Headlines

A former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Anamekwe Nwabuoku, facing trial over an alleged ₦1.96 billion fraud, has requested more time from the Federal High Court in Abuja to negotiate a settlement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Nwabuoku, who is standing trial on a nine-count charge, made the plea on Monday after the EFCC, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ekele Iheanacho, informed the court that it had five witnesses ready to testify.

Although his lawyer, Isidore Udenko, represented him in court, the defendant disclosed that he had engaged a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to facilitate an out-of-court settlement. Udenko noted that a previous attempt to reach an agreement with the anti-graft agency had failed, leading to the commencement of trial.

Responding, EFCC’s counsel, Iheanacho, stated that while the prosecution was prepared to proceed with the trial, it had no objection to the defendant’s request if it served the interest of justice.

“Even though our five witnesses are in court and we are ready to go on with the trial, however, if the request of the defendant will meet the justice of the case, we will not be opposing,” he said.

Following the submission, Justice James Omotosho adjourned the case to March 13, 2025, for either a settlement report or the continuation of the trial.

Nwabuoku was appointed as acting AGF in May 2022 after the suspension and subsequent trial of former AGF Ahmed Idris over an alleged ₦80.2 billion fraud. However, the EFCC later accused Nwabuoku of financial misconduct before his appointment, leading to his removal in July 2022.

He was subsequently charged alongside a Director in the Federal Civil Service, Felix Nweke. However, the EFCC later amended the charge, removing Nweke as a co-defendant after he agreed to testify against Nwabuoku.

According to the prosecution, Nwabuoku allegedly violated Section 18 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012), an offence punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The court had earlier heard testimony from Nweke, who alleged that Nwabuoku used four different companies to divert public funds. He further stated that the illicit funds were deposited in accounts controlled by an individual identified as Gideon Joseph.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in Adamawa State has cautioned fruit dealers against using chemicals to ripen fruits and urged consumers to be cautious of chemically treated produce.

State Coordinator Gonzuk Bedima issued the warning on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola. He identified calcium carbide, a chemical commonly used in welding, as the primary substance used to artificially ripen fruits, particularly bananas and oranges.

Bedima warned that exposure to calcium carbide poses serious health risks, including cancer. He noted that NAFDAC had previously sensitized fruit sellers and would intensify awareness campaigns, especially with the approach of the fasting season, when fruit consumption increases.

He advised consumers to remain vigilant and avoid fruits that appear overly ripe on the outside but are unripe inside, as this could indicate chemical treatment.

“If you suspect such fruits, avoid buying them, as they are dangerous to your health,” he said, urging the public to report cases of chemically ripened fruits to NAFDAC to prevent further risks.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued the official notice for elections in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

In a statement on Wednesday, INEC said the early announcement complies with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to give advance notice of elections.

“Nomination papers for all elective positions must be submitted through the commission’s online portal and delivered to its headquarters in Maitama, Abuja,” the statement read.

The commission confirmed that voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. in all polling units across the FCT on the election day.

According to the notice, only registered voters whose names appear on the voter register and who possess valid Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be eligible to vote. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed for the election in line with INEC’s ‘No PVC, No Voting’ policy.

INEC urged all eligible voters and stakeholders to take note of these guidelines and prepare accordingly.

Leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun arriving at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja ahead of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for noon today.

Security operatives, including personnel from the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Mobile Police, and the military, have barricaded the roads leading to Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, where the APC secretariat is located. Vehicular and human movement on the street has been partially restricted.

As of 9:50 a.m., some party members had arrived, including Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia.

President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas are expected to attend the meeting.

The APC had earlier held its caucus meeting at the State House on Tuesday, presided over by President Tinubu.

Following the caucus meeting, Chairperson of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma stated that the party remained united, stronger, and committed to supporting the Tinubu administration.

This marks the first NEC meeting under Tinubu’s presidency since he assumed office in May 2023. The meeting, initially scheduled for September 11 and 12, was postponed indefinitely before being rescheduled for today.

The NEC meeting comes amid internal tensions within the party.

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, recently accused the party of deviating from its progressive ideals.

El-Rufai, who was nominated for a ministerial position but was not confirmed by the National Assembly, claimed that it was President Tinubu—not lawmakers—who blocked his appointment.

“The president didn’t want me in his cabinet,” El-Rufai said in an interview with Arise Television, his first public statement since his nomination was rejected. “The National Assembly had nothing to do with me.”

Nigeria took a step closer to conducting a national population and housing census with biometric and digital components, nearly two decades after the last census in November 2006.

President Bola Tinubu, during a meeting at the State House on Monday, February 24, 2025, with officials of the National Population Commission (NPC), announced plans to establish a committee to align the census budget with the government’s current financial realities.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, indicated that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) must be part of the review process.

“We must ascertain who we are, how many we are, and how to manage our data. Without an accurate census, we can’t successfully plan for employment, agriculture, and food sovereignty. So many problems arise without accurate data,” Tinubu said.

The president emphasized his commitment to ensuring accurate and reliable census figures to support development planning and enhance social security measures for Nigerians.

NPC Chairman Nasir Isa Kwarra, along with other commission members, briefed the president on preparations for the census. Tinubu highlighted that reliable demographic data would improve government interventions, including fertilizer distribution and other economic incentives.

He also stressed the need for biometric capturing to be central to the process, incorporating multiple identification features such as facial and voice recognition.

“We should ensure our financial capacity is well-structured before approaching development partners for support. This stop-and-go approach to the census cannot continue. We need a clear, definite plan. I will set up a committee to critically assess the financial needs, determine available resources, and explore potential assistance before making any official proclamation,” Tinubu stated.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, reaffirmed the importance of census data for national planning and resource allocation.

“At a retreat for ministers in 2023, Mr. President reiterated his commitment to the census. In fact, at the last Federal Executive Council meeting, you asked me about the delay, and I explained it was due to funding challenges,” Bagudu said.

He noted that 40 per cent of the funding for the 2006 census came from development partners and that discussions were ongoing to determine the minimum financial requirement for the exercise.

Bagudu also highlighted collaborative efforts between key agencies, including the NPC, NIMC, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Ministry of Digital Economy, and other institutions, to optimize available data sources for the government.

In his remarks, NPC Chairman Kwarra emphasized the urgent need for a new census, stating that the 19-year-old data from 2006 was no longer adequate for effective planning.

He disclosed that 760,000 tablets had been acquired and stored at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in preparation for the exercise, adding that the commission would engage development partners for additional support once President Tinubu formally proclaimed the census.