President Bola Tinubu, barring any last-minute change, is expected to present his nominee for the post of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the National Council of State today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, according to Naija News.

This comes after the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who handed over to the most senior national commissioner, Dame May Agbamuche-Mbu, in an acting capacity on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

According to sources within the presidency who spoke with Vanguard, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Yakubu and would be announced after the Council of State has been briefed.

“He came highly recommended and has already undergone security screening,” a top official told Vanguard.

Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, is said to be Tinubu’s preferred choice among the three names pencilled down for the job.

Born on April 25, 1967, in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is a seasoned legal scholar.

He specialises in Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law, with decades of teaching and administrative experience at the University of Jos.

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If confirmed, Tinubu’s swift action will mark a departure from the style of his predecessor, late President Muhammadu Buhari, who allowed the commission to remain in limbo.

During Buhari’s tenure, the mandatory four-man quorum at INEC was not constituted until four months later, creating operational delays.

Naija News understands that today’s Council of State session is expected to seal the choice of Yakubu’s successor and set the tone for Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.

Naija News

A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued an order for the arrest of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for contempt of court.

This order was announced by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi just hours after Yakubu vacated his position.

The court directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to apprehend Yakubu and initiate committal proceedings within seven days. Earlier that day, Yakubu officially transferred leadership of INEC to National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman until a new substantive head is appointed. The handover took place during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

The arrest order follows a lingering dispute between the commission and the Action Alliance (AA) party over INEC’s alleged refusal to comply with a previous court judgment.

In suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024, filed by the party, the court had ordered INEC to upload the name of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the National Chairman of AA, along with members of its National Executive Committee (NEC), on its official portal.

The October 2023 elective convention that produced Omoaje and other NEC members was ruled valid by the court, which affirmed it was properly monitored and supervised by INEC officials in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Although INEC claimed to have complied with the judgment, Omoaje’s name has remained absent from the commission’s website as of press time, even though the names of state chairmen and other NEC members have been published. The court described the continued omission as a violation of its order.

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A certified copy of the latest ruling, dated October 7, 2025, and signed by O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, stated:

“It is hereby ordered that the Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.”

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service has reported the seizure of contraband goods valued at more than N1.2 billion within six weeks.

Comptroller Mohammed Shu’aibu, who disclosed this during a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, said the seizures reflected the unit’s heightened vigilance and enforcement activities across the South-West region.

According to him, the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the confiscated items stood at N1.188 billion, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He revealed that officers intercepted 5,015 bags of foreign rice equivalent to eight trailer loads alongside 15 assorted used vehicles, 143 bales of used clothing, two jumbo sacks of used shoes, and one sack of assorted worn apparel.

“The Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service, has intensified its anti-smuggling operations, seizing contraband valued at over N1.2 billion in six weeks.

“The Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Shu’aibu, disclosed this during a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, highlighting the unit’s increased vigilance across the South-West,” the NAN report read in part.

It added, “According to him, the total Duty Paid Value of the seized goods stood at N1.188 billion, underscoring the magnitude of the operations.”

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The unit also confiscated 390 bottles of codeine, 310 packs of foreign-branded drugs, 19 cards of tramadol, and 210 used tyres.

Shu’aibu added that a 20-foot container with the number ONEU 2419369 FTC, containing 752 cartons of calcium lactate, was seized for false declaration. Other intercepted items included 640 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 431.8 kilogrammes and 460 jerrycans of petrol amounting to 11,500 litres.

He said four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures and had been handed over to relevant agencies for investigation and prosecution. The unit also recovered N39.2 million through demand notices issued against importers for under-valuation between September 1 and October 7.

Shu’aibu reaffirmed the command’s commitment to supporting legitimate trade while maintaining strict enforcement of customs regulations. He noted that the unit’s operations were aimed at curbing smuggling and upholding the 2016 federal government ban on the importation of foreign parboiled rice through land borders.

The seized drugs and narcotics were then handed to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and disposal.

The report further noted that NAFDAC Chief Regulatory Officer, Mr. Taiwo Kareem, commended the Customs Service for its vigilance, disclosing that the intercepted pharmaceuticals had expired between 2001 and 2023.

He cautioned Nigerians against purchasing medicines from roadside chemists, stressing the dangers of consuming expired or counterfeit drugs.

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Similarly, the Deputy Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, Mr. Nasir Bungudu, lauded the collaboration between the agencies and pledged continued partnership in the fight against drug trafficking and related offences.

Shu’aibu, meanwhile, warned smugglers to desist from illegal trade or face severe sanctions, commending Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi for his leadership in strengthening border enforcement operations across the region.

President Bola Tinubu has again written to the National Assembly, seeking approval for a fresh external borrowing of $2.3bn.

This is in addition to a plan to issue a $500m sovereign Sukuk, which will mark Nigeria’s debut in the international Islamic finance market.

The request, contained in a letter read on the floor of the House of Representatives by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday, complies with Sections 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office Establishment Act, 2003.

The borrowing plan seeks legislative approval for external financing to implement the 2025 Appropriation Act, refinance maturing Eurobonds, and expand Nigeria’s debt instruments to include Islamic finance products.

Tinubu noted that “the 2025 fiscal framework anticipates $9.27bn in new borrowings to address the budget deficit, of which $1.84bn is earmarked for external sources at an assumed exchange rate of N1,500 to the dollar.”

He explained that the external borrowing would be sourced through various instruments, including Eurobonds, syndicated loans, bridge financing, or direct loans from multilateral institutions — in order to optimise cost and manage risk effectively.

A key element of the plan is the refinancing of Nigeria’s $1.118bn Eurobond, issued in 2018 at a coupon rate of 7.625% and due in November 2025.

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“This is a standard practice in debt capital markets,” the President wrote. “Refinancing through Eurobonds or syndicated loans will guarantee debt sustainability and boost investor confidence.”

Tinubu maintained that refinancing maturing obligations was part of routine debt management and vital for maintaining Nigeria’s fiscal credibility.

The President’s letter also revealed a plan to issue a $500m sovereign Sukuk internationally, a move aimed at deepening Nigeria’s presence in the Islamic finance market.

The initiative follows the success of domestic Sukuk issuances, which have raised N1.39tn since 2017 to fund critical infrastructure projects such as major road construction.

According to Tinubu, the international Sukuk would help narrow Nigeria’s infrastructure funding gap while diversifying its investor base.

The government is also exploring a credit enhancement guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, to strengthen the offering.

“If the ICIEC credit guarantee is utilised, 25% of the proceeds will be used to repay relatively expensive debt obligations, while the balance will finance pre-identified infrastructure projects,” the President said.

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He assured lawmakers that the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office would engage reputable transaction advisers to secure the best pricing and terms amid volatile global market conditions.

Tinubu further expressed confidence in Nigeria’s reputation as a consistent and credible issuer in international capital markets, noting that the proposed transactions would reinforce investor trust and ensure prudent fiscal management.

The new borrowing request comes as Nigeria grapples with the twin challenges of financing a large budget deficit and managing a complex debt portfolio.

As Africa’s largest economy, the Federal Government continues to balance its drive for infrastructure-led growth with the need to maintain debt sustainability.

The 2025 budget includes plans to raise $9.27bn in new loans, with $1.84bn coming from external sources.

Analysts say the government’s growing reliance on a mix of domestic and foreign funding reflects a pragmatic response to rising inflation, currency volatility, and high global interest rates.

Nigeria’s success with domestic Sukuk issuance has demonstrated the potential of Islamic finance to fund tangible development projects. Expanding this strategy to global markets could enhance the country’s credit profile and reduce dependence on traditional borrowing methods.

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The proposed involvement of the ICIEC guarantee is also expected to lower borrowing costs by improving Nigeria’s credit rating, making the new Sukuk more attractive to global investors. Allocating a quarter of the proceeds to retire expensive debts, observers note, reflects a cautious and strategic approach to managing the nation’s debt structure.

A wanted Nigerian man identified as Ikechukwu N. has been arrested in Argentina over alleged multiple romance scams involving thousands of women and leading an international cybercrime network.

The arrest, disclosed on Tuesday by INTERPOL via X account, was carried out as part of Operation Jackal, an INTERPOL-coordinated initiative targeting West African organised criminal groups.

According to INTERPOL, Ikechukwu’s arrest marked Argentina’s first arrest of a most wanted #RedNotice fugitive who is also on the list of the international police via its Silver Notice project.

The statement explained that the Silver Notice project, which had its pilot launched in January 2025, aims at helping countries trace and recover criminal assets.

The post read, “Argentine 🇦🇷 authorities have captured Nigerian national Ikechukwu N. 🇳🇬, marking the country’s first arrest of a #RedNotice fugitive who was also the subject of an INTERPOL Silver Notice.

“The suspect is accused of orchestrating multiple romance scams involving thousands of women, and leading an international cybercrime network.

“The arrest was part of Operation Jackal, an INTERPOL-coordinated initiative targeting West African organized criminal groups. It was carried out by @PFAOficial and @seguridadpsa, with support from IFCACC, FIS, and INTERPOL Brazil.

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“The Silver Notice pilot project, launched in January 2025, aims to help countries trace and recover criminal assets.”

Nigerian Tribune

Many residents of Kaduna State are groaning under the weight of soaring house rents as landlords and agents continue to hike prices in significant parts of the State.

According to LEADERSHIP, landlords and agents have raised rents in Ungwan Maigero, Karji, Narayi and Barnawa, making accommodation difficult for many low- and middle-income earners.

In some areas visited, a one-room self-contained apartment that used to go for between N100,000 and N150,000 now costs between N300,000 and N350,000.

Similarly, depending on location and facilities, a one-bedroom flat (room and parlour) now costs between N500,000 and N700,000.

Residents who spoke to LEADERSHIP expressed frustration over the situation, saying the increase has worsened the cost of living in the State.

Grace Ashafa, a resident of Narayi, said the high rent has added to the economic hardship already facing families.

“Life is becoming unbearable for us. Fuel is costly, and now house rent has doubled. It is difficult to survive,” she said.

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Emmanuel Auta, a father of five who lives in Karji, said his landlord recently raised the rent on his one-bedroom apartment by almost 50 per cent.

“I was paying N400,000, but the landlord has increased it to N600,000. I don’t know where to get the money. I may have to move my family to a smaller place”.

For widows and single parents, the situation is even more difficult.

A widow, Agatha Okeke, who resides in Ungwan Maigero, said she might be forced to return to her village if the situation persists.

“I am a petty trader. My profit is small, and I still have to pay school fees and feed my children. Now rent has gone beyond my reach,” she said.

Some residents attributed the rising rent to the high cost of building materials and inflation, while others accused landlords and agents of taking advantage of the situation.

“Cement and other materials are indeed expensive, but some landlords are just exploiting people,” said a resident of Barnawa who declined to be named.

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They appealed to the Kaduna State Government to intervene and regulate rent to prevent more people from becoming homeless.