SERAP Gives Akpabio, Abbas Seven-Day Ultimatum to Refund N110bn

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas seven days “to ensure that members of the Senate and House of Representatives refund and return to the public treasury, all monies, allowances, and benefits derived from the N110 billion vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes declared unlawful by the Federal High Court.”

The ultimatum follows a Federal High Court ruling that declared the vehicle procurement and support allowance schemes unlawful. SERAP’s demand puts significant pressure on the National Assembly leadership to account for the expenditure, which has drawn widespread public criticism amid growing economic hardship across the country.

INEC Declares Oyebanji Winner as APC Dominates Ekiti Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday. The governor was re-elected after polling 319,224 votes over his closest rivals in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olumayokun Oluyede, and African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, across the state’s 16 local governments.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof Adenike Oladiji, who is the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Akure, announced the results in the early hours of Sunday at the INEC’s headquarters on Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti. Oladiji said, “Therefore, I, Adenike, am the returning officer for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election…Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and stands re-elected.”

While the APC polled 319,224 votes, the PDP candidate polled 40,533 votes, and the ADC candidate amassed 12,872 votes.

President Bola Tinubu rejoiced with Governor Oyebanji on his victory, saying his re-election is “a clear vote of confidence in continuity, stability, and people-centred governance.” The Nigeria Governors’ Forum also congratulated Oyebanji, describing the outcome as a strong endorsement of his leadership and developmental vision.

However, opposition parties on Sunday faulted the conduct of the election, alleging widespread vote-buying, ballot irregularities and administrative lapses by INEC.

19 Killed in Fresh Plateau Attack

In a grim reminder of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis, no fewer than 19 persons were reportedly killed and several others injured following an attack on Kawel village in Mushere District of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State. The attack, according to residents, occurred late Sunday night while people in the community were asleep.

Malo Bitrus, a resident of Bokkos, told Vanguard that the gunmen stormed the village at about 11:40 p.m., shooting sporadically and causing residents to flee for safety. He said over 19 persons were killed.

Confirming the incident to Vanguard, Bokkos Youth Leader Christopher Luka said the attackers invaded the community and opened fire on residents. According to him, information about the attack reached local youth leaders shortly after midnight. “A youth leader called around 12 a.m. and reported that gunmen attacked the community and shot several persons. So far, 19 deaths have been confirmed,” he said.

Luka explained that immediately after receiving the information, he alerted security personnel stationed in Bokkos. “I contacted security personnel, and they confirmed they had received information about the incident and were moving to the affected community,” he added. He described the attack as unprovoked and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to prevent further violence and improve protection for vulnerable communities.

The latest incident occurred less than five days after the killing of the District Head of Gwande in Bokkos Local Government Area, Saf Samuel Alaket, who was reportedly attacked along the Sha District axis bordering the Daffo community while returning from a traditional council meeting.

Oriire Abduction: Protesters Block Ibadan Roads, Demand Rescue of Pupils, Teachers

Hundreds of demonstrators on Monday staged a protest along the busy Iwo Road axis in Ibadan, Oyo State, calling for the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area. The protest led to traffic disruption, leaving commuters, transporters and other road users stranded for several hours as movement was partially blocked in the area.

The protesters blocked a section of the road, carrying banners and placards urging government authorities and security agencies to act swiftly to secure the release of the victims and address rising insecurity in the state. With loud music playing from speakers mounted on an open-back vehicle, they were seen singing and dancing while pressing for urgent intervention in the rescue effort. Some Muslim participants also observed afternoon prayers on the road during the protest, offering prayers for the safe return of the abductees.

A banner displayed at the scene read: “Government Must Act – End Kidnapping in Oyo State.” Placards at the protest carried inscriptions such as “Free the Ogbomoso Kidnapped Victims,” “Oyo Is Bleeding,” and “End Insecurity Now.”

Hope is rising for the safe release of 39 abducted schoolchildren and seven teachers from Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities in Oriire Local Government Area, as security operatives rev up efforts to rescue the victims.

The Nigeria Police Force has ruled out any form of ransom negotiation for the release of the schoolchildren. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Fayoade, made the declaration on Monday while addressing journalists during an official working visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja.

Aborisade Calls on Tinubu, Makinde to Resign Over Insecurity, Hardship

A United Kingdom-trained lawyer, human rights activist and Oyo State governorship hopeful, Barrister Niyi Aborisade, on Monday called on President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to resign over what he described as worsening insecurity and economic hardship in the country.

Aborisade said the continued wave of kidnappings, rising cost of living, hunger and unresolved security challenges had eroded the basis for both leaders to remain in office.

Drawing a comparison with the resignation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Aborisade argued that public officials should take responsibility when they fail to address critical challenges confronting the people. “Tinubu should resign as President. If Keir Starmer can resign as Prime Minister despite his success in some areas but failed only on immigration, then there is no reason why President Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde should not resign,” he said.

According to him, the level of insecurity across the country, coupled with economic hardship and the impact of fuel price increases, demonstrates a failure of leadership. “The level of insecurity in Nigeria, the untold hardship, the hunger and the unprecedented fuel increase have made it clear that Tinubu has failed the people of this country. He has no answer to the Nigerian problems,” Aborisade stated.

The human rights activist also criticised Governor Makinde’s handling of security issues in Oyo State, particularly the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted from a secondary school in Oriire Local Government Area. He noted that more than 40 days after the abduction, the victims were yet to regain their freedom. “Governor Seyi is the chief security officer of the state. The teachers and pupils who were abducted more than 30 days ago are still in the forest. He has no answer or solution but continues to force people out of their land,” he alleged.

However, Deputy House of Representatives spokesman rejected calls for Tinubu’s resignation, describing them as “not borne out of patriotism. It appears to be part of a broader conspiracy by some political actors who are desperate to remove the President from office through every available means.”

Senate to Reconvene Tuesday for State Police Bill

Senators will return to Abuja tomorrow to a potentially tense chamber amid growing concerns over crippling insecurity in the country. Findings by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that the lawmakers, who are cutting short their end of session break, are set to fast-track the State Police Bill, by taking it through the third reading, among other legislative interventions, to support the efforts of the Federal Government in combating insecurity.

The emergency plenary session is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. The Senate had formally notified lawmakers of the sitting through a memo issued on June 15 by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Emmanuel Odo.

Ex-Kaduna Gov Makarfi Seeks National Emergency on Insecurity

Former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, has asked President Bola Tinubu to declare a national emergency on insecurity, warning that the country’s worsening security challenges require extraordinary measures and a unified national response.

Dangote Refinery Faces Crisis as Crude Supply Falls 62%

Hopes of improved local refining output and cheaper petroleum products at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery appear dim as a 62 per cent crude oil supply shortfall is threatening its continued operation. The $20 billion, 700,000 barrels per day facility, which began operations in 2021, is facing a severe crude supply shortfall of eight cargoes per month. To operate at optimal capacity, the refinery requires 13 cargoes (ships) of crude monthly as against five cargoes currently being supplied by NNPC.

A report by the African Energy Council (AEC) highlighted that the refinery is currently running at a third of its crude oil requirement. The report lamented that the refinery running at a shortfall is not because the feedstock does not exist in Nigeria, but because the system supplying it has a vested interest in keeping the import window open.

AEC added that the decision of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to file a suit against the Federal Government, NNPC and Downstream regulator is less a legal story and more of a governance issue. “When your mandated crude supplier competes with you in the same market, a shortfall of eight deliveries per month stops being a logistics problem and starts looking like a structural one,” the report noted.

The think-tank group pointed out that the real cost is not felt in Ibeju-Lekki but at the pump, at the CBN’s FX desk and in boardrooms across the continent watching to see whether Nigerian energy law means what it says. AEC argues that Dangote’s crude dispute lays bare a governance failure that no court ruling can fully fix. “Until NNPC’s commercial and regulatory roles are cleanly separated, the PIA remains a promise on paper, and Africa’s most ambitious private energy investment stays hostage to institutional self-interest,” it noted.

Labour Knocks Government as FAAC Payouts Hit N10.4tn

Nigeria’s three tiers of government received a total of N10.45tn from the Federation Account Allocation Committee between January and May 2026, representing a 25.85 per cent increase from the N8.30tn shared in the corresponding period of 2025, as the Nigeria Labour Congress and private sector stakeholders criticised governments at all levels over worsening living conditions, infrastructure decay and rising insecurity.

Analysis of FAAC data in 2026 showed that the Federal Government received N3.72tn from the five-month allocation, while state governments got N3.56tn. Local governments received N2.51tn, while the 13 oil-producing states shared N673.17bn as derivation revenue.

In a phone interview with The PUNCH, the Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Chris Onyeka, said the increase in revenue had not translated into improved welfare for Nigerians. “It is not the quantum of revenue available to the government that translates to impact on the welfare of citizens and workers,” Onyeka said. “It is the willingness of the people who occupy positions of leadership that determines how these resources impact the lives of the citizenry.”

Nigeria Hosts Over 100,000 Refugees, Asylum Seekers – FG

The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria is currently hosting over 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from countries within the Lake Chad Basin region, while millions of Nigerians remain internally displaced due to various humanitarian crises.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja at the commemoration of the 2026 World Refugee Day with the theme, “Until Everyone is Safe.” He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to the protection, welfare and empowerment of refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons. “Nigeria currently hosts over 100,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from countries within the Lake Chad Basin region, while millions of Nigerians remain internally displaced due to various humanitarian crises,” he said.

Akume further disclosed that efforts were underway to expand the National Social Register to capture more vulnerable persons, including displaced populations and host communities. He said the move would ensure “data-driven, targeted, transparent and dignified humanitarian assistance” for those in need.

Court Remands Sowore in Kuje Prison

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Monday ordered the remand of activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail. The court revoked a bail granted to Sowore following his failure to appear in court for his trial. The DSS is prosecuting Sowore for allegedly making false claims against the person of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his social media accounts.

Japan Hikes Visa Fees by 500% for Nigerians

The Japanese government has announced a 500 per cent hike in visa fees for Nigerians and other foreign nationals wishing to enter the Asian country.

Police Suspend DPO Over N500,000 Extortion in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has suspended a Divisional Police Officer following allegations of extortion and misconduct. The command’s spokesperson, ASP Blessing Agabe, disclosed in Port Harcourt that the action followed reports circulating on social media alleging that the officer collected N500,000 from a suspect to secure his release from detention.

Agabe said the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, had ordered a comprehensive investigation into the allegations. “In response to the allegations and in line with the command’s commitment to transparency, accountability and professionalism, the officer has been removed from office pending a thorough and impartial investigation,” she said. “Adepoju has assured residents that the investigation will be conducted diligently, professionally and without bias.”

Stock Market Slides as Profit-Taking Hits Blue Chip Companies

After the sustained rally recorded in the previous weeks of May 2026, profit-taking by investors last week have taken toll on the Nigerian stock market. Analysts noted that the profit-taking was mostly in major blue chip and mid-cap companies that had paid dividends to their shareholders.

A review of activity on the Nigeria Exchange Limited last week showed that sell pressures on BUA Cement resulted in its share price decline by 3.5%. GTCO recorded a 1.2% decline, Dangote Sugar declined 4.4%, NASCON went down 5.4% and UACN down by 5.0% to drag the NGX All Share Index lower by 0.24% Week-On-Week to 249,540.75 points from 250,339.92 points the previous week. In the same manner, NGX market capitalisation shed over N366 billion to close at N260.077 trillion.

Commenting on the future outlook, analysts at InvestData Consulting Limited said: “The decline in crude prices eased immediate fears of prolonged supply disruption in the Middle East, although geopolitical tensions in the region continued to keep investors cautious. Concerns over global oil supply and possible disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz remain significant factors influencing energy markets. For Nigeria, movements in crude oil prices remain critical due to their impact on foreign exchange earnings, government revenue and overall macroeconomic stability.”

For analysts at Cordros Capital, they said: “Looking ahead, we expect market activity to remain relatively subdued in the near term in the absence of a major positive catalyst to drive sentiment. Nonetheless, we do not rule out selective bargain hunting across fundamentally sound names following the recent moderation in prices.”

Zamfara Governor Rejects Peace Talks with Bandits, Insists on Military Action

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has insisted that his administration would not engage in peace talks or negotiations with bandits, and that military action against the criminals is the best option.

NDLEA Arrests Two Elderly Men for Supplying Drugs to Secondary School Students

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested two elderly men for allegedly supplying and selling illicit drugs to secondary school students in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

By-Elections: APC Records Victories in Enugu, Kano, Ondo, Kebbi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the outcome of by-elections held on Saturday in several federal and state constituencies, with the All Progressives Congress recording victories in Enugu, Kano, Kebbi and Ondo, while the Peoples Democratic Party won the Rivers South-East Senatorial District seat.

JAMB Ends 100-Level, 200-Level Admissions into Colleges of Education

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) will become the sole admission route into Colleges of Education nationwide from the 2026/2027 academic session, ending admissions into 100 and 200 levels.