The recap of top 10 latest important stories that you might have missed this Tuesday evening, 3rd January, 2026
DSS arraigns Malami, son on terrorism financing, firearms possession
The Department of State Services has arraigned former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulazeez Malami, on five-count charges of terrorism financing and aiding and abetting terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms.
Malami and his son appeared before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The former AGF was charged under Count One with “knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution.”
Both Malami and his son were jointly charged under Counts Two to Five for unlawful possession of firearms. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
NECO releases 2025 SSCE external results, over 80% score five credits
The National Examinations Council has announced the release of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External results, with over 80 per cent of candidates scoring five credits and above.
The results were announced on Tuesday by NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, during a press conference held at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
Declaring the results in a video posted on NECO’s X handle, Prof. Wushishi said,
“It is my pleasure to declare the 2025 SSCE External Results released.“
Candidates can access their results on the NECO official website, www.neco.gov.ng, using their examination registration number.
”He revealed that sixteen subjects were examined, with a total of 96,979 candidates registered, comprising 51,823 males (53.43 per cent) and 45,156 females (46.56 per cent).
Rivers, Lagos top states for sachet alcohol consumption among minors
Rivers and Lagos States lead in the consumption of alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles among minors and underage persons, a nationwide survey by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has revealed.
According to NAFDAC, the study, conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and carried out by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, surveyed 1,788 respondents across six states between June and August 2021.
The agency said the report examined access to alcohol and drinking frequency among minors (below 13 years), underaged (13–17 years), and adults (18 years and above).
Presenting the findings of the survey on Tuesday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said alcohol remains “one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths” and noted that “the availability and easy access to alcohol have been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors.”
Tinubu receives World Bank delegation at Aso Rock
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, received a high-level delegation from the World Bank at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation was led by the World Bank’s Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde.
Present at the meeting were Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and other government officials.
The meeting was confirmed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the World Bank delegation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Photo: State House
He wrote,
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, along with VP Kashim Shettima, received a delegation from the World Bank led by the Managing Director of Operations, Anna Bjerde, in the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.”
Police quiz four NSCDC officers over Bayelsa resident’s death
The Bayelsa State Police Command has begun questioning four personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in connection with the death of Patrick Peresoudei.
The development follows public outrage and calls for justice after Peresoudei’s death on January 30, which his family and activists said resulted from injuries sustained during an unlawful detention.
Peresoudei, a traditional worshipper, had reportedly challenged one Bodmas Kemepadei on social media to “test an AK-47” on him, a statement interpreted as a threat to life.
Kemepadei allegedly arrested Peresoudei and his relative, Peresoudei Destiny, 22, with the assistance of NSCDC personnel.
Police arrest 24-year-old over N48.5m romance fraud in Lagos
The Airport Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old suspect, Precious Onudhona, over an alleged romance scam involving N48.5 million.
The suspect, a native of Delta State, was arrested on February 2, 2026, while attempting to board a flight from Lagos to Asaba, Delta State, following what the police described as “actionable intelligence.”
Confirming the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Mohammed Adeola, said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Anti-Fraud Unit in the course of the command’s sustained efforts to prevent criminal elements from exploiting the aviation environment.
Adeola stated,
“The Anti-Fraud Unit of the Airport Police Command has arrested a 24-year-old suspect in connection with a large-scale fraud amounting to N48,500,000, equivalent to approximately $35,000.”
Kogi shuts down schools for two weeks
Kogi State Government on Tuesday shut down all primary and secondary schools in the state.
Though the state was yet to give reason for the emergency lockdown, however, there are rumours that the state wants to embark on security raid across the state.
The development is to forestall any reprisal attack by the bandits on soft target areas such as schools,” a source stated.
A message by the Kogi State Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Pastor Reuben Jimoh, to his members, stated that the state government has decided to fast-forward the midterm break into the emergency lockdown.
APC 2026 Convention Committee discriminatory to women – Josef Onoh
Former Southeast Spokesman to President Tinubu faults near-total exclusion of women in 73-member Central Coordination Committee.
The Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of Enugu State House of Assembly and former Southeast Spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has strongly criticised the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2026 National Convention Central Coordination Committee, describing it as “extremely discriminatory” to women.
In a statement made available to newsmen on today, Onoh commended the party leadership for the timely constitution of the Central Coordination Committee, describing it as a signal of serious preparation for the landmark 2026 National Convention.
76 PDP, PDI staff allege judicial bid to cripple opposition ahead of 2027
Seventy-six management and staff members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Democratic Institute (PDI) have rejected the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on the leadership of the party, alleging that it forms part of a judicial bid to cripple opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The staff reaffirmed their loyalty to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN–led National Working Committee (NWC), insisting that it remains the only valid and legally constituted leadership of the party, having emerged from the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15–16, 2025.
FCT Polls: INEC clears 1.6 million voters for election
No fewer than 1.6 million persons are expected to vote in the February 21 elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory.
The actual number of voters for the area councils election stands at 1,680,315, according to the figure released by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the FCT, Malam Aminu Idris.
Malam Idris, who was addressing media executives and journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, disclosed that major processes meant to achieve a hitch-free, fair and credible election in the six area councils had been completed by the commission.
