The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has welcomed a landmark ruling by the Kenyan High Court that declared the 2021 rendition of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, illegal and unconstitutional. The Nairobi court’s judgment on June 24, 2025, found that Kanu’s abduction, secret detention, torture allegations, and forced transfer to Nigeria violated his fundamental human rights under Kenyan and international law. In a press release, IPOB’s spokesperson Emma Powerful hailed the judgment as a “resounding judicial earthquake” shaking the legal foundations of Kenya’s judiciary. The group praised the legal team led by Professor PLO Lumumba for their courage and persistence in…
Author: Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Nigeria’s Federal Government has unveiled plans to aggressively increase its tax-to-GDP ratio from less than 10% to at least 18% within three years, leveraging new tax laws signed by President Bola Tinubu. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, explained that the reforms are designed to address the country’s large tax gap—estimated at 70%—and improve revenue collection efficiency. Speaking on Arise TV, Oyedele described the current tax yield as “embarrassing” compared to other African countries and developed economies. The new legislation includes the Nigeria Tax Bill, Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill,…
A deadly explosion caused by a suspected IPOB/ESN planted landmine rocked Eke Ubaheze Market in Awo-Idemili, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, claiming six lives and injuring five others. The blast occurred when Ngozi Umeh, a middle-aged woman from the village, accidentally stepped on the device, triggering the explosion that sent shockwaves through the local community. The incident unfolded on June 24, 2025, around 2:30 PM, sparking widespread fear among residents of Ubaheze and surrounding areas. Confirmations from multiple local sources indicate that six people died as a result of the blast, with several others seriously wounded. The Imo…
The prolonged political discord between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has come to an end following a peace meeting facilitated by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. After the closed-door discussion on Thursday night, Wike addressed journalists, confirming that both parties had agreed to cease hostilities and work together. “We have all agreed to work together with the governor, and the governor also agreed to work together with all of us. We are members of the same political family,” he said. Wike acknowledged the months-long crisis but described the…
The Nigerian Senate Committee on Public Accounts has intensified its probe into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) following the company’s failure to attend a critical hearing on Thursday regarding alleged financial discrepancies amounting to over N210 trillion in its audited accounts from 2017 to 2023. NNPCL officials and external auditors did not appear before the committee, even as representatives from the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS were present. In response, the committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, issued a 10-day ultimatum for NNPCL’s top management to appear by July 10, 2025, warning of constitutional sanctions if they fail to…
In a decisive move to modernize Nigeria’s fiscal landscape, President Bola Tinubu signed four critical tax reform bills into law on Thursday. The legislation is poised to transform the country’s tax collection architecture by centralizing federally chargeable tax collection under the newly established Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). This reform effectively transfers tax collection responsibilities from agencies such as the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and various federal ministries to the NRS, thereby streamlining revenue administration. The President described the reforms as a gateway to enhanced economic opportunities and international business engagement. At the signing event in…
In a significant move to reform Nigeria’s tax system, President Bola Tinubu has signed four comprehensive tax reform bills into law. The signing ceremony was held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday afternoon around 3:20 pm. The bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. These laws were passed after months of deliberations involving various stakeholders and interest groups. The Nigeria Tax Bill seeks to unify Nigeria’s tax laws by reducing the number of taxes and eliminating overlapping provisions. This consolidation is expected…
The Lagos State Government has come out strongly to reject allegations made by former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, who accused the state authorities of demolishing a building reportedly owned by his brother. Gbenga Omotoso, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that neither the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) nor any other government body was responsible for the demolition. According to Omotoso, “The Lagos State Government is compelled to address the recent allegations made by Mr. Peter Obi regarding the demolition of a property belonging to his brother. We wish…
In a significant move to honour the memory of a revered leader, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced the renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan after the late Dr. Omololu Olunloyo. The announcement was made on Thursday during a solemn interdenominational service held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, the state capital. Governor Makinde stated, “The institution will now be known as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan,” marking a permanent tribute to the late former governor’s contributions to the state and the educational sector. Dr. Olunloyo, who served as the pioneer Rector of the institution, was a prominent elder…
The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Amendment Bill, 2025, which was recently passed by the National Assembly. The bill aimed to grant the NDLEA authority to retain a portion of the proceeds from drug-related crimes directly. In a letter read out during Senate plenary, Tinubu cited constitutional concerns, specifically Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution, noting that under current law, all proceeds of crime must be paid into the Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account. Disbursement to any government agency requires presidential approval and the consent of the Federal Executive…