News Flash - Abia ThinkTank News

Jan

2025

Court Vacates Order Nullifying Sanusi’s Reinstatement As Emir

Court Vacates Order Nullifying Sanusi’s Reinstatement As Emir The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court decision that invalidated the Kano State Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which facilitated the reappointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano. The appellate court ruled that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to nullify actions taken by the Kano State Government under the law. The law, enacted by the Kano State House of Assembly and signed by Governor Abba Yusuf on May 23, 2024, abolished multiple emirates created by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and reinstated a unified…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Trump Sentenced To Unconditional Discharge In Hush Money Case

Crime, Foreign Affairs, News Flash

Trump Sentenced To Unconditional Discharge In Hush Money Case US President-elect Donald Trump, has been sentenced by a judge to an unconditional discharge on Friday. He was sentenced for covering up hush money payments to a porn star despite the US president-elect’s last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House. “This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgement of conviction without encroaching on the highest office of the land, is an unconditional discharge”,” said New York judge Juan Merchan delivering the sentence during a court session that Trump attended…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

US Moves To Return $53 Million Linked To Diezani

Crime, Economy, News Flash

US Moves To Return $53 Million Linked To Diezani The United States Government and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have signed a memorandum of understanding to repatriate the sum of $53 million stolen funds to Nigeria. The funds were part of funds of the Galactica asset linked to former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Speaking during the signing, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said the agreement provides that $50 million of the funds, which is about N77 billion, will be used to fund rural electrification project to increase the reliability and availability…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

CBN Halts Extension Of Export Proceeds Repatriation For Exporters

CBN/Commercial Banking, Economy, News Flash

CBN Halts Extension Of Export Proceeds Repatriation For Exporters The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a circular announcing the immediate suspension of approvals for the extension of export proceeds repatriation on behalf of exporters. Dated January 8, 2025, the directive applies to both oil and non-oil export transactions, marking a significant policy shift aimed at ensuring compliance with existing regulations. The circular was signed by Dr W.J. Kanya, the acting Director of the CBN’s Trade & Exchange Department and released on Thursday. Key provisions of the circularIn the circular titled “Suspension of Extension of Export Proceeds on Behalf…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Money Laundering: Chief Of Staff Implicates El-Rufai In Confessional Statement

Crime, Economy, Judiciary, News Flash, Politics

Money Laundering: Chief Of Staff Implicates El-Rufai In Confessional Statement Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Sa’idu, former Chief of Staff to Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has implicated his former principal in a confessional statement related to an ongoing money laundering case against him. It will be recalled that the Chief Magistrate Court in Rigasa remanded Sa’idu at the Kaduna Correctional Centre following his arrest and arraignment by security agencies on 31 December 2024. The charges against the former Chief of Staff allege that he sold $45 million in hard currency belonging to the Kaduna State Government—equivalent to ₦18,450,000,000—at the significantly undervalued rate of…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Lagos State Governor Approves A Record-Breaking Budget Of N3.366 Trillion

Economy, Lagos, News Flash

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill into law, approving a record-breaking budget of N3.366 trillion. The budget, which is geared towards advancing the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat administration’s developmental agenda, focuses on infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic growth. During the signing ceremony, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering impactful projects that improve the quality of life for Lagos residents and ensure sustainable development across the state. Gboyega Akosile, spokesman of the governor, wrote on X: “Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu today signs the 2025 Appropriation bill to law. “The budget size is N3.366 trillion meant for…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

Gov. Otti At Ministers Prayer Network Anniversary, Maintains Stance On Using Government Money Solely For Government Business

Abia State, Good Governance, News Flash, Religion

GOV. OTTI AT MINISTERS PRAYER NETWORK ANNIVERSARY, MAINTAINS STANCE ON USING GOVT. MONEY SOLELY FOR GOVT. BUSINESS Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has once again maintained his stance that government money must not be used for private endeavors but solely for government businesses. Speaking on Wednesday, 8th January, at the 30th anniversary of Ministers Prayer Network held at their Headquarters in Ukwa West LGA, Governor Otti who attended the event alongside his wife, Her Excellency, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, said that he has always maintained running government and separating government from the individual, noting that the same applies to…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

2025 Budget: PDP, Labour Party Reject N55 Billion Allocation For Presidential Fleet Maintenance

FGN, News Flash, Politics

2025 Budget: PDP, Labour Party Reject ₦55 Billion Allocation For Presidential Fleet Maintenance The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party have condemned the proposed ₦55.5 billion allocation for maintaining Nigeria’s presidential air fleet in the 2025 Appropriation Bill, currently awaiting approval by the National Assembly. The budget, which includes expenses for aircraft engine overhauls, fuelling, air navigation, cleaning, fumigation, and general maintenance, significantly surpasses the ₦19.43 billion spent on the fleet between July 2023 and September 2024. Critics have raised concerns about the government’s priorities, particularly in light of Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges. The South-West Chairman of the…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

China Approves $254 Million Loan For President Tinubu Government’s Kano-Kaduna Railway Project

Business, CBN/Commercial Banking, FGN, Infrastructure, News Flash

China Approves $254 Million Loan For President Tinubu Government’s Kano-Kaduna Railway Project The China Development Bank (CDB) has approved a $254.76 million loan to support the construction of the Kano-Kaduna railway project in Nigeria by the President Bola Tinubu-led government. In a statement released on Tuesday, the bank said the funding would facilitate the smooth implementation of the infrastructure project. The construction is being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) with financial backing from the CDB. “The Kano-Kaduna railway spans a total of 203 kilometers and is designed as a standard-gauge railway,” the statement noted. “Upon completion,…

Jan

2025

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By Abia ThinkTank

SDP, El-Rufai, Al-Mustapha, Others In ‘Strategic Meeting’ Ahead Of 2027 Elections

News Flash, Politics

SDP, El-Rufai, Al-Mustapha, Others In ‘Strategic Meeting’ Ahead Of 2027 Elections Shehu Gabam, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, convened a “strategic meeting” at the party’s headquarters on Tuesday, which had Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna, Hamza Al-Mustapha, the ex-aide to the late Sani Abacha, and other politicians in attendance. According to Segun Showunmi, a former spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar campaign organisation, the Abuja meeting was to “strategise ahead of the 2027 elections.” His post on Facebook read: “Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections, a key meeting was held by His Excellency Shehu Gabam, Chairman…