Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Monday granted an accelerated hearing in a suit challenging the implementation of the 2025 Tax Acts but declined to issue an interim order stopping their enforcement. The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of African Initiative for Abuse Public Trustees against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and several key government officials over alleged discrepancies in the tax laws and their proposed commencement date of January 1, 2026. Listed as respondents are the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,…

By Atoyebi Nike Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Sam Amadi, has warned that the controversy surrounding Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws raises serious constitutional and criminal concerns, including the possibility of forgery. Speaking on Tuesday, Amadi said the issue goes beyond policy disagreement and strikes at the core of the country’s legislative process and democratic legitimacy. “This is of serious dimension,” he said, describing the situation as a potential case of executive overreach and a breakdown of due legislative procedure. According to Amadi, if the version of the tax law that was gazetted differs from…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s external reserves are projected to rise to $51.04 billion in 2026, supported by stronger oil revenues, foreign exchange (FX) market reforms and improved external inflows, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The projection is contained in the CBN’s 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook for Nigeria and represents a significant increase from an estimated $45.01 billion in 2025, pointing to stronger external buffers and easing pressure in the FX market. The apex bank attributed the expected reserve growth to higher oil earnings, increased sovereign bond issuance, sustained diaspora remittances, FX market reforms and expanded domestic refining capacity.…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa State Council, has expressed condolences to the National President of the union, Alhassan Yahaya, over the death of six journalists in Gombe State. The journalists reportedly lost their lives in a fatal auto crash on Monday evening. The Adamawa NUJ conveyed its sympathy in a condolence message jointly signed by the council’s Chairman, Abdullahi Ibrahim, and Secretary, Kissinger Bukar, and issued on Tuesday in Yola. According to the report, the accident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. as the journalists were returning from a wedding ceremony in Kaltungo town, Gombe State.…

By Atoyebi Nike The Katsina State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested eight suspects in connection with the attack on its outpost at Koraman Nayalli in Katsina metropolis. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Buhari Hamisu, confirmed the arrests to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday. Hamisu said the incident occurred on Sunday when a group of youths protested a recent raid that led to the death of a suspected drug peddler, identified as Uzairu, popularly known as Dan’kuda. According to him, the protesters, described as miscreants, stormed the NSCDC outpost located in…

By Atoyebi Nike A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to a 16-count money laundering charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Malami entered his plea alongside his co-defendants his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his fourth wife, Bashir Asabe when the charges were read to them by the court registrar. The defendants were arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired at different times to conceal, retain and disguise proceeds of…

By Atoyebi Nike Foreign ministers from Russia and African countries have agreed on a joint action plan covering 2026 to 2029, aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade, environmental protection, and other strategic sectors. The agreement was reached during the second ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum held in Moscow, according to a report published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and carried by TV BRICS. The conference brought together heads and representatives of foreign policy agencies from 52 African states, alongside officials from eight regional integration organizations. Key engagements at the forum included a meeting between Russia’s Foreign…

By Atoyebi Nike Meta is set to acquire Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup Manus as it steps up efforts to embed advanced AI tools across its consumer and enterprise platforms. Sources familiar with the transaction told Reuters that the deal is valued between $2 billion and $3 billion, though the companies have not disclosed official financial terms. The acquisition highlights Meta’s growing focus on commercial artificial intelligence products as global competition in the sector intensifies. Manus, now headquartered in Singapore, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The startup gained widespread attention earlier this year after its AI agent went…

By Atoyebi Nike U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States destroyed a dock area used by alleged drug-smuggling boats operating from Venezuela, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida while hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the strike targeted a facility where boats were loaded with drugs. “There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” Trump said. “We hit all the boats, and now we hit the area. That facility is no longer around.” Trump declined to…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s national electricity grid collapsed on Monday afternoon, cutting power supply across most parts of the country. Distribution load data released at 3:12 pm on December 29, 2025, showed that electricity supply fell to near zero nationwide. Only Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company received power, with 30 megawatts (MW) and 20 MW respectively. All other DisCos, including Benin, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Yola, recorded zero allocation. Total nationwide distribution stood at just 50 MW, far below normal operating levels, leaving households, businesses, and critical infrastructure without adequate electricity. The…