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  The  Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party (LP) has described the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a “liberation” for the party, declaring that it regrets fielding him as its flagbearer in the last general election. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, hours after Obi formally announced his defection in Enugu. According to the LP leadership, Obi’s exit merely formalized a political separation that had already occurred months earlier amid a prolonged leadership crisis within the party. “The leadership of the Labour Party took note of the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi and a few of his supporters to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). “We  also took note of the lacklustre speech Obi made at the occasion, and wondered what new things he intends to sell to Nigerians. For us in the...

Starting January 1, 2026, banks will charge a ₦50 stamp duty on electronic transfers of ₦10,000 and above, in line with the implementation of the new Tax Act. The stamp duty or electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) is a single, one-off charge of ₦50 on electronic receipt or transfer of money deposited in any commercial money bank or financial institution on any type of account on sums of ₦10,000 and above. In an email sent to customers on Tuesday, United Bank for Africa (UBA) said the ₦50 electronic money transfer levy (EMTL) on transfers will now be referred to as stamp duty across all financial institutions. “Please note the following: Stamp Duty applies to transactions of ₦10,000 and above (or the equivalent in other currencies),” the email reads. “Salary payments and Intra-bank self-transfers are exempt from stamp duty. “The Sender now bears the Stamp Duty charge. Previously, this charge was deducted from the Beneficiary/ Receiver.” The bank said it remains committed to transparenc...

  T he presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in 2023 general elections, Peter Obi has officially defected to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC). Obi  announced his defection in Enugu on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. The former governor of Anambra State said his defection ahead of the 2027 election is aimed transforming and rescuing Nigeria. “We  are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi declared. “We will resist rigging of election by every lawful means in 2027,” he added.

Mrs. Erin Harris-Uzor, an American woman, who is married to a Nigerian man, has made a startling revelation. The woman has revealed that her top resolution and goal for 2026 is to pursue a divorce. She disclosed this on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, two months after she addressed haters, saying that her husband isn't going anywhere. The couple only got married in August 2025.  As expected, this revelation of hers has sparked some reactions on social media.

A suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber, Ibrahim Mohammed, apprehended by Operation HADIM KAI troops in collaboration with local hunters in Yobe State, has revealed chilling details of his recruitment, payment, and deployment to target worshippers in Maiduguri, admitting he received up to ₦100,000 for each suicide bombing mission. Ibrahim, who confessed to involvement in the December 24 suicide bombing at the Gamboru Market Mosque in Maiduguri, said the operation was planned and executed under the directive of Boko Haram commanders operating between Adamawa State and the Mandara Mountains. Zagazola quoted him as saying during interrogation: “My name is Ibrahim from Michika in Adamawa. We came to Maiduguri to plant bombs in Izala Mosque. We were sent by our leaders, Adamu and Abubakar, who gave us two IEDs to plant in the mosque.” The suspect disclosed that suicide bombing had become a paid assignment within the terror network. “I was paid money ranging from ₦70,000 to ₦100,000 per missio...

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as the Amotekun Corps, has arrested 39 suspected bandits reportedly fleeing northern Nigeria after recent United States airstrikes on terrorist strongholds in Sokoto State. The suspects were apprehended at the Elegbeka forest axis in Ose Local Government Area, a location long identified as a hotspot for criminal activities, including kidnapping and armed robbery. In addition to the 39 suspects, the corps also arrested 61 other individuals during the festive period for alleged offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery and car snatching to violations of anti-open grazing laws. The State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, disclosed this on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 in Akure while parading over 100 suspects arrested across the 18 local government areas of the state. Adeleye said the 39 suspects arrested at Elegbeka were currently undergoing profiling to determine their culpability, noting that those found without i...

  King  Charles III of the United Kingdom has appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in recognition of his distinguished service, particularly his longstanding contribution to youth development through the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. It was gathered that the honour was announced on Tuesday, December 30, 2025,  places Edun among a select group of Nigerians recognised with the rare distinction. He joins the exclusive list of recipients, with former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, who was similarly honoured. The appointment underscores both the exclusivity of the Royal Victorian Order and its significance in acknowledging exceptional service to the British monarch and the Commonwealth, especially in advancing international youth empowerment initiatives. Part of the official citation published in the gazette read: “Central  Chancery of the O...

  Gui nea’s junta chief, Mamady Doumbouya, who had pledged not to run for office after seizing power four years ago, has been elected president after securing a sweeping majority of the vote, according to initial results by the country’s election commission published on Tuesday. Doumbouya, 41, faced eight rivals for the presidency, but the main opposition leaders were barred from running and had urged a boycott of the vote held over the weekend. In standing, the general reneged on his initial vow not to run for office and to hand the mineral-rich but poor West African nation back to civilian rule by the end of 2024. He secured 86.72 per cent of the first-round vote, according to the General Directorate of Elections, well over the threshold that would trigger a runoff vote. Voter turnout stood at 80.95 per cent, according to Djenabou Toure, head of the General Directorate of Elections. Doumbouya had placed well ahead in districts of the capital Conakry, often winning more than 80 pe...

  Members  of the Rivers State House of Assembly have returned a ₦100,000 cash gift from the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. The  money was transferred to their personal accounts on the instructions of Fubara. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Hon. Enemi Aabo George, chairman of the House Committee on Information, Petitions and Complaints. According  to the statement: “Tuesday, the 30th day of December 2025, Honourable members of the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly received bank credit alerts of the sum of one hundred thousand naira each. “The said unsolicited and unapproved amount was transferred on the instructions of the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to the personal accounts of members. “Up on discovery of these unsolicited and unapproved transfers, Honourable members of the House took immediate steps to formally return the said funds to the account of the Rivers State Government. “As an institution established by law and guided...

  The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that the new tax reforms set to take effect from January 1, 2026, will not involve automatic debits from personal bank accounts, and individuals do not need to provide explanations for transfer. Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, gave the assurance on Channels Television’s end-of-year special,  2025 In Retrospect: Charting a Pathway to 2026,  which focused on politics, security, economy, and tax policy. Addressing widespread misconceptions surrounding the reforms, Oyedele explained the process, emphasizing its simplicity and transparency. “People think that the government will debit their bank accounts from next year, and how they even came up with that, I have no idea. Nobody will debit your account for any amount you transfer. Whether it’s a billion or one thousand naira, at the end of the year, you tell the government yourself,” he explained. Oyedele said the new tax system simp...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that the new tax laws will take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026, despite objections from various quarters. The President made the declaration in a statement on Tuesday in which he explained that the new laws are not designed to raise taxes but to drive harmonization. President Tinubu noted that his administration is aware of agitations in some quarters over the new tax laws, but added that no substantial issue has been raised to warrant a suspension of the implementation process. He promised that the government would ensure due process in the implementation of the laws and work with all stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to resolve all identified issues against the new tax laws. “The new tax laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and the remaining acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will continue as planned. “These reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and ro...

  At  least two people died while several others sustained injuries following a fireworks explosion at a community Christmas carnival in Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. The  incident occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, when a high-intensity firework, popularly known as a ‘knockout’, detonated unexpectedly near the main stage of the event, sparking panic among revellers. Eyewitnesses said the explosion happened at the height of the celebrations, sending people scrambling for safety. One of the victims, identified only as Ugochi, reportedly died on the spot, while another was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later succumbed to injuries. Residents  fear the death toll could rise, as several of the injured sustained serious burns and deep cuts. “The knockout exploded like a bomb,” an eyewitness recounted. “Those closest to the stage collapsed immediately. The sound was deafening, and chaos erupted everywhere as people screamed for help.” V...

The injuries sustained by British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua in Monday’s car crash may be more severe than initially reported. Joshua was pulled out alive from a wrecked SUV vehicle along Lagos-Ibadan expressway. However, two of his close friends he was travelling with, have died following the crash. For Joshua, this accident has now left his £100 million mega-fight with Tyson Fury next year in the balance. It was gathered that the  former heavyweight champion might have suffered damage more serious than publicly declared. There is a real possibility that the 36-year-old has suffered knee and rib injuries. Some of the videos circulating on social media, show Joshua in pain as people carried him out from the mangled vehicle.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his son Abdulaziz Malami, and Bashir Asabe at the Kuje Correctional Facility, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications. Ruling on an oral bail application made by the defendants’ counsel, Justice Nwite stated that granting the bail request at this stage would amount to an ambush, as the defence team had already submitted a written bail application. After the defendants pleaded not guilty to the sixteen-count charges related to alleged corruption, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application. The trio were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had brought a 16-count charge against Abubakar Malami, his son Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and their associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe. ...

  Cr oss River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has described the 20th anniversary of the Calabar Carnival as a major tourism event with the potential to project the state onto the global stage. According to a statement issued on Monday, the governor spoke while flagging off the event at Millennium Park in Calabar, the state capital. Dignitaries at the colourful event included the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma; the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, and his wife; the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, and his wife; retired military officers; and Nollywood actors, among others. Addressing participants, Otu charged the various bands to creatively interpret the theme of the carnival in a way that would leave a lasting impression on the global audience. “The  Carnival you see today, what we are going to unveil is going to be of some very explosive outcome, and of course, we want all the bands to underst...

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun Sector Command, has attributed the crash that killed two people and injured British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua to over-speeding and improper overtaking. The crash which involved a Lexus SUV with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, carrying Joshua, reportedly collided with a stationary truck around past 11:00 AM on Monday, in front of Sinoma, before Danco, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. According to a statement made available by the FRSC, the accident involved five persons, with one injured, two unhurt and two others killed. The statement explained that the driver of the Lexus was over-speeding and wrongfully overtook from the right hand side, thereby ramming into the stationary vehicle. It added that Anthony Joshua was rushed to an undisclosed hospital by the security officers attached to him and the bodies of the deceased deposited at Livewell Hospital Morgue, Sagamu. The statement read:  “An Auto crash occured today 29th December, 2025...

Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola has sold his majority stake in Geregu Power Plc for ₦1.088 trillion, in a transaction funded by a consortium of banks led by Zenith Bank Plc. The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) made this announcement on Monday. Otedola’s Amperion Power Distribution Company Ltd reportedly held nearly 80 percent of the power generating company. With this new development, Otedola, Chairman of First Holdco Ltd, parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Plc, will reportedly now concentrate on expanding his interest in the Nigerian banking sector, although he still retains some shares in Geregu. Otedola is said to currently own 17.01 percent of First Bank — its single largest shareholder since the bank was established in 1894.

  O peratives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested the leader of the gang responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a professor of Neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim, who was abducted and killed in 2023. This was disclosed by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, in a report on Monday. Zagazola disclosed that the prime suspect, identified as Patrick Essien Etim, 23, was arrested alongside his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, on Saturday at a medical facility in Cross River State, where they were allegedly planning to kidnap another senior medical professional. He said the DSS had been tracking the kidnapping syndicate since July 2023, when gunmen posing as patients abducted Professor Ephraim from her private clinic. The suspects reportedly confessed to abducting and killing the professor after collecting multiple ransom payments from her family. “It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the...

  British-Nigerian  boxer, Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident on Monday, December 29, 2025 in Makun, Ogun State. Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway around past 11 AM on Monday morning. The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated. It was gathered that two people died on the spot while Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries. Ade niyi Orojo who stated that the accident happened just before Danco Filling Station in Makun, before Sagamu Interchange inward Ibadan axis of the road. He stated that two people died on the spot. “It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in ...

  The  Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has raised $570,000 to reverse the death sentence of Suleimon Olufemi and also to secure his release. It was gathered that he was sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over the murder of a police officer in 2002. According to a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, the move is in line with the principle of fairness, justice and strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The commission and the Saudi-based Yaro Brothers, through the Association of Nigerians in Saudi Arabia, raised the $570,000 in Diyah (blood money) for the murder committed by Suleimon Olufemi. In Arabic and Islamic law (Sharia), Diyah refers to “blood money” or financial compensation paid to the victim or the heirs of a victim in cases of homicide, bodily harm, or property damage. The statement reads,  “With the Diyah (blood money) of 570,000 USD fully raised by the ...