Compilations of top 10 key latest stories that you need to know this Wednesday morning, 21st January, 2026
Alleged terror financing: Malami faces long detention as DSS intensifies investigation
Former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), might spend a longer time in the custody of the Department of State Services, The PUNCH has learnt.
Multiple security sources reported that Malami faces prolonged detention, as the DSS is already working to obtain a court order to keep him in custody until the investigations are concluded.
Malami’s latest ordeal began on Monday when DSS operatives took him into custody shortly after he perfected his bail and was released from the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
His arrest came barely minutes after he stepped out of the facility, where he had been detained since early December over allegations brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Security sources indicate that the DSS is seeking a court order to prolong his detention, citing the sensitive and complex nature of the investigations, which are expected to take months.
Nigerians spend N1.54tn on beer, others in nine months
Major listed brewers in Nigeria generated a combined revenue of over N1.54tn from the sale of beer and other non-alcoholic drinks in the first nine months of 2025, indicating the estimated amount spent by Nigerians on brewery products during the review period, an analysis by The PUNCH shows.
According to the unaudited financial statements of Nigerian Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc, and Champion Breweries Plc for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the companies collectively recorded strong top-line performance driven largely by beer sales.
Nigerian Breweries Plc, the largest brewer in the country, recorded net revenue of N1.05tn for the period, up from N710.87bn in the corresponding period of 2024.
Cost of sales stood at N631.23bn, resulting in a gross profit of N415.15bn.
FG doubles January bond borrowing to N900bn
The Federal Government has moved to significantly scale up domestic borrowing, planning to raise as much as N900bn from its January 2026 bond auction.
The amount doubles the N450bn it targeted in January 2025, as fiscal pressures and refinancing needs continue to mount.
Offer documents released by the Debt Management Office show that the January 2026 auction will feature three reopened Federal Government of Nigeria bonds with a combined size of N900bn, marking a 100 per cent year-on-year increase in the size of the January offering.
In January 2025, the government seemed to adopt a more restrained borrowing posture, offering three bonds across the five-year, seven-year, and 10-year segments.
It sought to raise N100bn from a five-year bond originally issued in April 2029 with a 19.30 per cent coupon, N150bn from a seven-year February 2031 bond carrying an 18.50 per cent coupon, and N200bn from a new ten-year January 2035 bond.
The total N450bn offer reflected comparatively lower funding requirements at the time, even as interest rates remained elevated.
Sanusi appeals to Gov Yusuf to sign death warrants of convicted murderers
Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has appealed to Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State to sign the death warrant of convicted murderers, insisting that enforcement of capital punishment would serve as a deterrent to future crimes.
The monarch made the call while reacting to the Saturday’s gruesome killing of a housewife, Fatima Abubakar and her six children in the state.
Sanusi also called for the speedy trial of the suspects arrested in connection with the brutal attack, stressing that once convicted, the Governor should not hesitate to authorize their execution
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, January 21, 2026
The Nigerian Naira maintained a stable trajectory against the United States Dollar during the mid-week trading session, reflecting the positive sentiment surrounding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) 2026 macroeconomic outlook.
Market participants observed a consistent performance across both the official and parallel windows as the year’s economic activity enters full gear.In the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira showed minor fluctuations but remained within a controlled range.
Opening at approximately 1,419.29 per dollar, the currency saw early morning price discovery settle at 1,419.77 per dollar.
This level is consistent with the closing figures from the previous session, where the rate hovered around the 1,420 mark.
Court dismisses Anyanwu’s suit seeking recognition as PDP national secretary
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit instituted by Samuel Anyanwu seeking recognition as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The presiding judge, Mohammed Umar, dismissed the suit on Tuesday after U. C. Njemanze‑Aku, Anyanwu’s lawyer, told the court that his client’s tenure as PDP’s national secretary expired in December 2025.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, Anyanwu had asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Umar Damagum, the PDP chairman at the time, from accepting, acting on, or giving effect to any correspondence from the party not signed by him.
When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, Anyanwu’s lawyer said the matter had been overtaken by events and should not proceed.
US Mission mourns Abubakar Abdullahi, cleric who saved 300 Christians in Plateau
The United States Mission in Nigeria has expressed condolences to the family of Abubakar Abdullahi, the Muslim cleric who earned national and international acclaim for sheltering about 300 Christians during the 2018 attacks in Plateau State.
Abdullahi, the chief imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, died at the age of 92.
In a statement, the US Mission described the late imam as a courageous voice for religious tolerance, noting his long-standing commitment to building bridges across faiths.
It said his actions during the Plateau crisis exemplified the values of compassion and peaceful coexistence.
“His humanity positively manifested interfaith coexistence and harmony, and we know his legacy of peace and acceptance will live on and continue to inspire Nigerians and Americans alike,” the statement said.
Local refineries supply 87% of Nigeria’s cooking gas in 2025Local refineries and gas processing plants, led by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and NLNG Limited, supplied 87% of Nigeria’s domestic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas, in 2025, significantly reducing the country’s dependence on imports.
Findings by Vanguard showed that the sharp rise in domestic supply marked a major shift from 2023, when imported cooking gas accounted for about 47% of total consumption.
The improvement has been driven largely by the coming on stream of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, increased LPG output from NLNG, and contributions from other local plants.
Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) indicated that a total of 52,900 metric tonnes of cooking gas was supplied to the domestic market in 2025. Of this volume, 45,800 metric tonnes, representing 87%, were sourced locally, while only 7,100 metric tonnes, or 13%, came from imports.
Ex-Minister Diezani arraigned in London court over ‘£100,000 bribery’ trial
Former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke has appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, for the preliminary hearing on her trial premised on bribery charges.
Alison-Madueke, who was in office from 2010 to 2015, was Nigeria’s first woman oil minister and the first female president of the global oil cartel, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The case was listed before Justice Thornton on Monday.Alison-Madueke was in court for the preliminary hearing ahead of her full trial, scheduled to commence on January 26.
Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance
The 65-year-old has been on bail since she was first arrested in London in October 2015. She has denied six charges against her.
Court summons Agodi Correctional Doctor to ascertain Auxiliary health status
An Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan has summoned the medical doctor in Agodi Custodian centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service to appear before it today over a matter that bothers on the health status of a former Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, Alhaji Mukaila Lamidi, also known as Auxiliary.
Hearing of a case involving Auxiliary was stalled yesterday due to his absence when the case came up in court.
It was gathered that although the former Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the Oyo State Park Management System (PMS) was earlier in Court, he could not attend his session due to alleged health related issues.
