he lacks the locus to dabble into the affairs our party.”

He said Wike cannot be in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) of an APC government and at the same time be causing confusion within any organ or structure of the party at any level, using the leverage of that same office.

Basiru added: “As National Secretary of the APC, I am imbued with the responsibility to protect the interests of the party and all its members and structures. Hence, my comments regarding the affairs of the APC in Rivers State cannot be an undue interference in the affairs of Rivers State. As National Secretary, my activities cannot be confined to my home state, Osun State.”

Basiru said Wike should resign and face Rivers politics because he is interested in the resources of the state.

Wike to Basiru: Stay clear of Rivers politics

Wike said the national secretary should “leave Rivers State alone” and be careful about the statements he makes.

He gave the warning during his “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area, where he alleged that some APC members had received some funds from the N600 billion left in the state’s coffers.

Wike said Rivers is a “no-go area,” urging Basiru to learn from those who previously tried to meddle in politics and got their hands burnt.

He said: “Let me warn those who come to Rivers State. Because you have heard that we have N600 billion, you come here, you collect, and you open your mouth to talk anyhow.

“I say it here, take this message to your National Secretary. Leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have done it before. Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be careful with statements you make.

“Today, you are enjoying in Osun

You don’t know those who did the work. You are opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it.

“Go and ask other people what had happened to them before. If your hand burns, no be me burn am o. This state is a no-go area. Take the one you have taken, stop making unnecessary comments.”

The Renewed Hope Ambassador for Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, said development had been stalled in the local government since the inauguration of Fubara as governor

He said the area must get its fair share of the N600 billion left in the state’s account.

Akawor said: “We elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara with the expectation that Oyigbo would benefit meaningfully from development.

“Your Excellency, development in Oyigbo has stalled. We have not moved an inch forward. The only tangible benefit Oyigbo has received is a commissioner’s slot, which was given to me. Beyond that, nothing substantial has come to our people.

“There is talk about N600 billion. Let us be clear: we are not here to argue figures. But Oyigbo people must not be excluded. If N40 billion was allocated across groups, Oyigbo must not be shortchanged. We are not asking for favours; we are asking for fairness.”

Akawor said things would get better in 2027 after the legitimate change of government in Rivers.

The Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Council, Okechukwu Agara, expressed his gratitude to the minister for what he had done for the area.

Also, Felix Nweke, who represents Tai, Oyigbo and Eleme Federal Constituency, assured Wike that the council will continue to support him.

He said the development in that area had stagnated since Wike left office as governor in 2023.
January 6, 2026