The recap of top 10 key stories that you might have missed this Thursday evening, 22nd January, 2026
Makinde, Mutfwang meet Tinubu at Aso Rock
President Bola Tinubu is currently holding separate meetings with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The two governors arrived at the State House separately at about 3:00 p.m. and 03:30 pm, with Mutfwang arriving first, our correspondent observed.
The meetings come against the backdrop of ongoing political realignments as key stakeholders commence strategic consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, remains one of the few PDP governors still standing with the opposition amid a wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The Oyo governor is widely believed to be nursing a presidential ambition and is positioning himself for the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Wike’s son bags Master’s degree from King’s College London
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s son, Joaquin Wike, has bagged a master’s degree in Management and Technology Change at King’s College, London.
The pictures from the graduation ceremony were shared on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on his X (formerly Twitter) page.
According to the post, the event was attended by the minister’s wife and the mother of the graduand, Justice Eberechi Wike, his other children, as well as some politicians.
He wrote,
“FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s son, Joaquin bags MSc Degree in Management and Technology Change at King’s College London.
Rivers chief judge refuses setting up panel to probe Fubara
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has declined to set up a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing a court order.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had requested that Amadi set up a seven-member panel to probe Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
However, in a letter dated January 20 and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, the chief judge cited two court orders barring him from receiving, forwarding, or considering any requests to form such a panel.
The judge stated that the orders were served on his office on January 16, 2026 and remain in force.
The chief judge emphasised that constitutionalism and the rule of law require all authorities to obey subsisting court orders, irrespective of their perception of the orders’ validity.
He referenced legal precedents, noting that in a similar case in 2007, the Chief Judge of Kwara State was condemned for ignoring a restraining court order when setting up an investigative panel, a decision later voided by the Court of Appeal.
Ooni renews diplomatic passport, praises Tinubu’s immigration reforms
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), on Wednesday visited the headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Abuja to renew his diplomatic passport.
The revered monarch was received by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, alongside members of the service’s management team.
The visit was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Service Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi, and signed at the service headquarters in Abuja.
The statement read:
“His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) yesterday visited the Headquarters of Nigeria Immigration Service for the renewal of his Diplomatic Passport.
The revered royal father was warmly received by the Comptroller-General Immigration Service, KN Nandap, pcc, mmis, fsmn, fspsp and members of her Management Team.”
NNPC credits community support for revenue boost
The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited has said collaboration between host communities of the Trans Niger Pipeline and the Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited has led to Increasing oil production, thereby contributing to greater revenue for the country.
The Head Field Operations, Eastern Corridor, Project Monitoring Office, NNPCL, Akponime Omojevwhe, stated this during the January stakeholders meeting of host communities organised by PINL in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Thursday.
Omojevwhe noted that the community’s support has also contributed to the outstanding performance of the company in securing the TNP.
He urged the communities to sustain the effort in ensuring that the company’s projected 2.5m barrels per day production for the year 2026 is achieved.
I’m staying in PDP, no plans to defect, says MakindeOyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has dismissed speculations about a possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, saying he remains comfortable in the opposition party.
Makinde spoke with journalists at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday amid his visit to the Presidential Villa.
In a video aired by the NTA, Makinde, responding to questions on his political future, said, “No, no, no. I’m comfortable in the PDP.”
“And again, we may have issues in this country where you need a bipartisan approach.
Where it won’t be an issue of maybe APC talking alone or PDP talking alone, where we will have to look at what is the best foot forward, in the interest of our nation.
“So when you get to that junction, you need everybody on board.”
President Bola Tinubu held separate meetings with Makinde and Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
NJC okays 14 lawyers for appointment as Federal High Court judges
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended 14 lawyers to President Bola Tinubu, for appointment as Judges of the Federal High Court.
The legal body said it took the decision at its 110th Meeting that held on January 13 and 14 .
According to the Council, which is headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the lawyers were the successful candidates for the high court bench.
A statement that was signed by the Deputy Director of Information at the NJC, Mrs. Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, at the time the Council met, security report on the candidates was not available.
“Council, therefore, resolved to await the submission of the security report before forwarding the names of the candidates to the President.
‘Wizkid is my friend’ – Yeni Kuti reacts amid ongoing feud
Yeni Kuti, the eldest daughter of late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has reacted to the ongoing online feud between her brother, Seun and music superstar Wizkid.
Recall that the dispute began last week after Seun Kuti accused Wizkid’s fanbase, popularly known as Wizkid FC, of disrespecting his father’s legacy by comparing Fela to the Grammy award-winning star.
Consequently, the feud escalated on Tuesday when Seun dared Wizkid to prove he truly cared for his fans by protecting them from him.
In an ugly turn of events, Wizkid took to his Instagram story, breaking the silence in solidarity with his fans, where he appeared to vent his anger at Seun through a series of posts.
Wizkid then went further by directly attacking Seun in a string of blunt posts, in which he declared himself greater than Fela and insulted the Afrobeat singer.
Navy dismantles 15 illegal refineries, recovers over 2.8m litres of stolen, adulterated crude in Bayelsa
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh has dismantled 15 illegal refinery sites and recovered more than 800,000 litres of stolen crude oil alongside over two million litres of adulterated fuel in sustained anti–crude oil theft operations in Bayelsa State.
The Base Operations Officer of NNS Soroh, Lt. Commander E. C. Igwe, disclosed this during a visit by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, and a team of defence correspondents to the naval base.
Igwe said the operations were carried out by personnel of the Special Boat Service under Operation Delta Safe, adding that more than 30,000 litres of stolen Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were also seized, while 12 boats used for siphoning crude oil and petroleum products were captured.
Uba Sani vows to rescue abducted Kajuru residents, says he is personally monitoring operations
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has vowed that his administration will not relent in its efforts until all persons abducted from Kurmin Wali village in Kajuru Local Government Area are safely rescued.
The governor said he is personally monitoring ongoing security operations and that the state government is working closely with security agencies to secure the release of the victims
Uba Sani made the pledge amid growing public concern following reports that more than 170 residents were kidnapped when armed bandits invaded the community on Sunday.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, monitored in Kaduna, the governor assured residents that the government remains fully committed to the rescue efforts.
