•File photo: The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will today inaugurate an ad hoc committee to investigate how budgetary provisions amounting to about N1.32 billion were made in favour of the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC ) an agency that had not been legally established.

The inauguration and public hearing will take place at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, in line with Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empower the National Assembly to investigate matters relating to the administration of public institutions and the management of public funds.

The committee, chaired by the member representing Kanke/Kanam/Pankshin Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Yusuf Gagdi, was constituted two weeks ago following a resolution of the House during plenary presided over by Speaker Abbas.

The probe follows the arrest of Mr Adeyemi Adeniyi, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the PFIPC and is accused of orchestrating the inclusion of the agency in the 2026 budget despite its non-existence.

Senegal’s President, Bassirou Faye, has been elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States.

He took over from Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio.

Faye emerged as the new chairman during the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States in Sierra Leone on Sunday.

As the new chairman, he is expected to intensify efforts to rebuild trust and keep communication channels open with the three breakaway countries.

Aged 46, Faye represents a younger generation of African leaders.His leadership could inject new momentum into ECOWAS’ reform agenda, especially on governance, accountability, youth inclusion and institutional credibility.

His position places Senegal at the centre of major regional diplomatic and political decisions.

His position places Senegal at the centre of major regional diplomatic and political decisions.Also at the meeting, Biram Diop was appointed President of the ECOWAS Commission, taking over from Dr Omar Touray.

•Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya[SAN]

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has emerged as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) after defeating two other senior lawyers in the keenly contested presidential election.

Chief Oghenero Okoro won 11,024 votes (44.85%) to emerged as the First Vice-President

Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the presidential result at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja, on Sunday.

Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the total votes cast, to defeat her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe, SAN, who secured 7,934 votes, representing 30.39 percent. Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, came third with 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 percent.

With the victory, Badejo-Okusanya will serve as the association’s president for a two-year tenure from 2026 to 2028.

She also becomes only the second woman to lead the NBA after Priscilla Kuye, who served as president from 1991 to 1992.

Results published on the ECNBA portal and confirmed by Ejelam showed that 26,184 of the association’s 82,172 registered voters participated in the election, representing a voter turnout of 31.86 percent.

The election is over. We are one Bar

Badejo-Okusanya, in a statement issued on Sunday after emerging winner of the NBA national election, thanked members for the confidence reposed in her leadership.

She described the mandate as both a privilege and a call to service, noting that her election reflected the desire of lawyers for a more responsive, inclusive and effective professional body.

According to her, the victory was not a personal achievement but a reflection of the collective aspiration of NBA members for a stronger association.

Badejo-Okusanya said that her engagements with lawyers across the country during the election campaign provided valuable insights into their concerns, expectations and aspirations, which she promised would guide her leadership.

“I listened to your hopes, your concerns, your aspirations, and your ideas. Those conversations shaped this campaign, and they will continue to guide my leadership,” she said.

The NBA president-elect urged members to move beyond the election contest and unite towards advancing the legal profession and strengthening the association.

“The election is over. We are one Bar, united by a common commitment to the advancement of our profession and the defence of justice and the rule of law,” she stated.