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12th February 2026 08:15 PM 
VICE-PRESIDENT SHETTIMA DEPARTS ABUJA FOR AU SUMMIT IN ETHIOPIA
Vice President Kashim Shettima of Nigeria has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 2026 African Union Summit.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday.
He said the summit will focus on advancing Africa’s commitments to sustainable water management, improved sanitation and the broader development goals contained in the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.
Nkwocha further revealed that Vice-President Shetttima will join other African leaders at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government and the 30th General Assembly.
The Special Assistant therefore noted that the Vice President is accompanied by cabinet ministers and other senior government officials, stating that Vice-President Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his official engagements in Ethiopia.
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JUSTICE EGWUATU WITHDRAWS FROM EFCC’S CASES AGAINST FORMER ATTORNEY-GENERAL MALAMI
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on Thursday, withdrew himself from the two cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
Justice Egwuatu, who was recently re-assigned the case by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, said he decided to withdraw from the two cases for personal reasons and for better interest of justice.
The development occurred shortly after the civil suit for forfeiture of 57 property allegedly linked to Malami was called for mention.
Recall that the cases were formerly before Justice Emeka Nwite, who sat as vacation judge during the Christmas break.
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COURT ADJOURNS EX-AVIATION MINISTER, STELLA ODUAH’S TRIAL UNTIL MARCH
Justice Hamza Muazu of an Abuja court on Thursday adjourned the trial of former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah and one other until March 5, 2026.
Justice Muazu adjourned the matter after the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that Odua had submitted an application to the Attorney General of the Federation ‘s office.
He said that the application was in line with the provisions of Section 270 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, just as the SAN informed the court further that discussion was ongoing on the application and asked for a definite date for report or trial.
Recall that Oduah was arraigned alongside Gloria Odita, by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation on a-five-count charge bordering on alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, and criminal breach of trust.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in January 2014 to obtain a total of Two Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Naira, Nine Kobo from the Federal Ministry of Aviation through a Offshore Marine company under alleged fraudulent claims.
Meanwhile, the defendants however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
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FOOD BEVERAGE WORKERS PROTEST AT NAFDAC LAGOS OFFICE OVER SACHET ALCOHOL BAN
Members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, on Thursday occupied NAFDAC office complex in Isolo, Lagos, to protest the agency’s refusal to comply with alleged Federal Government’s directive to suspend enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets.
Preliminary findings revealed that the union is calling on NAFDAC to unseal production lines that were shut down, citing a directive allegedly issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Recall that NAFDAC on Wednesday dismissed claims that the Federal Government ordered it to suspend enforcement of the ban on sachet and PET-bottled alcohol.
Earlier this month, NAFDAC began implementing the nationwide prohibition on the production and sale of alcohol packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate, PET, bottles.
However, reports circulating on social media on Wednesday suggested that the agency had been instructed to halt the ban’s enforcement.
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AIDE— SECURITY AGENTS ATTEMPTED TO ARREST EL-RUFAI AT ABUJA AIRPORT
Security agents on Thursday allegedly attempted to arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, from Cairo, Egypt.
The claim was made by El-Rufai’s Media Adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, in a post on his verified X handle shortly after the incident, revealing that the operatives approached the former governor as he disembarked from his flight and sought to take him into custody.
The Media Adviser said El-Rufai declined to accompany the agents, insisting that he would not honour the request without a formal invitation, just as the statement further alleged that the security personnel seized the former governor’s passport during the encounter.
Recall that on Wednesday El-Rufai alledged that he could be arrested by the Federal Government, claiming that recent developments indicate he may be the next target.
El-Rufai made the allegation during an interview with BBC Hausa, expressing concerns over what he described as growing political intimidation against opposition figures.
The former governor, who recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress, said some of his close associates had already been detained.
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MAGISTRATES REJECTS C’RIVER GOVT OFFER OF 15 OFFICIAL VEHICLES
Members of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, MAN, Cross River chapter, who are currently on strike, on Thursday rejected the offer of the state government to provide 15 out of the 74 officials vehicles demanded.
Secretary of the association, Magistrate Solomon Abuo, disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Calabar on Thursday, noting that that the government had remained silent on other demands made.
While affirming the continuation of the strike, he noted that the state chapter of the MAN had met with the government representatives twice within week, emphasising that the association was still awaiting the final offer from the government following the last meeting held on Tuesday night.
According to him, there are 74 magistrates in the state, and the government only promised to provide 15 official vehicles, stating that the association considers it too small and will create other challenges for the association.
Abuo stressed that the government was however silent on the issue of accommodation for the magistrates and renovation of magistrate courts across the state.
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IN BUSINESS
PRESIDENT TINUBU HAILS BANK OF INDUSTRY OVER N636BN DISBURSEMENT TO BUSINESSES
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has commended the Bank of Industry for disbursing 636 billion Naira to businesses in 2025, describing the figure as the highest annual financing volume in the institution’s history.
The President, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the milestone validated his administration’s economic reform agenda.
According to him, the record disbursement demonstrated that ongoing macroeconomic reforms were strengthening development finance institutions and unlocking capital for productive sectors.
A breakdown of the financing showed that agro-allied enterprises received the largest share at 202 billion Naira.
Similarly, critical national infrastructure, including broadband, power, aviation, and transportation, accounted for N100bn, while manufacturing received 79 billion Naira.
Extractive industries got N77bn and services N55bn. The bank also deployed N73bn in managed and matching funds on behalf of state governments and institutional partners.
The funds reached more than 7,000 enterprises nationwide. By business size, large enterprises accounted for N375bn, small and medium enterprises received N178bn, nano enterprises got N51bn, and micro businesses accessed N32bn.
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ON THE FOREIGN SCENE;
UKRAINE STRIKES MILITARY, ENERGY SITES IN RUSSIA
Local authorities said on Thursday that Ukrainian forces have carried out overnight attacks on military and energy-related facilities in several Russian regions, as cross-border strikes intensified.
Governor Andrey Bocharov, from the regional administration’s Telegram channel, said air defence systems repelled a missile attack during the night in the southern Volgograd region.
Local Reports have it that debris from intercepted projectiles sparked a fire on the grounds of a Russian Defence Ministry building near the village of Kotluban.
Meanwhile, Governor Bocharov said evacuations were ordered in the area due to ongoing detonations.
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IN SPORTS;
WORLD CUP TICKETS HIT $143,000 ON FIFA’S PLATFORM
Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have skyrocketed on FIFA’s official resale platform, following the end of the main sales phase in January.
Weeks after FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned that tickets made available on resale sites were likely to come with an exorbitant price tag, those fears have come to pass on world football’s own platform.
As of Thursday, a category three seat, which is the highest section of the stands for the tournament’s opening game between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11 was listed at $5,324, compared to an original price of $895.
One category three seat for the World Cup final on July 19 at East Rutherford, New Jersey, was being advertised for $143,750, which is more than 41 times its original face value of $3,450.
Meanwhile, the cheapest available ticket for the final on the resale site was listed at $9,775.
