A fresh crack has emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led opposition coalition following the suspension of membership by prominent political figure and former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman.

Lukman announced his decision in a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, accusing former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of orchestrating a campaign of political hostility and marginalisation against him.

He alleged that despite investing considerable effort in building and strengthening the opposition coalition in Kaduna State, he had become the target of sustained attacks and exclusion by El-Rufai and his loyalists.

According to Lukman, disagreements over the party’s leadership structure in Kaduna gradually sidelined him, leaving him feeling unwanted within a coalition he helped establish.

He stated that stepping aside was the best option, saying it was preferable to remain inactive than continue enduring what he described as unfair treatment.

Lukman further accused some coalition leaders of abandoning the democratic principles they publicly advocate, alleging that internal decisions were increasingly being driven by personal interests rather than fairness and inclusiveness.

He also criticised former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, alleging that the former minister had begun engaging individuals in Kaduna whose commitment to strengthening the ADC was questionable, while ignoring those who had worked to build the party from the ground up.

The former APC chieftain warned that such developments were weakening confidence in the coalition and diminishing the ADC’s ability to emerge as a formidable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Despite his decision, Lukman expressed appreciation to Senator David Mark and other national leaders of the coalition, stressing that his action was not directed at the party’s national leadership but was prompted by the treatment he allegedly received from El-Rufai and some coalition figures in Kaduna State.

The Supreme Court has upheld the final forfeiture of seven luxury properties and $2.045 million linked to former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, handing a major legal victory to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, overturned an earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal that had nullified the forfeiture order and directed a fresh hearing of the case.

The judgment, read by Justice Mohammed Idris, affirmed the November 1, 2024 decision of the Federal High Court in Lagos, which ordered the permanent forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government after finding they were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The Supreme Court held that the appeal filed by the EFCC had merit and consequently restored the trial court’s judgment in its entirety.

Among the assets forfeited are two fully detached duplexes in Lekki Phase 1, several high-value properties in Ikoyi, an industrial complex under construction on 22 plots of land in Agbor, Delta State, eight apartment units, and another luxury duplex in Ikoyi.

The order also covers the forfeiture of $2.045 million in cash and share certificates belonging to Queensdorf Global Fund Limited Trust.

The Federal High Court had originally granted the forfeiture application following evidence presented by the EFCC that the assets were linked to proceeds of unlawful activities.

However, in June 2025, the Court of Appeal set aside the judgment, ruling that individuals claiming ownership of some of the properties were denied a fair hearing and directing that the matter be retried.

Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s decision, the EFCC approached the Supreme Court, asking it to restore the Federal High Court’s ruling.

The apex court agreed with the anti-graft agency, nullified the Court of Appeal’s judgment and reinstated the final forfeiture order, effectively transferring ownership of the listed assets to the Federal Government.

The ruling brings to a close Emefiele’s legal challenge against the forfeiture and marks another significant milestone in the EFCC’s asset recovery efforts.

Businessman and social commentator, Isaac Fayose, has expressed disappointment over what he described as Peter Obi’s failure to acknowledge his contributions to the former Labour Party presidential candidate’s 2023 election campaign.

Fayose made the remarks while reacting to criticism that followed his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.

In a video shared on Friday, he said he invested personal resources in Obi’s campaign, including providing his hotel for campaign-related activities and participating in protests organised by supporters of the Obidient movement.

According to him, despite the sacrifices he made, Obi has never reached out to appreciate or thank him for his support.

Fayose contrasted Obi’s silence with the gesture he received from Seyi Tinubu, whom he praised for showing him respect during their recent meeting.

He also criticised some members of the Obidient movement, accusing them of placing unrealistic expectations on others while failing to take responsibility for political change.

The businessman stated that although he supported Obi in the last election, he remains proud of his Yoruba heritage and has admiration for President Bola Tinubu and his son, insisting that political differences should not breed hostility.

Fayose further declared that he would be free to support Tinubu politically in the future if he so chooses.

His comments come days after a viral video of him singing On Your Mandate We Shall Stand alongside Seyi Tinubu sparked speculation that he had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, Fayose dismissed the claims, maintaining that he remains “101 per cent Obidient” and has not abandoned his political beliefs.

He explained that he had spent time with Seyi Tinubu, Cubana Chief Priest and others discussing politics and national issues before they ended the gathering with prayers, including prayers for President Tinubu.

According to him, praying for the President or maintaining cordial relationships across political divides should not be interpreted as a change in political allegiance.

Fayose also denied allegations that he received financial inducement to switch political camps, stressing that politics should be practised without hatred and should not destroy personal relationships or family ties.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a judgment delivered on Friday, Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the action, rendering the suit incompetent and depriving the court of jurisdiction.

The case was filed by Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Adolphus Wabara, alongside other BoT members, including former Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Prof. Jerry Gana, Chief Olabode George, Hajiya Maryam Ciroma, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Dame Esther Uduehi and the PDP.

The plaintiffs had asked the court to direct INEC to recognise the Kabiru Turaki-led interim NWC, publish the names of its members on the commission’s website and accept all official communications issued by the body.

They argued that previous judgments of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court imposed a constitutional obligation on INEC to recognise the interim leadership.

However, Justice Ibrahim held that the plaintiffs failed to establish that INEC was under any existing legal duty to recognise the Turaki-led committee or that any subsisting court order compelled the electoral commission to do so.

The judge also ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the purported interim NWC constituted the lawful leadership of the PDP capable of representing the party in its dealings with INEC.

Before striking out the case, the court granted applications by members of the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to join the suit as defendants.

Those joined included Alhaji Abdulrahman Mohammed, identified as National Chairman of the Wike-backed faction, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the party’s National Secretary, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade.

The court also approved separate applications by Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah Nnanna and George Turnah to participate in the proceedings, holding that they were necessary parties whose interests could be affected by the outcome of the case.

Justice Ibrahim subsequently upheld the preliminary objections filed by INEC and the newly joined defendants, ruling that the issues raised had already been addressed in previous litigation and could not be relitigated.

Consequently, the court struck out the suit in its entirety and awarded ₦10 million in costs against the plaintiffs in favour of the defendants.

The judge further directed the counsel who instituted the action to personally pay the awarded costs, stating that the order was intended to discourage frivolous political litigation and unnecessary interference in the internal affairs of political parties.

President Bola Tinubu has signed the Presidential Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination, 2026, introducing a unified regulatory framework for Nigeria’s virtual asset sector to strengthen oversight, curb fraud and promote responsible innovation.

The Executive Order, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at improving coordination among key financial, revenue and capital market regulators while addressing emerging risks associated with digital assets.

According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the new framework responds to growing concerns over fragmented regulation that has exposed the country to money laundering, terrorism financing, cyber threats, fraud and revenue leakages.

The government said the Order is designed to improve collaboration among regulatory agencies without creating a new regulator or altering the statutory responsibilities of existing institutions.

To drive implementation, the Order establishes a Virtual Asset Council chaired by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) serving as vice-chairpersons.

Other members include the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The council will provide policy direction, coordinate regulatory activities and work with the Attorney-General of the Federation to develop a harmonised legal framework for the virtual asset industry.

An operational Virtual Asset Office will also be created within the CBN to oversee day-to-day coordination, facilitate information sharing among participating agencies and manage an integrated supervisory technology platform.

Under the new arrangement, registration of virtual asset operators will depend on the nature of their services. Activities involving securities will fall under the SEC, while payment, settlement, custody and related services involving non-security digital assets will be regulated by the CBN.

The Presidency also announced that the CBN will introduce a regulatory sandbox to allow eligible operators test virtual asset products and blockchain-based solutions under close regulatory supervision before they are introduced to the wider market.

In addition, the Nigeria Revenue Service is expected to unveil a tax policy for virtual assets to provide clarity for taxpayers, improve compliance and ensure the expanding sector contributes to national revenue.

The Federal Government also disclosed that work is nearing completion on a comprehensive Virtual Assets White Paper, which will outline Nigeria’s long-term policy direction for the sector.

To ensure speedy implementation, the newly established Virtual Asset Council has been directed to develop a harmonised implementation framework within 30 days.

Enugu State played host to an array of prominent political, business and traditional leaders on Friday as the Chairman and Founder of Geometric Power Group, Professor Bart Nnaji, marked his 70th birthday with a grand colloquium.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, among other world leaders.

The event, held in Enugu, attracted leading figures from government, academia, the private sector and civil society, who gathered to celebrate Prof. Nnaji’s remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s power sector, engineering, education and national development.

Speakers at the colloquium paid glowing tributes to the renowned engineer of robotics and entrepreneur, describing him as a visionary whose investments, particularly through Geometric Power, have significantly advanced Nigeria’s quest for stable electricity supply and industrial growth.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on issues of economic transformation, infrastructure development, innovation and the future of Nigeria’s energy sector.