New naira notes to be printed locally, says CBN - Newstrends
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New naira notes to be printed locally, says CBN

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CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

•Policy targeted at opposition, says Obaseki

There is no plan to print the proposed new naira notes outside Nigeria, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Board member has said.

“All the new currency notes are printed in Nigeria by the Nigeria Security, Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), so I do not envisage printing outside the country,” the Board member told The Nation in confidence.

He, however said that he has no idea of the cost for printing the new currencies for now. But he assured that the cost is “something that can be accommodated in view of the expected benefits of the re-designed notes”.

According to CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the N1000, N500 and N200 are to wear new looks soon.

Shedding light on the communication or lack of it between the CBN and the minister of finance on the decision to redesign some denominations of the naira, the CBN Board member insisted that “the CBN Governor did not take the decisions on currency redesign alone”.

According to the Board member, “at present, the Board of the CBN has not been inaugurated even though the Senate has confirmed the re-appointment of the members. Until the Board is inaugurated, it cannot sit”.

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He went on to add that “in the interim, the President who is the Supervisor of the CBN, acts on behalf of the Board. This is why the Governor went directly to the President for approval of the redesign.

But Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki yesterday read political meaning to the proposed naira redesign.

He claimed that the move was a ploy by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to sway voters ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Obaseki spoke at the inauguration of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Women Campaign Council at the presidential campaign secretariat of the party on Sapele Road, Benin, the state capital.

He said: “The redesigning of the nation’s currency should not be a priority, as the majority of citizens are suffering from hunger, poverty and economic hardship.

“They say we should all bring our naira and give it to them, because they want to change it for us. Is that our priority now?

“Does changing of currency reduce the price of food in the market? They say they want to change our currency, and dollars are going higher every day. We cannot even see dollars again.

“I am an economist and I can tell you categorically that this policy by the CBN and Federal Government has no basis in Nigeria’s economy. There is no reason to do this. The move is purely political, as there is no urgency in changing our currency.”

Edo governor was of the opinion that putting food on the table of Nigerians ought to have been given priority attention by the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He said: “The urgency is on how to get food for our citizens to remove starvation and hunger from the land. The urgency is on how to maintain discipline in our monetary policy. So that we can manage our foreign exchange rate, because we are import dependent.

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Former CBN Deputy Governor Prof Kingsley Moghalu said the CBN did no wrong by not personally informing Finance, Budget and National Planning Minister, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

Moghalu said: “The CBN only needs the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for this particular exercise. There are only three issues on which, in the CBN Act of 2007, the CBN should obtain external authorisation, and only from the President of Nigeria, for its operations: any alterations to the legal tender (the naira); any investment of the bank’s funds outside Nigeria; and the Bank’s annual report.

“Outside of these, the only approving authorities for CBN operations are its Committee of Governors consisting of the Governor and the four Deputy Governors, and the Board of Directors of the CBN, which includes the Governor, the four Deputy Governors, and seven  external members which include the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation.”

Moghalu alleged that Emefiele was politicising “the central bank by routinely subjecting its operations to the whims and caprices of the Presidency far beyond what is the appropriate relationship, and compromised the independence of the CBN as a result. That is why the finance minister erroneously feels entitled to be informed or consulted”.

He called on the apex bank to “focus hard on the implementation of this policy. It will impose huge pressures on the banking system.

“How can the woman frying bean cake in the rural area, who keeps most of her cash under her pillow, be aided to come into the banking system under this new policy? There are others as well whose monies are outside the banking system for reasons that are not negative”.

The Nation

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Peller Escapes Generator Fire at Lagos Home, Recalls Earlier Lekki–Epe Scare

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Nigerian TikTok sensation and streamer, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller

Peller Escapes Generator Fire at Lagos Home, Recalls Earlier Lekki–Epe Scare

Nigerian TikTok sensation and streamer, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has narrowly escaped injury following a generator fire incident at his residence.

The social media influencer disclosed the incident on Saturday via his verified Instagram page, where he shared a video capturing the early-morning blaze. In the footage, flames could be seen engulfing his generator as Peller, visibly shaken, cried out for help while neighbors and occupants rushed to contain the fire.

After sustained efforts using buckets of water, the fire was eventually brought under control. The generator was completely destroyed, but the building itself and everyone inside the house were spared, preventing what could have escalated into a major tragedy.

Shortly after the incident, fans and followers flooded his comment section with messages of relief and gratitude, praising the swift response that prevented loss of life or further property damage. The video also circulated widely across other social media platforms, where viewers raised concerns about generator safety, ventilation, and fire preparedness in residential areas.

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As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of the fire had not been independently confirmed, though preliminary reactions online speculated about possible fuel-related or electrical issues.

Earlier Lekki–Epe Expressway Incident

The generator fire comes months after Peller survived a separate and highly publicized scare along the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

During that earlier episode, which unfolded during a widely shared livestream, the influencer was seen driving while emotionally distressed. The broadcast, titled “RIP Peller,” sparked widespread concern after he made a series of alarming remarks that unsettled viewers.

At the time, Peller appeared agitated during a phone conversation believed to involve his girlfriend, amid online speculation about personal relationship challenges. The livestream ended abruptly after the vehicle was involved in a crash, though Peller later confirmed he survived the incident.

The back-to-back scares have renewed conversations among fans and industry observers about mental health awareness, content moderation during livestreams, and personal safety, particularly for young influencers who share real-time experiences with large audiences.

Despite the incidents, Peller has continued to engage his followers and has expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support he has received.

Peller Escapes Generator Fire at Lagos Home, Recalls Earlier Lekki–Epe Scare

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Abuja Church Expels Newly Married Woman Over Refusal to Consummate Marriage

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Abuja Church Expels Newly Married Woman Over Refusal to Consummate Marriage

An Abuja-based church has expelled a newly married woman, Oyiza, after she allegedly refused to consummate her marriage with her husband, Isaac—an action that has sparked widespread debate over marital consent, religious authority, and women’s rights in Nigeria.

The couple, who were living in Ibadan, got married on September 6, 2025, following the completion of their traditional marriage rites in Okene and a court wedding in Ibadan. Oyiza is originally from Kogi State.

According to accounts presented by the husband and church officials, marital tensions began shortly after the wedding, with Oyiza reportedly declining all attempts at intimacy. She allegedly told her husband she did not love him and later accused her mother of pressuring her into the marriage.

Family members and church leaders reportedly intervened multiple times over several months in an attempt to resolve the matter. Despite repeated marriage counselling sessions, the woman was said to have maintained her position, insisting she was emotionally unprepared for the union.

Isaac claimed that prior to the wedding, Oyiza had expressed doubts about proceeding with the marriage but later reassured him and the church’s marriage committee that she was ready, leading to approval of the wedding plans.

Photos from the ceremony, later circulated on social media, showed Oyiza appearing cheerful among friends and church members. However, Isaac said the marriage quickly deteriorated after the wedding, describing the relationship as emotionally exhausting and restrictive.

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In February 2026, the controversy escalated after the church released a video on its YouTube channel announcing Oyiza’s expulsion and excommunication. The church’s International Director stated that five months of mediation had failed.

During the announcement, the cleric used strong and controversial language, accusing Oyiza of spiritual misconduct and urging members to pray against her, claiming she had disgraced the church. He also referenced traditional cultural practices, suggesting that emotional readiness should not prevent marital obligations—remarks that triggered intense backlash online.

The cleric further claimed that his wife received a spiritual revelation alleging that Oyiza was under a supernatural covenant preventing marital relations. These claims were made publicly but remain unverified.

Oyiza was not present during the announcement, and efforts to obtain her response have been unsuccessful.

The incident has since generated nationwide reactions, with many Nigerians, legal commentators, and rights advocates arguing that consent within marriage is non-negotiable and that religious institutions should not compel intimacy or publicly shame individuals over private marital disputes.

The case has reignited conversations around:

  • Forced marriage and family pressure
  • Consent and bodily autonomy
  • Limits of church authority in private relationships
  • Mental health and dignity of women

As of the time of reporting, the church has not released any further statement addressing the public criticism.

Abuja Church Expels Newly Married Woman Over Refusal to Consummate Marriage

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Pastor Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murdering Landlord in Akwa Ibom

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Pastor Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murdering Landlord in Akwa Ibom

Prince Emmanuel Umoh, the resident pastor of Living Faith Church Chapel, Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey, a 500‑level civil engineering student at the University of Uyo.

Umoh was found guilty by Justice Gabriel Ette of the Akwa Ibom State High Court after evidence showed he fatally stabbed Bassey on December 21, 2020, inside the estate in Ifa Ikot Ubo, a community in Uyo Local Government Area. The judgment was delivered following a trial that lasted more than five years.

The prosecution established that Bassey had moved into his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo to secure the family estate and be closer to school. The property previously housed a nursery school his mother built before her death in December 2019.

Court records show that part of the estate — a hall connected to a two‑bedroom apartment occupied by Bassey and his younger brother, Emmanuel Bassey — was leased to Living Faith Church for worship and community use at an annual rent of ₦150,000, with permission from Bassey’s father, Emana Bassey, a retired principal. The church began using the hall before the full rent was paid.

Umoh, who was later appointed the chapel’s first resident pastor, was given a spare key to the deceased’s apartment to allow access to church property stored inside. Evidence presented in court revealed that after this arrangement, personal items belonging to the deceased’s late mother — including clothing, dishes and valuables — began to go missing.

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The father, Mr. Emana Bassey, testified that he initially approved the spare key arrangement. However, when items started disappearing, he instructed his son to return the key. The defendant claimed he had lost the key, prompting concerns over security. The church’s senior pastor, Owoidoho Akpan, who testified for the defence, gave the Bassey family ₦5,000 to replace the locks. After the locks were changed, no further items were reported missing, the court heard.

Additional tensions arose between Umoh and Bassey over the use of rent funds supposedly meant for hall renovations, with disagreements escalating in the weeks leading up to the murder.

On the day of the incident, neighbours observed Umoh entering the premises shortly before cries of “Jesus” were heard. Minutes later, he was seen wearing a blood‑stained white garment, claiming he had fallen while fixing a banner. Bassey was not seen alive again.

Five days later, on December 26, 2020, Bassey’s decomposing body was found in his room, wrapped in a mat with multiple stab wounds and a butcher’s knife beside him. Forensic evidence and witness testimony linked Umoh to the crime, with bloodstains on his clothing and the fact that he was the last person seen with the deceased.

Umoh was arraigned on December 6, 2021, on a single count of murder. He pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution called six witnesses, including members of the Bassey family and church officials, to support its case.

In his lengthy judgment, Justice Ette described the crime as deeply troubling and a betrayal of trust, particularly because it was committed by a religious leader on church grounds.

Life is sacred, and those who represent God on earth should teach that. It is an irony and quite appalling when a man who claims to be the representative of the divine on earth stoops so low as to denigrate the very essence of his calling and take someone’s life on the premises of the church,” the judge said.

He added that individuals who violate public trust in this way threaten society and must be punished in accordance with the law.

Having found the defendant guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the court pronounced sentence:

“I hereby sentence you to death by hanging.”

The conviction brings to an end nearly six years of legal proceedings and underscores the rule of law in Akwa Ibom State, even when the accused holds a position of religious leadership.

Pastor Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murdering Landlord in Akwa Ibom

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