TUESDAY 30TH DECEMBER 2025

Reuters: NNPC Set to Sell Selected Oil, Gas Assets, Invites Bids National oil company in talks to secure $2bn for pipeline upgrade Presidency: Despite write-off of $1.42bn, N5.57tn debt, $42bn remains in dispute Says Escravos–Lagos pipeline restored to full operations

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The Nigerian National Pe-

troleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) is planning to sell stakes in some of its oil and gas assets and has already called

for bids, a report by Reuters said yesterday.

Quoting an invitation document, it stated that interested

bidders must register online

by January 10, after which pre-screening will follow and qualified firms will gain access

to a secure virtual data room.

But two of Nigeria’s influential oil sector unions had in September this year strongly

opposed the government’s reported plans to divest Continued on page 9

Tuesday 30 December, 2025 Vol 30. No 11223. Price: N400

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Senator Yari Takes Control of Geregu Power as Femi Otedola Exits... Page 10

Road Crash: Tinubu Commiserates with Anthony Joshua, FRSC Blames Overspeeding President speaks with boxer, mother, Ogun governor Two bodyguards die, Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun mourn

Deji Elumoye, Kasim Sumaina in Abuja and James

Sowole in Abeokuta

President Bola Tinubu yesterday commiserated with former World

Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua, over a ghastly road

crash, in which two of his bodyguards were reported to

Continued on page 9

Wike: Fubara Not Rivers APC Leader, He Decided Late, Re-election Not Guaranteed

Claims his supporters control the grassroots Criticises Makinde’s approach to politics Declares he’s decided to quit PDP, ADC not a threat to Tinubu in 2027 You’ve exposed your anti-party activities, PDP tells Wike, vows to field presidential candidate Chuks Okocha, Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, during a long-winded media chat, yester-day, insisted that in spite of the defection of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC), he was not the APC leader in the state.

Wike, while mocking Fubara, said he took the decision late and his defection Continued on page 9

JOSHUA ESCAPED DEATH BY A WHISKER...

Two time World heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua writhing in pain , after being involved in a tragic road accident that claimed the lives of two of security aides at Makun, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State…yesterday

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THISDAY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025

Group News Editor: Goddy Egene Email: Goddy.egene@thisdaylive.com, 0803 350 6821, 0807 401 0580

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu(left), and Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, during a visit by Adedokun to the President just before the commencement of the Eyo Festival in Lagos...recently

Tax Ombudsman to Launch January 1, Pledges Impartiality, Fairness to Taxpayers James Emejo in Abuja Pioneer Tax Ombud and Chief Executive, Office the Tax Ombud, Dr. John Nwabueze, yesterday declared that the institution will commence full operations on January 1, 2026.

He said the establishment of the new office demonstrated President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to amicable and seamless tax dispute resolution and protecting taxpayers’ rights to challenge arbitrary actions by tax and revenue authorities.

Essentially, the office was established to strengthen transparency and accountability within the tax system, enhance confidence in tax administration, while also providing a structured mechanism for the fair and impartial resolution of disputes between taxpayers and revenue authorities.

Nwabueze, in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Tax Ombud, Chudi Achife, commended the President’s economic policies, which he noted were now stabilising the Nigerian economy and “guiding the country toward sustainable prosperity.”

He said the policies have led to a declining inflation rate, a stable exchange rate, growing reserves, higher investor confidence, a bullish market, and an export surplus.

However, the office of the Tax Ombud is expected to receive, review, and resolve complaints about taxes, levies, regulatory fees, customs duties, excise matters, and other related issues in accordance with extant laws and regulations.

The office also has the power to institute legal

proceedings on behalf of the taxpayer at no cost to the taxpayer, to provide information on the functions of the tax authorities, and to raise awareness of taxpayer rights and obligations.

Nwabueze, who has over two decades of experience in tax administration and policy in Nigeria and the United States, said, “I share in the President’s pragmatic leadership approach. Estab-

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), barring any last-minute change, will today arraign a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Reliable sources within the anti-graft agency said all arrangements had been concluded to ensure Malami’s appearance before Justice Emeka Nwite, who is expected to take his plea alongside

those of his co-defendants.

As of last night, the commission was said to be fully prepared for the arraignment, subject only to unforeseen developments.

The prosecution team is expected to be led by Chief J. S. Okutepa, SAN. The EFCC had filed a 16-count charge against Malami, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, alleging large-scale money laundering and the unlawful acquisition of properties valued at over N8.7 billion.

He also lauded the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, for his role in implementing the Renewed Hope agenda across all sectors of the economy.

Court Voids Ex-parte Mareva Orders, Faults Petitioners for Suppressing Facts Wale Igbintade The Federal High Court in Lagos has nullified all proceedings and interim orders made on November 21, 2025, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/812/2024, Collins Onyeweama & Anor v. Techno Oil Limited & Ors, holding that the ex-parte orders were obtained in flagrant violation of the respondents’ constitutional

right to fair hearing.

In a ruling, Justice Ayokunle Faji held that the interim orders granted on November 21 were secured through the deliberate suppression of material facts and misrepresentation to the court by the petitioners and their counsel.

The ruling arose from a motion ex-parte filed by the petitioners, in which

EFCC Arraigns Ex-AGF Malami Today over Alleged N8.7bn Money Laundering

Wale Igbintade

lishing the Office of the Tax Ombud shows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ingenuity and foresight in reforming tax administration to ensure fairness, accountability, and efficiency.”

The charge, marked FHC/ ABJ/CR/700/2025, accused the defendants of conspiring to conceal, disguise, retain, and indirectly acquire proceeds of unlawful activities through multiple bank accounts, corporate entities, and highvalue real estate transactions over nearly a decade.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed between 2015 and 2025, largely within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, during Malami’s tenure as the nation’s chief law officer.

The EFCC alleged that Malami and his son used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to conceal N1.014 billion lodged in a Sterling Bank account between July 2022 and June 2025, as well as an additional N600.01 million deposited between September 2020 and February 2021.

The defendants were also accused of retaining N600 million as cash collateral for a N500 million loan obtained

by Rayhaan Hotels Ltd from Sterling Bank Plc, allegedly knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

they sought global Mareva injunctions against the third and fourth respondents on the alleged suspicion that the assets of the 1st respondent were being moved.

The application was filed and heard without any hearing notice to the respondents or their counsel, notwithstanding that all parties to the suit were already duly represented by counsel.

The court stated that the matter was last heard on November 7, 2025, when it was adjourned to December 11, 2025, for a report of settlement.

Aggrieved by the ex parte orders, counsel to the various respondents filed separate applications seeking to set aside the November 21 orders on the grounds of breach of fair hearing and lack of jurisdiction.

Professor Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, appeared for the first, third, fifth, and sixth respondents, alongside Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN, Ogbonna Chukwumerije, Esq., and Kazeem Afolabi. Nnaemeka Amaechina appeared for the scond and fourth respondents.

Equally appearing were Oluwole Afolabi, SAN, and O.F. Fatomi for the first, third,

and seventh parties seeking to be bound as interveners, while Ifeanyi Ekopo, holding the brief of Tochukwu Maduka, SAN, appeared for the fourth, fifth, and sixth parties seeking to be bound.

In his ruling, Faji upheld the submissions of senior counsel for the respondents that the petitioners had suppressed material facts in procuring the ex parte orders.

The court observed that Exhibit 25, which formed the foundation of the Mareva application, had already been annexed to a motion on notice filed nearly two months before the November 21 proceedings.

However, during the hearing of the ex parte application, petitioners’ counsel had told the court that the facts relied upon had only recently come to the petitioners’ knowledge.

Faji held that had the court been properly informed of the earlier filing, the ex parte application would not have been granted.

Consequently, the court set aside the entire proceedings and all orders made on November 21, 2025, for constituting a violation of the respondents’ right to fair hearing.

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • THISDAY

NEWS

FLAG-OFF OF APC ELECTRONIC MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION...

L-R: National Vice Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), South-West, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, and Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the flag-off of the APC electronic membership registration exercise held in Akure, yesterday

PSAN, 99 Other CSOs Throw Weight Behind NASS Action on Tax Reform Laws House Minority Caucus calls for suspension of implementation pending National Assembly investigation

Chuks Okocha and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja No fewer than 100 civil society organisations (CSO), led by Parliamentary Support and Advocacy Network (PSAN) and Civil Rights Situation Room on Economic Reforms, yesterday endorsed the leadership of the

House of Representatives’ handling of the ongoing review of Nigeria’s landmark tax reform laws.

Another group, The Patriots, also backed the decision of the National Assembly leadership to order the re-gazetting of the Tax Reform Acts.

However, the minority caucus

of the House of Representatives, yesterday, called for the suspension of the laws’ implementation until investigations by the National Assembly were concluded.

At a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, by convener of PSAN and the other civil society groups, Ogiri John, the

coalition commended Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate for their “measured, constitutionally grounded, and institutionally exemplary” response to public concerns over the recently assented tax legislation.

The four key statutes under scrutiny — Nigeria Tax Act,

UN Secretary-General Urges Global Reset as Military Spending Hits Record High Michael Olugbode in Abuja

United Nations SecretaryGeneral António Guterres has warned the world is at a critical turning point, urging global leaders to redirect priorities from war to peace as military spending reaches unprecedented levels.

In his New Year video message, Guterres said the international community is grappling with deepening chaos and uncertainty marked by growing divisions,

violence, climate breakdown and persistent violations of international law.

“The world stands at a crossroads,” the UN chief said, noting that many people are increasingly questioning whether political leaders are listening or prepared to act in the face of escalating global challenges.

Guterres revealed that global military expenditure has surged to about 2.7 trillion dollars, representing an increase of nearly 10 per cent. According to him,

the figure is 13 times higher than total global development aid and roughly equal to the entire Gross Domestic Product of Africa.

He described the trend as alarming, especially as conflicts are raging at levels not seen since the Second World War, while millions of people continue to suffer from poverty, inequality and the effects of climate change.

Calling for a shift in global priorities, the Secretary-General stressed that lasting peace can

to NASC Chairman urged the commission to ensure strict adherence to the law and avoid perpetuating imbalance in appointments.

It noted Section 14(3) of the 1999 constitution as amended, detailed in the Federal Character Commission Act, which mandates equitable representation across Nigeria’s federating units in public appointments.

It added that respecting this

principle in appointments is crucial to maintaining fairness and avoiding perceptions of bias.

It therefore urged the Commission to ensure compliance to prevent potential industrial unrest.

PASAN commended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reverse the promotion of his Aide-De-Camp (ADC), showcasing his commitment

only be achieved by investing more in human development rather than conflict. “A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars,” he said.

Guterres maintained the world has sufficient resources to improve living standards, protect the planet and build a future anchored on peace and justice, if political will is applied.

2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025 — represented a major overhaul of the country’s fiscal framework.

The laws, passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu earlier in 2025, were intended to simplify tax administration, enhance revenue collection, and improve the investment climate ahead of their scheduled implementation on January 1, 2026.

However, in recent weeks, there have been heightened public debate following allegations of discrepancies between the versions approved by lawmakers and the officially gazetted copies.

The coalition maintained that such scrutiny was healthy for democracy, but it must be rooted in facts and procedure.

“Having undertaken a careful

and dispassionate examination, we are convinced that the response of the National Assembly leadership has been exemplary in its adherence to constitutionalism and institutional self-regulation,” John stated on behalf of the groups, in their joint address.

They emphasised that the actions taken by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the senate leadership fully aligned with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Acts Authentication Act, and established parliamentary rules.

“This is not an admission of any deficiency, nor an erosion of authority. Rather, it represents the deliberate exercise of institutional responsibility,” the coalition emphasised.

The coalition praised the directive to Clerk of the National Assembly to facilitate the re-gazetting of the Acts and to provide Certified True Copies upon request.

Halt Brain Drain: Nigerian-US PASAN to NASC: Ensure Strict Doctor Reveals How Halt Trend, Lead Adherence to Federal Character Principle Africa in Regenerative Medicine Nigerian health professionals levels prioritised competiAborisade in Abuja to Prevent Imbalance in Appointments Sunday was neither irreversible nor tive remuneration, modern hospital equipment and A Nigerian-American inevitable.

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) has called on the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) to strictly adhere to the principle of federal character to avoid perpetuating imbalance in appointments.

PASAN Chairman, Sabiyyi Sunday, in a petition dated 22nd December, 2025 and addressed

physician and pioneer in regenerative medicine, Dr. David Ikudayisi, has declared that Nigeria possesses the capacity to halt the debilitating brain drain in its health sector and reposition itself as a continental hub for cuttingedge medical innovation.

The medical practitioner, who stated this in an interview with journalists in Abuja, admitted the exodus of

He nevertheless, insisted that deliberate policy choices, improved working conditions and investment in advanced medical practice could stem the tide.

Ikudayisi, the Founder and Medical Director of Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre, noted that migration pressures could be significantly reduced if the government at all

structured career progression for healthcare workers.

He said: “The solutions are not abstract. Good pay, attractive working conditions, sustained support for postgraduate training and credible incentives for research careers will keep our best hands at home.

“Health workers want to be valued, supported and given room to grow,” he added.

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NEWS

PEAK BREAKFAST CAFE ACTIVATION...

L-R: Nigerian Actress, Wunmi Toriola; Chief Executive Officer, Nusiral Ventures, Mrs. Nasirat Abdulraufu; and Senior Brand Manager, Peak, Monisola Kassim, during the Peak Breakfast Cafe activation held at Ojuwoye Market Mushin, Lagos ... recently

Adeleke, Aiyedatiwa Sign Osun, Ondo 2026 Appropriation Bills into Law Zulum presents N899.33bn proposal to lawmakers

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo and Fidelis David in Akure

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state yesterday signed the 2026 appropriation bill of N723.4 billion into law, with a vow to ensure full implementation and with highlights of the delivery of the last three years’ budgets.

Accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi; House Speaker, Adewale Egbedun; the Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye; the Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina, among others, Adeleke said he signed into law the bill to consolidate and expand governance and service delivery in line with the five point agenda of his administration.

“Our government touched previously neglected sectors, pouring funding into agricultural mechanisation, health and schools rehabilitation, new five star stadium at Osogbo, over 250 kilometers of roads across

the state, six different road dualisation in five major towns, three major flyover bridges to ease traffic congestion, innovations in energy, science and climate change among others,” he said.

He stated that Osun infrastructure deficit which was almost 80 per cent as of 2022 is now reduced by 45 per cent, while the economy is now under a responsible, transparent and accountable leadership.

Speaking on the importance of the budget, the governor said his team has resolved to consolidate its achievements across the sectors.

“2026 is a loaded era as an election year when by God and people, our mandate will be renewed. But we should not allow governance to suffer. We must multi-task. We promise Osun people full implementation of the new appropriation act. “ I charge each ministries

and agencies to follow the established timelines for the budget execution. We will continue to focus on people’s welfare and complete all ongoing projects and programmes” , the governor posited.

Also, the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday, signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Economic

exchange with a research and practitioner community” and by contributing to its activities, some of which involve public goods provision and service.”

EGAP is an international network of researchers and practitioners committed to advancing evidence-based approaches to improving governance and political institutions worldwide.

Membership in the network is invitation-only, highly competitive, and designed to foster the active exchange of

of N220,830,941,200 (42.11 per cent) and capital expenditure of N303,579,649,739 (57.89 per cent), underscoring a strong commitment to infrastructure and economic growth.

Aiyedatiwa said the 2026 budget was a strategic blueprint designed to respond effectively to prevailing national economic realities while positioning Ondo State on a path of self-reliance,

resilience and enduring prosperity.

Aiyedatiwa highlighted the budget’s key pillars, emphasising agriculture and food security with targeted investments in modern farming, support for smallholder farmers, and improved access to credit.

Continues online

Troops Destroy 22 Illegal Refining Sites, Arrest 19 Suspects in Niger Delta Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have revealed the arrest of 19 suspected oil thieves, and destruction of 22 illegal refining sites at different locations in the Niger Delta.

A statement signed by Acting Deputy Director, 6

OrderPaper Nigeria Invited to Elite Global Research and Governance Group OrderPaper, Nigeria’s foremost parliamentary monitoring organisation and public policy think tank, has been invited to join the Evidence in Governance and Politics (EGAP) research network as an institutional member.

In a formal communication to Oke Epia, OrderPaper’s founder and chief executive, the executive director of EGAP, Daniel Rubenson, said OrderPaper was invited to add value to the outputs of the network through “active

Consolidation,” into law.

The governor described the occasion as far more than a statutory requirement, calling it a solemn reaffirmation of collective commitment to the progress, stability and sustainable development of the state.

The budget of N524,410,590,939, comprises recurrent expenditure

evidence-driven governance ideas and practices across regions and countries worldwide, from a multidisciplinary approach.

OrderPaper’s membership of the global elite network marks a significant step in the organisation’s growing engagement with global evidence-driven governance communities, specifically, its work at the intersection of legislative accountability, public policy, and democratic governance.

Division Army Public Relations, Jonah Danjuma, revealed that the troops, in synergy with other security agencies, also recovered over 180,000 litres of stolen products, worth over N150,000,000.00.

Danjuma stated that the operations were conducted between November 23 and December 28, and they targeted oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and associated crimes in the Niger Delta.

Danjuma said, “In the

operations that ensued in Bayelsa State, at Siebu Creek within Ogbienbiri in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA), an illegal refining site was deactivated with a massive reservoir filled with over 75,000 litres of stolen crude oil, as well as a pumping machine recovered.”

He disclosed that around Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area, troops conducted multiple operations, which led to the deactivation of several

illegal refining sites, with a cumulative recovery of over 17,000 litres of stolen products.

“At Okarki waterside in Ogbia LGA, troops intercepted a big Cotonou boat concealed at the riverbank, loaded with 37 sacks filled with 2,775 litres of stolen crude,” he stated.

The statement also revealed that at Ogale Community in Eleme Local Government Area, in Rivers State, troops discovered 350 sacks filled with over 10,500 litres of stolen crude.

FRSC, Pernod Ricard Launch ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ Campaign to Save Lives During Festive Season Mary Nnah As Nigerians celebrate the festive season, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Pernod Ricard Nigeria have joined forces to raise awareness about the increasing number of drunk driving incidents on the nation’s roads.

The alarming trend has prompted the two organisations to launch a joint campaign to promote responsible drinking

and road safety.

The campaign, themed “Take Responsibility for Your Safety.

Don’t Drink and Drive,” seeks to sensitise the public on the dangers of drunk driving and promote a culture of responsible road use, particularly during the festive season when roads are busier than usual.

Speaking during an event held in Ikeja, Lagos, recently, the Managing Director of Pernod

Ricard Nigeria, Michael Ehindero, emphasised the importance of responsible drinking and road safety during the festive season.

“As we celebrate with family and friends, let’s not forget that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. We urge all road users to prioritise their safety and the safety of others on the road. Don’t drink and drive, and let’s make this festive season a joyful and accident-free one.”

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Blackout as Power Grid Suffers Another Disturbance, Supply Crashes to Zero NISO says electricity fully restored, probe ongoing

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

Nigeria’s national electricity grid suffered a major disruption yesterday afternoon as most of the power plants in the country lost generation, plunging over 200 million Nigerians celebrating the Yuletide into total darkness.

Distribution load figures released at 3:12pm Monday showed only minimal electricity was reaching consumers.

Data from the Distribution Companies (Discos) revealed that only Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and Abuja Electricity Distribu-

tion Company (AEDC) received power at the time, recording 30 megawatts (MW) and 20MW respectively.

THISDAY’s check revealed that all other operators, including Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Yola Discos, were allocated zero megawatts.

Nationwide electricity distribution stood at just 50MW, far below normal operating levels, leaving homes, businesses, and critical services without adequate power. The latest figures indicate a widespread and severe outage affecting major urban and regional

centres across Nigeria.

The latest system disturbance happened at a time the Independent System Operator (NISO) is still trying to stabilise supply after days of skeletal supply caused by gas constraints that resulted from the vandalism of the Escravos-Lagos gas pipeline.

With only 50MW being supplied nationwide, the collapse represented one of the most significant disruptions in recent years. The near-total blackout affected not just households but also businesses and public infrastructure that rely on stable electricity supply.

Nigeria’s national grid has experienced repeated collapses in recent years, often leading to prolonged blackouts and disruptions to economic activities.

Meanwhile, some Discos confirmed that the collapse took place around 2pm yesterday, calling for patience from customers.

“Dear valued customer, kindly be informed there was a system collapse at 14:01hrs which has resulted in a loss of power supply across our network. We are currently working with our partners as we hope for the speedy

restoration of the grid. We will keep you updated as soon as the power supply is restored. Kindly bear with us,” Eko Disco wrote.

For its part, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) described it as a system disturbance, stressing that it was working closely with stakeholders for the full restoration of power in its franchise areas.

“Dear valued customers, we wish to inform you that a system disturbance occurred on the national grid at 14:02 pm today causing power outage across our franchise areas.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu Please be assured that we are coordinating closely with relevant stakeholders to restore power fully as soon as the grid is stabilised.

Continues online

WIKE: FUBARA NOT RIVERS APC LEADER, HE DECIDED LATE, RE-ELECTION NOT GUARANTEED

to APC did not guarantee his re-election in 2027.

The former Rivers State governor boasted that he remained the leader of politics in the state, claiming that his supporters control the local governments and ward structures across the state.

Wike, who further dismissed insinuations in some quarters that Fubara’s defection to APC automatically made him the party’s leader in the state, said the governor did not have structure that would guarantee

him leadership of the party.

He said before the governor resigned from PDP, 22 local government chairmen in the state and more than half of the House of Assembly members had left PDP and joined APC. Wike stated, “Defecting to another party does not make you the leader. When you said you are joining the party, you must have something to offer.

There’s nothing like 001. There’s nothing like, ‘I have registered in the state as 001.’

“He (Fubara) decamped

to APC with who? What is ‘001’? Let me tell you, there’s nothing like 001 in the state.

You register in your ward and local government. So, if you are 001, it’s in your ward.

“Everybody registered in their own ward. You could be the first person to register, but that’s not your position.

“See, leadership is not because I’m a governor.

Leadership is not because I’m a minister. You must have something that makes you a leader. Who is the leader of

APC in Lagos State? There are exceptions to rules.”

The former Rivers governor boasted that he had made up his mind to leave PDP, and those loyal to him, even in other states of the federation, will join him in leaving the party.

Responding to Fubara’s earlier statement that anyone who wanted to support President Bola Tinubu should “not follow corner, corner”, Wike reiterated that he had been the most abused minister in the present administration because

ROAD CRASH: TINUBU COMMISERATES WITH ANTHONY JOSHUA, FRSC BLAMES OVERSPEEDING

have lost their lives.

Besides, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said preliminary findings pointed to overspeeding, which resulted in the road mishap.

The accident that occurred at Makun, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, involved a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), with Registration Number LAGOS KRD 850 HN, conveying Joshua, which rammed into a stationary truck.

The car lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck parked by the side of the road.

Tinubu, on his official X handle, @officialABAT, wrote: “AJ, I extend my deep sympathies to you following the tragic accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, which claimed two precious lives and caused you injuries.

“This immense tragedy casts a deep shadow on this season. I sympathise with you and your family as you bear the emotional weight of this unfortunate incident. As a sportsman, you have always shown courage, discipline, and unwavering love for our country. These are qualities that have made you a source of national pride.

“In moments like this, we must encourage one another as brothers and sisters with a shared destiny. I pray for strength, wisdom, and grace for you during this painful period.

May God grant you a speedy

recovery and repose to the souls of the departed.”

Later, the President said he spoke on phone with the Nigerian-British former heavyweight boxing champion, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.

“I spoke with AJ on the phone to personally convey my condolences over the death of his two associates. I wished him well and prayed for him. He assured me that he is receiving the best care in the hospital.

“I also spoke with AJ’s mother and prayed for her.

She was very appreciative of my call. Additionally, I spoke to Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was in the hospital with them.

The governor assured me that he will do everything possible to ensure AJ receives the best possible attention,” Tinubu announced.

In the same vein, a statement issued by the Assistant Corps Marshal Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, Headquarters, Abuja, Olusegun Ogungbemide, revealed the primary cause of the crash to be excessive speeding and wrongful overtaking. This, according to him, constituted serious traffic violations and remained among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways.

The statement added: “The FRSC wishes to confirm a fatal road traffic crash that occurred today, Monday, 29 December 2025, along the Lagos–Ibadan

Expressway, around the Sinoma area near Sagamu, Ogun State, involving a Lexus Jeep conveying world-renowned boxer, Anthony Joshua, and a stationary truck.

“Preliminary reports from the Ogun Sector Command indicate that the crash occurred at about 1200HRS and was promptly reported to the Corps. FRSC operatives arrived at the scene within three minutes of notification, enabling swift rescue operations, evacuation of victims, effective traffic control, and prevention of secondary crashes.

“The incident involved two

vehicles: a black Lexus Jeep with registration number KRD 850 HN (private) and a stationary red commercial Sinotruck with unknown registration number.

A total of five adult males were involved in the crash.

“Two persons sadly lost their lives, one sustained injuries, while two others escaped unhurt. Anthony Joshua was rescued alive and sustained minor injuries.

“The injured victim was evacuated for medical attention, while the remains of Continued on page 26

of his support for the president.

He stated, “Nigerians know that in 2023, I supported the president. I didn’t hide that.

“If I am doing corner corner, Assembly people will not go, the National Assembly members will not go. That is leadership. I support President Tinubu. With what the president is doing in Abuja, there is no way PDP will win the FCT in the next election.”

On the alleged breakdown of the peace agreement brokered by the president in Rivers, Wike claimed that it was due to the inability of Fubara to keep to his part of the deal, adding that the governor is being economical with the truth in his working relationship with the leadership of the Assembly.

Addressing claims by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, that the FCT minister promised to weaken PDP in favour of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, Wike dismissed the assertion as untrue.

He described the allegation as “blatant lie,” and stressed that no such meeting ever took place.

“That is a blatant lie. That is why you see Seyi Makinde has never called me Wike again.

That was the last time he did,” the minister stated.

Wike revealed that he played a prominent role in making Makinde governor in 2019, and said Makinde became governor after he and some party leaders handed him with the PDP structure in Oyo State.

Reacting to Makinde’s claim of making $1 million when he was in law school, Wike said, “I ran for the presidential primary of the PDP. I didn’t see Seyi use N1,000 in my primaries. I did not see it even once.

“Secondly, it’s only in Nigeria that I’ve seen someone awarded a job worth $1 million, and nobody is talking about it.

But he came to the man who didn’t have $1 million to help him get structure. We said no, we will not give it to you. We gave it to Teslim. He went to SDP to run as governor and failed with his $1 million.

“Then, before 2019, he came back. We said, we are ready to give you structure. I was very grounded in politics, but I had no $1 million with me.

But the man who made $1 million is going around looking for people to help him build a structure. It was when we Continued on page 27

REUTERS: NNPC SET TO SELL SELECTED OIL, GAS ASSETS, INVITES BIDS significant stakes in joint venture assets managed by the NNPC. Specifically, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had warned that such moves could destabilise the economy, weaken the oil industry, and jeopardise the welfare of workers.

Both organisations rejected the proposal to cut government stakes in Joint Venture (JV) assets by as much as 30–35 per cent. Currently, the federal government holds between 55 and 60 per cent of such assets through the NNPC. According to the invitation

document, prequalification will be based on technical and financial capacity, followed by document evaluation, negotiations and regulatory approvals.

Nigeria has struggled to boost crude output and attract investment and is targeting incremental growth through production from marginal onshore fields vacated by international firms.

Also, the NNPC is discussing $2 billion in financing from Nexus Alliance, a company that supports pipeline infrastructure, according to people with knowledge of the matter, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

Nigeria’s over 5,000 kilometres oil and gas pipeline network, once the backbone of

the country’s energy export and domestic supply system, has long suffered from extensive inoperability and disruptions caused by repeated vandalism, theft, sabotage and infrastructure decay.

A number of major pipelines that transport crude from producing fields to export terminals, and natural gas to power plants and LNG facilities, are frequently out of service or operating below capacity.

Despite recent improvements in security, underinvestment, ageing infrastructure and the persistent threat of vandalism mean that many pipelines remain vulnerable and intermittently inoperable, with direct consequences for Nigeria’s oil

output, export earnings and domestic energy supply.

However, the report noted that the state-owned oil producer expects to receive the funds early next year and will use the money to repair and upgrade pipelines damaged by theft and vandalism while reducing leaks.

The NNPC has sought fresh capital in recent months as part of a broader refinancing effort, including discussions with lenders based in Saudi Arabia, according to the people.

The company, which aims to lift oil output to at least 1.8 million barrels a day and increase gas production, targets to attract investment Continued on page 26

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OYETOLA PRESENTS REVALIDATED ONDO DEEP SEA PORT CERTIFICATE TO AIYEDATIWA...

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, (L) presenting the revalidated certificate for the Ondo Deep Sea Port to the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at his office marking a major milestone in the state’s industrial and maritime aspirations, in Abuja ...recently

Senator Yari Takes Control of Geregu Power as Femi Otedola Exits Njiddah, Mohammed, Jaafaru, Adogu, Magaji emerge directors

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Senator Abdulaziz Yari has emerged as the new chairman of the board of Geregu Power Plc after the exit of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, in a transaction that has seen him (Otedola) divest his 77 per cent of his controlling stake in the power generation company.

A filing by Geregu Power Plc on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) website showed that the transaction was executed through the sale of Otedola’s 95 per cent stake in Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited to MA’AM Energy Ltd, a Nigerian firm.

Aside from Yari who now heads the board, Usman Gur Mohammed as well as Sani

Jaafaru and Uzoamaka Adogu, among others, have been appointed as independent non-executive directors of the power company.

This therefore means that the indirect controlling interest previously held by Calvados Global Services Limited and Femi Otedola has been transferred to MA’AM Energy, an Abuja-based integrated energy company engaged in electricity generation and supply, energy trading, and marketing.

It was learnt that the transaction, which closed on December 29, 2025, was financed by a consortium of Nigerian banks led by Zenith Bank, with Blackbirch Capital acting as financial advisers.

Geregu Power is currently

valued at N2.85 trillion, trading at N1,140 per share, and is one of the most capitalised and profitable firms on the Nigerian Exchange.

With a contribution of about 10 per cent to the national grid, Geregu has over the years expanded from 40MW to a nameplate capacity of 435MW, becoming consistently profitable, and averaging N20 billion in annual dividends.

In the same vein, a “Notice of Change in the Shareholding Structure of Majority Shareholder/ Resignation of Directors and Appointment of New Directors”, signed by Gbeminiyi Shoda, Company Secretary, said: The Board of Directors of Geregu Power Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian

Exchange Limited (NGX) and the investing public that it has received formal communication from its majority shareholder, Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited, regarding a change in its shareholding structure.

“The Company has been informed that Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited has undergone a restructuring of its ownership following a share sale and acquisition concluded on 29 December 2025.

“As a result of this transaction: MA’AM Energy Limited has acquired 95 per cent equity interest in Amperion Power Distribution Company Limited thereby becoming the new controlling shareholder of Amperion Power Distribution

Rewarding Excellence, Cosgrove Approves N4bn Worth of Property to Staff Members James Emejo in Abuja

Chairman, Cosgrove Investment Limited, Mr. Umar Abdullahi, has approved N4 billion worth of property as gifts to staff members in a remarkable show of appreciation.

The surprise gesture, announced during the company’s 2025 retreat in Abuja, was in recognition of staff dedication, loyalty, and outstanding contributions to the firm’s growth.

It further underscored the firm’s strong people-first culture and its belief in shared success.

Essentially, the initiative aimed at rewarding excellence, fostering long-term security for employees, and reinforcing a sense of shared ownership within the organisation.

In a statement, Abdullahi emphasised that the gesture reflected the company’s “broader commitment to empowering its workforce and building sustainable prosperity for the Cosgrove family, as the company continues to expand its footprint across Nigeria’s real estate landscape”.

The move was widely praised as a benchmark for corporate leadership and employee recognition in the

Nigerian business environment, setting a powerful example of how organisations can tangibly invest in the people driving their success.

The retreat brought together leadership and key team members for a focused two-day strategic engagement aimed at strengthening operations and preparing the organisation for accelerated growth in 2026.

The meeting also provided a platform for in-depth discussions on operational efficiency, organisational structure, and performance, with a strong emphasis on improving speedy project delivery, enhancing quality customer

service, and sustaining the firm’s hallmark of high-quality home development.

Company Limited.

“Consequently, the indirect controlling interest previously held by Calvados Global Services Limited and Mr. Femi Otedola, in Geregu Power Plc has been transferred to MA’AM Energy Limited. This transaction does not involve the direct sale or transfer of shares of Geregu Power Plc, and therefore the shareholding structure of the Company at the NGX remains unchanged,” the notice said.

However, it stated that the change in the ownership of the Company’s majority shareholder resulted in a change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of 77 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital.

Following the above change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of the Company’s issued share capital, the Board of Directors at its meeting held on Monday, December 29, 2025, said it considered and approved the appointment of Yari as chair of the board, while Babangida Njiddah, Gur Mohammed, Sani Jaafaru, Uzoamaka Adogu and

Mahmud Magaji are now independent non-executive directors.

“The Board also accepted the resignation of the underlisted Directors from the Board of the Company, effective 29th December, 2025: Mr. Olufemi Otedola, CON – Chairman, Board of Directors; Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa – Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Julius OmodayoOwotuga - Deputy Chief Executive Officer (and) Mr. Christopher Adeyemi - NonExecutive Director. “(Others are) Ms. Olawunmi Otedola - Non-Executive Director; Mr. Anil Dua - Independent Non-Executive Director; Mr. Doron Grupper - Independent Non-Executive Director; Mr. Paul Miyonmide Gbededo Independent Non-Executive Director (and) Mr. Andrew Gamble - Independent NonExecutive Director.”

Besides, the board expressed its appreciation to the outgoing directors for their contributions to the company during their tenure and wished them success in their future endeavours.

Oyetola Presents Revalidated Ondo Deep Sea Port Certificate to Aiyedatiwa Kasim Sumaina in Abuja

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has formally presented the revalidated certificate for the Ondo Deep Sea Port to the governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at his office in Abuja, marking a major milestone in the state’s

industrial and maritime aspirations.

Presenting the certificate on Thursday in Abuja, Oyetola described the revalidation as a strategic intervention by the federal government to unlock Ondo State’s vast maritime and blue economy potential, noting the deep-sea port would serve as a catalyst

for trade, industrialisation and regional economic integration.

The minister in a statement issued by his special adviser said the port aligned squarely with the federal government’s agenda to diversify the economy through maritime infrastructure, logistics and coastal development.

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2025 LUG END-OF-YEAR PARTY...

L-R: Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ogun State, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat; Commissioner’s wife, Mrs. Huriwat Hamzat; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; Chairman/Managing Director, LUG West Africa, Mr. Imran Oladimeji Hamzat; LUG MD’s wife, Mrs. Ellen Hamzat; and a friend of the family, Mrs. Tolulope Odulate, at the 2025 LUG End-of-Year Party held at Victoria Garden, Alausa, Lagos … recently

Judges’ Appointment: 34 Nominees Fail Integrity Test Alex Enumah in Abuja A total of 34 lawyers nominated for appointment as Judges of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (FHC) were discovered to lack the necessary integrity required to sit on the bench of the Nigerian judiciary.

That was discovered in a report by Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), which carried out an Integrity Test on 62 lawyers recently shortlisted for appointment as judges of the FHC. According to a source at FJSC, the 62 lawyers had some months ago emerged successful in a CBT exam conducted by the Federal High Court, following which their names were forwarded to the commission for further screening and interview by National Judicial Council (NJC).

The source added that in line with the new policy of NJC, under the leadership of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to

ensure only credible, competent and persons of integrity were appointed as judicial officers, the names of the nominees were brought under public scrutiny.

“Members of the public were invited to submit feedback on nominees’ integrity, reputation and suitability for appointment as judicial officers,” the source stated, and added that the invitation was contained in a publication made on September 17, 2025.

The response by members of the public, which was considered encouraging, led to the dropping of 34 nominees found to be unsuitable for appointment as judges of the Federal High Court.

In one of the petitions dated September 22, 2025, but received on September 23, 2025 by Executive Secretary of FJSC, one of the nominees, a public officer from Imo State, was accused of having “zero reputation”, due to “her love for taking bribe”.

The petitioner, who claimed

to be a victim of illegal demolition of his property in Abuja, alleged that he was not only arrested by the police over the demolition of his property but was forced to part with the sum of N1 million before he was released on bail.

While urging FJSC to refuse

her nomination, the petitioner claimed that the character of the nominee “clearly is one that can best be described as person who clearly lacks integrity, total failure in terms of measurement of reputation and above all highly unsuitable to be appointed as a judge of the

A non-governmental organisation, Priscilla Ekwueme Eleje Empowerment Initiatives (PEEEI), has stepped in to support widows and vulnerable families in Kabusa, Abuja, with food items and psychosocial care.

The intervention, organised as a Christmas outreach, took place at Found Favour International Academy, Angwan Bako, Kabusa, Abuja, where beneficiaries gathered not just

to receive food packages but also words of encouragement and counselling.

The Executive Director of PEEEI, Mrs. Priscilla Ekwueme Eleje, addressed the gathering, while a beneficiary, Kufreabasi Effiong, spoke on behalf of recipients.

Eleje said the outreach was inspired by gratitude and a desire to give back, particularly to women, youths and the girl child, whom she described as central to community wellbeing.

Information, NJC, Mrs. Kemi Ogedengbe, who refused to comment on the lack of integrity of majority of the nominees, stated that the council was expected to meet between January 13 and 14 to consider those shortlisted for appointment by FJSC.

Ndume Urges FG to Step Up Borno Resettlement Drive, Backs Zulum’s Humanitarian Push Distributes food, cash to IDPs, hosts Christmas luncheon

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja Former Senate Leader and Senator representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume, has called on the federal government to urgently intensify humanitarian support to Borno State to enable the resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation of victims displaced by over a decade

of insurgency.

Ndume made the appeal while hosting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at a Christmas luncheon organised in collaboration with the Coalition of Christian Youths (YouthCAN) for displaced persons taking refuge at the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Centre in Borno State.

Yuletide: NGO Supports Widows, Vulnerable Families with Food Items, Psychosocial Care

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

Federal High Court of Nigeria”.

The petitioner added, “The judiciary has had its own backlash in the sight of the public but we are grateful for the leadership of the judiciary for taking bold steps in sanitising the judicial system”.

When contacted, Director,

“I am a product of God’s grace and mercy, for which I am ever grateful. For this great blessing, I have chosen to give back by empowering girls, women and youths to thrive economically and mentally. That is my passion, and that is what motivated PEEEI,” she said.

Eleje explained that while the organisation prioritises women and girls, its work is inclusive and designed to strengthen entire communities.

“We are an NGO with a

strong interest in women, youths and the girl child.

Through the youths, we also reach the boys, so we are not trying to be partial.

When we empower women, youths and girls, we empower them economically and psychosocially,” she said.

Eleje said the Christmas season, though associated with celebration, often masks emotional and psychological struggles, especially among widows and families facing hardship.

In a statement issued by his media office and made available to journalists in Abuja, the event drew hundreds of IDPs, alongside traditional rulers, political leaders, religious figures, youth groups and other community stakeholders.

The lawmaker used the occasion to commend Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, describing him as a leader whose commitment to humanitarian recovery and post-conflict rebuilding across the state had been exceptional, particularly in hard-hit communities of Gwoza Local Government Area.

He said, “Out of the 27 local governments in Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has shown uncommon love, courage and dedication to Gwoza and other conflictaffected areas.”

Responding to appeals by displaced persons who expressed readiness to return to their ancestral homes, the senator assured them of his intervention, pledging to personally engage Governor Zulum on their requests.

“It gladdens my heart that you have directly asked me to support your return home. We will ensure this happens. We are fortunate to have a governor who genuinely cares about his people, and I will take this matter up with him,” he assured.

Ndume also pledged to facilitate the safe and dignified return of IDPs currently taking refuge at the Minawao Camp in Cameroon to their various communities in Borno State.

As part of the humanitarian outreach, the senator announced the distribution of 200 bags of rice and cash assistance.

According to him, 30 bags were allocated to Youth-CAN, 20 bags for the Christmas luncheon, 100 bags for IDPs at the CAN Centre, while 50 bags were shared among IDPs in other camps across the state.

He further disclosed that similar Christmas engagements would be held at Bayan Dutse, noting that many of the displaced persons originated from communities such as Ngoshe, Ashigashiya, Pulka and other parts of Gwoza Local Government Area.

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2025 CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE...

L-R: Presbyter and Cathedral Administrator, Methodist Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, Very Rev. Oladapo Daramola; Bishop of Ikeja and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State Chapter, Bishop Stephen Adegbite; Very Rev Lawrence Awojobi and Rev Simeon Aremu during the 2025 Christmas Day Service held at Methodist Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos

Kano NNPP Urges Governor Abba Yusuf to Stay Back, Labels APC Defection ‘Betrayal’ Governor meets with ruling party’s chiefs

Ahmad Sorondinki in Kano

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has appealed to the state governor, Abba Yusuf, to stay with the

party, warning that defecting to All Progressives Congress (APC) would betray the mandate given to him by the people, who voted him into office on the NNPP ticket.

Speaking with newsmen in Kano, yesterday, NNPP state chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, warned that any move to APC by the governor would not have their support,

and would be resisted by all the party faithful in the state.

Dungurawa said the party structure had exhausted all avenues to ensure its togetherness, to no avail, and was still

APC National Chairman Visits Gombe, Commends Party Unity, Inuwa Yahaya’s Devt Strides Segun Awofadeji in Gombe

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for strengthening party cohesion and driving visible development across Gombe State, describing the state as a model of inclusive governance and political stability under the APC. Professor Yilwatda made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the governor at the

Government House, Gombe, yesterday, as part of his engagements with party leaders and stakeholders in the state.

The APC National Chairman said his tour of the state has reinforced his confidence in Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership.

He noted that he saw several completed and ongoing projects, including quality road networks, functional healthcare facilities, modest airport, and impressive educational institutions, describing them as evidence

of purposeful governance and prudent management of public resources.

Beyond infrastructure, Professor Yilwatda praised Governor Inuwa Yahaya for expanding the APC’s political base in Gombe State, particularly through the inclusion of members from other political parties, while sustaining harmony among diverse religious and social groups.

According to him, the governor has succeeded in fostering religious tolerance

and political inclusiveness, countering earlier perceptions of party politics being shaped by religious divisions.

“Today, I see genuine harmony, with people of different faiths working together within one political platform without segregation. This deliberate effort to build social cohesion is highly commendable,” he stated.

using all available channels to reach out to Yusuf and his supporters to appeal to them not to leave NNPP. Dungurawa said, “Information reaching us indicated certain elements in NNPP are hell-bent on leaving our party, but I would like to make it categorically clear that our party and our national leader, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have no hand in what’s going on.

“We’ve convinced them not to decamp to APC, and we’re still convincing them to stay with us and carry on with the good work of helping the people, especially in the areas of agriculture and small businesses, as stipulated in our constitution.

“I want to issue a stern warning to those creating a rift between the governor and his political mentor, Dr. Rabiu

Musa Kwankwaso, Senator Rufai Hanga, Sanusi Surajo Kwankwaso, and myself, Hashimu Dungurawa to desist from it.

“It’s unfortunate that some people are pointing fingers at us regarding the current happenings, citing our close relationship with Kwankwaso.

But I want to make it clear to all that on no occasion have we ever participated in any evil doing against anyone.”

The NNPP declaration came on the heels of an emergency meeting between the governor and two APC chieftains from Kano, Alhaji Kabir Alhassan Rurum, the member representing Rano, Kibiya, and Bunkure Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, and Director-General of National Productivity Centre, Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’agundi, from Kano Municipal local government.

Kwara PDP Leaders Challenge DG NILDS to Show Proof of Saraki as APC Member

NAF Destroys IED Factory, Eliminates Decries purported assault on women protesters against insecurity in Ilorin that the former senate and misleading the claim credited Shittu in Ilorin Bandits in Zamfara, CSOs Fault US Strikes Hammed president was a member of APC to Suleiman, saying, “Saraki’s Leaders of Peoples Democratic in Abuja and a leader of PDP in political standing within the PDP

Linus Aleke in Abuja and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has destroyed an improvised explosive device (IED) factory and eliminated several bandits during a precision air operation in Zamfara State, dealing a significant blow to criminal networks operating in the region.

The operation, which was

conducted based on credible intelligence, was aimed at disrupting the activities of armed bandits responsible for repeated attacks on local communities and security personnel.

In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the NAF, operating under the Air Component of Opera-

tion Fansan Yamma, Sector 2, recorded a major operational success in its sustained offensive against armed banditry.

According to him, the success followed the execution of two high-impact precision air interdiction missions on 28 December 2025 at Turba Hill and Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, both located in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

Party (PDP) in Kwara State, yesterday, challenged Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Olarewaju Sulaiman, to bring out proof that PDP leader and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sulaiman, an APC governorship aspirant in the state, recently alleged on radio programme

Kwara State.

Following Sulaiman’s comment, leaders and members of PDP had raised objections.

In a chat with newsmen in Ilorin shortly after featuring on a radio programme, PDP’s Director of Planning and Strategy, Mallam Ibrahim Otukoko, said Saraki re-mained a committed and recognised leader of PDP in Kwara State and nationally.

Otukoko described as false

remains intact and unquestionable.” He said attempts to link Saraki with APC were driven by personal interests rather than facts.

Meanwhile, PDP in Kwara State decried alleged assault by people suspected to be thugs on women from Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state who staged a peaceful protest over the increasing rate of banditry and kidnapping in the local government.

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Politics

Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com 08033025611 sms only

As Senate Holds Public Hearing on Death Penalty for Kidnappers...

Inside Nigeria’s Senate, grief, rage and fear are driving a hard choice, as lawmakers confront a chilling question from the Justice Sector and Rights groups wondering whether hanging kidnappers will save the nation, or haunt it. sunday Aborisade reports.

Akpabio

T

he mood inside the NationalAssembly penultimate week was unmistakably grim. Outside the chamber, Nigeria reeled from yet another week of abductions, schoolchildren snatched from classrooms, farmers dragged from fields, commuters kidnapped on highways turned into killing grounds. Inside, senators gathered under the weight of public anger, searching for an answer bold enough to reassure a frightened nation.

What emerged was one of the most controversial legislative pushes in recent history: a proposal to impose the death penalty for kidnapping by classifying it as terrorism. To many lawmakers, it felt like the ultimate show of resolve. To Nigeria’s justice establishment, it felt like a fatal mistake.

As the Senate Joint Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; National Security and Intelligence; and Interior convened a public hearing on amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, something rare occurred.

Almost every major justice, legal and human rights institution in the country lined up on one side of the argument, and it was not the Senate’s.

Attorney-General of the Federation, Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, the Federation of Women Lawyers, the Department of State Services and other stakeholders spoke with one voice: the death penalty will not stop kidnapping.

Their opposition was not rooted in sympathy for criminals. It was anchored in law, experience and an uncomfortable reading of Nigeria’s own history.

No one disputed the scale of the crisis.

Kidnapping has metastasised into a lucrative, organised and militarised enterprise. Ransoms now routinely run into tens or hundreds of millions of naira.

Victims are sometimes killed even after payment. Communities are abandoned. Schools are shut. Agriculture is disrupted. Families are bankrupt. Fear has become a constant companion of daily life.

It was this national trauma that shaped the Senate’s earlier debate at plenary, where lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a bill sponsored

by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

The proposed amendment seeks to designate kidnapping, hostage-taking and related offences

Bamidele

as acts of terrorism, extending capital punishment not only to kidnappers but also to their financiers, informants, harbourers, transporters and logistics suppliers.

Presiding over that session, Senate President, GodswillAkpabio described kidnapping as an existential threat.

Support came from across party lines. Senator Adams Oshiomhole dismissed deradicalisation programmes as failures and argued that death was the only language terrorists understood.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu spoke of widows and violated girls, insisting Nigerians had suffered enough. Senator Victor Umeh demanded scrutiny of banks and institutions allegedly facilitating ransom payments.

Minority Leader, Abba Moro declared that the Senate could no longer allow the country to be terrorised. It was, politically, an easy moment to be tough.

Unfortunately the public hearing that followed the lawmakers debate told a more complicated story.

Leading the resistance was the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). His intervention cut through the emotional fog. While acknowledging the Senate’s concern and the gravity of kidnapping, he warned that mandatory capital punishment could backfire spectacularly.

Fagbemi said, “Though emotionally appealing, the death penalty risks

moro

creating what may be described as a ‘martyrdom effect’.”

In terror-related or ideological conflicts, he noted that state-sanctioned executions can validate criminal narratives, fuel recruitment and provoke cycles of retaliatory violence. Far from deterring crime, they can entrench it.

More troubling, Fagbemi warned, were the international consequences. Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts rely heavily on cooperation with foreign governments like intelligence sharing, financial tracking and extradition of suspects.

Many of those countries, he explained, had abolished the death penalty and will not extradite individuals to face execution.

“This could unintentionally turn other countries into safe havens for terror suspects and financiers,” the AGF cautioned, “thereby weakening, rather than strengthening, Nigeria’s security architecture.”

He reminded lawmakers of another inconvenient reality: Nigeria rarely carries out executions.

Though death sentences remain on the statute books, a de facto moratorium has existed for years. The result is a swelling population of death-row inmates, overcrowded correctional facilities, prolonged incarceration and prisons that risk becoming incubators for further radicalisation.

Fagbemi argued: “Our problem is not that punishments are not severe enough. It is that arrests are uncertain, investigations are weak and prosecutions are slow.”

His prescription was blunt: certainty of arrest and conviction, backed by life imprisonment without parole for the most heinous offences.

The National Human Rights Commission reinforced this argument with constitutional

nigeria stands at a crossroads. one path offers swift, symbolic retribution that satisfies outrage but risks injustice, diplomatic isolation and deeper insecurity.

The other demands the slower, harder work of reforming policing, intelligence, prosecution and prisons.

force.

While recognising the Senate’s intention to curb violent crime, the Commission warned that expanding capital punishment within a criminal justice system still plagued by investigative failures and prosecutorial gaps significantly increases the risk of irreversible miscarriages of justice.

Any law, the NHRC insisted, must enhance, not diminish, the enjoyment of human rights and comply with Nigeria’s constitutional safeguards and international obligations.

It called for a mandatory human rights impact assessment of the Bill before passage, stressing that once an execution is carried out, there is no remedy for error.

The Nigerian Bar Association took a scalpel to the proposal. Its concern was not only punishment but precision.

Kidnapping, the NBAargued, is not automatically terrorism. A blanket classification risks distorting both criminal law and international legal standards.

The association recommended that only kidnapping involving organised criminal or terrorist networks, or acts intended to intimidate the public or coerce government, should fall within terrorism legislation.

It urged lawmakers to abandon mandatory death sentences in favour of graduated, discretionary sentencing that reflects intent, role, harm and outcome.

Judicial discretion, the NBA said, is not weakness; it is justice. Penalties could range from lengthy imprisonment to life sentences, with death, if retained at all, reserved for the most extreme and aggravated circumstances.

The NBA also warned of technical pitfalls: vague definitions of intent, unclear accomplice liability, absence of defences such as duress, and conflicts with existing state anti-kidnapping laws.

In its view, a poorly drafted federal amendment could create confusion rather than clarity.

Within the hearing room, even some senators acknowledged the complexity.

Senator Ekong Sampson argued that criminal law must differentiate between attempted kidnapping, cases where victims are released unharmed and those ending in death. Lumping all scenarios together, he suggested, risks injustice.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi Email chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com,

Billionaire Philanthropist, Kenneth Ifekudu Bags Chieftaincy Title of Ife Abata of Amaike in Ebonyi

CEO Diamond Leeds Ltd, High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu (Agbalanze Onyekachukwu na Ozubulu) OFR and wife after he was honoured with the traditional title of Ife Abata (Light has come) by the Ezeudo II of Amike Autonomous Community Ezzangbo in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi state, His Royal Highness, Eze Sir Michael Nwankwo JP, Eze Udo 11 of Amaike

Uzoma Mba

A

nambra-born businessman, billionaire philanthropist and the CEO Diamond Leeds Ltd, High Chief Kenneth Ifekudu (Agbalanze Onyekachukwu na Ozubulu) OFR, has added another feather to his already feathered cap with his freshly minted chieftaincy title, but this time in Ebonyi, a testament to his popularity beyond his home state.

He was honoured with the traditional title of Ife Abata (Light has come) by the Ezeudo II of Amike Autonomous Community Ezzangbo in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi state, His Royal Highness, Eze Sir Michael Nwankwo JP, Eze Udo 11 of Amaike.

The kingdom says the prestigious recognition came after a careful study of Ifekudu's activities towards the

The celebrant and well wishers

development of Amike community and the society at large especially his efforts in providing roads and other infrastructure in communities.

At a colourful ceremony on Saturday marking the chieftaincy conferment in Amike, High Chief Ifekudu expressed gratitude to Eze Sir Michael Nwankwo and Amike Kingdom for the recognition, saying it is a challenge for him to do more.

He said the recognition further solidifies the relationship between the two neighbouring states, urging all Igbo sons and daughters to continues to spread their humanitarian tentacles irrespective of where they find themselves.

He added that the colourful ceremony also gives life to Igbo culture, by way of according him recognition for his kind gesture.

Ifekudu is known for his massive

philanthropy and humanitarian works in his community, Ozubulu in Anambra State and beyond. He is known to have brought succour and laughter to many families in Ozubulu in particular and Anambra State in general.

Not long ago, he empowered over 100 persons with mini trucks to support their livelihood, in response to growing economic challenges facing many families across the country, arising from high cost of living.

The latest recognition adds to his already existing title of Ife Ozubulu (the light of Ozubulu) conferred on him by His Royal Majesty, Igwe Fidelis Oruche, Obi Ozubulu earlier in the year.

Ifekudu, who is also the Chairman of Gorrion Engineering Ltd not long ago won the award of businessman of the year of the Sun Newspaper.

He has been lauded for consistently demonstrating that charity begins at home, which inspired the decision to ensure that people of his community are the first beneficiaries of the empowerment.

The event was attended by many dignitaries in his company, they are Prof Ben Akanegbu, Ojinnaka Dean Faculty of Economics Nile university, Bar Ik Ibe, Ugo nwa nne Nnewi, Enviable Transport, Hon Peter Uzokwe Member representing Nnewi North, Nnewi south and Ekwusigo federal constituency, Hon Chinedu Oga, Member representing Ikwo and Ezza South federal constituency, Others are Hon. Joseph Nwobasi Member representing Ezza North federal constituency, High Chief chioma Ifekudu, Ugogbe Ozubulu, Chief chukwuneke Commander, Chief Nnamdi Ifekudu, Engr J k Onyeka, Bar Ebere, Ituma chukwuemeka Enviable, MD Enviable Group, Amongst other dignitaries.

Navigating Nigeria’s $1 Trillion Roadmap: Growth Indexes and PR Intelligence That Define Success in 2026

By Nosa Iyamu, CEO, IVI PR

A

s we navigate the threshold of 2026, the Nigerian economic landscape is finally shedding the "survivalist" skin that defined the previous two years.

The data from 2025 paints a compelling picture of a nation pivoting toward stability. Headline inflation, which sat at a staggering 34.8% in December 2024, underwent a significant decline through 2025, cooling to 14.45% by November.

This disinflationary trend, paired with economic reforms such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) aggressive reforms and strategic shifts in the Oil and Gas sector, has effectively reopened the floodgates for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The narrative has shifted from a desperate scramble for survival to a strategic quest for sustainability. Investors who were once hesitant are now looking at Nigeria not as a volatility risk, but as a market undergoing profound structural re-engineering. This transition is marked by a renewed focus on transparency and a commitment to market-driven policies that reward institutional resilience and long-term planning.

Building on the stability achieved last year, 2026 is projected to be a period of "Growth Consolidation." With GDP expansion forecasted between 4.1% and 4.2% and headline inflation expected to settle into a manageable range of 12.5% to 20%, the mandate for brands should shift. It is no longer about merely surviving the storm of volatility; it is about scaling within high-impact corridors

Nosaivi

that have been cleared by these macroeconomic reforms. Strategic opportunities are ripening in four key sectors: Energy, driven by the Electricity Act 2023 and NERC’s cost-reflective market reforms; Healthcare, anchored by the landmark $5.1B Bilateral MOU between the U.S. and Nigeria; Financial Services, fueled by pos t-recapitalization lending power; and the Digital Economy, accelerated by the 5G rollout and the maturity of social commerce.

Brands playing in these spaces and other industries must recognize that the consumer of 2026 is more discerning, having been refined by the economic hardships of the past, and will only reward businesses that offer clear value and authentic connection.

Perhaps the most pivotal anchor for 2026 is that $2 billion bilateral health Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) signed between the U.S. and Nigeria. This five-year agreement, which began its full implementation cycle in early 2026, is far more than a healthcare play; it is a massive economic stimulus and a resounding vote of global confidence in Nigeria’s institutional reforms. It signals that Nigeria is ready for high-level international cooperation and that the groundwork for a stable, productive economy is being laid. As we march toward the ambitious goal of a $1 trillion economy by 2030, visibility is no longer the endgame for any serious brand.

To survive and thrive during this transition from subsistence to high productivity, brands must be deeply understood. It is about moving from the "top of mind" awareness to "top of heart" resonance, where the brand's purpose aligns with the aspirations of a nation on the move.

In the fast-evolving communications landscape of 2026, visibility has become a cheap commodity, but clarity is a premium asset. The Public Relations industry has officially entered the era of Narrative Intelligence. Traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is being rapidly superseded by Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). As consumers increasingly rely on AI agents and large language models (LLMs) rather than scrolling through pages of search results, brands must ensure they aren't just "present" on the web—they must be cited as authoritative, credible voices

by AI models.

This requires a shift from keyword stuffing to high-context storytelling and data-backed authority. If an AI agent cannot summarize your brand’s value

proposition accurately in two sentences, you are effectively invisible to the next generation of digital consumers. Narrative Intelligence is about ensuring your brand’s story is coherent, consistent, and machinereadable across all digital touchpoints.

However, this AI-driven world brings a darker side - the proliferation of Deepfakes and hyper-realistic misinformation. As the 2027 political cycle begins to warm up in late 2026, the Nigerian digital space could become a minefield of synthetic media designed to manipulate public opinion. For brands, this represents a significant reputational risk. PR professionals must now act as "Narrative Bodyguards," deploying advanced AI detection tools to monitor, detect, and neutralize synthetic media before it erodes brand equity. Authenticity is no longer a buzzword or a marketing slogan; it is a defensive necessity. Brands must lean into "Responsible Communication," ensuring that every piece of content is verifiable and that their response mechanisms for crisis management are faster than the speed of a viral deepfake. Trust, once lost in this high-speed environment, is nearly impossible to regain.

The era of the "Press Release for the sake of it" is officially dead. In 2026, Nigerian boardrooms are demanding a direct, quantifiable line between PR activity and business impact. This marks the definitive death of vanity metrics. Success is no longer measured by the thickness of a press clipping file or the number of generic "likes" on a social media post.

NOTE: Story continues in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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JUdge Chile eboe-oSUJi

USA President, Donald Trump

Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu

’During Obasanjo’s Administration, ‘In Borno, it’s Zero Tolerance The Rivers State of Emergency: President Trump’s NJC Sacked 47 Corrupt Judges’ for Human Rights Abuse’ Matters Arising Threat: Matters Arising GOVeRNOR OF RIVeRS STaTe, SIMINaLayI FUBaRa

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FORMeR GOVeRNOR OF RIVeRS STaTe & MINISTeR OF FCT, eZeNWO NyeSOM WIKe

PReSIdeNT, FedeRaL RePUBLIC OF NIGeRIa, BOLa aHMed TINUBU

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Niger-Delta: An The Bloodbath Blasphemy Killings: ‘Fare Thee Well’, Iroko Tree has Fallen in Benue One too Many Mr “Zero Oil Plan” Murder of Amaye by a Mob

BeNUe STaTe GoverNor, Fr. HyaciNTH alia

PreSideNT Bola aHmed TiNUBU, GcFr

cHieF oF army STaFF, lT. GeN. olUFemi olUyede

Olusegun Omotunde awolowo

II

T H I S D AY • TueSday, DECEMBER 30, 2025

In this edition

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When Grievance Touching on Constitution’s Chapter IV Won’t Constitute Breach of Human Rights

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Page IV

‘State Police Is No Longer Academic; It’s Urgent’

‘Bayelsa is Safer and More Peaceful than Before’

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Zamfara State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulaziz Sani, SAN, PhD

Zamfara: 'Banditry is Now being Treated With Utmost Seriousness'

’Gender Sensitivity in Kwara Cabinet is Sacrosanct’

LAWYER abiodun Baiyewu

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‘Violence is a Recurring Decimal in Nigeria’s Elections’

‘Large Percentage of Inmates are Awaiting Trial’

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Kwara State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman

Ondo State attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, dr Kayode ajulo, OON, SaN

'Insecurity in Plateau is Premeditated Genocide and Land Grabbing'

‘Àmòtèkun’s Success is the Most Potent Reason for State Police’

Quotable ‘Nigeria is a large and diverse country.

Debate and differences, are part of our reality. However, disagreement must never translate into erosion of national cohesion.’ - HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria P

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CHriStmaS SpeCial edition...

Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Roland Otaru, SAN

'It's Zero Tolerance, for Kidnapping in Edo'

lawyer

President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN

Yuletide 2025: How lawyers Will Spend their time

onikepo braithwaite: editor, jude igbanoI: deputy editor, peter taiwo, steve aya: reporters

III The advocate

T H I S D AY • TueSday, DECEMBER 30, 2025

The Tax Laws and Allied Matters

T

Background he ongoing allegation that the new Tax Laws passed by the National Assembly (NASS)(Harmonised Bills), are different from what was assented to by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, and gazetted, is scandalous. The allegation borders on forgery, a criminal offence, that is, the alteration of a real document, with the altered document to be used as the genuine one - see Ibe & Anor v Igbokwe & Ors (2012) LPELR-15351(CA). And, worse still, that whatever ‘abracadabra’ may have taken place, happened at the highest level of governance. It is unclear whether the version the President assented to is the same as the Harmonised Bills, or if the Harmonised Bills had been altered by the time the President assented, or whether it is only the Gazette that contains the altered version. But, whichever option it may be, given what we have experienced since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, is this kind of chicanery entirely outlandish?

The alterations that have been made available in the media, appear to have turned the Harmonised Bills into a Draconian Military Decree, giving the Tax Authority, which is under the Executive, excessive powers, while the compliance threshold to be superintended by NASS has been removed, and the role of the courts, reduced or limited. The antithesis of democracy. This isn’t surprising, because it’s almost as if, in 1999, Nigeria simply transformed from a military dictatorship to a civilian one, in which the Executive has consistently tried to arrogate more powers onto itself, or in the alternative, roll all the arms of government into one, with the Executive as the head.

Democracy in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, hasn’t thrived or operated the way it should, as provided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)(the Constitution), even though still raging on, is the other debate concerning the unacceptability of the Constitution, being that it is a contraption of the military foisted on Nigerians, and not a document based upon the will of the people. The argument then is, with such a shaky constitutional foundation, can a solid democratic house upheld by the rule of law, stand on it?

Examples of Civilians Excesses/Dictatorship I was extremely amused, when it was recently reported that Nigeria went to quash a coup attempt in Benin Republic a few weeks ago. What is the difference, between a military dictator and a civilian executive who has absolutely no regard for the rule of law, upholding fundamental rights, or the doctrine of separation of powers? Not too much, except that the former may be more brutal than the latter.

Examples of civilian excesses/dictatorship in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic abound, as successive Presidents and their administrations have all been guilty of same, in one way or the other - President Obasanjo used excessive force in 1999, when he ordered the destruction of Odi in Bayelsa State, an outing in which the Government claimed that only 40 or so people were killed, as opposed to unofficial reports that put the death toll at over 2,000. President Yar’Adua, as the Governor of Katsina State, adopted Sharia Law contrary to Section 10 of the Constitution, and his administration was accused of excessive force in the extra-judicial killing of the leader of the Boko Haram Group in 2009. President Jonathan’s administration was accused of ‘fantastic’ corruption and excessive interference with the Judiciary, an accusation that has since become the norm with subsequent administrations.

President Buhari’s administration had countless allegations of excesses, ranging from disobedience of court orders and disregard for the rule of law, to corruption and support for marauding Herdsmen, treating terrorists with kid gloves, to the purchase of Tucano Jets valued at almost $500 million without Senate approval, to the removal of former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen through a highly questionable process - see FRN v Nganjiwa (2022) LPELR58066(SC). President Tinubu’s administration also has allegations of corruption, disregard of court orders and the rule of law, restriction of freedom of expression and arbitrary arrests, particularly using State apparatus against perceived opposition (well, to be fair, the argument on the other side, may be that some of these opposition may have weighty allegations hanging over their heads, such as former AGF, Abubakar Malami, SAN). And, every single one of these Presidents has done nothing to address the unconstitutionality of the adoption of Sharia in 12 Northern States; they have all played ostrich, and turned a blind eye, allowing these Sharia State Governments to oppress their people with the practice of Sharia Criminal Law, enforcing same through the Hisbah Police, instead of getting their AGFs to approach the Supreme Court via Section 232(1) of the Constitution, to seek a judicial review of the adoption of Sharia and a declaration of the unconstitutionality of the

onikepo braithwaite Onikepo Braithwaite onikepo.braithwaite@thisdaylive. com onikepob@yahoo.com

The

Advocate “The ongoing allegation that the new Tax Laws passed by the National Assembly….are different from what was assented to by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, and gazetted, is scandalous. The allegation borders on forgery, a criminal offence….The alterations ….appear to have turned the Harmonised Bills into a Draconian Military Decree….Have the gazetted Tax laws met the constitutional threshold, to qualify as being enacted into law? I think not….if a Gazette hasn’t been fully published, or the law hasn’t come into effect, it can be withdrawn…. NASS can also take the issue….to the Supreme Court directly, to pray for an injunction to stop the laws from coming into effect….” action of these 12 States.

When under President Buhari, with gusto and aplomb, the Executive breached Section 38 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (CBN Act) with the Ways & Means, and the Legislature breached its own law, by approving the Securitisation of the Ways & Means, contrary to Section 38(1) of the CBN Act, no one complained.

So, what then, is a little forgery or alteration between the laws passed by NASS, assented to by the President and gazetted?!

Separation of Powers and Functions Yes, we are aware that Sections 4-6 of the Constitution set out the separate functions of the three arms of government, the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary respectively, that lawmaking is the exclusive preserve of the Legislature, and not the Executive - see Section 58(1) of the Constitution.

The President’s role in this regard, is simply to assent to Bills presented by NASS within 30 days of the presentation (see Section 58(4) of the Constitution). But, in 2023, when President Tinubu assented to the Bill increasing the retirement age of Judges from 65-70, more than 30 days after it had been presented for assent to President Buhari who failed to sign it, it wasn’t re-passed

by NASS before being represented to President

Tinubu for assent. No one complained about process and procedure then! It is only when someone’s ox (vested interest) is gored, that it becomes a problem. Though this time, it seems that Nigerians are the ones most adversely affected by the tampering in the Harmonised Bills, as it even borders on a breach of rights.

The New Tax Laws Controversy But, nevertheless, now, the Executive has been accused by a Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki, of amending the Harmonised Bills unilaterally. The procedure is that, if the Executive had issues with the Harmonised Bills, it should have returned them to NASS with the amendments it desires, for NASS’ further approval, instead of gazetting an updated version of the Bills ‘suo motu’. The President only has the power to refuse to assent to a Bill, simplicter. He doesn’t have veto power, or the power to override NASS. Though I haven’t had the benefit of reading either the Harmonised Bills forwarded for the President’s assent, nor the gazetted laws, it was reported that for instance, under the Harmonised Bills, the Tax Authority is empowered to only investigate, but in what has been gazetted, the Tax Authority is empowered to make arrests using law enforcement. That under the Harmonised

Bills, it is implied that a court process is required to freeze an account, as this is what the law provides in Nigeria, but, in the gazetted version, it is reported that funds can be frozen or taken without a court order. This is definitely not any typographical error, but a deliberate attempt to surreptitiously make some fundamental changes that weren’t approved by NASS, to the Harmonised Bills.

In short, instead of the tax regime set up by NASS in such a way that its implementation isn’t arbitrary or autocratic, that the other arms of government are included to play their constitutional roles as checks and balances, in such a matter as important as this that affects all cadre of Nigerians, the Executive stands accused of taking steps in the opposite direction, to turn the tax regime into some sort of harsh, rigid, oppressive tool fully under its control. It follows that the surreptitious back door route may have been the only way for the Executive to go, as it would be highly unlikely that NASS would have approved the alleged amendments, which in essence, practically cut the Legislature out of the process. The Executive saw nothing wrong with stripping the Legislature of its powers and usurping them as its own, by gazetting its own different version of the Harmonised Bills.

Nature of Gazette In Ogundipe v The Minister of FCT & Ors (2014) LPELR-2271(CA) per Joseph Tine Tur, JCA (dissenting), Gazette was defined thus: “…an official publication of the Federal Government of Nigeria or a State in which the official acts of the government e.g. appointments, notices and other legal matters are reported”. In Our Line Ltd v SCC (Nig) Ltd & Ors (2009) LPELR-2833(SC) per Mahmud Mohammed, JSC, the Supreme Court held inter alia that: “A Gazette therefore, serves as official communication of the Government of Nigeria….”. It is trite that a publication in an official gazette, simply gives notice to the world of whatever information is being communicated - see CBN v Harris & Ors (2017) LPELR-43538(CA); it cannot be elevated into a law, or override a law - see Incorporated Trustees of Remo Club 1937 v Sholarin & Ors (2019) LPELR-47508(CA). In the case of the Tax Laws Gazette communicating or reporting falsehood, it appears that this gazette cannot override the contents of the Harmonised Bills which were validly passed by NASS and forwarded to the President for assent.

Conclusion So, what is the position of things now? Have the gazetted Tax laws met the constitutional threshold, to qualify as being enacted into law? I think not, because if the Harmonised Bills weren’t what the President assented to, but a forgery, then Section 58(4) of the Constitution hasn’t been fulfilled to bring the Harmonised Bills into law. In Adamu v Akogwu (2023) LPELR-59522(CA) the Court of Appeal held thus: “A forged document stands nullified in its entirety”. Also see Ibe & Anor v Igbokwe & Ors (Supra).

In any event, if a Gazette hasn’t been fully published, or the law hasn’t come into effect, it can be withdrawn.

The new Tax Laws are expected to come into effect on January 1, 2026, which means that the Gazette can be withdrawn. It also appears that, by virtue of Section 232(2) of the Constitution, NASS can also take the issue of the act of the purported alterations to the Harmonised Tax Laws by the Executive to the Supreme Court directly, to pray for an injunction to stop the laws from coming into effect on January 1.

For the avoidance of doubt and mischief, it could also be tidier to have the Harmonised Bills re-passed, expressly repealing the Gazette that contains the unauthorised version of the law, and resent for the assent of the President. If the President withholds assent to this original version, NASS can override him by two-thirds majority of both Houses re-passing the laws (see Section 58(5) of the Constitution), and the original version shall become law.

Sceptics however, say they are not holding their breath that anything will be done to correct this alleged forgery of laws/gazette, seeing as Nigeria is almost a one-party State, with the Federal Executive and majority of NASS, and even all State Governments (except for 9 or 10) all being of the APC! That who is left to oppose this strongly enough, to bring about the correction?

I conclude by saying that, the optics of this Tax saga are bad! It portrays dishonesty, at the highest levels of governance.

P.S. This is our last edition of 2025. I thank you, our Readers, for your support, and wish you all a happy and prosperous 2026 and beyond. Amen. See you in the new year, by God’s grace.

Chairman, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji

Chairman, Presidential Tax Reforms Best Regards, The Advocate!

Committee, Taiwo Oyedele

IV law report

TueSday, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • T H I S D AY

When Grievance Touching on Constitution’s Chapter IV Won’t Constitute Breach of Human Rights The Appellant, Dr Jeremiah Abalaka, claimed that he had made a therapeutic breakthrough in the treatment of HIV. Following his claim, he was invited by the Medical & Dental Practitioners Investigating Panel (the “3rd Respondent”), on 22nd May, 2022, to appear before the 3rd Respondent for investigation of his HIV treatment claims. To enforce his fundamental rights to fair hearing, the Appellant filed an ex-parte application at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, arguing that the 3rd Respondent was acting as the accuser, prosecutor, and judge in its own case.

The court initially granted an interim injunction restraining the Respondents from investigating the Respondents. However, it eventually struck out the motion on jurisdictional grounds. The Appellant filed the same application before the Federal High Court but it was refused on the ground that the reliefs sought by the Appellant fell outside the scope of Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The Appellant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which dismissed the appeal. Dissatisfied, the Appellant appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issue for Determination On the merits, the Supreme Court considered a sole issue for determination of the appeal, to wit: i. Whether the lower court was wrong to affirm the judgement of the trial court and to dismiss the claims of the Appellant against the Respondents that they are outside the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

Arguments Counsel for the Appellant argued that the 3rd Respondent manufactured evidence (a letter from Dr. Seyi Roberts) and committed perjury by lying under oath about its existence before 22nd May 2000. He highlighted the impossibility of the Respondents' explanation as proof of bias. He contended that the trial court failed to resolve five out of nine issues raised, and the Court of Appeal similarly failed to address some, resulting in a miscarriage of justice. He argued further that the 2nd and 3rd Respondents were not properly constituted as statutory bodies due to the Minister of Health's failure to appoint members under the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act. The Appellant argued that the matter is a fundamental rights enforcement action as it involves bias, fair hearing, and freedom from oppressive government actions. Additionally, the Appellant alleged that the 3rd Respondent acted as accuser, prosecutor, and judge in its own case, in contravention of the principles of natural justice. The Appellant submitted that he should not be bound by traditional medical ethics, as his HIV vaccine work fell outside mainstream practice. He urged the Supreme Court to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal, and grant his appeal, or remit the suit for retrial.

In response, the 1st Respondent submitted that no issue arose regarding the proper constitution of the 2nd and/or 3rd Respondents due to the alleged default in appointing members, and sought dismissal of the appeal.

Honourable Uwani Musa Abba Aji, JSC

In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Wednesday, the 4th day of June, 2025 Before Their Lordships Uwani Musa Abba Aji Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa Emmanuel Akomaye Agim Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme Jamilu Yammama Tukur Justices, Supreme Court SC. 196/2005 Between DR JEREMIAH ABALAKA And

APPELLANT

1. MINISTER OF HEALTH

2. MEDICAL & DENTAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIA 3. MEDICAL AND DENTAL PRACTITIONERS INVESTIGATING PANEL

RESPONDENTS

(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Uwani Musa Abba Aji, JSC)

The 2nd and 3rd Respondents argued that the Court of Appeal correctly dismissed claims relating to the validity of its constitution.

On the allegation of breach of fair hearing via investigation invitation and alleged evidence manufacturing (Dr. Seyi Roberts' letter), the 2nd and 3rd Respondents offered explanations for the delay in the production of the letter and noted the failure of the Appellant to establish forgery/perjury beyond reasonable doubt. They submitted that the 3rd Respondent's role was purely investigatory, not adjudicatory, and as such, it did not act as accuser, prosecutor, and judge. Further, that the reliefs of the Appellant fell outside

“… It is not every grievance that perches or touches on the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution that constitutes a breach to or calls for enforcement of fundamental rights. They must be the main and predicate claims, and not the ancillary or remote to it”

Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, as held by the trial court and affirmed by the Court of Appeal, with no miscarriage of justice. Citing TUKUR v GOVERNMENT OF TARABA STATE (1997) 6 NWLR (PT. 510) 569 SC, they emphasized that main reliefs determine the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the Appellant’s fundamental rights action, which the Appellant’s claims lacked. They urge the Supreme Court to uphold the decision of the lower court and dismiss the appeal.

Court’s Judgement and Rationale Before resolving the issue for determination, the Supreme Court noted that the trial and Court of Appeal, despite holding the Appellant’s claims fell outside Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, proceeded to address the merits of the claim. The Supreme Court held that, upon finding that they lacked jurisdiction, they ought to have struck out the suit rather than bearing the burden of deciding the issues presented by the Appellant. The Court proceeded by stating that “what determines jurisdiction of Court to entertain a

cause/matter, is the Plaintiff’s claims. It is the claim before the Court that has to be looked at to ascertain whether it comes within the jurisdiction conferred on it.”

Addressing the Appellant’s claims, the Supreme Court held that upon a careful examination of the claims of the Appellant together with the reliefs sought in his application for enforcement of fundamental rights before the trial court, the Appellant’s main claims and reliefs cannot be sheltered under the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution. Their Lordships held further that “It is not every grievance that perches or touches on the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution that constitutes a breach to or calls for enforcement of fundamental rights. They must be the main and predicate claims, and not the ancillary or remote to it.”

The apex court held that the subject matter of the Appellant’s suit against the Respondents, which pertains to alleged professional misconduct and disciplinary action against the Appellant, the alleged vituperation by the 1st Respondent against the Appellant on media and the subsequent invitation of the Appellant by the Respondents, “cannot transubstantiate and transmute into an attempted or perceived or likely breach of the Appellant’s right under the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.”

It is the position of the Appellant that the assessment and investigation of his claims of medical cure for HIV, and lack of fair chance to prove his claims before the Respondents, coupled with their hostile reactions, violate his right to fair hearing under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution. While complaint about proceedings violating the rules of natural justice and right to fair hearing is proper and recognizable complaint in law, the Respondents not being courts or tribunals established as such by law, their said violation or likely violation of the rules of natural justice cannot be a violation of the Appellant’s fundamental right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution. Breach of fundamental right to fair hearing under Section 36(1) of the Constitution only applies to proceedings before judicial bodies acting judicially and quasi-judicially. Therefore, the complaint that the proceedings and decisions of the Respondents violate or are likely to violate the rules of natural justice against the Appellant and his general legal right to fair hearing is not a complaint that any of the provisions of Chapter IV has been, is being or likely to be contravened and cannot be brought to the High Court by way of an application to remedy the same under Section 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The Court reiterated that having established and ascertained that the main claims and reliefs of the Appellant did not fall under the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, the trial and lower courts ought to have struck out the Appellant’s suit. The Court relied on the decision in NWANCHUKWU v NWANCHUKWU & ANOR. (2018) LPELR-44696 (SC) (PP. 29-30 PARAS. B).

Further to the above, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the decision of the trial court.

Appeal Dismissed.

Representation I.G Abah with C.S Achebe for the Appellant Martin Atojoko with C.M. Odanwu for the 1st Respondent.

Hassan T. Fajimite for the 2nd and 3rd Respondent.

Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)

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ur first edition published on January 7, featured one of Nigeria’s fiery human rights Lawyers, Femi Falana, SAN with the headline ‘During Obasanjo’s Administration, NJC Sacked 47 Corrupt Judges’ Though Nigeria has never lacked Human Rights activists, Femi Falana, SAN is one of the foremost Human Rights Lawyers who has, over the decades, even from the military days, stayed committed to the cause of the crusade against societal injustice. As our first interview personality of the year, Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi sought out the international human rights and anti-corruption crusader. In his characteristic manner, he fearlessly spoke truth to power, even on the most troubling issues in the polity, not minding whose ox is gored.

Our second edition on January 14 focused on ‘2025: Collaboration Between the Bar and Bench for Better Justice Delivery’ 2024 was an encouraging year in the judicial sector, with the increase in the salaries and allowances of judicial officers after over 15 years of stagnancy; an increase in the retirement age of High Court Judges to 70 to match that of the Appeal and Supreme Court Justices; the appointment of the second Female Chief Justice of Nigeria; and achieving a full Court of 21 Supreme Court Justices. But, for a better justice delivery system in 2025, Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi sought the views of senior Lawyers on how the Bar and the Bench can synergise to enhance it. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN; Jean Chiazor-Anishere, SAN; Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN; Prof Ernest Ojukwu, SAN and Dr Babatunde Ajibade, SAN expressed their opinions and expectations for the justice delivery system this year, areas that need urgent reforms, including digitalisation, to strengthen the judicial sector going forward.

January 21 ‘Should Nnamdi Kanu be Released?’

The leader and founder of the of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, had been held in detention since 2021, on charges of treasonable felony and other allied charges. First arrested and detained in 2015, Kanu escaped while on bail and fled to London, being a British citizen, when his country home was invaded by soldiers, resulting in the loss of some lives. Kanu was rearrested in Kenya in 2021, and forcibly brought back to Nigeria (extraordinary rendition) where he has been held by the Federal authorities since then. However, concerns have been expressed in several quarters, as to why he has continued to be detained, despite several court orders granting him bail. Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN and Chief Goddy Uwazurike examine issues

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surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, detention and why he should be released.

For January 28, it was ‘Trump 2.0: Expectations, Anxieties, Apprehensions and Admonitions’ On Monday, January 20, 2024 Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America. As was expected, the 78-year old hit the ground running, with a staccato of decrees and fear inspiring Executive Orders which will most likely alter the democratic ethos of the world’s most powerful democracy. What is it about President Trump and his new administration’s policies that perceptibly instil fear and apprehension?

Professor Sebastine Hon, SAN; Chukwuemeka Eze; Dr Emeka Ejikonye; Ed Malik and Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje took a holistic look at Trump, his pronouncements and their far-reaching global implications, with specific reference to Nigeria.

In our February 4 edition, we examined Nigeria’s volatile electoral environment through our interview with a human rights Lawyer, Abiodun Baiyewu, ‘Violence is a Recurring Decimal in Nigeria’s Elections’ When the history of human rights in Nigeria is finally told, some women will occupy more prominent positions than men. Abiodun Baiyewu is one such woman, who has trudged on in the battle to ensure a better Nigeria for all Nigerians. a Lawyer by profession, Ms Baiyewu has initiated programmes which have put Government and its institutions on their toes through her NGO, Global Rights. She has led from the front, formidable moves to address election violence in Nigeria and bring perpetrators to justice. She has even engaged the International Criminal Court, to take a critical look at election violence and human rights violations in Nigeria. Despite obvious daunting challenges, Ms Baiyewu has remained in the trenches. Last weekend, she spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on several issues, such as why election violence still thrives all over the country, some reasons for gender inequality in governance, and the menace of illegal mining activities in Nigeria.

February 11 ‘Decimating Marauding Herdsmen: A Security Imperative’ A new wave of insecurity has brought most parts of the South East under trepidation, as scores were killed and maimed by gun-totting Herdsmen, particularly in Ebonyi State. Reports have it that, even the South West is also under serious threat from these murderous criminal elements. How prepared is the Nigerian security

Should Nnamdi Kanu be Released?

machinery, to adequately tackle this rising menace?

Should the South East Governors establish their own security apparatus like the South West’s Àmòtèkun, in order to beef up the security in their region? Jide Ojo, Emmanuel Onwubiko and Dr Emeka Ejikonye, in this discourse, articulated their thoughts on the complexities of these issues, and also proffered some solutions to curb this menace.

February 18, ThisDay Lawyer mourned. ‘Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Fare Thee Well!’

If Nigerians were to pick a middle name for Chief Ayo Adebanjo, it would have been ‘Fearless’. A legal practitioner of note, Chief Samuel Ayodele Adebanjo spoke truth to power, both military and civilian. He inspired many to join him in the battle for a free, just and egalitarian Nigeria. He commanded from the trenches in the NADECO days; and in Afenifere, he was the detribalised voice of reason. When it became necessary, he strongly disagreed with his NADECO and Afenifere compatriots, strictly on principle. Chief Ayo Adebanjo was born in Ogun State on April 10, 1928.

Initially, a Journalist, he then studied law in the United Kingdom and was called to the English Bar in 1961. He started Politics as a ‘Zikist’ before joining action Group in 1951, where he became the Organising Secretary of the Party. He was also a Founder and Leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere. As a result of his activism, Chief Adebanjo was detained several times, and was even charged for treasonable felony along with 30 others in 1962, resulting in him going to Ghana on exile. In President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Condolence Statement, he said thus: “I received the news of the passing of one of the Afenifere leaders, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, with profound sorrow. Nigeria has lost a political leader whose decades of unwavering struggle for justice, democracy, and national unity have left an indelible mark on our nation's history.... Baba, as a Lawyer, Statesman, and Politician, stood among the last of a generation of nationalists and independence heroes who shaped the foundation of our country..... In moments of national crisis, Baba's courage shone brightest. When democracy hung in the balance after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential election, he joined the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) as one of the leading voices against military dictatorship, helping to galvanise a movement that became the bedrock of our collective struggle to reclaim democratic governance. His unwavering commitment to truth and justice, extended to my journey as a Governorship candidate in 1999.

Baba Adebanjo's steadfast support was instrumental to my election as Governor of Lagos State, under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy. Though our political paths diverged in later years, my respect and

admiration for him never wavered. Until his death, I shared a deep personal bond with Baba Adebanjo; he was like a father figure. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the Afenifere family, the Governors of the South West, past and present, and all Nigerians who shared his vision..... May the soul of this great patriot find eternal rest, and may his ideals, which he so passionately envisioned, forever resonate in our country”. Chief Ayo Adebanjo was an uncommon Nigerian who was blind to tribal colourations, insisting that it was the turn of the South East to produce the President of Nigeria.

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo also had this to say on hearing the sad news of Chief Adebanjo’s demise, “Until his death, he fought with courage and tenacity to see to the restructuring of the Nigerian nation, through which good governance based on democratic principles and practice, and leading to unity in diversity, justice and equity, political stability, nationalism, popular participation, peace and security and socio-economic progress with strong leadership would be enshrined”. In Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s loving memory, THISDAY LAWYER went into the archives, to reproduce the interview we had with him in 2018.

February 25, the death of another great Nigerian Lawyer. ‘Niger-Delta: An Iroko Tree has Fallen’ The Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria had enjoyed absolute peace and abundant natural resources, until the discovery of oil plundering activities of oil multinationals which has left the area polluted, despoiled and somewhat environmentally devastated, gradually visited untold hardship on the people of this region, because of the unscrupulous prospecting for the proverbial ‘Black Gold’. But, the emergence of a young, heady and educated man, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark brought hope, in the midst of despair of the people. Chief Clark cut his political and activist teeth in London, United Kingdom, where he went to further his education. He returned to Nigeria, a Lawyer, thoroughly prepared to stand up for his Ijaw people, and he became a voice for the entire Niger-delta Region, against environmental injustice meted out on his people.

The first Secretary of NBA Warri Branch, Chief Clark’s achievements as a legal practitioner in Warri, further strengthened and emboldened him to take up the humungous challenges for the region. That voice went silent on February 17, 2025, at the age of 96. The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN in his “Tribute to a Titan: Farewell to His Eminence, E.K. Clark” had this to say: “In the depths of my

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sorrow, I find myself utterly shattered, mourning not just a father, but a towering figure whose unwavering belief in me shaped the very course of my life. His Eminence, Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, CON, was more than a mentor, he was my guardian, my guide, and my fiercest advocate. He was my guiding star in a world shrouded in darkness, opening doors where none existed, and paving paths with his boundless generosity. Against all odds, even in defiance of his own blood, he stood firmly by my side, shielding me with a love so fierce, that it became my greatest source of strength.... his wisdom was vast, his generosity boundless, and his courage unshakable. he was a man who created paths where none existed, opening doors that many dared not even knock on. His presence was formidable, his words carried weight, and his vision for justice and equity was unparalleled. He was a giant among men, a beacon of leadership, and a voice that resonated across generations. As I bid farewell to this extraordinary soul, I do so with a heart heavy laden with grief, but, also with immense gratitude. The legacy he leaves behind is not just one of political and social impact, but of love, kindness, and selfless mentorship. The void he leaves is immeasurable....adieu, dear father, teacher, and inspiration. Your light will never dim in my heart”. In his uncommon candour, Chief E. K. Clark had bluntly spoken his mind to the authorities, in an engaging interview with THISDAY LAWYER’s Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in January 2022. We reproduce his interview, in this Tribute edition to Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the Founder of E.K. Clark University, voice of the Ijaw People and Niger-Deltans, and join Nigerians to pray for the repose of his soul.

March 4 ‘Large Percentage of Inmates are Awaiting Trial’ Challenges in the Nigerian correctional system are complex, and appear to have defied every possible solution so far. Even the change of name from Nigerian Prisons to Nigerian Correctional Centre, doesn’t seem to have made any positive impact, either in its functioning as such, or in the perception of the public. The way it is run, also hasn’t helped matters, and things seem to have gone from worse to deplorable and shocking.

Dr Uju Agomoh, the Executive Director of Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare action (PRAWA) in this engaging interview with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi gave a holistic view of the Nigerian system of detention of inmates, most of whom are awaiting trial detainees. She proffered a panacea to ameliorating some of these challenges, but concluded that the system is in dire need of total reform, including the need to improve the conditions of service of the staff of the Correctional Service.

March 11 ‘Sexual Harassment: A Hydra-Headed Malaise’ As we celebrated International Women’s day 2025, it was apposite to examine Sexual Harassment, an evil that mostly women have been subjected to from time immemorial. It had hitherto, been an unpleasant societal feature in Nigeria, but recent statistics have shown that it is on the rise, and now more pervasive in almost every strata of the society. Ugly incidents in secondary and tertiary educational institutions, work places, especially in high paying organisations, have also had their fair share of this malaise. Now, it does appear as if it has crept into the political stratum of our society. What are the causes? How endemic has it become? What is the panacea? Boma Alabi, SAN, Adesegun Talabi and Mandy Demechi-Asagba take a deep look at the issue, and suggest ways sexual harassment can be curtailed, including how to face the legal challenge of being difficult to prove.

March 18 ‘Frequent Grid Collapse: Causes and Effects’ For a country whose population is said to be over 200 million citizens, Nigeria generates barely 14,000 megawatts of electricity out of at least 33,000mw needed. The blame game and buck-passing between Generating and Distribution Companies, hasn’t helped matters at all. Today, the nation is grappling with frequent collapses of the national grid, and most parts of Nigeria are thrown into darkness for days. The negative effect of this on the economy, is unimaginable.

Former Director General of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr Sam Amadi, gave an in-depth analysis of the unfortunate situation, and suggested ways of facing the challenges, while painting a hopeful and positive future.

March 25, This was our first CROSSFIRE of the year ‘Can the President Suspend Elected Officials in

a State of Emergency?’

The lingering political turmoil which had characterised the Rivers State landscape, finally came to a head with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s proclamation of a state of emergency in the State, and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and all the members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. A series of events, including a judgement of the Supreme Court, inability of the disputants to resolve their issues, and the subsequent vandalisation of some oil installations in the State, appeared to have informed President Tinubu’s decision to make the proclamation. In the wake of these developments, THISDAY LAWYER sought the views of senior Lawyers on the legal implications and import of the State of emergency, and whether the President was legally and constitutionally justified in so doing. NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN; Femi Falana, SAN; Adesegun Talabi; P.D. Pius and Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja expressed their opinions on this uncommon political quagmire, while proffering possible solutions. However, the question that was uppermost in the minds of many Nigerians, is whether the President can suspend elected officials, that is, the Governor and Members of the Rivers State House of assembly in a state of emergency.

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April 8 the Bloodbath Edition ‘Uromi 16 Killing: Failure of Security?’

Life is precious, and when 16 souls are lost in one fell swoop under preventable circumstances, it diminishes the humanity in us. The recent wanton massacre of 16 alleged Hunters of Northern extraction, travelling from Port Harcourt to Kano by Vigilantes in Uromi, Edo State, calls for a volte-face and total rejig of the nation’s approach to local policing. Kunle Edun, SAN; Pius Damba Pius; Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja and Emmanuel Onwubiko delved into the issue, raising crucial questions including, whether the victims were really hunters or kidnappers relocating to the North as alleged. They also made suggestions, as to how to tackle this insecurity menace more effectively.

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April 22 - CROSS-FIRE! ‘NBA vs IBAS: Should NBA Refund the N300 Million Conference Gift?’

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This was Crossfire!

April 1 ‘Technology Should be an Ally, Not an Afterthought’ Despite the giant strides that have been recorded in the Nigerian legal profession, concerns have been expressed about its slow pace of development. With emerging technology, it does appear that the practice of the profession in Nigeria also has a lot of catching up to do, to be at par with what obtains presently in most advanced jurisdictions. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi spoke with Dr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN who turned 60 recently. He expressed his deep concern over the obvious decline in professional ethics, the process of appointment of Judges, the Supreme Court and some of the reasons why its docket is over-burdened, offering viable solutions to the issues raised.

April 15 ‘Nigeria: In the Throes of Insecurity’ Despite the unrelenting battle against banditry and terrorism by Nigeria’s security agencies, armed bandits have continued to visit mayhem, sorrow, tears and blood on hapless citizens in many parts of Nigeria, leaving a trail of deaths. Has the Nigerian security architecture failed? Are Nigerian security agencies overwhelmed or incapacitated? Have successive Nigerian governments been complicit by not treating the escalating insecurity with the seriousness it demands, because they are playing politics or trying to be politically correct? Presently, the Middle-Belt region of the country is mostly in a state of anomy, as citizens of the region whose livelihood depends solely on agricultural activities have been driven out by these dangerous criminals, and are regularly being rendered homeless and deprived of their means of livelihood, consequent upon the merciless attacks on them. Professor Sebastine Hon, SAN; Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; Adesegun Talabi and Major Ben Aburime (Rtd) discuss the complexities of Nigeria’s war against terrorism, and why the battle requires a more ingenious approach, proffering various solutions to solving the problem of insecurity.

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Annual General Conference (AGC) to be held in Port Harcourt, be refunded to the coffers of Rivers State Government, consequent upon NBA relocating the AGC to Enugu. The umbrage and controversy this demand elicited, was the subject of this edition, in a Cross Fire.

April 29 ‘Call for Citizens to Defend Themselves: Right or Wrong?’

For quite a while, there had been calls from various quarters and highly respected Nigerians, for the people to defend themselves against the incessant onslaught by terrorists and violent criminals. Retired Lt General Theophilus Danjuma first made an open call on Nigerians, to wake up to find ways to defend themselves from these attacks by all means possible. This was echoed by the Director General of Department of State Services, Adeola Ajayi. The right to defend one’s life and property, is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But, what exactly does this call imply? Would it not create more chaotic security challenges, in an already precarious environment? THISDAY LAWYER sought the views of a cross-section of Nigerian legal minds on this.

May 6 'Nigeria Needs Stable Energy and Investor Friendly Regulations' Nigeria’s economy has shown resilience, even in the face of huge challenges with policies many perceive as unfriendly. Amidst these challenges, the organised private sector continues to forge ahead with innovations, to drive investments and growth. President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Kelvin Oye, had a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi in which he discussed what NACCIMA stands for, its drive towards growth in the private sector, challenges the Nigerian economy is facing, optimistic goals and some solutions for achieving them.

May 13 ‘VDM: Cyberstalking or Gagging?’

Out of nowhere, a young and energetic social activist, Martins Vincent Otse (aka Very dark Black Man/ VerydarkMan/VDM), emerged and created some storm in the Nigerian social media space. Initially, he was largely unknown. Subsequently, as he started to gain popularity, some called him a rabble-rouser, others, an attention-seeker. But, whatever else he may be, today he is what is called an “influencer”, finding support from social media with over two million followers on Instagram alone. He appears to have stepped on a good number of toes, and his stature has grown to the discomfort of some highly placed Nigerians. For a while, VDM had been on the radar of the EFCC and DSS. His eventual arrest outside the premises of a branch of GT Bank in Abuja, elicited a wide national outcry, particularly because of the mode of arrest. Although he was granted bail, THISDAY LAWYER sought the views of some Lawyers on what constitutes cyberstalking, one of the allegations the EFCC levelled against VDM, the manner in which he was arrested, which his followers say was unwarranted, even unlawful, whether Government is simply trying to gag VDM and clamp down on freedom of expression.

May 20 ‘LawPavilion: Delivering Premier Legal Tech Solutions’ It is a truism that law reports are at the heart of legal practice in the Common Law Jurisdiction, where Lawyers and Judges rely heavily on decided cases and precedent in litigation. For decades, legal practitioners and judicial officers had to tediously scour through, find and cite authorities from printed law reports and books. But, about 20 years ago, a young, intelligent and energetic Electronic and Electrical Engineer, Ope Olugasa, the Founder and CEO of LawPavilion, saw a huge challenge in the legal industry and took the initiative to address it frontally. Thus, LawPavilion Electronic Law Reports was born, and from humble beginnings the idea has blossomed into a vast outfit and resource engine, which provides numerous legal AI solutions, the deployment of which makes the work of Lawyers and Judges more efficient and accurate, resulting in LawPavilion Products becoming indispensable. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi caught up with Mr Olugasa, and travelled with him on the journey from the humble beginnings of LawPavilion to the AI Giant that it has become today.

May 27 ‘Are the Rights of the Nigerian Child Upheld and Protected?’

Nigeria celebrated Children’s Day on May 27. First celebrated in Nigeria in 1964, it’s a day dedicated to children, to honour them and reflect on the progress

and persistent challenges concerning their rights and welfare. In observance of Children’s Day, ThisDay Lawyer sought the views of a cross-section of Lawyers and Human Rights Activists, to assess how well the welfare of the Nigerian child has been taken care of by the State and Family, to what extent the Child’s Rights Act 2003 has been implemented in the country, and the impact it has had on society so far.

June 3 ‘Tinubu Administration's Half Term Scorecard’ It was exactly halfway into President Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu’s four-year tenure, and there have been mixed feelings about the impact of his administration’s policies and style of governance.

Even public perception, is divided. How well has the Renewed Hope agenda been implemented?

Have President Tinubu’s economic policies made any positive impact on the country, since he took office? Has security improved? Has the electricity sector received any significant attention? How has the fight against corruption fared? What is the roadmap for the remaining two years of President Tinubu’s tenure?

Sunday Dare; Dr Sam Amadi; Okechukwu Nwaguma; Haruna Yahaya Poloma and Emeka Ejikonye made a critical assessment of President Tinubu’s administration, two years on.

June 10 - Another sorrowful demise ‘CJN Uwais: Adieu to a Judicial Giant’ How do we describe a man who bestrode the Nigerian judicial firmament like a colossus for several decades, and completed his tasks admirably and unblemished, with his dignity and reputation intact? Honourable Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais, GCON (June 12, 1936 - June 6, 2025) is one such man, who served as the Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1995 - 2006, and goes on record as the longest serving Nigerian Supreme Court Justice, and second longest serving Chief Justice in the nation’s history. His passage a few days shy of his 89th birthday, elicited emotive responses from Lawyers across various strata of the Nigerian legal sector. THISDAY LAWYER received glowing tributes from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON; the first female Justice of the Supreme court, and first female Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, GCON; the Honourable Attorney- General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina J. Mohammed, GCON; NBA Presidents, past and present, the immediate past Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, and many other Lawyers who knew him, worked with him and appeared before him. May Allah forgive CJN Uwais for his shortcomings, and grant him the highest level of Jannah. Ameen.

June 17 ‘INEC: Challenges and Preparations for Credible Elections in 2027’ In less than 24 months, Nigeria will go through anther circle of ballots, to elect political office holders. The 2023 elections came with many imperfections, culminating in endless complaints and more election petitions. The nation’s election umpire, the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC), perceptibly bears a lot of the blame, though Nigerian Politicians are sore losers who will challenge elections conducted by angels in the most perfect manner, once they do not win. As the 2027 general elections draw near, what is the level of preparedness of INEC? What mechanisms have they put in place, to ensure that the Commission delivers a free, fair and credible election? Former INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye and Jide Ojo assess the Commission’s readiness and capacity to deliver on its mandate, making suggestions about what steps can be taken to make the upcoming elections credible.

June 24 ‘The Bloodbath in Benue’ The extermination of over 300 lives in Benue State came as one too many, in the series of calculated bloody attacks in the State and environs, including Plateau and Taraba. Many are of the view that the Federal Government hasn’t done enough, to curtail these bloody incidents. Others are of the opinion that, even President Tinubu’s visit to the scene of the killings, isn’t enough to address the problems. and, the role of the Governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is also being questioned. How well has he performed, in terms of making his State safe? Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN; Daniel Popoola; Emmanuel Onwubiko and Sylvester Udemezue reviewed the series of bloody incidents, and suggested ways that the Federal and State Governments could end the seemingly unending bloodshed in Benue State and its neighbouring environs.

July 1 ‘State Police Is No Longer Academic; It’s Urgent’ Ebonyi State, located within the South East zone, is one of the 36 federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi

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Call for Citizens to Defend Themselves: Right or Wrong?

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Tinubu Administration's Half Term Scorecard

CJN Uwais: Adieu to a Judicial Giant cont'd on page VIII

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tracked down the Ebonyi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Uruchi Odoh, who is also the Chairman of the Body of State Attorneys-General (BOSAG). He spoke on the steps Ebonyi State has taken to reform and modernise justice administration under his watch with the vision and support of Governor Nwifuru, making their State a trend-setter in this respect; how Ebonyi State was the only one in the South East that didn't observe the unlawful Monday sit-at-home order imposed by IPOB, and his role as Chairman of BOSAG. July 8 ‘In Borno, it’s Zero Tolerance for Human Rights Abuse’ The work and responsibilities of a State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice can be quite daunting, and functioning in that office in a State torn by terrorism and insurgency, is perceptibly doubly challenging.

This is the herculean task of the first female Borno State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Hauwa Abubakar. She spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on a range of issues, including the State’s approach to justice administration and the innovation of digitalisation, the newly launched e-Justice initiative by her Ministry and State Police.

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July 22 NBA-AGC: ‘We’ll Deliver an Exceptional Conference’ All roads were to lead to Enugu from August 22 – 29, 2025 when Nigerian Lawyers were expected to converge on the Coal City for the Flagship event of the Nigerian Bar Association, the NBAAnnual General Conference (NBA-AGC). Over 15,000 Lawyers had registered in advance for the event. Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr Emeka Obegolu, SAN spoke with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on his Committee’s elaborate preparations, their plans to ensure that this year’s Conference is extraordinary, and in tandem with its theme, “Stand Out, Stand Tall”. He also spoke about why the Conference venue was moved, from Port Harcourt to Enugu.

July 29 'Insecurity in Plateau is Premeditated Genocide and Land Grabbing' It used to be the envy of other States in Nigeria, as it was once the jewel of tourism of the nation. But, today, Plateau State has gradually become a sort of theatre of war, as marauding terrorists, insurgents and criminals continue their incessant violent attacks on hapless communities in the hitherto peaceful State.

In an engaging chat over the weekend, the Plateau State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Daffi narrated to Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi his aspirations, challenges and successes as A-G of one of the most troubled States in Nigeria, referring to the insecurity the State is currently facing as Genocide, and a deliberate attempt to displace Plateau indigenes and take over their land, because the State is endowed with arable land that is also rich in mineral resources.

August 5 ‘Àmòtèkun’s Success is the Most Potent Reason for State Police’ Justice administration, is an all encompassing and totally engaging endeavour. For a State like Ondo, it is blessed with a young, ebullient and progressive thinking Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, OON, SAN. He narrated to Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, the bold steps he has taken and the strides he has achieved so far, with the support of Governor Aiyedatiwa, since his assumption of office, the success of community policing by the Àmòtèkun Corps in his State, and his plans to ensure that Ondo State gets new and revised laws, and becomes the pace setter for administration

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INEC: Challenges and Preparations for Credible Elections in 2027

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July 15 ‘Bayelsa is Safer and More Peaceful than Before’ Life in the Niger-Delta Region can be quite challenging, consequent upon the negative environmental impact on the communities. Bayelsa State is one that has suffered the indescribable effects, of the hazardous ecological effect of oil prospecting in the area.

The Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN, in a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, spoke extensively about some of the challenges in administering justice in the oil rich State, the shortcomings of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the inadequacy of its 3% allocation of oil companies’ operating expenses to Host Community Development Trusts, the need to amend the PIA to be fairer to host communities, and the progress they have made so far, in realising his vision to mould the State’s Ministry of Justice into a fully modern and digitalised one.

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August 12 ‘Ghana, SA, UAE: Xenophobia Against Nigerians? Why?’ The bond of brotherhood between Nigeria and Ghana, is old and deep. But, that chord of friendship has run thin a couple of times; first, in 1969, when the Government of Ghana issued the aliens Compliance Order expelling many allegedly undocumented West African migrants, including many Yorubas from Nigeria, on grounds of economic decline, and secondly, between 1983 and 1985, when Nigerians across the country protested the ubiquitous presence of Ghanaians in Nigeria, and the aphorism ‘Ghana Must Go’ came into the Nigerian vocabulary. Although it was diplomatically resolved, later events showed that the scars have remained, and Ghanaians don’t seem to have forgiven or forgotten. What appears inexplicable is the current angst by Ghanaians against Nigerian nationals in Ghana, asking Nigerians, particularly the Igbos this time, to leave their country willy-nilly. This negative reaction against Nigerians isn’t limited to Ghana; it also happened in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. Prosper Nwachukwu and Chukwuemeka Eze, in this discourse, x-ray the complex and sensitive issues at play, even tracing the origins and history of xenophobia.

August 19 ‘KWAM 1, Comfort Emmanson, and Lessons for Domestic Airlines’ Recently, the Nigerian aviation industry has come under a barrage of scrutiny from the public, over two incidents. First, the one involving music maestro Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Anifowoshe aka KWAM 1 and Valuejet Airlines, and the second, a few days after, involving a female airline passenger, Miss Comfort Emmanson, on a flight operated by Ibom Air. Both incidents attracted wide criticisms for different reasons, particularly Miss Emmanson who was video recorded being aggressive, and was eventually dragged off the aircraft with her private parts exposed. The offensive video recording, immediately found its way to the general public. Miss Emmanson ended up at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility, where she spent at least one night. The approach of the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, SAN, elicited some recriminations, having issued clemency for KWAM 1 and Miss Emmanson.

Legal pundits asked whether Keyamo, SAN didn’t act beyond his powers; whether the alleged offenders really deserved the pardon they were granted under the circumstances, and what this portends for the punishment for passengers who may be unruly in the future, having let off these two. Femi Falana, SAN; Stephen Kola-Balogun; Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja; P.D. Pius and Felix Eghie Sugaba expressed their opinions, about these unfortunate incidents.

Chairman, 2025 NBa annual General Conference Planning Committee, dr emeka Obegolu, SaN

‘Bayelsa is Safer and More Peaceful than Before’

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KWAM 1, Comfort KWAM 1, Comfort Emmanson andEmmanson, Lessons for Domestic Airlines and Lessons for Domestic Airlines

August 26 ‘Federal Court of Canada's Judgement: Dampener for Nigerian Asylum Seekers’ The furore created by the judgement of the Federal Court of Canada, labelling one of Nigeria’s main political parties, PDP, as an organisation whose members engage in subversive activities, will likely persist for a while.

This is also because asylum seeking Nigerian, Douglas Egharevba, is one in thousands of Nigerian citizens that may be facing difficult circumstances such as deportation, as his application for asylum was denied simply based on his one-time membership of the PDP. Did the Canadian Court go too far in characterising the PDP this way? Is it fair to render an individual who played no part in their political party’s violence or anti-democratic activities as inadmissible for asylum, when they weren’t directly involved in such activities?

Is the Canadian judicial system inherently unfair and discriminatory, against Nigerian citizens? This and other related topics, were the focus of this edition as Ebunolu Adegboruwa, SAN; Chukwuemeka Eze and Kingsley Jesuorobo critically examined the issues and likely implication for both countries.

September 2 ‘Indecent Assault: Rising Scourge Against Female Dignity’ Nigerian women have always been vulnerable, to domestic and workplace violence. But, sadly, there is an apparent increase in the number of incidents and reports of public indecent assault on Nigerian women. Some of these incidents involved young women who were video-recorded while being humiliated, assaulted and beaten, mostly by men. Their clothes were then torn, their private areas exposed, and the video recordings of the unfortunate incidents disseminated, going viral on social media. These days, this appears to be occurring once too often. The question now being asked is, why women are deliberately being targeted for violent attacks resulting in nakedness, amounting to a breach of Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees the right of every individual against torture or inhuman and degrading treatment. Professor cont'd on page IX

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Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN; Mandy Demechi-Asagba; Uju Peace Okeke and Okechukwu Nwanguma examined this issue holistically, discussing its causes and effects, proffering possible solutions to end this disgraceful trend, including enacting laws specifically criminalising such unacceptable behaviour.

September 9 ‘Blasphemy Killings: One too Many’ The nation has witnessed a spate of senseless ‘religious’ mob killings, as a result of allegations of blasphemy against Islam or the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The allegations against the victims have sometimes been shown to be false, or have been unsubstantiated, yet, their lives have been taken under gruesome circumstances of stoning and burning to death. Examples are Gideon Akaluka and Bridget Agbahime in Kano; Deborah Samuel and Usman Buda in Sokoto; and Amaye, a food seller in Niger State, who all suffered this cruel fate. This unholy practice which is incomprehensible and cannot be defended under any law of the land, has been on the rise since the inception of the Fourth Republic. The prevalence of religious mob justice is in the Northern part of the country, where Sharia Law was adopted following Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, and worries have been expressed as to whether the Government is not complicit in these extra-judicial killings. This is because in a number of the incidents, the culprits were either not apprehended, or when they were, they were subsequently let off the hook. For instance, in the case of the mob killing of septuagenarian, Mrs Bridget Agbahime, the then Kano State AttorneyGeneral entered a Nolle Prosequi, despite the glaring evidence against the accused persons in the case. In this discourse, Lawyers examined the causes of mob justice in Nigeria, the unconstitutionality of adopting a State religion, and how to stop this barbaric practice.

These are the submissions of Kunle Edun, SAN; Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN; Ayoade Oluwasanmi and Emmanuel Onwubiko.

September 16 ‘Senate-Akpabio vs Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’ The controversy arising from the suspension, litigation and failure to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to resume in the Nigerian Senate, is one that garnered many colourations and bitter debate as to its propriety or otherwise. The bitter feud between the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, both Lawyers, involves misconduct on the floor of the Senate, accusations of sexual harassment, corruption and political gerrymandering, bordering on the integrity of both lawmakers. The subject-matter of this discourse was whether Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan ought to have been allowed to resume sitting in the Senate, at the expiration of her six months suspension. At the time of going to press, she had still been refused entry into the hallowed Chambers of the Senate. Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN; Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja and Dr Akpor Mudiaga Odje discussed the issues in the saga.

September 23 ‘Zamfara: Banditry is Now being Treated With Utmost Seriousness’ The slogan ‘Farming is our Pride’ sat comfortably in the hearts of the people of Zamfara, until some years ago when the nefarious activities of insurgents and bandits negated that epithet. Although, over the years, Zamfara State has suffered misgovernance and misplacement of priorities in so many sectors, today, the administration of Governor Dauda Lawal appears to be changing that narrative, and the State which was on the cusp of losing its pride of place in the comity of States, is becoming a force to be reckoned with, even in the area of education where it had previously lagged behind. The Zamfara State Attorney -General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulaziz Sani, SAN, Phd, in a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi recounted the progress the State has made so far in combatting banditry, insurgency and illegal mining, while discussing their efforts to modernise the laws of the State, and improve the conditions of service of judicial officers.

September 30 ‘Nigerian IDP Camps: Insecurity, Squalor and Inhuman Conditions’ One of the greatest challenges the Government has faced in the last two decades, is taking care of the growing population of Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs). The circumstances which have necessitated the displacement of persons from across the country are still very much present, and the number persons taking refuge in IDP Camps is increasing astronomically as time passes.

Sabastine Anyia, Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko and Okechukwu Nwanguma, shared their views on why the number of IDPs is on the rise; why the problems related thereto appear to be intractable; criminality in IDP Camps and issues of insecurity which have resulted in them being constrained to take refuge in

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these Camps, still occurring there; the deplorable, inhuman conditions IDPs face, ranging from living in makeshift accommodation that is unfit for human habitation; hunger and malnutrition to poor sanitary conditions, to disease and lack of healthcare, sexual exploitation of women and girls coupled with teenage pregnancies, no educational facilities for children and other human rights violations within the Camps, while proffering solutions on how to ameliorate the suffering of the IDPs and treat them with the dignity they deserve, seeing as they enjoy the same fundamental rights as anybody else.

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October 7 ‘Gender Sensitivity in Kwara Cabinet is Sacrosanct’ In a country like Nigeria, there are the ever-present challenges of maintaining a balance of administering justice within the precincts of the Constitution, grappling with the intricate relationship between the Centre and the Federating units, and of course, dealing with issues within each State itself. The Kwara State Attorney-General and Commissioner for justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman is an A-G who serves in a multi-religious State which operates Sharia law alongside Common Law, and has been able to maintain a good balance amongst them without much ado. In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, the Kwara A-G spoke about his strides in administering justice in the State vis-à-vis access to justice, updating and codifying Kwara State laws, emphasising that Sharia Law is only applicable to Muslims on issues of Islamic personal law like marriage, inheritance, and guardianship. The A-G also mentioned the fact that under Governor Abdulrazaq, Kwara State being the first State to enact the Gender Sensitivity Law in the country, is not only committed to maintaining a gender balance in their cabinet, but had gone beyond the 65%/35% threshold by making their cabinet 50% female and 50% male.

October 14 ‘Examining the Police Tinted Glass Policy’ The furore that has trailed the purported re-introduction of Permit for the use of tinted window glass in vehicles, recently took a worrisome turn when the Police started apprehending vehicles with tinted glass, seizing those who have no Police Permit to use same. Across 22 States of Nigeria, several citizens have suffered such indignity.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) through its Section of Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) took legal action on behalf of affected Nigerians, to seek the intervention of the Judiciary on this vexed issue. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; Kunle Edun, SAN and Emeka Obegolu, SAN weighed in on the propriety or otherwise of this purported policy on the use of tinted car windows, its potential to breach the constitutional rights of citizens, and the opaque privatisation of payment process involved in obtaining the Permit.

October 21 ‘Nigeria’s Political Defections: The Road to a One-Party State?’

The recent mass exodus of top Nigerian politicians from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has had an unsettling effect in the polity. As at the last count, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was almost depleted, with some of its Governors moving to APC one after the other.

Party officials from other parties, have since joined the bandwagon, Legislators too. What could be the reasons behind these unprecedented movements?

Is Nigeria headed towards a sycophantic One-Party State? What does it portend for Nigeria’s fledging democracy? Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, SAN, Segun Talabi and Dr Mudiaga Odje examined these issues, in this edition. cont'd on page X

X

TueSday, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • T H I S D AY

coVER

YEAR 2025 IN REVIEW cont'd from page IX

October 28 ‘#EndSARS, #FreeNnamdiKanu: Lessons and Challenges’ Coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, many youths trooped out in Abuja to protest the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Despite the court order procured by the Police to limit the protest, youths still trooped out in huge numbers. The Police quelled the demonstrations, allegedly utilising excessive force and arrested some of the protesters, including one of Nnamdi Kanu's Lawyers, Aloy Ejimakor. While many believe that Nnamdi Kanu should answer for the heinous crimes he and his group were alleged to have committed, others are of the view that his continuous detention is discriminatory and politically motivated, and keeping him locked up ‘sine die’ won’t make for peaceful resolution of issues. Those in support of Nnamdi Kanu’s release, organised a protest to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the October 2020 #EndSARS Protests. Some of them ended up being arrested by the Police, others, brutalised. Going by how the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest played out, questions were asked by the public, whether any lessons were learned

by Government and law enforcement agencies on how to handle protests, and if there have been any positive outcomes, whether in terms of Police reform or the benefit of citizens. Samson Itodo, Okechukwu Nwanguma and Emmanuel Onwubiko expressed their opinions on these issues in this discourse.

November 4 ‘Inherited Colonial University Curriculum Requires Recalibration’ The Obafemi Awolowo University is not only one of the oldest in Nigeria, but, also has one of the oldest Law Faculties. The Faculty has birthed some of the most distinguished legal minds, including Judges, Senior Advocates, Academics, Businesspeople, Politicians, and still counting. This has no doubt been without some challenges. The new Dean of this famous first-generation Law Faculty, Professor Olugbemi Fatula had a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi on a wide range of issues, expressing his optimism about taking the Faculty to a higher academic pedestal, despite the obvious challenges.

November 11 ‘President Trump’s Threat: Matters Arising’ Shivers must have gone down the spine of the Nigerian Government, when President Donald Trump openly issued a threat to come into Nigeria ‘guns-a-blazing’ to destroy Nigerian terrorist enclaves in defence of Nigerian Christians who have been killed in their thousands in the past few years. In response to what President Trump referred to as genocidal attacks against Nigerian Christians, invading Nigeria might be the only option. Political Pundits have advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take Trump’s threat seriously, and not to treat the matter with levity. In this National discourse, Prof Sebastine Hon, SAN; Rear Admiral K. Bolanle Ati-John Rtd; Gozie Francis Moneke; Sa'adiyyah Adebisi Hassan; Badamasi Suleiman Gandu; Dr Akpo Mudiaga Odje and Marx Ikongbeh delved into the complex issues surrounding this matter, to determine whether President Trump has the moral justification or otherwise to invade Nigeria, ostensibly to defend Nigeria’s persecuted Christians.

November 18 ‘The Nwoko Affair: Child Marriage, Drug Abuse, Domestic Violence?’

Social media was abuzz, with the rather embarrassing display of a soap-opera like marital dispute between one of Nigeria’s controversial Politicians, Senator Ned Nwoko and one of his six wives, Regina Daniels, a Nollywood actress, who has made allegations of domestic violence, threats, Police harassment and other offences against her husband. The crucial issue of her age at the time Regina Daniels started her relationship with the Senator, also became a bone of contention. Senator Nwoko made counter-allegations, accusing Regina Daniels of drug abuse, and irresponsible mothering of their two sons. Recriminations flowed from supporters of both parties, and the belligerence didn’t appear to abate. Surprisingly, the silence from the Senate was deafening, with feminists claiming that, had it been a female Senator in Senator Nwoko’s position, she may have already been suspended for bringing the upper Chamber into disrepute, particularly with the allegations of underaged marriage and drug use said to have taken place in Nwoko’s house. Kunle Edun, SAN; Mandy Demechi-Asagba; Suraj Olarenwaju and P.D. Pius discussed the issues surrounding the rather unfortunate marital imbroglio, examining some of the pertinent laws related thereto, and questioning why there appeared to be inaction on the part of the law enforcement agencies whose functions cover the offences alleged in this controversy, such as NAPTIP,

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025

GhL–first Bank Arbitration echoes the P&iD Scandal

Story on page 5

USA President, Donald Trump

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu

Ned and Regina Nwoko

Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Trump’s Threat: Matters Arising

The Nwoko AffAir: Child Marriage, Drug Abuse, Domestic Violence?

Nnamdi Kanu: From Agitation to Life Imprisonment

LAWYER

LAWYER

that countries such as China, had become world manufacturers, increasing their volumes and number of products for export. Segun explained his strategy, to ensure that what was coined NEPC’s “Zero Oil Plan”, one which included every State of Nigeria being expected to identify at least one strategic export product it is endowed with, based on comparative advantage, and export same to the world, thereby earning much needed revenue/foreign exchange for the country, creating employment and stimulating economic growth. Segun’s views are as relevant today, as they were in 2016, seeing as there is no time better than now for Nigeria to diversify her economy, and buckle down to the serious implementation of the Zero Oil Plan.

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‘Fare Thee Well’, Firearms in Private Hands: Mr “Zero Oil Plan” The Pros and Cons Olusegun Omotunde awolowo

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CHriStmaS SpeCial edition...

President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN

Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Roland Otaru, SAN

'It's Zero Tolerance, for Kidnapping in Edo'

Yuletide 2025: How lawyers Will Spend their time

NDLEA and the Police.

Featuring this 2016 interview of Olusegun Omotunde Awolowo, who was born on September 27, 1963 and joined the Saints triumphant on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at the age of 62, serves as a Tribute to him, in recognition of his service to Nigeria. This interview conducted by Jude Igbanoi, Tobi Soniyi and my humble self, Onikepo Braithwaite, was the fourth interview that I took part in conducting, in the early days of my career as Editor of ThisDay Lawyer (to be precise, a month after I took up the position). At the time, Segun was the CEO of the Nigerian export promotion Council (NEPC). Nigeria’s over-dependence on crude oil as its major export product became a serious topic for discussion back then (and it still remains so), particularly as the country’s economy was in a recession. Segun recognised the huge potential in non-oil exports, seeing as Nigeria is a country that is richly endowed with a variety of resources which, to date, have remained largely under-explored and under-utilised. He envisioned a Nigeria, raking in billions of Dollars in revenue, from non-oil manufacturing and exports. He saw

November 25 ‘Nnamdi Kanu: From Agitation to Life Imprisonment’ After a ten-year intricate legal battle, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which has been agitating for the actualisation of the state of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was convicted for charges bordering on terrorism on Thursday, November 20, 2025 and sentenced to Life Imprisonment by Hon. Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. Was life imprisonment the expected outcome of the case? Would the judgement have been different if Nnamdi Kanu hadn’t decided to take over his defence himself, which he refused to open, insisting that he wasn’t charged under any known law? What options are left to the convicted IPOB leader? These and many more questions were the subject of this discourse by Aikhunegbe Anthony Malik, SAN; Kunle Edun, SAN; P.D. Pius; Ifeanyi Ejiofor; Major Ben Aburime (Rtd) and Marx Ikongbeh.

December 2. ‘FareThee Well’, Mr“Zero Oil Plan” ’

December 9 ‘Firearms in Private Hands: The Pros and Cons’ As Nigeria continues to descend into the abyss of lawlessness and insecurity occasioned by the unrelenting assault on the citizenry, insecurity appears to be spiralling out of the control of an overwhelmed security architecture. North East, North West, North Central and South East have not been spared from the reign of bloodletting insurgents, terrorists and kidnappers.

As President Bola Tinubu recently declared a state of emergency on security, in addition to ordering the withdrawal of Police personnel from protection of Very Important Persons, many have pondered about whether Nigerians should not be legally permitted to bear firearms for self-defence. Ken Ahia, SAN; Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN; Kunle Edun, SAN; Chief Aikhunegbe Anthony Malik, SAN and Marx Ikongbeh expressed their views on the complex issue, in the face of these challenges.

December 16 ‘It's Zero Tolerance, for Kidnapping in Edo’ Edo State goes with the sobriquet ‘Heartbeat of the Nation’ for several reasons. Its centrallocation, multiculturalism, rich ancient traditions and many more. But, recent developments in the State haven’t been too pleasant, especially with regard to heightened violent criminal acts, kidnappings, terrorism, human trafficking and other vices. Worrisome as these are, the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Roland Otaru, SAN is quite optimistic that these challenges are surmountable. In a chat with Onikepo Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi, he spoke of his plans to strengthen the rule of law in his State, update and codify the laws of Edo State, and ensure better justice delivery for the Edo people.

December 23 the Christmas Special Edition ‘Yuletide 2025: How Lawyers Will Spend Their Time’ The yuletide is that special season of the year when professionals take time off tedious work to unwind, relax, feast and holiday with their families. For this year’s Christmas and New year, THISDAY LAWYER asked a cross-section of Lawyers how they plan to unwind during the yuletide. Would it still be all work and no play for some, or a total shutdown and merry-making for others?

Epilogue As the year gracefully rolls to an end, it’s a Nunc dimittis for 2025 in the Nigerian legal industry.

THISDAY LAWYER had the pleasure of servicing Africa’s largest legal community throughout the outgoing year. Indeed, it was a pot pourri of the good, the not so good, the bad and the mournful. But, in all, we thank God for His mercies and for seeing us through 2025. Happy New Year to our Readers!

THISDAY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025

XI

POLITY

Impact of Renewed Hope Agenda on Correctional Service P Michael Olugbode in Abuja

rior to ithe change in nomenclature, the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), appeared to be at the receiving end of the “rot” in the Justice sector, bearing the burnt of delayed trial by the judiciary, and often indiscriminate arrest by security operatives - all of which exacerbated the awaiting trial conundrum. This situation had a consequential effect on the security of prisons, Overcrowding was apparent, jailbreak was a common denominator; no thanks to dilapidating perimeter fencing, and general infrastructure decay. That was the story of the NPS, which maintained its identity until 2019, when it transmuted to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

Notwithstanding the transition that happened via the establishment (amendment) act of 2019, there seemed to be no noticeable change, as the nation continued to witness jailbreaks, welfare challenges, punitive tendencies, rise in inmates’ population, among other albatrosses that assailed the Service.

It is safe to note that the Nigerian Correctional Service is an offshoot of the 2019 Act, which establishment shifted focus from punishment to rehabilitation and reformation. In the main, t provides for custodial and non-custodial services.

The previous arrangement continued despite allegations of poor feeding of inmates, their conditions, delayed access to justice, dilapidated holding facilities, overcrowding and the like remained a “sore point”in the Justice sector ecosystem.

In the face of the Justice sector reform, which draws its strength from the Renewed Hope Agenda, there is now a paradigm shift, championed by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.indeed, the Minister, who moved from lawmaking to implementation, came prepared; with a hands-on commitment.

Objectively speaking, the development focuses on infrastructural development, rehabilitation of (ex) offenders, and improved welfare of staff, amid upgrading of facilities,skills acquisition and vocational training.

The overcrowded state of the 250 plus correctional centres across the country, had further added pressure to the facilities,hence .

To translate intention to reality, TunjiOjo initiated moves to raise N500 million naira to pay fines for inmates, most of whom were awaiting trial.

The result was the release of no fewer than four thousand (4000) inmates, with consequential decongestion in

President BolaTinubu

several facilities.

Alas, concerned stakeholders and experts, said it was not only unprecedented, but also reflected the compassion and people-oriented vision of the President Tinubu-led administration.

Tunji-Ojo, without a doubt, has continued to champion the infrastructure renewal campaign, as seen in the rebuilding of several outdated correctional centres, to bring them at par with what obtain advanced nation’s of the world. In the face of this, comes the digitalisation of record keeping systems in the agency.

This is with a view to making inmate management more effective and efficient, to say the least. His intervention in inmates’ life-after-restriction found expression in the area of education and skills development, what with the inauguration of the National Open University of Nigeria Special Study Centre at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre.

“The transformation of our correctional facilities is not just about infrastructure; it is about restoring dignity to inmates and ensuring that our officers work in a conducive environment.

“No administration in Nigeria’s history has demonstrated such dedication to the welfare of correctional officers and inmates like this

government. Over 50,000 personnel have been promoted in less than two years, and by March, the 2025 promotion list will be announced.

“Some of these facilities were built as far back as 1914. With urbanisation catching up, it is imperative that we relocate them to ensure security and efficiency”, Tunji-Ojo stated.

Records available indicate that over 2,000 inmates are currently pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, with over 200 already graduated. This investment in human capital is consistent with President Tinubu’s broader commitment to education, skills acquisition, and national development.

This, analysts argued, confirm that there is an ongoing engagement with the judiciary and state governments, principally to expedite trial processes, reduce the high number of awaiting-trial inmates (ATIs), with the ultimate goal of expanding non-custodial alternatives for non-violent offenders.

Again, the government seems to be focused on improving the infrastructure of correctional centers, through increased budget allocation for modernization, digitization, and enhanced security systems like CCTV. The Minister has taken his plan to establish the Nigerian Paramilitary Academy to an advanced level,. When fully operationalised, the Academy will

equip correctional service officers with modern principles and empathy. The Nigerian Correctional Service is also conducting training programmes for its middle-line managers.

At one of the high-level inter-agency meetings held in Abuja, the Minister had declared that: “The future is now.

We are committed to building a system that generations yet to come will be proud to call their own. Correctional services are not about condemnation but correction, and this is the path we must follow.

“I’m passionate about giving inmates, especially children and young adults, a second chance, as I strongly believe that a minor action of a minor should not be a major setback for his future”.

During the official launch of the report on the National Assessment of the situation of Children and Young Adults Deprived of Liberty held recently in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the former parliamentarian assured thus: “The correctional service cannot continue to be a point of disgrace to the Nigerian Government. We will not allow the actions of a few to destroy the integrity of the generality of the institution”.

Available statistics indicate a five per cent reduction in the congestion rate across holding facilities, even as infrastructure renewal and renovation of the centres stand at ten per cent.

Also, the government has achieved a near one hundred per cent in increased feeding allocation, with the nutritional values required to make the inmates retain their humanity.

Stakeholders and experts alike have urged the government to sustain ongoing reform efforts, especially in the area of intelligence sharing, interagency collaboration and synergy, as well as capacity building for personnel of the Service.

Even more compelling is the need for the recovery of buffer zones, many of which had been encroached upon, as a consequence of population growth and urbanisation challenges.

The issue of congestion remains fundamental in the Justice sector ecosystem, as the inmate population has continued to oscillate between 80, 000 and 84, 000. More worrying is the fact that awaiting-trial persons constitute the bulk of the figure in consideration.

Concerns have been raised about poor sanitation in some facilities, thereby posing danger to the health and well-being of both staff, and inmates.

While acknowledging the fact that dozens of officials had been meted sanctions, including dismissal, for acts of misconduct, investigation has shown that the Service still contends with issues bordering on corruption.

XII

T H I S D AY • TuesDAY DeCeMbeR 30, 2025

business/MOneYGuiDe

NGX Admits Chams’ Additional N3.99bn Worth of Shares

two ordinary shares held as at close of business on June 16, 2025.

“With the listing of the The Nigerian Exchange additional shares, the Limited (NGX) has total issued and fully admitted additional N3.99 paid-up shares of Chams billion worth of Chams Holding Company has now Holding Company Plc increased from 6.652 billion shares on the bourse. to nine billion ordinary NGX in a filing stated shares of 50 kobo each, “ that the company has listed it stressed.

2.348 billion additional The company conducted ordinary shares on the a major rights issue in Exchange, increasing its mid-2025, aiming to raise total issued and fully around N3.99 billion by paid-up share capital. offering 2.348 billion In a notice, the NGX said, new shares at N1.70 “Trading licence holders each (one new share are hereby notified that for every two held) to additional 2.348 billion existing shareholders, ordinary shares of 50 opened August 8, 2025, kobo each of Chams and closed late September Holding Company were after an extension, with on December 23, 2025, funds earmarked for listed on the daily official expanding digital identity, list of Nigerian Exchange payments, and building a Limited.” card plant to boost growth.

It added that, the The successful capital raise additional shares arose from improved the company’s the Company’s rights issue capital base, liquidity, and of 2.348 billion ordinary strategic position in Africa’s shares of 50 kobo each at fintech space.

N1.70 per share on the basis The chairman, Chams of one new share for every Holding Company, Demola Kayode Tokede

Aladekomo, in a letter to shareholders stated, “Due to the advances in technology, the rapid evolution of the business of identity management, payment collection, and transactional systems solutions in Nigeria and changes in the operating landscape, it is imperative that Chams remains agile, adaptable, and properly positioned to respond appropriately to developments, whilst remaining a competitive and forward-looking institution.

“To ensure that Chams is well positioned to navigate possible headwinds in the economy and take advantage of emerging business opportunities, the Company’s Management team seeks to undertake landmark projects and business initiatives that will redefine Chams’ business structure, diversify its earnings base and ultimately grow its market share in the real sector of the economy.”

REDAN, Sytemap Collaborate to BoostTrust in Real Estate Business Emma Okonji

Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sytemap Technologies Limited, to address issues of mistrust, uncertainties and multiple sales of the same property.

The MoU marks a major step towards making land and real estate transactions safer, more transparent, and more efficient

across Nigeria.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, one of the traditional rulers, HRM Oba Akintoye Adeoye, said: “This partnership is about restoring confidence.

When developers, buyers, and regulators operate on a trusted digital foundation, everyone benefits, from ordinary Nigerians buying their first home to institutional investors backing large developments.”

CEO of Sytemap, Nnamdi Uba, said: “The

collaboration reflects years of work behind the scenes. This is not just about technology. It’s about dignity, security, and peace of mind for people investing their life savings. REDAN’s endorsement is a powerful signal that the industry is ready for a better way.”

COO at Sytemap, Ndifreke Ikokpu, signed on behalf of Sytemap while CEO of RightHome, Cholatte Odunlade - Akeji, signed on behalf of the Special Purpose Vehicle.

Branch Invests in Students’ Digital Future with Laptop, Other Donations In fulfillment of its corporate social responsibility, Branch NG, one of Nigeria’s leading digital financial services companies, has donated laptops, personal healthcare items, and educational materials to students at Sceptre Comprehensive College, Alapere, Lagos.

Speaking on the initiative, Managing Director, Branch NG, Dayo Odulate-Ademola, explained that the donation aligns with the company’s longstanding commitment to social impact, financial inclusion, and educational development across underserved communities.

Odulate-Ademola explained that the intervention was designed to address the gaps in digital access and personal hygiene resources among young learners, while also encouraging healthy physical activity.

“At Branch NG, we believe that every child deserves access to tools that can unlock their potential, whether in the classroom or in their personal development journey. Our donation of laptops, healthcare items, and sports materials is part of our responsibility to support digital inclusion and encourage well-rounded growth among students,”

she said.

Also speaking at the event, Emmanuela Ekanem, Head, People Operations, Branch Nigeria, emphasized that the initiative reflects Branch’s internal culture of empathy, service, and long-term community investment.

“At Branch, we believe that access creates opportunity. By providing these digital tools and essential items, we’re helping students build the confidence and skills they need to succeed.

Supporting young people in our communities is a core part of who we are, and we’re committed to continuing this impact,” Ekanem said.

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS (MiLLiOn nAiRA) October 2025

Month

Money Supply (M3)

119,037,577.07

-- Cbn bills Held by Money Holding sectors

9,291.49

Money supply (M2)

119,028,285.58

Quasi Money

79,681,419.97

-- narrow Money (M1)

39,346,865.60

---- Currency Outside Banks

4,646,794.28

---- Demand Deposits

34,700,071.33

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

34,804,442.84

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

84,233,134.23

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

99,199,655.08

---- Credit to Government (Net)

24,787,980.96

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

0.00

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

74,411,674.12

--Other Assets Net

2,603,854.03

Reserve Money (Base Money)

36,641,142.21

--Currency in Circulation

5,057,881.01

--Banks Reserves

31,583,261.21

--Special Intervention Reserves

284,361.95 • Source - CBN

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

October 2025

Inter-Bank Call Rate

October 2025

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

27.00

Treasury Bill Rate

15.07

Savings Deposit Rate

7.43

1 Month Deposit Rate

11.37

3 Months Deposit Rate

11.32

6 Months Deposit Rate

11.12

12 Months Deposit Rate

11.78

Prime Lending rate

18.89

Maximum Lending Rate

29.56

NSE MARKET INDEX CAP

0.75%(52%YoY)

Index

0.9% (29%Y/D) • Monetary Policy Rate - 27%

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE As AT 24TH nOVeMbeR , 2025

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $63.14 a barrel on Monday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo), Zafiro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

XIII

T H I S D AY • TUESDAY DECEmBER 30, 2025

mARKET NEWS

Stock Market Up N541.7bn on Investors Demand for BUA Foods, Others

Kayode Tokede

The stock market section of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) commended the new week on a positive note as the market capitalisation advanced

by N541.7billion on investors’ demand for BUA Foods Plc (up by 1.45 per cent to close at N759.50 per share) and 40 others.

The market capitalisation

that opened for trading at N97.890 trillion, gained N541.7biillion or 0.55per cent to close at N98.432 trillion.

Consequently, the NGX All-Share Index crossed the 154, 000basis points to close at 154,389.53basis points, gaining 849.70basis points or 0.55 per cent from 153,539.83 basis points the stock market opened for trading activities to restore the Year-to-date gain to 50 per cent for the first time since October 28, 2025.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

Market breadth was positive with 41 gainers surpassing 37 losers. Austin Laz & Company and ETI recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each to close at N3.52 and N41.80 respectively, while Eunisell Interlinked followed with a gain of 9.95 per cent to close at N96.70, per share.

Honeywell Flour Mills appreciated by 9.86 per cent to close at N19.50, while Guinness Nigeria rose by 9.82 per cent to close at

S E C U R I T I E S MARKET PRICE

qUANTITy TRADED

N349.90, per share.

On the other hand, International Energy Insurance led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent to close at N2.34, while Meyer and eTranzact International followed with a decline of 9.92 per cent to close at N11.35, per share.

Livestock Feeds shed 9.60 per cent to close at N5.65, while C&I Leasing lost 8.06 per cent to close at N5.70, per share.

T R A D E D

vALUE TRADED ( N )

A S

MAIN BOARD

O F

However, the total volume of trade declined by 16.98 per cent to 1.468 billion units, valued at N35.544 billion, and exchanged in 47,892 deals. Transactions in the shares of Access Holdings topped the activity chart with 594.380 million shares valued at N12.362 billion. Champion Breweries followed with 122.087 million shares worth N1.840 billion, while FCMB Group traded 116.611 million shares valued

at N1.260 billion.

Japaul Gold & Ventures traded 66.156 million shares valued at N155.253 million, while First HoldCo transacted 51.529 million shares worth N2.568 billion.

On market performance for this week, United Capital Plc said, “the Nigerian equity market is likely to trade cautiously positive this week, supported by steady GDP growth, strong external reserves, and broad-based sector gains.

D E C E M B E R / 2 9 / 2 5 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

qUANTITy TRADED

vALUE TRADED ( N)

17

t h i S d ay • TUESDAY, DECEmbER 30, 2025

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

A T

REPO

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

D E C E m b E R

S & P INDEX

2 9 ,

S & P INDEX

2 0 2 5 EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

25.34%

CALL

23.25%

INDEX LEVEL

595.26

1/4 TO DATE

0.24%

N1,441.36/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

25.18%

1-MONTH

21.37%

1-DAY

0.10%

YEAR TO DATE

-10.99%

*AS AT mONDAY., DEC. 29, 2025

3-MONTH

22.41%

MONTH-TO-DATE

0.24%

Despite General Price Slump, Average Fuel Cost Exceeds N1,000/Litre Nationwide

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja In spite of a significant general decrease in fuel prices in the country, Nigeria’s market remained under acute strain in November 2025 as average retail costs of both petrol and diesel stayed stubbornly high, reinforcing pricing pressures on households, transporters and manufacturers.

A THISDAY analysis of the November price reports for petrol and diesel released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed

that despite modest monthon-month movements in some locations, the overall national picture remained elevated, with wide regional disparities.

For petrol, consumers across most states paid well above the psychologically important N1,000 per litre threshold, with national averages clustering in a narrow but high band.

Northern states, particularly in the North-east and North-west, recorded some of the highest average pump prices, reflecting a mix of logistics costs, security-

related supply constraints and distance from major supply hubs.

For instance Borno and parts of the North-east stood out at the upper end of the price spectrum, reinforcing a long-running pattern in which insecurity and haulage risks translate directly into higher consumer prices.

In contrast, some southern states, especially in the Southwest, posted comparatively lower averages, although prices stayed above historical norms, suggesting that proximity to supply points continue to provide some

insulation from pricing pressures facing the downstream market.

According to the NBS data, for petrol, the national average retail price stood at N1,061.35 per litre in November 2025, representing a 12.6 per cent decline from the N1,214.17 per litre recorded in November 2024.

Compared with October 2025, when the national average stood at N1,052.31 per litre, petrol prices rose by 0.86 per cent in November.

While modest, the increase indicated that the relief from earlier declines may be losing

momentum.

State-level data also revealed wide disparities, as November petrol prices ranged from lows around the N1,000–N1,050 band in parts of the South-west to highs exceeding N1,200 per litre in several northern states.

Yobe recorded one of the highest average prices at about N1,085 per litre, while Zamfara averaged roughly N1,067 per litre.

In contrast, states such as Lagos and Ogun remained among the cheaper markets, reflecting their proximity to

supply points and relatively lower transport costs.

“The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) for November 2025 was N1,061.35, indicating a 12.59 per cent decrease compared to the value recorded in November 2024 (N1,214.17). Likewise, comparing the average price value with that of the previous month (i.e. October 2025), the average retail price increased by 0.86 per cent from N1,052.31.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

CPPE: Nigeria Manufacturing Revival Hinges on Managing Structural Risks, Macroeconomic Stability Dike Onwuamaeze

The Center for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has stated that the revival of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector in 2026 and beyond is hinged on managing structural risks and sustained macroeconomic stability.

The Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, stated this in a statement titled “Nigeria’s Manufacturing Sector: Outlook, Risks and

Policy Priorities (2026).”

Yusuf said: “Nigeria’s manufacturing revival hinges on managing structural risks while sustaining macroeconomic stability.

If reforms in power, trade, and development finance are effectively implemented, the sector’s growth prospects and competitiveness will be significantly enhanced in 2026 and beyond.”

He added, “Given the import-dependent nature

of Nigerian manufacturing, foreign exchange (FX) stability alone offers meaningful relief on input costs and planning certainty.”

Commenting further on the sector’s outlook, Yusuf said that business expectations in the manufacturing sector in 2026 must be carefully managed because structural bottlenecks in energy, logistics, and ports could not be resolved within a single fiscal year.

food name of commodity

rice

Size

State

Price

50kg

aBuJa

n65,000 n68,000

50kg

LagoS

₦55,000 – ₦70,000

50kg

kWara

50kg

enugu

50kg riverS

₦52,000 – ₦54,000 ₦65,000 ₦70,000 ₦60,000 n65,000

He, however, noted that “the improving macroeconomic fundamentals are expected to support better manufacturing outcomes in 2026, especially for firms that are amenable to backward integrated, less exposed to FX volatility and better aligned with domestic input sourcing.

He said, “These segments are likely to record stronger returns on investment under current reform conditions.”

commoditieS name of commodity

Sorghum

Price

The CPPE said that the challenges confronting Nigeria’s manufacturing sector have remained largely unchanged over the years.

“They are predominantly structural, not cyclical, and therefore require medium- to long-term solutions rather than quick fixes.

“These constraints continue to undermine competitiveness, investment returns, and industrial growth,” CPPE said.

Yusuf said that the key challenges facing manufacturers in Nigeria included inadequate and costly infrastructure, particularly power and logistics; port inefficiencies and supply chain bottlenecks; high cost of energy, driven by reliance on captive power and unfavourable regulatory and business environment.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

t o d ay

State

Price

name of commodity

Size

State

Price

100kg JigaWa

n30,000

BeanS

Benue

Benue

n32,000

Brown Beans

100kg

50kg Bag

₦90,000 – ₦95,000

LagoS

100kg

kaduna

n32,000

n95,000

50kg

enugu

n24,000

kano

50kg

LagoS

n26,000

100kg

deLta

n35,000

₦70,000 – ₦75,000 ₦72,000 – ₦75,000

100kg

aBia

n36,000

Size

50kg 50kg 50kg 50kg

oLoyin (honey)

White BeanS

Borno White BeanS

deLta

White BeanS

n72,000 – ₦75,000

18

TUESDay, DECEmBER 30, 2025 • T H I S D AY

BUSINESSWORLD

NEWS FooD

nAme oF CommoDITY

PALm oIL

SIze

STATe

25CL LAgoS 25CL

PH

25CL

oYo

25CL

Imo

25CL

eDo

25CL AbUjA

CommoDITIeS

PrICe

nAme oF CommoDITY

SIze

STATe

₦20,000 – ₦42,500

groUnDnUT

₦24,000 – ₦35,000 ₦22,000 – ₦35,000 n32,000-n56,000

₦20,000 – ₦35,000 ₦25,500 – ₦35,000

PrICe

T o D AY

PrICe

nAme oF CommoDITY

SIze

STATe

100kg kAno

40,500

onIonS

100kg

IbADAn n60,000

100kg benUe

47,000

100kg LAgoS

45,000

100kg DeLTA

44,000

100kg

AbIA

100kg kADUnA

PrICe

nAme oF CommoDITY

SIze

LoCATIon

PrICe

mAIze

50kg

oYo

n30,000

50kg

enUgU

n30,000

100kg DeLTA

n30,000

50kg

AbIA

n32,000

n30,000

100kg kAno

n250,000₦270,000 n250,000100kg PLATeAU ₦270,000 100kg benUe

100kg DeLTA

50kg

LAgoS

n30,000

27,000

n250,000

100kg LAgoS

n250,000

50kg

kAno

n32,000

40,000

100kg enUgU

n250,000₦270,000

100kg benUe

n30,000

Presidential CNG Initiative Signs MoU to Localise Infrastructure Manufacturing

Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in abuja

The Executive Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PICNG) and Electric Vehicles (EVs), Ismaeel Ahmed, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese firm to enhance in-country production of some needed infrastructure in the sector.

The deal took place when Ahmed led a delegation on a five-day working visit to the factories and corporate offices of You Jie Te Environment Technology Ltd (YJT) in Chengdu and Hangzhou, China, culminating in the signing of the deal between both organisations.

YJT is a leading Chinese infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider operating within the downstream oil and gas sector, a statement from the PICNG secretariat in Abuja stated.

The partnership is focused on localising the manufacturing and assembly of critical energy infrastructure in Nigeria, including CNG dispensers, refuelling stations, and electric vehicle charging facilities.

Under the MoU, PICNG and YJT will also integrate advanced IoT solutions into Nigeria’s CNG and EV ecosystem. YJT’s smart monitoring technologies will complement PICNG’s

NIMASA DG Felicitates with Stakeholders at Yuletide

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola has felicitated with stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime industry during the yuletide.

Mobereola who observed that the year 2025 was a good one for the industry also assured that the agency will re-double efforts in ensuring that 2026 is even better for every stakeholder.

Group Business Editor Eromosele abiodun Deputy Business Editor Chinedu Eze Comms/e-Business Editor Emma Okonji Asst. Editor, Energy Emmanuel addeh Asst. Editor, Money Market Nume Ekeghe Correspondents KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets) James Emejo (Finance) Ebere Nwoji (Insurance) Reporter Peter Uzoho (Energy)

Enumerating some of the achievements of 2025, the DG highlighted the sustained zero tolerance for piracy in Nigerian waters, the deposition of three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions that were signed by President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, the industrial harmony in the sector and the nation’s election into the category C Council of the IMO amongst others.

“The year 2025 has been a good one for our industry as once again, we have not recorded a single piracy attack in our waters in a whole calendar year, Nigeria was also able to deposit three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions that were signed by President Bola Tinubu GCFR, we have been able to maintain industrial harmony in the sector all of which culminated to Nigeria’s election into the category C Council of the International Maritime Organization.

“We couldn’t have done this without our stakeholders who have contributed in various ways in the course of their operations during the year.

We see you, we thank you and we felicitate with your during this yuletide season” the DG said.

National Gas Vehicle Monitoring System (NGVMS), enabling realtime oversight of refueling

equipment, operational performance, regulatory compliance, and economic data across stations

nationwide.

Speaking on the importance of the agreement, the executive chairman of

PICNG, Ahmed, said the collaboration would deliver far-reaching benefits beyond infrastructure development.

Nigeria Exports $2.57bn Crude Oil to US in Eight Months Nigeria shipped 33.23 million barrels of crude oil to the United States valued at $2.57 billion during the first eight months of 2025, the US Mission in Nigeria has disclosed.

It stated this on its official X handle, underscoring the West African country’s pivotal

role in the transatlantic energy market and consolidating Nigeria’s position as Africa’s foremost oil producer.

According to the mission’s statement, Nigeria’s crude oil shipments to America accounted for more than half of all African exports to the US in January-August,

reinforcing the strategic energy partnership between both nations.

The US Mission stated: “Nigeria was the leading African exporter of crude oil to the United States between January and August 2025, shipping 33.23 million barrels worth $2.57 billion.

That’s more than half of all African crude oil exports to the United States during that period.”

It emphasised that robust trade relations between Nigeria and the US generate employment opportunities and foster economic prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.

OML 34: Group Trains Stakeholders on Effective PIA Implementation

Sylvester Idowu in Warri

A human rights group in the Niger Delta region, the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice has strengthened the capacity of host community leaders under the UTREW Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 34, through an intensive workshop focused on the effective implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and conflict resolution mechanisms in Delta State.

The two-day capacitybuilding programme which drew participants from several oil-producing communities within OML 34, kicked off in Udu Local Government Area on Monday.

It was “designed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the PIA, clarify the roles and responsibilities of key actors, and promote peaceful coexistence between host communities and oil and gas operators through effective governance of the Host Communities Development

Trusts”.

Among the Communities with representatives at the programme were OtorUdu, Eruemukowharien, Okpare-Olomu, Uvwiamuge, Ekakpamre, Effurun-Otor, Umolo-Olomu, Ekrejegbe, Iwhrekan, Edjophe, Oghior, Owhrode, Agbowhiame, Otu-Jeremi, Eyara, among others.

Addressing the participants, the National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade emphasised the need for host communities to fully

understand the PIA since its enactment on August 16, 2021.

While describing the Act as “a landmark reform in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector”, Mulade stressed, “Its benefits can only be realized through proper interpretation, community awareness, and diligent implementation.”

Mulade explained that funds accruing from the PIA are statutory and strictly meant for host community development warning against diversion of such funds for personal interests.

annual general meeting, where he was elected, Folorunsho, said he recognised the significance of association’s place in the economy of Nigeria.

He promised that BRIPAN would continue to work closely with regulators, policymakers, the judiciary, financial institutions, and the wider business community to promote trust, clarity, and collaboration in insolvency and

restructuring processes.

According to him, “Having spent almost three decades working across corporate and personal income taxation, international taxation, business recovery, and insolvency - both within and outside our shores - I have seen how critical our profession is to economic stability. When businesses struggle, jobs are at risk, confidence is shaken, and systems are tested. What

we do as practitioners truly matters.

“Finally, we will remain active in law reform and advocacy, supporting the effective implementation and continuous improvement of Nigeria’s insolvency and business recovery framework. Our goal is a system that promotes rescue where possible, fairness to stakeholders, and confidence for investors.”

Albert Folorunsho Assumes Office As BRIPAN President

Oluchi Chibuzor

Having spent almost three decades working across corporate and personal income taxation, international taxation, business recovery, and insolvency, Albert Folorunsho has become the President of the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN).

Speaking at the BRIPAN’S

WealthBridge Celebrates Growth Milestone

Kayode Tokede

WealthBridge Financial Services Holdings Limited, has officially opened its new corporate headquarters strategically in Lagos. The move marks a key step in WealthBridge’s growth and its vision to become a world-class financial institution delivering excellence and Innovation.

The unveiling of the new head office heralds the company’s third anniversary, highlighting its rapid growth and rising prominence in delivering best in class financial services to its teeming customers and clients.

In three years, WealthBridge has evolved into a trusted partner across asset management, investment

banking, structured finance, economic intelligence, banking, real estate, and fintech. The new office embodies the Group’s sleek, client-focused vision for long-term growth.

Speaking on the milestone, Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Adekunle Lawal said the new head office reflects WealthBridge’s

growth and commitment to excellence. The move responds to rapid expansion, a growing workforce, and rising demand for premium service. WealthBridge House is designed for this next phase, with advanced infrastructure, enhanced client areas, collaborative workspaces, and a data-driven, innovative ecosystem.

19

T H I S D AY • Tuesday, deCember 30, 2025

busINessWOrLd

FeaTure

How AI, Data Centres, Broadband Shaped ICT Sector in 2025 The rapid evolution of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, broadband and the influx of data centres, among others, set the flow of direction in the Information and Communications Technology sector in Nigeria in 2025, writes Emma Okonji

A

lthough the year 2025 came with its own challenges that squeezed the Nigerian economy, leading to loss of jobs and increase in the rate of unemployment, but such challenges were seen as opportunities for tech savvy Nigerians that decided to leverage on the opportunities of emerging technologies to develop solutions that addressed some of Nigeria’s specific challenges around financial payments and connectivity.

Emerging technologies like AI, Internet of Things (IoTs), Broadband Connectivity and the influx of Tier 111 Cloud Data Centres, helped in shaping the narratives in the Nigerian ICT sector in 2025.

Agentic AI Aside using AI to develop addressable solutions in 2025, the emergence of Agentic AI also helped tech startup companies to improve on their existing solutions across financial payments and connectivity. Agentic AI is a new paradigm in artificial intelligence that emphasises autonomy, goal-driven behavior, and orchestration across multiple specialised agents. Unlike traditional AI, it doesn’t just respond to commands—it actively plans, decides, and executes tasks with minimal human oversight. Agentic AI refers to AI systems that act with agency—the capacity to operate independently and purposefully toward goals. Instead of a single model doing everything, Agentic AI uses multi-agent systems where each agent handles a subtask, coordinated by an orchestration engine.

Recently, Microsoft, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria, Data Science Nigeria, and Lagos Business School, announced a major milestone in its Artificial Intelligence (AI) National Skills Initiative (AINSI).

Microsoft said it has trained more than 350,000 Nigerians with AI skills through the AINSI programme, an achievement that builds on Microsoft’s longstanding partnership with the government, which has delivered digital training to over four million people since 2021.

The milestone, according to Microsoft, underscores Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive, technology-driven growth and reflects strong progress in preparing individuals and organisations to thrive in the digital economy.

General Manager, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Abideen Yusuf, said: “Nigeria cannot afford to wait. AI is reshaping every sector, and the countries that move fastest on skills will lead. We must equip people now, at scale and with intent, so the immense opportunity presented by AI doesn’t pass us by.”

Data Centres In 2025, Nigeria experienced an influx of Tier 111 data centres that were largely concentrated in Lagos and other cities of Nigeria. They include Rack Centre, Open Access Data Centres (OADC), Digital Reality Nigeria and the latest and biggest Cloud

Data Centres known as Kasi Cloud, among others, located in Lekki, Lagos that will be launched before the first half of 2026.

Nigeria has about 16 data centres, of which 10 are located in Lagos State, and mainly concentrated in Leki corridors, Victorian Island and Eco Atlantic City. But Rack Centre data facility is the only hyper-scale date centre located on Lagos mainland. With its proximity to critical government apparatus, the facility provides the connectivity that allows the day-to-day communication with our cloud services. Rack Centre, a carrier neutral data centre operator, hosting several international, regional and local clients, in September 2025, launched its new Tier III Data Centre in Nigeria with IT power capacity of 12 megawatt, covering a white space of 3240sqm.

The facility has IT rooms of six data halls each of 2mw IT load and 24 kw rack density,

alongside four Meet-Me-Rooms.

CEO of Rack Centre, Lars Johannisson, said the facility would offer100 per cent uptime that is unprecedented and un-comparable. According to him, the data centre facility is the largest in West Africa, built as a meeting point for business owners and entrepreneurs. “The facility has efficient cooling system with improved energy efficiency and protected by 10 layers of security checks.

It is a hyper-scale data centre with Artificial Intelligence (AI) ready features,” Johannisson further said.

Speaking during the launch of the data centre in Lagos, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the new Rack Centre LGS2 data centre facility, located in Ikeja, Lagos, would attract local and international technology companies operating in Nigeria, to host their data in the facility, thereby creating jobs and boosting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Nigeria.

The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Lagos State, Mr. Sam Egube, said the state-of-the-art data centre facility would also boost economic activities in the state.

Digital Reality Nigeria, a leading global provider of carrier-neutral data centre, collocation and interconnection solutions, in August 2025, launched its third data centtre (LKK2) in Lagos, designed to accelerate digital transformation across the African region, and expand access to its global data centre platforms.

Speaking during the launch, its Managing Director, Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani said: “LKK2 is a significant milestone in our journey to support digital transformation in Africa. Our continued investment in Nigeria and the broader African region reinforces our commitment to enabling seamless global interconnectivity and providing a future-ready infrastructure platform for local and global enterprises.”

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

Masisi: Nigeria Will Make Fortune Investing in Agro-based Economy Immediate past President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, during a recent visit to Agbeyewa Farms Limited, called on African leaders to explore the opportunities available in the agricultural sector to create jobs and boost the continent’s economy. Raheem Akingbolu brings the excerpts.

As a former head of government in Botswana, what role do you think Agriculture will play in the emerging economies of Africa? griculture is central, and I have always maintained it. I come from a country that was essentially an agrobased economy. It moved into the beneficiation of diamond mining.

Beyond Botswana, what we need to do in today’s Africa is to leap-frog into the next stage where we synergise the application of technology and intellectual capital to optimize benefit and return on investment in the Agric sector.

Agric has all those potentials, particularly that we have the land mass, we have the rainfall, we have the fertile land, we have the people; both to produce and to market. We have the intellect to do this. And so I see this as a very low hanging fruit for us all.

If we look at the greater scheme of things, where many populations around the world are diminishing in their reproductive capacity, i.e. ageing, there’s still a huge number in this part of the world. We in Africa represent the youngest continent and the fastest growing. The potential is here.

So, if anybody is to invest in anything for the future, it would have to be in Africa. If anybody is to produce anything

both the production and nutritional value. And with that, with our virgin land, with our organic products, nobody can beat us.

A

Masisi to scale, to make money, it has to be in Africa.

On this note, I really applaud John Olajide, the visionary young man behind Agbeyewa Farms. He is an enigma, as they call him. True, in form and conceptualisation, because this is the right thing to do. We need food in Africa. We need to take it to scale. We need to realize the African continental free trade area agreement.

We need to evacuate our product. We need to process it and add value to it.

We need to optimize the efficiency of

Zeroing the conversation to Agbeyewa, how will you describe what you have seen so far?

Let me do some background before answering this. I come from a savannah tropical climate. It’s dry in Botswana. I’ve come to Nigeria, the heartbeat of Africa. I heard about Agbeyewa Farms from my friend and younger brother, John Olajide, and I must confess, everything he described was much more modest than what I saw.

Now, what did I see? I saw scale, I saw mechanization, I saw human capital, I saw technical, financial, and strategic visioning, and I saw people and community involvement.

I saw virgin land cleared, cultivated for purpose on a scale unimaginable. And in the shortest possible time, the rate at which progress has been made because of the input and use of technology, because of the input and use of intellectual capital through research, and partnerships with those who have done it, and

actually thinking through the whole value chain. This is impact at its best.

And for African youth, especially those who are graduating now and trying to get greener pastures in Europe and other parts of the world, what role can they play in this agricultural revolution?

Let me start by saying that those of us in leadership; political, economic, financial and any other form of leadership in Africa, we need to invest in creating an ambient environment to keep our young talent at home. And we need to make them realize that when they go to Europe, they’re going into slavery, immediate enslavement.

They’re going into a wasted land because Europe, for all I see, doesn’t have as bright a future as we do in Africa. But you know, when you’re hungry, you don’t see that. So we need to create the right political climate and an economic environment so that these young people feel safe and they realize what they can get from home. Mobilize all our investors to invest in this and give our investors a break to be able to be motivated to do so.

The story continues online on www.thisdaylive.com

20

INTERVIEW

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • THISDAY

Momodu: VIP Police Withdrawal is Only Half the Battle FG Must Implement Spy Police System Now

The recent presidential directive withdrawing police personnel attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) has been widely hailed as a major step toward refocusing the nation’s security architecture. However, this decision is noted to have exposed a critical failure within the Nigerian Police Force: the systemic refusal to implement its own laws. At the heart of the matter lie Sections 21 to 25 of the Police Establishment Act, provisions that legally empower the NPF to deploy a self-funded, specialised corps, known as the Spy Police or Supernumerary Police, for private guard duties, entirely at the expense of the requesting VIPs. This non-compliance has not only left thousands of regular, taxpayer-funded officers improperly deployed as private guards, but also underscores deeper, more alarming dysfunctions, from the chronic underremuneration of officers to an alarming lack of police presence in the communities they are sworn to protect. In this interview with Linus Aleke, the former Deputy Controller of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sule Momodu, asserts that the full implementation of the Police Establishment Act offers a clear, lawful, and sustainable solution to VIP protection and proper funding of the NPF to enable it to tackle internal security challenges effectively. Excerpts: What do you think of the presidential directive to the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers attached to VIPs? et me begin by stating that the presidential directive withdrawing police personnel attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) is a commendable decision. Indeed, this directive creates an opportunity for Nigeria to implement Sections 21 to 25 of the Police Establishment Act, as these provisions clearly define the procedures for attaching police personnel to VIPs. The law explicitly outlines how police protection should be provided to VIPs who genuinely require it.

This arrangement falls under the category of police personnel known as the Spy Police. There is also the Supernumerary Police; although they are police officers, in another sense, they are not, because they are not on the federal government payroll.

Those who require police protection apply for it and pay the salaries of the personnel deployed to protect them.

The Spy Police are remunerated by those who request their services and are vested with the powers, privileges, and authority provided for under the Police Establishment Act.

L

Are you saying that the practice of attaching regular police officers to VIPs was done in contravention of the Police Act? Yes, it was. However, I am not certain where things went wrong within the Police Force. That said, Nigeria faces broader challenges. Before going further, let me point out that Section 20 of the Police Establishment Act deals with the remuneration of police officers. One wonders whether this provision has been adequately considered. The section clearly states that police officers shall not be paid salaries lower than those payable to officers in other security agencies.

Who, then, should be held accountable

Sule Momodu

for the poor remuneration of police officers: the Ministry of Finance or the NPF leadership?

The police authority should be held responsible for the poor remuneration of its officers. It falls within the purview of the inspector general of police to escalate this matter to the President for appropriate action. The president is a very busy man, and unless his attention is drawn to the issue, he may not act on it. Recently, I had a discussion with

a very senior police officer who was not even aware of these provisions in the Police Establishment Act. This underscores the need for the police to study and understand their own legal framework. What steps have they taken regarding provisions that directly address the welfare of their personnel? So far, none. Section 20 addresses salaries, while Sections 21 to 25 outline the modalities for managing the Spy Police under the authority of

the police force.

What then is preventing the implementation of this law?

I call on Mr President to set up a technical committee to examine how these sections of the law can be enforced.

It is not sufficient to simply suggest that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) should take over the Continued on page 21

21

THISDAY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025

INTERVIEW

Enforcing Police Act Will Create 11,000 New Jobs Immediately gathering?

responsibility of providing security for deserving Nigerians. I have serious reservations about such a move.

The NSCDC Act provides for an armed squad; however, that squad is not vested with the same powers, privileges, and authority as those granted to the Nigeria Police Force.

Consequently, their use of firearms raises legal concerns.

What I believe Mr President should do is establish a technical committee to review Sections 20 to 25 of the Police Establishment Act and determine practical ways to implement them.

One positive outcome of this approach is that it would indirectly create jobs for unemployed Nigerians. If 11,000 police officers were withdrawn from VIP duties, it follows that 11,000 new jobs could be created to replace them through the training of Supernumerary Police officers on request. The police authority has no need to deploy regular police officers to provide guard duty for VIPs. Don’t you think the unavailability of the spy police necessitated the NPF authority to rely on regular cops to protect VIPs? No, they have never even enforced the law. It existed even before the amendment, but the police authority never enforced it. The absence of police presence in certain communities across the country is also addressed by the Police Act. There are provisions in it that empower the police authority to create special constables in areas that lack police presence. When recruited, the special constables are to be paid by the Federal Government, but the spy police are to be paid by those who need their services — the VIPs. We do not need any pool of spy police. What do we need them for? They should be recruited on demand.

Will the training not take time if we say they will be recruited on demand?

How long will it take? Police training schools are available. Those who need them should pay for their training and thereafter pay their salaries. Everything should be borne by the VIPs. But the attachment of officers to VIPs was a revenue-generating scheme for the police authority?

That is very wrong. The president needs to set up a technical committee because the police seem not to know what to do about it. This technical committee should draw up the modalities for the implications of Sections 20 to 25 of the Police Establishment Act to assist him in delivering on security. There is a missing link. So, the president needs to assemble capable hands to address it. If called upon, we will assist the President in retooling the Police Act to help improve security. These sections of the Police Act, when fully implemented, will help address the issue of VIP protection.

The level of military involvement in internal security operations is considered alarming. What can be done to enable the police, which is

What are your thoughts on the pressure on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to decentralise the police structure in Nigeria?

If the president must bow to pressure to decentralise the policing structure in Nigeria, what he needs to do first is to undertake a historical study of the evolution of policing in the country.

That is my message to the president.

We had a different policing system in the past, before the current centralised structure was adopted. What led to that centralisation? Are the factors that necessitated it still present today?

Sule Momodu

the lead agency in internal security, to take over its duties from the military?

The police should simply take over their constitutional duties. One thing we should understand about security arrangements is that there are agencies set up to maintain law and order and protect lives and property, and institutions established to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria. The Armed Forces of Nigeria, comprising the army, the navy, and the air force, are set up specifically to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria. It is only when security challenges overwhelm the police that the armed forces are drafted in. Unfortunately, what is happening today in Nigeria shows that the police are missing in action. You now hear communities demanding that forward operating bases be established in their localities.

What is wrong with us? We need to re-evaluate the police to understand why they are not delivering.

I sat in security council meetings in states where I served while in active service with the NDLEA, and I often told military officers that they had no business being in those meetings.

What was being discussed was internal security, which is the responsibility of the police and other security agencies.

It is only when we are overwhelmed that we should ask for assistance from the military, and they agreed with me.

The military knows they have no role in internal security arrangements if other law enforcement agencies are living up to their responsibilities.

But you and I know that the police and other security agencies have been overwhelmed by terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and ethnic militias?

I don’t agree with you. They are not overwhelmed. The challenge the police face is a lack of vehicles. Operational equipment is not available. If you go to a divisional police headquarters, you will find no fewer than three teams using just one vehicle. Those three teams should have at least six or seven operational vehicles. Do you not see their patrol vehicles in town? They simply do not have enough. It is not just vehicles.

They are also supposed to engage in foot patrols, motorcycle patrols, and intelligence gathering. There is hardly any area you go to where you do not see the police; all they need to do is organise themselves.

I get irritated when people call for the heads of the service chiefs. No, we should not be calling for the heads of the service chiefs; we should be calling for the heads of the internal security agencies. By that, we mean the inspector general of police, the chairman of the NDLEA, the controller-general of Prisons and Immigration, the director-general of the DSS, and the commandant-general of the NSCDC. These are the people responsible for internal security, and they have been trained to do the job.

Let me tell you this: if you see a military checkpoint in a developed society, it means there is a serious problem. You do not joke with the military, and you do not turn the military into akara sellers — yet that is what we are doing. We should only bring them in when the problem has truly overwhelmed the police. For now, the police are only overwhelmed by a lack of requisite equipment and resources to perform their constitutional duties.

How many rifles do they have? How many rounds of ammunition are in their inventory? How many motorcycles and vehicles are available for patrols?

How are they involved in intelligence

Was the state police system misused by political leaders at the subnational level at the time?

The president should carefully study these issues. However, there is one thing we consistently fail to do in this country: we act based on emotions rather than facts. The laws are already in place, are they not? As I mentioned earlier, the Police Establishment Act addresses many of these concerns. What about the State Community Policing Committees?

Are they functioning effectively? What about the Local Government Policing Committees? The police are not the military. The police require reorientation so that they do not operate with a military mindset. Unfortunately, many police officers today think like soldiers.

A police officer is neither a military nor a paramilitary officer; he is a law enforcement officer.

What the current administration needs to do is to closely examine the Police Act. Take, for instance, the issue of governors issuing directives to commissioners of police in their respective states under Section 215 of the Constitution. Sections 214(4) and (5) provide that when a governor gives a directive to a commissioner of police, the commissioner must refer the matter to the president or the minister of Police Affairs to seek clearance before enforcing the directive. Why, then, are commissioners of police being blamed?

This is clearly a legal issue.

Are you, therefore, calling for an amendment of that section of the Constitution?

Yes, that section should be deleted entirely. Unfortunately, many governors do not read the law, so they fail to ask the right questions or make the right demands. Consider also the NSCDC Act, which empowers governors to issue directives to state commandants and mandates that such directives must be complied with. How many governors have issued instructions to Commandants that were not obeyed?

None. Yet they continue to make noise.

The greatest tragedy confronting this country is our failure to read and understand the laws. As long as we continue in this manner, we will keep facing the same challenges. The laws are clear. Why, then, are we still debating state police? If those advocating for state police were to study the factors that led to the adoption of a centralised policing system in Nigeria, they would reconsider their position.

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PERSPECTIVE

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • THISDAY

Legal Framework for Blockchain Corporate Entities in Nigeria? Making C.A.M.A 2020 Adequate

Ademola Soile-Balogun

1. Introduction

T

he advent of decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) has exposed the limits of traditional company law across various jurisdictions, particularly in countries in most part of global south like Nigeria where corporate regulation is still largely drafted with conventional enterprises in mind. Nigeria’s Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA 2020) modernised company law and re-established the status of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as the foremost registry for corporate entities, but it did not, like many conventional company law regimes around the globe, contemplate blockchain-based organisations where organisational paradigm is encoded in smart contracts rather than conventional articles/memorandum of association.

By contrast however, the Republic of the Marshall Islands has away from what obtains in most legal jurisdictions, through deliberate legislative creation of DAOs through the innovative legal instrument of -Decentralized Autonomous Organization Act 2022- complemented by subsequent regulations and a dedicated registered-agent infrastructure. The legal regime for DAOs permits the existence of blockchain entities as limited liability companies (DAO LLCs) wherein their governance and member rights may be substantially or entirely implemented on the blockchain network. The question this article explores is whether, and how, the Nigerian corporate framework under CAMA 2020 can align with – albeit substantially- with the Marshall Islands model, particularly for DAOs that wish to interact with the Nigerian market.

By employing a comparative model, this article situates the discourse within a comparative context whereby it juxtaposes the CAC’s core mandate and Nigerian jurisprudence on its incorporated artificial persons with the Marshall Islands’ “DAO LLC” regime and envisages possible areas of adaptation/reforms to accommodate this corporate innovation.

2. Corporate Personality and Foreign Entities under CAMA 2020

The Nigeria CAMA 2020, an amendment to the previous CAMA 1990 (a military Government creation) unambiguously retains the texture and structure of Nigerian company law as it re-establishes the CAC as a body corporate responsible for incorporation, maintenance of a database/register of limited liability companies (LLCs) and post-incorporation filings for companies, business names, incorporated trustees and, more recently, limited partnerships (LPs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs)- Section 746(1), CAMA 2020.

Under the provisions of CAMA 2020, LLCs (as has always been) and LLPs incorporated under CAMA are artificial

Ademola Soile-Balogun

persons with perpetual succession, with powers to own property and capable of bringing a legal action in a competent court of law or instituted as defendant in their own legally incorporated names.

This statutory and legal recognition operationalises the doctrine of separate legal personality – a judicial principle established by Lords Halsbury-led House of Lords judicial committee in the old English case of Aron Salomon v A. Salomon and Company (1897) AC 22- and one which supports limited liability for the LLCs/ LLPs shareholders or partners.

It is instructive as well to note that CAMA 2020 equally dedicates Chapter 3 (Foreign Companies) to corporate entities registered outside of Nigeria.

Section 78 does require that any “foreign company” –defined in Section 78(1) as a company or body corporate incorporated outside Nigeria – to register in Nigeria before “carrying on business” in the country, subject to narrow exemptions.

Nigerian courts and legal practitioners have recognised that the non-registration of foreign entities does not prevent such foreign entities from suing or being sued in Nigerian courts, provided they are capable of bearing rights and obligations under their home law- drawing from the decision of court in Ataguba and Company v Gura Nigeria Limited(2005) LPELR-584- SC. This article therefore highlights the position that Nigerian courts extend legal personality or standi in court for procedural purposes, beyond entities formally incorporated by the CAC: whether they are foreign corporations, unincorporated associations and even friendly societies. The only condition to this is that their interests must be sufficiently defined.

The presumption of existence by our courts of foreign entities is crucial for any expository endeavor on the legal status of foreign-registered DAOs. It suggests therefore, that a DAO that has

obtained legal personality in a foreign jurisdiction – such as a Marshall Islands DAO LLC – could be recognised as a “competent” plaintiff/claimant or defendant in Nigeria courts, even pending the domestic enactment of a specific DAO legislation. That possibility sits at the very heart of any alignment between CAMA 2020 and Marshall Islands DAO law 2022.

3. Understanding the Marshall Islands DAO LLC Legal Framework

The Marshall Islands as a legal jurisdiction, has adopted one of the most sophisticated DAO-specific regimes to date and therefore provides a veritable comparative model. Her Decentralized Autonomous Organization Act 2022 explicitly allows for the incorporation of DAOs as limited liability companies, by filing a certificate of formation that reflects a “decentralized autonomous organization” status. The 2022 Act thereafter applies the existing Limited Liability Act to DAO LLCs, with modifications wherever necessary.

Quite an ingenious way to superimpose the framework for conventional corporate entities to unconventional corporate entities.

It is important to note that several features of this framework are particularly relevant from a Nigerian perspective: a. Legal personality and limited liability.

A DAO incorporated under the Act is a separate legal person with limited liability for its members, just like a traditional LLC. Member participation via governance tokens or on-chain voting does not, in intent and functionality, destroy this shield. b. Smart contracts as organic law. Simply defined, a smart contract is a selfexecuting program on a blockchain which automatically enforces the terms of an agreement when predetermined conditions are met, guided by the

mechanism of pre-installed codesfunctionally defined as by-laws.

The Marshall Islands 2022 DAO Act expressly contemplates the workings of a DAO’s operating agreement to consist, partly or wholly of smart contracts; wherein a hierarchy of legal application is created wherever and whenever there is conflict, to wit in the following order, the 2022 DAO Act, the conventional LLC law, akin to Nigeria’s CAMA 2020, the written operating agreement and the Smart Contract code. c. Governance models. DAO LLCs may be “member-managed” (decisions taken by token-holders or participating members of the organisation) or “algorithmically managed” (where a smart contract has primary decisionmaking authority), and the by-law sets basic voting and information rights. d. Disclosure and compliance. The Marshall Islands DAO 2022 Act and its Decentralized Autonomous Organization Regulations, 2024 require DAO LLCs to maintain a registered agent in the country, provide beneficial ownership information, comply with anti-money-laundering obligations and, in some cases, contribute to a pool of training fund aimed at building local capacity. This is where Nigeria can draw lessons from. The current bill on the Nigerian FinTech Regulatory Commission (NFRC) before the House of Representatives may draw lessons from the salient provisions in the Marshall Islands 2022 Law. The statutory provisions aside, ecosystem actors such as MiDAO (Marshall Islands Decentralised Autonomous Organisation) operate as specialised registered agents, guiding DAOs through incorporation, ongoing compliance and communication with regulators. In functional terms, the Marshall Islands has created a bridge between inherently decentralised governance structures and the expectations of the legal system premised on legal persons, registered offices and regulators.

Nigeria can also explore the same bridge of expectations.

4. Comparative Interfaces between CAMA 2020 and Marshall Islands DAO Law

From the Nigerian standpoint, the most functional explanation is the status of a Marshall Islands DAO LLC – categorised as a “foreign company” or “body corporate” under CAMA 2020. CAMA defines such foreign companies broadly and requires their registration with the CAC if they intend to carry on business in Nigeria, without limiting recognition to any corporate form, although it can be argued that the intention of the legislature is to offer such recognition to foreign corporate entities registered in similar manner as incorporated entities in Nigeria.

Continues online

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • THISDAY

NEWS

COURTESY VISIT ON ADVOCACY AGENDA AND POLICY REFORM...

L-R: Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and Director-General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale Smatt Oyerinde, during the CISLAC engagement with NECA on advocacy agenda, policy reform, decent work and a conducive business environment for inclusive national development, held at PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN the CISLAC office in Abuja … recently

I’ll Be on Ballot in 2027, Peter Obi Declares at X Space Session Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Presidential hopeful and former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has announced his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Obi, who made the announcement during an interactive session on X, hosted by @obidientupdate, put paid to months of speculation over his future political plans.

The X Space attracted thousands of participants, underscoring Obi’s continued influence in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027

general election.

Obi used the opportunity to address some of Nigeria’s critical challenges in the areas of economy, security, and governance.

“Peter Obi will be on the ballot in 2027. I need your prayers. I need your support,” he declared, dismissing insinuations that he would accept a vice presidential slot.

Stressing that his preparations were aimed solely at leading the country, he said, “I am not travelling round the world to learn governance to be vice president.”

On the economy, Obi criticised the policies of the federal government that relied heavily on taxation without expanding productivity, and

and fatalities across the country.”

The Public Education Officer of the FRSC in Ogun, Mr. Afolabi Odunsi, also confirmed the incident in a statement in Abeokuta.

Odunsi explained that the accident occurred at about 12pm involving two vehicles, stating that the Sagamu unit of FRSC rescue team were at the scene as soon as they were informed.

The FRSC spokesperson also said the accident was due to excessive speeding and wrongful overtaking by the driver who overtook from the right hand side thereby ramming into a stationary vehicle.

“Five people were involved, one injured, two were unhurt while two were killed in the crash. “However it was discovered that Anthony Joshua(International Boxer) was involved but he only sustained injury, and was taken to an undisclosed hospital by the security officers attached to him.

“The bodies of the two deceased have since been taken to the morgue. Obstructions have been cleared,” he said.

The Ogun police command also confirmed the incident

must be driven by increased production, investment and job creation.”

The businessman-turnedpolitician called for unity

within the Obidient movement, particularly among young Nigerians, whom he described as central to building a “just, productive and united” nation.

DSS Arrests Kidnappers Who Allegedly Murdered Prof. Ekanem Ephraim Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the kidnappers of Professor Ekanem Philip-Ephraim, a prominent professor of neurology, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2023.

Philip-Ephraim was abducted on July 13, 2023 at her

ROAD CRASH: TINUBU COMMISERATES WITH ANTHONY JOSHUA, FRSC BLAMES OVERSPEEDING

the deceased were conveyed to Livewell Morgue, Ajaka, Sagamu. The Nigeria Police Motor Traffic Division (MTD) was duly notified for further investigation and necessary documentation.

“To this end, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, on behalf of the entire management and staff of the Federal Road Safety Corps extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes the injured victim, Anthony Joshua, a speedy recovery.”

FRSC reiterated its warning to motorists to avoid dangerous overtaking, excessive speed, and disregard for traffic regulations, particularly on high-speed corridors such as the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

“Motorists are urged to exercise patience, maintain lane discipline, and prioritise safety over haste, especially during the festive travel period.

“The public is reminded that the Corps remains resolute in its mandate to ensure safer roads, prompt emergency response, and sustained public education aimed at reducing road traffic crashes

warned that such an approach would deepen hardship for ordinary citizens.

He said, “You cannot tax poverty. Economic recovery

through its Public Relations Officer, Mr Oluseyi Babaseyi.

Babaseyi explained that the deceased had been deposited at Livewell Hospital Morgue, Sagamu.

Meanwhile, the governments of Ogun and Lagos States, in a joint statement, confirmed the road accident involving the British-Nigerian two-time unified world heavyweight boxing champion.

The statement was jointly signed by the Special Adviser, Information, Ogun State, Kayode Akinmade, and the Commissioner for Information, Lagos State, Gbenga Omotoso.

It stated: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident and pray that Almighty God grants them the strength to bear this difficult loss.

“Anthony Joshua and another passenger were immediately evacuated to a specialised medical facility in Lagos. Following comprehensive clinical assessments, doctors have confirmed that both patients are stable and do not require any emergency medical intervention at this time.

office in Calabar, Cross River State, and was later confirmed killed by her abductors.

According to then Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Cross River State, Dr. Felix Archibong, the kidnappers disguised themselves as patients and, while she was

attending to them, brought out weapons and whisked her away about 7:15pm.

Her abduction led the state chapter of NMA to withdraw medical services in protest, as they demanded her rescue.

Officials of DSS, who spoke on condition of anonymity,

said the suspects identified as 23-year-old gang leader, Patrick Essien Etim, and Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were arrested on December 27 at a medical facility in the state while allegedly planning to kidnap another senior medical practitioner.

REUTERS: NNPC SET TO SELL SELECTED OIL, GAS ASSETS, INVITES BIDS

of $30 billion by 2027, one of the people told Bloomberg. It expects to get halfway to that goal in 2026.

NNPC has a longstanding ambition to sell shares via an initial public offering and is trying to improve transparency and accountability to make progress towards that goal.

Checks by THISDAY showed that Nexus Alliance Limited is a Nigerian-headquartered company that specialises in training, consulting, and asset performance management solutions for energy, industrial, and infrastructure sectors, particularly oil & gas, energy, petrochemicals and related industries.

Meanwhile, the NNPC has announced the successful restoration of the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) in Warri, Delta State.

Following the unexpected explosion on December 10, 2025, the company said it immediately activated its emergency response, deployed coordinated containment measures, and worked tirelessly with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the damaged section was repaired, pressure-tested,

and safely recommissioned.

“Today, the pipeline is fully operational, reaffirming our resilience and commitment to energy security. This achievement was made possible through the unwavering support of our host communities, the guidance of regulators, the vigilance of security agencies, and the dedication of our partners and staff.

“Together, we turned a challenging moment into a success story, restoring operations in record time while upholding the highest standards of safety and environmental stewardship.

As we move forward, NNPC Limited remains steadfast in its pledge to protect our environment, safeguard our communities, and maintain the integrity and reliability of our assets,” the statement signed by the NNPC spokesman, Andy Odeh, stated.

Besides, the presidency on its X handle yesterday said that despite President Bola Tinubu’s write-off of NNPC’s $1.42 billion and N5.57 trillion, the $42.37 billion (which the NNPC has denied owing) remains contentious.

It confirmed that Tinubu has

approved the cancellation of a substantial portion of NNPC outstanding debts owed to the Federation Account, effectively wiping out approximately $1.42 billion in legacy obligations, following recommendations from the Stakeholder Alignment Committee on reconciling indebtedness between NNPC and the Federation.

The debt cancellation, it said, covered legacy obligations up to December 31, 2024, including: Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), Domestic Supply Obligations, repayment agreements, modified carry arrangements and Joint Venture / PSC royalty receivables.

It noted that corresponding accounting adjustments have already been made in the Federation Account.

“New obligations for January-October 2025 remain outstanding and are actively being tracked and recovered.

A separate, long-running dispute over an alleged underremittance of $42.37 billion (2011-2017) remains unresolved, with NNPC rejecting the claims and insisting all revenues were properly accounted for,” the material posted on X stated.

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THISDAY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025

NEWS

WEDDING CEREMONY...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji’ (middle) with his Personal Photographer, Ayomide Elemo (left) and his wife, Omodasola Naomi, during their wedding ceremony in Ibadan at the weekend.

WIKE: FUBARA NOT RIVERS APC LEADER, HE DECIDED LATE, RE-ELECTION NOT GUARANTEED

gave him that structure that Seyi became governor in 2019.”

Asked why he failed to brief PDP leadership on the supposed agreement, he replied, “What was the purpose of that meeting? Why did Makinde not come out to tell the party that this is what Wike said?

There was no such meeting.”

Wike clarified that the only meeting involving Makinde and some PDP governors after the 2023 general election was a courtesy visit to Tinubu, not a political negotiation.

“Myself, former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom; former Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; former Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; and Seyi Makinde went to see the president after the elections.

And, of course, the Chief of Staff was there,” he said.

Describing Makinde’s declarations as misleading and unfair, Wike said it was wrong to attribute statements to him that he never made, adding that Makinde is “frustrated”.

The FCT minister said, “Seyi said I told Tinubu that I will hold PDP for him. Nothing like that happened. Everyone knows my stand on Tinubu, I don’t need a meeting to tell him that. As a minister, I have a duty to ensure that members of the G-5 benefitted from the Tinubu administration in one way or the other.”

Wike also challenged Makinde to explain to the people of Oyo State how the N50 billion grant for the January 2024 explosion victims in Bodija, Ibadan, by President Bola Tinubu was appropriated.

He held the view that such hefty grant ought to have been appropriated before spending, adding that even as FCT minister, has not received such largesse as Makinde got from the president.

Wike dismissed Makinde’s accusations as mere sour grapes, stating that his former confidant is only embittered

because Tinubu overlooked his preferred candidate for ministerial nomination.

He added that it was improper for the governor to lie against people on national television simply because he did not get the ministerial slot he wanted from the president.

Wike also downplayed the question of African Democratic Congress (ADC) being a potential threat to the re-election of Tinubu in 2027, saying, “Let me tell you something, it’s really unfortunate. I said it clearly. I don’t know if anybody wants to believe it or not.

“If there should be any opposition that will give fight to the APC, it should have been PDP. I don’t know where you are saying that ADC is rising.

I don’t know where they are rising. Mention the state where they are rising. Mention. You see, I don’t like this newspaper politics. Every politics is local.”

He said the fact that the chances of PDP winning the presidential election was slim did not mean the party would not win in states.

At another function, Wike also declared that members of APC and PDP in Rivers State had effectively put aside partisan differences to embrace Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He made the declaration during a visit to Etche and Omuma local government areas, where he addressed youth and women leaders from the two councils.

“In Rivers State, APC and PDP have already collapsed into one family, the Renewed Hope family,” Wike said.

He explained that the collaboration across party lines was driven by shared values, mutual respect, and the desire to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

“I don’t want to hear again, ‘I am PDP’ or ‘I am APC.’ What I want to hear is that you are working together. All of us are

members of the Renewed Hope Agenda. It is one family,” he added.

Wike said his visit to Etche and Omuma councils was not for political campaign but to appreciate the people for their longstanding support.

He also urged party leaders and elected officials to honour commitments made, in the interest of peace and development, saying, “Agreement is agreement. When you agree with people, you must keep it.”

The FCT minister stressed that unity remained the key to political and economic progress at the grassroots.

PDP: Media Chat Has Exposed Wike’s Anti-party Activities, His Expulsion is Justified

The PDP leadership, yesterday, said through his media chat, Wike had justified the charges of anti-party activities against him and his expulsion from the party.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said, “By his end-of-year Media Chat, Minister Nyesom Wike has reiterated his support for, and in fact declared that he is the ‘Number one supporter’ of the presumptive candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2027 presidential election, while remaining a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, confirming the basis of his expulsion from the PDP, for anti-party activities.

“This fact, which he has unashamedly reiterated in several places, is nothing less than a locus classicus of anti-democratic adventurism.”

The PDP spokesman, however, said, “This attitude of Nyesom Wike is not new, as he has been a constant agent provocateur in the political space, creating trouble to mask his selfish intentions.

“Since he assumed power

as governor in Rivers State in 2015, Wike has been a recurrent troublemaker in the leadership of the PDP. From the Sheriff era, where he was a forerunner in the Sheriff-for-National Chairman movement and later turned to fight and remove Sheriff.

“Later, he championed the Uche Secondus-for-National Chairman movement (in fact, he granted a very combustible interview that polarised the party just before the convention) and then was the same person fighting to remove Secondus.

“The same Wike led the movement to produce Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman against the advice of many party leaders, and so soon thereafter, it was Wike again who led the Ayu-must-go struggle. Beyond the national leadership crises, his actions within Rivers State further illustrate this pattern.

“The imposition of candidates, internal exclusionary practices, and the unprecedented prevention of a duly nominated PDP presidential candidate from campaigning in a PDPcontrolled state remain troubling departures from democratic norms.”

PDP stated, “Wike’s politics thrives on perpetual conflict, feeding on attention and seeking relevance through calculated disruption and when starved of attention, seeks to destroy everything.

“All through the interview, Minister Wike showed obvious signs of fear of losing the attention of the president, his slipping grip of Rivers State, and his frustration with the unbending nature of the true leadership of the PDP at the national level.

“The cumulative effect of these actions is a deliberate creation of tension and division, often deployed as leverage to advance narrow political objectives. Recent public statements and alignments now make clear that Wike and his group of friends have openly chosen

to work against the PDP’s collective interest in favour of an opposing political platform.

“Now that the mask of his pretence is off and he has stated that he and his group of friends (Sam Anyanwu and co.) will support the president and the APC in the presidential elections, Nigerians are now clearly aware of their disposition to destroy the PDP as a part of their bargain to support the president-a clandestine agreement reached for their selfish reasons.

“We remind Wike that as a lawyer, he knows that agreements made to achieve an illegal purpose are not enforceable and should not be encouraged.”

Ememobong said, “We assure Nigerians that the PDP will field a credible presidential candidate who will receive the massive support of Nigerians and will go on to win the presidential elections in 2027. Our party is the Peoples Democratic Party, and no one person has the capacity to personalise the party.

“The Kabiru Turaki-led National Working Committee is working around the clock to rebuild the party, clear the issues in court, and prepare the party for electoral success come 2027.”

PDP Professionals Say Wike’s Comments Show His Frustrations ahead of the 2027 Election

PDP Professionals said Wike’s media chat had exposed his frustration over his failure to secure the support of credible Nigerians for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The professionals, therefore, invited Nigerians to note the minister’s resort to hubristic invective, diversionary falsehoods, and baseless allegations against Makinde and other credible leaders.

They said the outburst stemmed from their refusal to support the Tinubu administration, which had brought

untold hardship and escalated insecurity across the country over the last two years.

In a statement by its Protem National Coordinator, Obinna Nwachukwu, the group said, “From Chief Wike’s confessionary responses during the media chat—including his failed attempts to engineer a parallel leadership for the PDP—it is now clear that the travails facing the PDP are contrived to cripple the opposition.

“This is part of a sinister plot to enable President Tinubu to establish a one-party state ahead of the 2027 general election; a plot the PDP has firmly resisted.

“Through Chief Wike’s media chat, Nigerians can now clearly identify the individuals and motivations behind the subversive court actions against the PDP, the violent attacks on the new National Working Committee duly elected at the party’s National Convention, the sealing of the PDP National Secretariat, and the attempts to compromise certain INEC officials against the party.

“Our response to Minister Wike is that the PDP is too big and too deeply entrenched to be captured or derailed. His resort to personal attacks and bogus allegations against our leaders, such as Governor Makinde, will not yield the results he desires.”

PDP Professionals added, “In any case, the CP-PDP holds no sympathy for Minister Wike, who has become an expired, ‘homeless’, and pathetically isolated politician lacking a genuine base or followership.

“Having been expelled from the PDP, rejected by the All Progressives Congress (APC), and side-lined in the politics of Rivers State, Minister Wike is now clutching at straws.

“He is jittery, forlorn, and in mortal fear of imminent political oblivion—a desperation that has driven him to attack credible leaders in a futile attempt to retain his nuisance value.”

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • THISDAY

NEWS

SANWO-OLU’S INSPECTION VISIT TO GNI BUILDING FIRE INCIDENT...

L-R: Controller General, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde; his counterpart for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso and Commissioner of Police, Lagos State command, CP Jimoh Moshood during the governor’s inspection visit to the GNI building fire incident at Marina, on Thursday

Post-airstrike Assessment Confirms Extensive Damage in Tangaza as Military Recovers Missile Boosters in Sokoto, Kebbi, Offa Terrorists decimated by US air strikes

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Post-airstrike assessments has shown extensive destruction within a forest enclave in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State following joint air operations by the United States forces, which also led to the recovery of missile-related debris across multiple locations, THISDAY can exclusively report.

THISDAY gathered that the joint post-strike exploitation was carried out by troops of 8 Division, Sector 2 of Operation Fasan Yamma, and Combat Intelligence Brigade (CIB) VII at first light on December 26, 2025 in Bauni Forest, around Waria and Alkassim villages in Tangaza LGA. Military sources said the post-airstrike exploitation revealed that the forested areas around the points of impact were completely burnt and destroyed with the target persons completely decimated.

The assessment also confirmed the effectiveness of the strikes, with no reports of civilian casualties recorded during or after the operation.

In a related post-operation incident, troops of 1 Brigade, Counter Terrorism Battalion 12, deployed at Forward Operating Base Jabo in Kebbi State, reportedly heard the sound of an aircraft overhead, followed shortly by an explosion approximately one kilometre away.

Acting immediately, the troops conducted a patrol to Kajiji town in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State. At the location, soldiers recovered items described by military sources as suspected drone-like engine parts and other debris at what was

believed to be a crash site.

The sources confirmed that no human casualties were recorded in connection with the incident.

Further post-strike patrols on December 26 led to the discovery of another object in Kajiji village where military sources identified the object as a canister suspected to have been dropped along the flight path of the missiles used during the Tangaza airstrike.

The area was immediately cordoned off to prevent access, pending a detailed assessment by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.

Bauchi Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed over weekend announced the sponsorship of 356 Christians in the state for 2025 pilgrimage in Israel and Jordan.

The governor announced this at his farewell address for the intending pilgrims held at

were fired during the operation, meaning that 16 fuel boosters would have been discharged.

However, as of the latest assessment, only three boosters have been reported recovered, two in Sokoto State and one in Offa.

Military sources further noted that the projected landing areas of such boosters are usually calculated before take-off.

They said it had been suggested that the appropriate authorities interfaced with partner forces to obtain the projected drop-off coordinates of the jettisoned boosters to enable timely recovery.

The sources warned that each booster weighed approximately 300 kilograms and was capable of penetrating soft ground to a depth of up to two metres.

While the risk was considered limited, they noted that uncontrolled landings could cause collateral damage, as reportedly observed in Offa.

Military authorities who further spoke under anonymity said investigations were ongoing and findings from the post-airstrike assessments would be used to enhance coordination, safety measures and operational synergy in future joint operations.

Shareholders Approve Geo-Fluids’ Bid to Beef Up Share Capital to N25bn from N2.12bn

Okay name change Company seeks to raise N22.87 billion by special placement, private placement, public offer, rights issue, others

James Emejo in Abuja

Shareholders of Geo-Fluids Plc, yesterday, approved the company’s proposal to boost its share capital to N25 billion, from N2.12 billion, by creation of an additional 45.74 billion

ordinary shares of 50 kobo each.

Shareholders further authorised the company’s directors to raise additional N22.87 billion by “way of special placement, private placement, public offer, rights issue, extraordinary grant of shares and/or any other such

Bauchi Governor Sponsors 356 Christians for 2025 Pilgrimage Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

With technical clarification from military engineers, THISDAY gathered that preliminary findings by the Equipment and Mechanical Engineers (EME) team established that the canisters recovered were fuel boosters from Tomahawk missiles used during the airstrikes.

According to the sources, these boosters are designed to be jettisoned automatically after take-off.

The sources explained that analysis showed the boosters should normally fall off several kilometres after launch. They added that a total of 16 missiles

the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauch, noting that as a spiritual exercise, pilgrimage affords pilgrims the opportunity to pray for forgiveness.

Governor Bala Mohammed said the state government is very much concerned about the welfare of its citizens within and outside the country and has therefore made adequate

provision for the security, transportation, feeding, accommodation, and medical services for the intending pilgrims while in the Holy Land.

Represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, the governor enjoined them to observe tenets of the exercise for a seamless and rewarding pilgrimage.

methods as they deem fit either in Nigeria or internationally, on or at such dates and on such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the directors, subject to the applicable regulatory requirements in the relevant jurisdictions as may be applicable for the capital raise”.

The shareholders equally approved that the name of the company be changed from Geo-Fluids Plc to “The Geo-Fluids Group Plc”, to expand its bitumen business, among other objectives.

At the company’s fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, shareholders further authorised the company to issue additional shares to the Chairman/Chief Executive, Geo-Fluids Plc, Mr. Jacob Babadiya Esan, as a further performance incentive subject to detailed schedules and,

subject to the discretion and approval of the Board, upon the successful achievement of detailed milestones. These included, among other things, the successful procurement of Oil Prospecting Licenses (OML), mining fields, petroleum prospecting licenses, lithium licenses, bitumen/hydrocarbon licenses and/or other mining leases in the “name of the company or in conjunction with another company, whether independently or in partnership with other companies and/or eventually transferred to the company”.

The incentive was also tied to potential listing of the company’s shares on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and delisting from NASD Plc as well as listing of the company’s shares on any recognised international North American Stock Exchange, including, but not limited to,

the New York Stock Exchange, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Australian Securities Exchange, NASDAQ, or the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The incentive was promised on the acquisition of a Special Purpose Acquisition Company, listed on an International Stock Exchange.

Esan, in his remarks to shareholders, declared that the once troubled company stood at a new threshold in its history.

He said, “The receivership is behind us, the governance structure has been restored, and the company is now repositioned to pursue new and complementary business opportunities with clarity and purpose.

“The journey has been difficult, but the foundation for sustainable growth is now firmly in place.

tuesday DECEmber 30, 2025 • T H i s d ay

29

NEWS

CALABAR CARNIVAL…

L-R: Wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs Hope Uzodinma; her husband, Hope Uzodinma; Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu; his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey Otu and Portuguese Envoy to Nigeria, Paulo Santos, at the 2025 Carnival Calabar…recently

Stakeholders Advocate Community Service for Minor Offenders to Decongest Prisons Yusuf Ebiti

Stakeholders have advocated increased community service as a panacea for decongesting correctional centres, rehabilitating minor offenders and promoting the restorative justice system.

Led by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice Community Service officers, the team made sensitisation visits to communities in Ikeja and Lagos Island, among others.

Lagos State Justice Commissioner, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN)

emphasised the importance of community participation and offender rehabilitation, saying restorative justice was not just a legal principle but a fundamental human right.

According to him, justice

must go beyond punishment to include dignity, restoration, accountability and victim empowerment.

This year’s Restorative Justice Week was attended by stakeholders

from the judiciary and non-governmental organisations, and funded by the European Union.

The sensitisation drive would offer education on the purpose and value of

community service as a corrective anddevelopmental tool in modern justice administration, and reinforce the message that justice is not only punitive but also restorative.

Insecurity: Tinubu Urged Not to Relent Until Terrorists are Crushed

must be decisively tackled with firmness and root out bandits, terrorists, Oyebanji Unveils New KemiOlaitaninIbadan bandits crushed without regard for justice. and other merchants of The PFN president said death.

The President of the “sacred cows.”

Edifice for LG Ministry Pentecostal Fellowship He gave the charge while corruption is no longer the “Don’t relent until Nigeria

Gbenga Sodeinde In Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has promised to invest huge resources in the modernisation of physical infrastructure where workers who handle local government administration operate, describing it as the most veritable impetus to accomplish full transformation of the third tier of government.

Governor Oyebanji pledged yesterday during the official inauguration of the new office for

the Ministry of Local Government Affairs located within the precinct of the state secretariat in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

The governor, represented by his Deputy, Chief Monisade Afuye, was highly ecstatic with the completion of the project, and branded the structure as a necessity and a luxury, saying any office that handles the local government works, where over 70 percent of the population is resident, must operate under a conducive ambience.

of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has enjoined President Bola Tinubu not to relent in the fight against insecurity, insisting that terrorists and

speaking on the state of the nation with journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, warning that insecurity has become Nigeria’s most dangerous threat, which must be

main challenge in Nigeria but insecurity, lauding President Donald Trump of the United States for cooperating with the Nigerian Government to

is fully secured. Spare no one. Allow no sacred cows.

If you don’t bring insecurity down, it will bring this country down,” the PFN President said.

Zend Technology Transforms ID/NIN into Bank Account Tax Wallet Oluwaseyi Adedotun

Leading Nigerian technology solutions company, Zend Technology Company Limited, has announced a groundbreaking innovation that transforms the National Identification Number (NIN)/Tax Identification

Number (Tax ID) into a functional bank-linked tax wallet, enabling Nigerians to make tax payments seamlessly, securely and from anywhere in the country.

Speaking yesterday at a press conference in Lagos, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,

Zend Technology Company, Mr. Victor Kalu, described the event as the arrival of a “national game-changer” that will simplify tax compliance, deepen financial inclusion and help states expand internally generated revenue without burdening citizens.

“The easiest way for

people to remit taxes is what we have done,” Kalu declared. “Your tax ID, which is known to you, is now your tax wallet. You can walk to the POS agent beside your shop and simply say, ‘Pay N100 tax into my wallet,’ and it reflects instantly in the appropriate state’s account.”

LLPF, Partners Fete Ikorodu Ruling House Wants Aiyedatiwa to Review Olu-Oke’s Appointment urgently review and set aside to the presentation of the its unanimously endorsed Community, School Pupils FidelisDavidinAkure the appointment of Akintoye staff of office to Adeoye candidate, Adewole

SundayOkobi

Two public schools in Ikorodu, Lagos State, and some children of the Redeemed Church, Fruitful Vine Parish, Ikorodu, yesterday witnessed a memorable moment of support and encouragement as a group, Let’s Limit Poverty Foundation (LLPF), and committed partners carried out an educationfocused outreach for pupils of the schools.

The group stated that Limit Poverty Foundation (LLPF) is dedicated to breaking cycles

of poverty by enabling access to education, empowering families, and supporting vulnerable children through targeted community-based interventions.

The team, upon arrival at the Methodist Primary School Complex, Ikorodu Garage, the Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School, Sagamu Road, and the Redeemed Church Fruitful Vine Parish, Ikorodu, was warmly received by the school administrators and the church council, who quickly summoned the pupils for an assembly for the outreach.

A fresh controversy has erupted in Oke-Igbo Kingdom, in Ile-Oluji/OkeIgbo council area of Ondo State, as the Kuole-Oloje Ruling House has formally petitioned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, urging him to

Felix Adeoye as the Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo.

In a petition dated December 29, 2025, and signed by its Principal Counsel, Tope Temokun, the ruling house alleged that the process leading

was riddled with legal and procedural violations, capable of throwing the ancient kingdom into avoidable crisis.

The petitioners, who are acting on behalf of the KuoleOloje Ruling House and

Akinpelu Abegunde, described the appointment as “ultra vires, unlawful and fundamentally flawed,” insisting that it runs contrary to the existing Chieftaincy Declaration governing the Olu-Oke stool.

MFM Lekki Constructs Road, Provides Borehole for Lagos Community The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Tent Maker Pastorial Ministry (TMPM) Region 1, Lekki, has provided different humanitarian projects to the people of Itedo Community and its environs irrespective of

their religious affiliations, gender or tribes.

The massive humanitarian and welfare services, which are part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the church include: access road spanning

from Freedom way to Salvation Road in Itedo fully constructed by the church; grading of internal roads in Itedo and provision of a Borehole for access to clean and drinkable water.

According to the church, the bore hole has improved the living standards of the people by reducing the time women and girls spend collecting water, allowing more time for education and income generating activities.

30

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025 • T H I S D AY

BACK PAGE CONTINUATION NIGERIA’S TAX CONTROVERSY one that works for the benefit of all.” These two issues of trust and benefit have been the main problems with the reform process and its outcomes from the very beginning.

The first major hurdle was the objection to the proposed tax reforms by Northern elites and state Governors over changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) system. The main objec-tion was about the proposed amendment to the VAT Act, which would allocate revenue based on the “derivation principle” that is - VAT funds would be distributed to states based on where goods and services are consumed and where the headquarters of the businesses generat-ing the tax are located. Northerners kicked that this will place them at a disadvantage because many businesses have their headquarters in the South, and particularly Lagos. Northern Governors protested that the proposed amendment would reduce their share of VAT revenue and that in any case, they were not consulted by the Tax Reform Committee to accommodate their inputs. The Chairman of the Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Oyedele said the Northern Governors were in fact consulted!

The controversy was loud, and it soon became po-liticized. The country was divided. Ethnic sentiments enveloped the division over tax. The tax reform committee eventually found itself negotiating with the Northern Governors, all over again, and at the end of the day, rather than a 60% derivation-based sharing of VAT, a com-promise formula of 50% equality, 30% derivation and 20% population was agreed upon. The bills were passed. The President gave his assent on 26 June 2025. Two of the New Tax Acts took effect immediately, the other two would take effect on January 1, 2026. In November 2025, President Tinubu approved the establishment of a National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC) chaired

by Mr. Joseph Tegbe, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Ac-countants and the Chartered Institute of Taxation. But the matter was not yet settled.

On Wednesday, 17 December, 2025, a member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), an opposition member, rose to his feet to raise a matter of privi-lege, during plenary to submit that his rights as. a lawmaker had been breached, he having ob-served discrepancies in the harmonized versions of the tax laws passed by the National Assem-bly and the versions gazetted by the Executive and made available to the public.

He said he had spent three days to review the gazetted copies and the harmonized version adopted by both Chambers and he had observed discrepancies. Thus Rep. Dasuki re-opened the

controversy around the tax laws. His allegation indicated a breach of the Constitution, due process and the doctrine of the separation of powers.

The making of laws “for the peace, order and good gov-ernment of the Federation or any part thereof” is a legislative function guaranteed under Sec-tion 4 of the 1999 Constitution. Whenever the Executive objects to any bill passed by the Na-tional Assembly, the appropriate thing to do is to withhold assent, and return the bill to the As-sembly with reasons for refusal – Section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, as did President Mu-hammadu Buhari five times in the matter of the 2018 Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The Na-tional Assembly may amend the bill further in response to the stated reasons for refusal, or override the Executive with a two-thirds majority as stated in Section 58(5). But to unilaterally rewrite a bill of the National Assembly and gazette a different version would be the very height of impunity and executive overreach.

The House of Representatives has set up a committee to look into the allegations.

The controversy this time around has been noisy and cantankerous. The firestorm that was lit by Rep..Dasuki has since been further fuelled by other lawmakers, namely Hon. Mansur Manu Soro, Senator Ali Ndume and a group of concerned lawmakers who also claimed that they have reviewed the document, and that indeed there were insertions, deletions and modifications by the Executive before the Gazette was published. Opposition party leaders and groups in-cluding Waziri Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, the Char-tered Institute of Taxation, the Nigerian Bar Association, as well as Omoyele Sowore have accused the Tinubu administration of either criminality, extortion or alterations that should be investigated. They want the tax laws suspended. The contentious sections are basically in the Tax Administration Act, and the specific areas of focus have been identified as Sections 27(3), 29(3), 41 (8), 60 (1). The complaint is that several oversight, accountability and reporting mechanisms approved by the National Assembly have been removed. Taiwo Oyedele in re-sponse has said that government worked not with the version of the House of Representatives, but the harmonized copy submitted by the National Assembly. He has also argued that there is a lot of misinformation in circulation engineered by persons who have not even read the Offi-cial Gazette published by the Federal Ministry of Information. He has used his Instagram page to debunk some of the misinformation to allay the fears that have been

circulated among Nige-rians including the fear that Diaspora Nigerians will be taxed on their foreign income and re-mittances, he says this is not true, and that the fear that workers will pay more tax is absolutely untrue; if anything, most workers will pay less tax from January 2026. Besides, it is not true that anyone without a Tax ID will have their accounts frozen and their accounts automatically debited. The truth, he says, is that Tax ID is only required for business accounts and data harmonization, not automatic debit or freezing of accounts.

Oyedele added that the commencement date of 1 January is sacrosanct. He declared that “Bot-tom 98 per cent of workers will see either no Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax or lower taxes to be paid, small businesses, 97 per cent of them, will be exempted from Corporate Income Taxes, Value Added Tax, and Withholding Tax and large businesses will see a drop in the taxes that they pay. The whole idea is to try and promote economic growth as well as shared prosperity for our people.” The additional fear that the new tax regime will affect the aviation sector ad-versely has also been dismissed as untrue. The mystery in all of this is that the protest over the National Tax Reform Acts (NTA) is coming mainly from the House of Representatives. With the exception of Senator Ali Ndume, other members of the Senate and the Chamber itself has been studiously silent.

The quietude of the Senate points to something else that should be in-cluded in the investigation of what went wrong with the Tax Acts as alleged. The National Assembly is the original custodian of harmonized laws that have been passed by the Federal Legislature. The onus is on the National Assembly to publish the harmonized version on its website without any further delay to allow the general public to compare and contrast and ar-rive at factbased conclusions instead of the speculative, emotional and partisan speculations around the subject. Most of the commentators have not seen anything to compare. Simple question: where are the official harmonized bills certified by the Clerk of the National Assem-bly? Otherwise, the current controversy remains vague. The outstanding two laws take effect on Thursday, 1 January, two days from now. Each of the laws by the way is signed by Ka-moru Ogunlana Esq., Clerk to the National Assembly. Is he dead or alive?

However, there is no point throwing the baby away with the bathwater. The true test of any law is in its implementation. The law is made for man, not the other way round. The law is a living subject. It can be amended, tested in the law courts, it can even die if it does not meet

MAKINDE: TRUTH IS NOT A CASUALTY OF POLITICAL DESPERATION transferred directly to victims as immediate support. Whilst the remainder was deployed for rebuilding and restoration. Roads within the affected axis were repaired, reconstruction is ongoing, and a planned memorial at ground zero will honour the lives lost. Policies and security architecture have also been upgraded and strengthened to ensure that such an incident does not recur in Oyo State.

It is important to underline this point.

The N4.5 billion often quoted as announced by the Oyo State Government refers to direct support to victims. This represents 15 percent of the total sum released. Governor Makinde found a way of giving 15 percent back to landlords and even tenants as direct support in his usual show of empathy. At the same time he ensured that government carried out interventions. Indeed, a visit to the affected areas will show the reconstruction being done.

These are verifiable facts.

So why is this narrative being distorted now?

The answer is not far-fetched. Governor Makinde recently stated, during a media chat, that he would not support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. This declaration carries weight because he supported him in 2023, a decision he has since openly said he regrets.

His reason is equally clear: the growing attempt by the current administration and its allies to push Nigeria towards a one-party state.

Makinde That declaration marked a turning point.

Almost immediately, political hostilities were activated. Just days ago, in what can only be described as retaliatory manoeuvring, a group aligned with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike moved to constitute and swear in a so-called PDP Oyo State caretaker committee,

in blatant disregard of political reality and party structure. As expected, the only two credible names associated with that effort publicly distanced themselves from the exercise.

These actions are not driven by principle.

They are driven by desperation.

The attempt to portray Governor Makinde

society’s prevalent standards and expectations.

The Nigerian Tax Administration Act, 2025 in which about five sections have been cited as controversial, is a detailed law with 148 sections and Five schedules. Five out of 148 sections would not seem enough to derail a reform process. Besides, there is no major controversy over the other three Acts on Taxation. Those who are calling for a wholesale suspension of the laws are simply being mischievous. Two of the four tax acts actually took effect from 26 June 2025. The Executive has no powers to suspend the tax laws. Areas of contention can be identified through further investigation and addressed by the legislature accordingly.

Nobody likes the tax man, and so it has been in Nigerian history. During the colonial era, the tax man was the most unpopular member of the Nigerian community. Our great grandparents used to run into the bush on learning of the approach of the tax man. This would later lead to conflicts as in Lagos in 1916 when the colonial government introduced Water Rates to gener-ate revenue to fund infrastructure, specifically the Iju Water Works built in 1915.

The people and the Oba protested. The provision of potable water became a political issue in Lagos. In 1929, we had the Aba Women’s Riots in the Eastern Province of Nigeria, the women protest-ed against the taxation of women among other things. There were the Iseyin/Okeho tax riots of 1917, the Adubi War of 1918, the Ogbomoso Tax riots in 1925 and 1955, anti-tax riots in Warri Province (1927/28), and tax riots in Aba and Onitsha in 1956. In 1946, still in colonial Nigeria, Mrs Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, “the Lioness of Lisabi,” led Egba women in protest against what she and her followers considered the unfair taxation of women by the colonial au-thorities. They chased the then Alake of Egbaland, Ladapo Ademola, Ademola 11 away from his throne for a whole year, 1949 - 1950. They argued that there could be “no taxation with-out representation.” During the colonial era, the main issue was the burden of taxation, and additional hardship. In contemporary times, the average Nigerian is concerned about trust.

Even if the people are willing to pay, they do not believe that additional revenue will translate into better government. They think the additional revenue collected would only be used to fund the conspicuous consumption of the ruling elite.

The irony though is that there is the less spoken consensus amidst the tax controversy that Ni-geria truly needs tax reform, and that taxes collected must be for the benefit of the people. This is where the long-term challenge lies. as dishonest, ungrateful, or disconnected from the structure of his party is dead on arrival. He remains one of the very few serving governors within the PDP. His mandate is rooted in performance, credibility, and the trust of the people of Oyo State, not in backroom theatrics or manufactured outrage.

Half-truths and outright falsehoods may offer temporary comfort to those who trade in political mischief, but they always collapse under the weight of facts.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads.

This is not merely about one Governor or one party. It is about whether we allow fear, coercion, and political intimidation to dismantle our democracy. Governor Makinde has made his position clear: he will not be complicit. And if he must stand alone, he will stand.

But he is not alone.

Lovers of democracy, defenders of truth, and ordinary Nigerians who understand what is at stake will stand with him. History has a long memory, and the steps taken now will determine how today’s actors are remembered tomorrow.

Truth does not need protection.

It only needs to be told, fully, clearly, and without fear.

•Dr Olanrewaju is the Special Adviser (Media) to Oyo State Governor.

31

THISDAY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025

TUESDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor: Duro Ikhazuagbe Email: duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com

0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Chelle Insists No Mercy for Uganda’s Cranes as Eagles Aim to Consolidate Duro Ikhazuagbe

Despite the fact that the Super Eagles have already booked their place in the Round of 16 of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Head Coach of the Nigerian senior men’s football team, Eric Chelle, has insisted that his wards will not take their feet off the pedal in their final Group C clash with Cranes of Uganda

AFCON 2025 starting at 5pm this evening in Fes, Morocco.

By the reason of the two victories against Tanzania and Tunisia, Nigeria lead Group C on six points with closest second placed team, Tunisia, on three points. Both Tanzania and Uganda are tied third and fourth on just

NSC DG, Olopade, Pays Visit to Anthony Joshua over Auto-Crash The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has expressed deep sympathy to global boxing star Anthony Joshua and the families of two victims that lost their lives in a fatal road accident that occurred on Monday, December 29, at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In a moment that transcended official statements and underscored the human side of leadership, Hon. Olopade swiftly paid a visit to former world heavyweight boxing champion, on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko and the entire staff of the Commission.

Hon. Olopade described the

one point.

Just a point from Tuesday outing will guarantee the Super Eagles top spot in the group.

Speaking on tonight’s match at the prematch conference, Chelle, insisted that there will be no mercy for the East Africans.

“For me, I want to present the best team every time,” insisted Chelle even as he gave indication that some of the players who are yet to taste action may start today.

“The competition is not only

for the starting 11; everybody deserves a chance to play and show what they can offer the team. Sometimes a player who makes a cameo appearance can change the outcome of games and even win a tournament,” observed the Franco-Malian while fielding questions at the pre-match.

The Cranes of Uganda on the other hand, need the three points from this clash with Nigeria to mathematically stay alive in the

accident as tragic and deeply saddening, while thanking God for the survival of the boxing icon.

Unfortunately, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami and personal trainer, Kevin Latif Ayodele lost their lives in the crash.

“On behalf of the National Sports Commission and the entire Nigerian sports family, I express my heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate accident,” Hon. Olopade said.

“We thank God for the life of Anthony Joshua. Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he recovers, and we wish him a full and speedy return to good health.”

tournament.

Veteran goal-tender Denis Onyango and team-mates have themselves to blame for being stuck on one point to the final day of the group phase. After the expected manhandling by Tunisia, and falling behind to Tanzania in their second match, Nigeria-descent Uche Ikpeazu rose from the bench to give them an equalizer against the Taifa Stars.

The game fell into their hands to pick up the three points, but

RESULTS Angola 0-0 Egypt Zimbabwe 2-3 S’Africa Comoros 0-0 Mali Zambia 0-3 Morocco

TODAY

Tanzania v Uganda v Benin v Botswana v

Tunisia Nigeria Senegal DR Congo

Final Group Games Loom Live on SuperSport Super Eagles stars putting finishing touches to the game plan as they take on Uganda’s The Africa Cup of Nations group stage enters its decisive phase this week, with results from the second round of matches making the qualification picture clearer while setting up a tense final round of fixtures across the tournament.

The round has been dominated by narrow margins and mounting pressure, with Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria becoming the first teams to book places in the Round of 16.

Elsewhere, several groups remain finely balanced, ensuring the final group games will be played with little margin for error.

Nigeria qualified on Saturday night with a dramatic 3–2 victory over Tunisia. The Super Eagles

appeared in full control after first-half goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman gave them a three-goal cushion, but a late Tunisian fightback ensured a nervy finish. The win moved Nigeria to six points and guaranteed progression with one game remaining.

Egypt also maintained a perfect record, edging South Africa 1–0 in a tightly contested encounter, while Algeria continued their efficient start with a 1–0 win over Burkina Faso.

Senegal were held to a 1–1 draw

by DR Congo, while defending champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon cancelled each other out in a tense 1–1 stalemate.

Cranes in final Group C fixture this evening

Allan Okelo blasted the ball away from goal from a penalty kick.

The only route left for the Ugandans is to put a sword through the Eagles. With the Nigerians intent on sustaining a winning mentality, determined to maintain their great form and put fear into the hearts of other possible contenders for the trophy, that is unlikely to happen.

Nigeria’s prolific goalscorer Victor Osimhen, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Monday, December 28, is likely to be hungry for more goals as he marches towards obliterating Rasheed Yekini’s all time 48-goals record. With 16 more goals to achieve that, Osimhen has netted only once in this tournament, but the man who succeeded him as Africa Player of the Year (and who teamed up with him to create a Super Eagles’ terror attack at the last competition in Cote d’Ivoire), Ademola Lookman, has again opted to take Africa’s biggest football championship by storm.

Lookman has netted two goals this term (adding to his three from the 2023 finals), and has made two assists (adding to one from last term). He looks like a man-on-a-mission. His goals have been unstoppable left-footed missiles.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi who was with Chelle at the media briefing summed it up: “The atmosphere in the team is good.

Everyone is excited and confident, but the previous games are in the past. The focus is one the next game.”

Ohaneze President Wants Eagles to Exorcise the Ghost of 1978 AFCON Reminiscences of the Ghana 1978 Africa Cup of Nations were drawn by President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta - Mbata who believes the best way to exorcise the ghost of Kumasi is for Nigeria to batter Uganda in Fes. The Nigerians are through to the Round of 16 of the Morocco 2025 edition but the Ugandans need a win to have any hope of making it out of

Group C. In 1978, Cranes defeated Green Eagles 2-1 in the semi finals.

Azuta - Mbata said : “Green Eagles were good enough for their first trophy in 1978 but their dreams crashed when they lost to Cranes. This is payback time. Cranes must be caned. Hosts, Ghana were scared of Nigeria and were lucky to equalise 14 minutes to time through Willie Klutse

after Segun Odegbami’s 33rd minute opener.”

That game turned Odegbami to a hero in Ghana. They still scream ‘Mathematical’ anytime he is seen in Accra.

The 1-1 draw attracted a capacity crowd of 60,000 spectators, higher than the grand finale turn out of 40, 000.

“Uganda humiliated us,”Mbata added. “Abdulla Nasur’s11th minute shocker began the sad story. Martin

Eyo leveled up in the 54th. It took four minutes for Philip Omondi to bury the game with the winning goal.

“That was the Uganda of Moses Nsereko, Captain Jimmy Kirunda, Godfrey Kisutu, Samuel Musenze, Edward Semwanga and keeper Paul Ssali. Sadly, Nsereko was murdered in 1991, around his home in the Kololo area of Kampala, by unknown gunmen”.

Diatta, Madani Headline AKO 12 at Landmark Event Centre The best of martial arts will ignite Lagos today when nine blockbuster bouts involving African fighters hold at the Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, in the African Knockout Season 12.

During the weigh-in yesterday, the fighters promised fans intriguing fights, while

the organisers charged lovers of mixed martial arts not to miss any of the fights.

The venue which wears a colorful look for the all-night fight involving some of the best fighters in the continent including Nigeria’s unbeaten Yahaya Yahuza known as Smile Strong as well as

Algerian Fouad Madani, Senegal’s Gasmire Diatta as well as fighters from Angola, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire and host of others.

Former UFC champion, Kamoru Usman who was present at the faceoff promises an exciting bout from the fighters lined up for AKO 12.

L-R: Senegal’s Gasmire Diatta; UFC Legend, Kamaru Usman and Farouk Boudissa of Algeria during weigh-in ...yesterday in Lagos

THISDAY • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025

Price: N400

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FORGING COLLABORATION FOR FINANCIAL SYSTEM STABILITY...

L-R: Managing Director/CE, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday; Managing Director/CE, Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Takang and Executive Director, Corporate Services, NDIC, Mrs. Emily Osuji, during a courtesy visit on the MOFI Managing Director by the NDIC’ Executive PHOTO: ENOCK REUBEN Management team in Abuja ... yesterday

TUESDAY WITH REUBENABATI Nigeria’s Tax Controversy abati1990@gmail.com

A

s the year ends, the biggest domestic controversy in Nigeria is the realization that when the new year begins, effective January 1, Nigerians will be faced with a new tax regime which will broaden the tax net, ensure better collection, equity and accountability and a more efficient sys-tem which means more revenue for the government. On January 1, the Federal Inland Revenue Service would also assume a new nomenclature, Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).

There are questions of trust and confidence, interpretation and understanding, over the tax laws that would give effect to this new dispensation. In July and early August 2023, the Tinubu admin-istration, barely two months after assuming office set up a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms to simplify

earning more revenue. The committee was headed by Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, an expert in the subject area who had spent the better part of his career at PwC, a leading accounting firm, where he rose to become a Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader. There were about 100 other members in the committee representing different sectors in society. The outcome of the tax-focussed deliberations was a set of four laws: The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, which repeals the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and creates the Nigeria Revenue Service with an expanded mandate, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025- which establishes a uniform legal and President Bola Tinubu operational framework for tax administration; the country’s tax system, review the enabling the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, laws and structures, and create a system for 2025 – which creates a governance structure

and oversight mechanisms, and the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025- which har-monizes the country’s multiple tax laws.

The highlights of the Reform are as follows: to have a simpler, fairer, and more transparent tax system that would achieve the objectives of (1) putting people first’; (2) unlocking business growth; (3) energizing capital and access to finance; (4) correcting economic distortions; (5) ad-vancing progressivity; (6) encouraging formalization; (7) ensuring equity; (8) combating evasion and avoidance; (9) improved tax administration and governance; (10) harmonizing the tax sys-tem. In the official gazette published by the government we are told that “the reforms create a tax system that Nigerians can trust,

SULAIMONOLANREWAJU

Continued on page 30

GUEST COLUMNIST

Makinde: Truth Is Not a Casualty of Political Desperation

R

ecent comments attributed to former Governor Ayodele Fayose, alleging that the Federal Government handed N50 billion to Seyi Makinde and that the Governor chose to stay silent while saving up the money to support his presidential ambition are not only misleading, they are deliberately disingenuous.

Let us be clear from the outset.

The Federal Government did not give Governor Makinde N50 billion. This is why Fayose was unable to provide evidence to show the disbursement when asked to do so. In fact, the memo he shared shows what was not disbursed.

The Federal Government did not give Governor Makinde N50 billion. This is why Fayose was unable to provide evidence to

promise, not a disbursement of N50 billion.

In the immediate aftermath of the tragic January 2024 Bodija explosion, which claimed lives, destroyed homes, and traumatised an entire community, President Bola Tinubu did not visit Oyo State. Governor Makinde travelled to Abuja personally, armed with a comprehensive report of the incident and a formal request for support from the Federal Government. Following that engagement, the Federal Government promised a N50 billion support package.

A promise, however, is not a release.

When it was time to act, only N30 billion Seyi Makinde was released. This partial release was accompanied by demands for inducements tied to show the disbursement when asked to do so. the disbursement of the balance. Governor What exists on record is a request and a Makinde refused. As a result, the remaining

N20 billion was withheld.

Was the Governor expected to convene a press conference to announce that the Federal Government had promised N50 billion, released N30 billion, and was withholding N20 billion?

Or to publicly litigate negotiations around a national tragedy?

What matters is what was done with the funds that were released.

To be clear, Governor Makinde did acknowledge Federal Government support during the inauguration of a transparent committee set up to oversee the disbursement of relief funds. That committee ensured accountability, compassion, and proper use of the funds.

Of the N30 billion released, some money was Continued on page 30

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