Senator Adams Oshiomhole has praised President Bola Tinubu’s new tax policy, describing it as consistent with the principles of a progressive government.

He said he was among the lawmakers who supported the tax bill that eventually became law.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the Edo North lawmaker said the Tinubu tax policy is progressive because it shifts the tax burden from the poor to the rich.

“The facts on the ground show that President Tinubu’s tax policy is consistent with the values of a progressive government,” Oshiomhole said.

“And this is a progressive tax policy that places a higher burden on those who earn more while offering tax exemptions to those who earn less.”

The former Edo State governor emphasized that he fully supports the new tax policy, noting that no government can function without taxes.

“It is only in Nigeria that people talk about government using money or claim that government earns money on its own. Governments do not earn money; citizens earn income, and the government taxes those earnings—whether individual or corporate. The sum of these taxes determines the annual revenue of the state,” he explained.

Oshiomhole added that working families will benefit under the new tax regime.
“There is no worker who is a member of the Nigeria Labour Congress earning N1 million a month, which totals N12 million a year. So, for salary earners, this tax policy is progressive.”

On Value Added Tax (VAT), the senator noted that the average Nigerian worker need not worry, as VAT primarily affects luxury purchases.

He also criticized Nigerians who pay VAT abroad but complain when paying the same tax in Nigeria.

“Everywhere in the world, when you buy non-food items, you pay VAT. Nigerians pay VAT in America, London, Dubai, yet they resist paying VAT here in Nigeria,” Oshiomhole said.

Despite criticisms, President Bola Tinubu had, in December 2025, reaffirmed that the new tax laws would take effect from January 1, 2026.

Tinubu explained that the tax laws were not intended to raise taxes arbitrarily, but to support a structural reset, promote harmonisation, protect citizens’ dignity, and strengthen the social contract.

He also urged all Nigerians to support the implementation of the new policy.

The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed January 26 to rule on the final forfeiture of a London property linked to the late Jeremiah Useni, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The decision followed the failure of any individual or representative of Useni’s estate, to appear within the 14-day statutory window to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The proceedings arose from an ex parte application filed in late 2025 by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), which sought an interim forfeiture and preservation order over the disputed property, alleging it was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activity.

On November 28, Justice Binta Nyako, granted the interim forfeiture order.

The judge directed the CCB to advertise the order in a national newspaper within 14 days to invite “any person or body” with interest in the property to come forward and prove legitimate acquisition.

The property is located at 79 Randall Avenue, London NW2 7SX, named in the property dispute are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, and Useni, a retired Lieutenant-General.

The matter was filed at the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Land Registration, UK, under case number ref/2023/0155, with Tali Shani as the applicant and Ozekhome as the respondent.

The property had been claimed by one “Ms Tali Shani” on one hand and Ozekhome on the other.

Ozekhome said he received the house as a gift from “Mr Tali Shani” in 2021, while lawyers for “Ms Shani” insisted she was the rightful owner.

A witness known as “Mr Tali Shani” had testified in favour of Ozekhome, claiming that he had “powers of attorney” over the property and had transferred the property to the respondent (Ozekhome).

Mr Tali Shani asserted ownership of the property from 1993 and claimed he later appointed Useni as his property manager, describing Useni as an “elder friend and business partner”.

On the other hand, several documents, including an obituary announcement, NIN card, ECOWAS passport, phone number, etc were tendered by witnesses of Ms Tali Shani to claim ownership of the property.

However, the tribunal found all the documents tendered for Ms Tali Shani to be fake.

The tribunal subsequently dismissed all claims, ruling that neither “Mr” nor “Ms” Tali Shani existed.

The Nigeria Police Force has denied reports suggesting that there is an inconsistency in police communication regarding a recent abduction incident in Kaduna State.

Reports of the abduction in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, emerged on Sunday, with over 100 worshippers said to have been taken during the attack.

Although the police initially denied the attack, the authorities later reversed their position, admitting that the incident “did occur” and that many people were kidnapped.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said there is no discrepancy in the communication made available to the public.

He said as soon as the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Rabiu, got wind of the report, he deployed operatives to the scene of the attack.

“There is no inconsistency from the statement coming from the police,” Hundeyin stated.

“The (Kaduna State) Commissioner of Police said when we received the information and immediately, we mobilised there and we are yet to get any evidence as this happened.

“The moment we got evidence, we also came out to say that we have gotten evidence. So there is no inconsistency.”

He disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of police helicopters for air surveillance.

The IGP also deployed additional operational and intelligence assets to the area.

The police said the response includes the deployment of tactical units, intensified patrols, and targeted search-and-rescue operations.

The police appealed to the public and the media to rely on official communications for verified information, warning that sensational reporting could “jeopardise ongoing operations or heighten public anxiety.”

Earlier, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) criticised security agencies over their response to the abduction of worshippers in Kurmin Wali community.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja and signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN expressed concern over what it described as poor public communication by the security agencies.

The association said the early response lacked sensitivity and thoroughness, noting that dismissing reports of the incident before proper verification caused confusion and further eroded public confidence in the authorities.

CAN acknowledged the subsequent confirmation of the abduction and commended the Inspector-General of Police for deploying operational and intelligence resources to the affected area, describing the action as both necessary and welcome.

However, the association stressed that such measures should be accompanied by a more disciplined and people-focused approach to crisis communication in the future.

It urged all security agencies and relevant authorities to strengthen coordination, improve verification procedures, and ensure that credible community reports are treated with the seriousness they deserve.

“Victims must be protected, genuine distress calls respected, and misinformation, whether dismissive or sensational, must be avoided,” CAN stated.

The association also called on governments at all levels to tackle the persistent insecurity across the country with renewed urgency, warning that recurring attacks continue to threaten lives, disrupt worship, and undermine public confidence.

CAN appealed for the immediate and unconditional release of all those abducted, praying for their safe and unharmed return.

It urged security agencies to intensify every possible effort, operational, intelligence, and diplomatic, to ensure a swift rescue, stressing that the protection of innocent lives must remain the highest priority.