The government of Ireland has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian government for the return of €5.5 million stolen by a former military head of state, Sani Abacha. The Irish minister for justice, Helen McEntee, said the return of the asset followed a forfeiture order by a…

The 19 state governors under the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Wednesday called for an investigation into the claims made by a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia, that one of them is a commander of the Boko Haram group. Mr Mailafia, a former…

The suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has again written to the Ayo Salami-led investigative panel, faulting its manner of proceedings. Mr Magu, who wrote through his counsel, Wahab Shittu, also decried the presidential panel's interpretation of its role as a Judicial Commission of…

The House of Representatives on Monday said its investigation over the spending of N1.7 trillion on the implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) is not connected to the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. The chairman House Committee on Public Procurement, Wole Oke, said this when the…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 12 state and national assembly bye-elections for October 31. Six of the bye-elections are to fill senatorial seats that became vacant mainly due to the death of their former occupants and the election of Duoye Diri, who represented Bayelsa Central, as Bayelsa…

Nigerian governors have asked President Muhammadu Buhari for a bailout fund to address the security situations in their states. The governors made this submission on Tuesday at a meeting between President Buhari, members of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) security council, and security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting,…

The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Itse Sagay, on Monday, criticised the structure of the Justice Salami-led panel probing the allegations of corruption levelled against the suspended acting EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu. Mr Sagay also frowned at the panel's approach of taking evidence from Mr Magu's accusers…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pledged to appeal a Court of Appeal judgement ordering the commission to enlist 22 political parties that were deregistered. A four-member panel led by Monica Dongban-Mensem, the appeal court president, on Monday, held that INEC had failed to give reasons to the parties…

The House of Representatives on Thursday summoned a former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, her successor, Zainab Ahmed, and the Humanitarian Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, over the spending of N1.7 trillion on the implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) between 2016 - 2019. Also invited are the current…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has introduced a dedicated online portal, "INEC Result Viewing (IRV)," that will enable Nigerians to view results from polling units in real-time on election days. In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye, on Thursday, INEC said the development aims at…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that political parties' branded face masks/coverings would not be allowed at polling units on election days. INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said this on Wednesday during a town hall meeting in Nasarawa state with political parties and other election stakeholders. The meeting was…

The Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, has ordered a fresh round of redeployments involving senior police officers initially deployed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), PREMIUM TIMES can confirm. The 16 affected senior officers include eight Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and eight Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs).…

Amidst worsening insecurity across the country and separate resolutions by the National Assembly demanding the sack of military chiefs, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he is convinced the security chiefs are 'doing their best' to address the challenges. The president said this at the National Security Council meeting held…

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently meeting with Nigeria's security chiefs as the security situation worsens across the country. Apart from Mr Buhari, others at the meeting include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Staff to the President Ibrahim Gambari, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and some ministers. The heads of…

The federal government says it spent about N523.3 million on school feeding programme during the coronavirus induced lockdown. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, said this on Monday during the Presidential Taskforce briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja. Ms Farouk said about 124,589 households benefited across the FCT, Lagos and…

The electoral commission, INEC, has refuted claims that it substituted the name of the African Action Congress (AAC) deputy governorship candidate for the Ondo election. AAC in a statement on Sunday had accused INEC of replacing the name of its deputy governorship candidate for the coming election in Ondo State…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the final forfeiture of N827.7 million from two companies identified as contractors with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The companies are Flank Power Resources Limited and GMFD Ventures Limited. In a statement on Monday signed by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale,…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal High Court to order President Muhammadu to publish the details of loans taken by his administration since May 29, 2015. The group in a statement on Sunday said it filed the suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.…

The presidential panel probing the suspended EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, has ordered the withdrawal of several police officers working at the commission, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt. The EFCC, an agency that investigates financial crimes, usually writes to the Inspector General of Police requesting for officers for most of its operations.…

The Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) has said 17 political parties have submitted the names of their candidates for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for October 10. In a statement Tuesday signed by a spokesperson to the commission, Festus Okoye, it said the list and credentials of the 17…

The Nigerian government said it has recovered over N800 billion in looted funds. The government also said it has secured the conviction of over 1,400 persons. The nation's information minister, Lai Mohammed, stated this via a statement on Tuesday. ''This administration’s fight against corruption is as strong as ever, and…

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), an international not-for-profit outfit, has expressed concerns over the spate of allegations of corruption in recent weeks rocking many Nigerian institutions saddled with the responsibility of addressing the poverty problems in the country. The group, in a report entitled ''ActionAid Nigeria’s Position on Taming the Gale of…

The federal government has extended the ongoing N-Power Batch C online application by two weeks, an official has said, adding that over five million people have so far applied. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the humanitarian ministry's Deputy Director, information, Rhoda Iliya, on Sunday. The ministry explained…

The suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has denied more accusations levelled against him of corruption in his capacity as the anti-graft boss. Mr Magu, who spoke through his lawyer, Wahab Shittu, via a statement Sunday, refuted reports of him misappropriating N329 billion…

The 36 state governors have dismissed claims that they are against President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order 10 of 2020, which compels state governors to ensure financial autonomy for state legislatures and judiciaries. President Buhari, in May, signed into law an Executive Order, granting financial autonomy to the legislative and the…