News
New tax: Nigerian girls into ‘ashawo’ to pay tax from January 2026 — FG
President Bola Tinubu’s tax crusader, Taiwo Oyedele, has said all Nigerians, including ladies engaging in prostitution popularly called “runs,” are mandated to pay tax per the new tax reforms set to be enforced in January 2026.
In the eyes of the new tax law, Mr Oyedele explained, there are no distinctions between legitimate income and illicit funds.
Mr Oyedele, who chairs the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policies and Reforms, on Saturday, educated members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David parish in Lagos, on the reforms of the tax law signed by Mr Tinubu in June.
The administration, according to Mr Oyedele, will levy taxes on all services rendered in exchange for money, a rule he explained applies to sexual transactions.
“If somebody is doing run girls, they go and look for men to sleep with; you know that’s a service,” Mr Oyedele explained to the RCCG congregation. “They will pay tax on it.”
The tax czar further stated that the law itself does not have the capacity to distinguish between income obtained from legitimate means and illegitimate ones; hence, all income is deemed taxable.
“One thing about the tax law is it doesn’t separate whether what you’re doing is legitimate or not; it doesn’t even ask you.
It just asks you whether you have an income. Did you get it from rendering a service or providing a good? You pay tax,” Mr Oyedele said.
For decades, the government has left the business of prostitution and other sexual transactions unchecked and untaxed, but Mr Tinubu’s administration appears willing to explore all available channels to generate revenue to buoy Nigeria’s ailing economy.
The New Tax Act will also target social media influencers and remote workers earning in foreign currency.
A federal high court in Abuja has ruled that the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) cannot impose fines on motorists over third-party motor insurance without a court order.
Hauwa Yilwa, presiding judge, delivered the judgment in a suit filed by Deji Adeyanju, the activist and lawyer, against the inspector-general of police (IGP), the attorney-general of the federation (AGF), and the FRSC.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/291/2025, sought clarification of the powers of law enforcement agencies to enforce compliance with motor vehicle insurance laws.
In her ruling, Yilwa drew a distinction between enforcement and sanctioning powers, holding that while the police and the FRSC can check compliance, they do not have the authority to penalise offenders without recourse to the court.
Marvin Omorogbe, counsel to the applicant, said the court affirmed that both agencies can enforce the law but cannot impose fines.
“The police and the road safety may enforce compliance but outrightly lack the powers to impose fines on third parties or vehicle owners,” he said.
“The court went further to restrain the IGP, the police force and all their officers, including the FRSC, from imposing fines on motor vehicle users or Nigerian citizens.”
The suit was initiated through an originating summons, invoking provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act, the Insurance Act, and the FRSC (Establishment) Act.
Adeyanju had asked the court to determine whether the police could enforce third-party insurance, impose fines, and whether such enforcement infringes on constitutional rights.
Speaking to journalists after the judgment, he said the decision addressed the core issue raised in the suit.
“The sole reason why we came to court is because we wanted the court to make a positive declaration that the police and the road safety do not have the right to impose fines on any Nigerian over motor vehicle insurance. And we have succeeded,” Adeyanju said.
He added that the ruling would help curb what he described as arbitrary fines imposed on motorists.
On the other hand, Victor Okoye, counsel to the defendants, said the judgment was only partly favourable and indicated plans to challenge it at the court of appeal.
Okoye argued that the suit was incompetent and that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it, noting that the matter ought not to have been commenced by originating summons.
“We envisage that we will likely challenge the proceedings at the court of appeal to determine if the court ought to have determined a case where the originating summons is incompetent,” he said.
He also maintained that the suit was improperly constituted, adding that the IGP was sued instead of the Nigeria Police Force as a legal entity.
Despite the objections, the court proceeded to deliver judgment.
Okoye, however, acknowledged that the ruling affirmed the powers of both the police and the FRSC to stop and verify compliance with third-party insurance requirements.
Bandits have killed a monarch,his wife, his son, and three other residents in a deadly night attack on Olegabulu community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.
Residents said the attack happened on Thursday night when the armed men, numbering about four and arriving on two motorcycles, stormed the palace of the monarch and opened fire on him and his family members.
According to a resident who requested anonymity, the attackers entered the community without raising suspicion, reportedly exchanging greetings with locals in the native dialect before heading straight to the royal residence. Once inside, they opened fire, killing the traditional ruler, his wife, and his son on the spot.
The attackers were said to have spent about 20 minutes in the community. After the assault on the palace, they reportedly moved to a nearby compound where they killed two additional residents and left another person injured before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses described the incident as coordinated and deceptive, noting that the gunmen initially blended in with residents before launching the attack.
The Chairman of Agatu Local Government Area, Melvin Ejeh, confirmed the incident, stating that five people were killed and one person sustained injuries.
He added that security operatives, including police personnel, have since visited the scene.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, DSP Udeme Edet, said she was yet to receive full details of the attack at the time of filing this report.
Proceedings in the case involving former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, were on Thursday adjourned till May 6, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, represented the prosecution, while Bello was represented by his lead counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu.
During proceedings, the prosecution informed the court of the need for more time to respond to applications filed by the defence, while Bello’s legal team urged the court to consider their submissions and move the matter forward.
Justice Nwite, in his ruling, adjourned the case to May 6 to allow all parties to adequately prepare and ensure a fair hearing.
Mr Bello is currently facing charges bordering on alleged financial misappropriation during his tenure as governor, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
Court bars police, FRSC from imposing fines over third-party insurance
BREAKING: Benue boils again as bandits invade palace, kill monarch ,wife, son three others
Yahaya Bello to know fate on May 6 as Court adjourns financial infractions case
-
Metro24 hours agoTwo Injured as Police Foil Kidnapping Plot in Ibadan
-
News24 hours agoTight Security as Court Arraigns Suspects Over Jos Killings
-
News24 hours agoTinubu Unveils ₦25 Trillion Pension Fund to Strengthen Workers’ Retirement Security
-
News24 hours agoEx-footballer Jailed 3 Years For Rape
-
News24 hours ago$516m loan request: Tinubu’s borrowing bonanza mortgaging Nigeria’s future
-
Politics24 hours agoAPC shifts presidential primary to May 23, 2026, releases revised 2027 election timetable
-
News24 hours agoUS/Israel-Iran War: Tinubu Assures UAE, Other Gulf States Of Nigeria’s Solidarity
-
Sports17 hours agoEx-Super Eagles striker, Emeramo is dead