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Fubara appeared beside Wike and suspended Speaker of Rivers Assembly Martin Amaewhule, signaling a potential thaw in relations following a high-level reconciliation meeting facilitated by President Bola Tinubu earlier this week
Afeez Labode, a UK-based Nigerian businessman, has raised alarm after discovering that his 22-year-old Airtel line — long linked to his financial, personal, and official records — had been reassigned to a new user despite his continued use and maintenance of the number. Labode, who arrived in Nigeria on May 21, was shocked when he found his number inactive upon landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos. He resorted to using WiFi at the airport to contact his driver. However, a visit to an Airtel service center in Gbagada confirmed his worst fears — the number had been reassigned to a new subscriber named Kenneth. According to Airtel officials, recharging a line periodically does not guarantee it remains active. Instead, the line must have been involved in a revenue-generating event (RGE) such as voice calls, SMS, data usage, or USSD transactions within 365 days. This policy contrasts with the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Quality of Service Business Rules issued in 2024, which stipulate that a number can only be deactivated after six months of inactivity in any RGE. Labode maintains he had regularly recharged the line and used it during his visits every few years. Recovery Negotiation and NIN Overlap In a bid to reclaim his number, Labode contacted Kenneth, who demanded ₦100,000 to return the SIM. After negotiations, they settled on ₦50,000, and the SIM was retrieved through a proxy. However, a deeper issue emerged at MMIA during his Hajj trip — immigration officers confirmed that Labode’s old number was still linked to his National Identification Number (NIN) and passport data. This discovery raised questions about the security and privacy implications of reassigning SIM cards still tied to valid national records. Labode had previously used the number to register his NIN and renew his passport in London in 2024. His experience illustrates the dangerous overlap of data where two individuals — himself and the new SIM owner — now effectively share the same phone number with distinct NIN records. Systemic Risks and NCC’s Response The incident underscores growing concerns about SIM recycling in Nigeria and its implications on national security, identity management, and financial safety. Labode, like others before him, had to swear an affidavit in court to declare loss of access to the number in order to update his records. The NCC has previously acknowledged the problem, stating it is working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), security agencies, and other stakeholders to build a central database that will flag recycled numbers and alert sectors like banking and immigration of changes in ownership. The proposed cross-sector platform aims to prevent data misuse and fraud by ensuring that reassigned numbers are not wrongly linked to old users’ personal and financial information. Despite ongoing efforts, Labode’s case reveals the urgent need for better coordination between telecom operators, the Ministry of Communications, and identity management agencies to safeguard digital identities in Nigeria’s growing mobile ecosystem.
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, vowing to bomb the country “absolutely” if it resumes nuclear weapons development. The remarks came in a fiery post on Trump’s Truth Social platform on Friday, in which he directly targeted Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for claiming victory in the recent 12-day conflict with Israel. Trump accused Khamenei of “blatantly and foolishly lying” and said the Iranian leader had narrowly escaped death during the war. “His country was decimated, his three evil nuclear sites were OBLITERATED, and I knew EXACTLY where he was sheltered,” Trump wrote. “I would not let Israel, or the U.S. Armed Forces, by far the Greatest and Most Powerful in the World, terminate his life.” The former president’s comments follow Khamenei’s public declaration that Iran had emerged victorious in the war and had delivered a “slap” to the United States by launching missile strikes at a U.S. military base in Qatar in retaliation for attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz. Trump also revealed he had personally urged Israel to halt what he described as “the final knockout,” suggesting that restraint was exercised despite heavy damage inflicted on Iranian infrastructure. While Trump insists the strikes crippled Iran’s nuclear program, a leaked intelligence report casts doubt, stating that the damage set Iran back by only a few months—not years—as claimed. In the same post, Trump said Khamenei’s recent statements—“a statement of anger, hatred, and disgust”—prompted him to abandon efforts toward sanctions relief and economic engagement with Iran. “There was a path for sanctions removal, and other things, which would have given a much better chance to Iran at a full, fast, and complete recovery,” Trump stated. “But not with lies and threats.” The escalation of rhetoric comes just days after a fragile ceasefire brought a halt to open hostilities between Israel and Iran. Analysts warn that Trump’s comments risk reigniting tensions and could complicate diplomatic efforts moving forward.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iran to allow international inspectors access to its nuclear facilities, just days after coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian sites believed to be linked to its nuclear program. Speaking at a White House press conference on Friday, Trump stated that any future diplomatic engagement with Tehran must include inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another trusted entity. “We need the IAEA or somebody that we respect — including ourselves — to verify everything,” he said. The remarks follow heightened tensions in the region and come amid growing concern over the fallout from the recent strikes. In what many analysts view as a retaliatory move, Iran’s parliament has approved a bill suspending cooperation with the IAEA, despite its status as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The legislation is seen as a direct response to the U.S.-Israeli operation, which Tehran has condemned as a violation of international law and its sovereignty. Iran has yet to respond directly to Trump’s demand, but officials have warned that continued pressure and military aggression will only harden Tehran’s nuclear stance and reduce the likelihood of diplomatic compromise.
Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has reportedly resigned as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party. Although no official statement has been issued by the party as of press time, sources suggest the resignation occurred in the early hours of Friday and was allegedly prompted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Indications of the development emerged when Ganduje’s personal aides were seen removing his belongings from his office at the APC national secretariat in Abuja. A staff member who spoke to The Guardian under anonymity confirmed, “They have removed the portrait of Ganduje from his office. Even his personal staff have been moving in and out with files and their personal properties since morning.” The source added, “We are not new to this development. We saw it happen when Abdullahi Adamu and Adams Oshiomhole were there. So we are used to this kind of thing.” Ganduje, a close political ally of President Tinubu, was appointed APC National Chairman on August 3, 2023, following the resignation of Abdullahi Adamu. His tenure faced internal resistance, particularly from the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, which filed a legal challenge on grounds that the position should have remained within the North Central zone in accordance with the party’s constitution. The suit was dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja in September 2024. In January 2025, Ganduje was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) by President Tinubu. As of the time of filing this report, the APC has yet to release an official statement confirming Ganduje’s resignation or disclosing the party’s succession plan. Read full details here: News360NG
There was a mild drama on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja during the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, as counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, described the proceedings as “a political case.” Pinheiro made the comment during a disagreement over whether defence counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, could cross-examine the fourth prosecution witness (PW-4) immediately after the conclusion of the evidence-in-chief or defer the session to the next hearing. Emphasizing the significance of the matter, Pinheiro said, “This is the trial of a former governor, hence, political.” He further stressed that he was not prosecuting a regular individual but a political figure “who had even aspired to contest for presidency.” Responding, Daudu disagreed, stating that the matter strictly involves allegations of money laundering, not politics. The exchange prompted a light-hearted remark from Justice Emeka Nwite, who said, “Political? If that is the case, then those handling political cases should prepare to take over the matter.” Earlier, Justice Nwite rejected an EFCC application to “cross-examine” its own witness, ruling that such a move is only permissible if the prosecution first declares the witness hostile. The issue arose during the previous hearing when EFCC counsel Olukayode Enitan, SAN, sought to cross-examine the third prosecution witness (PW-3), Mr. Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor with the American International School, Abuja (AISA), over a court judgment admitted as Exhibit 19. The judge ruled that the EFCC could not cross-examine its own witness without proper legal basis, stating, “The argument of the learned counsel to the prosecution is misconceived.” He, however, allowed limited re-examination strictly based on pages 1, 14, and 15 of the document. Following the ruling, the fourth prosecution witness, Mshelia Arhyel Bata, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank, testified. He confirmed the authenticity of seven sets of bank statements provided by the bank, which were subsequently admitted into evidence. During his testimony, Bata detailed various transactions, including a ₦10 million cash withdrawal made under the name Abdulsalami Hudu on May 23, 2016 — the maximum amount allowed per cheque transaction at the time. He also confirmed multiple cash transactions on the same date and identified credit inflows totaling ₦1.092 billion on January 30, 2018. The defence counsel interjected, asserting that some of the withdrawals being referenced were related to security votes, a claim not immediately addressed by the court. The witness reported a total of ₦1.968 billion in withdrawals over different dates, as well as several inflows and outflows between May 2 and May 19, 2018. Following the conclusion of the prosecution’s examination-in-chief, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to June 27, 2025, for cross-examination.
Nigerians earning less than ₦250,000 per month will be exempt from paying income tax beginning January 2026, according to Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today shortly after President Bola Tinubu signed four new tax bills into law on Thursday, Oyedele explained that the reforms are designed to stimulate economic growth and ensure equity in the tax system, rather than increase tax burdens. He stated that under the new laws, individuals or households earning ₦250,000 or less per month are now classified as poor and, therefore, exempt from income tax obligations. “This tax law will not give you cash in your pocket, but at least it won’t take your cash away if you are poor,” Oyedele said. He clarified that the reforms are structured to eliminate tax obligations for low-income earners, reduce the tax burden for the middle class, and slightly increase taxes for high-income earners. Those earning between ₦1.8 million and ₦2 million monthly — estimated at about 5% of the population — will see their tax rates reduced under the new framework. To determine the exemption threshold, Oyedele explained that the committee evaluated poverty standards beyond global benchmarks, using a Nigerian context that accounts for rural lifestyles and subsistence living. “We drew our own poverty line based on an average Nigerian household of five, with two people working. We estimated that if such a household earns around ₦250,000 monthly, they can meet basic needs, though without luxury. These people should not be taxed,” he said. Oyedele also emphasized the broader goal of the reforms: improving tax efficiency and compliance. He noted that Nigeria currently collects only 30% of its potential tax revenue and that the new laws are aimed at closing the 70% gap without placing undue burden on the poor. He described the reforms as “efficiency-driven, growth-focused, and people-centric,” with the overarching objective of fostering inclusive economic development.
After rounds of meeting at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between Wednesday June 25 and Thursday June 26 , the lingering political crises in Rivers State seem to have been resolved. At the end of behind the scene meetings in Abuja, the main dramatis personae in the roiling political logjam Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his estranged ally, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who was suspended as Governor following the imposition of State of Emergency, and other key players including some elders of the State privy to the behind the scene negotiations, met with Tinubu late Thursday ostensibly to report the resolution of the issues. With all parties to the crises including the suspended Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule now on the same page, all is now set for the restoration of democratic structures and return of all suspended political actors.
