Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, according to state media reports cited by Al Jazeera.

The decision was announced on Sunday by the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible under Iran’s constitution for selecting the country’s supreme leader.

In a statement circulated by state media, the Assembly said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen after what it described as a “decisive vote.

The statement urged Iranians, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the leadership and help preserve national unity.

The appointment comes days after the death of Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989.

He was reportedly killed on February 28 during a joint military operation by the United States and Israel targeting leadership sites in Tehran amid escalating regional tensions.

His death sparked intense speculation over who would succeed him, with Mojtaba widely seen as one of the leading contenders despite concerns within parts of Iran’s political and religious establishment about the possibility of a hereditary succession.

A mid-ranking cleric, Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to maintain strong ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has long been regarded as an influential figure behind the scenes in the Islamic Republic’s political structure.

Before the announcement, Donald Trump publicly opposed the prospect of Mojtaba becoming Iran’s leader, reportedly describing him as a “lightweight” and suggesting he should not play a role in determining the country’s leadership.

Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts holds the authority to appoint the Supreme Leader, the highest political and religious authority in the country, with ultimate control over state policy, the military and the judiciary.

Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment marks one of the most significant political transitions in Iran in decades and comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East following the killing of his father.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has remitted a total of N1,570,671,200 to Computer-Based Test centres that participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration exercise.

The disclosure was contained in a bulletin released by the Board and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin.

JAMB said the payment represents the N700 registration fee collected on behalf of CBT centres from candidates during the UTME registration process.

It explained that it collects the N700 registration fee together with the ePIN registration charge and remits the total directly to accredited CBT centres on a weekly basis.

“In line with this arrangement, the Board has remitted a total sum of N1,570,671,200 to the CBT centres that participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration exercise,

“This initiative has significantly curtailed abuses and the exploitation of candidates through the imposition of unauthorized charges. It has also entrenched a cashless registration process at the centres, many of which are privately owned,” the board said.

Under this arrangement, candidates who purchase the UTME ePIN are not required to make separate payments at CBT centres and can register at any accredited centre of their choice.

JAMB said the initiative has reduced unauthorised charges and strengthened the adoption of cashless registration, particularly among privately owned CBT facilities.

To further ensure compliance, JAMB reinstated that it introduced the “No View, No Pay” policy, under which payments are made to CBT centres only after verification that the candidates they registered are valid and visible in the Board’s registration system.

“The policy is designed to curb registration infractions and ensure transparency in the process,” the Board added.

The 2026 UTME registration closed on February 28 and the examination is scheduled to hold nationwide from April 16 to April 25.

Direct entry programme registration started on March 2 and will end by Saturday, April 25, 2026.

FCMB Group Plc has announced the successful completion of a capital raise programme undertaken for its banking subsidiary, First City Monument Bank Ltd.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Ladi Balogun, disclosed this in a document released to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd on Monday in Lagos.

Balogun said the Group had received all necessary approvals from regulatory authorities, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and National Pension Commission (PenCom).

According to him, the approvals cover the 2025 Public Offer and the minority divestment of shares in the Group’s pensions subsidiary.

He said the 2025 Public Offer raised about N231.

Balogun noted that the combined proceeds from the two transactions provide sufficient capital for the bank to meet the revised N500 billion minimum capital requirement for an international banking licence set by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He explained that the bank’s verified eligible capital, comprising paid-up share capital and share premium, stood at N266.5 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.

The statement reads, “Together, the public offer and minority divestment provide sufficient capital for the Bank to meet the revised N500 billion minimum capital requirement for an international banking licence.”

He expressed appreciation to regulators, investors and other stakeholders for their support in achieving the milestone. (NAN)