Court orders interim forfeiture of N30.7m in NNPC fraud case
On September 2, 2025, Mr. Yakubu, whose name featured in the course of the investigation, was invited and he volunteered his statement. “Mr Yakubu submitted a ledger to the commission evidencing records of his transactions wherein the details of customers and the amount of dollars sold by them are recorded. “Mr Ibrahim Sani gave a statement on how he had been using Yakubu, the BDC operator, to send money to different individuals and companies. Mr Ibrahim equally confirmed how he usually deposits huge amounts of money (Dollars) with Mr Yakubu, who, in turn, sends his naira equivalent to individuals and companies’ accounts provided by him. Mr. Ibrahim, however, denied ownership of the N30.7 million found in Yakubu’s account as at the time of making his statement,” the anti-graft agency added.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 22:39 UTC
New Tata Punch revealed ahead of January 13 launch. Know what's new
Tata Motors has officially revealed the new Tata Punch ahead of its debut on January 13, 2026. Design refresh inspired by the Punch.evThe 2026 Tata Punch facelift adopts a more modern design, borrowing heavily from the Punch.ev and Tata’s latest SUVs. However, instead of a full-width LED light bar, the ICE Punch facelift features a blacked-out unit with sleek LED DRLs, giving it a distinct identity. The facelifted Punch will feature Tata’s new steering wheel with an illuminated Tata logo, finished in black with black leather. Turbo-petrol engine finally coming to the PunchThe headline upgrade for the facelifted Punch is the introduction of a turbo-petrol engine paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 22:10 UTC
People will miss Senator Akwashiki, Al-Makura, others mourn
A former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, on Monday described the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki as a profound and immeasurable loss to Nasarawa State and the nation, saying the National Assembly would deeply miss the late lawmaker. Describing Akwashiki as a close friend and political ally, Al-Makura said his replacement would not be easy. Also paying tribute, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Nasarawa State, Hon. Speaking during the condolence visit, Andaha said the late senator distinguished himself through uncommon commitment to his people and outstanding representation. Senator Godiya Akwashiki was very committed to his people and very dear to our hearts,” he said.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 22:05 UTC
Nine soldiers feared dead in Gubio IED explosion in Borno
No fewer than nine soldiers have been confirmed dead following the detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) along the 85km Maiduguri-Gubio road in Borno. The source explained that the soldiers were travelling from Maiduguri when the incident occurred near Gubio, the council headquarters of Gubio Local Government Area (LGA). “While travelling from Maiduguri on Saturday, the soldiers stopped at a military camp at the roadside before proceeding with their journey on Sunday,” said the source. The senior military officer added that some soldiers also sustained injuries from the shrapnel of the bomb blasts, including burns to their limbs and heads. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army is yet to issue an official statement on the IED explosions, including investigations and casualties sustained from the road blasts.
Source:The Guardian
January 05, 2026 21:54 UTC
Fire at Lagos’ Abule Egba pipeline corridor sparks panic, blaze contained
A fire outbreak on Monday at the Katangowa pipeline corridor in Abule Egba, Lagos, triggered panic among residents and commuters before firefighters moved in to bring the situation under control. Witnesses said the blaze caused momentary chaos, with people scrambling to keep a safe distance as the fire spread. Before the arrival of emergency responders, some residents and passers-by attempted to contain the fire using available materials. Firefighters eventually contained the blaze and prevented it from spreading to nearby buildings and critical facilities in the area. Authorities have since advised residents to remain vigilant and avoid activities around pipeline corridors, warning that such areas pose serious safety risks.
Source:The Guardian
January 05, 2026 21:02 UTC
Delcy Rodriguez sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president
(FILES) Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez speaks during the presentation of the 2026 fiscal year budget at the National Congress in Caracas on December 4, 2025. (Photo by Pedro MATTEY / AFP)Venezuela’s parliament swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president on Monday, two days after US forces seized her predecessor, Nicolas Maduro, to face trial in New York. Members of the National Assembly offered their full backing to Rodriguez — who had been Maduro’s vice president — and reelected her brother Jorge Rodriguez as parliament speaker. And we will ultimately deploy all our solidarity so that our legitimate president, Nicolas Maduro, returns victorious to Miraflores,” the presidential palace, he added. – ‘In good hands’ –Venezuela’s Supreme Court on Saturday ordered Delcy Rodriguez to assume the presidency “in an acting capacity,” and on Sunday, the military also threw its support behind her.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 20:12 UTC
Rivers SSG joins APC hours after dumping PDP
The Secretary to Rivers State Government, Benibo Anabraba, has officially registered as a member of the All Progressives Congress. Recall that he had resigned his membership of the People’s Democratic Party on Monday morning, but did not say what his next political party is. PUNCH Online reports that in a letter titled ‘Resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party,’ Anabraba indicated that the decision to leave the PDP is personal. He further appreciated the political leverage gained from the party during the period of his membership, and he wished the party well in the future. The statement reads, “Dr Anabraba registered his membership on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Ward 1, Unit 1, Bob-Manuel’s Compound, Abonnema, Akuku Toru LGA of the State.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 19:37 UTC
4 Smart TVs That Punch Above Their Price Bracket
The TCL QM6K, which is also part of our recommendations for cheap TVs that look expensive, is an affordable smart TV that has an impressive feature set for its price tag. Design is another strong point of the TCL offering, and it has a thin profile and small bezels, as we mentioned in our TCL QM6K review. In other highlights, the TV sports a 144Hz panel for high refresh rate gaming, support for the variable refresh rate feature to reduce screen tearing during gameplay, and two HDMI 2.1 ports to connect high-bandwidth gaming consoles and PCs. All of these features are available at a starting list price of $800 for the 55-inch model. Finally, you can buy it in sizes ranging from 55 inches to 98 inches.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 19:33 UTC
2026 Tata Punch revealed ahead of January 13 launch - Introduction
Tata Motors has revealed the Punch facelift in full ahead of its launch on January 13. The new Tata Punch gets a Punch EV-inspired exterior and interior, new features and a new turbo-petrol engine under the hood. New Tata Punch interior and featuresThe new Punch’s interior will be similar to that of the larger Tata models, such as the Nexon and Altroz. New Tata Punch powertrain optionsAlthough quite unusual for facelifts, the updated Punch will also get a new engine option under the hood. Upon launch, the Punch facelift will continue to rival the likes of the Hyundai Exter and the Citroen C3.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 19:20 UTC
2026 budget to consolidate Tinubu’s reform gains – Minister
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the 2026 Federal Government budget is designed to consolidate the gains of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda, which he said is already yielding positive results. The op-ed was cited in a statement signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation. Describing the 2026 appropriation proposal as strategic, the minister said, “Our ‘Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity’ is critical. The minister also referenced efforts to address food insecurity through the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture and expanded agricultural mechanisation. He acknowledged public fatigue but urged Nigerians to remain engaged, protect public assets and reject misinformation.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 18:55 UTC
New religion springs up in Nigeria
A new religion, God of White Calling, has taken off in Lagos State, dissociating itself from Christianity. The new religion was announced in Ile-Epo, in the Ikotun area of Lagos, by the president of Christ For All Souls Ministries, Prophet Odedoyin Olawumi Ezekiel. He said the raiser of the universe created the religion and that God never announced Christianity as His religion. “The Christian book only mentioned the name Christian in Antioch. God told me that people must worship Him with a clean act, that He hates sin, He promised power and other things.
Source:The Guardian
January 05, 2026 18:34 UTC
Venezuela must not fall into chaos, Erdogan tells Trump
US President Donald Trump participates in a video call with military service members from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on November 27, 2025, during the Thanksgiving holiday. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday he had told his US counterpart Donald Trump that Venezuela must not collapse into chaos, days after the US ousted his ally Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. “Any attack on the sovereignty of the people and any violation of international law will generate serious complications within the international order,” Erdogan said he told Trump. “Venezuela must not descend into chaos or instability,” he added in comments to Turkish television after a cabinet meeting. “When force prevails over law, instability, crises, and conflicts ensue,” Erdogan warned.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 18:31 UTC
Africa’s superpowers assemble for Cup of Nations knockout stages
African sides came no closer to really challenging at a World Cup, but the range of teams capable of beating the continent’s elite, of getting to the knockout stage of the Cup of Nations, was becoming more diverse. And now, in the Cup of Nations Morocco are hosting, the traditional powers are reasserting themselves. This has been a very strange tournament for the 1990 World Cup quarter-finalists. They arrived in apparent chaos, with two rival coaches each naming squads and submitting them to the Confederation of African football. Their opponents in the quarter-finals will be the hosts Morocco, who won just their fourth Cup of Nations knockout game.
Source:The Guardian
January 05, 2026 16:18 UTC
Leave Rivers alone or get burnt, Wike warns critics
Challenges detractors to replicate APC–PDP alliance in any stateMinister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned his critics to steer clear of Rivers State politics, warning that any attempt to interfere would attract severe consequences. “Leave Rivers State alone. Wike further challenged critics to demonstrate the political dexterity required to unite two major political parties in a single state. Addressing the Oyigbo people, Wike urged them to replicate the support they gave him during the 2023 elections in the forthcoming polls. Also speaking, the Ambassador of the Renewed Hope Family in Rivers State, Desmond Akawor, alleged that Oyigbo had witnessed no meaningful development since Wike left office.
Source:The Guardian
January 05, 2026 15:16 UTC
AI used to improve quality of Tinubu-Kagame Paris meeting photo, Presidency clarifies
He said, “The narrative that the picture of Presidents Bola Tinubu and Paul Kagame taken in Paris yesterday was AI-generated is not correct.”He added, “Both President Kagame and President Tinubu met in Paris and had lunch together on Sunday. The photographer only later used Grok to improve the picture quality. It showed Tinubu and Kagame seated together during what was described as a private engagement in the French capital. “This afternoon, I had a private lunch with H.E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda to discuss the current state of world affairs and advancing Africa in an ever-changing global landscape,” the President wrote.
Source:Punch
January 05, 2026 12:22 UTC