Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you might have missed this Friday evening, 12th December, 2025
’Court upholds Maryam Sanda’s death sentence, overrules Tinubu’s clemency
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the death sentence imposed on Maryam Sanda, daughter-in-law of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, over the killing of her husband, Bilyamin Bello.
Sanda was convicted on January 27, 2020, by an Abuja High Court, which found her guilty of fatally stabbing Bello at their Maitama home in 2017.
She was subsequently sentenced to death by hanging.She had spent about six years and eight months at the Suleja Correctional Centre before President Bola Tinubu granted her clemency, reducing the sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Ex-labour minister Ngige arraigned, remanded in Kuje prison
A former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was on Friday arraigned before an Abuja High Court sitting in Gwarinpa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged N2.2bn contract fraud.
Justice Maryam Hassan ordered that the former minister be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application, fixed for Monday, December 14.
Ngige pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on abuse of office and acceptance of gifts from contractors of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund while he served as its supervising minister between September 2015 and May 2023.
After the plea, EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), applied for a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant.
Dangote refinery slashes petrol price to N699 per litre
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has again reduced its petrol gantry price, slashing the ex-depot rate from N828 to N699 per litre.
Real-time market data published on Petroleumprice.ng on Friday showed that the refinery implemented another major downward review, cutting the Premium Motor Spirit benchmark price by N129 per litre — a 15.58 per cent reduction.
An official of the refinery, who spoke to PUNCH Online on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, also confirmed the adjustment.
He said,
“The refinery has reduced petrol gantry price to N699 per litre.
”The new price took effect on December 11, 2025, marking the 20th petrol price adjustment announced by the refinery this year.
The latest reduction comes barely five days after the refinery’s Chairman, Aliko Dangote, restated his commitment to keeping domestic fuel prices “reasonable and competitive” despite global volatility and persistent smuggling along Nigeria’s borders
The new price took effect on December 11, 2025, marking the 20th petrol price adjustment announced by the refinery this year.
The latest reduction comes barely five days after the refinery’s Chairman, Aliko Dangote, restated his commitment to keeping domestic fuel prices “reasonable and competitive” despite global volatility and persistent smuggling along Nigeria’s borders
FG issues 42 permits under gas flare commercialisation programme
The Federal Government has issued permits to 42 companies to access flare gas under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), a move expected to attract up to $2 billion in investments.
The announcement was made by the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, during the Permit to Access Flare Gas ceremony for the 2022 NGFCP cycle on Friday in Abuja.
Komolafe said 49 flare sites were auctioned, out of which 42 bidders emerged successful.
He added that the projects are expected to capture and commercialise between 250 and 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day currently being flared.
Anambra community protests killings, seeks Soludo’s intervention
Residents of Lilu community in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on Friday protested the persistent killings and attacks by gunmen, calling on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to urgently intervene.
The protesters — men, women and the elderly — decried what they described as the “mindless killings” that have continued in the area, including last Sunday’s attack at St. Andrews Anglican Church, Lilu, where the priest’s wife and one other person were reportedly murdered.
They marched from Aroma Junction, Awka, to the Government House (“Light House”), wielding placards with inscriptions such as “Enough is enough”, “Soludo rescue us”, “Lilu is bleeding”, “Over 100 killed by unknown gunmen”, and “Our parents are refugees”.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, received the protesters on behalf of the governor.
Sanwo-Olu unveils rehabilitated 1m-gallon water facility
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday inaugurated the rehabilitated Akilo Water Facility in Ogba, a project designed to supply one million gallons of potable water daily to residents of the area.
Speaking at the event, the governor said the revitalised plant underscores his administration’s commitment to expanding access to safe water and improving public health across the state.
Sanwo-Olu described the project as a “beacon of hope” made possible through the partnership between Water
Aid Nigeria and the Lagos State Water Corporation under the Urban Water and Sanitation Access Project.
He urged residents of Ogba, Keke, Agege, Akilo and other benefiting areas to take ownership of the facility and protect it from vandalism.
2027: We’re concerned Atiku, Obi may not team up — ADC admits
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has acknowledged concerns over the presidential bid of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Friday during an appearance on Arise TV’s The Morning Show, Abdullahi said the situation poses a challenge that worries the party.
He, however, cautioned against describing the Atiku–Obi dynamic as the “greatest threat” to Nigeria’s democracy, as suggested during the interview.
“I may not describe the situation in such superlative terms to say that it is the greatest threat to democracy at the moment.
But is it a conundrum? Yes. Is it a challenge? Yes.
Is it something we are concerned about? Yes,” the ADC chieftain admitted.
Court delivers judgment in NDLEA’s case against Abba Kyari
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, fixed Feb. 26, 2026, for judgment in a case filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against suspended DCP Abba Kyari.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NDLEA is prosecuting Kyari, the former head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), and his two younger brothers on allegations bordering on non-disclosure of assets.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after counsel for the NDLEA, Sunday Joseph, Kyari’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and his brothers’ counsel, Monjok Agom, adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the charge.
The NDLEA, in the 23-count charge, named Abba Kyari, Mohammed Kyari, and Ali Kyari as the 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively.
The anti-narcotics agency alleged that Abba and his two younger brothers, Mohammed and Ali, failed to make a full disclosure of their assets.
China-Nigeria trade hits $20bn, envoy pushes education support
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, has disclosed that China–Nigeria trade volume rose to $20 billion in 2025
Yuqing said the growth in bilateral relations showed the need for China, through the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone, OGFTZ, to support education via the 2025 edition of its Annual Schools’ Quiz and Debate Competition, held at the Community Civic Centre, Igbesa.
Speaking at the event, the envoy described the competition as an important cultural bridge that fosters youth engagement and deepens China–Nigeria relations.
She commended OGFTZ for complementing industrial development with educational support initiatives in its host communities.
Yuqing also encouraged students to continue learning the Chinese language and position themselves as future ambassadors of China–Nigeria friendship.
‘I had to return Tinubu’s favour,’ Fubara explains defection to APC
Governor of Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has explained that he dumped the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to return the favour President Bola Tinubu did in stabilising the state
Fubara added that there was need to align the state with power at the centre – the Tinubu-led Federal Government.
Governor Fubara gave the explanation during his reception by APC at the State Government House, Port Harcourt, today.
