Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has addressed concerns over the detention of former Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai

Speaking in an interview with The Legacy Series, Falana said some people are claiming that El-Rufai is being held illegally. He stated that the detention is actually legal under Nigerian law.

Falana explained that Section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act empowers a magistrate, based on an ex parte application by law enforcement agency, to detain a Nigerian for 14 days and it is renewable up to 42 days.

In Falana’s words: “People are complaining that Mallam El-Rufai is being detained illegally. No, he is being detained legally. This law was made in 2015, Section 293 of the administration of criminal justice act empowers a magistrate on the bases or an ex parte application by the police, EFCC, ICPC or any law enforcement agency to ask for the detention of a Nigerian for 14 days, renewable up to 42 days”

According to a report by Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday January 7, 2026, former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as being on a national rescue mission.

‎He said he and other committed leaders are central to this effort.

‎Atiku warned that any call, whether open or secret, for him to step aside from the presidential race would help authoritarian ambitions.

‎He said it would also betray the Nigerian people.

‎The former vice president made the declaration amid concerns that outside forces are trying to influence the ADC’s choice of a presidential candidate.

‎He accused agents linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of meddling in the party’s affairs.

‎Atiku stated that the ADC’s mission is about protecting democracy and offering Nigerians a credible political alternative.

‎He said the party is focused on strengthening its structures across the country.

‎He insisted that no external pressure or intimidation will force him or other party leaders to step down.

‎According to Atiku, such actions would undermine democracy and favor one-party dominance.

‎The statement comes at a time when several politicians, including former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, have declared interest in the ADC presidential ticket.

‎Atiku reassured that all aspirants will follow the party’s transparent process to select its flagbearer.

‎For Atiku, stepping aside is not an option, and the party’s focus remains on serving Nigerians.

‎“Let it be stated plainly: the ADC is on a national rescue mission. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, alongside other committed patriots, is central to this effort. Any call, overt or covert for Atiku to step aside is a gift to authoritarian ambition and a betrayal of the Nigerian people,” he said.

The Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammad Sanusi II, said he agrees with about 80 percent of President Bola Tinubu’s policy direction but has reservations about certain aspects of fiscal management and food importation.

Speaking in an interview with News Central on Tuesday, Sanusi commended the administration for stabilising the economy through improved fiscal discipline and better monetary policy coordination.

“In terms of monetary policy and stability, I have nothing but commendation for the government. On the fiscal side, we have had an improvement in revenue-to-GDP ratios, improvement in debt service ratios, and a contraction in the deficit. These are positive steps, but we still have a long way to go,” he said.

The former CBN governor, however, noted that while the government had made commendable progress in revenue generation, it must pay closer attention to the quality and efficiency of public spending.

“I would like to see a better look at fiscal expenditure. We’re still spending too much money on government — on the cost of governance, too many political appointees, too many officers,” Sanusi said.

“If we do not improve the quality of spending and put a rein on expenditure, we’re going to continue borrowing.”

He warned that Nigeria could fall back into a debt trap if it failed to manage its post-subsidy savings prudently.

“After saving money from these expensive subsidies, after building up the government balance sheet, you go and spend it, and then you have to borrow again,” he cautioned. 

“So we still have some steps to go on the fiscal side, but the first thing was to fix revenue, and I think with the tax reforms and what you’ve seen so far, the fiscal side is on its way.

Sanusi also called for structural reforms in agriculture, describing the government’s policy on food importation as counterproductive.

“I would like to see that we put a stop to the mass importation of food. I know it was driven by a desire to bring down food prices, but it is, in the end, very counterproductive to domestic production and domestic producer prices,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria must focus on strengthening its agricultural value chain to boost local food production and achieve sustainable food security.

“Hopefully, we will get to a point where we go back on track with the reforms in the agricultural sector — fixing the agricultural value chain and relying on domestic production to feed the nation,” he said.

Summing up his assessment, the Emir of Kano said the administration had made significant strides despite the country’s economic challenges.

“All in all, I think I would say 70 to 80 percent of what the government has done and the direction it is on, I support,” Sanusi stated. 

“I do have some reservations about one or two things, like the importation of food and the quality of expenditure and the nature of overheads, but I think we’re on the right path… we’ve come very far in the right direction.”

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has granted Godwin Emefiele, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), permission to engage forensic experts to examine WhatsApp conversations and a mobile device tendered as evidence in his fraud trial.

Ruling on Monday, Rahman Oshodi, the presiding judge, gave the order after Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), applied for leave to allow an independent forensic expert to inspect the handset, marked “iPhone 2,” and verify the authenticity of the extracted WhatsApp messages already admitted as exhibits.

The defence seeks the court’s leave to call a forensic expert to examine both the mobile device and printed conversations allegedly linked to the defendants,” Ojo told the court.

Emefiele is standing trial alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on 19 counts bordering on abuse of office, receiving gratification, corruption, and fraudulent property transactions involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.

The charges were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC.

However, Chineye Okezie, counsel to the EFCC, opposed the application, arguing that exhibits admitted during trial should remain in the court’s custody until proceedings are concluded.

She faulted the defence for failing to disclose the name of the forensic laboratory or the qualifications of the personnel expected to handle the device.

Okezie urged the court to mandate that the EFCC’s director of the forensic department select the laboratory, ensure the exercise is monitored by a prosecution-nominated representative, and preserve the chain of custody.

Delivering his ruling, Oshodi held that the defence was entitled to an independent forensic review provided safeguards were in place to protect the integrity of the evidence.

He ordered that the inspection be conducted in the presence of representatives from all parties, with each side allowed to bring one lawyer and one forensic expert.

A court representative will supervise the exercise, which must take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on September 24 and 26, 2025.

The judge directed that the chain of custody of Exhibit E (iPhone 2) must be preserved and that the device remain in the court’s custody at all times.

The trial was adjourned to October 7 and 8 for continuation, and October 9 for further hearin

According to an interview by TVC news, Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has cast doubt on the future of Nigeria’s long-abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Company, insisting that the project is no longer feasible. Speaking on the sidelines of an industry forum, Dangote bluntly declared that despite decades of promises and billions of naira sunk into the plant, Nigerians must face the reality that Ajaokuta may never deliver the dream of industrial revolution once attached to it.

“Ajaokuta Steel Company will not work. We can keep deceiving ourselves and keep being passionate about it, but it’s not possible,” Dangote stated. His remarks challenge the long-standing narrative by successive governments that the steel complex holds the key to unlocking Nigeria’s industrial and infrastructural growth.

Located in Kogi State, Ajaokuta Steel was initiated in the late 1970s with the vision of making Nigeria self-sufficient in steel production. Decades later, the plant remains incomplete, with repeated attempts at revival failing to yield results. Dangote, who has built one of Africa’s largest conglomerates spanning cement, sugar, and petroleum refining, argued that the global steel market has moved far ahead, and Nigeria’s attempts to resurrect Ajaokuta may simply be chasing shadows.

redirect its focus toward realistic and competitive ventures in manufacturing and infrastructure, rather than pouring scarce resources into a project that has been riddled with corruption, mismanagement, and outdated technology. According to him, the plant’s design and equipment, conceived in the 1970s, are now obsolete and may cost more to upgrade than to start afresh with modern alternatives.

Dangote’s comments have already sparked reactions among industry stakeholders. Some agree that it is time for Nigeria to accept the hard truth and pursue new models of industrialization, while others insist that abandoning Ajaokuta would represent a betrayal of national aspirations.

For decades, politicians have campaigned on promises to revive the steel plant, often portraying it as the backbone of Nigeria’s economic transformation. Yet, despite repeated interventions, not a single bar of steel has rolled out of its facilities.

Dangote concluded by urging policymakers to confront reality with courage: “We must stop deceiving ourselves. The future of Nigeria’s industrial growth lies not in outdated dreams, but in innovative, competitive, and forward-looking projects