The recap of top 10 key latest stories that you might have missed this Monday evening, 23rd February, 2026
El-Rufai sues ICPC ₦1bn over unlawful Abuja home invasion
A former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has filed a N1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over the alleged unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), El-Rufai is challenging the validity of a search warrant issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court.
He is asking the court to declare the warrant authorising the search and seizure at his residence invalid, null and void.
According to the application, the former governor contended that the warrant was “null and void for lack of particularity, material drafting errors, ambiguity in execution parameters, overbreadth, and absence of probable cause, thereby constituting an unlawful and unreasonable search in violation of Section 37 of the Constitution.”
Fire guts Lagos airport old terminal, no one hurt, says FAAN
A fire outbreak has reportedly engulfed the old terminal of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, a facility currently undergoing a multi-billion-naira renovation.
Details surrounding the incident remain unclear as of the time of filing this report, but the affected terminal, which is part of the airport’s older infrastructure, is currently being renovated as part of efforts to upgrade facilities and improve passenger experience.
Confirming the development to PUNCH Online, Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Henry Agbebire, said authorities were already on the ground managing the situation.
“We are aware of the outbreak, and we are there right now. We will publish a statement right now.
”He added that the agency’s emergency response unit had swung into action to prevent further damage.“Our firefighting team is currently responding and working to curtail the situation,” he said.
Restrictions: US says Nigerian students with valid F1, J1 visas safe
The United States Mission Nigeria says Nigerian students and exchange visitors holding valid visas will not be affected by the partial visa suspension under Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a post on X on Monday, the mission disclosed this.It stated,
“Nigerian students and exchange participants with currently valid F1 and J1 visas are not affected by Presidential Proclamation 10998.
Students and exchange participants with visas can continue to contribute to learning, research, and innovation at U.S. colleges and institutions.
”The clarification comes ahead of the January 1, 2026 implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998, titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.”
Wike cancels 485 Abuja land titles after failed verification
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the cancellation of 485 land documents in Abuja after they failed to meet verification standards set by the authorities.
The affected documents were nullified following an extensive review conducted by the Department of Land Administration in collaboration with the Abuja Geographic Information Systems.
Officials said that the documents did not pass authenticity checks, with many confirmed to be fake.
In a public notice issued by the Federal Capital Territory Administration on Monday and marked as Batch I, authorities confirmed that the invalid applications had been removed from the regularisation database.
The notice specifically addressed applicants who had submitted Area Council land documents for validation.
Abia gov affirms peace, backs violence reduction initiative
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Monday reiterated that the state remains peaceful, reassuring Abians that no part of the state will be ceded to criminality or criminal elements.
Otti, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku, made the statement in his office during the launch and declaration of the domestication of the National Community Violence Reduction Programme in the state.
He commended the Rotary Club for its continuous humanitarian work, stating,
“This is another noble initiative from the Rotary Club.
This is not only important because, without security, nothing succeeds. That is why democracy cannot thrive in places like Somalia, Sudan, or Syria.
”Reflecting on his tenure, Otti emphasised that security has been a priority since assuming office and affirmed that there is no hiding place for criminal elements in the state.
Ex-senate whip accuses Oyegun over closed-door Edo ADC meeting
A crisis is brewing in the Edo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress as several party leaders, including a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Rowland Owie, were shut out of a meeting held at the residence of a party leader, John Odigie-Oyegun, on Monday.
Also shut out were one of the founders and financiers of the party in the state, Sunny Aguebor, and a national leader of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria leader, Douglas Iyike, among many others.
The PUNCH gathered that Odigie-Oyegun scheduled the meeting at his residence in the Government Reservation Area.
However, when members arrived, their names were not on the list of invitees.
The aggrieved members subsequently took over the entrance to the compound of Odigie-Oyegun until a unit of police officers, reportedly sent from the state command, arrived and spoke with the members, who later left the premises.
Ramadan: Tinubu breaks fast with govs at Aso Rock
President Bola Tinubu is hosting state governors at a Ramadan Iftar dinner at the State House, Abuja.
Monday evening’s gathering marks the third consecutive year of the annual tradition.
The event brought together governors, deputy governors, and senior government officials to break the day’s fast.
Our correspondent observed that governors who arrived at the Villa before 7:00 p.m. included Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Usman Ododo of Kogi, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Mohammed Bago of Niger, Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba.
The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State is also attending the dinner.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and several cabinet members are also present at the gathering.
Protests against Interior minister, ploy to sabotage Tinubu’s re-election – APC Chieftain
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Darlington Nwauju, has condemned two recent protests against Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, saying they were calculated ploy to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
“The timing of the protests in the face of two court cases currently lying before two justices of the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding judicial probe into the Minister’s WAEC and NYSC records, simply proves that those who went to court do not even have confidence in the very process they initiated,” Nwauju declared in a statement he issued on Monday.
“If they have sufficient evidences which they have opportunity to provide before the courts, why resort to street protests?
Why trying to play on the emotions and intelligence of Nigerians?”
ADC agent killed, mandate ‘Hijacked’ — Obidients reject AMAC poll outcome
The Obidient Movement has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship election, alleging that the victory declared for the All Progressives Congress was marred by violence, intimidation, and manipulation.
The group called for an immediate investigation into the conduct of the poll, insisting that the announced results did not reflect the will of the electorate.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, the National Coordinator of the movement, Dr. Tanko Yunusa, described the election as a coordinated effort to suppress voters and undermine democracy.
“We address you today with a heavy heart, filled with both profound disappointment and righteous anger.
It’s tough to serve with honesty in Nigeria – Senator Dickson
WITH the last twenty years in public service at the State and as a lawmaker, Senator Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West has said that it is tough to serve with honesty in Nigeria.
Speaking on Monday on his practical experience in governance within the last twenty years while responding to Transparency in Leadership Award conferred on him by Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness at the National Assembly, Dickson explained that he navigated the unfavourable public service climate in Nigeria with his personal creed of service to man and serving God.
