President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, commissioned the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Innovative Complex, Data and Command Centre (BATTIC) at the headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) located in Sauka, Abuja.

During the commissioning, President Tinubu stated that the commissioning is a dream come true and a further confirmation that the country is making progress under his leadership.

He also emphasized the need for Nigeria to embrace technology, innovation and a knowledge base economy as a pace-setter on the African continent.

It is understood that the project had been in the pipeline for about eighteen years before it was completed by the current administration.

“…This is the fulfillment of a dream. From the beginning of our administration we promised to deliver. Nigeria is making tremendous progress…” Tinubu said during the commisoning.

Naija News understands that the NIS Digital Hub signals Nigeria’s digital compliance with the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), providing a new, modern and technology compliant system.

According to presidential media aide, Sunday Dare, the system protects Nigeria’s borders and enhances national security.

The newly-commissioned system has an 8.3 gigabyte system and six components. The modern facility functions to detect suspicious travel patterns, pick out persons of interest, biometrics, and real-time 24-hour surveillance, amongst others.

The development makes Nigeria’s passport a security document with full compliance with international standards.

Search engine, Google has unveiled the ‘2024 Year in Search’ for Nigeria.

Crossdresser, Bobrisky, Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, Singer, Shallipopi and Ogechi lyrics topped the trends search.

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Google West Africa, said in a statement that the 2024 Year in Search showed what Nigerians were really interested in.
 
The Google’s Year in Search is an annual analysis that reveals the top trending lists and also what the world searches to see, learn, and do.

“The trending personality search in 2024 was led by Bobrisky, followed by Beta Edu; global search was Donald Trump, while search on death included Junior Pope, Herbert Wigwe, among other searches.” he said

‘’This year, Nigerians continued to demonstrate a strong interest in entertainment with movies like “A Tribe Called Judah,” “Treasure In The Sky,” and “Damsel,” topping the movie charts.

‘’The top television series that captured the interest of Nigerian netizens included “Supacell,” “My Demon,” and “Queen of Tears.”.

“In the culinary world, Nigerians explored diverse recipes, with the ‘Pornstar Martini recipe” leading the searches.

‘’In Nigeria, this year’s results show a continued interest in the political and economic landscape, with searches related to the U.S. elections, the new national anthem, and the national grid topping the news category in this order,’’ he added

A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama on Tuesday ordered the remand of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in Kuje Prison pending his trial on allegations of ₦110 billion fraud.

Justice Maryann Anenih issued the remand order after adjourning the trial till February 25, 2025.

Bello, who governed Kogi State from 2016 to 2024, is facing a 16-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He is accused alongside two former state officials, Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, who are listed as co-defendants in the case.

The court also dismissed an application filed by Bello’s legal team, led by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Joseph Daudu, SAN, seeking bail for the ex-governor.

Justice Anenih ruled that the bail application was prematurely filed on November 22, three days before Bello voluntarily surrendered to the EFCC on November 25.

“A bail application is filed to challenge the detention of a defendant. Filing it before being in custody undermines the application’s validity,” the judge remarked.

She further noted, “Consequently, the instant application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.”

However, the court admitted the second and third defendants to bail in the sum of ₦300 million each, with two sureties in like sum. The court also seized their travel documents as part of the bail conditions.

The EFCC, represented by lead counsel Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued against granting Bello bail, stating that the former governor had repeatedly evaded trial.

“Several efforts to secure the presence of the 1st defendant in court for another charge pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja, proved abortive,” the EFCC said.

The agency described Bello’s bail application as an attempt to manipulate the legal process, noting that it was filed days before his formal arraignment.

The EFCC accused Bello and his co-defendants of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and possession of unlawfully obtained property.

Bello, through his legal team, maintained his innocence, arguing that he is entitled to the presumption of innocence under the law.

“Our client is innocent of all allegations and requires bail to effectively prepare his defence,” Daudu said. He dismissed claims by the EFCC that Bello had evaded trial, asserting that his client voluntarily surrendered to the anti-graft agency.

The high-profile case has drawn widespread attention, with many Nigerians expressing mixed reactions. While some lauded the EFCC’s commitment to holding public officials accountable, others questioned the protracted nature of high-profile corruption trials.

The case, marked CR/7781, underscores Nigeria’s ongoing battle against corruption and the judicial system’s role in ensuring accountability among public officials.

EFCC alleged that the former governor misused state funds to acquire properties, including No. 35 Danube Street, Maitama District, Abuja (N950 million), No. 1160 Cadastral Zone C03, Gwarimpa II District, Abuja (N100 million), and No. 2 Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Street, Asokoro, Abuja (N920 million).

Other properties the defendants allegedly acquired with funds stolen from the Kogi state treasury included Block D Manzini Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N170 million); Hotel Apartment Community: Burj Khalifa, Dubai (Five Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Dirhams); Block 18, Gwelo Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N60 million); and No. 9 Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja (N310.4 million).

Likewise, the defendants were accused of transferring $570,330 and $556,265 to TD Bank, USA, and possessing unlawfully obtained property, including N677.8 million from Bespoque Business Solution Limited.

The Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has remanded human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, in prison custody.

Naija News reports that Farotimi was taken back to prison on Tuesday after the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, postponed the decision on the bail application to December 2o, 2024.

This comes after the police counsel, Samson Osobu, argued that the bail application submitted by the defendant was incomplete and not properly filed.

This ruling, however, contradicts the decision of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, which granted Farotimi bail on Monday.

Farotimi’s arraignment stems from allegations of defamation against Nigerian Senior Advocate, Afe Babalola, SAN, in his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” where he accused Babalola of corrupting Supreme Court judges.

Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and transferred to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned on a 16-count charge.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The police prosecutor requested his remand in prison custody pending further investigation, while his counsel argued for bail on liberal terms, citing the presumption of innocence.

However, Farotimi’s arrest has sparked public outrage among Nigerians and political elites, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

An acclaimed pastor from Ajapa community in Ese Odo LGA of Ondo State, Terry Tinate Augustus, popularly called “Black" has been apprehended by security operatives in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Augustus, who was alleged to be a kidnapper, was arrested by the Amotekun Corps in collaboration with the Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Waterways Security, Engr. Alore Omosuyi.

The suspect was arrested on December 8, 2024 following a tip-off from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad.

The media team of the Office of the SA to the Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Waterways Security, in a statement on Monday, December 9 said that Augustus, a key figure in a violent kidnapping syndicate, had been linked to multiple abductions, including a recent high-profile case in Lagos.

"On December 8, 2024, a joint operation between the office of the Special Assistant to the Ondo State Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Waterways Security, Engineer Alore Omosuyi and the Amotekun Divisional Headquarters in Ilaje Local Government Area led to the arrest of the notorious kidnapper, Terry Tinate Augustus, also known as “Black

"The arrest took place in Alape, Ilaje Local Government Area, following crucial intelligence provided by the Commissioner of Police Special Squad 1 in Lagos State.

"Terry, a key figure in a violent kidnapping syndicate, had been linked to multiple abductions, including a recent high-profile case in Lagos.

"The operation was prompted by the arrests of two members of the gang, Promise Mafimisebi and Monday Ikuesan, in Lagos.

"During questioning, Mafimisebi revealed that the gang had collected a ransom of $52,000 from the recent kidnapping of Isa Ososa in Lagos. He also disclosed that Terry Tinate Augustus, also known as Black, was a member of their group and hailed from Ajapa in Ondo State.

"The gang primarily operated in urban areas, targeting wealthy individuals for ransom. They used swift abduction tactics, often employing stolen vehicles to carry out their operations.

“Engineer Alore Omosuyi, with his strategic leadership collaborated closely with the Amotekun Corps Ilaje to orchestrate the successful operation. Their combined expertise in security surveillance ensured the swift apprehension of the suspect. ”

The Labour Party (LP) member in the House of Representatives from Plateau State, Dalyop Chollom, has decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmaker who represents the Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal constituency announced his defection via a letter that was read during the House session on Tuesday by the Speaker, Abbas Tajuddeen.

In his statement regarding the defection, the Speaker relayed that the lawmaker indicated he made the decision to leave the LP for the APC after considerable contemplation, citing the ongoing turmoil within the party as a significant factor.

He expressed that the political well-being of his constituents is paramount and asserted his belief that he would be able to serve them more effectively within the ruling party.

In response, the House Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), raised a Point of Order, referencing Section 68 (1) (d) of the Constitution, and declared the defection to be invalid.

He subsequently requested that the House dismiss the letter of defection submitted by the lawmaker.

Chinda said, “We cannot continue to put the cart before the horse. That letter you read was not right.”

The Minority Leader emphasized that the legislator must furnish proof of his resignation from the party; however, the Speaker indicated that he had reviewed all relevant information and was content with the documentation provided by the legislator.

In response, Chinda asserted that if the Speaker is indeed satisfied, he ought to adhere to the provisions outlined in the Constitution regarding the status of a legislator who has defected from their party to join another.

He added, “If you say the letter he wrote is in order, you declare his seat vacant.”

The Speaker stated that he had reviewed the presentation made by the lawmaker and subsequently deemed the Minority Leader to be out of order.

In a similar vein, Representative George Ozodinobi from Anambra, representing the Labour Party, expressed disappointment regarding the defection, noting that the Labour Party was not experiencing any internal conflicts.

Senator Samuel Bako Lalong was present in the chambers to observe the announcement concerning the defection of the lawmaker from Plateau State.

Naija News recalls that last Thursday, five lawmakers, comprising four members of the Labour Party and one from the Peoples Democratic Party, transitioned to the All Progressives Congress.

The four Labour Party members who defected to the APC are Representative Tochukwu Chinedu Okere from Imo, Representative Donatus Matthew from Kaduna, Representative Akiba Bassey from Cross River, and Representative Esosa Iyawe from Edo.

Additionally, Representative Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, the daughter of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, switched her allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has advised those nursing presidential ambitions in 2027 to shelve their desires.

In a post on Facebook, Igbokwe insisted that there would be no vacancy for a new president in 2027.

The APC chieftain stressed that Tinubu would remain the occupant of Aso Rock after 2027.

He wrote, “Those of you scheming and dreaming for 2027 should go and rest . There is no vacancy in Aso Rock until PBAT clears the huge and monumental Augean Stable that has accumulated for years now. Nigeria is being reworked to work again.”

This is coming amid speculations that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, are planning to form an alliance to sack Tinubu in 2027.

APC Chieftain Raises Alarm Over Gang Up Against Tinubu

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has alleged there is a gang up against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Talks regarding the 2027 election have been gaining momentum recently, with mixed opinions from the northern parts of the country.

Igbokwe alerted Nigerians on the alleged gang up against Tinubu in a post via his Facebook page, stating that those responsible for it had been calling him on the phone.

The APC chieftain, however, expressed confidence that President Tinubu would overcome the obstacles ahead of his re-election bid.

He wrote, “There has been a funny/ crooked gang up against PBAT come 2027. They have been calling my phones.

“The callers even mentioned the names of the schemers and l laughed until tears started coming out of my eyes. They do not know about PBAT.”

The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf has visited the Near East University in Cyprus over the withheld certificates of Kano scholars who graduated between 2015 and 2019.

The results were withheld over the non-payment of school fees.

Speaking via a statement on Monday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, the governor disclosed that the affected graduates were sponsored to the Cyprus varsity by the administration of ex-governor Abdullahi Ganduje but the government failed to pay their fees, making the university to withhold their certificates.

The statement said Yusuf visited Cyprus and met with the management of Near East University to address the matter.

“The discussions centred on facilitating the release of certificates for students who graduated between 2015 and 2019, particularly those in critical fields such as Medicine and Nursing.

“Many of these graduates have been unable to advance in their careers due to unpaid tuition fees under the previous administration,” the statement said.

It quoted Yusuf as remarking that: “This situation has been a significant setback for our children, hindering their dreams and aspirations. It has also impacted the state, which urgently needs skilled professionals, especially in healthcare services.”

The governor described the failure to pay tuition fees as a major lapse in governance, adding that the current administration was committed to rectifying the issue.

“One cannot imagine that as governor, Ganduje could neglect such an important responsibility, particularly for medical students who are essential for our healthcare system,” Yusuf stated.

Following what he termed as “fruitful discussions” with the university management, Governor Yusuf expressed optimism about resolving the liabilities and ensuring the release of the certificates.

“This effort marks a new chapter of hope for these graduates and reaffirms our administration’s dedication to education and the welfare of our people as a foundation for sustainable development,” he said.

The resolution of this issue is expected to empower the affected graduates to pursue their careers and contribute meaningfully to the development of Kano State.

The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has felicitated with the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on the occasion of his 62nd birthday.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya praised the Senate President’s exemplary leadership, describing him as a statesman whose commitment to the progress of the legislative arm of government has been both impactful and inspiring.

The Governor noted that the Senate President’s extensive political career, spanning decades, has been defined by an uncommon commitment to public service and a passion for uplifting the Nigerian people.

“On behalf of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, as well as the government and people of Gombe State, I join millions of Nigerians in celebrating a distinguished leader and patriot. Your steadfast commitment to nation-building and good governance is admirable.

“As Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, your visionary leadership has fostered legislative harmony and significantly advanced our democracy,” Governor Inuwa Yahaya remarked.

The Governor commended Senator Akpabio’s remarkable achievements, particularly during his tenure as Governor of Akwa Ibom State, where his impactful leadership and infrastructural development left an enduring legacy.

He prayed for the Senate President’s continued good health, wisdom, and strength to effectively discharge his responsibilities, urging him to sustain his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and prosperity.

“Your commitment to legislative excellence and nation-building is exemplary. I pray that Almighty God grants you more wisdom and grace to serve the country with even greater vigour,” the NSGF Chairman added.

Demands transparency in federal revenue, expenditure reporting

The Senate has threatened ministries, departments, agencies, and MDAs of the federal government with zero allocation in the 2025 fiscal year if they fail to appear before it to scrutinize records of expenditures made from 2024 appropriations.

It also took a swipe at discrepancies in Nigeria’s revenue generation and expenditure tracking and called for improved synergy between the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the legislative body.

Senators raised these and others yesterday during an investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Finance, led by Senator Sani Musa, that focused on the remittance of internally generated revenue, fiscal accountability, and the overall state of the country’s financial management system.

Members of the committee who spoke during the session with the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein and her team, flayed the level of discrepancies observed in the records books of some of the agencies.

In his opening remarks, Senator Musa emphasized the importance of addressing financial inconsistencies across government agencies, stating that these issues undermined transparency and accountability in governance.

Specifically, he warned that any agency that failed to appear before the committee risked zero allocation for 2025 fiscal year.

“This performance index exercise on the various MDAs is preparatory to the 2025 budget. Any agency that failed to appear before this committee upon invitation risks zero allocation in the 2025 budget because records of how appropriations made for 2024 are expended must be provided with facts and figures,’’ he said.

The lawmaker, who noted the inability to readily access accurate data on the funds available to the federation, a gap that impairs effective oversight and policymaking, said: “We should be able to determine, at any point, the exact state of revenues collected, how they’ve been disposed off, and what has been allocated to various accounts. Unfortunately, that is not the case today.”.

Key areas of concern include the discrepancies in reports from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL and the federation account, the dividends received from LNG operations, and other significant variances.

The committee also underscored the need for clarity on loans, grants, and other financial inflows managed by the government.

The Accountant General of the Federation had before the threat, presented a summary of internally generated revenue for the federal government up to September 2024 as she reported an N8 billion capital allocation for 2024, yet only N2.9 billion (25%) had been released for project execution.

Lawmakers noted that the unutilized funds obstructed other agencies from accessing necessary resources, further exacerbating delays across the board and policy of centralizing all payments in the Accountant General’s office was heavily criticized for creating bureaucratic bottlenecks.

They pointed out that this system often resulted in MDAs waiting months for payment after projects had been executed, causing delays in government operations and public projects.

Concerns were also raised about contractors being required to pay under-the-table fees, reportedly 5% of the contract value, to expedite their payments.

The reported figures included independent revenue of N2.7 trillion; operating surplus from government-owned enterprises, GOEs, amounting to N2.3 trillion; and ministries, departments and agencies’, MDA, internally generated revenue of N344 billion.

However, the committee noted that the submitted report focused solely on the Accountant General’s Office, with significant omissions regarding the federal government’s overall financial activities.

Following the gaps identified, the committee resolved to invite other relevant agencies, including the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, and the NNPCL, for a joint session to ensure a comprehensive review of the discrepancies.

“This is not about hearing from one side and another separately; we need all stakeholders present at the same time to provide clarity and consistency in their reports.

“The Senate hearing reflects growing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s financial oversight and accountability mechanisms, with a shared commitment to enhancing transparency and building a robust fiscal policy framework,” Senator Sani said.

Besides the chairman, other members of the committee expressed deep frustration over the persistent delays in the release and utilization of capital budgets, citing inefficiencies within the centralized payment system managed by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

They criticized the centralized payment policy which requires over 700 ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, to process payments through a single office.

According to the lawmakers, the policy has led to inefficiencies, delayed project completion, and diminished public trust, especially in constituencies expecting the execution of critical infrastructure projects.

Concerns were also raised about contractors being required to pay under-the-table fees, reportedly 5% of the contract value, to expedite their payments.

This practice, if verified, according to them, represented a major accountability issue, undermining the efficiency of the system.

The Accountant General revealed that stamp duty revenues from 2020 to 2024 were disappointingly low, totaling ¦ 30.3 million, compared to the ¦ 301.49 million internally generated revenue, IGR.

Lawmakers linked this to poor budget performance, as taxes are only collected when payments are made.
The accountant-general in her defence, explained that the centralized payment system was introduced to curb inefficiencies and prevent unutilized funds from being rolled over annually.

At the end of the day, the committee gave the accountant-general till tomorrow to provide all requested reports, ahead of a follow-up meeting scheduled for 2pm the same day.

Members also indicated plans to summon other agencies, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, to address discrepancies in their submissions, even as they insisted that MDAs should be given greater autonomy to manage their budgets while maintaining oversight to prevent misuse.

On his part, Senator Amos Yohanna, Adamawa North, who summarized the issue, said: “Federal government revenue is suffering because budget performance is poor. Taxes remain low because payments are not made. We need a system that works.”

The committee demanded answers to the core issue, which is why funds are delayed, even for uploaded, completed projects?

The accountant-general was asked to provide a detailed explanation of the bottlenecks and propose solutions.

The Senate is expected to deliberate on whether to reform or abolish the centralized payment system, ensuring that Nigeria’s budget implementation meets the needs of its citizens and fosters development.