By: Fabian Apechihin

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has paid a visit to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Sokoto correctional centre.

The visit was disclosed on Thursday by Kanu’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, who described the gesture as a show of compassion and solidarity.

“Thank you so much, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, for taking the time to visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today. As the distinguished Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, your visitation symbolises your solidarity and that of the Sokoto Diocese with #MNK in this time of distress,” Ejimakor wrote on X.

Kanu was convicted on November 20, 2025, by the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Following the conviction, he was transferred to the Sokoto custodial centre on November 21, in line with a court order that ruled out his detention at Kuje prison.

Since his relocation, Kanu’s legal team has filed motions seeking his transfer back to Abuja.

The IPOB leader faced seven counts bordering on terrorism, including incitement and unlawful broadcasts. Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court found him guilty on all charges and handed down the life sentence.

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives, requesting approval to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The letter was read on the floor of the House on Thursday by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. In it, the President expressed his intention to address lawmakers at 12 noon on Friday, December 19, 2025.

“I write to crave the kind indulgence of the House of Representatives to grant me the slot of 12:00 noon on Friday, December 19, 2025, to formally present the 2026 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly,” the letter stated.

Details contained in the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper currently before the House show that the proposed 2026 budget is estimated at ₦54.46 trillion. Of this amount, ₦34.33 trillion is expected to be generated from retained revenue.

The federal government projects new borrowings of ₦17.88 trillion, covering both domestic and foreign loans, while debt servicing is estimated at ₦15.52 trillion.

Expenditure on pensions, gratuities and other retirees’ benefits is projected at ₦1.376 trillion, with the fiscal deficit put at ₦20.13 trillion.

Capital expenditure is proposed at ₦20.13 trillion, excluding statutory transfers and allocations estimated at ₦3.15 trillion. The Sinking Fund is projected at ₦388.54 billion.

Total recurrent (non-debt) expenditure is estimated at ₦15.265 trillion, while special intervention funds for recurrent and capital spending are pegged at ₦200 billion and ₦14 billion respectively.

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has approved the immediate redeployment of officers attached to the No. 24 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Presidential Escort Unit at the State House, Abuja, directing them back to their respective state commands nationwide.

The directive was contained in a police signal dated December 16, 2025, with reference number CH:5660/WEL/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.96, and issued by the Department of Finance and Administration (Welfare) at Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The signal, addressed to the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Assistant Inspectors-General overseeing PMF and zonal commands, as well as Commissioners of Police across the country, ordered that the redeployment be carried out without delay.

According to the directive, the affected officers were those assigned to close protection duties at the Presidential Villa. They are to return from Abuja to their various state commands, including Adamawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe and the Federal Capital Territory.

Other states listed include Imo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe. Redeployments were also ordered to police zones, including Zone 1 (Kano), Zone 3 (Yola) and Zone 7 (Abuja).

Copies of the signal were forwarded to the Chief Personal Security Officer to the President, the Commander of No. 24 PMF Abuja, and police formations in several state capitals.

The move follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive in November ordering the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escort and guard duties nationwide. The president had instructed that the officers be reassigned to core policing responsibilities to strengthen security across the country.

The directive has since triggered enforcement measures, including the deployment of special police teams to monitor compliance and the use of civil defence personnel to replace withdrawn police escorts.