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Peter Obi Joins Protest at National Assembly Over Rejection of E-Transmission of Election Results 01
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Tinubu Hosts US Military Delegation at Aso Rock
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BREAKING: Protesters Storm Abuja for ‘Occupy National Assembly’ Protest Over E-Transmission Rejection
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Nigeria Needs Selfless Leaders Ready to Make Ultimate Sacrifice – Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde
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FG Files Fresh N1 Billion Money Laundering Charges Against Former AGF Abubakar Malami And Son

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The Nigerian Government has brought fresh money laundering charges against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial transactions exceeding N1 billion. The 16-count charge, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/700/2025, names the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant, with Hajia Bashir Asabe also listed as a co-defendant. According to court documents, the defendants are accused of handling, transferring, and concealing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. Investigators reportedly traced N1,014,848,500 to a Sterling Bank account linked to these transactions. The prosecution claims the funds were laundered through corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited, allegedly used to obscure the source and movement of the money. Between 2015 and 2025, the defendants are said to have acquired several properties in Abuja, Kano, and Kebbi states with illicit funds, including luxury homes in high-profile areas such as Maitama, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Jabi, some of which were reportedly purchased while Malami was in office as Attorney-General. One of the counts alleges that between July 2022 and June 2025, the defendants used Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited to hide the unlawful origin of over N1.014 billion, violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The charge sheet also outlines the alleged use of bank accounts, hotel businesses, and real estate firms to retain, move, or disguise large sums of money, including payments for hotels, plazas, duplexes, and landed properties. Prosecutors argue that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” the funds were derived from illegal activities. Malami served as Nigeria’s Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari and has faced multiple corruption allegations during his tenure, all of which he has denied. In a related matter, the Federal High Court had previously granted Malami interim bail in a separate EFCC case, requiring him to surrender his passport and provide two sureties. The current money laundering case has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for further proceedings.

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Federal High Court Permanently Forfeits Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Housing Estate Lands To FG

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of two plots of land originally intended for the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Model Housing Estate to the Federal Government, following findings of alleged financial mismanagement in the stalled project. Justice Mohammed Umar handed down the ruling after upholding an application by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), directing that the forfeited properties be transferred to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to benefit Nigerians. The court also instructed the ICPC to supervise the completion of the abandoned housing estate in collaboration with the FMBN, ensuring that the 962 planned housing units are delivered to end users. The properties involved include Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, Abuja, measuring approximately 122,015.80 square metres and valued at N1.94 billion, and Plot No. 4 in the same district, measuring around 157,198.30 square metres and valued at N3.34 billion. Justice Umar stated that the lands were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity and must be recovered in the public interest. “The ICPC shall facilitate the handover of the forfeited properties to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, being the victim of the alleged unlawful activity,” he said. The judge directed the ICPC and FMBN to form an implementation committee to oversee the completion of the housing project and ensure its allocation to Nigerians, particularly low-income earners. According to the ICPC, the housing estate was approved in 2012 under the National Housing Fund Scheme during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. It was intended to provide 962 affordable housing units. An affidavit by ICPC investigator Iliya Marcus stated that FMBN engaged Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited to execute the project and secured a $65 million loan facility from Ecobank. Investigations revealed that the bank released N3.78 billion to the developer in November 2012 and later disbursed the full project amount of $65 million (over N14 billion at the time) without any houses being constructed. The developer reportedly lacked proper registration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, a requirement for such projects, and the project collapsed. The ICPC also noted intelligence suggesting that the developers were attempting to sell the land secretly to unsuspecting members of the public, prompting the commission to approach the court to secure the assets. Justice Umar had previously granted interim forfeiture of the lands on July 9, pending the outcome of the substantive case. Notices were also published in national newspapers to give interested parties the chance to object. At the final hearing, ICPC counsel Osuobeni Akponimisingha told the court that the project, which was meant to honor former President Jonathan, remained abandoned despite full payment to the developer. He added that the land’s value had risen to over N200 billion and that the promoters, including some foreign nationals, had fled the country. The defence counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), did not oppose the forfeiture. Justice Umar, in granting the final order, described the release of the full project funds without any progress as a serious abuse of public trust. He ruled that the forfeiture was necessary to protect public assets and ensure the housing project is completed for Nigerians.

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FG Orders Road Contractors To Keep Key Highways Open During Holidays

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The Federal Government has instructed all federal road contractors to keep project sites open during the holiday season, emphasizing that major highways and bridges must not be closed without official approval. Minister of Works David Umahi issued the directive on Tuesday at an emergency meeting with directors and contractors of the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja. He also ordered directors and federal controllers to postpone their holiday plans and remain on site to ensure that ongoing projects do not obstruct traffic flow. Umahi criticised some contractors for leaving sites under the pretext of holidays despite worsening road conditions across the country. He highlighted strategic routes such as the Abuja–Lokoja Expressway, Abuja drainage canals, and key corridors in Sokoto, Katsina, and Kebbi states, noting that these must remain operational. He said, “No contractor is permitted to close a site without the approval of the Federal Ministry of Works. Some sites must not close at all. Abuja–Lokoja cannot close. Some corridors are simply too critical. Don’t close the roads. Open them for vehicular movements.” The minister also announced that the government has begun verifying and preparing to pay N2.13 trillion owed to road contractors, with payments expected to start in January 2026. Directors and contractors have been instructed to submit claims and certificates for verification, with only confirmed obligations to be settled. Umahi noted that President Bola Tinubu was surprised at the size of the outstanding liabilities, which he said were largely inherited and worsened by weak supervision and poor contract management. A committee chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima has been set up to manage the verification and payment process. The minister acknowledged recent traffic disruptions, particularly on the Abuja–Lokoja highway, describing them as “very embarrassing,” and directed emergency measures to restore smooth traffic flow before the Christmas season. He also raised concern about congestion on the Enugu–Onitsha Road. Umahi urged contractors and supervising officials to work together to remove bottlenecks and ensure smooth vehicular movement on all major federal highways. He commended contractors for supporting President Tinubu’s shift from asphalt to concrete road construction, describing it as a difficult but necessary change to improve road durability. He explained that asphalt roads often deteriorate within 10 to 15 years due to drainage failures and soil issues, while concrete roads last longer if properly built. In addition, Umahi announced a reorganisation of the Ministry of Works, with directors and senior engineers redeployed to supervise projects directly in the field. “Everybody is going to the field. Only the Permanent Secretary and I will remain in the office. Every director will supervise a major project, and performance will be judged strictly by output,” he said.

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FCT High Court Grants Interim Bail To Former AGF Abubakar Malami

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The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has granted interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in a case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The ruling was issued on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, by Justice Bello Kawu during proceedings for Motion No. M/17220/2025. Malami’s bail was approved on the same terms previously set by the EFCC, which include surrendering his international passport and providing bail bonds through two sureties. The sureties are the Director-General of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council and a serving member of the House of Representatives representing the Augie/Argungu Federal Constituency. Justice Kawu also reinstated the bail conditions previously fulfilled on November 28, 2025, requiring the same sureties and the passport surrender. The court granted the interim bail citing exceptional hardship and stated that it will remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice. The case has been adjourned to January 5, 2026, for the substantive motion hearing.

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Adamawa Governor Fintiri Grants Pardon To Farmer Sunday Jackson On Death Row

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Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has approved a pardon for Sunday Jackson, the farmer who was sentenced to death after killing a Fulani herder during an alleged attack on his farmland. The decision was announced on Tuesday in a statement signed by the governor’s chief press secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou. “Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri CON, has granted pardon to Sunday Jackson who was sentenced to death,” the statement said. “The pardon is in commemoration of Christmas and New Year celebrations.” The statement explained that Jackson, who is being held at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, was not the only beneficiary. “Jackson who is in Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre has been pardoned alongside Joseph Eugene from the Medium Security Custodial Centre Yola new and Maxwell Ibrahim serving at the Medium Security Custodial Center in Kaduna.” Jackson’s pardon follows months of intense international attention, particularly from the United States. In November, the case gained renewed prominence after the U.S. designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over allegations of killings of Christians. At the time, President Donald Trump issued strong warnings over continued attacks on Christians in Nigeria. U.S. Congressman Riley Moore also publicly demanded Jackson’s release, criticising his conviction for culpable homicide and death sentence by hanging for killing an armed herdsman who allegedly attacked him on his farm. Speaking on Fox News, Moore said, “But there’s a lot of things they can do, and one of the first steps is releasing Sunday Jackson, and another one is working with us to disarm these militants in the middle-belt of the country—the Fulani Islamic radicals that are there.”

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FG To Delete Terrorist Accounts On Social Media, Tracks Online Financing Networks

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The Federal Government has confirmed that Nigerian security agencies are partnering with major social media companies to track and remove accounts used by terrorist and criminal groups to promote their activities and raise funds. Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, made the disclosure on Tuesday during an end-of-year briefing in Abuja. He said platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and X have been exploited by terrorists to publicize operations, display looted items, and communicate with supporters. Security agencies have held multiple engagements with these companies to address posts and accounts deemed threats to national security. “Social media platforms have been used by terrorist groups—if you knew how many accounts we have taken down. We meet with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X. While they are businesses focused on growth, we explain the security risks and ensure harmful accounts are removed,” Laka said. The DG recalled that at one point, bandits were posting videos of stolen goods on TikTok, livestreaming, and holding online conversations, but these activities have since been curtailed. He added that terrorist groups continually change tactics, including operating under aliases and unverified accounts, and security agencies are constantly updating their strategies to counter these shifts. Ransom payments remain a major source of terror financing, with kidnappers increasingly using point-of-sale (POS) operators to transfer funds, making it harder to trace. “You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate, the account belongs to a POS operator. The kidnappers provide the POS operator’s number, the money is transferred, and they collect it,” he explained. Laka said authorities have intensified efforts to trace ransom payments, arrest suspects, and dismantle terror financing networks, though operational details are withheld for security reasons. Several arrests, prosecutions, and asset recoveries have helped Nigeria comply with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards. He also highlighted coordinated investigations by security agencies, financial intelligence units, and the judiciary as key to Nigeria’s recent progress in meeting Financial Action Task Force requirements. Acknowledging challenges posed by evolving terrorist tactics and porous borders in the Sahel, Laka reassured Nigerians that both physical and digital counter-terrorism measures are being strengthened. “Towards the end of 2023, the security situation in Nigeria was improving. But after coups in some Sahel countries, the situation worsened due to cross-border terrorist connections. Nigeria must play a leadership role in West Africa and the Sahel to address these threats. We are doing our best, and in 2026, we will intensify our efforts,” he said.

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FG Confirms Only One Official Version Of Newly Enacted Tax Reform Laws

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The Federal Government has confirmed that there is only one official version of the recently enacted tax reform laws. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the announcement on Monday in Abuja during an end-of-year news briefing. Idris rejected claims that the laws had been altered after passage by the National Assembly, emphasizing that the version assented to by President Bola Tinubu remains unchanged. He noted that the legislation went through full legislative procedures, including consultations and debates in the National Assembly, before receiving presidential approval. “The Federal Government is moving forward with the commencement of implementation, noting as changed,” Idris said. Addressing concerns about alleged discrepancies between the version passed by lawmakers and the one officially gazetted, the minister said these issues had been raised in the National Assembly, and the executive would defer to the legislature’s review. “I think it is important for us to wait for the National Assembly to look at this again to tell us whether there were discrepancies or not. This is, at this point, an affair of the National Assembly to which I have no jurisdiction, and I have no authority to speak about. As far as the government of Nigeria is concerned, there’s only one version of that tax document,” he added. The controversy began after Abdussamad Dasuki, a lawmaker representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State, raised concerns in the House of Representatives that the version passed by the National Assembly differed from the one later gazetted and circulated by the Ministry of Information. According to PUNCH Online, the tax reform laws, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, were recently signed into law by President Tinubu. The bills faced strong opposition during legislative debates, particularly from some northern lawmakers concerned about their economic and regional impact. The controversy deepened after Dasuki claimed that certain provisions in the gazetted laws had not been debated or approved by the National Assembly. The laws have also attracted criticism from prominent figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, both of whom called for a suspension of implementation pending clarification of the disputed sections. Meanwhile, Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, dismissed claims of secret amendments and warned of consequences for Nigerians if the new tax laws are not implemented from January 1.

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FIRS Declares NIN Now Automatically Serves As Tax ID For Nigerians, CAC Number For Companies

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The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has confirmed that the National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) will now automatically serve as the Tax Identification Number (TIN) for individual Nigerians. The announcement was made on Monday as part of a public awareness campaign on the new tax laws, shared on FIRS’ X account. FIRS also clarified that registered businesses will no longer need a separate Tax ID. Instead, their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration number will act as their official tax identifier under the revised system. The clarification comes amid concerns over new tax law provisions requiring a Tax ID for transactions such as opening bank accounts. The Service explained that the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), which takes effect in January 2026, mandates the use of a Tax ID for specific transactions. It noted that this requirement is not new, as it has existed since the Finance Act of 2019 and has now been reinforced under the NTAA. “The Tax ID unifies all Tax Identification Numbers previously issued by the FIRS and State Internal Revenue Services into a single identifier,” FIRS said. “For individuals, your NIN automatically serves as your Tax ID, while for registered companies, your CAC RC number is used. There is no need for a physical card, as the Tax ID is a unique number linked directly to your identity.” FIRS said the new system aims to simplify taxpayer identification, prevent duplication, curb tax evasion, and ensure fairness by making sure all taxable individuals contribute their share. The Service urged the public to ignore misinformation about the reform, assuring Nigerians that the updated framework is intended to improve efficiency and transparency in tax administration.

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