Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has revealed that some funds approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari for his office were deliberately withheld by powerful interests within the Presidency.

Monguno, who served as NSA from 2015 to 2023, made the disclosure in a new book titled From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari.

The biography of the late president was written by Charles Omole and launched at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

In the book, Monguno explained that the funding problem started after he acted on intelligence from the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet.

He said the commander warned that the company supplying fuel to the fleet was under investigation, which could pose a security risk if the firm was eventually indicted.

Based on that advice, Monguno said he wrote to Buhari and recommended changing the supplier. According to him, the president agreed and approved the decision.

However, he said the move exposed “entrenched interests” within the Presidency.

Monguno alleged that the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, was the first to confront him over the decision, asking, “Why did you do this?”

He added that Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, was also unhappy and felt the decision was unfair to the fuel supplier.

He further claimed that the Minister of Finance was used to frustrate his office financially.

“The Minister of Finance, who owed loyalty to Mamman Daura, was co-opted to withhold funds from the NSA office even after Buhari’s approval. Buhari and Nigerians were both victims of the Cabal that enriched itself beyond measure,” Monguno said.

According to him, denying the NSA office funds badly damaged Nigeria’s security system.

He said money left by his predecessor had run out, while subscriptions for key security systems and partnerships with foreign agencies expired.

Monguno added that surveillance equipment around the Presidential Villa depended on the NSA’s budget, but approvals to maintain and upgrade it were repeatedly delayed.

He also said that even when Buhari approved certain appointments, a “counter-note from a gatekeeper” was sometimes used to cancel the decision.

“You do not need a conspiracy to weaken a system; you only need petty sabotage repeated often enough,” he said.

The book also contains claims by former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, about her own experiences in Aso Rock.

She said rumours within the Villa once made her husband suspect she wanted to harm him, which disrupted his feeding routine and contributed to the illness that kept him out of office for months in 2017.

According to her, gossip created temporary mistrust between them, leading Buhari to change his habits, including locking his room and skipping meals.

“This is given his long history of nutritional challenges. Buhari’s illnesses were neither mysterious nor the result of poisoning,” she said.

The book added that after Buhari moved from Kaduna to the Presidential Villa, responsibility for his diet shifted to official handlers, resulting in missed meals and suspended supplements.

Aisha Buhari said this weakened him significantly and marked the beginning of his health struggles.

She also alleged that mistrust within the Presidency included surveillance and the bugging of private conversations added to anxiety during Buhari’s final years.

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No fewer than 38 senior officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been dismissed from service over allegations of gross misconduct, insubordination and acts unbecoming of superior officers.

The dismissed officers include an Assistant Commandant General, according to the Public Service Rules.

Naija News understands that, in addition to the dismissals, two senior officers were demoted by two ranks, while another officer was demoted by one rank with loss of seniority. Five others were issued warning letters.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Audi, disclosed this while presenting his scorecard for the year.

Audi further revealed that the Corps’ Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee also deliberated on about 30 cases involving offences such as job racketeering, extortion, aiding and abetting illegal dealings in petroleum products, fraudulent practices, gunrunning, absence without official leave and other acts considered unbecoming of personnel.

He said the cases were handled in line with the NSCDC Standard Operating Procedures, Code of Conduct and the Public Service Rules.

“After the sittings of the Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee on about 30 cases involving various degrees of gross misconduct, 20 personnel have been dismissed from the service, three personnel were demoted by one rank, while seven personnel were issued warning letters as recommended by the NSCDC Junior Staff Disciplinary Committee,” he said.

The NSCDC boss charged officers and men of the Corps to remain focused on their statutory responsibilities, particularly in view of the increasing tasks assigned to the agency by the Federal Government.

“To whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, professionalism, loyalty, and regimental discipline must be the watchword,” Audi stated.

The Commandant General also expressed the Corps’ readiness to undertake the VIP protection duty recently assigned to it through a Presidential Order.

He noted that although the current manpower of the Corps is relatively limited compared to the enormity of the task, NSCDC operatives are fully prepared to carry out the responsibility.

While stressing that the Corps recognises and rewards exceptionally outstanding officers who have distinguished themselves through good conduct, loyalty and dedication to national service, Audi warned that his administration would not tolerate truancy, indiscipline or violations of extant laws, ethics and the Code of Conduct.

The CG further affirmed that the NSCDC under his leadership has recorded visible and landmark achievements.

These, he said, include clearing the backlog of promotion arrears, introducing Career Progression Courses, implementing a Life Insurance Compensation Scheme for families of deceased personnel, ensuring compliance with the federal character principle in appointments and promotions, and promoting gender inclusiveness within the Corps.

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A Delta State High Court in Orerokpe has issued an interim order, restraining the Nigeria police from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy, which the police authorities had said would commence on 2 January.

Justice Joe Egwu gave the order on Wednesday, 17 December, following an exparte motion filed by, Israel Joe, the applicant, against the Inspector- general (IGP) of police, the Nigeria police, and the commissioner of police in Delta State, who are the respondents in the suit marked HOR/FHR/M/31/2025.

A Lagos-based rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, posted a copy of the court order on Facebook on Wednesday.

The court also restrained the police from “stopping, harassing, arresting, detaining, or extorting” Nigerians “under the guise of enforcing the tinted glass permit policy pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive application filed in the suit”.

The interim order further restrained the police from the bank account of a private contractor, Parkway Project, to conduct government business pending the determination of the suit.

Kunle Edun, SAN, and other lawyers represented the applicant, Mr Joe, in court.

Implication of the order

Mr Effiong, the lawyer who posted a copy of the court document, said the implication of the order is that the police would not be able to enforce the tinted glass permit policy as planned.

“By this order, the announcement made by the Nigeria police on its decision to resume the tinted glass permit enforcement on 2nd January, 2026 has been halted by the court,” the lawyer wrote.

Background

The policy, introduced by the IGP in April, required motorists to obtain annual tinted glass permits via an online platform.

Enforcement, initially scheduled for 1 June was later postponed to 12 August  and further extended to 2 October.

Many Nigerians have criticised the policy for enabling harassment, extortion, and civil rights violations by police officers.

On 2 September, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law, filed a suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the legality of the policy.

The NBA argued that the measure was based on the outdated Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, lacked statutory authority to impose fees, and could lead to harassment and abuse by the police.

The association also warned that the policy placed unnecessary financial burdens on Nigerians, especially as many imported vehicles already come with factory-fitted tinted glass.

The police were duly served court processes, represented by Ayotunde Ogunleye, also a SAN.

The case came up for hearing on 12 December before Judge M. S. Liman.

During the hearing, the police confirmed the suspension agreement, leading the court to strike out the motion for interlocutory injunction.

Similarly, on 3 October, a Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, ordered the police and the IGP to suspend the enforcement of the tinted glass permit across the country.

The police authorities later claimed they had not been served with the order which insisted that the status quo must be maintained in the ongoing legal battle until the suit was decided. 

The suit was instituted by John Aikpokpo-Martins against the IGP and the police.

On 9 October, the police announced they had suspended enforcement of the policy following IGP’s meeting with a delegation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its President, Afam Osigwe, SAN.

But the police, on 15 December, made a u-turn and announced that they would resume the enforcement of tinted glass permits from 2 January 2026, citing security reasons. 

The NBA immediately condemned the announcement and accused the Nigeria police of contempt of court and a disregard for the rule of law over the plan to resume enforcement of the policy.

The body called the police’s announcement to resume enforcement “a reckless overreach” and “a serious assault on institutional integrity.”

The association urged the IGP to withdraw the statement and halt enforcement until all related court matters are determined.

It also directed its branches and the NBA Human Rights Committee to provide legal support to any motorist harassed or prosecuted over the policy.

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‎An abroad‑based man has taken to social media to share his old friend’s reaction after sending him a small amount of money.

‎The man identified by the X handle, @onyedikaanambra shared a credit transaction with his friend, whose reaction to the message has gone viral online.

‎However, the amount wasn’t disclosed in the chat, but the friend responded with heartfelt gratitude, offering prayers for God’s abundance upon him.

His response below…

‎Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Bruhhh, Jesus, God bless you for me. You and your family. 

‎You will never lack in this life. Anything you lay your hands upon is blessed. Thank you brotherly. Make I go chop. Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

‎Meanwhile, the tweet has garnered over 400,000 views, with netizens sharing their thoughts and opinions.

‎Reactions Trailing Below….

‎The Promiseman remarked, “A man will show appreciation by merely seeing a little green light-a little hope, even when his request has not been granted. Men are generally appreciative and grateful except for few ones”.

‎Iniobong Udoh, “Hahahhahahhaa I don’t think gratitude/gratefulness is a gender bias virtue, I’m like this too”.

‎A Winner stated , “Men go thank you and pray for you sotey, e go remain small make dem mistakenly swear for you join sef”.

‎Slvi added added, “You call it little but that money probably came at a time when he might be at his lowest. But regardless, grateful people open doors for more blessings. It’s the same when we ask God for favors”.

See below…..

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The long-running leadership dispute within the Action Alliance has been resolved.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially recognized Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the party’s national chairman.

This followed a Federal High Court ruling in Osogbo that mandated INEC to update its records within seven days.

Presided over by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi, the court ruled that the National Executive Committee (NEC) elected during the party’s national convention in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in October 2023, constitutes the legitimate leadership.

As a result, INEC has removed Kenneth Udeze’s name from its records and replaced it with Omoaje’s. The names of all NEC members from the Abeokuta convention are now listed on the commission’s website.

Omoaje’s name became visible on the INEC portal on Thursday, indicating full compliance with the court’s order.

In a statement, Omoaje expressed his gratitude to the INEC chairman, Prof. Josh Amupitan, for upholding the rule of law.

He stated that this decision would “further strengthen democracy in the country.” Omoaje reaffirmed that the Action Alliance remains committed to democracy, peace, progress, and development throughout Nigeria.

The recognition marks the end of a contentious internal power struggle, during which two factions claimed leadership of the party. With the court’s endorsement and INEC’s update, the Action Alliance can now focus on its agenda for the upcoming elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and other states.

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Former minister of youth and sports, Solomon Dalung, has stated that the growing insecurity in northern Nigeria is linked to the rising number of out-of-school children.

Dalung said the absence of education, skills and hope has created a recruitment pool for terrorists, bandits and criminal networks.

In a social media post on Wednesday, the former minister said violent non-state actors thrive where the state fails to fulfil its responsibility to educate citizens.

Dalung said education remains the most effective tool for empowerment, social cohesion and the dismantling of extremism.

He recalled the late Ahmadu Bello’s view that education is power and central to long-term peace and security.

Dalung said many northern state governments have failed to prioritise education as a strategic investment, adding that insecurity is often treated as a temporary nuisance rather than a structural failure requiring systemic solutions.

Dalung criticised state governments for negotiating peace deals with armed groups instead of investing in schools and teachers.

He said such agreements are often secretive, lack accountability and offer only short-term calm, adding that the deals inadvertently legitimise criminality and reward violence.

He said paying off violent actors without dismantling recruitment pipelines only postpones conflict, even as he warned that children denied education today risk becoming future foot soldiers of insurgency.

He said the approach amounts to “negotiating peace with the left hand while declaring war with the right”.

Dalung said governments cannot claim to fight insecurity while starving institutions capable of permanently addressing it.

He said lasting peace cannot exist amid ignorance, unemployment and social exclusion, noting that true security will not come from ransom-style settlements or cosmetic peace agreements.

He said it requires deliberate and transparent investment in basic and secondary education across the north, adding thatschools must be safe, accessible and relevant to offer young people alternatives to violence.

He warned that neglecting education as a security imperative would sustain the cycle of violence, noting that society that neglects the classroom should not be surprised when the battlefield becomes its future.

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Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has charged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to institutionalise digital processes, safeguard data integrity, invest in capacity building and ensure that public service reforms are sustained beyond individual office holders.

Akume gave the charge in Abuja on Wednesday while delivering special remarks at the Paperless Civil Service Gala and Awards Night, describing the future of governance as one anchored on strong systems rather than shortcuts.

“The future of governance lies in systems, not shortcuts,” the SGF said, urging government functionaries to deepen digital reforms and embed them into the structures and culture of the civil service to guarantee continuity and effectiveness.

He said the ongoing transition to paperless work processes across the federal civil service was more than a technological upgrade, describing it as a fundamental shift in culture, mindset and service delivery.

According to him, digitalisation represents “efficiency over bureaucracy, transparency over opacity, and accountability over discretion,” and underscores the resolve of the administration to build a modern, responsive and citizen-centred public service.

Akume noted that the paperless initiative aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025) as well as the broader public sector reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Digital governance is no longer optional; it is essential to effective coordination, fiscal discipline, and timely decision-making across government,” he said.

The SGF commended the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, led by Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for what he described as its vision, consistency and commitment to reform, saying the gala and awards night demonstrated what is achievable when leadership aligns policy with execution.

He also praised individuals, teams and institutions recognised at the event for showing leadership, innovation and courage in driving change, often in the face of resistance.

“Your recognition here sends a powerful message across the Service: excellence will be seen, and excellence will be rewarded,” Akume said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of his office to supporting initiatives that enhance coordination, efficiency and reform across government, while congratulating all awardees at the ceremony.

The Paperless Civil Service Gala and Awards Night was organised to celebrate milestones recorded in the digital transformation of the federal civil service and to honour outstanding contributions to the reform process.

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…Breakthrough expected today

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Tuesday night led top officers of the Nigeria Labour Congress to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a view to averting the planned strike by the union.

Uzodimma alongside his Kebbi and Edo states counterparts, Alhaji Nasir Idris and Senator Monday Okpebholo, had previously met with NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and his team at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge.

Their meeting, which also  had in attendance the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejiocha had centred on ways to ensure that the NLC strike planned to begin the next day was shelved.

It was gathered that after Uzodimma had canvassed the government position forcefully, NLC insisted on meeting with Tinubu to reassure Labour that agreements reached were kept.

It was then that the governor made contact with Aso Rock and the green light was given for the negotiation team to proceed to the presidential villa to meet with Mr President.

After the meeting with Tinubu,there were  indications that a breakthrough is in sight, as the Labour leaders later promised to meet with their members to discuss further and revert on a consensus on Wednesday

Governor Uzodimma who is the President’s Renewed Hope Ambassador, described the engagement as an ongoing dialogue in the national interest.

“Consultation is going on. We were dialoguing. At the end of the day, you will know what you are supposed to know. Of course, we are here to serve the country. labour, government and all stakeholders. We are all working in service to the nation,” Uzodinma stated.

Also speaking the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the engagement was essentially consultative and that labour leaders would brief their organs before taking a final decision on the proposed protest.

“We came for consultation with the President, and we are finished, so we have to go back to our meeting and then continue tomorrow. By tomorrow, we will get the outcome,” Ajaero said.

On her part, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said the meeting afforded labour leaders the opportunity to engage directly with the President and hear firsthand the government’s position.

“Citizens who are also members of the NLC wanted to see Mr President, and they have seen Mr President. They are happy they’ve seen him and that they’ve had firsthand information. At least, the President has driven the economy out of the woods, and that is very good news,” Onyejeocha said.

Governor Hope Uzodimma who has been playing a front line role  in mediating major socio-political issues that threaten the smooth running of governance also expressed optimism that the consultations would yield positive outcomes, noting that dialogue remained the preferred path to resolving disagreements between labour and government.

The meeting resumed again on Wednesday morning and a positive  decision is expected to be announced soon

The post Uzodimma leads NLC to Tinubu to avert strike appeared first on Vanguard News.

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• Says Fusengbuwa forfeited right to stool after missing deadline

The Fidipote Ruling House of Ijebu Ode has formally written to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Area and the Ogun State Government, asserting its entitlement to present candidates for the vacant Awujale stool.

The letter, co-signed by the Head and Secretary of the ruling house, Oba Tajudeen Omotayo and Omooba Tunde Aderibigbe, claims that the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, initially entitled to submit candidates, failed to do so within the statutory period under the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021, and the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration of 1959.

The Fidipote family stated, “We respectfully refer to your letter dated December 2, 2025, with Reference No 10LG584/0/29, wherein the Fusengbuwa Ruling House was formally notified and invited to present candidate(s) for the vacant stool of Awujale in accordance with Section 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021.

“Take notice as follows: Section 161(b) of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021 mandatorily provides that a ruling house so entitled shall submit the name(s) of its candidate(s) not later than fourteen (14) days after the announcement by the Secretary af the competent council.

“2. The said statutory period of fourteen (14) days lapsed on 16th December. 2025, without the submission of any candidate(s) by the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, to the best of our knowledge.

“3. By virtue of Section 16(1)(c) of the Ogun State Chieftaincy Law, 2021, where the ruling house first entitled fails to submit candidate(s) within the prescribed time, the next ruling house entitled under the order of rotation contained in the Declaration becomes legally entitled to present candidate(s).

“4. Under the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration of 1959, the next ruling house, entitled after the Fusengwa Ruling House, is the Fidipote Ruling House.”

The letter invites the Secretary of the Local Government, or an authorised representative, to attend the Fidipote family’s general meeting on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Fidipote Royal Hall, 12 Fusigboye Street, Idewon Quarters, Ijebu Ode, at 10 am. The meeting will include the formal expression of interest by aspiring candidates, screening by eligible family members, and voting to select candidates for submission to the kingmakers.

The Fidipote family assured authorities that the process would be conducted “peacefully, transparently and strictly in line with the law, established customary practices and the Awujale Chieftaincy Declaration of 1959.” Copies of the correspondence were sent to Governor Dapo Abiodun and other relevant officials.

The ruling house is historically associated with veteran Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, popularly known as KWAM 1, who also held the title of Olori Omo-Oba Ijebuland conferred by the late Oba Sikiru Adetona in 2023.

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Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on Wednesday, revealed that the Agency is targeting the registration of 250,000 businesses in 2026.

Speaking in Abuja, the Director General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii said “We will hand over 250,000 new registered businesses in 2026.

“We are very certain that even though it’s an interesting time for small businesses, that number will go up because of the formalization process that is happening, it will be unveiled in 2026.

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“So we will get new small businesses, we will formalise new small businesses. The second most important thing that will happen in 2026 is that we’ are going to unveil the National MSME Policy”.

He explained that “We have a policy that governs the MSME ecosystem. And many of you are aware, that policy lasts for five years. The last one was done in 2021, and by 31st of December, it should be reviewed.

“So that review process is ongoing right now. We will also call many of you like this in this room to share with you the draft of the review process before we take it to Mr. President.

“I want you to understand that, that process, if there’s one thing I want you to take away is that we cannot sit behind the desk here at SMEDAN and write the policies that will govern the small businesses in the 36 states and the FCT.

“We want the small businesses to be involved. And so if you have small businesses in your clusters, please this is the time that we want to hear from them”.

Odii stated that it was important to hear from the experiences of small businesses.

“I want to know the policies that did not work for them, I want to know the policies that the government should put in. One of the policies that I am hoping to put in is that of inmates who are in prisons and are going to be released soon.

“SMEDAN goes into the correctional facilities to train them for six months, one year before they are released, and they are then injected into the society. Many of them have complained to us that because of the stigma of having gone to prison, many people don’t want to touch them. And so we are also trying to put some policies in place to make sure that these people can also get employed again.

“We are in the process of brokering N”12 billion cheap funding for our small businesses. Last time we checked, approximately 500,000 small businesses have accessed this funding. But we want that number to increase drastically.

“We want to push those numbers somewhere above 5 million, somewhere above 3 million. So that can actually reflect a percentage of the small businesses that exist in Nigeria,” he stated.

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