The recap of top 10 key latest stories that you might have missed this Monday evening, 9th February, 2026
Security reforms ongoing in Nigeria, but much remains – First Lady
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has outlined sweeping security reforms undertaken by the Federal Government, while acknowledging that “there is a lot to be done” to stabilise the country.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital on Friday during a week-long visit to Washington, D.C., Mrs Tinubu addressed diplomatic concerns, security cooperation with the United States, and criticism from some U.S. lawmakers over violence affecting Christian communities in Nigeria.
Her remarks follow public praise from former U.S. President Donald Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, where he described her as a “very respected woman” while acknowledging her dual role as Nigeria’s First Lady and an ordained pastor.
In late 2025, the United States designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged attacks on Christians, a move the Nigerian government rejected as inaccurate, insisting that insecurity in the country is driven by terrorism and criminality affecting citizens across religious and ethnic lines.
Appeal Court affirms suspension of Natasha
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on Monday, affirmed the decision of the Senate to suspend Senator Natasha Akpoti, holding that the red chamber acted within its powers.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel in Natasha’s appeal against the Clerk of the National Assembly and three others, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1107/2025, the appellate court ruled that the suspension did not breach Akpoti-Uduaghan’s parliamentary privileges or constitutional rights.
However, the court set aside the contempt proceedings and a N5m fine imposed on the lawmaker over a satirical apology she directed at the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice A. B. Muhammed held that the Senate President acted within the Rules by denying Akpoti-Uduaghan the opportunity to speak during plenary on February 20, 2025, as she was not seated in her officially allotted seat.
34,060 obtain credit in Mathematics, English as NABTEB releases result
A total of 34,060 amounting to over 50 per cent of candidates who sat for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board November/December 2025 examinations passed with credits in English Language and Mathematics.
Speaking during the release of the examination results in Benin City, Edo State on Monday, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Mohammed Mohammed, said the National Business Certificate and National Technical Certificate (NBC/NTC), as well as the Advanced National Business Certificate and Advanced National Technical Certificate (ANBC/ANTC) examinations, were conducted in 2,079 centres across the country from Monday, November 3, 2025 to Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Canada-based Nigerian faces trial over alleged hate-motivated harassment
A Canada-based Nigerian, Kayode Roberts, has been charged by the Toronto Police Service following an investigation into what authorities described as a suspected hate-motivated criminal harassment case.
PUNCH Metro gathered from a statement published on the Toronto Police website on Sunday that the charges stem from a series of incidents alleged to have occurred between July 1 and December 29, 2025.
Police alleged that Roberts assaulted and harassed a neighbour during the period, issued threats of harm, and kicked the victim’s dog.
Investigators also claimed that he made anti-2SLGBTQI+ remarks directed at the victim during the confrontations.
INEC denies registering underage voters in Osun LG
The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State has dismissed insinuations that underage people were registered as voters in the Ede North Local Government Area of the state.
The rebuttal was contained in a statement signed by the Osun INEC’s Public Affairs Officer, Musa Olurode, obtained in Osogbo on Monday.
In the statement, the Commission “noted with concern a social media post circulating on Facebook alleging that underage persons dressed in school uniforms were registered as voters at the INEC Local Government Office in Ede North on Friday, 6th February, 2026.”
It, however, refuted the allegation, describing it as “false and misleading.
First Lady slams critics, says ‘re-election potholes’ hehind negative portrayals
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has admitted that the country is grappling with severe economic challenges inherited by the current administration, even as she accused critics of exploiting the approaching re-election season to portray the nation negatively to the international community.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News Digital posted via X.com by Arise TV on Monday, Mrs Tinubu acknowledged that Nigeria was “just out of a lot of economic crisis” but insisted the government was implementing reforms to stabilize the economy.
“We’re just out of a lot of economic crisis that we inherited, because this is the first time the government of Nigeria will remove fuel subsidy. We were not producing oil, we were not refining them,” the First Lady said.
She, however, suggested that some criticisms of the government, including claims by US lawmakers of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, were politically motivated as the country approaches its re-election period.
‘Tinubu is a dwarf in Nigeria’s political history’ – Dalung
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has described President Bola Tinubu as a “dwarf” in Nigeria’s political history, insisting that the president should not be ranked among the country’s great leaders.
Dalung spoke on Sunday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television, where he was asked whether Tinubu, often described as a political heavyweight and master strategist, could be defeated in the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, true political greatness is measured by legacy and service to the people, not by political manoeuvring.
Woro community Attack: Aiyedatiwa hails Tinubu over deployment of military
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has hailed President Bola Tinubu for deploying a battalion of military personnel to Kwara State, over the unfortunate attack in Woro community, which led to the loss of innocent lives and disruption of peace.
The information commissioner ldowu Ajanaku,in a statement issued in Akure, expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Kwara State over the attack.
He described the incident as painful, disturbing and a sad reminder of the security challenges confronting parts of the country.
APC mobilises support for Tinubu’s re-election at Lagos rally
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Lagos East Senatorial District has called on political appointees, residents, and youths to intensify mobilisation efforts in support of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The call was made at a rally organised by APC leaders at the Ikorodu Town Hall in Lagos.
Speaking at the mobilisation event, the Lagos APC Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, said the cohesion among political leaders in Ikorodu had produced positive results, reflected in the calibre of representatives from the area.
Ojelabi also commended the district for its impressive performance in the ongoing electronic registration of party members and urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum in order to consolidate the achievements of the current administration.
Electoral Act amendment: Peter Obi joins protest at National Assembly
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, on Monday joined Nigerians to protesters at the National Assembly.
The protests were kicking against the Senate’s decision on the electronic transmission of election results.
Addressing the protesters at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, Obi faulted the Senate’s decision and urged lawmakers to allow the electoral process to run without restrictions.
“Allow the election to go through the normal process. Whatever the outcome is, we will accept it. Why introduce confusion after the process?” he said.
