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Senate moves against MDAs for shunning investigative hearings

The Senate on Wednesday threatened to invoke its constitutional powers against more than 30 federal revenue-generating agencies and government-owned enterprises over alleged violations of statutory revenue remittance laws and refusal to honour invitations to appear before its Committee on Finance.

Our correspondent reports that the warning followed a point of order raised during plenary by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, who accused the agencies of failing to comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Finance Act 2022 by allegedly retaining a substantial portion of revenues that should have been paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Musa informed the Senate that the committee’s ongoing investigation had uncovered what he described as widespread non-compliance with the legal framework governing the management of government revenues. According to him, several agencies had allegedly reversed the statutory revenue-sharing formula by retaining about 80 per cent of their internally generated revenue while remitting only 20 per cent to the Federal Government.

He further alleged that some of the affected agencies had failed to make the required remittances since 2020, thereby withholding public funds running into billions of naira that should have accrued to the government.

The lawmaker also expressed concern over what he described as the continued disregard for legislative oversight, noting that despite repeated invitations, many of the affected agencies failed to appear before the Senate Committee on Finance to explain their revenue records and remittance practices.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, while sustaining the point of order, described the allegations as weighty and deserving of immediate legislative attention.

‘This is a very serious matter,’ the Senate President said, directing the Finance Committee Chairman to return to the chamber with a substantive motion outlining specific recommendations for Senate action.

Among the agencies named were the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd); the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC); the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

ERC should audit ‘pass-through’ costs – Gatchalian

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian sought more powers for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to audit not just distribution fees, but also the pass-through costs of generating electricity.

Pass-through costs are fees added directly to the bill of energy consumers based on a utility company’s expenses from producing said utility, such as production and delivery rates from power plants and distributors.

‘Pass-through charges need to be audited. We, consumers, need to be assured that what is being passed on to us is not excessive. It’s common sense, if you’re a businessman, of course you want to pass on the highest amount to the consumer so that you can earn a high profit… but the regulator is there to ensure that you earn a decent amount but not too much,’ Gatchalian said during the Senate energy panel hearing.

The hearing aimed to discuss ways to strengthen the ERC amid rising fuel prices.

He was talking to ERC Chairperson Saturnino Juan, who admitted that the agency has ‘not thoroughly’ checked the right prices for fuel pass-through.

‘There is that need for us to come up with audit steps to determine really what should be the appropriate pass-through,’ Juan also told the panel.

Gatchalian criticized the lack of the ERC’s powers, pointing out that it makes the government ‘blind’ to the pass-through charges that affect energy consumers.

‘I believe that the price that is passed on to us because it is not checked, we do not know what is really being passed on to us… The ERC should not only look at the distribution charges, but they should also look at the pass-through. Because we are blind. The government is blind when it comes to pass-through,’ the senator pressed.

Energy panel chairperson Sen. Erwin Tulfo also chimed in, grilling Juan on the lack of checks and balances to the pass-through charges.

‘You could have prevented that- this abuse of the electricity price… If you only did your job even though you had no power, you could have done something. You could have told the public,’ Tulfo stressed.

He then asked Juan: ‘Do you agree with me that it is abuse?’

Juan replied that he ‘had no basis’ to say so, prompting a sharp reaction from Tulfo, who said: ‘You have no basis, but the people know that they were abused and shamelessly ignored.

Palace hints at ‘earthshaking announcements’ in Marcos’ Sona speech

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in the final stages of preparing his speech for his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) next week, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro, who hinted that the president may make ‘earthshaking announcements.’

As in previous years, Castro said Marcos would write his own speech but declined to disclose the topics that would be covered.

‘At this point, the president is nearly finished and is reviewing his speech. I can’t disclose what he may say because I haven’t seen it yet, nor have I heard what he is going to say,’ she said in a briefing.

Asked whether Marcos would address the flood control issue in his Sona, Castro only said it would be better for the public to wait for the speech.

‘Many contractors have already been charged, while some may not have been charged yet because there is not yet enough evidence to file a case against them,’ she also said.

Castro, meanwhile, hinted at possible ‘earthshaking announcements’ during Marcos’ Sona.

‘It’s always like that. So let’s just wait and see what the president will say. As we’ve seen, the administration’s accomplishments will certainly not be left out, but as for what else he will say, let’s wait until Monday,’ she said when asked whether the president will make such pronouncements.

‘Simple yet dignified’

At a briefing on July 20, Castro said Marcos’ second-to-last Sona would be ‘simple yet dignified,’ in compliance with the austerity measures the government is implementing due to the impact of the Middle East crisis.

‘The House of Representatives will be hosting the Sona. However, the executive branch, particularly the Office of the President, is aligned with it because the call here is simply for a simple occasion.’

Castro also said, ‘The Sona will be kept simple. There will be no celebrity directors or big A-list performers involved. It will be a simple yet dignified event, reflecting the proper conduct of a national occasion such as the Sona.’

JUST IN: LPPC confers SAN rank on 69 lawyers

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has announced the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on 68 legal practitioners.

LPPC’s Secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday.

Akanbi said the LPPC took the decision at its 174th plenary session, held on July 23, 2026.

Part of the statement read, ‘The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is conferred as a mark of professional excellence upon legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics, contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.

‘In accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), all shortlisted prospective Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) conferees are required to attend and successfully complete the pre-swearing-in induction programme.

‘Participation in this programme is a mandatory prerequisite for the conferment of the rank of SAN. The date shall be communicated in due course.

‘Furthermore, in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and the provisions of Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, all shortlisted conferees must refrain from publishing and discourage the publication of advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their nomination or conferment.

‘Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules, as expressly stated.

‘The swearing-in of the 68 successful applicants is scheduled to be held on Monday, the 12th day of October, 2026.’

Some of the conferees include Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu, Jude Chukwuemeka Okafor, Goodwill Achibong Umoh, Sunday Samuel Obende, Adebayo Olugbenga Adaralegbe, Jimson Ejovi Okodaso and Olalekan Lawrence Bade-John.

Others are Olaotan Thomas Olusegun, Philemon Audu Daffi, Adenrele David Adegborioye, James Eromosele Agbonhese, Alexander Nduka Muoka, Onome Okodiya, Emmanuel Akunke Akomaye and Ikhide Ekhighelua.

NCDMB, VARELIS train 200 northeast youths in renewable energy

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with VARELIS Global Company Ltd., successfully trained 200 youths from Adamawa and Borno states in renewable energy technologies and electrified six primary healthcare centres with hybrid solar mini-grid systems.

The initiative, titled ‘Powering the Future: NCDMB and VARELIS Global Electrify Clinics and Train 200 Northeast Youths,’ aimed to build a skilled indigenous renewable energy workforce while expanding access to clean, reliable electricity in underserved communities across the Northeast.

The training was conducted in two states: Adamawa and Borno. The Adamawa State programme ran for 10 days, from June 29 to July 9, 2026, while the Borno State training was held from July 13 to July 23, 2026.

A total of 200 participants, comprising 100 youths each from Adamawa and Borno states, received intensive practical training in solar photovoltaic (PV) system design and installation, battery storage systems, mini-grid applications, and clean-energy entrepreneurship.

At the conclusion of the programme, participants received certificates after successfully completing hands-on technical training designed to improve their employability, encourage entrepreneurship, and promote sustainable livelihoods.

As part of the intervention, six primary healthcare centres across Adamawa and Borno states were equipped with hybrid solar mini-grid systems to provide uninterrupted electricity for vaccine storage, emergency medical services, and round-the-clock healthcare delivery.

The project also promoted gender inclusion by encouraging strong female participation, with women making up a significant proportion of the trainees.

Stakeholders said the initiative would help reduce youth unemployment, strengthen local technical capacity in renewable energy, expand access to clean energy, lower carbon emissions, and support post-insurgency recovery and economic development in Nigeria’s Northeast.

They noted that the successful completion of the programme demonstrated NCDMB’s commitment, in collaboration with VARELIS Global Company Ltd., to developing local content in the renewable energy sector while improving critical public infrastructure and creating sustainable economic opportunities for young people in the region.

Jaffna Kings pull off thrilling five-run win

The Colombo Kaps, having lost their captain Kusal Mendis, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 with a hamstring injury, and with several of their players under the weather, lost a tight LPL contest to Jaffna Kings by a mere five runs in the first of two matches played at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Mendis sustained a right hamstring injury while attempting a run during the Colombo Kaps’ match against the Kandy Royals on 19 July at the SSC Ground, and will return to the National High Performance Centre to commence his rehabilitation program, stated a media release from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Jaffna Kings made a steady start, with the opening pair Avishka Fernando and Kamil Mishara putting on 65 off 53 balls before Wanuja Sahan finally broke the stand, removing Mishara for 39. Not long after, Milan Rathnayake cleaned up Fernando for 34 to leave the Kings needing to start afresh.

Chamindu Wickramasinghe, promoted to number three, lifted the scoring rate with a flurry of big hits and crisp boundaries. Just as Jaffna Kings looked set to accelerate, Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck twice in the 16th over to halt their progress and swing the momentum back in Colombo Kaps’ favour.

Colombo Kaps were not at their sharpest in the field, putting down three catches, missing a couple of run-out opportunities, and gifting away extra runs through sloppy misfields even though their bowlers kept a tight leash on the scoring and did not allow the middle order to settle. Wickramasinghe’s entertaining knock of 43 from 22 balls (4 fours, 2 sixes) ended when Shahnawaz Dahani bowled him attempting an audacious reverse ramp. Mujeeb and Dahani took the bowling honours with two wickets each.

The Colombo Kaps began disastrously losing their first two wickets for nine that saw them struggling for momentum at 37-3 after six overs. Kamindu Mendis, leading Colombo Kaps in the absence of his namesake Kusal Mendis, was the lone spark. He looked in total control as he rotated the strike and found the boundaries with ease to bring up his 50 off 34 balls. But Traveen Mathew, who made the initial breakthrough, returned to deliver another massive blow, getting Kamindu Mendis caught at deep cover for 58 (42 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes). Sharujan Shanmuganathan looking to free his arms was caught out at deep square leg as the Colombo Kaps lost their way, tumbling to 114-7 in the 16th over. Jaffna Kings were exceptional in the field, taking every chance that came their way, and kept a tight leash on the run rate.

Having made five changes to their line-up, the Colombo Kaps looked sloppy; their batting unit failed to gel and their earlier lapses in the field ultimately came back to haunt them. Late fireworks from Rathnayake (15 off 8) and Sahan (35* off 15) only served to reduce the margin of defeat. It was a complete team performance in the field by the defending champions, who seem to have found their feet after losing their first match.

Lizaad Williams with three wickets led the bowling honours, with Mathews and Dilshan Madushanka chipping in with two apiece. Wickramasinghe was made Player of the Match. – [ST]

Scores:

Jaffna Kings 179-6 (20) (Avishka Fernando 34, Kamil Mishara 39, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 43, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/33, Shahnawaz Dahani 2/25)

Colombo Kaps 174-9 (20) (Kamindu Mendis 58, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 26, Wanuja Sahan 35*, Dilshan Madushanka 2/12, Traveen Mathew 2/21, Lizaad Williams 3/30)

Cleric counsels women on life’s challenges

Marriage, career, motherhood, or the quiet pain of childlessness – none of life’s heavy burdens should ever derail a woman from her God-given destiny.

That was the message delivered by Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Lead Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church International, at the 2026 All Women Summit in Abeokuta.

Speaking at Victory City, Achudume reminded the audience that despite the immense pressures they shoulder daily, women remain the indispensable bedrock of the family, the Church, and society.

‘As a woman, you may be overwhelmed by responsibilities… but God will never abandon you,’ Achudume declared. ‘There are things God will take you through because of the assignment He has prepared for your life. If you can identify His presence, you will come out stronger.’

Drawing from the biblical account of the fiery furnace, he assured believers that God’s presence is an all-sufficient anchor during trials.

Achudume also challenged the conventional definition of success, arguing that true leadership is defined by sacrifice, discipline, and character-not titles.

‘The world is looking for true leaders to improve the lot of humanity,’ he said. ‘Leadership is beyond position. The real question is: can you pay the price?’

Blaming Nigeria’s current leadership crises on individuals chasing public office without preparation or integrity, he urged women to model humility, patience, and godly principles in their homes and professions.

The summit also paid emotional tribute to the late Reverend Fola Achudume, the visionary whose faith birthed the annual gathering. Guest minister Apostle (Dr.) Ngozi Okwok stated that the greatest honor women could pay her memory is to keep her vision alive by living purposefully.

Warning that ‘ignorance is never an excuse,’ Okwok challenged participants from all economic backgrounds to aggressively pursue personal development and become guiding lights in their communities.

The summit’s impact was made tangible through the ‘Shop for Free’ outreach-a signature legacy of the late Reverend Fola Achudume via Royal Ladies International. Breaking down religious and social barriers, the outreach distributed clothing, shoes, food, and household essentials to massive crowds free of charge.

The 2026 summit, themed: ‘Shine, concluded with powerful prayers for families, the Church, and the nation.

Government to decide on major projects to be included in new MFF, President says

The government will soon be called upon to make decisions on the major projects that will be included in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday evening.

Speaking to journalists upon his arrival at the inauguration ceremony for the revamped Omodos Square and part of its Traditional Core, a traditional village in Limassol district, President Christodoulides said that “our government will soon have to decide on major projects to be implemented across Cyprus under the next Multiannual Financial Framework, with a total value exceeding pound 1 billion.”

He said that his intention is for the government to discuss the matter in cooperation with local authorities, community leaders, municipalities, and district administrations, “so that we can make full use of all available European resources to achieve the revitalisation of our rural areas, where you can experience the true spirit of Cypriot hospitality.”

Referring to the event, he spoke of “a landmark day,” noting that the Cabinet was present because “we genuinely believe and are investing in the future of mountainous Cyprus and our rural communities.” He added that Omodos is a classic example of the successful development and utilisation of Cyprus’s semi-mountainous regions.

Delivery driver shot dead after highway dispute in Bukidnon

A request to share the road took a fatal turn Wednesday afternoon when a 31-year-old delivery driver was gunned down following a traffic altercation in Barangay Vintar, Valencia City in Bukidnon.

The incident happened after the victim, traveling in an Isuzu Elf truck along Kapalong Road toward San Fernando, encountered a motorcycle allegedly not in the proper lane.

According to the Valencia City Police Station (CPS), the victim asked the motorcycle driver – who was traveling with his wife and daughter – to yield. The request angered the motorcycle driver, who later glared at the victim as the truck was unloading deliveries at a One Stop Shop in Purok 5, before continuing toward San Fernando.

Minutes later, another unidentified man arrived at the shop to confront the victim over the traffic dispute. The argument quickly escalated, and the suspect drew a firearm, shooting the victim three times.

The victim, who sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the back, attempted to flee toward his truck but collapsed on the ground. The assailant immediately fled on a motorcycle toward Valencia City.

The Valencia City Rescue Team rushed the victim to the Valencia City Health Center, but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Responding police officers, led by Valencia police chief Lt. Col. Bryan Panganiban, found the victim lying face up near the delivery truck.

Authorities immediately activated ‘Oplan Shield,’ placing all units on full alert, and launched pursuit operations to apprehend the suspect. A Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) team from the Bukidnon Provincial Forensic Unit was also requested to process the crime scene.

Col. Oliver Sotto Navales, Bukidnon Police Provincial Director, has ordered a thorough investigation for the swift resolution of the case

My presidential journeys were issues above your head, Obasanjo replies Osoba

Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, lacked full knowledge of the events that led to his emergence as president in 2003.

Obasanjo stated this in a lengthy letter addressed to Osoba, dated July 23, 2026, in response to the former governor’s account published in the Legal Observer of July 20.

In the letter, titled ‘Reply to Your Inaccurate Posture: How Obasanjo Deceived Us in 2003,’ the former president described Osoba’s account as inaccurate, far-fetched, and a distortion of historical facts, saying many of the discussions about his presidential journey were handled by senior leaders of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Afenifere.

He faulted Osoba’s claims that he deceived leaders of the AD and Afenifere in the build-up to the 2003 general elections, maintaining that his political career has always been guided by openness, dialogue, and national interest.

He also knocked the former governor for describing him as deceitful, insisting that he had never deceived anyone in his political life.

‘I take strong and serious objection to your calling me a deceiver because I deceived nobody. I always presented my case and all issues as I had them and as I understood them, no matter whose ox was gored.

‘There were issues you did not know or understand because, as you pointed out, they were above your head.

‘They were handled by your elders in the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Afenifere. And there were issues that you governors of the South-West kept away from me which normally should have been discussed or raised with me but were raised or discussed somewhere else.

‘I would not say that you were diabolical or deceitful. You chose what you would do and you did what you chose. Others could also choose differently,’ Obasanjo wrote.

He disclosed that after his release from prison, he was approached by several groups urging him to return to politics, naming delegations led by Lawan Katsina, the late Chief S.M. Afolabi, and Chief Martins Kuye among those that persuaded him to contest the presidency.

The former president gave an account of how the consultations led him to seek the views of prominent Nigerians across the South-West, North, and South-East before eventually choosing to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obasanjo maintained that politics should never be driven by bitterness, recalling that despite opposition from Afenifere leaders, particularly the late Chief Abraham Adesanya, he continued to visit and engage them with respect.

He said, ‘On my being released from prison, for us to start from that point, many people came to congratulate me and started insinuating that I should have a role in government again. I paid no attention initially because I had serious family matters: my children’s schools to attend to.

‘Soon, groups started calling on me directly, not just to insinuate. The first group was led by Lawan Katsina to my Ota farm. I received them, thanked them, and promised to think about their invitation.

‘The second group was led by Chief S.M. Afolabi, who was Deputy Governor to Chief Bola Ige. The third group was led by Martins Kuye.

‘The last two groups were Yoruba-led, and I told them that the circle needed to be widened and enlarged. I believed that the two groups included Afenifere and non-Afenifere members. You did not know that I had these approaches, contacts, or invitations.

‘With these approaches, I decided to consult people in the South-West, East, and North. In the South-West, my first call was to Ibadan to consult Chief Akinloye, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Richard Akinjide, and Professor Oyeleye. In the North, I consulted two close friends, Sunday Awoniyi and Adamu Ciroma.

‘In the East, I consulted Professor Anezi Okoro and Arthur Mbanefo. That quick consultation was like a sounding board. It gave me a quick and good feel.

‘From that sounding, I decided to take an interest in what was going on in party formations and the special role that Bola Ige was playing at that time.

‘The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attracted my attention and interest, and I was being regularly briefed. After the formation of the parties, I formally joined the PDP. I continued my consultations and campaigns at the same time,’ he said.

Obasanjo revealed that Adesanya appealed to him to join the AD, but he rejected the proposal because he considered the party essentially regional in outlook.

‘I told him the AD, as essentially a tribal party, was in a cul-de-sac,’ Obasanjo stated, adding that his respect for Yoruba elders never diminished despite political disagreements.

The former president also recounted an encounter with the late Chief Bola Ige before the 1999 presidential election, saying efforts at political reconciliation never materialised despite earlier assurances.

He argued that after winning the presidency with about 63 per cent of the national vote despite losing much of the South-West, he deliberately sought to build bridges rather than pursue political vendettas.

Obasanjo said his decision to form what he described as a broad-based national government involving members of the AD was motivated by national unity and not political weakness.

The former president criticised Afenifere for what he described as its inability to rise above ethnic politics, insisting that his political philosophy had always been rooted in national integration rather than regional interests.

He wrote that before their deaths, some Afenifere leaders, including Chief Abraham Adesanya and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, expressed regrets over certain political positions taken by the group.

On the outcome of the 2003 governorship elections, which saw the PDP capture five of the six South-West states, Obasanjo maintained that the victories reflected genuine electoral success.

He, however, claimed that only the Lagos governorship election involved manipulation of results, citing information allegedly supplied to him by the then Lagos State Head of Service.

Obasanjo said he never harboured bitterness towards Osoba despite years of political disagreements, describing him as his brother.

He commended the former governor for allocating the land on which the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) is situated, saying the gesture was one of the greatest services rendered to him and to Abeokuta.

‘The allocation was made for the good of my programme and in the best interest of Abeokuta and indeed Ogun State. There was neither politics played nor any game in the process,’ he wrote.

Obasanjo concluded by urging Osoba to embrace humility, gratitude, and reconciliation, stressing that while politics may end, personal relationships should endure for life.