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United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, recording total assets growth of 9.4 per cent to N33.2trn up from N30.3trn at the end of 2024, alongside an 11.8 per cent increase in customer deposits from N24.3trn in 2024 to N27.2trn.

The results released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Friday, showed that the Group also delivered strong gross earnings of N3.09trn from N3.19trn recorded the previous year.

According to the bank, although recording a slight drop in gross earnings, the performance was still strengthened by resilient core business fundamentals and a diversified Pan-African footprint, even as the year reflected a strategic repositioning of its balance sheet for sustainable long-term growth.

Overall, the bank’s 2025 performance was impacted by risk management decisions, including loan loss provisions of N331bn and fair value changes on derivatives amounting to N278bn.

These changes which are largely non-recurrent in nature, weighed on profitability but are not expected to recur at similar magnitudes in future periods.

Despite this, the Group said it maintained strong underlying performance, with operating profit exceeding N1trn before these exceptional items, highlighting the resilience of its core banking operations.

A critical look at the performance showed that UBA’s capital position remained strong, with shareholders’ funds rising to N4.25trn in 2025; up from N3.42trn the previous year, with share capital and premium hitting N505bn following a very successful rights issue.

The Group’s capital adequacy ratio of 23.2 per cent provides a solid foundation to support future growth, just as the Bank has also strengthened its recovery efforts, with a fortified recovery team aggressively pursuing delinquent exposures, ensuring that recoveries will positively impact earnings from full year 2026 and beyond.

Operating in 20 African countries and in the US, UK, France and UAE, the Group’s Pan-African operations continue to be a major growth driver, contributing over 50 per cent of total assets, revenue, and profit. Notably, West Africa operations recorded a 53 per cent profit growth, while East and Southern Africa delivered a 61 per cent increase, reinforcing the strength and scalability of UBA’s diversified business model across the continent.

Commenting on the results, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, said, the bank continues to demonstrate the true strength of its Pan-African diversified model, despite the moderation in bottom-line performance compared to the prior year’s highs, as core business engines, especially in the subsidiaries outside Nigeria delivered double-digit growth.

“The 2025 financial year was defined by UBA’s proactive approach to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new recapitalization requirements. The Group successfully concluded capital raising programme, which was oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor confidence in UBA’s long-term growth strategy. A total of N395 billion additional capital was raised, enhancing our capacity to support our footprints, and expanding lending to key sectors.”

Continuing the GMD said, “We have also made significant investments in innovation, technology and resources to drive our payment and digital offerings; this will help scale digital-led income streams across our markets.”

In his forecast for the 2026 financial year, Alawuba stated, “Looking ahead, UBA is well-positioned to accelerate growth, with plans to strategically expand its risk asset base across key sectors as macroeconomic conditions improve. With expectations of over N1 trillion in additional growth in the near term, the Group remains committed to driving sustainable earnings, deepening financial inclusion, and delivering superior value to shareholders across all its markets.”

On his part, UBA’s Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the 2025 financial year marked a deliberate strengthening of the balance sheet and a shift toward more sustainable, higher-quality earnings in a normalizing macroeconomic environment.

“We believe that proactively recognizing potential credit losses positions us well to navigate uncertainties and support sustainable performance in future periods. The reversal of prior-year derivative gains and foreign exchange-related losses of N282.5bn drove a decline in non-interest income; these will not recur in this magnitude and should result in future earnings upside,” he explained.

According to him, despite the impact of these changes on profitability, the bank’s core business fundamentals as well as its capital and liquidity positions remain strong, with shareholders’ funds now at N4.25trn and capital adequacy ratio at 23.2 per cent, having exited the CBN forbearance regime in 2025.

“With deliberate steps we have taken to reposition our Nigerian operations, we are well placed to cautiously drive risk asset growth in line with improving macroeconomic conditions. The bank is also intensifying recovery efforts on the provisioned loans, creating a clear pathway for earnings upside,” Nwaghodoh explained.

UBA Reinforces Growth Strategy With N33.2trn Balance Sheet is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Gombe State Government has approved the full implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers in the local government system across the state.

The approval was conveyed by the Head of Civil Service, Prof. Mu’azu Shehu, on Friday 24th April 2026. The SSG said the approval covers staff of the 11 local government councils, Local Education Authority (LEA) and primary healthcare workers.

He noted that the implementation will take effect from May 2026, adding that the state government has now cleared the outstanding 43 per cent balance, bringing the wage structure to 100 percent implementation.

According to him, “The decision was made possible due to improved fiscal conditions at the local government level, which now enables councils to meet salary obligations without disruption.”

The SSG noted that the full implementation of the minimum wage is expected to boost workers’ morale, improve productivity, and strengthen service delivery at the grassroots.

Gombe approves full minimum wage for local government workers

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has dismissed in its entirety the suit filed by the logistics firm, FHT Mega Express Limited against Parallex Bank Limited wherein the company claimed N7.1billion against the Bank. In the suit, the Court upheld Parallex Bank’s preliminary objection that the case amounted to a gross abuse of court process.

It would be recalled that the logistic company had obtained an ex parte order against the Bank to freeze the Bank’s funds up to the sum of N7.1billion with the Central Bank of Nigeria. Parallex Bank challenged this ex parte order by filing a Notice of Preliminary Objection, urging the Court to strike out and/or dismiss the suit on the ground that it constitutes an abuse of court process, particularly in light of the subsisting suit whichthe Bank had earlier instituted against this company before the High Court of Lagos State to recover this company’s outstanding indebtedness to Parallex Bank.

In its ruling delivered on the 20th day of April 2026, the Court held that FHT’s suit filed against the Bank was indeed abusive in nature and upheld the arguments canvassed by the Bank. Consequently, the suit was dismissed in its entirety. The Court further awarded costs in the sum of ₦500,000.00 against FHT Mega Express and in favour of Parallex Bank.

Background to the Dispute

The dispute dates back to September 4, 2025, when Parallex Bank filed Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1774/2025 before the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking to recover indebtedness of ₦4.5 billion from FHT Mega Express. The debt reportedly arose from Letters of Credit issued to finance import transactions worth millions of euros for FHT. Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court had earlier ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive matter. However, FHT Mega Express allegedly embarked on multiple suits in different jurisdictions — a move Parallex Bank described as forum shopping. After withdrawing a similar case filed at the Lagos State High Court, FHT Mega Express instituted the Abuja action two days later, raising nearly identical claims and seeking fresh ex parte reliefs.

Allegations of Concealment

Parallex Bank argued that FHT Mega Express deliberately concealed:

• The existence of the earlier Federal High Court suit the Bank filed against the Company in Lagos;
• The subsisting order of Justice Allagoa for parties to maintain status quo;
• Its failed bid to secure ex parte orders in Lagos State.

The Bank maintained that this suppression of material facts misled the Abuja court into granting interim orders that should never have been made.

Court’s Findings

The Court agreed with Parallex Bank’s submissions, holding that FHT Mega Express’ conduct demonstrated bad faith and constituted a clear abuse of judicial process. In striking out the case, the Court emphasized that disputes must not be duplicated across jurisdictions for strategic advantage.

Parallex Bank Reacts

Sources close to the bank reports that Parallex Bank welcomed the ruling, describing it as “a triumph for due process, transparency, and the rule of law.”

The outcome reinforces the bank’s commitment to sound corporate governance and lawful conduct in all their dealings while upholding stakeholder trust and ensuring the integrity of their operations.”

Broader Implications

Legal observers note that the ruling underscores the judiciary’s intolerance of procedural abuse in commercial disputes. The decision is expected to serve as a precedent in banking litigation, reinforcing the judiciary’s stance against multiplicity of suits and forum shopping.

The court ruling clears the way for Parallex Bank to recover funds tied up in the longstanding dispute and affirms its right to pursue all lawful remedies in protecting its financial and reputational interests.

FCT High Court dismisses FHT Mega Express suit against Parallex Bank, awards N500,000 against company in favour of Bank

A former mayor in the United States,, Mike Arnold, has said the breakup of Nigeria is “likely inevitable and just”.

Arnold, known for being sympathetic to the Biafra struggle, made the statement in a presentation to members of the US Congress.

In the presentation titled ‘Nigeria at the crossroads: The case for action’, Arnold, who is also founder and Chairman of Africa Arise International (Nigeria) and Africa Arise USA, claimed the British colonial masters never planned for Nigeria to succeed.

Outlining what must happen for Nigeria to emerge from the crossroads on a path of peace and development, Arnold advocated what he described as a freely-chosen constitutional future determined through referendum by the Nigerian people.

“Like so many other British colonial contraptions designed to fail, separation is likely inevitable — and just: Analytical characterization drawing on the colonial-era orchestration of Nigerian federal structure, the Biafran independence question, the 1999 Constitution’s imposition and the persistent structural Northern political dominance documented throughout this briefing.

“Historical parallels to British colonial partitions that ultimately failed or required substantial restructuring include India-Pakistan (1947), Sudan-South Sudan (2011), the dissolution of British Somaliland, and Cyprus. The formal position of Africa Arise International and related initiatives including the proposed Covenant Republic framework advocates for a freely-chosen constitutional future determined through referendum by the Nigerian people,” he said.

He described the defunct Republic of Biafra as “then the fastest-growing economic region on earth for a decade”.

“Eastern Nigerian economic growth rates 1955–1965, per Nigerian Federal Office of Statistics and World Bank historical data. The Eastern Region under Premier Michael Okpara’s development program achieved among the highest sustained growth rates in Africa during the pre-Civil War period,” he observed.

“The South declared independence in 1967. The British backed the North, which blockaded the South. Shot down Red Cross planes. Up to three million, mostly children, starved to death. The Biafran declaration of independence was May 30, 1967. The war lasted until January 1970. British government material and political support to the Federal Military Government is extensively documented. The food blockade imposed by federal forces resulted in mass starvation; casualty estimates range from 1 million to 5 million, overwhelmingly from starvation among Igbo civilians, with children disproportionately affected. Multiple Red Cross and Joint Church Aid relief aircraft were shot down during the blockade,” Arnold said, noting that British support for the Nigerian federal forces ensured that Biafra could not succeed.

Highlighting contemporary issues, Arnold raised the alarm that the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria has gotten worse since US President Donald Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

“Since CPC designation, killing and impunity have only gotten worse: President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act on October 31, 2025. Documented violence against Christian communities has continued and intensified since the designation, including the March 3 Ngoshe massacre, the Kwara State church attacks, the Palm Sunday Angwan Rukuba massacre, and the April 2026 Jos pastor bounty case.”

He condemned what he described as intentional denial of recognition and aid to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, which he said meets the legal standard of genocide.

According to Arnold, despite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) documenting multiple displacement camps in Abuja from 2015, the Nigerian government under President Bola Tinubu has denied the existence of such camps. He said the position of the Nigerian government has forced the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to de-recognize the IDPs camps.

He accuse the Tinubu administration of paying lip service to the campaign against Christian genocide in Nigeria, noting that the Nigerian government stands indicted for genocide for denying the existence of millions of displaced persons, most especially youths.

“Current UNHCR and IOM reporting — and Nigerian government communications to international bodies — has removed recognition of many of these same camps.

“Deliberate non-recognition of IDPs combined with denial of humanitarian aid and active obstruction of international assistance, where documented, meets the conditions-of-life standard where intent can be inferred from pattern,” Arnold added.

Biafra: ‘Nigeria’s breakup likely inevitable and just’ – Ex-US mayor Mike Arnold

Residents of Kwara South on Friday took to the streets in anger and fear over rising insecurity, staging a protest to demand urgent government intervention amid a worsening wave of killings, kidnappings and displacement across communities.

The protesters, under the aegis of the Kwara South Development Forum, decried what they described as a deepening security crisis, alleging that armed groups have continued to carry out coordinated attacks, overwhelming local communities and weakening existing security structures, particularly vigilante groups.

Speaking during the protest, the forum’s convener, Obashola Ayomide Ridwan, said residents were compelled to act to draw attention to the deteriorating situation.

“Our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers have been killed and kidnapped, while our schools have been shut down in Kwara South,” he said.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to urgently intervene by strengthening local vigilante groups and security agencies.

Other protesters narrated experiences of repeated attacks and abductions, saying many communities have been deserted due to fear and insecurity.

A resident, Adebisi Jimoh, said several families in Babanla and nearby settlements had fled their homes following persistent attacks and kidnappings.

“Our community has become deserted. Many of us have been chased out of our homes,” he said.

Another protester, Sodiq Amidu, alleged that some victims were only released after the payment of huge ransoms, while others were not as fortunate.

Residents also claimed that attacks have disrupted economic activities, forced the closure of schools and led to the abandonment of farmlands across affected communities.

Findings indicate that areas such as Ifelodun, Ekiti, Oke-Ero and Irepodun local government areas have recorded frequent cases of abductions and violent attacks in recent weeks.

The protesters urged traditional rulers and government authorities to take coordinated action, warning that failure to address the situation could lead to a deeper humanitarian crisis in the region.

They called for increased deployment of security personnel, intelligence-driven operations and the empowerment of local vigilante networks to restore safety and stability.

Fear, anger in Kwara as residents protest rising insecurity

Lagos State Government has reinstated its monthly environmental sanitation exercise, bringing to an end a suspension that lasted nearly a decade.

Residents in several parts of the state participated in the exercise on Saturday, with compliance observed in areas such as Ikoyi, Obalende, Ikorodu where individuals were seen cleaning their surroundings.

The reintroduced programme is now scheduled to run for two hours, from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., representing a reduction from the previous three-hour duration of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The sanitation exercise was originally suspended in 2016 after a court ruling declared the restriction of movement during the exercise unconstitutional.

Ahead of its resumption, the state government had indicated that movement would be regulated within the exercise period to enable residents carry out comprehensive cleaning of their homes, immediate environment and drainage channels.

Providing further clarification, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, explained that the exercise would take place on the last Saturday of every month.

“Following the symbolic flag-off of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise along the Mushin–Agege Motor Road corridor on Saturday, March 14, 2026, I wish to provide further clarity on the modalities of the programme as we prepare for the first exercise on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

“The exercise will hold every last Saturday of the month between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. During this period, there will be controlled movement across the state to allow residents to carry out thorough cleaning of their homes, surroundings and drainage frontages,” he said.

Lagos resumes monthly environmental sanitation after nearly 10 years

United States immigration authorities have arrested a 53-year-old Nigerian national over allegations of child molestation, sexual battery, and soliciting lewd conduct, with deportation proceedings underway.

Olatunde Abiodun Olusanjo was arrested on April 21, 2026, by officers of the Los Angeles Enforcement and Removal Operations, a division of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

In a statement released on Friday, ICE said Olusanjo had prior arrests related to similar offences.

“Los Angeles ERO arrested Olatunde Abiodun Olusanjo, 53, of Nigeria, April 21. Olusanjo has previous arrests for child molestation, sexual battery and soliciting lewd conduct. He is in ICE custody pending removal,” the agency said.

Authorities confirmed that Olusanjo remains in ICE custody as deportation proceedings continue.

Nigerian Arrested In U.S. For Child Molestation, Faces Deportation is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A man believed to be a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and wearing President Bola Tinubu’s signature cap has been captured in a viral video clip struggling to take a selfie with the president’s strong opponent, Peter Obi.

Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party was in Lagos State for an event when crowd of supporters pulled towards him for selfies.

In the video, the supporters could be heard shouting “My President, Peter Obi is here, everywhere stew”.

The supposed Tinubu’s supporter was also seen excitedly exchanging pleasantry with the former governor of Anambra State.

DAILY POST reports that Obi, who lost the 2023 presidential race to Tinubu, is set to give it another shot in 2027 under the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Although top opposition leaders are contending for the ADC ticket, there are strong indications that Obi may emerge the party’s flagbearer.

Video of man wearing Tinubu’s cap struggling to take selfies with Peter Obi goes viral

In a major judicial turn of events, the Kenyan Court of Appeal has overturned a previous High Court judgment that had affirmed the right to abortion as a fundamental constitutional provision.

The ruling, delivered on Friday, marks a significant shift in a long-running legal battle that has divided the East African nation. The decision effectively reinstates the stringent restrictions on abortion, setting the stage for what many legal experts believe will be a final showdown at the Kenyan Supreme Court.

The case has its roots in a 2022 incident involving a teenager who sought emergency medical attention following pregnancy complications. At the time, a doctor determined she had suffered a miscarriage and provided post-abortion care. Both the teenager and the medical practitioner were eventually acquitted by the High Court.

In that 2022 landmark ruling, the High Court had declared that access to abortion was a fundamental right under the Kenyan Constitution, further asserting that the arrest and prosecution of patients and healthcare providers in such cases were unconstitutional.

However, the Court of Appeal on Friday disagreed with that interpretation. The appellate judges maintained that the constitution guarantees the right to life for a child, reinforcing the position that abortion remains prohibited except in extreme cases, such as when the mother’s life is in imminent danger.

“In effect, abortion is not a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution. On the contrary, the constitution expressly prohibits it but provides exceptions in limited circumstances where it may be permissible,” the court ruled.

Under Kenya’s Penal Code, procuring or attempting to procure an abortion carries a heavy penalty of up to 14 years in prison. While the constitution allows for the procedure if a trained healthcare worker deems it an emergency necessity to save the mother’s life or health, Friday’s ruling narrows the legal window that the 2022 judgment had opened.

Reacting to the judgment, the Center for Reproductive Rights, a global human rights group, described the verdict as a “setback” for women’s reproductive health. The organization has already indicated its intention to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court to “correct this anomaly.”

On the other side of the divide, the Kenya Christian Professionals’ Forum, which, alongside the Attorney General, filed the appeal, hailed the decision. Charles Kanjama, a lawyer and former chairperson of the forum, stated that the appellate court had “restored constitutional balance” which he claimed had been distorted by the lower court’s findings.

He noted that the ruling means anyone charged under sections 158, 159, or 160 of the Penal Code must now provide concrete evidence that they were not engaging in “abortion on demand.”

The legal controversy comes amid grim health statistics. A 2025 report published by Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the African Population and Health Research Center, and the Guttmacher Institute estimated that nearly 792,000 induced abortions occurred in the country between April 2023 and May 2024, highlighting abortion as a leading cause of maternal mortality in the region.

The Nigerian Context

The legal battle in Kenya mirrors the situation in Nigeria, where abortion remains strictly regulated. Under the Nigerian Criminal Code (applicable in the South) and the Penal Code (applicable in the North), the procedure is generally illegal.

In Nigeria, the only clear legal exception is when the procedure is performed to save the life of the pregnant woman. Attempting to procure an abortion outside of this narrow window can result in up to 14 years of imprisonment for the practitioner and up to 7 years for the woman involved.

Despite these restrictions, health experts frequently raise alarms over the high rate of unsafe abortions in Nigeria, which contribute significantly to the country’s maternal mortality rate. While some states have moved to domesticate the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) to provide better protection for survivors of sexual violence, the core prohibition of abortion remains a subject of intense national and religious debate.

Abortion Violates Child’s Right To Life—Kenyan Court is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency is looking to tighten its grip on financial crimes linked to terrorism and illegal mining, with fresh backing from international partners.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, disclosed this in a statement shared on its official page.

The commission said it is expanding collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, and the Canadian government to strengthen operations in both areas.

This position was conveyed during a meeting at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where representatives of the UN body and Canada’s counter-terrorism programme engaged EFCC leadership on new areas of support.

Executive chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyed, espoke through his Chief of Staff, Commander of the EFCC, CE Michael Nzekwe.

Olukoyede acknowledged the long-standing partnership, noting that recent engagements have contributed to improved enforcement outcomes.

“I appreciate strongly the support that has been coming from UNODC and from the Canadian Government,” he said.

He pointed out that illegal mining and terrorism financing have remained key focus areas for the commission, with a number of convictions already secured across its commands.

“The EFCC has been doing a lot in the areas of terrorism financing and illegal mining. we have a good number of convictions,” he added.

Olukoyede also raised concerns about the evolving tactics of criminal networks, warning that enforcement agencies must continuously upgrade their tools and skills to keep pace.

“At our level, a lot has been done in-house, especially as it relates to terrorism financing, illegal mining and money laundering,” he said.

Also speaking, the EFCC’s Director of Investigation, Abdulkarim Chukkol, said the agency has intensified operations against illegal mining, leading to increased arrests and prosecutions in recent months.

On their part, officials of the UNODC said the visit was aimed at exploring deeper collaboration, particularly through existing technical frameworks designed to tackle transnational crimes.

EFCC, UNODC, Canada strategize against terrorist financing, illegal mining