₦airaland Forum

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has described plans by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to restore fuel subsidy, if elected President, as a populist proposal that may create more financial and economic problems for Nigeria in the long run.

In a policy statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, the think tank noted that although the proposal would initially lead to a reduction in fuel prices, it would ultimately bankrupt the country.

IMPI said: “This reckless, populist proposal represents a dangerous step backwards and a financial trap that would bankrupt Nigeria, destroy the country’s sovereign credit ratings, and wipe out the economic progress made over the past three years.

“Atiku’s proposal to re-regulate prices not only directly undermines the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, but also creates an illusion of price reduction.

“Fixed price caps remove commercial incentives for marketers to distribute fuel to remote areas; consequently, fuel supplies would shift to high-volume urban markets like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt.”

The policy think-tank said the proposal could send a negative signal to international investors by suggesting that Nigeria was returning to regulated petrol pricing after the Federal Government had spent more than three years pursuing deregulation of the downstream oil sector.

Atiku, in his proposed economic recovery plan, had advocated a shift from consumption subsidy to production subsidy, with local refineries receiving crude at a discounted price to enable them to sell refined petroleum products at lower prices to consumers.

However, IMPI argued that the proposed model could create uncertainty for investors if commercial operators were required to comply with politically determined pricing arrangements.

Akinsiju said the proposal would require eligible public and private refineries to receive domestic crude allocations at discounted prices on the condition that the savings were passed on to consumers.

He, however, described the arrangement as convoluted, arguing that it could compel operators, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and private refineries, to work within politically mandated pricing formulas.

“Atiku’s proposal also sends signals to global markets that Nigeria lacks regulatory predictability. This policy shift would scare away international capital and freeze modern Public-Private Partnerships, with repercussions for funding critical legacy infrastructure projects and a damning effect on production and productivity,” he said.

The group further argued that re-regulating petrol prices would undermine the Petroleum Industry Act, which established a framework for a commercially driven downstream petroleum sector.

According to Akinsiju, the proposed intervention could create an “illusion of price reduction” while transferring the cost of the subsidy from direct government payments to discounted crude oil allocations.

“Atiku’s proposal to re-regulate prices not only directly undermines the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, but also creates an illusion of price reduction. Fixed price caps remove commercial incentives for marketers to distribute fuel to remote areas; consequently, fuel supplies would shift to high-volume urban markets like Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt,” he said.

The renewed argument over subsidy comes as Nigerians continue to grapple with the impact of the policy introduced by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023.

Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, arguing that the policy had become unsustainable.

The decision immediately triggered a sharp increase in petrol prices and transportation costs. The PUNCH reported that petrol prices rose from N175 per litre in May 2023 to about N1,300 by May 2026, representing a 643 per cent increase.

The controversy has since centred on whether the fiscal gains from subsidy removal have sufficiently translated into improved living conditions for Nigerians.

The Federal Government has maintained that the policy freed significant resources for the three tiers of government. According to figures presented by the Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele, subsidy and foreign exchange reforms mobilised N15.8tn for the Federation between June 2023 and December 2025.

Of the amount, N5.43tn accrued to the Federal Government, N6.52tn went to states and N3.88tn to local governments. The government, however, clarified that the N15.8tn was not money sitting in a dedicated account, but additional resources mobilised within the wider fiscal system.

Backing the current model, IMPI argued that returning to a subsidised pricing model could recreate the fiscal problems associated with the old regime.

Akinsiju said Nigeria had historically suffered from deductions from oil revenues to fund subsidy before resources reached the Federation Account, thereby limiting funds available to states and local governments.

“Atiku’s model repeats this exact pattern. By giving discounted crude oil directly to local refineries, the government creates a massive hidden deduction.

“This directly reduces the revenue flowing into the Federation Account, stripping state and local government leaders of the liquid capital needed to build rural feeder roads, primary healthcare centres, and community water infrastructure,” he said.

The group also warned that price controls could result in shortages in remote areas and encourage the emergence of black markets. It said such a development could push transport costs higher and worsen food inflation, particularly for rural communities.

It maintained that the government should instead focus on investments capable of increasing productivity and reducing the structural cost of doing business.

“We reiterate that Nigeria’s historical infrastructure deficit cannot be solved by returning to the fiscal policies that created it,” Akinsiju said.

He added that Atiku’s proposed model could amount to replacing a direct cash subsidy with a discount on crude oil revenue.

“Atiku Abubakar’s ‘Follow-the-Barrel’ model replaces a cash subsidy with a crude oil revenue discount. This policy choice risks locking Nigeria back into the same historical cycle: prioritising temporary, popular relief at the pump, while sacrificing the high-quality roads, hospitals, schools, and energy networks required to build a productive national economy,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu has described the Hausa people as pillars of Nigeria’s unity and progress, acknowledging their contributions to the country’s social and cultural development.

Tinubu made the remark in a message posted on his official X handle on Wednesday as Hausa communities in Nigeria and other parts of the world marked the 2026 Hausa Day, also known as Ranar Hausa.

He celebrated their contributions to the country’s development and cultural heritage, saying the language had evolved into an important tool for communication, unity and commerce in different parts of the world.

“The Hausa language, without doubt, has flourished and has become a major language of unity and commerce across the world,” Tinubu said.

“I congratulate the vast Hausa community on the occasion of Hausa Day, which is being celebrated at the historic Daura Palace today.”

The 2026 celebration was held at the historic palace of the Emir of Daura in Katsina State, with traditional rulers, scholars and other cultural stakeholders in attendance.

The event, which followed a similar celebration in 2025, was organised under the theme, “Our Culture, Our Future.” The theme focused on the need to preserve the Hausa language, culture and heritage for future generations.

Beyond the physical celebration in Daura, the World Hausa Day movement has continued to attract attention across the world through digital platforms and academic communities.

US President Donald Trump has warned his voter base that he expects he will be impeached if the Republicans lose control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.
Speaking at a rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump urged Republicans to turn out, saying they would “lose everything” if Democrats took control of Congress.

“I’m going to be impeached. They’re going to impeach me. They have no idea why,” Trump said.

Trump is the only US president to have been impeached twice, although he was acquitted by the Senate on both occasions.

Trump said a Democratic victory would threaten his administration’s policies, including tax cuts and immigration measures.

“If we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose everything that we’ve done,” he told supporters.

He also claimed taxes would rise, wages would fall and businesses would leave the US under a Democratic-controlled Congress.

US Democrats are widely expected to make gains in the House of Representatives in November, while control of the Senate is considered more competitive.

Trump was campaigning in South Carolina for Darline Graham, who was appointed to the Senate in July following the death of her brother, Republican senator Lindsey Graham.

He urged his supporters to treat the midterms as if he were personally on the ballot, saying his political influence was at stake.

“What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot. Just come and vote,” Trump said.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has expanded its free petroleum product delivery initiative to Kano, Imo, Anambra and Nasarawa States, a move expected to reduce distribution costs for independent petroleum marketers and create room for lower petrol prices at the pump.

The initiative, which began with deliveries to Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Kaduna, Abuja and Delta States, is designed to bring petroleum products closer to marketers and retailers while removing the cost of transporting products over long distances from the refinery to various parts of the country. By absorbing the delivery cost, the refinery is reducing one of the key expenses built into the downstream distribution chain.

Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations, Oil & Gas, WAEP and Fertiliser, Fatima Aliko Dangote, said the initiative was designed to ensure that the benefits of domestic refining translate into tangible savings for businesses and consumers.

“The value of domestic refining must ultimately be felt beyond the refinery gate. By absorbing the cost of delivering petroleum products to our customers, we are removing a significant component of the distribution burden and creating room for those savings to flow through the value chain to consumers.

Our goal is to make fuel distribution more efficient, reduce avoidable costs and support more competitive pump prices across Nigeria.”

The expansion has been welcomed by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), which said the initiative would significantly reduce some of the financial and logistical pressures confronting independent marketers and contribute to lower prices for consumers.

National Publicity Secretary and Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, said the initiative addresses a longstanding challenge in the petroleum products distribution chain, where marketers commit substantial funds to product purchases and may then have to wait for extended periods before their orders are loaded and transported.

“This gesture, if sustained, will be able to alleviate the sufferings of independent marketers,” Ukadike said.

“There has been the issue of financial hold-up, whereby marketers pay for products and are not loaded for days and weeks, and they suffer unnecessary hardship bringing the product down.”

According to him, the refinery’s delivery arrangement reduces the period for which marketers’ funds remain tied up, improves cash flow and allows businesses to deploy their capital more efficiently.

“This time around, Dangote has made it very, very easy for marketers. Marketers are jubilating, and you will see the return on investment as an independent marketer. Your money will not be tied down,” he said.

Ukadike said the initiative could also have a direct impact on pump prices because transportation represents a cost that ultimately forms part of the price paid by consumers.

“You also have less risk, and you have petroleum products at your doorstep. Other consumers will also see that our pump price will not continue to go up. The more Dangote brings down its pump price, the more independent marketers will bring down theirs,” he said.

The reduction in distribution costs is particularly significant for marketers serving locations far from the refinery. Under conventional distribution arrangements, petroleum products transported over long distances incur additional costs associated with haulage, vehicle operations, driver expenses, insurance, road risks and other logistics.

Removing or reducing these costs can improve the economics of supplying those markets and create greater scope for competitive retail pricing.

The initiative also reduces the operational risks associated with moving large volumes of petroleum products over long distances. By taking products closer to their destination markets, the refinery is helping to shorten the supply chain and improve the reliability and efficiency of product distribution.

Ukadike commended the management of Dangote Refinery for the initiative and urged the company to extend the programme to more locations across the country, particularly in the northern states, to promote wider access to competitively priced petroleum products.

He described the development as a practical demonstration of the benefits of competition and deregulation in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

“This is the beauty of deregulation and competition,” he said.

The expansion comes as Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector continues to adjust to the growth of domestic refining capacity and a more competitive market environment.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, with a capacity of 700,000 barrels per day, is increasingly supplying refined petroleum products to the domestic market while also expanding its presence in international markets.

The free delivery initiative adds another dimension to the refinery’s impact on the downstream sector. Beyond increasing domestic supply, the refinery is now taking steps to reduce the cost of moving those products from the refinery to consumers.

For motorists and households, the potential benefit is straightforward: the lower the cost of moving petrol through the supply chain, the greater the opportunity for marketers to reduce the price consumers pay at the pump.

Nigeria’s external reserves have grown by $7.09 billion since the beginning of 2026, reaching $52.66 billion as of August 19, according to latest figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The growth represents a 15.6% expansion in less than eight months, up from $45.57 billion recorded on January 2, 2026.


What the data is saying

Data tracked from the apex bank shows a steady upward trajectory following a brief contraction earlier in the second quarter:

•Reserves dipped by $855 million between April 1 and May 7, falling from $49.18 billion to a period low of $48.33 billion.

•Since hitting that low in May, the reserves have rebounded strongly, gaining $4.33 billion over the past three months.

•The balance crossed the $50 billion mark in early June, reached $51.06 billion by June 19, and broke past $52 billion in July.

•From $51.94 billion on August 3, the reserve balance added approximately $715 million in under three weeks to close at $52.66 billion on August 19.

The buildup in external reserves has coincided with improved foreign exchange liquidity and a stronger naira in recent months.

The naira traded around N1,346.90/$ at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) as of August 21, according to recent market data.

Tensions within the Ezeokafor family have spilt into the open, with the eldest daughter of kidnapped Anambra businessman Chief Joseph Ezeokafor publicly blaming her younger brother for making their father a target.

Blessing Ezeokafor, in a string of Facebook posts on August 12, directed her frustration squarely at her brother Eberechukwu Ezeokafor, better known as Jowizaza, accusing him of fuelling the crisis through an exaggerated display of wealth on social media.

According to Blessing, the influencer's lifestyle gave kidnappers the impression that the family could afford an enormous ransom, ultimately causing the demanded sum to balloon from
N700 million to N1.5 billion .

Chief Joseph Ezeokafor, chairman of the Jezco Group, was abducted during his annual spiritual retreat.

After the initial demand, his captors raised the ransom and subsequently cut off communication, leaving the family in anguish over his condition and whereabouts.


Blessing accuses Jowizaza of "audio money"

In her posts, Blessing Ezeokafor painted a picture of a family far removed from the affluence her brother projects online.

She alleged that Jowizaza has no liquid cash close to N100 million and questioned how he could have agreed to pay N700 million to the abductors in the first place, an agreement she says only encouraged the kidnappers to push further.

She said: “Why Jowizaza my brother? You are the cause of this madness. Social media noise, when we don’t have that money. You use audio money to make hoodlums think the money is available.

She said: “Imagine, ₦1 Billion? If anything happens to my dad, I will hold you responsible. Making noise, when we are owing bank ₦40billion. And these people think the money is there, see what your madness exposing has done to us.

“Fake life claiming what we don’t have. You are owing banks FCMB N40 billion, no hope to pay, you are owing Union Bank, you are struggling, even American company I introduced you guys Feedco, yet you keep making noise. Now your madness has made people think we have money.

“Kidnappers they don’t have money, it is audio money, please leave my dad alone. Please release him, they are swimming in debt.

“Some idiots are saying I should not talk what I know.

“So you want those kidnappers to think we have money and refused to give them and kill him there? I will now become fatherless.

“At this point I need to talk so they can be talking reasonable of what we can provide. Dad needs his medication and I don’t want anything to happen to my dad.

“See coming to Facebook was the biggest mistake my brother made. We have simple life not exaggerating wealth.

Any blogger that I see exaggerating our wealth again will have questions to answer.”

Kabiru Abdullahi, a long-time ally of the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Abdullahi announced his resignation from the NDC in a letter addressed to the party chairman of Kofar Ruwa Ward in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.

Abdullahi reportedly communicated his resignation from the NDC through a letter addressed to the chairman of the party in Kofar Ruwa Ward, Dala Local Government Area.

He said his decision was influenced by his experience within the political movement and what he described as years of unfulfilled promises.

“I have been with Kwankwaso for 29 years but have only benefited from failed promises. I will go to where I will be respected more,” Abdullahi said.

The politician said his long association with Kwankwaso did not translate into the political recognition and opportunities he had expected.

He subsequently declared his support for Tinubu and the APC as the country moves towards another presidential election.

Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor and former presidential candidate, has remained one of the most influential political figures in northern Nigeria.

His political structure, known as the Kwankwasiyya movement, has continued to play a major role in Kano politics and in northern Nigeria.

Moreover, Abdullahi had previously resigned from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the Kwankwasiyya movement moved towards the NDC.

His resignation at the time was linked to the directive of Kwankwaso, whom supporters commonly refer to as “Jagora.”

That earlier move came during a period of uncertainty surrounding the ADC and the political future of Kwankwaso and his supporters.

Kwankwaso and his political allies had initially joined the ADC as part of efforts to build a stronger opposition platform ahead of the 2027 election.

The arrangement later changed, with the Kwankwasiyya camp moving towards the NDC.

Abdullahi was among the grassroots politicians who followed the movement during that period.

In July 2026, Senator Rufai Hanga and former Kano governor Kabiru Gaya were among prominent figures received into the APC by Tinubu.

Hanga had been associated with Kwankwaso and represented Kano Central in the Senate, while Gaya had also been linked to the Kwankwasiyya political structure.

Investigation records obtained exclusively by PREMIUM TIMES indicate that Stanley Amandi, a respected actor, filmmaker and former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Enugu State chapter, allegedly accepted an assignment to coordinate propaganda efforts across the South-east should the alleged coup succeed.

His statement to investigators provides a detailed account of how what began as an innocent friendship with a soldier gradually evolved into a series of meetings that culminated in discussions about changing Nigeria’s government through unconstitutional means and assigning civilian roles that would help legitimise a new regime after the anticipated seizure of power.

The account forms part of the proof of evidence filed by the prosecution in the ongoing coup trials of suspects before the General Court Martial and the Federal High Court in Abuja.

It also represents a version of the alleged 2025 coup narratives from Mr Amandi’s point of view shared during interrogation by military investigators.

The actor’s statement emerged from an extensive security investigation that followed intelligence reports received by Nigerian authorities in September 2025 about an alleged conspiracy involving serving and retired military officers as well as civilians said to have been recruited to support different aspects of the operation.

The investigation eventually led to the arraignment of six defendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they are standing trial on 13 charges of treason, terrorism, money laundering and failure to disclose information. The serving military officers are facing charges stemming from the alleged coup at the General Court Martial.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that investigators believe the alleged conspirators were planning to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’ s administration while targeting several of Nigeria’s highest-ranking public officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, service chiefs and senior commanders of the Guards Brigade.

Investigators also believe that while some members of the alleged network were responsible for military planning, logistics and financing, others were assigned entirely different responsibilities, including influencing public opinion, coordinating celebrations and projecting legitimacy for a new government if the operation succeeded.

It was within that broader plan, investigators say, that Mr Amandi’s alleged role became significant.



A CHANCE MEETING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

According to his statement, Mr Amandi never imagined that a casual encounter after mentoring young filmmakers in Enugu, Enugu State in South-east Nigeria, would eventually place him under investigation for one of Nigeria’s most serious criminal allegations.

Mr Amandi told investigators that he first met a soldier identified simply as Warrant Officer Nas during a gathering of filmmakers held at Newberries Park, National Museum, Enugu. He painted the encounter with Mr Nas as a chance meeting but he did not state whether he knew or not that he was sought out for.

After delivering a talk to aspiring actors, guests stayed behind to socialise and take photographs, during which the soldier approached him for a picture.

What appeared to be an ordinary meeting quickly developed into a friendship.

“I saw a gentleman in him and we became friends,” the actor recalled.

Although he admitted he had always been uncomfortable around military personnel, he said Warrant Officer Nas gradually won his confidence and repeatedly invited him to visit the military barracks in Enugu.

Those visits, according to his statement, became increasingly frequent.

He said he was warmly received by soldiers, introduced to several officers and eventually became so familiar with life inside the barracks that he would spend long hours watching football matches, badminton games and even joining soldiers for table tennis.

“I now started seeing the barracks as my home,” he told investigators.



THE INVITATION THAT LED TO ABUJA

The relationship took a different turn several months later when Mr Nas informed him that a senior military officer, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, was organising a Ramadan breaking-of-fast gathering in Abuja and wanted him to attend.

Initially, the actor declined because he was occupied with a film production.
However, according to his statement, Mr Ma’aji personally telephoned him two days later to persuade him to honour the invitation.

His flight was booked, and he travelled to Abuja alongside Mr Nas and the officer’s girlfriend who was identified as Cynthia.

He recalled arriving at Mr Ma’aji’s residence to find an atmosphere typical of Ramadan gatherings, with prayers, food and social interactions among invited guests.

Nothing during the event, he said, suggested that he was about to become involved in discussions that investigators now describe as part of an alleged coup conspiracy.



THE MEETING AFTER THE FEAST

After the Ramadan event ended, the actor said he became tired and requested to return to his hotel.

Instead, Mr Nas insisted they wait until they had spoken with Mr Ma’aji. Moments later, rather than returning to their accommodation, they joined a convoy of vehicles that travelled to another hotel in Abuja.

Inside one of the rooms, several men were already seated. At first, the atmosphere remained relaxed. People laughed, exchanged stories and continued socialising.

Gradually, however, the conversation shifted away from casual discussion to Nigeria’s political and economic challenges.

Participants discussed the removal of fuel subsidy, rising inflation, insecurity, worsening hardship and what they described as failures of governance.

When it became his turn to contribute, Mr Amandi said he spoke about the worsening security situation in the South-east, where residents increasingly feared kidnapping and violent attacks.

From the nature of the discussions, he said, it quickly became obvious that many of those present had attended previous meetings and already knew the roles they were expected to play.

He and Cynthia, however, were newcomers.
It was at that point, according to investigators, that specific assignments were allegedly handed to them.



AN ASSIGNMENT FOR THE SOUTH-EAST

According to Mr Amandi’s statement, he was asked to coordinate public support across the South-east immediately after the planned takeover by organising widespread celebrations designed to create the impression that Nigerians had welcomed the new government.

He was also instructed to engage social media influencers across the region to flood online platforms with positive messages supporting the change of government and encouraging residents to publicly endorse the new administration.

The actor said participants asked him to return to Enugu, work out how the mobilisation would be carried out across the five South-east states and prepare a detailed budget showing how much money would be required.

When the discussion turned to what role he would like to occupy if the alleged plot succeeded, Mr Amandi said he immediately rejected any suggestion that he would seek political office.

According to him, Mr Nas suggested he could be considered for an ambassadorial appointment under the proposed government.

“I told them I was not interested in any appointment,” he said in his statement. “I was satisfied to remain in Nigeria.”



A N50 MILLION PROPOSAL

Back in Enugu, the discussions about mobilisation continued.

Mr Amandi told investigators that he cautioned those involved that mobilising large crowds in Enugu and other South-east states would not be as easy as they appeared to believe.

He explained that residents of the state were generally reluctant to participate in organised protests or public celebrations without a compelling reason.

Despite his reservations, he said an estimated budget of about N50 million was eventually prepared to cover activities across the five South-east states.

The proposal, according to him, included the logistics required to mobilise supporters, organise public celebrations and coordinate media activities if the alleged coup succeeded.

“I was wondering how they would get such an amount,” he recalled.

According to his statement, Mr Nas dismissed his concerns, assuring him that he should not worry because the estimate would simply be forwarded.



APPRECIATION

The actor admitted receiving money shortly after the Abuja meeting.

According to him, about one week after returning from the Ramadan gathering, Mr Nas contacted him to say that Mr Ma’aji appreciated him for honouring the invitation.

Mr Amandi said he forwarded his bank details as requested. Not long afterwards, he received N100,000 in his account.

He told investigators that he immediately sent a message to thank Mr Ma’aji for the gesture.
He maintained that after receiving the payment, he was never invited to attend another meeting.

But he admitted remaining in contact with Mr Nas and occasionally forwarding social media content that he believed would interest members of the group.

According to his statement, he once shared a post by comedian Okey Bakassi, saying he had encouraged the production of the skit because he considered it relevant to the conversations they had previously held.

He also recalled forwarding a video by a former soldier known on social media as “EX-Man,” whose frequent criticism of the military had attracted considerable online attention.

According to Mr Amandi, he sent the video to members of the group and advised them to be cautious.



I WANTED TO REPORT IT

As reports of an alleged coup plot began circulating publicly, Mr Amandi said he became increasingly worried about the developments.

According to his statement, he visited the military barracks in Enugu to look for Mr Nas but was informed that the soldier had travelled.
He said repeated attempts to reach him by telephone proved unsuccessful because the number could no longer be reached.

On 11 November 2025, security operatives arrested the actor at his residence.
During interrogation, he insisted that he had seriously considered reporting what he knew to the authorities.

However, he claimed he was discouraged by what he described as an indirect warning from Mr Nas about the consequences of exposing the alleged conspiracy.

“I had it in mind to report,” he told investigators.

“But there was a subtle threat by Nas that if there was any such leak of the plot, the person would be taken out.”

PREMIUM TIMES is yet to be aware of any charges filed against Mr Amandi for any crime relating to the coup.

But others charged at the Federal High Court and the court martial have denied wrongdoing.
Those charged at the Federal High Court have also challenged the admissibility of the extrajudicial statements obtained from them by military investigators during interrogation, urging the court to throw them out.

They argued that the statements along with the video clip capturing interrogation sessions were obtained without regard for due process and the law. But the judge has yet to rule, the prosecution also called on the court to discountenance their object.

A former deputy campaign manager of the Obi-Datti presidential campaign, Isaac Balami, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu had changed his perception on key issues he previously criticised.

Balami left the All Progressives Congress (APC) in September 2022 to join the Labour Party and the Obidient movement, citing concerns over inequality and the party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

He returned to the ruling party in July 2024, attributing his decision to the Labour Party’s internal leadership crisis and what he described as its inability to offer a credible path for Nigeria.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise News, Balami defended his decision to leave the Obidient Movement, saying he saw no reason to remain on a platform where he believed there was no future.

He asserted that Tinubu, whom he had previously criticised, had proven him wrong on issues that informed his earlier opposition.

“ I just left because, one, there was a reason why I left the APC, two major reasons. I am a Christian from Borno State, and you saw the killings against Christians over the years.

Then, the issue of the marginalisation of ethnic nationalities. Now, the question here is: At the end of the campaign, after the election, I wasn’t happy, and I made it clear.

I’m not here to talk against my principal; we all know what happened. So why should I remain in a place where I see no future, when the person I castigated, insulted, and fought has proven me wrong?”, he quizzed.

Responding to criticism that he betrayed the Obidient movement, Balami rejected the accusation, insisting his decision to leave the APC in 2022 was voluntary and made at significant personal cost, arguing that he should be free to return to the APC without being vilified, just as the ruling party accepted his earlier defection

“To stay back in the APC was at least to get several other contracts. The presidential aircraft was in my hangar, and I walked away from the APC even when I knew no bank was backing me up.

I was in Dubai to establish the university before the Dubai challenges with the Emirate Airline and the Nigerian government. When I got the call from the Middle Belt leaders, I didn’t come to look for work.

I was called by the leaders of the Middle Belt saying, ‘Please, we know you have this business, but we want you to come and do this assignment for us.’ And I came. Nobody in the APC insulted me. It was my choice. I chose to do that,” he insisted.

Balami also defended his return to the APC, arguing that political defections should not be viewed differently depending on the party involved.

He said his contributions to the Obi-Datti campaign were publicly documented and questioned why his decision to return to the APC had attracted criticism when the ruling party accepted his departure in 2022 without hostility.

“The role I played is available online. You can Google my name; you saw the passion and the commitment. Today, if I have a fallout or things are not the way I expected, and I go back to the APC where I come from, the same way the APC took it when I went to another party, why is the other side not taking it? It’s a question I am yet to receive an answer for, ” he questioned.

Addressing questions about his political ideology, Balami said he returned to the APC because the reasons that prompted his departure in 2022 had, in his view, been substantially addressed by the Tinubu administration.

He argued that minority groups in Northern Nigeria were receiving greater recognition, pointing to local government autonomy, the recruitment of forest guards and increased inclusion of previously marginalised communities.

He added that there was nothing wrong with admitting an opponent had proven you wrong and insisted his decision to return to the APC was not motivated by personal gain.

“I went against the APC and left the APC for the Labour Party because of those two reasons. And I’m here to tell you that the reasons why I left the APC are not there as they used to be.

Is it 10 over 10? 100%? No. But I’m telling you that I come from a region that was not recognised. During elections, it is one Arewa, one North. And then after elections, certain people in the establishment take the whole national cake,” he said.

Speaking at a CBN Fair in Gombe, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Department of the CBN, Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, who delivered the opening remarks of the CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, attributed the increase to stronger foreign exchange inflows and renewed investor participation across different asset classes, saying the trend reflects growing confidence in the country’s economic management and ongoing reforms.

She said the reforms are restoring stability to Nigeria’s financial system. She explained that the reforms introduced under the leadership of the CBN Governor are producing measurable gains, including improved macroeconomic stability, easing inflation and increased confidence in the foreign exchange market

According to her, headline inflation declined marginally from 15.93 per cent in May to 15.91 per cent in June 2026, while both food and core inflation also moderated during the period, supported by disciplined monetary tightening, exchange rate unification and improved market transparency.

She further stated that the Naira has continued to strengthen, with the gap between the official exchange rate and Bureau de Change rates narrowing to below two per cent, describing the development as a sign of improving stability in the foreign exchange market.

She also highlighted other reforms implemented by the apex bank over the past 34 months, including banking sector recapitalisation, the launch of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN), the B-Match foreign exchange trading platform, the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 and the introduction of the Nigerian Overnight Financing Rate benchmark.

Reaffirming the bank’s commitment, Sidi Ali said the CBN would continue to pursue monetary and price stability while implementing policies that encourage investment, strengthen financial markets and support sustainable economic growth.

Earlier, the Branch Controller of the CBN Gombe Branch, Mr Yunusa Buba Mubi, described the CBN Fair as an annual engagement platform aimed at educating the public on the bank’s policies while providing stakeholders with the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback.

He urged participants to take an active part in the sensitisation sessions to deepen public understanding of the CBN’s initiatives and their impact on Nigeria’s economy.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, on Wednesday, responded to comments by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party in the upcoming 2027 elections, Donald Duke, regarding the financial implications of the Lagos-Calabar Highway.

Ajayi’s rebuttal comes on the heels of Duke’s interview with Arise News on Tuesday, where he faulted the Federal Government for embarking on such a monumental project, saying the expense could be spent on other sectors.

The highway, which is a monumental project valued at N15 trillion, was renamed the President Bola Tinubu Coastal Highway.

Duke insisted that the project wouldn’t extend beyond the Epe area of Lagos State, recalling that there’s an existing road that links Lagos State to Calabar.

“Take the Lagos-Calabar highway. I know the country cannot afford it. You cannot build a road on the coast from Lagos to Calabar. I mean, you can’t even go through Bayelsa. Bayelsa is swamp.

Even Yenagoa, the capital, is swamp. You’ll probably have to build about 100 or 200 bridges to go through those swamps.

“There is already a road to Calabar. I’ve driven from Lagos to Calabar several times. If the road is poor, fix it.

“I don’t think that road is going to go beyond Epe, and I think the road serves other purposes because I drove once on the road and all I saw on the right flank going towards Epe was land reclamation and all that,” he stated.

The former Cross River State governor, who stayed in office from 1999 to 2007, further criticised the rate of borrowing from international money lenders, saying,

“The World Bank is now cautioning us. They probably won’t give us anything more, so we are going through different routes to get funding from other sources.

Because our revenue collection system is poor, we do the basic thing: we tax you on profit.

“You have got to prioritise and focus on what is required. The money being spent on that would be better spent providing electricity or upgrading the healthcare system.

So, prioritise, focus your priorities, recalibrate your revenue system, and look at the horrendous cost of gas.

“The governance structure must change. Look at the high cost of governance—why do you need a bicameral legislature? You don’t need it.

You can do with only a Senate; you don’t need a House of Representatives. Restructuring; it’s imperative. We need to restructure to come to terms with our circumstance.”

In his response via his X handle on Wednesday, Ajayi corrected that the project would go beyond Epe as against Duke’s remarks, adding that the project had reached Ogun State and progress is being made to extend it further.

He tweeted, “Former Governor Donald Duke, who wants to become President on the banner of an unviable political platform, has also joined the chorus of those saying the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will not go beyond Lagos State.

“I think politics makes a lot of people say loads of what they don’t mean or believe in. They just talk for the sake of talking or because of bad politics. There is actually no sense in arguing against reality.

“While Duke was talking on TV that the coastal highway won’t go beyond Epe, the project has reached Ogun State, and work is going on on the Ondo and Akwa-Ibom states’ sections of the coastal road.”

Former Kano State Governor and prominent National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader, Senator Kabiru Gaya, has agreed to re-join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gaya’s decision followed a private meeting with APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, at his residence on Yaounde Street, Abuja, on Monday night.

Reports indicate that the closed-door meeting lasted about 45 minutes.

A source familiar with the meeting confirmed that Gaya agreed to return to the APC during the discussion.

“Yes, Senator Kabiru Gaya has agreed to re-join the APC,” the source said.

The development comes days after Gaya reportedly lost the NDC senatorial ticket for Kano South, despite recently defecting to the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Gaya resigned from the APC on April 5, briefly joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and later moved to the NDC alongside former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He served as Governor of Kano State during the Third Republic between 1992 and 1993 and later represented Kano South Senatorial District in the Senate from 2015 to 2023 on the APC platform.

Gaya lost his re-election bid in 2023 to Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, who contested under the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).