Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is investigating at least $347bn allocated to companies in Nigeria between January 2014 and June 2023. This came as fresh findings show that the anti-graft agency has extended its forex allocation probe to include some foreign firms operating in Nigeria.

2. The Bodija Estate Residents Association, Ibadan, on Wednesday, said about 10 people were still missing following the January 17 explosion in the area. Five people died, 77 sustained varying degrees of injury and 58 houses were damaged during the explosion that rocked Dejo Oyelese street in Ibadan, Oyo State.

3. The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, on Wednesday, annulled the office of the acting leader of the group, being occupied by Pa Ayo Adebanjo. This was as the organisation reiterated its call for the formation of state police amid the rising insecurity in the land.

4. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says it will be calling 15 witnesses to prove the N4bn theft charges it filed against a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano. The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Slyvanus Tahir (SAN), disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after Obiano was arraigned on nine counts before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

5. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has amassed N265m from the sale of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms to 11 Edo State governorship aspirants. The Nomination Form was sold for N30m, while the Expression of Interest Form was N5m. However, the party made the Expression of Interest Form free for female aspirants and those with disabilities.

6. The Chinese national, Frank Geng Quangrong, accused of culpable homicide in the death of his girlfriend, Ummulkhulsum Sani Buhari, has denied killing her intentionally and pleaded with Justice Sunusi Ado Ma’aji of the Kano State High Court to temper justice with mercy. In his testimony on Tuesday, Quangrong claimed that he stabbed his girlfriend in self-defence after she allegedly grabbed his testes in September 2022.

7. President Bola Tinubu has said his administration will strongly support public-private partnerships aimed at creating dignified work and employment opportunities for Nigerian youths. President Tinubu stated this at a meeting with the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mastercard Foundation, Ms. Reeta Roy, at the State House, Abuja.

8. Olayide Owolabi Adelami, the nominee for the position of deputy governor of Ondo State, is scheduled to undergo screening before the Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday. The Speaker of the Ondo Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, announced this during Wednesday’s plenary after reading a letter from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

9. There was panic in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja on Wednesday, January 24, when residents of Maitama heard a loud sound which was said to be a bomb blast. Confirming the incident, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said it was not a bomb blast but an explosion, saying that an overheated metal refuse container activated under intense heat.

10. Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, has said the apex bank is implementing “inflation targeting policy” to reduce the inflationary pressures from the current 28.9% to 21.4 per cent in 2024. Cardoso said this would have a profound impact on businesses and reflate the economy in a way that more jobs would be created.