Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has unveiled the Excellence in Tax Reform Reporting Award to recognise and reward journalists and online influencers who provide balanced, accurate, and impactful reporting on Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms.

Oyedele made this know during an interactive session on Tuesday with journalists and online influencers on Nigeria’s new tax reform laws.

At the event held in Abuja, he emphasised that the Award aims to foster constructive public discourse, counter misinformation, and promote journalism that explains reforms in a manner that citizens can trust and understand.

The competition, attracting 1st Prize: ₦10m | 2nd Prize: ₦5m | 3rd Prize: ₦3m | Consolation prize of ₦m for top 20 finalists, is open to all Nigerian journalists across print, broadcast, and online platforms, as well as digital influencers, bloggers, and podcasters.

They are to submit published work between 1 July – 31 December 2025, in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba.

“It was an excellent opportunity to clarify misconceptions and deepen public understanding of the reforms,” said Oyedele.

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has disclosed that his United States of America visa has been revoked, meaning he cannot enter the country.

Soyinka made the revelation on Tuesday, while addressing journalists at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos Island.

“It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States, who are expecting me for this event or that event, do not waste their time,” the literary icon said.

“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me.”

Soyinka said that he was informed of the development by the U.S. Consulate through an official letter dated October 23, 2025, noting that he was unaware of any reason for the decision.

The letter read in part, “This letter serves as official notification by the United States Consulate General in Lagos that the nonimmigrant visa listed below has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.

”Soyinka stressed that he had never engaged in any criminal activity or violated U.S. laws to warrant such action.

“I’m still looking into my past history… I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanour to qualify for the revocation,” he said.

“I keep asking myself — have I ever misbehaved toward the United States of America? Have I gone against the law anywhere?”

He did not specify whether he had applied for a new visa or challenged the decision.

………..Judge Advises Kanu to Consult Expert on Criminal Law

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has declined to open his defence in his ongoing trial, insisting that the Federal Government has no valid charges against him.

At Monday’s proceedings before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Kanu informed the court that, after finally receiving and reviewing his case file, he found no basis for the charges brought against him. He therefore requested one week to file a written address instead of calling witnesses as earlier planned.

However, lead prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, strongly objected to the request, noting that the court had already granted the defendant six days to conclude his defence—two of which had elapsed. Awomolo argued that Kanu was fully aware of the charges since his plea was taken and witnesses were cross-examined, stressing that the matter could not be allowed to drag indefinitely.

The prosecution urged the court to deem Kanu’s refusal to open his defence as a conclusion of the case and to proceed to judgment.

Justice Omotosho cautioned Kanu about the risks of representing himself, describing him as a “layman” in legal practice and advising him to seek counsel from someone versed in criminal law. The court also reminded him that the issue of his extraordinary rendition from Kenya had already been resolved and was no longer relevant to the current trial.

In the interest of justice, Justice Omotosho granted Kanu’s request and adjourned the case until Tuesday, November 4, for either the opening of his defence or the adoption of his written address on his claim that the Federal Government has no case to answer.