• Oil marketers fear fuel scarcity as FG halts sale of crude to Dangote
• Naira depreciates in the official market, trades at ₦1536/$
• The inspector-general warns NPF against unlawful arrests and prolonged detention
• SERAP sues President Tinubu over unconstitutional suspension of Governor Fubara
• Two US-based Nigerians and accomplices earn a 62-year-jail over $52 million fraud

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Oil marketers fear fuel scarcity as FG halts sale of crude to Dangote

With Dangote Petroleum Refinery halting the sale of petroleum products in naira, some filling stations have begun stockpiling Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).  

Retailers are storing the fuel in anticipation of price increases, expecting costs to rise due to the Federal Government’s decision to stop selling crude oil to Dangote Refinery in local currency.  

However, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has cautioned against panic buying, warning that retailers could suffer significant losses.

Naira depreciates in the official market, trades at ₦1536/$

The naira weakened at the official exchange window over the past week, declining by 1.25% to close at ₦1,536.89/$ on Friday. 

Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the currency started the week at ₦1,528.03/$, down from ₦1,517.93/$ in the previous session. It further depreciated to ₦1,532.93/$ before briefly recovering on Wednesday and Thursday, only to drop again by Friday.  

The decline followed reports that negotiations on the naira-for-crude agreement between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and local refineries had stalled. However, discussions are expected to resume this week, with a potential contract extension on the table.

The inspector-general warns NPF against unlawful arrests and prolonged detention

Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned officers of the Nigeria Police Force against unlawful and prolonged detention of suspects.  

He emphasised that suspects must not be held beyond the legally allowed period and warned that any officer violating this rule would face strict disciplinary action.  

Egbetokun also stated that such unlawful detentions undermine public trust in the police, urging officers to uphold professionalism, integrity, and respect for human rights in their duties.

SERAP sues President Tinubu over unconstitutional suspension of Governor Fubara

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sued President Bola Tinubu over the “unlawful suspension of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State” while invoking his constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency.

The lawsuit also includes the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as co-defendants.

SERAP is requesting a court order to reverse the suspension of the elected officials, arguing that the president’s actions violate the constitution.

Two US-based Nigerians and accomplices earn a 62-year-jail over $52 million fraud

Two Nigerians living in the United States, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, along with four others, face up to 62 years in prison each after being arraigned in a New York court for allegedly defrauding the US government of $50 million.

According to court documents available on the US Department of Justice website, the suspects were charged with four counts, including conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, engaging in financial transactions using proceeds from unlawful activities, conspiracy to defraud the government, and aggravated identity theft.

The documents revealed that the alleged crimes occurred between March 2020 and March 2025 across the Southern District of New York and other locations in the United States.