NEWS

A forensic audit firm, SALLY TIBBOT Consulting Limited, has accused the Osun State Government of fraudulently adding 8,452 ghost workers to its payroll, allegedly costing the state ₦13.72 billion annually. The firm’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sa’adat Bakrin-Ottun, made the allegation through her legal counsel, Jiti Ogunye, during a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Lagos on Friday. According to Bakrin-Ottun, the figures emerged from a comprehensive forensic audit and payroll validation exercise commissioned by the Osun State Government, which she said exposed widespread payroll fraud across the state’s civil and public service structures. Attempts to obtain a response from the state government were unsuccessful as of...

At least 13 State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria have collectively added more than ₦1 trillion to their states’ 2026 budgets after reviewing and amending appropriation bills submitted by governors, an analysis by Saturday PUNCH has revealed. The increase emerged from a comparison of the original budget proposals presented by state governors and the final appropriation laws passed by the assemblies, with the differences reflecting legislative insertions and adjustments. This development comes against the backdrop of sustained public pressure to reduce the cost of governance, amid growing fiscal stress, rising debt levels and increasing debt-servicing obligations faced by sub-national governments. Each year, governors present budget proposals—commonly referred to as appropriation...

The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced that it intends to proceed with its planned nationwide strike on January 12, 2026, unless its National Executive Council (NEC) decides otherwise. NARD President, Mohammad Suleiman, made the declaration on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today. The announcement comes after a National Industrial Court in Abuja issued an interim injunction restraining the association and two of its officials from undertaking any industrial action starting January 12. The injunction, delivered by Justice E. D. Subilim, was issued in the suit NICN/ABJ/06/2026, filed by the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation against NARD, Dr. Suleiman, and Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim. Speaking by phone during...

A Pennsylvania man has been arrested for allegedly stealing human remains from graves near Philadelphia, with authorities claiming he possessed more than 100 corpses. Police said 34-year-old Jonathan Gerlach was caught at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Yeadon on January 6, where detectives discovered bones and skulls inside his vehicle. A subsequent search of his home and storage unit reportedly uncovered hundreds of skeletal remains, including skulls, long bones, and other body parts, some believed to belong to children and infants. Prosecutors said the remains ranged from centuries old to relatively recent and were taken from mausoleums and underground vaults. Jewellery and other items linked to graves were also recovered. Gerlach has been charged with 496 counts, including abuse of a...

Two people lost their lives in a lone auto crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in the early hours of Friday. The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) said the accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. at Oremeji Bus Stop and involved a Mazda bus. The driver and conductor, both adult males, died instantly. According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was speeding, lost control, struck a road barrier, and somersaulted. The bus, which was transporting live chicks, was later towed by the police for investigation. The victims’ bodies were deposited at a morgue in Ibafo, while traffic, briefly disrupted during rescue operations, was subsequently restored.

A bride-to-be has been declared missing on her wedding day. Jennifer Chisom Ananti, from Anambra State, was set to wed Celestine Odigbo, also from Anambra State, today, Jan. 9.   However, she has been nowhere to be found and her phone number is not reachable. According to politician Maria Ude Nwachi, the groom-to-be suspects foul play from her family. A poster declaring the bride a missing person is already circulating on social media.

A truck carrying tomatoes lost control due to brake failure and crashed into vehicles along Otedola Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. The accident occurred around noon on Thursday,  Jan. 8. Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded. A family in one of the vehicles were fortunate to escape de@th. According eyewitness, the truck veered off the road, slamming into ongoing vehicles on the bridge. See more photos below.

Authorities in the UK Crown Dependency of Jersey are set to repatriate over $9.5 million (£7 million) in funds linked to corruption to the Nigerian government. The money, described as proceeds from “tainted property,” is believed to have been stolen by the late former military ruler, Sani Abacha, who led Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. The funds were held in a bank account in Jersey and have been tied up in lengthy legal proceedings. Although the sum was recovered during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, legal processes delayed its return. In December, Jersey’s Attorney-General, Mark Temple, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nigeria to facilitate the repatriation. According to the BBC, this agreement builds on two prior arrangements between Jersey and N...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, January 8, arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly failing to declare foreign currencies totaling $800,575 and €651,505—worth approximately N2.28 billion. Onal appeared before Justice Yellim Bogoro on a two-count charge of non-declaration of funds. Prosecution counsel, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, told the court that the alleged offences occurred on December 13 at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, as Onal was preparing to travel to Australia. He was reportedly arrested by officers of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) after failing to declare the currencies in his possession. Buhari stated that the offences contrav...

The Lagos State Government has announced a temporary night-time traffic diversion along the Fadeyi–Donmanlong and Donmanlong–Ojuelegba corridors to allow for the installation of truck-restriction barriers. Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi said the diversion will take place from 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10, to 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026. He said the measure is part of ongoing traffic control and road safety efforts aimed at reducing accidents along the busy route. Osiyemi explained that affected bridge sections would be closed to traffic during installation, noting that the work was scheduled overnight to minimise disruption to commuters and businesses. During the closure, motorists approaching from Fadeyi Donmanlong Bridge or Ayilara toward O...