Nigeria Still One Of World’s Most Corrupt Countries- Transparency International

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February 10, 2026

Abubakar Malami in Court — Abubakar Malami

Global corruption body Transparency International, TI has described Nigeria as the 36th most corrupt country in the world.

TI in the latest ranking released via TI’s website on Tuesday, highlighted the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, saying more efforts must be made to tackle the menace of corruption.

The development comes on the heels of rising corruption cases in the country, even though the federal government said it’s tackling the menace.

A former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami is currently being tried for corruption, after he allegedly acquired properties worth over N200 billion, which not a few insist is beyond his means. The former minister has denied the allegation.

Also, a former Minister of Petroleum, Dieziani Alison Madueke, earlier in the week, appeared in the United Kingdom court, where she’s been tried for corruption while holding office under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

The transparency body, according to the latest ranking, said Nigeria has slipped back to the 2024 position when it was ranked 34 among other countries ranked at the time.

What this means, according to analysts, is that there is no significant improvement despite government position that the problem is being tackled.

According to the latest ranking released by the world corruption body, Nigeria ranked 142nd out of 182 countries in 2025, with Denmark maintaining its position as the least corrupt country globally with 89 points, followed by Finland with 88 points.

Singapore and New Zealand followed closely with 84 and 81 points, respectively to come third and fourth in the list.

Explaining the basis of the ranking, the Chief Executive Officer of Transparency International, Maíra Martini, said the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 182 countries and territories worldwide by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption.

“The results are given on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

“While 31 countries have significantly reduced their corruption levels since 2012, the rest are failing to tackle the problem — they have stayed stagnant or got worse during the same period.

“The global average has fallen to a new low of 42, while more than two-thirds of countries score below 50. And people are paying the price, as corruption leads to under-funded hospitals, unbuilt flood defences, and blights the hopes and dreams of young people,” Martini said.

She stressed that leadership have not shown readiness to fight corruption, adding that journalists, civil society and others that tried to hold government accountable are being clamped down on, urging leaders to stop abusing their powers so that accountability and transparency in government can thrive.

“The absence of bold leadership is leading to weaker standards and enforcement, lowering ambition on anti-corruption efforts around the world,” she stated.

“At the same time, many states are increasing restrictions on civic space. By making it hard or dangerous for citizens, NGOs and journalists to challenge abuses of power, they are reducing transparency and accountability. This allows corruption to flourish.”

El Rufai: Tinubu Not My Friend

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James Orji

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February 10, 2026

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Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past governor of Kaduna state says his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election was not personal, saying his action was purely based on his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

According to the former governor, he and president Tinubu had no friendly relationship before the election, adding that he chose t support the former Lagos state governor because the party had chosen him as the presidential candidate.

El Rufai spoke in an interview with Trust TV on Monday as he intensifies his attacks on President Tinubu over the latter’s quest for reelection in 2027.

The former governor, a member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC has vowed to ensure that Tinubu is not returned to office next year.

“Anybody that thinks it is possible for President Bola Tinubu to get re-elected is living in another country, not Nigeria. It is impossible for Bola Tinubu to get re-elected

“I don’t see a pathway for him,” El Rufai said sometimes last year

Not a few insist that the former FCT Minister still blames President Tinubu for missing a ministerial appointment in 2023, after the Senate refused to clear him, citing security reasons.

They said the duo was allies before the 2023 election but set apart after El rufai failed the ministerial hurdles.

But reacting, the former Kaduna helmsman said there was no time he had a close relationship with Tinubu, that the reason he campaigned for him was because he wanted to prove his loyalty to the ruling party.

“I was never Tinubu’s friend. We never had a personal relationship like the one I had with General Buhari,” El-Rufai said.

“I was approached by certain Islamic stakeholders from the southwest to support the emergence of a southwest Muslim presidential candidate.

“That is how the discussions started. As governor of Kaduna and one of the founders of APC, I knew there was an understanding that after 8 years of Buhari, power would return to the south. It wasn’t about Tinubu; he was merely an accidental beneficiary.

He stressed that he supported Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate because the party picked him.

He said: “It is a principle of mine to fight for the candidate of my party in every election, whether I like the candidate or not.

“The fact that he emerged as the party’s candidate meant I would give everything to ensure he won.”

“Why I Returned Millions Of Naira Credited My Bank Account By Unknown Person” – Police Constable

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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February 10, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A serving Police Constable attached to the Borno State Police Command, Muhammad Alhaji Mohammad, has voluntarily returned the sum of over N2.6 million erroneously credited into his bank account in Maiduguri.

The Police personnel who received the sum last Thursday, presently works with the Insurance Office of the Borno state Police Command.

Constable Mohammad said he was all the more goaded into returning the money by not only his personal conviction, but by his unflinching commitment and desire to correct the negative perception of the police in the country.

According to reports, Muhammad was credited with the said sum in his United Bank For Africa account by a Moniepoint customer.

He however, swiftly took all necessary steps for the money to be returned to its rightful owner.

The Borno State Police Command spokesperson, SP Nahum Daso, while confirming the commendable development, informed that the State Police Commissioner, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, has invited Constable Muhammad over for an interactive session.

Daso said Muhammad was shocked when he received the credit alert for the sum on Thursday.

Expectedly, not a few have been commending the Constable for what they described as a rare display of honesty and integrity by an officer of the Nigeria police.

Yet, some others said no big deal; that he had no choice because the money would still have been traced to his account; and that it would have been a serious criminal offence if he had not voluntarily returned it, especially, being a law enforcement officer.

Controversy Trails Sudden Death Of Gymnastics Coach, Anthony Asuquo

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Akinwale Kasali

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February 9, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

The death of Anthony Asuquo, Nigerian Gymnastics Coach, has continued to generate controversy as the circumstances surrounding his death remains mysterious to many of his friends and associates

The late Asuquo was not only a Coach, but also the Founder of Tony International Gymnastics, TIG, Club.

His death came as a shock to Olawale Samuel Akindairo, his chidhood friend who raised alarm, alleging that there was more to his death.

Akindairo had taken to his Facebook Page disclosing that Asuquo had died shortly after allegedly informing friends that ₦11 million had been fraudulently withdrawn from his bank account by his wife.

He further stressed that the sudden death needs to be investigated.

He urged the Senate to intervene and investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

Speaking further, Akindairo, said that there was need for former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to get involved, revealing that the deceased was a good friend of his.

In the post, Akindairo wrote: “Professor Yemi Osinbajo, your good friend Anthony Asuquo died in mysterious circumstances. A man who was hale and hearty died few hours after notifying his friends that his wife withdrew his N11m.

“Anthony Asuquo was a lad who struggled to create a name for himself, his family and the entire Children of Army Cantonment Barracks, Lagos, Nigeria. He rose from grass to grace and I am using this opportunity to call attention to his death.

“The Nigerian Senate should take note of the above. Adieu Coach Anthony!”, Akindairo wrote.

It would be recalled that in 2024, the deceased led athletes from his Tony International Gymnastics Club to represent Nigeria at the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics event in Anadia, Portugal, where the team returned with Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals.

The Abdullahi Dikko led Nigeria Sports Commission, NSC, and the Nigerian Gymnastics Federation, NGF, is yet to issue a statement as regards the demise of the Coach.

Ekiti: Kidnappers Hold Hostage Two Family Members Detailed To Deliver N10 Million Ransom

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Ayodele Oni

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February 9, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

More calamity has befallen the family of the abducted five women in Ekiti State as two other members sent to deliver ransom to the kidnappers have been held hostage.

The five women were kidnapped at Erinmope – Ekiti, Moba Local Government area late last month and have since been with their abductors.

On Saturday, January 24, 2026, gunmen stormed Erinmope- Ekiti, in Moba Local Government area of Ekiti State and seized the five women, among whom were a nursing mother, pregnant woman and three others .

The abductors had demanded N100million ransom from the family from their hideout somewhere at Idofin, Ero Local Government area of Kwara State, out of which N10million was raised.

The latest victims, whose names were given as Ibrahim Soliu and Mohammad Soliu, were sent by the family to deliver the money.

The head of the family Alhaji Muhammad Soliu Okanlawon( alias Elebenla),in a telephone interview with journalists, explained that the family had pleaded with the bandits for the downward review of the ransom from N100millon to N10million.

He gave the identities of the earlier five abductees as Kehinde Mahmud, Adijat Hussein, Hawawu Suleiman, Fatima and another Fatima.

Narrating his ordeal, Alhaji Okanlawon explained that they reached out to the extended family members who made the donations, adding that they were only able to raise N10million .

“We took a N10 million ransom to the kidnappers last Friday, February 6,2026 at a location in Orun Ago in Omu-aran, only to be moved to Idofin in Oke Ero Local Government, all in Kwara.

“Our family has been traumatized by this incident, we have struggled to raise N10million with the hope that these kidnappers will show mercy on us by releasing five members of our family earlier abducted.

“But we were thrown into a deeper pain when we received the call that two of my brothers who took the ransom for remittance had been held hostage too.

“This is pure wickedness, we don’t even know what to do again .They said the money we brought was too small after we had pleaded with them.

“We are appealing to the government to come to our aid. again.We are using this medium to appeal to the government to come to our rescue.

“We don’t even know what to do again. One of the victims is carrying a nine- month old pregnancy, you can imagine the kind of trauma she will be going through now. It is indeed a painful experience for the family”, he lamented.

Court Of Appeal Upholds Senate’s Suspension Of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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February 9, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday, February 9, 2026, affirmed the suspension of the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District , Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the leadership of the red chamber of the National Assembly.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices led by Honourable Justice A B Muhammed, the Appallate court held that the Senate acted within the confines of extant laws ,by voting to suspend Natasha over alleged misconduct.

The Panel contended that in suspending the Kogi state law maker, the Senate did not, in any way, infringe on her parliamentary privileges or constitutionally guaranteed rights.

The Court subsequently upheld Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension, arguing that the Senate President did not act ultra vis when he denied Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan the right to speak for failing to relocate to her official seat in the chamber.

The Appallate Court Justices equally held that the Senate President is empowered by the Rules of the Senate to allocate seats to members and that legislators are only permitted to speak from their official seats.

The Court, however, nullified and discharge the N5 million fine earlier awarded against Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan by the trial court over her satirical apology to the Senate President, as well as the contempt proceedings against her.

The Source reports that the Senate had, last year slammed a six month suspension order on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan over her refusal to relocate to her official seat allocated to her on February, 20, 2025.

The fiery Kogi Central Senator has since returned to the Senate ,after the expiry of the suspension order.

Chronic Gambler Fakes Own Kidnap After Losing N1.308m To Visual Sports Betting

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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February 9, 2026

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Monday Agbonika - Commissioner of Police Edo State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Edo State Police Command on Monday February 9, 2026, cautioned youths against involvement in heavy and irresponsible gambling habit, warning that unmoderated indulgence could lead to disastrous consequences.

The State Police Commissioner, Monday Agbonika, gave the advice following the Command’s arresr of 21-year old dispatch rider, David Ekes, who allegedly faked his own kidnap to cover a gambling loss to the tune of N1.3 million.

A statement on Monday by the Edo State Police Command spokesperson Moses Iyamu informed that Eke, an employee of an Okpella based Dibecs Industry Limited after reportedly gambling away the said sum said to belong to the company and its customers,staged his own abduction with the intent to raise money to pay back.

” On. 30/01/2026, at about 1600hrs ,one Moses Ekes “m” of Dibecs Industry Limited reported at the Okpella Police Division that his nephew ,David Ekes “m” aged 21 years ,a dispatch officer with the company ,dark in complexion ,about 5ft tall ,and fluent in Ijaw and English languages ,had been missing since 27/01/2026 at about 2030hrs .

“The said David Eke left his quarters alone on a black , unregistered motorcycle from factory 2 to factory 3, contrary to company policy and was not seen or heard from thereafter.

” The motorcycle was later discovered parked along the road leading to Factory 3 and subsequently recovered to the company’s main office .

” Following the report operatives of the Okpella Police Division visited the scene, carried out search of the surrounding bush area and commenced investigations.

“Information was, however, received on January 3, 2026, at about 8:00 am that the missing dispatch officer had returned on his own in a weakened.State .

“He was taken to a hospital in Okpella where police operatives visited and monitored his condition .

” Upon his discharge, the suspect initially claimed that he had been kidnapped by three unidentified men, who allegedly forced him to trek barefoot through the forest for more than three days during which his Techo Camon mobile phone was taken and funds withdrawn from his First Bank account”, the police stated

However, investigations were to reveal that the suspect upon safely parking his motorcycle, travelled to Abuja where he reportedly lodged in a hotel after disposing of his phone, and subsequently feigned his own abduction.

According to the police, investigations have, however, revealed that the suspect, between January 25, and 26, 2026, lost a whopping sum of N1.308 million through visual online sports betting .

The said sum is said to belong to his company and some customers according to police investigators .

“He then, immediately, travelled to Abuja, sold his mobile phone, lodged in a hotel, and deliberately staged his own kidnap to cover up the financial loss”, the statement added.

This is as the Police informed that the suspect who has confessed to the crime will be arraigned as soon as investigations are concluded.

The state Commissioner of Police also warned that such false distress calls and criminal deception have the potential to undermine public trust and waste critical security resources.

57 Properties: Fresh Applicants Join Fmr. AGF Malami To Challenge Interim Forfeiture Order

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Suleiman Anyalewechi

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February 9, 2026

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

A new twist has emerged in the interim forfeiture order granted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in respect of 57 properties said to be linked to a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, his wife and son. Fresh applicants have asked the court to nullify the order.

The Source reports that Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite, a vacation Judge, had, on January 6, 2026, issued an interim order for the said properties to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He, also, directed that the interim order of forfeiture be published in a national newspaper requesting interested persons to within 14 days of the said publication show cause why the said properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The order was sequel to a motion ex-parte filed by the anti-graft Commission seeking the forfeiture of the said properties on the grounds that they are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

According to the EFCC, the choice properties which are estimated at about N213 billion are scattered across three states of Kano, Kaduna , Kebbi and the Federal Capital Territory FCT

The embattled former Justice Minister, Malami, had, on Monday, January 2, 2026, after the case file was transfered to a new Judge, Honourable Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, prayed the court to vacate the interim forfeiture order on properties listed as Nos 9, 18 and 48 in the schedule attached to the interim order.

According to him, properties 9 and 18 had earlier been duly declared in his asset declaration forms during his tenure as a public officer, while property number 48 is held in trust for the Estate of his late father Khadi Malami Nasarawa.

Specifically, Malami, in his application filed by his counsel Joseph Daudu, SAN, argued that the three assets as listed in the schedule of the 57 Properties are not linked to any prima facie evidence of unlawful activities, having been declared in his asset declaration forms filed with the Code of Conduct Bureau CCB in 2019 and 2023.

Consequently, he sought the order of the honourable court” restraining the EFCC’ acting by itself or through its servants, agents and proxies from interfering with the respondents/ applicant (Malami) properties in issue or disturbing the respondent/applicant’s ownership, possession and control thereof in the course of purportedly giving effect to the order of this Honourable Court made on 6th of January 2026.”

The fresh and additional applicants Muktaka Usman Junju and Rayhaan Bustan, and Agro Allied LTD, in motions filed by their counsels are praying the court to set aside, and discharge the interim forfeiture order as earlier granted by the court on January 6, 2026, on the grounds that the EFCC failed and or neglected to establish any nexus between their properties listed as Nos 1,28 ,29 ,30,31, and 32 in the schedule of properties attached to the forfeiture order and any unlawful activities.

The applicants contended that the anti-graft Commission did not comply with all the statutory and constitutional requirements governing interim forfeiture proceedings, particularly, as they relate to the Evidence Act, and the Advance Fee Fraud, and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

In his separate application filed by his counsel, Daudu SAN , Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied LTD asked the court to delist properties listed as Nos 1,28,29, 30,31,and 32 , from the schedule of properties attached to the forfeiture order , accusing the EFCC of deliberately hiding relevant facts in the process of obtaining the forfeiture order.

Similarly, Muktaka Usman Junju in his own application filed by his counsel, Kalu Kalu Agu, also prayed the court to nullify and discharge the interim forfeiture order on the property listed as No 40 ,in the schedule attached to the interim forfeiture order by the EFCC.

The said property, Al-Afiya Energy Tanker Garage located on Sani Abacha Bypass, Birni-Kebbi, is worth about N2.45 billion.

The two applicants separately and collectively argued that the properties belong to them, insisting they were wrongly listed in the schedule attached to the forfeiture order by the anti-graft agency.

Similarly, both parties argued that the EFCC, in its application for forfeiture, failure to disclose the specific unlawful activities allegedly committed in the process of acquiring the said properties as required by extant laws.

The matter has been scheduled for hearing on February 12, 2026, by the new Judge, Honourable Justice Egwuatu.

LASG Closes Ladipo Market

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Akinwale Kasali

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February 9, 2026

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By Akinwale Kasali

Since the reopening of the Ladipo Spare Part Market in Lagos in 2023, the Market has repeatedly been fined for Environmental Infractions.

This recurring decimal has led to the Lagos State Government ordering for the immediate closure of the Market along the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway).

Announcing the closure of the Market, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a post shared on X (Former Twitter) said that the action followed persistent violations, including indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and highways, as well as illegal street trading.

“Lagos State government, this morning, sealed Ladipo Spare Parts Market along Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (Apapa–Oshodi Expressway) over repeated environmental infractions; indiscriminate refuse disposal on the median/highway and illegal street trading,” he said.

The Market, a major hub for automobile spare parts in Mushin, was shut as part of the state’s ongoing enforcement drive aimed at ensuring compliance with environmental laws and maintaining public order.

The move underscores the Government’s zero-tolerance stance on environmental degradation, improper waste management and activities that obstruct traffic and endanger public safety.

The LASG has over time repeatedly warned traders and residents against street trading and unlawful waste disposal, stressing that enforcement actions would continue against defaulters across the metropolis.

Since the reopening of the Ladipo Spare Part Market in Lagos in 2023, the Market has repeatedly been fined for Environmental Infractions

Sit-At-Home: Defiant Suspected IPOB Members Shot Dead In Anambra

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Ayodele Oni

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February 9, 2026

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By Ayodele Oni

Despite truce and order from the convicted leader of the Independent People’s of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to his followers to halt enforcement of Monday’s sit at home order, some of the defiant followers still armed themselves and embarked on patrol to force people to obey the order on Monday.

They, however, met their waterloo as security forces in Anambra State neutralized three suspected members of the group and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), during an anti–sit-at-home patrol along the Nnewi–Oba Road.

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, had ordered the immediate total cancellation of the Monday Sit-At-Home across the South-East, with effect from February 9, 2026.

Kanu, in a statement on Sunday through IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said that with the current directive, there is no need, excuse or justification for anyone to stay at home on Mondays, adding that markets, schools, offices, Banks, transport services and economic activities must resume fully and normally from Monday.

The statement read in part: “The IPOB, under the supreme leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, hereby announces to the entire world that the Monday sit-at-home across the South-East is officially and permanently cancelled with effect from tomorrow, Monday, February 9, 2026.

According to security sources, the incident occurred at about 2:00 a.m. on February 9, when a joint patrol team comprising police operatives and local vigilantes encountered armed suspects barricading the road near Akaboukwu, Uruagu area of Nnewi.

On sighting the patrol, the suspects reportedly opened fire, prompting a gun battle. The operatives returned fire, forcing the assailants to flee into nearby bushes.

Three of the suspected militants were neutralized during the exchange, while others escaped with gunshot wounds, reportedly abandoning their firearms.

The bodies of the neutralized suspects were recovered at the scene, with assorted charms found on their waists, hands, and necks.

They were evacuated, confirmed dead by medical personnel, and deposited at a morgue for autopsy and preservation.

The Anambra State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustain counter-terrorism and crime prevention operations across the state, stressing that security agencies will continue to act decisively to protect residents and prevent the enforcement of unlawful directives.