The recap of top 10 key important updates that you might have missed this Wednesday evening, 28th January, 2026
Tinubu approves purchase of two new communication satellites
The Federal Government has approved the purchase of two new communication satellites to boost Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and support President Bola Tinubu’s plan to grow the economy to $1tn.
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at a press conference to mark Global Privacy Day 2026, organised by the Nigerian Data Protection Commission.
Tijani said the approval marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s digital strategy, noting that the country currently stands out in West Africa for lacking active communication satellites, a gap the new assets are expected to address.
He said,
“As you know, Mr President has been very clear about his ambition to build a $1tn economy, and digital technology is central to achieving that vision.
FG deploys military retirees to secure ungoverned spaces
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to deploy military veterans to help secure Nigeria’s ungoverned spaces as part of strategies to strengthen national security and drive economic activities in conflict-affected areas.
This followed the inauguration of an 18-member committee by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), tasked with reclaiming ungoverned spaces for economic viability and repositioning the Nigerian Legion Corps of Commissionaires and Veterans.
A statement on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Deputy Director of Information, Enderline Chukwu unbehalf of the Director Information and Public Relations, said the committee was inaugurated on Tuesday at the Ministry of Defence headquarters, Abuja, with the minister represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Richard Pheelangwa.
Speaking at the event, Musa said the deployment of veterans into ungoverned spaces would complement ongoing military operations by bringing experienced personnel into local security and development efforts, particularly in areas where state presence remains weak.
Sowore cannot rely on statements I withdrew — Omokri
A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has responded to comments made during the ongoing trial of activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, following questions raised by Sowore’s lawyer over his clearance by the Department of State Services despite past remarks against President Bola Tinubu.
Omokri, in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, addressed claims made in court by Sowore and his counsel, Mr Abubakar Marshal, during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
The issue arose during the trial when Sowore’s lawyer confronted the DSS over why Omokri was cleared for an ambassadorial appointment despite previously describing Tinubu as a “drug lord” on national television.
Reacting, Omokri admitted that he made the remarks in the past but said he later discovered they were untrue and withdrew them publicly.
Osun 2026: APC candidate meets SDP, PDP defectors
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the August 8, 2026, Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, on Wednesday, met new members who defected into the fold of his party from the Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Democratic Party.
Speaking at the meeting facilitated by Ajisope Development Initiative, a group within Osun APC, held in Osogbo, Oyebamiji charged the defectors to return to their various wards and work for the APC’s victory in the poll.
The ex-Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, who dismissed insinuations that President Bola Tinubu authorised defection into the Accord Party by some politicians in the state, called on supporters of other political parties to team with the APC to record victory in the election.
“There is no way for those who are still in the Accord Party. Tell them to come and join us.
The president did not tell anybody to go to the Accord Party, as they are saying around,” Oyebamiji said.
Osun 2026: APC candidate meets SDP, PDP defectors
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the August 8, 2026, Osun State governorship election, Bola Oyebamiji, on Wednesday, met new members who defected into the fold of his party from the Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Democratic Party.
Speaking at the meeting facilitated by Ajisope Development Initiative, a group within Osun APC, held in Osogbo, Oyebamiji charged the defectors to return to their various wards and work for the APC’s victory in the poll.
The ex-Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, who dismissed insinuations that President Bola Tinubu authorised defection into the Accord Party by some politicians in the state, called on supporters of other political parties to team with the APC to record victory in the election.
“There is no way for those who are still in the Accord Party. Tell them to come and join us.
The president did not tell anybody to go to the Accord Party, as they are saying around,” Oyebamiji said.
APC NWC, govs meet in Abuja
The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress and the party’s governors are currently holding a closed-door meeting amid growing political consultations within the ruling party ahead of its national convention slated for March.
Last year, the APC unveiled a detailed timetable of activities for its 2026 nationwide ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses, which will culminate in the party’s national convention.
The APC governors, led by their Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and members of the NWC, led by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, are meeting at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja
Naira redesign: Court sets 10 dates to conclude Emefiele trial
A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has fixed 10 fresh hearing days to conclude the trial of a former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over charges related to the naira redesign.
The trial judge, Justice Maryann Anenih, set the dates on Wednesday following an agreement between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Emefiele’s legal team.
The scheduled dates are February 3 and 10; April 1 and 2; May 11–14; and June 9 and 10, during which the court said the trial, which commenced in 2024, would be concluded.
Justice Anenih urged counsel on both sides to adhere strictly to the schedule, assuring that the court would make adequate provisions to accommodate the proceedings.
Lawyers’ absence stalls ex-JAMB registrar’s trial
The absence of lawyers for both the prosecution and defence on Wednesday stalled proceedings in the alleged N5.2bn fraud trial of a former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Dibu Ojerinde, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
When the matter was called before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, neither the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission nor Ojerinde was represented in court.
Justice Egwuatu consequently adjourned the case until March 25 for either a report of settlement or continuation of trial, and directed that hearing notices be issued to all parties.
The PUNCH reports that Ojerinde and the ICPC had, on July 16, 2025, informed the court of moves to settle the N5.2bn case out of court.
Ngige’s trial: EFCC tenders petition in evidence as witness alleges contract fraud
Q High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting at Gwarinpa, on Wednesday, commenced full-blown hearing on the eight-count corruption charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.
The EFCC opened its case by presenting its first witness, whose petition led to the exposure of alleged contract fraud in the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), an agency that was under Ngige’s ministerial supervision.
Ngige, who was in office as a minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, was arraigned on December 12, 2025, before the court on allegations of abuse of office, acceptance of gifts, and contract irregularities at the NSITF to the tune of over N2.2 billion.
The charge included an allegation that he collected kickbacks from firms that were awarded contracts by the NSITF.
Yusuf’s defection: I’m open to reconciliation with Kwankwaso – Ganduje
Former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has said he is not ruling out the possibility of reconciliation with the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso
The former two-term governor, who spoke in an interview with BBC, monitored by our correspondent, said that as a Muslim, he could not shut the door against reconciliation, describing Kwankwaso as a brother and long-time political associate.
Ganduje’s comment comes barely days after Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State defected from the NNPP to the ruling party, APC.
