No fewer than 16 persons, including minors, have lost their lives in a tragic canoe accident in Adiyani village, Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State.
Reports from the area indicated that the canoe, which was conveying more than 40 passengers, capsized while they were crossing the Adiyani River on their way home after concluding their activities in the village.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Jigawa State Police Command, SP Lawal Shi’isu Adam, said the accident occurred at about midnight on Saturday.
According to him, 24 bodies have so far been recovered, while 10 persons were rescued alive. He added that several others remain unaccounted for.
“The incident happened at midnight on Saturday as a result of water leaking into the canoe. Immediately, it was reported, security personnel mobilised a rescue team, including local fishermen, and were able to rescue 10 victims alive, while 24 deaths have been confirmed so far,” SP Adam said.
Findings revealed that the victims were indigenes of neighbouring communities across the river in Nguru Local Government Area of Yobe State, who had visited the Adiyani market on Saturday.
Search and rescue operations were ongoing at the time of filing this report, as authorities urged residents to exercise caution, particularly during nighttime river crossings.
Asks Nigerians to disregard other documents not certified by NASS
States, LGs set for more revenue as new tax regime takes off’
The House of Representatives has released to the public certified true copies of the four tax reform Acts passed by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to douse growing tension over allegations that the laws were altered.
In directing the release of the certified Acts, Speaker Abbas reassured Nigerians that the National Assembly remains an institution of records, guided by clearly defined rules, precedents, archival systems, and verification processes that safeguard the authenticity of every law enacted.
Spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi said in a statement last night that the original copy of the law passed and signed by the President has been made public while hard copies have been printed and circulated to members.
The statement reads: “The House of Representatives, under the leadership of the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has released the four tax reform Acts duly signed into law by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to Nigerians for public record, verification, and reference.
“Speaker Abbas, in concert with the Senate President, H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, directed the immediate release of the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the Acts, including the endorsement and assent pages signed by the President, following public concerns and allegations regarding purported alterations and the circulation of unauthorised and misleading versions of the laws.
“This decisive intervention underscores Speaker Abbas’ long-standing commitment to transparency, legislative integrity, and public confidence in the law-making process.
“Indeed, the attention of the House was drawn to the existence of inconsistent versions of the tax laws in circulation after a vigilant Honourable Member identified discrepancies, raised the alarm, and formally reported the matter to the House on a point of privilege. Acting promptly, the Speaker ordered an internal verification and the immediate public release of the certified Acts to eliminate doubt, restore clarity, and protect the sanctity of the legislative record.
“From the initiation of the tax reform process through extensive stakeholder consultations, committee scrutiny, rigorous clause-by-clause consideration, robust plenary debates, and eventual passage, Speaker Abbas has provided firm and steady leadership to ensure that the reforms were evidence-based, inclusive, and aligned with Nigeria’s fiscal realities and development priorities.
“Throughout the process, Speaker Abbas consistently emphasised that tax reform must be anchored on clarity, fairness, and strict adherence to constitutional and parliamentary procedure.
“The four Acts released are: the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, The Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, The National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025 and The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025
“These landmark legislations constitute the backbone of Nigeria’s contemporary tax reform architecture, designed to modernise revenue administration, improve compliance, reduce inefficiencies, eliminate duplications, and strengthen fiscal coordination across the federation.”
Rotimi quoted the Speaker as saying that “The National Assembly is an institution built on records, procedure, and institutional memory. Every Bill, every amendment, and every Act follows a traceable constitutional and parliamentary pathway. Once a law is passed and assented to, its integrity is preserved through certification and custody by the legislature. There is no ambiguity about what constitutes the law.
“Speaker Abbas further emphasised that the House would remain vigilant and proactive in defending the integrity of its work, clarifying that the only authentic and authoritative versions of the four tax Acts are those certified and released by the National Assembly.
“Members of the public, institutions, professionals, and stakeholders are therefore advised to disregard and discountenance any other documents or versions in circulation that are not certified by the National Assembly, as such materials do not form part of the official legislative record.
“Consequently, the Clerk to the National Assembly has concluded the process of aligning the Acts – duly passed, assented to, and certified – with the Federal Government Printing Press to ensure accuracy, conformity, and uniformity.
“Hard copies of the certified tax Acts have also been produced and are being circulated to all Honourable Members and Distinguished Senators, and made available to the public, to ensure institutional clarity, uniform reference, and legislative certainty.
“The House affirms that the work of the Ad-Hoc Committee, chaired by Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara continues, in line with its mandate, to determine the circumstances surrounding the circulation of unauthorised versions of the tax Acts and to recommend measures that will prevent a recurrence and preserve the authenticity and reliability of parliamentary records.
“The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D., GCON, reaffirms its unwavering commitment to constitutionalism, the rule of law, transparency, and accountable governance. The House will continue to strengthen internal controls, uphold institutional discipline, and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process in the collective interest of the Nigerian people.”
States, LGs set for more revenue as new tax regime takes off’
Meanwhile, a major shift is set to occur in the sharing of revenue from the Federation Accounts from next month when January revenue inflows will be shared, with the 36 states and the 774 local governments projected to receive significantly higher statutory allocations under the new tax regime.
The policy framework, which restructures how key tax components are distributed, will redirect a substantial portion of federally collected taxes to subnational governments.
Under the new dispensation, all revenues accruing from Pay As You Earn and Personal Income Tax will go entirely to the states.
Besides, 90 percent of Value Added Tax collections will be channeled to the subnational tier, with 55 per cent going to state governments and the Federal Capital Territory, while 35 per cent will be allocated to local governments.
The sharing arrangement also provides that 26.7 per cent of Company Income Tax will now flow to the states, while another 26.7 per cent of Petroleum Profit Tax will follow the same pattern.
In addition, 20.6 per cent of both Company Income Tax and Petroleum Profit Tax will accrue to local governments under the control of the states.
The revenue base of the states and the local governments first expanded significantly following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu Administration soon after its installation in 2023 with the money saved from the subsidy removal going to the three tiers of government for development.
For instance, the three tiers of government shared N1.928 trillion last November up from the N786.161 billion they shared in the month immediately preceding the fuel subsidy removal.
Sources at the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee told The Nation that work would commence on adjusting the sharing templates to accommodate the new inflows once full activities resume after the new year festivities.
A senior official said the technical teams would begin “the reconfiguration of the sharing templates to reflect these new tax accruals.”
The official added that the shift represents one of the most significant fiscal developments for subnational governments in recent years.
“With the new tax regime, the state governments are going to receive more money from the tax components of the Federation Accounts than they did in 2025 and before,” the source told The Nation.
Beyond the quantum of funds, the Act introduces a revised methodology for distributing VAT revenues among states and local government councils.
Under the new arrangement, half of the VAT pool will be shared equally among all states and councils. Twenty per cent will be distributed based on population size within each jurisdiction, while the remaining 30 per cent will be allocated in proportion to actual consumption levels recorded across the states.
However, while the additional revenue streams are expected to strengthen subnational finances, the new tax administration framework also introduces stricter compliance requirements and penalties.
The Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 spells out a wide range of sanctions under Chapter Four, covering general tax offences and those specifically applicable to petroleum sector operations.
Under the general provisions, taxpayers who fail to register with the relevant tax authority or obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number commit an offence. The Act also provides sanctions for failure to file tax returns within the stipulated time frame, as well as for failure to maintain proper accounting records as required by law.
The provisions extend to obligations relating to tax deduction at source.
Failure to deduct taxes such as PAYE or Withholding Tax when required by law constitutes an offence, just as failure to remit taxes already deducted to the appropriate authority attracts penalties.
Other offences include obstruction of authorised officers in the course of duty, refusal to grant access to premises for tax purposes, making false or fictitious claims for tax or VAT refunds, impersonation of tax officials, or attempts to induce officers to neglect their duties. Fraud involving tax stamps or related documents is also covered, while failure to grant access for the deployment of approved tax technology or fiscalisation systems, particularly in relation to VAT, is punishable under the Act.
A general penalty applies in cases where no specific sanction is prescribed.
For companies operating in upstream and midstream petroleum activities, the Act introduces sector-specific obligations. These include filing estimated and actual returns within due dates, prompt payment of petroleum-related taxes, and the settlement of royalties on petroleum or mineral resources.
Persistent non-compliance may, in serious circumstances, lead to recommendations for the revocation of operating licenses or leases.
The legislation also grants tax authorities enhanced administrative enforcement powers including imposition of fixed penalties and interest on unpaid taxes, as well as the power to distrain — enabling the seizure and sale of a taxpayer’s goods, chattels or land to recover outstanding liabilities.
However, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, stated that these measures would only be applied following the completion of the appropriate legal processes.
The Act further allows authorities to compound certain offences, meaning they may be settled administratively rather than through full prosecution, while retaining the power to prosecute offenders before a court of competent jurisdiction where necessary.
With the implementation phase now approaching, officials believe the combination of higher tax-based accruals and stricter compliance measures will reshape fiscal relations within the federation, placing greater financial responsibility and opportunity in the hands of state and local governments.
The United States is to run the affairs of Venezuela in the interim after American troops yesterday invaded the country and seized President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia.
The couple were ripped from bed while asleep.
They were subsequently flown to Washington DC to await trial for Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
The United Nations (UN) and many allies and antagonists of the US were alarmed by Washington’s capture of the president of a sovereign country.
Democrats in the US Congress were outraged by the development which they branded illegal and unconstitutional.
They accused Trump of by passing the legislature by waging war on another country.
The influential New York Times took a similar position, calling it illegal and unwise in an editorial.
Venezuela’s defence minister Vladimir López accused the US of “criminal military aggression” against his country.
López, who spoke in a video shared on social media, described the attack as “the most criminal military aggression by the US government in North America”.
But the ouster of Maduro seems to be good news to Venezuelans who had fled their country following the security challenge and economic hardship at home.
President Donald Trump told reporters yesterday that his administration would take over Venezuela to ensure a judicious transition.
“We can’t take a chance if someone else takes over Venezeula that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind,” he said.
“We’re not going to let that happen.”
He didn’t specify how long the US would stay in Venezeula.
“We’re going to run it, essentially,” he said.
The Maduros were captured by a unit of elite Delta Force soldiers while they slept in their beds.
The operation took place in five Venezuelan sites including three in the country’s capital Caracas.
Although the US authorities said no one died in the operation, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek Saab said ‘innocents’ had been ‘mortally wounded’ by the US troops.
On their arrival in the US, the Maduros were taken to the USS Iwo Jima assault ship pending their transfer to New York City.
Trump called the operation ‘brilliant’ and said he had watched it live.
He even shared a photo of Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima on social media.
In the image Maduro wore blackout goggles and a grey sweatshirt.
He also appeared to be strapped to a flotation device and held a water bottle.
In the days leading up to the invasion, the US had readied military vessels, aircraft and personnel around Venezuela.
In an apparent move to patch up with the White House, Maduro on Thursday issued a plea for peace to the United States.
“The American people should know they have a friendly, peaceful people here, and a friendly government as well,” he said in an interview with a Spanish journalist.
He added: “they should know that our message is very clear: ‘Not War. Yes Peace’”, and offered to work with the US to curtail drug trafficking.
Trump had accused Maduro and his government of conspiring to flood the United States with illegal drugs.
In 2020, during his first term in office as president Trump indicted Maduro on charges of importing cocaine into the US and offered a $15million reward for his arrest at the time.
The reward went up to $25million during the final days of former President Joe Biden’s administration and rose $50million in August 2025 after Trump began his second term as president.
Trump alleges Maduro is leader of a drug running organization called Cartel de los Soles and has designated the group a foreign terrorist organization.
In his final public act as President, Maduro on Friday received in his Miraflores Palace in Caracas China’s special envoy Qiu Xiaoqi.
Both men reaffirmed bilateral ties amid U.S. pressure.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi in a post on her verified X account @AGPamBondi yesterday said Maduro “will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”
She said: “Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.
“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts. On behalf of the entire U.S. DOJ, I would like to thank President Trump for having the courage to demand accountability on behalf of the American People, and a huge thank you to our brave military who conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.”
UN, Russia, Iran, others kick
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply alarmed” by the US strikes on Venezuela, which he said could constitute a dangerous precedent.
He said that the rules of international law had not been respected and asked all actors in Venezuela to “engage in inclusive dialogue, in full respect of human rights and the rule of law.”
Russia condemned the “armed aggression” by the United States with the ministry of foreign affairs in Moscow warning that the development risked further destabilising the region.
It called for an urgent diplomatic response.
It said: “The justifications put forward for these actions have no factual basis. Ideological hostility has prevailed over pragmatic, businesslike approaches and over efforts to build relationships based on trust and predictability.
“Under the present circumstances, it is particularly important to prevent any further escalation and focus on seeking a resolution through dialogue.
”We believe that all parties with existing grievances should pursue solutions to their problems by engaging in dialogue. We stand ready to assist in these efforts.”
Russia said Latin America should continue to be treated as a zone of peace, in line with a declaration adopted by countries in the region in 2014 and declared that Venezuela must be allowed to “determine its own future without destructive external interference, particularly of a military nature”.
It expressed political support for the Venezuelan government and people.
Iran which Trump bombed last year spoke along the same line.
The Iranian foreign ministry dubbed the US action a flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Venezuela.
China said it was “deeply shocked and strongly condemns the US’s blatant use of force against a sovereign state and its action against its president”.
US neighbor, Mexico, said the development in Venezuela “seriously jeopardises regional stability.”
Trump has also threatened Mexico with military force over drug trafficking.
Venezuela’s southern neighbor, Colombia, called the US action an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America which would lead to a humanitarian crisis while Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva deplored the “serious affront” to Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Cuba, a strong ally of Venezuela’s, denounced “state terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people”.
France similarly condemned the US operation which it said undermined international law.
The United Kingdom,a strong ally of the US said it was not a party to the invasion. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said all countries should “uphold international law.”
The European Union (EU) urged respect for international law although it claimed that Maduro “lacks legitimacy.”
However, Trump got the backing of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who said the US action was both legitimate and defensive.
Spain called for de-escalation and restraint while also offering to mediate in the crisis to find a way to a peaceful solution.
The New York Times, in its editorial, said Maduro’s undemocratic and repressive rule was no justification for the invasion of his country by the US.
“Attempting to oust even the most deplorable regime can make matters worse,” the newspaper said.
It added: “The United States spent 20 years failing to create a stable government in Afghanistan and replaced a dictatorship in Libya with a fractured state. The tragic consequences of the 2003 war in Iraq continue to beset America and the Middle East. Perhaps most relevant, the United States has sporadically destabilized Latin American countries, including Chile, Cuba, Guatemala and Nicaragua, by trying to oust a government through force.
“Mr. Trump has not yet offered a coherent explanation for his actions in Venezuela. He is pushing our country toward an international crisis without valid reasons. If Mr. Trump wants to argue otherwise, the Constitution spells out what he must do: Go to Congress. Without congressional approval, his actions violate U.S. law.
“The nominal rationale for the administration’s military adventurism is to destroy ‘narco-terrorists.’ Governments throughout history have labeled the leaders of rival nations as terrorists, seeking to justify military incursions as policing operations. The claim is particularly ludicrous in this case, given that Venezuela is not a meaningful producer of fentanyl or the other drugs that have dominated the recent epidemic of overdoses in the United States, and the cocaine that it does produce flows mostly to Europe. While Mr. Trump has been attacking Venezuelan boats, he also pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández, who ran a sprawling drug operation when he was president of Honduras from 2014 to 2022.”
Former Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and Professor of International Relations Kayode Soremekun, and Director of Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Efem Ubi, condemned the arrest of President Maduro and his wife by the Americans.
Reacting about the arrest in an interview with The Nation, Professor Soremekun said Maduro’s capture “speaks to what can be called the current near unipolarity of the international system.
“This is because such a situation would not have been possible during the Cold War. But I’ve just read the announcement from the Venezuelan authorities, and they went into history to say that they’ve always had to contend with this big neighbour, i.e. Washington.
“And that is, according to them, the latest in the offensives of Washington in what can be called its backyard.
“It is also a reenactment of what can be called the Monroe Doctrine, whereby the U.S. simply sees its neighbours as puppets, as non-entities to be toyed with at will, which is a non-liberal order. Having said that, you also have to appreciate that in recent times, Venezuela has always been disposed towards Cuba, an arch-enemy of Washington. So, this is only to be expected under a post-Cold War warrior like Donald Trump.
“As it is, since in relative terms, there are no dynamics to this kind of offensive from Washington, because in an earlier era, the former Soviet Union would have been saying some things about what has just happened.
“And what it also means is that the only competing power to the United States at the moment, i.e. China, will now be free in relative terms to also annex Taiwan. So, you can see a game of hegemonies on the part of Washington on one hand, and Beijing, that is China, in the potential sense.”
The don argued that what was seen with Maduro’s experience was also a relative recession and near-death of multilateral diplomacy, “because in the light of this unilateral offensive from Washington, one begins to ask, where is the United Nations? Where is the NAM, i.e. the Non-Aligned Movement? Where is the OAS, the Organisation of American States?” He submitted that what it means is that, for now at least, multilateral diplomacy is in recession. “This undermines the sovereignty of Venezuela and its territorial integrity. In fact, it has also shown that we need a reform of the United Nations. We actually need a new organisation that will be able to maintain order. “A country cannot just wake up and now invade another country, capture the president, and take the president to their own country. We cannot continue to live in a world where a single power is depicted as the ultimate, regardless of circumstances or international law in place. “They don’t care. All they think about is their interests. If it means crushing heads, even if it means undermining states and their territorial integrity. This is truly uncalled for.” Prof. Ubi argued that in the 21st century, the world should begin to think differently. He added: “I think my take is that we should begin to look for an alternative world order where there can be justice, there can be equity, there can be respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and not for just one power to rise and determine what should be in the international order. And so, multipolarity still stands out in our thinking of a new world order. Multilateralism should be ultimate in terms of our engagement with the international community. “Let the people of Venezuela be the ones to change the regime, and not for one country to come cease the President by taking him to the United States. This is uncalled for.”
Prof. Ubi argued that in the 21st century, the world should begin to think differently.
According to him, the world is reacting that what the United States did was totally wrong.
He added: “I think my take is that we should begin to look for an alternative world order where there can be justice, there can be equity, there can be respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and not for just one power to rise up and determine what should be in the international order. And so, multipolarity still stands out in our thinking of a new world order. Multilateralism also stands in terms of our engagement with the international community.
“Let the people of Venezuela be the ones to change the regime, and not for you to come tease the President by taking him to the United States. This is uncalled for.”
The eyes of the world are on Nigeria as the Africa’s most populous country warms up for 2027 electioneering. Political parties are preparing for congresses and conventions. Aspirants are returning to the drawing board. The National Assembly is amending the 1999 Constitution and reworking the Electoral Act. Deputy Editor, Emmanuel Oladesu, examines the power players, events and factors that will shape politics this year.
Political conflicts, expectedly, would characterise most parts of the year, being the period of nominations for the general election and a critical year preceding another handover. The contestation would cut across parties, tiers of government, districts, and constituencies.
Politicians would return to the drawing board to perfect strategies for scheming, horse trading and compromises. Intra-party rifts over shadow polls and inter-party crisis arising from hot competition and campaigns for power may unleash tension on the polity. There would, as usual, be resort to media war and propaganda.
Attention may wholly shift from governance to politicking. Resignations from the federal cabinet and state executive councils, party congresses, zoning or rotational agitations, and partisan endorsements would serve as a prelude to the titanic battle of choice, change or affirmation of leadership.
POWER PLAYERS
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on the hot seat. But he is determined to make Nigeria work. He is living up to expectation by fulfilling many of his campaign promises. But, much still needs to be accomplished.
According to observers, he faces three challenges as he prepares for the third anniversary of his administration. These are economy, security and his quest for deserving continuity, which would gear up his rivals in other parties for determined or feeble resistance.
From major indications, the economy is stabilising, thanks to bold socio-economic reforms. But there are still complaints that macro-economic stability without corresponding improvement in the quality of life of the citizenry does not inspire hope. Government has reported a revenue surge, following the blockage of loopholes in the oil sector and the strengthening of revenue generating agencies.
On this front, the much-heralded tax reforms would come under further scrutiny. Last closed to controversy over the legislations following claims that what was gazetted was different from what the National Assembly passed. President Tinubu and his team insisted that this wasn’t the case and pressed on despite the spirited efforts of opposition figures to delegitimise the reforms. The world would be watching to see if the new legislations help the government achieve its pre-stated goals.
Economic experts have advised that the money should be channelled into productive activities and promotion of public welfare, particularly by the sub-national units. Improvement should reflect in job creation, infrastructural development, revival of the manufacturing sector, stable electricity, consistent investment flow, and conducive environment for business growth.
Security, as from this year, would be a major campaign issue. It is gratifying that apart from the military assistance and collaboration with the Unites States military, the Nigerian Armed Forces have doubled their efforts to rid the country of terror. Major breakthroughs are being recorded.
Many of the security challenges, as argued by observers, may be politically motivated. Despite the improvement much still needs to be accomplished, and with speed.
Nigerians expect the actualisation of state or multi-layer policing through constitutional amendment by the National Assembly. The lawmakers – many of who cannot even go to their towns, constituencies and districts out of fear of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violence – should take up the challenge of constitution review with patriotism and passion in the new year.
Eyes will also be on the highly rated Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, to justify the huge confidence reposed in him by Nigerians across the six zones. He has been pulled back from retirement to take up the patriotic duty of liberating the North from terror and banditry. With the right military tactics, strategies, personnel, equipment and cooperation of all stakeholders, he should be able to make a difference, and without controversy over real or imagined ransom payment.
There is no doubt that President Tinubu’s re-election prospects would be significantly boosted by any success he is able to achieve in the war against insecurity. Aside collaboration with foreign powers, there is also effort being made to procure more armaments for the armed forces. Hopefully, these efforts would change narrative for the better in large parts of Northern Nigeria.
In his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu, who has been endorsed for a second term, may be warming up for a coronation as candidate during the presidential convention. But the endorsement by the majority does not prevent interested stalwarts from throwing their hats into the ring. The only difference between APC and other parties is that presidential nomination squabble or tension in the ruling party would be so minimal while the opposition parties may still have to contend with peculiar internal contradictions, division and other inevitable partisan hurdles.
As a politician and active player, the president’s attention may be distracted by power play and scheming that’s bound to dominate 2026 as the country builds up to next year’s general election.
Atiku Abubakar and ADC
At almost 80, the lion is still roaring, but there is no prey in sight to devour. For the old political warhorse, 2026 is critical to a long standing ambition to rule Nigeria, an aspiration he developed 33 years ago.
On six occasions – 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023, the crown eluded him, owing to a combination of factors, including wrong timing, bad strategy, impatience, miscalculation, inconsistency, zoning and diminishing public affection for his brand. This has cast doubt on his pedigree as a learner at the feet of the great Tafida Katsina, General Shehu Yar’Adua, founder of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).
Yet, Atiku can only be ignored to the peril of his opponents in contemporary Nigerian politics. The former vice president came second in the 2023 elections with over seven million votes. He is undaunted and fired by courage. But his platform is now somehow defective, less formidable and fast regressing into a status of mere social club of old Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) comrades.
His exit from PDP, which he co-founded in 1998/99, to the little known African Democratic Congress (ADC), which affirmed the split in the PDP, was a turning point in his political career. No governor defected along with him; not even the governor of his native Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri.
ADC is not waxing stronger, despite the bravado and boastings by the gerontocrats around Atiku, who have lost effective mobilisation prowess in their states. It is not breaking new grounds; it is not making in-roads into the South, Northwest and North-Central.
Also, the proposed coalition has not seen the light of the day. There is deep-seated friction among the coalition partners neck-deep in discussions on the platform of fragile parties.
Why the coalition is troubled is that those around the former VP convey the impression that there is a predetermined agenda to make Atiku its presidential candidate.
The activities of the party are not held at its secretariat. ADC holds court in the Atiku campaign office in Abuja.
Zoning is not an issue, and whether there should be power rotation between the North and South is not the concern of those now taking refuge in ADC. If the presidential bid of Atiku collapses, the party goes with it.
In short, the coalition or alliance isn’t gathering traction because there was no agreement on its leadership structure, philosophy, focus, and candidate. Its goal of removing Tinubu as president is restrictive. There is even quarrel among Southwest, Southeast and South-South members about the choice of presidential running mate ahead of the convention.
Where is the coalition curator, Nasir El-Rufai, in all these coalition drive? How effective is regional bullying? Who are the new faces being attracted into the so-called movement? Why are governors, ex-governors and National Assembly members shunning the platform and gravitating to APC?
Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, who has been part of the coalition talks, has finally joined ADC. Not all the chieftains of the crisis-ridden Labour Party (LP) defected along with him. Governor Alex Otti said he preferred to broker peace in the party instead of jumping ship.
Details of the agreement that motivated him to join the party are unknown. For now, the only implication of his defection is that the 2027 contest may be a three-horse race involving majorly President Tinubu of the ruling APC, and the candidates of PDP and ADC.
Peter Obi, symbol of the ‘Obedient Movement,’ is intensifying consultations on his presidential ambition, which collapsed in 2023, despite his over six million votes.
Factors that aided him then were ethnicity and religion, which were exploited to devastating effects. A serial defector, Obi would have defected to the ADC before now, but the potential offer of running mate to Atiku was not encouraging to his group, which hibernated in the crisis-ridden LP. It is confounding that a politician who cannot resolve the LP logjam and unite the Julius Abure and Nenadi-Usman factions is vying for president of the most populous and heterogeneous country in Africa.
Unless Atiku declines to contest, which is a remote possibility, Obi’s best bet is LP, despite the polarisation and diminishing appeal of a third force. But his ditching the platform for ADC suggests that he no longer sees it as a viable vehicle to actualise his ambition.
If Atiku contests, it may seal Obi’s chances of getting the ticket. There are strong suggestions that he may have settled for the lesser option of running as Atiku’s number two. That prospect is likely to polarise his base. Already, the likes of Professor Pat Utomi have vowed to withdraw support if the former Anambra governor accepts the undercard option.
Obi is a critic without facts, a champion of geographical expression, a beneficiary of politico-religious manipulation and an inconsistent contestant – always eager to lean on a borrowed platform, but lacking the leadership skills required for party nurturing, crisis-resolution, reconciliation, cohesion and harmony.
Still, he remains visible by the grace of his internet warriors who may not be able to convert propaganda to votes. How he will upstage Atiku in ADC is left to be seen.
Rabiu Kwankwaso
A lone ranger, the eminent politician remains an idol in Kano, where his party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), holds sway.
But recently his Kwakwanshiya group has been decimated. APC leaders, including Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau and former national chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, are working hard to pull the rug from off his feet. Some observers, however, don’t believe that this onslaught heralds Kwakwanso’s displacement as a factor in Kano.
Also, the lone NNPP governor of Kano, Abba Yusuf, has opened talks with the APC on possible defection. Throughout the last week events leading to his decamping have been building up. Matters came to a head with a Kano State High Court court affirming the suspension of Kwankwaso ally, Hashimu Suleiman-Dungurawa, as Kano NNPP state chairman.
In his place Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya, favoured by those loyal to Governor Yusuf, was confirmed Acting State Chairman. In reaction the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party dissolved ward, Local Government and state executive committees across the state. All these underscore the cracks in the party.
APC and ADC are making gestures to the NNPP leader for collaboration. So far, there has been no convincing response. But predictably, Kwankwaso will not be off the radar during the electioneering.
The PDP factions
The PDP is currently down. Its two factions, led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and Nyesom Wike/Sam Anyanwu, are in court waging a supremacy war. The gladiators in rival camps are flexing muscles.
The main opposition party has been in turmoil since the 2022 presidential convention. Its leadership has been a subject of dispute. But with four loyal governors – Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), PDP is still stronger than the Alliance for Democracy (AD) of old which went with the wind of the Afenifere crisis. Makinde is said to be eyeing its presidential ticket.
The outcome of the litigation over the party leadership will show the way forward for the PDP ahead of the electioneering. The prospects don’t look good. The Bala Mohammed-Makinde wing of party defied two clear judgments to hold its Ibadan convention which threw up the disputed Turaki leadership.
That legal roadblock recently forced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expressly state it doesn’t recognise the outcome of the convention held in the Oyo State capital.
Those legal woes are also blamed for the mass defection of the party’s governors to APC in recent times out of fear that they may not have a platform to prosecute their re-election.
Most observers argue that unless calmer heads within the party are able to unite all stakeholders around the caretaker leadership proposal, PDP would still be in legal coma when voters go to the polls in March next year.
Nyesom Wike and the Rivers factors
Love him or hate him, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has become a political factor no one can ignore. His bitter fight with Atiku over the 2023 PDP presidential ticket snowballed into the mutually assured destruction that has brought the main opposition party to its knees. While the former fled to a platform where his word would be law, Wike remains in PDP fighting a rearguard battle for control.
Having fallen out with the Atiku wing of the party, the former Rivers State governor’s embrace of Tinubu’s presidential was a masterstroke that delivered his state’s strategic votes to APC. Ever since, the incumbent president has held him close – no doubt aware of his political value.
This year would see the political collaboration between the two men continue despite the differences Wike has with his erstwhile godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The minister is currently executing an interesting political manoeuvre that sees him exercising influence in Rivers APC and PDP. He openly declared last month that the structures of the two parties had coalesced into one to further the reelection bid of President Tinubu.
It’s a different matter entirely when it comes to Fubara’s second term ambition. Despite the governor’s defection to the APC, many observers say a scenario similar to that which played out in Lagos State, where former Governor Akinwumi Ambode was denied a return ticket, could play out in Rivers. In fact, the peace deal which Fubara signed to secure calm in his domain may well be the noose currently hanging around his neck.
But more than anything, his relationship with Wike is clearly irretrievably broken. So, in the coming months, expect more war songs and jibes like ‘Dey your dey, make I dey my dey,’ ‘As e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us’, followed by the most comic of dance steps. Rivers State politics is set to serve up the most entertaining drama in the run up to 2027.
INEC, by-elections and reforms
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Ojo Amupitan (SAN), would have an opportunity to prove his mettle as an umpire.
He has two senatorial by-elections to conduct in Ondo South, where Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is vacating his seat to take up an ambassadorial appointment, and Delta North, where a vacancy now exists, following the death of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.
Then, Ekiti and Osun governorship polls will follow. What Nigerians expect from Amupitan is the sustenance of the reforms initiated by his precedessor, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, in his bid to foster transparency and accountability. The greatest expectation is the electronic uploading, display and transmission of results.
INEC will be rightly guided by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act.
Currently, 18 political parties are on its register. In September last year, 14 associations that applied for registration were shortlisted for vetting. The commission would have to take a final decision on their qualification for registration.
A source said some prominent northerners are behind one of the associations. They look forward to the registration which will provide an opportunity for a platform outside PDP, ADC, NNPP and LP to challenge the ruling APC in 2027.
INEC will commence the implementation of the electioneering schedule through its observation of the party congresses and convention. APC is likely to hold its national convention in March.
Ekiti election
Ekiti is warming up for an off-season governorship election. The candidate to beat is Governor Biodun Oyebanji of APC, who is seeking re-election. The poll would be a referendum on his performance as governor. While Oyebanji would be highlighting his achievements during the campaigns, other flagbearers – Ambassador Dare Bejide of ADC and Dr. Wole Oluyede of PDP – would be soliciting for votes based on their campaign promises.
Oluyede’s prospects are, however, uncerstain given that his name was missing from the provisional list of candidates released by INEC. It was a fallout of the PDP leadership crisis. INEC has refused to recognise the two factions locked in supremacy battle.
There are 16 local governments in Ekiti. They are run by APC chieftains. The members of the House of Assembly and Representatives, and three senators also belong to the ruling party.
Apart from the four predecessors – Niyi Adebayo, Ayo Fayose, Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi – who are rooting for Oyebanji, many prominent indigenes, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women and youth groups have endorsed him for a second term.
But there are also those against him in the party over the outcome of the primary that produced him as standard bearer. These are the supporters of Kayode Ojo, an engineer from Ikoro-Ekiti and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Pro-chancellor, who are not happy about his disqualification, based on party guidelines.
Without them, Oyebanji will win. But the onus is on the party leadership to reconcile the aggrieved elements with the fold. However, no election can be a walk over. Over-confidence should be avoided. The ruling party cannot afford to sleep on guard.
Certain elements in Ekiti are peddling falsehood about zoning. This is not a factor in the state. The state was divided into three senatorial districts for political expediency. From the days of Pelupelu, Ekiti has been one indivisible zone.
Osun poll
This exercise will generate excitment in the Southwest and beyond. Three candidates – Dancing Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party (AP), Bola Oyebamiji of APC and Najeem Salam of ADC will clash during in a titanic battle for the soul of the State of Living Springs.
The three of them once belonged to APC. Adeleke, son of Senator Ayoola Adeleke, is younger brother of the grassroots politician, Senator Isiaka Serubawon Adeleke. He succeeded him in the Senate after his demise.
Oyebamiji was a commissioner under former Governor Gboyega Oyetola when Salam was Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Zoning is a settled matter. The trio are from Osun West Senatorial District to which the tickets were unofficially zoned. Their running mates, who would be announced soon, would come from either Osun Central or Ife/Ijesa axis.
Adeleke, a populist governor and entertainer, was running from pillar to post after his original party, PDP, ran into trouble. Although a loyal party member, he had to defect to Accord to avoid uncertainties. The elite of Osun believe that his performing is not impressive. But he is popular among the masses who love his unconventional ways.
Adeleke will lean on the wealth of his illustrious family and the support of the distressed PDP chapter during the poll. The three PDP senators have vowed to support the President’s second term ambition. They are likely to extend the same gesture to the APC governorship candidate.
The governor has promised to mobilise for President Tinubu’s re-election. But the president’s party is at loggerheads with him. He faces a dilemma.
The most experienced and prepared candidate is Oyebamiji, former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Lokoja. The people of Osun take him serious because he has no baggage. He is competent, resourceful and highly knowledgeable about state finance and financial engineering. However, there is need for deeper reconciliation to halt post-primary crisis arising from the consensus option. While real opponents pose threats, internal opposition can undermine strategies for victory.
ADC is seriously mobilising in Osun. The mobilisation has kept the national secretary, Chief Rauf Aregbesola, busy. But, there is a crack in the chapter. The supporters of Moshood Adeoti were dazed that the leader could dump the deputy leader for the former Speaker.
Analysts have predicted a stiff contest in Osun as former colleagues in the same party clash because of political differences.
All in all, 2026 promises to be an exciting year where some individuals would rise politically and others would consolidate their positions. But it could also presage the retirement of some old warhorses who have dominated the power space in the last three to four decades.
…as Kashim Ibrahim University graduates 2,294 students
… Ooni of Ife installed as Chancellor, Zulum announces jobs, scholarships
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Saturday said no investment in education is ever a gamble, describing the sector as a deliberate commitment to securing a better and more prosperous future for Nigeria.
Speaking at the combined convocation ceremonies of Kashim Ibrahim University in Maiduguri, Borno State, where 2,294 students graduated across the 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions, the Vice President said education remains the most powerful tool for development, economic empowerment and societal liberation.
According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said “no investment in education is ever a gamble. It is a conscious plan for a better, more secure future”.
He urged the graduating students to see themselves as ambassadors of integrity, service and excellence, stressing that their conduct would define the reputation of the young institution.
“Wherever life takes you, you carry the name and values of Kashim Ibrahim University. You must shun ethical shortcuts and moral compromise,” he admonished.
Reflecting on the North-East’s painful history, the Vice President noted that Borno State understands the consequences of neglecting education, having endured years of disruption caused by insurgency.
“Borno has paid a heavy price for the years education was disrupted. Yet, the people chose resilience over despair and learning over loss,” he said.
Describing the graduands as pioneers, Shettima said history has placed a special responsibility on them.
“You are the first torchbearers of this institution. History will judge this university by what you become and how you conduct yourselves,” he added.
The Vice President commended the academic and administrative leadership of the university, including its pioneer Vice-Chancellor, current management and staff, for laying “a solid foundation for learning in the heart of the North-East.”
He also praised Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, describing him as “a leader whose vision turned an idea into an enduring institution”.
“This convocation is proof that true leadership measures power by the number of lives it enlightens,” Shettima said.
Shettima further applauded the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Muhammadu Indimi, for his commitment to the state, especially during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, noting that “his wealth has consistently been deployed for the good of society”.
In a symbolic gesture, the Vice President announced the donation of two electric vehicles to support the university’s shuttle services, saying “these vehicles are a modest contribution to ease mobility within the campus and support the learning environment”.
Earlier, Governor Zulum announced automatic employment for 81 best graduating students of the university, alongside immediate postgraduate sponsorships within and outside Nigeria.
“Excellence must be rewarded. These young men and women have earned the confidence of the Borno State Government,” the governor said.
The Chancellor of the university, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi II, pledged to work for the accelerated growth of the institution.
“I accept this responsibility with humility and commitment. I will work tirelessly to advance the development of Kashim Ibrahim University,” the monarch said.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Babagana Gutti disclosed that the university’s ultra-modern teaching hospital, nearing completion, would be the largest and most equipped in the country.
“When completed, our teaching hospital will stand as a national reference point for medical training and service delivery,” he said.
Highlights of the ceremony included the installation of the Ooni of Ife as Chancellor, the conferment of honorary Doctor of Letters degrees on him and Alhaji Indimi, as well as the award of MSc and PhD scholarships to best graduating students by the Vice President.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it has carried out airstrikes on terrorist hideouts, routes, and assembly areas in the North East and North West regions, resulting in heavy casualties among the armed groups.
It said the joint task forces of Operations HADIN KAI and FASAN YAMMA Sector 2 conducted a series of ‘coordinated, intelligence-led operations’ from January 1 to 3 across critical threat corridors in the regions.
NAF’s spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame revealed this in a statement, on Saturday.
According to Ejodame, in the North-East theatre, successive precision strikes were delivered against deeply concealed terrorist enclaves at Abirma and Chiralia within the Timbuktu Triangle, following persistent surveillance that confirmed active facilities linked to improvised explosive device production and attack planning.
He said: “The strikes resulted in the complete destruction of targeted structures, with multiple secondary explosions observed, clear indicators of the elimination of explosive stockpiles and critical logistics.
“Follow-on interdiction operations at Guva in the Mandara Mountains further dismantled terrorist storage and coordination nodes, severely degrading their ability to regroup, resupply, or mount attacks during the festive period and beyond.”
The NAF’s spokesperson said “decisive” airstrikes were conducted simultaneously in the North-West, particularly around Karaduwa Giginya Na in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
He said terrorists’ movement activities were tracked while moving in large motorcycle convoys and engaged at a forested convergence point.
“Post-strike assessments and corroborated local feedback confirmed the neutralisation of several terrorists, the destruction of multiple motorcycles, and the elimination of assorted weapons,” Ejodame said.
He noted that the sustained multi-theatre strikes underscore the NAF’s “overwhelming airpower presence, rapid strike capability, and unwavering resolve to systematically dismantle terrorist networks.”
In a separate statement, the NAF’s spokesperson said the service has recovered one of its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that went missing on January 2.
Ejodame was deployed on a routine mission within the Operation FASAN YAMMA Sector 3 area, during which it experienced a loss of link.
He said all efforts to restore the link proved abortive.
“Accordingly, in line with established procedures, the crew initiated emergency return-to-base actions, while the NAF immediately activated coordinated response and recovery measures in collaboration with sister Services and relevant authorities.
“The platform has since been contained, with assessment and recovery activities progressing as planned. Relevant technical teams have secured the platform and commenced preliminary evaluations in line with established safety and operational procedures.
“There has been no loss of life, and operational activities across all theatres continue uninterrupted,” he said.
Ejodame reassured the public of NAF’s continued professionalism and operational focus, as counter-insurgency operations proceed unabated in the interest of national security.
Moments after his discharge from the hospital late on New Year’s Eve, boxing superstar Anthony Joshua was driven to the funeral home where his two friends and aides were kept to pay them emotional respects.
Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, both 36, were killed after the Lexus SUV they were all travelling in ran into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Sagamu, Ogun State, on Monday.
There is fear in his camp about how the boxing star will deal with the trauma of losing the two close friends, according to the Daily Mail of London.
Mobolaji Kayode, who drove the ill- fated Lexus, was yesterday arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Sagamu for reckless driving.
Kayode, 46, was arrested by the police shortly after he was discharged from a private hospital in Lagos on Wednesday, where he had received medical care following the accident.
Joshua’s associate, Kolawole Omoboriowo, who broke the news of the accident to the boxer’s family, is worried about getting AJ, as he is fondly called, “out of that traumatised situation?”
‘What is actually in my head now is: “How do we get AJ out of that traumatised situation?”. And that is just the only thing that everybody is worried about right now,” the Daily Mail quoted him as telling Sky News.
He added, “Right now, everybody might think AJ is okay. But we don’t know how he’s going to take it.
“But right now we just want everybody to actually give him a moment to actually relax, rest, and we pick it up from there.
“We just need to keep praying for AJ, for God to give him the strength to be able to carry on with these losses.”
Omoboriowo coordinates Joshua’s logistics in Nigeria.
The Ogun State Police Command yesterday confirmed that it arraigned Kayode in court for alleged reckless driving that claimed the lives of Joshua’s close friends.
He was charged on four counts, including:
*Dangerous driving causing death, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F: 135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State).
*Reckless and negligent driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the same Act.
*Driving without due Care and attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act.
*Driving without a valid National Driver’s Licence, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act.
The defendant was granted bail in the sum of ₦5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) with two sureties.
He was remanded pending when he meets his bail condition
The case was adjourned to 20th January 2026 for trial.
• Says only immunity preventing trial of gov on 2017 charges
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, dismissed as mischievous and condemnable claims by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed that it was being used by political opponents, particularly the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to persecute him and his aides.
The agency said the accusations wereas wild as they were far- fetched.
The EFCC said, in a statement, that asan independent agency created to fight economic and financial crimes, it remains“non- partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will.”
Mohammed hadallegeda deliberate plot by some political actors to tarnish his reputation and destroy his integrity.
He particularly citedtheFCT MinisterWike as the brains behindefforts to link him with banditry and destabilize his state.
”“There are people behind it, and I know, and Im going to mention them today. Somebody said hes going to put fire in my state, FCT Minister Wike.
‘“A rising politician, a leader of the opposition, to be accused of terrorism, its very painful. One of my nephews was mentioned in the corruption charge and there was nothing like that, nothing.
”“I have written to the Attorney General of the Federation. Ive copied all the agencies, and Im going to escalate it to the international community, asking for protection because this is victimisation, protection of my fundamental human rights.”
However, the EFCC said yesterday thatit wasderogatory for Mohammed to ascribe itsactivities in Bauchi State to the influence of Mr. Wike.
Its words: “It is important to state that no political office holder is in a position to influence the investigative activities of the Commission. If Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won election as governor of Bauchi State. Only the constitutional Immunity from prosecution, which his current office attracts, has put that case in abeyance. Who also influenced the Commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him to court?
“In the instant case, the facts against some officials of the Bauchi State government are already placed before the court. Members of the public can access the charges and decide for themselves whether the case is borne out of vendetta or is a product of painstaking investigation by the EFCC. They will also understand why Bala Mohammed as the approving authority in Bauchi State is mentioned in the charge.
“Crying wolf over issues of terrorism financing is like clutching at straws. The Commission did not invent the law, and where there are offences punishable by extant laws, the EFCC will be failing in its responsibility to do otherwise.
“Public accountability should be the priority of politicians of all persuasions. It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to be quick to scream persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account but are mute when a member of the ruling party faces the same ordeal. Recently the Commission arraigned a ranking member of the ruling party in court for alleged corruption, and not a whimper of persecution was heard from any of the political divide.
“Governor Mohammed should face the governance of Bauchi State and allow the EFCC focus more on cleaning the financial space of the nation, in line with its assigned mandate.”
Before his emergence as governor, Mohammed had been arrested and quizzed in 2016 by the EFCC for alleged corruption during his tenure as FCT minister.
He was arraigned in May 2017before Justice A. M. Talba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja,on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office, false declaration of assets and fraud to the tune of N864 million.
Mohammed,while in office as minister,allegedly received N550 million as bribe from Aso Savings and Loans Limited with respect to some properties in the Asokoro area of Abuja.
He wassaid to have corruptly abused his position as board chairman of Aso Savings by allocating four fully detached duplexes and 11 semi-detached duplexes valued at N314 million, through the Presidential Taskforce on Sale of Governments Houses, to himself.
The former minister was also accused of making false declarations of his assets.
Count one of the charge read:
“That you,Bala A. Mohammed, while being the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, sometime in 2014 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, did accept gratification of a house worth N550, 000,000 (Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) only situated at No. 2599 & 2600 Cadastral Zone A04 Asokoro District, Abuja, from Aso Savings & Loans Plc as reward for performing your official duties and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (b) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of his plea, Ben Ikani, counsel to the EFCC, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in prison custody.
‘However, Balas counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), informed the court of a pending bail application dated May 5, 2017, and urged the court to grant his prayers.
Justice Talba ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of the bail application, while adjourning toMay 12for ruling on the application.
• Grants N500m bail to Bauchi Finance Commissioner Adamu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled ruling for January 7 on the applications for bail filed by the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and two others.
The other two are Abdulaziz Malami (Malami’s son) and Hajia Bashir Asabe, an employee of Rahamaniyya Properties Limited, a firm allegedly linked to the former minister.
Justice Emeka Nwite chose the date on Friday after taking arguments from lawyers to parties in the alleged N8.7 billion money laundering case against the three defendants.
Malami and his son are currently being remanded in Kuje Prison in Abuja, while Hajia Asabe is being held in the female section of the Suleja prison in the neighbouring Niger State.
The three defendants are being prosecuted on a 16-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC is among others, claiming that Malami and his two co-defendants conspired to disguise the origin of funds estimated at N8.7billion, acquire properties indirectly, and retain sums they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.
Lawyer to the defendants, Joseph Daudu (SAN), while arguing the bail application, noted among others, that the offences alleged were bailable.
Daudu also spoke about the status of the first defendant and prayed the court to grant all the defendants bail in the most liberal terms.
Prosecuting lawyer, Ekele Iheanacho (SAN), though noted that bail was at the discretion of the court, urged the court to reject bail for the defendants.
Earlier on Friday, Justice Nwite, in a separate ruling, granted bail to the Commissioner for Finance in Bauchi State, Yakubu Adamu at N500 million, among other conditions in relation to the money laundering charge brought against him and one other.
The judge held that the court was minded to exercise its discretionary power in favour of Adamu since the prosecution presented no strong reason that the defendant would jump bail or interfere with the trial.
Justice Nwite held that the power to grant bail must be exercised judicially and judiciously, hence, the need for the defendant to be admitted to bail.
The judge ordered Adamu to produce two sureties, who must be land owners within Maitama, Asokoro or Gwarinpa District of Abuja.
He ordered that the sureties must depose an affidavit of means.
The judge said that the defendant and the sureties shall deposit their international passports with the court registrar and must not travel out of the country except with the leave of the court.
He also held that they shall deposit two passport photographs with the court registrar.
Justice Nwite also ordered that Adamu should be remanded in Kuje Prison pending when he is able to meet the conditions attached to the bail granted him
He adjourned till January 20 for the commencement of trial.
Adamu is being prosecuted with a firm, Ayab Agro Products and Freight Company Ltd, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/694/2025 filed by the EFCC in which the defendants are accused of laundering about N4.6billion.
In count one, Adamu, while acting as the Branch Manager of Polaris Bank Ltd, Bauchi, alongside Ishaku Mohammed Aliyu, Managing Director of Makayye Investment Resources Ltd (now at large) and Muntaka Mohammed Duguri (now at large), were alleged to have conspired to commit the offence, sometime between June 2023 to December 2023.
They were alleged to have facilitated and agreed to the conversion, transfer, concealment and use of funds in the sum of about N4,650,000,000.00 (Four Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) availed by Polaris Bank under the guise of financing the supply of motorcycles to Bauchi State Government through Emmanuel Asomugha General Enterprises.
“The motorcycles were not supplied, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) and punishable under Section 21 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the count read in part.
The National Assembly is proposing a uniform four-year renewable tenure for elected local government officials across the country.
Those contesting local government elections are expected to be not less than 25 years of age, according to other proposals by the federal legislators in the constitution review.
Such contestants are required to hold a minimum of secondary school certificate or its equivalent and must be sponsored by a political party.
Power to remove LG chairman and vice chairmen is vested in councilors thus striping state governors of power to dissolve councils.
The proposals are part of the broad recommendations by the joint Constitution Review committee of the Senate and House of Representatives adopted at the recent retreat in Lagos.
The recommendations are currently awaiting consideration by both chambers of the National Assembly.
Forty-four constitution alteration bills are awaiting the approval of both chambers before going to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for further action.
Voting on the bills was originally scheduled to be conducted before the Christmas and New Year break, but members of the House of Representatives sought more time to study the recommendations and probably consult with their constituents before voting.
The 774 local governments across the country currently do not have a uniform tenure; many have a tenure of three years.
Only the six Area Councils in the FCT currently run a four-year tenure.
Section 212 of the proposed alteration provides as follows: “subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person shall hold the office of Chairman of a Local Government Council until – (a) when his successor in office takes the oath of that office; (b) he dies whilst holding such office; (c) the date when his resignation from office takes effect; or (d) he otherwise ceases to hold office in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.
It also states that “Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, the Chairman shall vacate his office at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date when –(a) in the case of a person first elected as Chairman under this Constitution, he took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office; and (b) the person last elected to that office took the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office or would, but for his death, have taken such oaths.”
The proposed amendments also provide that “in the determination of the four-year term, where a re-run election has taken place and the person earlier sworn in wins the re-run election, the time spent in office before the date the election was annulled shall be taken into account.
“If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time, but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time”.
The proposal extends all constitutional privileges assigned to the President and Governors to elected local government chairmen and Vice Chairmen.
It also requires that “a person elected to the office of the Chairman of a Local Government shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in the Constitution and has subsequently taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.
On the procedure for the removal of an elected Chairman or Vice Chairman,it says:
“The Chairman or Vice-Chairman of a Local Government may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section.
“Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third of the members of the Local Government council –
(a) is presented to the Speaker of the Local Government council; (b) stating that the holder of such office is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified, the Speaker of the Local Government council shall, within seven days of the receipt of the notice, cause a copy of the notice to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the Local Government Council and shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office, to be served on each member of the Local Government Council.
“Within fourteen days of the presentation of the notice to the Speaker of the Local Government Council (whether or not any statement was made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice), the Local Government Council shall resolve by motion, without any debate, whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.
“A motion of the Local Government Council that the allegation be investigated shall not be declared as having been passed unless it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of the Local Government Council.
“Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the State shall at the request of the Speaker of the Local Government Council, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provided in this section.
“The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in person or be represented before the panel by a legal practitioner of his own choice.
“A panel appointed under subsection 9(5) of this section shall –(a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the Local Government Legislative Council; and (b) within three months of its appointment, report its findings to the Local Government Legislative Council.
“Where the panel reports to the Local Government Legislative Council that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of the matter.
“Where the report of the panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within fourteen days of the receipt of the report, the Local Government Council shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of the local government legislative council, supported by not less than two-thirds majority of all its members, the report of the panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report.
“No proceedings or determination of the panel or of the Local Government Legislative Council or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court.”
