Category: News

Mr Omotosho gave the order following Mr Kanu’s insistence that the judgement, scheduled for delivery, would not proceed.

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) stood his ground and refused to move out of the courtroom despite the pleadings by the SSS officers for the defendant to comply with the court order.

Mr Omotosho then stood down the matter and directed the security officers to take him out of the courtroom.

The judge was about to commence proceedings, directing the registrar to call the case, when leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) stood up and interjected.

“My lord there is no judgment today because we have joined issues in the matter,” Mr Kanu, who was brought to court from the custody of the SSS, said.

The judge responded with a word of caution to the IPOB leader.

“Defendant there is decorum in court. Let the registrar call the matters accordingly,” Mr Omorosho said.

On 7 November, the judge fixed Thursday for judgement, after foreclosing Mr Kanu’s defence.

The judge declared Mr Kanu waived his right to put forward his defence after the IPOB leader spurned the judge’s persuasion for weeks to enter defence to counter the prosecution’s case which closed with five witnesses in June.

Mr Kanu stood his ground not to enter any defence on the basis that the terrorism charges instituted against him were invalid because they were brought under a repealed terrorism law.

Six of the seven charges against Mr Kanu were filed under the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, amended in 2022. The Biafra agitator claimed the seventh count which has to do with alleged illegal importation of a radio transmitter into Nigeria was ordered by the Supreme Court to be removed.

Mr Kanu, who is standing trial on terrorism charges over his secessionist activities calling for the independence of Nigeria’s Igbo-dominated South-east and some parts of the neighbouring states as Biafra, has been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja since June 2021.

The Nigerian government accused him in the case of carrying out terrorist activities, including broadcasting threats and inciting violence and killings in the region. Premium Times

The court registrar confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday morning.

Cameramen of different television stations, including NTA, Channels TV, AIT, and TVC, were among the workers of broadcast stations in the courtroom with their gadgets for the live transmission.

NAN reports that Justice James Omotosho had, on November 7, fixed today for the judgment.

Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after Kanu’s defence was foreclosed following his insistence that he would not enter his defence under a repealed law.

Justice Omotosho held that Kanu, having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence, had waived his right to do so.

The judge said he would have extended the days allocated to Kanu to conduct his defence if he had opted to open it.

He said Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity given to him to conduct his defence, could not claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed right to a fair hearing.

NAN

The allocation figures were released after the Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting in Abuja on Wednesday. A statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, detailed the breakdown of the funds shared across all tiers of government.

The statement read, “A total sum of N2.094tn, being October 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States, and the Local Government Councils.”

According to the communiqué, the N2.094tn distributed comprised N1.376tn statutory revenue, N670.303bn from Value Added Tax, and N47.870bn from the Electronic Money Transfer Levy.

It added that total gross revenue for October stood at N2.934tn, from which N115.278bn was deducted for the cost of collection, while N724.603bn went to transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings.

Statutory revenue performed slightly better in October. Gross statutory inflow rose to N2.164tn, higher than the N2.128tn recorded in September by N36.832bn. VAT, however, declined sharply. Gross VAT collection dropped to N719.827bn, down by N152.803bn compared with the N872.630bn generated in September.

From the N2.094tn distributable pool, the Federal Government received N758.405bn, states received N689.120bn, and local government councils got N505.803bn. A total of N141.359bn, representing 13 per cent of mineral revenue, was shared among oil-producing states as derivation.

On the statutory revenue component of N1.376tn, the Federal Government received N650.680bn, states got N330.033bn, while local governments received N254.442bn. The derivation allocation of N141.359bn also came from this component.

From the N670.303bn VAT revenue, the Federal Government took N100.545bn. States shared N335.152bn, while local governments received N234.606bn. The EMTL distribution showed that out of the N47.870bn collected, the Federal Government received N7.180bn. States got N23.935bn, and local governments received N16.755bn.

The communiqué noted improvements in petroleum profit tax, hydrocarbon tax, companies’ income tax on upstream activities, capital gains tax, stamp duties, oil and gas royalty, import duty, excise duty, and common external tariff levies. It also confirmed declines in VAT, EMTL, and fees.

The October allocation continues a trend of high monthly FAAC distributions above N2tn driven by elevated oil receipts, strong tax collections, and improved remittances from key revenue-generating agencies. Yet the slight decline from September’s N2.103tn shows volatility in VAT and EMTL inflows, which remain sensitive to consumption patterns and transaction volumes.

The 10th edition of the BudgIT State of States Report earlier revealed that over 30 states in Nigeria rely on Federal Account Allocation Committee allocations for their revenue, leading to fiscal pressures. In total, 31 states depended on FAAC for at least 80 per cent of their current revenue, indicating just how challenging the fiscal situation has become for many of them.

“For example, Lagos’s FAAC allocation rose from N4.24bn to N11.38bn, a massive increase that highlights how significant federation account transfers have become within a single fiscal year. Still, credit should go to the states that recorded strong year-on-year growth, as well as those that grew consistently over the ten-year period we reviewed.

“15 states grew their internally generated revenue by more than 50 per cent, with Enugu recording the highest increase, while only two states had negative IGR growth. Kebbi is one of those, unfortunately, and it’s a reminder that both the government and citizens there need to take revenue generation more seriously.”

The report added that 29 states relied on FAAC receipts for at least half of their total revenue, 28 states relied on FAAC for at least 55 per cent of their total revenue, and 21 relied on it for over 70 per cent.

The BudgIT executives expressed concern that the more FAAC allocations go to states, the more disincentivised they appear to boost their internally generated revenue. Punch

Chairman, Senate committee on media and public affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, disclosed in a statement in Abuja that the Nigerian Senate has been thrown into mourning following the passing of Sen. Okey Ezea.

“Nigeria has lost one of its serving federal lawmakers, Senator Okey Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 10th Senate,” Adaramodu said.

He added, “According to a statement issued by his family, the senator passed away at a private hospital in Lagos at about 11:07 p.m. on Tuesday, 18th November, 2025, after a brief illness.

“Senator Okey Ezea, until his passing, was a member of the Labour Party, where he contested and won the 2023 Senatorial election.

“He was an active and influential voice in the 10th Senate.

“At the genesis of the legislative session in 2023, he served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

“He later held key leadership roles as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Urban Development.

“At the time of his death, he was the Vice Chairman of both the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD, and the Senate Committee on Culture and Creative Economy.

“Senator Ezea’s legislative footprint was marked by purposeful and prolific interventions.

“He sponsored the bill to establish the Federal College of Agriculture, Adani, and championed the bill for the creation of Adada State, a legacy bill he pursued with stoic determination.

“He also moved several motions on the Senate floor, including a motion calling for the establishment of a military base in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, to stem the spate of killings in the area by rampaging bandits.

“Beyond elected office, Senator Ezea has held notable national appointments, including the Chairman of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, in Taraba State.

“The Senate shares the grief of this unfortunate and tragic demise of the distinguished Nigerian, with his constituents in Enugu North, Enugu State, and Nigerians, and most especially the immediate family members.

“We pray fervently that God shall grant him a restful immortality.”

The Chargé d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, Mr Syndoph Endoni, said the decision to exclude Nigeria from the discussion, which held at the UN headquarters in New York, amounted to “shaving our head in our absence”.

The Minaj event, which held at the UN headquarters in New York in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of the U.S. to the UN, was against the background of the ongoing accusation by the U.S. alleging Christian persecution in Nigeria.

U.S. President Donald Trump had recently designated Nigeria as “a Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian genocide in the country.

The Nigerian envoy, however, refuted the ongoing accusations by the U.S. authorities alleging Christian genocide in Nigeria, which the Nigerian authorities have severally rejected.

“It is important to ensure the country concerned in the ongoing allegations of genocide against Christians, is present, aware and has a voice in the matter.

“This is because, you should not make important decisions or take action on something that involves a country without their presence or consent.”

Endoni said by refusing Nigeria participation, the U.S. authorities had denying Nigeria the right and opportunity to tell its own side of the story.

The Nigerian envoy expressed disappointment that a few countries were allowed participation at the event, querying the rationale for shutting Nigeria out.

He said, “We asked the U.S. authorities if it was okay to continue to shave someone’s hair in his absence.

“We further highlighted that the Nigerian government is not standing idly by to watch the atrocities perpetrated by the criminals”.

In addition, the Nigerian envoy stressed that both countries can jointly solve the insecurity problems in Nigeria only if they work together.

Endoni urged the U.S. to ensure inclusive engagements to avoid undue escalation over claims of persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the U.S. Senior Advisor for African Affairs, Amb. Patricia Mahoney had visited the Nigeria House in New York on Monday to intimate Syndoph about Minaj event.

At the meeting, the U.S. representative informed Nigeria that three UN Member Countries were invited with other personalities, including a pastor from Nigeria.

However, she informed that no representative of the Nigerian government, including from the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, was invited.

According to him, the U.S. envoy informed that the event was a private event.

The Nigerian envoy expressed concerns over the U.S.’ actions of naming and shaming, saying it is capable of causing apprehensions in the country.

NAN reports that the main reason Nigeria was denied participation was to honour the participants specific request not to allow Nigerian officials for fears of retribution for them and their families.

However, the envoy said the Nigerian authorities would continue to engage their U.S. counterparts over the killings by extremists and to collaborate to protect lives and property in Nigeria.

(NAN)

The dare-devil and heavily armed bandits besieged the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the outskirts of the town around 6pm during a  service.

The worshippers, five of whom were said to have died from the sporadic gunshots before the bandits eventually entered the church, were carted away by the gunmen into unknown location in the bush.

The sporadic gunshots, which lasted more than an hour, were heard everywhere in the town as residents in other places ran helter skelter.

The assault also forced travellers and residents to abandon vehicles and homes and flee into surrounding bushes to escape the armed invasion.

Though details are sketchy from the attack, several eyewitnesses’ report said the sustained gunfire resulted in a prolonged pandemonium as the people feared the bandits were advancing to other parts of the town.

The town, which hosts the largest yam market in Kwara State, has many settlers and non-indigenes, including Fulanis, Igalas, Beriberis and Nupes

The bandits were said to have attacked the town twice earlier when vigilantes and hunters rescued about 40 cows in a ranch  and 18 passengers in a bus who were attacked while returning from a wedding to the town, one of whom died during the rescue operation.

Also, religious institutions, including the Benedictine Monastery in Eruku, were not spared in previous attacks, where lives were lost.

The President gave the assurance in a statement on Tuesday while announcing that Vice President Kashim Shettima will visit Kebbi State on Wednesday to commiserate with the government and the families affected by the attack.

According to the statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Vice President is to deliver the President’s message of solidarity and reassurance that the Federal Government is doing everything possible to secure the release of the girls.

Expressing deep grief over the incident, President Tinubu said he had received full briefings from military authorities regarding both the abduction and the separate loss of soldiers in Borno State.

He extended heartfelt condolences to the Nigerian Armed Forces following the death of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other gallant troops who were killed in combat against insurgents.

“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes”, President Tinubu said.

He also commended Kebbi State Governor, Dr Mohammed Nasir Idris, for efforts taken to prevent the kidnapping despite earlier intelligence warnings about the possible movement of bandits in the area.

President Tinubu strongly condemned the attack, lamenting the disruption of the education of innocent schoolgirls by terrorists.

He urged communities, especially those in security-prone regions, to strengthen cooperation with the military, police, and DSS by sharing timely intelligence that could prevent such breaches.

“Our security forces cannot succeed in protecting us if the people don’t cooperate and share information that will help them keep our communities safe. I urge community leaders and our compatriots across the country, especially those in the theatres of operations, to share useful information. Your cooperation is crucial in our fight against these security challenges”, he said.

The President affirmed that the government remains fully committed to restoring peace across Nigeria and ensuring that schools remain safe for children.

In an Instagram video posted on Tuesday, Otse said he takes “full responsibility” for the disruption and acknowledged that the incident which caused delays on a United Nigeria Airlines flight, should have never occurred.

“I would really like to apologise for what happened yesterday on United Nigeria Airlines. What happened was not supposed to happen, and I take full responsibility for it,” he said.

Otse noted that the altercation delayed passengers who had important commitments. “Many people on that flight had urgent matters to attend to – some might have had medical emergencies, while others had business contracts to sign.

“I don’t know what that delay may have cost them, and I sincerely apologise,” he added.

He extended his apology to all passengers, including “all the mothers, all the daddies, all the uncles, all the younger ones,” as well as the pilot and flight crew.

Reflecting on the incident, Otse admitted the confrontation was avoidable and described his behaviour as irresponsible. “Looking back, I really didn’t like that part. Even though some saw it as a social media spectacle, I acted irresponsibly,” he said.

While he stopped short of promising the behaviour would never recur, Otse assured Nigerians that it would not happen in public spaces that disrupt others’ travel.

“I cannot guarantee that it will not happen again. But I can guarantee that it will not happen on a plane, on a bus, or in any public space that prevents people from reaching their destinations. I am really, really sorry for yesterday,” he said.