Abducted Oyo APC chieftain Wale Oriade regains freedom
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Wale Oriade, who was abducted some weeks ago, on Saturday regained his freedom after 39 days in captivity. The Public Relations Officer of the APC in the state, Wale Sadare, confirmed this to The PUNCH Online by telephone from Ibadan, the state capital. Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in a blue Micra vehicle with two occupants—a driver and an armed man—who forcibly seized Oriade and whisked him away in the same vehicle. He (Oriade) has been released.”Investigations by our correspondent further revealed that a ransom was paid to the abductors before his release. As of press time, no official statement has been released by the state Police command.
Source:Punch
January 10, 2026 12:10 UTC
Venezuela: A cautionary tale of broken trust, crumbling institutions
Once the implicit “mandate of heaven”—the moral consent of the governed—is forfeited, the social contract dissolves and failure accelerates. LEGITIMACY, THE SOCIAL CONTRACT, AND INSTITUTIONAL DECAYState stability rests on a self-reinforcing triangle: legitimacy, the social contract, and institutional strength. Effective institutions deliver public goods; those goods sustain the social contract; and the fulfillment of the contract generates legitimacy. This creates a vicious cycle: institutions fail because they lack legitimacy, and legitimacy erodes because institutions no longer function. Resilience requires a renegotiated social contract grounded in:• Independent Institutions – Courts and civil services must serve the law, not rulers.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 11:12 UTC
Oyedele rebuts KPMG’s flagged ‘errors’ in gazetted tax laws
In a statement issued on Saturday, Oyedele said while some points raised by KPMG were useful, the bulk of the report mischaracterised the objectives and structure of the new tax framework. “While it is legitimate to disagree with policy direction, disagreements should not be framed as errors or gaps,” the statement said. Regarding indirect transfer of shares, the statement described the provision as a deliberate policy choice aligned with global best practices and BEPS initiatives, aimed at closing long-exploited loopholes by multinationals. Issues raised on small company exemptions were noted to predate the new laws under the Finance Act 2021. The clarification comes after KPMG Nigeria’s report, which flagged potential errors, gaps, and inconsistencies in the newly gazetted tax laws, including concerns over taxation of shares, dividend treatment, non-resident obligations, and foreign exchange deductions, warning that these could affect businesses and taxpayers.
Source:Punch
January 10, 2026 10:10 UTC
Morocco sail into Afcon semi-finals as Díaz sparks fine win over Cameroon
Finally, in a spiky, ill-tempered quarter-final, there was something more like the Morocco that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup two years ago. If the game wasn’t fluent, that was largely Cameroon’s doing as they spoiled and delayed and sought treatment for injuries. View image in fullscreen Ismael Saibari scores his team’s second goal during the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Cameroon. Cameroon were furious at the late change, and were upset with a number of Beida’s decisions, but he wasn’t the reason Cameroon lost. For those countries who have qualified for the World Cup, a Cup of Nations six months before the main event is a double-edged sword.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 09:55 UTC
Nigerian elites don’t have a sense of leadership – Adebayo
The money spent, is it to be regarded as stolen money or lost money or lost opportunity? So, you can find someone who has been in government for eight years, and then when they are asked to summarise their political philosophy, they don’t know it. So, these elites don’t understand the sense of a republic. And there is no major political party in Nigeria. And the fact that you don’t like Tinubu as well does not solve the problem of the people.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 09:46 UTC
Rivers State: back on the brink
The political landscape of Rivers State, long considered the crown jewel of Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, has reached a critical juncture as of early January 2026. In the contemporary context of Rivers State, Governor Fubara is the protégé who calls Wike “father”. For the Speaker and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the moment calls for a return to principled governance and constituency welfare. They must rise above the polarity that does not respect party lines and refocus on their mandate to ensure that the governance outcomes for the people of Rivers State are positive. Ultimately, the crisis will shape not just the political fortunes of individual actors, but the democratic norms and political culture of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 09:46 UTC
MFM constructs road, digs borehole for Lagos community
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Tent Maker Pastorial Ministry (TMPM), Region 1, Lekki, Lagos, has provided humanitarian services to the people of Itedo community and its environs. The services, which are part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), include construction of access road spanning in Itedo and digging of a borehole for potable water. The church also trained over 50 members in different skills, and gave them starter packs to ease financial burden. TMPM Region 1, also gave scholarships to indigent but brilliant students. The Regional Overseer and Pastor in charge of MFM TMPM 1, Lekki, Pastor Sola Oladipo, said the humanitarian services were to give to the needy and take care of the less-privileged, according to the Bible.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 09:27 UTC
Trump’s territorial ambition: new imperialism or a case of the emperor’s new clothes?
Like the other two ageing autocrats, Trump’s vision for his country harks back to a bygone imperial past. Trump has also looked to the early 19th century for inspiration for his new bout of territorial acquisitiveness, in the form of the Monroe doctrine. “It’s not as if Trump is saying: I want to be the only empire; Trump is basically signalling and acting as if he’s absolutely fine with Russia and China being empires. Photograph: Matias Delacroix/APWhat was the Monroe doctrine? The Trump administration has revived the 203-year-old Monroe doctrine, and made it the cornerstone of its newly aggressive policy in the Americas.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 09:01 UTC
I’m not available for projects that waste my time – Mummy Wa
Content creator and actress, Kemi Ikuseedun, popularly known as Mummy Wa, has said she is setting firmer boundaries in 2026, declaring that she will no longer take on projects that disrespect her time or compromise her values. Speaking in an interview with Saturday Beats, Mummy Wa explained that protecting her peace and personal principles has become a top priority this year. She said, “I am no longer available for projects that will disrespect my time, disrespect or drain my values, and reduce whatever I do to ‘just content’. She said, “There is still a whole lot to the Mummy Wa character. I am allowing Mummy Wa to age and to observe life.
Source:Punch
January 10, 2026 07:15 UTC
Nigeria, Jersey seal deal to repatriate $9.5m looted funds
Nigeria and the Bailiwick of jersey have agreed to repatriate more than $9.5 million traced to proceeds of corruption to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The agreement is contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2025 by His Majesty’s Attorney General for Jersey, Mark Temple KC, authorising the return of the funds to Nigeria for use on key infrastructure projects. The funds were forfeited following an application by the Jersey Attorney General to the Royal Court of Jersey on November 29, 2023, under the Forfeiture of Assets (Civil Proceedings) (Jersey) Law 2018. The MoU builds on earlier agreements between Nigeria and Jersey that led to the repatriation of over $300 million. “I want to, on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, thank the Bailiwick of Jersey for the cooperation accorded Nigeria during the recovery exercise.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 07:15 UTC
Consultant uncovers 8,452 ghost workers in Osun
A forensic audit firm, SALLY TIBBOT Consulting Limited, has accused the Osun State Government of inserting a total of 8,452 alleged ghost workers into the state’s payroll and paying them a sum of N13,716,914,129.28 annually. She described the exercise as one of the most extensive payroll audits ever undertaken in Osun State, aimed at verifying all individuals drawing salaries and pensions from the state treasury. Presenting the findings, she disclosed that as of January 2023, the Osun State payroll stood at N4,483,943,105.70 monthly for 37,456 staff and 17,918 pensioners. She said the reduction indicated that 8,452 ghost workers had been fraudulently inserted into the payroll, resulting in a monthly loss of N1,143,076,177.44 and an annual loss of N13,716,914,129.28 to the state. The Osun State Government instructed all staff to be available, and orientation exercises were conducted to ensure cooperation.
Source:Punch
January 10, 2026 06:41 UTC
The Guardian’s Special Focus on 100 Top Strategic CEOs of Nigeria’s most transformative companies in 2025: Professor George Nkem Ude – A champion of scientific transformation
From his early years in Nigeria, Professor Ude was raised in an environment grounded in discipline, faith, and an unwavering commitment to education. The moment that ignited the birth of the DNA Learning Center Nigeria came in a setting as unassuming as it was historic. With the unwavering support of Dr Dave Micklos, the Executive Director of the DNA Learning Center in New York, the vision began to take shape. Among all his achievements, the DNA Learning Center Nigeria remains the project closest to his heart. To learn more about the DNA Learning Center Nigeria, explore programs, register for courses, or become a partner, visit the official website at www.dnalcnigeria.org.
Source:The Guardian
January 10, 2026 05:14 UTC
Patient alleges urinary damage at Lagos hospital
A Lagos resident, Alfred Ogene, has filed a formal legal claim against R-Jolad Hospital Nigeria Limited, alleging gross medical negligence. According to the claim, the alleged negligence resulted in permanent damage to his urinary system and has caused him severe physical injuries as well as psychological trauma. A nurse, Nurse Oseni, then came to remove the initial Catheter and inserted another one. The hospital added that, despite the restrictions, it remained committed to upholding patient’s safety, professional ethics, and continuous quality improvement. “The hospital treats all complaints and allegations relating to patient care with the utmost seriousness.
Source:Punch
January 10, 2026 05:07 UTC
2026 Tata Punch facelift all colours gallery - Introduction
The 2026 facelift for the Tata Punch brings a comprehensive update. The exterior receives enough changes to make it seem fresh, and the interior also seems to be more upmarket and get more features. The Punch facelift also gets a new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine option, and the 88hp 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine available with the pre-facelift model continues. Tata Motors offers the Punch facelift in at least 6 colour options: Bengal Rouge, Caramel, Coorg Clouds, Cyantafic, Daytona Grey and Pristine White.
Source:Punch
January 10, 2026 04:44 UTC
We want win, not revenge – Simon
Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has insisted Nigeria are not seeking revenge for their 2019 AFCON semi-final defeat to Algeria but are simply focused on winning Saturday’s quarter-final clash in Marrakech, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. “That (2-1 defeat against Algeria in 2019 AFCON) is in the past,” Simon said at the pre-match press conference on Friday. “We want to win tomorrow (Saturday), not just trying to win, and we hope we can do so.”Simon is one of eight players on the current Super Eagles squad who were in Egypt in 2019 when Algeria stopped Nigeria with a stoppage-time free-kick goal by Riyad Mahrez. “I cannot tell you the North African teams are teams that are giving us trouble because we, too, are a team that gives them trouble,” he said. We are a team that works every day to progress and to win due to the mentality,” he added.
Source:Punch
January 10, 2026 04:14 UTC