General News
Tinubu Approves Posting of 65 Ambassadors to Foreign Missions, UN
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the deployment of 65 ambassadors to various diplomatic missions across the world and the United Nations, following their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate in December.
The list comprises 31 career diplomats and 34 non-career ambassadors who will represent Nigeria in different countries and international organisations.
According to a State House statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria has already received agrément from the United Kingdom for Nigeria’s High Commissioner-designate, Aminu Dalhatu.
Similarly, France has granted agrément for Ambassador-designate Ayodele Oke.
Among the prominent non-career ambassadors approved by the president are former Cross River senator Grace Bent to Togo, former presidential aide Ita Enang to South Africa, and former Ekiti deputy governor Olufemi Pedro to Australia.
Also on the list are former Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to China, former Minister of Health Isaac Folorunso Adewole to Canada, and businessman and former senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Others include former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke, who will serve in France, former National Security Adviser Lateef Kayode Are to the United States, and former presidential aide Reno Omokri to Mexico.
Other notable appointments include Femi Fani-Kayode to Germany, former INEC chairman Mahmud Yakubu to Qatar, and former Akwa Ibom governor Victor Ikpeazu to Spain.
The career ambassadors approved for postings include Ahmed Mohammed Monguno to Egypt, Shehu Ilu Barde to Ghana, Muhammad Saidu Dahiru to India, and Bako Adamu Umar to Morocco, among others.
The presidency said nominations for the remaining envoys have been forwarded to the respective host countries requesting diplomatic approval, known as agrément, in line with international diplomatic practice.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction programme for all ambassadors-designate and high commissioners ahead of their formal deployment to their respective missions.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, his wife Asabe Bashir, and their son Abdulaziz Malami in an ongoing money laundering trial.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered that one of the sureties must deposit title documents of properties located in either Maitama or Asokoro, both highbrow districts of Abuja.
The court also directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court. Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Malami, his wife and their son are to remain in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until March 16, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Alleged ₦8.7bn Laundering
The case forms part of investigations into alleged financial crimes involving the former chief law officer of the federation and members of his family.
Prosecutors allege that Malami, alongside his wife and son, laundered about ₦8.7 billion through a network of companies and property acquisitions.
According to the charges before the court, the defendants allegedly concealed illicit funds through corporate entities including Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited and Meethaq Hotels Limited.
The prosecution further claims that the funds were used to acquire high-value properties in Abuja, as well as in Kano State and Kebbi State.
The case was recently reassigned to Justice Abdulmalik after earlier judges handling the matter withdrew or transferred the file.
Terrorism Financing, Firearms Charges
In a separate but related criminal case, Malami and his son are also facing a five-count charge bordering on alleged terrorism financing and illegal possession of firearms.
Prosecutors claim that while serving as Attorney General, Malami allegedly failed to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were forwarded to his office in November 2022.
They are also accused of unlawful possession of a Sturm Magnum firearm, along with 16 live cartridges and 27 expended cartridges, allegedly recovered from their residence in Birnin Kebbi in December 2025.
The prosecution of the case was recently taken over by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, from the State Security Service on March 4, 2026.
The court had earlier adjourned that matter until March 10, 2026 to allow the Attorney General’s office review the case files.
Asset Forfeiture Proceedings
Malami’s legal troubles also extend to asset recovery proceedings. A Federal High Court had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of 57 properties linked to the former minister, reportedly valued at about ₦213 billion.
The cases have sparked political reactions, particularly following Malami’s recent defection to the African Democratic Congress.
Some of his supporters claim the legal actions are politically motivated, alleging they are connected to his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The trial in the money laundering case is expected to begin on March 16, 2026, when the court will begin hearing evidence from both the prosecution and defence.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated an eleven-member committee to oversee the incorporation of the Grid Asset Management Company Limited (GAMCO), a new initiative aimed at resolving stranded power and grid transmission challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector.
The development comes forty-eight hours after the Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of GAMCO as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s power infrastructure and improve electricity supply.
The committee was inaugurated at the State House by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who will serve as chairman of the committee.
According to the presidency, the committee will review existing electricity laws, regulations and institutional frameworks guiding the sector. It is also expected to assess the legal and contractual status of existing power assets and ensure that the operations of GAMCO align with the regulatory standards of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
As part of its initial implementation plan, the pilot phase of the project will focus on the Benin–Lagos Corridor, with the objective of optimising the Omotosho Power Plant, Olorunshogo Power Plant, and Ihovbor Power Plant.
Through these upgrades and coordinated asset management, the government hopes to recover about 1,600 megawatts of electricity within the next 18 to 24 months, significantly boosting power generation and transmission capacity across the national grid.
Officials say the creation of GAMCO is part of broader reforms targeted at addressing inefficiencies within Nigeria’s electricity value chain and ensuring better utilisation of existing grid infrastructure.
The Police High Command on Friday dismissed allegations of forgery, alteration, falsification and unlawful production of the National Youth Service Corps certificate levelled against the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, describing the allegations as baseless.
Speaking on the allegations, the Force Public Relations Officer, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the Police after a thorough investigation into the matter found the allegations to be untrue. According to him, after an exhaustive investigation into the allegations, it has been established that there is no evidence whatsoever of forgery, alteration, falsification or unlawful production of the minister’s NYSC certificate.
Hundeyin stated that the NYSC was contacted, and it was verified that the certificate was duly issued by the corps to the minister. He emphasised that the allegations are therefore unfounded.