Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has ordered an immediate investigation and emergency relief measures following a fire outbreak that destroyed parts of the popular Gombe timber market, known as Kasuwar Katako, along the Railway Station area of the state capital.

The inferno, which occurred on Monday night after traders had closed for the day, razed several shops and goods, leaving many traders counting heavy losses.

In a statement issued by the Director-General, Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, the governor described the incident as painful and distressing, noting that it had disrupted the livelihoods of many hardworking residents who depend on the market for survival.

Yahaya expressed sympathy with affected traders and business owners, assuring them of the state government’s support at what he described as a difficult moment

“We assure them that the government stands firmly with them at this difficult moment,” the governor said.

He directed the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency and other relevant agencies to immediately assess the extent of the damage, investigate the cause of the fire and provide urgent relief to victims to cushion the impact of their losses.

The governor commended the Gombe State Fire Service, personnel from Gombe State University, the Federal Fire Service, private tanker operators, security agencies and the Nigerian Red Cross Society for their swift intervention, which he said helped to prevent the fire from spreading further.

While urging victims to remain calm, Yahaya reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening fire prevention and response mechanisms across the state, including plans to establish a fully equipped, state-of-the-art fire service office.

The statement also noted that the governor was briefed on an accident involving one of the firefighting trucks during the operation, expressing concern for those affected and praying for their quick recovery.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has scored significant breakthroughs in its nationwide fight against illicit drugs, arresting a notorious supplier to bandits in Niger and Zamfara states and intercepting large consignments of cannabis, opioids, and other controlled substances across Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi said 33-year-old Mohammed Sani, known as Gamboli, was arrested three weeks after narrowly escaping a previous raid on his residence in Anguwan Makera, Kuta, Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.

NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence had raided Gamboli’s house on November 20, recovering 471.8 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis. Gamboli escaped at the time and went into hiding.

“Intelligence reports revealed that Gamboli was a major supplier of illicit drugs to bandits terrorising Shiroro Local Government Area,” Babafemi said.

He was eventually arrested on December 11 at one of his drug joints in Anguwan Fadama, Kuta.

In another operation, NDLEA intercepted 907 pills of tramadol, tapentadol, cocodamol, amitriptyline, and bromazepam concealed in containers of black soap and designer clothing.

The consignments, bound for the United States, Canada, and Sweden, were seized at two courier companies in Lagos between December 9 and 10.

At the Apapa seaport, Lagos, NDLEA officers, working with the Nigeria Customs Service, intercepted 170,000 bottles of codeine syrup weighing 23,579 kilograms on December 13.

In Abia State, operatives uncovered a clandestine codeine syrup factory at Amapu Igbengwo village, Umuakpara, Osisioma Local Government Area, recovering 9,015 bottles weighing 1,152.2 kilograms.

In Enugu State, Ossai Emeka, 45, was arrested along the Onitsha–Enugu Ezike Road with 7.2 kilograms of skunk, while Enoje Agada, 40, was apprehended along the Enugu Ezike–Ette Road with 94.6 kilograms of the same substance.

Other seizures included:

Oyo State: 3.4 kg of skunk, 1.6 kg of Colorado (synthetic cannabis), and 400 g of methamphetamine at a joint known as Beere the California; Ajibade Faruk arrested, owner escaped.

Ibadan, Oyo: Olusanya Abosede, 35, arrested with 238.4 kg of skunk.

Badagry, Lagos: Bashiru Babalola, 43, and Ugunwale Ranti, 50, arrested with 50,000 tramadol pills.

Ogun State: Akinwale Makanjuola and Joseph Owolabi arrested with 73 kg of skunk; Wasiu Lateef nabbed with 25 kg.

Ondo State: Veronica Obi, 55, and her son Bright Obi, 29, arrested with 1,187 kg of skunk and cannabis seeds.

Edo State: Ohiomah Igbafe, 44, arrested with 461 kg of skunk and seeds.

Gombe State: Muhammed Sani, alias Sha-Mu-Sha, 50, arrested with 40,000 tramadol capsules; Muhammad Abdullahi, 52, and Muhammed Hamza, 32, arrested with 56 kg of skunk.

Meanwhile, NDLEA commands nationwide intensified War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, sensitisation campaigns in schools, workplaces, worship centres, and communities, including Katsina, Kano, Benue, and Enugu states.

Chairman and CEO of NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), commended the officers involved, urging them to sustain the agency’s balanced approach to drug control nationwide.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service on Sunday defended  its recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques, amid concerns by the Northern Elders Forum that the agreement could compromise Nigeria’s tax data sovereignty.

FIRS, in a statement, stated that the MoU is a standard, globally recognised framework focused solely on technical assistance and capacity building.

The agency dismissed claims that it would result in handing over Nigerian taxpayer data or digital tax infrastructure to France.

“The MoU does not grant France access to Nigerian taxpayer data, digital systems, or any element of our operational infrastructure,” a statement from FIRS said

“All existing Nigerian laws on data protection, cybersecurity, and sovereignty remain fully applicable and strictly enforced. The NRS, like its predecessor FIRS, prioritises national security and maintains rigorous standards for the protection of all taxpayer information.”

The agency further noted that the agreement does not displace local technology providers. “FIRS and the emerging Nigeria Revenue Service continue to work closely with Nigerian innovators such as NIBSS, Interswitch, PayStack, and Flutterwave,” the statement added.

The Northern Elders Forum  had called for the immediate termination of the MoU, warning that it poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty and national security.

In an open letter to the Federal Government, Senate, and House of Representatives, NEF described the MoU as a “dangerous tax data agreement” that could expose Nigeria’s most sensitive economic information to foreign control.

According to the letter, signed by NEF spokesperson Prof. Abubakar Jiddere, the MoU goes beyond technical cooperation, representing what the group termed “an unprotected gateway into the heart of Nigeria’s tax infrastructure.”

“The Northern Elders Forum writes today with grave concern and an overwhelming sense of patriotic duty,” the letter read. “Nigeria stands at a crossroads, one that threatens the very pillars of our economic sovereignty, national security, and collective dignity as an independent African nation. Yesterday’s signing of a MoU with France is not a harmless technical collaboration. It places our most sensitive economic data into the hands of a foreign power whose engagements across Africa have historically led to economic manipulation, political pressure, and strategic domination.”

The NEF argued that surrendering control of tax data could expose Nigeria to economic espionage, mass surveillance, and geopolitical blackmail, giving foreign actors insight into strategic sectors, revenue flows, and investment patterns. Jiddere cited historical examples of African nations that had resisted or reversed foreign interference in fiscal matters, warning Nigeria not to repeat past mistakes. “With insecurity ravaging our communities, the naira under pressure, unemployment high, and foreign interests circling our digital infrastructure, this is not the time to mortgage our national pride or hand over our economic soul,” he said.

The forum also criticised perceived legislative lapses, noting that proposed data-sovereignty amendments could have prevented the MoU without parliamentary scrutiny. NEF issued a final warning, demanding that the Federal Government and National Assembly terminate the FIRS–France MoU immediately, keep Nigeria’s tax data fully under national control, contract only Nigerian-owned technology companies to build and manage tax infrastructure, reintroduce and pass all data-sovereignty amendments before the Nigeria Revenue Service begins operations in January 2026, and prohibit any foreign entity from processing or storing Nigeria’s tax data.

“The Northern Elders Forum will oppose this deal with every moral, civic, and constitutional tool available,” the statement said. “This is no longer a policy issue. It is a matter of national survival.”

The MoU, signed on December 10, 2025, allows Nigeria to access advanced tools such as AI-powered audits, automated compliance systems, and real-time economic analytics while ensuring that only aggregated and anonymised data is shared.

FIRS maintains that the partnership is strictly a technical assistance and capacity-building framework and does not compromise Nigeria’s operational control or data sovereignty.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project  has urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to immediately enforce a court judgment directing him and President Bola Tinubu to publish the names of individuals indicted in the alleged misappropriation of N6tn linked to abandoned projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The funds were reportedly meant for the execution of 13,777 projects undertaken by the NDDC between 2000 and 2019.

The judgment, delivered on November 10, 2025, by Justice Gladys Olotu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, followed a Freedom of Information suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1360/2021  filed by SERAP.

Justice Olotu also ordered the Attorney General and the President to publish and make available to the public the NDDC forensic audit report submitted to the Federal Government on September 2, 2021.

In a letter dated December 13, 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said the continued failure to acknowledge and enforce the judgment undermines the rule of law and Nigeria’s judicial system.

“The continuing failure and/or refusal to publicly acknowledge the judgment and immediately enforce it make a mockery of the country’s legal and judicial processes and the rule of law,” SERAP stated.

The organisation cited Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that decisions of Nigerian courts “shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons,” stressing that the provision admits no exception.

SERAP warned that failure to comply exposes responsible officials to contempt proceedings, including personal liability.

“Justice Olotu’s judgment is not advisory; it is final, binding, and immediately enforceable against you and President Tinubu,” the letter said.

SERAP argued that non-compliance contributes to ongoing corruption and impunity in ministries, departments and agencies, and violates Nigeria’s international human rights obligations relating to transparency and accountability.

“The Attorney General is the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and has the responsibility to uphold the Constitution, ensure compliance with judicial decisions, obey the rule of law and act in the public interest,” the organisation added.

SERAP maintained that immediate compliance would help restore public confidence in the Tinubu administration’s commitment to the rule of law and its pledge to address long-standing challenges in the Niger Delta.

The group referenced the Supreme Court’s decision in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986), which held that “the rule of law presupposes that the state is subject to the law” and warned that a government that disobeys court orders “invites anarchy.”

SERAP gave the Attorney General seven days to comply with the judgment or risk contempt proceedings.

In her ruling, Justice Olotu held that the NDDC forensic audit report and the names of persons indicted qualify as public records under Section 31 of the Freedom of Information Act and are not exempt from disclosure, as they relate to the use and management of public funds.

She further ruled that the refusal of the President and the Attorney General to publish the report or act on its findings constituted a breach of their statutory duties under the FOI Act, Section 15(5) of the Constitution, and Nigeria’s international obligations to promote transparency and accountability.

SERAP noted President Tinubu’s recent public commitment to improving the welfare of the Niger Delta, stressing that enforcing the judgment would help fulfil that pledge.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has told the Federal Government that fighting insecurity is not all about changing service chiefs, stressing that Nigerians need to see results.

President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, stated this on Friday while responding to questions in an interview on Arise Television monitored

DAILY POST reports that the NLC has declared nationwide protest on December 17th over the wave of insecurity confronting the country.

“The Federal Government changing service chiefs and rejigging the security apparatus doesn’t mean we are seeing results. We need solutions.

“I think we should be real in discussing issues like this. That Minister has been removed, that the Chief of Army staff has been removed does not mean that we don’t have incidences of kidnap and banditry and all manner of things.

“We prefer to have solution to all those problems, and even change of guards, a theoretical pace. We want to see results,” he said.

When asked what options in terms of recommendations the NLC was putting on the table, Ajaero said,  “The NLC has stopped putting the options on the pages of newspaper.

“We wrote to Mr President since June to provide options on tax session, on strike in the tertiary institution, on strike in the education sector and other areas.

“And up to now, no acknowledgement of the letters. So where are we going to put our demand on if it’s not on the table?”

The first prosecution witness (PW1), Peter Obumuneme Okoye, in the ongoing trial of Jude Chigozie Okoye, an elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye, has told Justice Rahman Oshodi of the  Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, that the defendant’s wife owns 800,000 shares in  Northside Music Limited.

 

Okoye, alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, is being prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a four-count charge bordering on theft to the tune of over $1m.

 

He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

 

At the resumed trial of the matter  on Friday, December 12, 2025,  defence counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN) confronted the witness with the statements of account belonging to Northside Music Limited, detailing some transactions over a period of time

 

The PW1, however, stated the bank statements belonged to their joint business interest, saying, “These statements of account belong to me and my brother. We are P-Square. The company belongs to Peter and Paul. It was registered by him. I reported to the EFCC when I discovered funds were being diverted, and EFCC brought the matter to court”.

 

“My lord, we own an entertainment company together, and I discovered another company, Northside Entertainment Company diverting our funds. I showed it to my brother.”

 

He also confirmed that he petitioned the EFCC through his lawyer, and that the defendant’s wife owns 800,000 shares in the company in question.

 

The defence counsel, thereafter, sought to tender documents attached to the original petition submitted to the EFCC, insisting the documents were vital to their case.

 

However, the prosecution counsel M. K. Bashir, objected to their admissibility, arguing that “the documents are public documents.

 

“The defence merely produced copies stamped as Certified True Copies (CTC). They  were not attached to the petition, and they were not in proper legal form.”   He, therefore, urged the court to reject them.

 

In a short ruling, Justice Oshodi ruled that although the documents originated from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and ended in the EFCC’s custody, they did not meet the admissibility requirements of the court.

 

“I reject the documents and mark them as rejected,” the judge held.

 

The PW1 also confirmed that he wrote a statement at the EFCC after the petition was submitted by his lawyer.

 

The case was adjourned till February 20 and 27, 2026 for continuation of trial.

 

Uncertainty has surrounded the House of Representatives’ plenary scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its contractual obligations to local contractors who executed projects under the 2024 and 2025 budget cycles.

This comes a week after the Green Chamber held a closed-door session with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi; and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, during which lawmakers criticised the implementation of the capital components of the two budgets.

Over the past two months, local contractors have staged peaceful demonstrations at the National Assembly Complex, demanding payment for completed projects. Despite the House leadership setting up an intervention committee, the stalemate persists.

On December 9, the House resolved that it would not consider the 2026 Appropriation Bill once transmitted by President Bola Tinubu until the Federal Government clears all outstanding debts owed to the contractors. The lawmakers also stepped down consideration of 42 bills slated for first, second, and third readings

Four committee reports on bills proposing agricultural colleges and specialised institutions in Kaduna, Edo, and other states were likewise deferred.

The planned consideration of the constitution review report submitted two weeks earlier was also suspended.

In what appeared to be a last-minute attempt to avert a legislative standoff, Ogunjimi pledged to clear the outstanding payments within 48 hours. However, the deadline elapsed on Friday without contractors receiving any payment—an outcome that could significantly shape Tuesday’s plenary.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency of Edo State, Billy Osawaru, expressed disappointment that the pledge was not fulfilled but noted that lawmakers were still expecting action from the executive.

“Promise made has not been met, but we are continuing our engagement with the executive arm,” Osawaru said.

Asked whether the House would make good its threat to halt consideration of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, Osawaru said the situation remained unpredictable.

“I am not sure what the outcome will be since we are still expecting the Accountant-General to act,” he added.

Similarly, Mansur Soro, who represents Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, confirmed that contractors were yet to be paid.

“The pledge has not been kept,” Soro stated, adding that, “further engagement between House and executive should be confirmed by the House spokesman or its leadership.”

Efforts to obtain an official position from the House through its spokespersons, Akin Rotimi and Philip Agbese, were unsuccessful, as both lawmakers did not respond to inquiries.

The Federal Government’s delayed payment to local contractors traces back to persistent budget implementation challenges in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.