By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A federal high court in Lokoja has set aside its earlier judgment which compelled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.

Isah Dashen, presiding judge, while delivering ruling in a suit marked FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, held that the December 10, 2025, judgment was reached without hearing all necessary parties, rendering the proceedings constitutionally defective.

According to NAN, the ruling followed an application by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which argued that it had a legal interest in the case and should have been made a party before the court delivered judgment.

Dashen agreed, holding that the applicant had established sufficient interest to be a party in the proceedings.

The judge said the omission rendered the entire process null and void.

He also held that material facts were not disclosed during the earlier proceedings, making it necessary to vacate the previous order.

Consequently, he ordered that the status quo be restored to what it was before the December 2025 judgment, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court also ordered that the substantive suit begin afresh, with INEC, the PMP and the NDC joined as parties.

On February 5, 2026, Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, said “only two” out of the eight “qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the constitution and the Electoral Act”.

Despite not being part of the pre-qualified associations, the NDC was also registered by INEC.

“The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi state, in suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the commission to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party,” Amupitan said.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has sparked mixed reactions online following her remarks encouraging Nigerians to explore low-capital ventures such as akara frying, roasted corn sales, and kuli-kuli production as means of livelihood.
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‎She made the comments during a press briefing with State House Correspondents after the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with wives of state governors, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. A video of her statement surfaced online on Friday via News Channel 247.
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‎In her address, the First Lady highlighted the initiative’s efforts to support vulnerable Nigerians through grants and empowerment programmes, stressing that beneficiaries were given financial assistance without repayment obligations.
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‎According to her, the aim was to provide immediate relief and encourage self-reliance through simple business ideas that require minimal startup capital.
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‎“We’re trying to give hope, and starting an akara business doesn’t take much money. Roasting corn or even kuli-kuli doesn’t require much either. We didn’t give loans; we gave grants,” she said, adding that she has continued to support Nigerians within available resources.
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‎She further noted that the Renewed Hope Initiative has extended interventions into sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and social welfare. She revealed that she personally contributed funds including ₦2 billion for tuberculosis control, ₦1 billion for breast cancer interventions, and ₦500 million for malnutrition support.
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‎Tinubu also explained that the initiative had facilitated scholarships, ICT training, agricultural support, and other social investment programmes aimed at improving livelihoods across the country.
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‎Reaffirming the government’s agenda, she urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite prevailing economic difficulties, saying the Renewed Hope Initiative is designed to restore confidence and improve living conditions.
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‎However, her remarks quickly triggered backlash on social media, with many Nigerians accusing her of being out of touch with the realities of economic hardship in the country.
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‎Critics on X (formerly Twitter) described the comments as insensitive, arguing that they downplay the scale of unemployment and rising cost of living.
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‎One user, @ADCVanguard_, said the statement reflects how disconnected the political class has become from ordinary citizens, while another, @ireteeh, compared the initiative with private-sector empowerment efforts that focus on tech and skill development.
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‎Some users also expressed concern that promoting petty trading was not enough given current economic challenges, insisting that Nigerians need sustainable jobs and structural economic reforms.
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‎However, others defended the First Lady, arguing that small-scale businesses like akara and roasted corn sales have historically sustained many families and remain profitable ventures when properly managed.
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‎A user, @Akikanju1568901, described akara business as a viable source of income that has helped many families educate their children and build financial stability.
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‎Another user, @PemiOladapo, emphasized that there is dignity in all forms of labour and encouraged Nigerians to embrace available opportunities and scale up gradually.
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‎Conversely, some commenters clarified that the criticism was not directed at the businesses themselves, but rather at the timing of the message, given the current economic hardship facing citizens.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed banks and other financial institutions to freeze accounts of customers accused of terrorism financing.

In a circular signed by Olubunmi Ayodele-Oni, the apex bank on Thursday said the directive followed recent designations by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee and the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The US had recently listed three individuals and six entities allegedly linked to Islamic State (ISIS) financing, including three Nigerian bureau de change (BDC) operators.

The Nigerian BDCs are said to be situated in Lagos and Kano.

Commenting on the development, the CBN asked all financial institutions to “immediately freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and other economic resources belonging to, owned, held, or controlled (directly or indirectly) by the designated persons and entities”.

The apex bank directed financial institutions to screen existing customers, beneficial owners and transactions against the updated sanctions list.

The CBN also ordered banks to ensure that no funds, financial services or economic resources are made available, directly or indirectly, to the designated persons and entities.

The regulator asked financial institutions to file suspicious transaction reports (STRs) with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for any confirmed or attempted matches.

Banks are also required to “submit reports to the CBN within 48 hours, detailing the status of any matches, affected accounts, amounts frozen and actions taken”.

“Nil returns are mandatory where no matches are identified,” the apex bank said.

The CBN further instructed financial institutions to intensify monitoring for terrorism financing indicators, including rapid movement of funds, the use of money service businesses and transactions involving high-risk jurisdictions.

The regulator warned that institutions that fail to comply with its directive risk sanctions under the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 and other applicable laws.

The apex bank also said it would conduct off-site reviews, on-site examinations and supervisory engagements to verify compliance with the sanctions measures.