Author: Amina Mohammed

FirstHoldCo Chairman, Femi Otedola raised his equity stake in the oldest surviving banking group with N222.3 billion. The deal saw him becoming the single largest shareholder of the company. Regulatory filing at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) showed that Otedola bought additional 1.779 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each of First HoldCo at N124.90 per share, totaling N222.3 billion. Yesterday’s transaction followed recent pattern of acquisition by the businessman. The Lagos billionaire bought the new shares through his company, Calvados Global Services Limited, in a major single deal that referenced a cross deal. Typically, a cross deal implies a pre-arranged…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to bring in emergency legislation in order to stop the early release of hundreds of prisoners. Burnham announced last week that he was pausing the scheme, which would have seen about 700 prisoners freed in the first phase in September, following a backlash from survivors and victims. But the Conservatives say the government’s review will not stop offenders being released. The scheme was part of a bid to stop unprecedented overcrowding, which Labour says was caused by Conservative governments failing to build new prisons. A Labour spokesperson said: “It’s…

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday led mourners at the funeral of former Minister of Finance and Sardaunan Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, describing the late elder statesman as “a behemoth of institutional memory” whose contributions to Nigeria would never be forgotten. Alhaji, who died earlier on Thursday at the age of 88 after a brief illness, was laid to rest in Sokoto following Islamic funeral rites (Janaza). On arrival in the state, Shettima paid a condolence visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, where prayers were offered for the repose of the former minister, according to a…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) approved the printing of 5.71 billion banknotes in 2025, a 20.5 per cent increase from the 4.74 billion notes approved in 2024, as it moved to meet rising demand for cash across the country. The figures are contained in the apex bank’s 2025 Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, which also showed that foreign printing firms handled the larger share of the production programme. According to the report, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (NSPM) was assigned to produce two billion banknotes, representing 35 per cent of the total order, while foreign High…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has rejected allegations by former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, that he deceived leaders of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) during the political negotiations that preceded the 2003 general elections, insisting that his actions were guided by transparency and national interest. Responding in a letter dated July 23, 2026, titled Reply to your inaccurate posture: “How Obasanjo deceived us in 2003”, the former President described Osoba’s account, published in The Legal Observer on July 20, as inaccurate, incomplete and based on misconceptions. Obasanjo took particular exception to being described as deceptive, maintaining that he…

Nigerian-American actress and model, Adunni Ade, has revealed why she kept the birth of her daughter away from the public eye for more than two years. The actress disclosed in an Instagram post on her birthday that she quietly welcomed her daughter, Baby Sal, two years ago, explaining that she chose privacy in order to protect her peace and enjoy motherhood away from public scrutiny. Sharing details of the journey, Adunni described it as a deeply personal experience marked by challenges and growth. “Today, on my birthday, I’m finally sharing what we’ve protected for over two years,” she wrote. “This…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has revealed that over 1.4 million corps members will be deployed to prosecute the 2027 general elections. Chairman of the commission, Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in Abuja, on Monday. Amupitan, who described the meeting with the NYSC Senior Management team as humbling experience, noted that he was not just on a formal courtesy visit, but on a mission to express profound gratitude. He said that in the complex architecture of Nigeria’s democracy, there…

A civil society organisation, the Niger Delta Transparency Forum, has called for clarification regarding a reported 5 per cent divestment in Nigeria involving Italy’s national development bank, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Secretary-General of the group, Ebikade Moses, urged the management of CDP to provide details on the transaction, particularly in relation to disclosure and due diligence processes. The group asked whether shareholders have been informed about the reported divestment and whether the necessary steps were taken to ensure proper disclosure. “Are the shareholders aware of the 5 per cent divestment in Nigeria? Has…

King Charles III has publicly acknowledged that his ongoing battle with cancer may prevent him from seeing the long-term outcomes of his current royal projects. The 77-year-old monarch made the rare admission during a recent engagement, marking the most direct reflection on his mortality since his diagnosis in early 2024. The King’s health has been a subject of global interest after the Palace confirmed he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of the disease. Addressing his environmental and social legacy, the monarch noted that while he remains active in his duties, he is realistic about the time remaining in…

Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, said President Bola Tinubu’s failure to visit Angwan Rukuba during his Thursday visit to Plateau State points to a “complete absence of leadership”. Obi said this in a Friday statement shared on Facebook. Tinubu visited Plateau on Thursday to commiserate with victims of the Angwan Rukuba attack that claimed 27 lives on Palm Sunday. During his visit, the president held a town hall meeting with political and traditional leaders at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Heipang, near Jos. However, the president has faced criticism for failing to conduct a…