Today’s Headlines: Tinubu Has Done More for North — Yilwatda; El-Rufai Earmarked $600,000 for EFCC Officials – Investigator

All Progressives Congress National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda said President Bola Tinubu had done more for Northern Nigeria in three years than previous administrations, citing over 3,000 kilometres of roads under construction or procurement, gas infrastructure and student loan opportunities. He made the remarks in Abuja while receiving the Arewa for Asiwaju group, led by former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, and urged northern leaders to mobilise support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Shekarau said the group was established to mobilise voters across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, address voter apathy and publicise Tinubu’s projects in the region. He said the initiative had established about 20 directorates and appointed coordinators across states, local government areas and wards. The group’s secretariat was scheduled for inauguration on October 17, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima expected to attend.

A forensic investigator with the State Security Service, Segun Kayode, alleged in court that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his associates earmarked $600,000 to bribe officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries. Testifying at the Kaduna State High Court, Kayode said forensic audio recordings captured discussions about frustrating an EFCC investigation into Singularity, including plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius. El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

El-Rufai’s defence counsel challenged the investigator’s testimony, arguing that his name and evidence summary were absent from the prosecution’s proof of evidence, thereby undermining the defendant’s right to a fair hearing. However, Justice Darius Khobo overruled the objection, ruling that the testimony could proceed provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine the witness. The case was adjourned until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for further cross-examination.

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

The Federal Government has said four-year degree programmes must be completed within four years, as it moves to expand its implementation and monitoring committee to cover academic and non-academic staff unions across tertiary institutions to prevent strikes.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while unveiling the 2026 agreements between the Federal Government and unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Alausa said the agreements gave practical expression to President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise that students should complete four-year courses within the prescribed period.

𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 $22.5𝗯𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲, $4.7𝗯𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has recorded $22.5bn in revenue and $4.7bn in net profit for the nine months ended 30 September 2026, compared with a loss of $117.2m in the corresponding period of 2025, as the African industrial giant consolidates its transition into a major profit-generating enterprise.

The company disclosed the financial performance in a statement released and made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, revealing that revenue surged 144 per cent from $9.2bn in the first nine months of 2025, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation jumped nearly ninefold to $5.5bn, reflecting higher refining throughput, improved operational reliability and stronger refining margins.

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