MIDDAY NEWS
THE HEADLINES
SERAP pushes refund of N110bn lawmakers’ allowances, vehicles
Egungun Festival: Olubadan warns masqueraders against violence
China retaliates, sanctions 10 US firms over Pentagon blacklist
Yamal scores as Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0
THE DETAILS
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, demanding action to recover the money linked to a N110bn vehicle procurement and support allowance scheme for federal lawmakers, which was declared unlawful by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
SERAP also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that lawmakers refund all funds, allowances and benefits derived from the scheme, and to introduce stronger transparency and accountability measures in future public spending.
The group added that allowing lawmakers to retain benefits from the disputed expenditure would undermine governance principles.
SERAP further argued that “no public official should be permitted to retain benefits obtained through conduct that has been judicially determined to be unlawful and unconstitutional,” insisting that restitution was essential to restore accountability.
As this year’s Egungun Festival begins in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has warned masqueraders and their followers to eschew violence during and after the celebration, stressing that any act of violence is punishable under the law.
Ladoja, in a statement issued on Sunday by his chief spokesman, Adeola Oloko, described the festival as an age-old annual ritual that celebrates the history, customs and traditions of the Ibadan people.
The monarch stressed that the festival should not be used as an avenue to settle old scores, engage in supremacy contests or carry out retaliatory attacks between masquerades and their opponents.
The Olubadan also assured residents that all necessary arrangements had been put in place by the palace to ensure a hitch-free celebration.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has threatened to embark on peaceful mass action, including the occupation of the headquarters of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, over what it described as a two-month delay in the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, the association said it had received numerous complaints from students over the non-payment of upkeep allowances under the NELFUND scheme.
According to him, the allowances, which are meant to support students with living expenses, have allegedly not been disbursed for the past two months without any official explanation.
NANS further called on the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, to urgently intervene and ensure that all outstanding allowances were paid without further delay.
The Ondo State Government has confirmed the release of nine-year-old Victor Oluwatobi, who was abducted three weeks ago in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of the state.
Oluwatobi, the son of a pastor, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen who invaded Ugbosi Quarters in Idogun at midnight on Friday, June 5, 2026. However on sunday, through the joint efforts of security agencies, the child was rescued safely and reunited with his family.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, who confirmed the development, appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and everyone who contributed to the successful rescue of the boy.
Speaking during a press briefing, Ajanaku expressed gratitude to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for his prompt intervention and unwavering commitment throughout the period of the boy’s captivity.
He noted that the government’s swift response brought hope and reassurance to the victim’s family, the people of Idogun and residents across Ose Local Government Area
FORIGN NEWSbr>
r>
China imposed export controls on 10 US companies involved in defence and rare earths mining in response to Washington’s blacklist of Chinese firms, Beijing said Monday.
The move comes a month after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing, seeking to stabilise fraught relations during talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Although the countries agreed to work towards reducing tariffs, ties have since been tested as both sides stunt the other in tech and defence.
SPORTS NEWSbr>
Lamine Yamal made a goalscoring return for Spain as the European champions got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 4-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Yamal, 18, opened the scoring after just 10 minutes of the Group H game in Atlanta to put La Roja on course for a comfortable victory against an outclassed Saudi team. Spain had been determined to bounce back after being held to a shock 0-0 draw by lowly Cape Verde in their opening game last week, when their much-vaunted attack drew a blank.
But with teenaged starlet Yamal making his first start in two months since recovering from a hamstring problem, Spain launched an early onslaught that left the Saudis reeling.
SERAP pushes refund of N110bn lawmakers’ allowances, vehicles
Egungun Festival: Olubadan warns masqueraders against violence
China retaliates, sanctions 10 US firms over Pentagon blacklist
Yamal scores as Spain beat Saudi Arabia 4-0
THE DETAILS
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, demanding action to recover the money linked to a N110bn vehicle procurement and support allowance scheme for federal lawmakers, which was declared unlawful by the Federal High Court in Lagos.
SERAP also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that lawmakers refund all funds, allowances and benefits derived from the scheme, and to introduce stronger transparency and accountability measures in future public spending.
The group added that allowing lawmakers to retain benefits from the disputed expenditure would undermine governance principles.
SERAP further argued that “no public official should be permitted to retain benefits obtained through conduct that has been judicially determined to be unlawful and unconstitutional,” insisting that restitution was essential to restore accountability.
As this year’s Egungun Festival begins in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has warned masqueraders and their followers to eschew violence during and after the celebration, stressing that any act of violence is punishable under the law.
Ladoja, in a statement issued on Sunday by his chief spokesman, Adeola Oloko, described the festival as an age-old annual ritual that celebrates the history, customs and traditions of the Ibadan people.
The monarch stressed that the festival should not be used as an avenue to settle old scores, engage in supremacy contests or carry out retaliatory attacks between masquerades and their opponents.
The Olubadan also assured residents that all necessary arrangements had been put in place by the palace to ensure a hitch-free celebration.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has threatened to embark on peaceful mass action, including the occupation of the headquarters of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, over what it described as a two-month delay in the disbursement of students’ upkeep allowances.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the NANS President, Babatunde Akinteye, the association said it had received numerous complaints from students over the non-payment of upkeep allowances under the NELFUND scheme.
According to him, the allowances, which are meant to support students with living expenses, have allegedly not been disbursed for the past two months without any official explanation.
NANS further called on the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, to urgently intervene and ensure that all outstanding allowances were paid without further delay.
The Ondo State Government has confirmed the release of nine-year-old Victor Oluwatobi, who was abducted three weeks ago in Idogun, Ose Local Government Area of the state.
Oluwatobi, the son of a pastor, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen who invaded Ugbosi Quarters in Idogun at midnight on Friday, June 5, 2026. However on sunday, through the joint efforts of security agencies, the child was rescued safely and reunited with his family.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, who confirmed the development, appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and everyone who contributed to the successful rescue of the boy.
Speaking during a press briefing, Ajanaku expressed gratitude to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for his prompt intervention and unwavering commitment throughout the period of the boy’s captivity.
He noted that the government’s swift response brought hope and reassurance to the victim’s family, the people of Idogun and residents across Ose Local Government Area
FORIGN NEWSbr>
r>
China imposed export controls on 10 US companies involved in defence and rare earths mining in response to Washington’s blacklist of Chinese firms, Beijing said Monday.
The move comes a month after US President Donald Trump visited Beijing, seeking to stabilise fraught relations during talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
Although the countries agreed to work towards reducing tariffs, ties have since been tested as both sides stunt the other in tech and defence.
SPORTS NEWSbr>
Lamine Yamal made a goalscoring return for Spain as the European champions got their World Cup campaign back on track with a 4-0 drubbing of Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Yamal, 18, opened the scoring after just 10 minutes of the Group H game in Atlanta to put La Roja on course for a comfortable victory against an outclassed Saudi team. Spain had been determined to bounce back after being held to a shock 0-0 draw by lowly Cape Verde in their opening game last week, when their much-vaunted attack drew a blank.
But with teenaged starlet Yamal making his first start in two months since recovering from a hamstring problem, Spain launched an early onslaught that left the Saudis reeling.