Ex-Oil Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke Appears In London Court Ahead Of Bribery Trial

Former OPEC president and Nigeria’s ex-oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, appeared in a London court on Monday ahead of her upcoming trial on bribery charges linked to her time in office from 2010 to 2015. Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s first female oil minister and the first woman to serve as OPEC president, has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015 and has denied all six charges against her. She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) over allegations that she accepted bribes while in office. At the time, the NCA said, “We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts.” The indictment alleges that Alison-Madueke received at least £100,000 ($134,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, private jet flights, and access to several London properties. It also details other benefits, including furniture, property renovations, staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and luxury gifts from brands such as Louis Vuitton. The trial is set to begin on Monday, January 26, and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks. Two other individuals, Doye Agama, who appeared via video link, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in court, are also being prosecuted on bribery charges linked to the case.

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El-Rufai Alleges Tinubu Illegally Withdrawing N100bn Monthly From Federation Account

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused President Bola Tinubu of unlawfully deducting N100 billion every month from the federation account without legislative approval. Speaking on ‘Prime Time,’ a programme on Arise Television monitored by DAILY POST, El-Rufai said the practice is unconstitutional and qualifies as an impeachable offense. He claimed that the unauthorized deductions have been ongoing for over 15 months, totaling about N1.5 trillion. “Government data. I’m not quoting something out of the air. That 100 billion that goes out every month from the Federation account, without appropriation by the National Assembly—and by the way, without appropriation by the state assemblies, because part of the money belongs to the states—each state assembly is supposed to appropriate that portion. The entire deduction and expenditure is unconstitutional. It’s an impeachable offense, but it has been going on for more than 15 months from the last time I checked,” El-Rufai said. He questioned how the funds were being used, noting the worsening security situation: “So where has that 1.5 trillion gone? What is it being used for? Why is the security situation just getting worse? Why is the government asking communities to protect themselves?” Reflecting on the current state of affairs, El-Rufai added, “Look, if you asked me in 2022 or 2023 when we were campaigning that things would ever be this bad, I would say that you are mentally ill.”

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Tinubu Declares Era Of ASUU Strikes Over, Pledges Lasting Stability In Tertiary Education

President Bola Tinubu has declared that the era of strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is over, assuring that his administration is committed to lasting peace and stability in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector. He made the statement during the 56th convocation of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he was represented by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. The president emphasized that the cycle of prolonged academic disruptions will be replaced by sustained dialogue, mutual respect, and timely implementation of agreements. “Since the beginning of my administration, we have seen two uninterrupted academic sessions across our tertiary institutions. This is the result of firm political will, ongoing dialogue, and responsible leadership,” Tinubu said. He highlighted that, under his direct oversight, the federal government recently signed a new agreement with ASUU, resolving a long-standing dispute that had previously undermined confidence in Nigeria’s university system. “This milestone ensures industrial harmony and a predictable academic calendar. It restores the dignity of learning and signals the end of perennial strikes in our universities,” he added. The president also outlined key initiatives introduced by his administration, including the Nigerian Education Loans Fund (NELFUND) for students, the Institutional Staff Support Fund for university workers, and other programs aimed at strengthening the education sector. He stressed the need for universities to produce graduates who are not only employable but capable of creating jobs and driving innovation. “My administration will continue to implement reforms for a technology-driven education system, including curriculum restructuring, quality assurance, skill-based learning, and fostering innovation-led problem solving,” Tinubu said. UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Folasade Ogunsola praised the university Senate, staff, and stakeholders for their dedication, and congratulated the graduates and their sponsors. She encouraged the graduates to turn challenges into opportunities and contribute positively to society.

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Federal Government To Kickstart 2026 Detty December Preparations In March, Says Minister

The Federal Government will start preparations for the 2026 edition of Nigeria’s year-end celebrations, known as Detty December, from March, the Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has revealed. Speaking on the MIC ON podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, Musawa reflected on the 2025 festive season, noting that while it brought substantial economic and tourism benefits, it also exposed gaps that need addressing to maintain Nigeria’s growing appeal as a global holiday destination. “The 2025 Detty December had more positives than negatives. Tourist numbers and spending were strong, but issues like limited accommodation, inflated vendor pricing, and traffic congestion threatened the overall experience,” she said. She added, “We are reviewing last year’s season, with focus on accommodation shortages and vendor overpricing. Preparations for this year’s Detty December will begin in March, with a proposal to the Federal Executive Council to ensure all necessary coordination for a successful festive season in Lagos.” Detty December encompasses the flurry of concerts, festivals, parties, and cultural events that dominate Nigeria’s social calendar in December, with Lagos as the central hub for both local and international visitors. “Lagos has become a global choice for December tourism, but we want to expand festivities to other regions. Events like the Calabar Festival, as well as activities in Enugu, Plateau, and other parts of the South East, will be developed to draw visitors to more parts of the country,” Musawa said. The minister also outlined plans to boost support for Lagos and the creative sector through targeted funding, infrastructure development, and an endowment fund to enhance creative output. “The Federal Government must provide more support to creatives, including through funding and infrastructure. The proposed endowment fund will help achieve this, and we also need more high-end hotels to accommodate visitors,” she added. Musawa expressed optimism that ongoing airport upgrades in Lagos would improve visitor experience by year-end. While traffic relief measures like new roads and flyovers are underway, she cautioned that uncontrolled pricing could undermine Nigeria’s competitiveness. “The government must regulate pricing to ensure Nigeria remains a top December destination,” she said.

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Olakunle Churchill Shares Emotional Reaction After Reuniting With Tonto Dikeh To Co-Parent King Andre

Olakunle Churchill has opened up about his emotions following Tonto Dikeh’s announcement that they have reconciled to focus on raising their son, King Andre. In a heartfelt statement, Churchill revealed he was “pleasantly surprised” when he received his son’s first call. Hearing King Andre call him “Daddy” was an emotional moment, reminding him that “what God cannot do does not exist.” He credited faith for bringing “clarity, humility and peace” to the situation and praised the maturity shown in resolving their differences. “With God leading, healing and understanding have become possible,” he said. Churchill also highlighted the role of forgiveness in opening the door to a fresh start. “The conflict is behind us, and we are now focused on co-parenting with love, care, and a shared commitment to raising our son,” he explained. Expressing gratitude for the journey and the personal growth it brought, Churchill said he looks forward to “a future filled with collaboration, respect, and peace, trusting God to guide me. I am grateful to have my son back in my life. Thank you to the amazing mother of my son, Tonto Dikeh, for doing a good job.” The statement underscores a new chapter of mutual respect and shared responsibility between the former couple, with their son’s well-being at the center.

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iShowSpeed Maintains Nigerian Jollof Reigns Supreme After Tasting Liberian Jollof

American streamer iShowSpeed has once again stirred the ever-growing jollof rice rivalry after sharing his latest verdict during his Africa tour. The internet personality, who has been visiting several African countries and tasting their local delicacies, recently tried Liberian jollof rice for the first time. While reacting live, he admitted the meal was enjoyable and deserved a strong rating. “I will rate it 8/10, I think it’s good, but I’ll rate Nigeria’s over it.” The statement instantly drew mixed reactions from people around him, with some expressing disappointment over his preference. Despite the response, Speed made it clear that Nigerian jollof still holds the top spot for him. This comes after he earlier sampled Senegalese jollof and also ranked Nigeria’s version higher, further cementing his stance in the long-standing debate over which country makes the best jollof rice. 🚨| WATCH: Speed just tried Liberian jollof rice and says Nigerian jollof is better 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/LBZ0Mz8LZX — Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) January 24, 2026

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Cunha’s Late Strike Sinks Arsenal As Manchester United Claim Dramatic 3-2 Win At Emirates

Matheus Cunha struck late in the 87th minute to hand Manchester United a dramatic 3-2 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, a result that could have major implications for this season’s Premier League title race. Despite remaining top of the table, Arsenal’s advantage has now been cut to four points, with Manchester City and Aston Villa firmly in pursuit and 15 matches still to play. For United, the victory marked a third consecutive positive result under interim boss Michael Carrick, lifting them into fourth place. The decisive moment arrived moments after Mikel Merino had brought Arsenal back on level terms. Earlier in the second half, Patrick Dorgu had restored United’s lead to make it 2-1 following a tightly contested first half that ended 1-1. Arsenal had gone in front when Lisandro Martinez inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, but United responded before the break as Bryan Mbeumo capitalised on a poor backpass from Martin Zubimendi to draw the visitors level. Only a fortnight ago, United were struggling for form, but the appointment of Carrick until the end of the season has sparked a revival. Back-to-back wins against Manchester City and Arsenal across consecutive weekends have transformed their outlook. The resurgence follows the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, whose 14-month spell yielded just 15 wins from 47 league matches. Darren Fletcher’s brief interim run produced draws against Leeds United and Burnley before an FA Cup exit to Brighton, but Carrick’s early impact suggests United may finally be turning a corner.

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Tinubu Jets Out to Turkey on Monday

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye. The visit is aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations between the two countries and exploring further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Nigeria from October 19 to 20, 2021. During President Tinubu’s visit, both countries will engage in strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values in finance, communication, trade and investment. The agenda will include meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation and protocol, among others. A business forum will bring together investors from both countries to explore areas of interest during the visit. Members of the President’s entourage participating in the bilateral discussions include: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd) and Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson. Others are: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed. President Tinubu is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the visit.  

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