By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, has taken over the prosecution of his immediate predecessor, Mr Abubakar Malami.

Mr Malami is facing terrorism and illegal firearms possession charges brought against him by the Department of State Service (DSS).

Mr Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), took over the trial from the secret police on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, announced the Attorney General’s appearance in the matter.

Mr Oyedepo told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that the trial cannot proceed because Mr Fagbemi has just taken over the prosecution.

He informed the court that the prosecution needed more time to familiarise itself with the facts of the case.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Adedayo Adedeji, who did not oppose the application, however, urged the court to strike out the matter if the prosecution fails to open its case at the next adjourned date, citing lack of diligent prosecution.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to March 10 for trial and for the prosecution to formally open its case.

The court had, on February 27, admitted Malami and his son, Mr Abdulaziz, to N200 million bail, with two sureties, each one of whom must own landed property either in Maitama or Asokoro.

Justice Abdulmalik had said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court along with valid international passports.

The sureties were also ordered to depose to an affidavit of means and submit their two recent passport photographs to the court.

Mr Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The DSS had arraigned the ex-AGF and his son, Mr Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

In the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Mr Malami and Mr Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Mr Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has announced a significant 24.8 per cent increase in total cargo throughput for 2025.

According to the NPA’s 2025 Operational Performance Report, total cargo throughput rose from approximately 103.6 million metric tons in 2024 to over 129.3 million metric tons in 2025.

The report identified Lekki Port as Nigeria’s leading port, accounting for 40.6 per cent of the nation’s total cargo throughput. Onne Port followed with 19.1 per cent, while Apapa Port handled 16.7 per cent.

Beyond volume, Lekki Port also received the largest vessels, recording an average Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of 55,712, slightly higher than Onne Port’s 53,022 GRT.

Apapa and Tin Can Island ports recorded average vessel sizes of 33,251 GRT and 36,909 GRT, respectively, while Delta Ports handled vessels averaging 17,414 GRT.

Although Tin Can Island Port recorded the highest frequency of ship arrivals, accounting for 22.7 per cent of total ship calls, Lekki and Onne are increasingly attracting larger “heavyweight” vessels, strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to handle higher-value cargo.

The data showed that imports continued to dominate cargo traffic, and the report highlighted a steady rise in outward trade. Exports accounted for 39.0 per cent of total cargo throughput, while inward traffic represented 59.2 per cent.

Containerised cargo, widely regarded as a key indicator of trade activity, recorded substantial growth. Total container traffic increased by 25.7 per cent, surpassing 2.1 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).

Import-laden containers surged by 32.8 per cent, while export containers rose by 3.1 per cent. Notably, transhipment containers recorded a remarkable 205.8 per cent increase, positioning Nigeria as an emerging regional logistics hub serving West and Central Africa.

Liquid bulk cargo, including petroleum products and chemicals, remained the dominant commodity category, accounting for 54.7 per cent of total cargo, while containerised cargo represented 24 per cent.

Speaking on the report, the Managing Director of NPA, Mr Abubakar Dantsoho, described the 2025 performance as a historic milestone.

“Nigeria’s maritime sector recorded a historic surge in activity in 2025, driven by increased cargo throughput, rising container traffic, and a growing export footprint. This underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to economic diversification,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr Dantsoho expressed confidence that the Federal Government-approved port modernisation programme and the implementation of the National Single Window system would power the next phase of growth.

The comprehensive modernisation initiative aims to rehabilitate ageing infrastructure, deepen berths, upgrade quays, expand cargo-handling capacity, and deploy advanced digital solutions across Nigeria’s ports.

The reforms are expected to reduce vessel turnaround time, cut cargo dwell time, improve safety standards, and boost overall operational efficiency.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has banned the mounting of roadblocks for the collection of taxes and levies nationwide as part of a sweeping reform of the country’s tax administration system.

It also signed a new Presumptive Tax Framework (PTF) aimed at bringing millions of small and informal businesses into the formal economy through simplified tax processes.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), Mr Olusegun Adesokan, the new framework expressly prohibits the use of roadblocks by tax officials to collect levies, which has been heavily criticised by businesses and transport operators.

“It also bans the mounting of roadblocks for the collection of taxes,” he said.

He further disclosed that the framework outlaws cash collection by tax authorities and promotes the use of technology-driven payment systems to ensure transparency and accountability.

“Apart from encouraging the use of technology for payment of taxes and cash collection, it bans all forms of cash collection by tax authorities,” Mr Adesokan added.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, described the PTF as a key component of the tax reform programme under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Mr Edun said the framework is designed to expand the nation’s tax base while protecting small businesses from excessive burden.

According to him, the presumptive tax system will rely on clear indicators such as business category and turnover levels rather than complex accounting requirements.

“The objective of presumptive taxation is not to overburden small businesses, but to provide a fair, simple and predictable framework for tax compliance,” he said.

He stressed that the government’s fiscal strategy is anchored on widening the tax net instead of increasing tax rates.

“Our fiscal strategy is anchored on expanding the tax base rather than increasing tax rates. Inclusion drives sustainability,” the minister said.

Mr Edun noted that micro and small enterprises form the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and that the framework seeks to reduce compliance costs while creating a structured pathway for them to transition into the formal sector.

He added that the regulations would provide clarity for tax authorities across the country and protect taxpayers from arbitrary assessments.

“These regulations provide clarity to tax authorities and protect taxpayers from arbitrary assessments. The system will be transparent, rules-based and nationally consistent,” he said.

He also said that strengthening non-oil revenue through a broader tax base would enhance the government’s capacity to fund infrastructure, security, social investment and economic growth.

The minister explained that the regulations were developed in collaboration with the JRB to ensure alignment between federal and state tax administrations.

Earlier, Mr Adesokan described the framework as a major step towards making the tax system fairer for ordinary Nigerians.

He said the reform reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that the tax system supports economic growth rather than placing pressure on struggling citizens.

“This revolution is another demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to taxing prosperity and not poverty,” he said.

Mr Adesokan disclosed that businesses with an annual turnover of up to N50 million would be exempted from tax under the new arrangement.

“It ensures that our nano and small businesses with an annual turnover of 50 million naira are exempted from tax,” he said.

He explained that the exemption would allow small entrepreneurs to retain capital for growth before eventually entering the tax system, while other informal businesses above the threshold would be subject to a simplified turnover-based tax rate.