By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), at its July 2026 meeting chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has shared a total of ₦2.

551 trillion among the Federal Government, the 36 States and the 774 Local Government Councils as Federation Account revenue for June 2026.

The meeting, held in Abuja, was attended by the Accountant General of the Federation, State Commissioners of Finance and other members of the Committee.

The amount distributed comprised ₦1.

810 trillion in Statutory Revenue and ₦740.724 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT).

From the Statutory Revenue, the Federal Government received ₦849.366 billion, the State Governments ₦430.810 billion, while the Local Government Councils received ₦332.136 billion. The oil producing States also received ₦197.610 billion as 13 per cent derivation.

The VAT distribution saw the Federal Government receive ₦74.072 billion, the State Governments ₦407.398 billion, while the Local Government Councils received ₦259.253 billion.

In all, the Federal Government received ₦923.438 billion, the State Governments ₦838.208 billion, the Local Government Councils ₦591.390 billion, while ₦197.610 billion was shared as 13 per cent derivation to the oil producing States.

FAAC noted that gross revenue available in June 2026 stood at ₦4.501 trillion, comprising ₦3.701 trillion in statutory revenue and ₦799.746 billion in gross VAT collections.

The Committee observed a strong improvement in revenue performance during the month.

Gross statutory revenue increased by ₦1.049 trillion over the figure recorded in May 2026.

The growth was driven largely by higher receipts from Companies Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Import Duty, Customs Excise Tariff Levies, Petroleum Royalties, Gas Flared Penalties, Rental Income and Miscellaneous Oil Revenue.

However, collections from Petroleum Profit Tax, Hydrocarbon Tax, Mineral Royalties and Fees recorded declines.

VAT collections also recorded positive growth.

Gross VAT revenue rose from ₦743.668 billion in May to ₦799.746 billion in June, representing an increase of ₦56.078 billion.

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Senate yesterday took far-reaching decisions on the nation’s worsening security situation, ordering security agencies to track down perpetrators of the latest killings in Benue State while approving a ₦50 million support package for the families of security personnel and teachers who died during the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State.

The upper legislative chamber strongly condemned the killings and destruction of communities in Benue South Senatorial District, directing the Inspector-General of Police and other security chiefs to immediately deploy all necessary resources to apprehend those responsible and ensure they face justice.

The resolutions followed an urgent motion sponsored by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, on the recent attacks on Akpauchi-Ugboju, Otukpo-Nobi and Ondo-Ugboju communities in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Presenting the motion, Moro said coordinated attacks over the weekend claimed 18 lives in Akpauchi-Ugboju and Otukpo-Nobi, while a fresh assault on Ondo-Ugboju on July 14 left two more people dead, triggering widespread panic, displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis.

He warned that the sustained attacks appeared to be a deliberate attempt to wipe out affected communities, cautioning that continued insecurity could lead to a breakdown of law and order and worsen food insecurity as farmers abandon their farmlands.

The Senate adopted all prayers contained in the motion, mandating the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a comprehensive investigation, identify the attackers and prosecute them.

It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to immediately provide relief materials, including food, medical supplies and shelter, to displaced residents and victims receiving treatment.

In addition, the Senate directed its Committees on Police Affairs, Defence, and National Security and Intelligence to engage security agencies on their operational strategies in Benue South and ensure effective implementation of the resolutions.

Speaking with journalists after the plenary, Moro criticised Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia over what he described as a poor response to security challenges, alleging that intelligence about the attacks had been available before they occurred but was not acted upon.

He claimed the Benue State Commissioner of Police had received intelligence a week before the attacks and was unable to brief the governor despite repeated efforts.

Expressing frustration over the recurring violence, Moro warned that if government authorities failed to adequately protect the people, affected communities might be compelled to defend themselves.

Meanwhile, the Senate also approved a ₦50 million donation to the families of five Nigerians who lost their lives during the operation that rescued schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity.

The resolution followed a proposal by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who said the donation was in recognition of the sacrifices made by the deceased security personnel and teachers.

Under the arrangement, each of the five bereaved families will receive ₦10 million.

Akpabio recalled that the Senate had earlier commended President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies for the successful rescue operation and praised the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry of Defence and the President for their roles.

He identified the fallen security personnel as Lieutenant F. A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa and Sergeant Abena John Jerome, while the two teachers who died in captivity were named as Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun.

The Senate President directed the leadership of the upper chamber to present the cheques to the affected families, expressing hope that the financial support would provide some relief and underscore the Senate’s appreciation for the sacrifices of the deceased.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to the Federal Government, ruling that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) established that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that Malami, members of his family and companies linked to the properties failed to dislodge the evidential burden placed on them to show that the assets were acquired from legitimate sources of income.

The court dismissed several applications, motions on notice and applications to show cause filed by the respondents, describing them as “Wanting in merit.”

In her judgment, Justice Abdulmalik stressed that the issue before the court was not ownership of the properties but the legitimacy of the funds used to acquire them.

“The issue before the court is not who owns the properties, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties,” the judge held, adding that the respondents “failed to dislodge the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired by unlawful activities.”

Relying on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the court granted the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.

Among the forfeited assets are Rayhaan University in Kebbi State, including its permanent and temporary campuses and the Vice Chancellor’s residence; Rayhaan Radio; several hotels in Abuja and Kano; commercial plazas; luxury residential buildings; factories; filling stations; warehouses; agricultural land; and other high-value properties spread across the Federal Capital Territory, Kano and Kebbi States.

The court, however, discharged the interim forfeiture order in respect of nine properties located in Kebbi and Kaduna States after holding that the EFCC failed to establish sufficient evidence linking them to unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency had in January instituted non-conviction-based civil forfeiture proceedings seeking the permanent forfeiture of 57 properties valued at about N212.8 billion, alleging they were proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former AGF.

Justice Emeka Nwite had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order and directed the EFCC to publish the order in national newspapers to allow interested parties to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.

Following the publication, Malami, his wife Nana Hadiza Malami, his son Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami and several companies challenged the interim order, insisting that the properties were lawfully acquired. They argued that the EFCC failed to establish any nexus between the assets and criminal activities, relying instead on speculation without identifying any predicate offence.

At the hearing, the EFCC maintained that investigations showed the properties were acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities and held through family members and companies acting as fronts for Malami. The commission argued that under the law governing civil forfeiture proceedings, it was only required to establish reasonable suspicion rather than prove criminal guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

In affirming the commission’s position, Justice Abdulmalik held that in non-conviction-based forfeiture proceedings, respondents must provide credible evidence showing the lawful sources of funds used to acquire disputed assets, noting that mere claims of ownership were insufficient.

The judgment followed the adoption of final written addresses by the parties in May and brings to a close months of legal contest over one of the country’s largest civil asset forfeiture cases.