Kylian Mbappe has made history as the first player to win the World Cup Golden Boot on two separate occasions, finishing as top scorer at the 2026 tournament with 10 goals in eight matches, narrowly ahead of Lionel Messi. Having also topped the scoring charts at Qatar 2022 with eight goals, the France forward now owns back-to-back Golden Boots.
The 27-year-old became the first man to hit double figures for goals at a single World Cup since Gerd Muller managed it for West Germany in 1970. Only Just Fontaine’s 13 goals for France in 1958 and Sandor Kocsis’ 11 for Hungary in 1954 stand above him in the tournament’s history books. Mbappe also passed Messi to become the men’s World Cup all-time leading scorer, now sitting on 22 career goals.
He sealed the scoring title with a brace in the third-place match, though France still fell 6-4 to England and finished fourth. Speaking after the game in Miami, Mbappe admitted he’d have traded the individual award for a place in the final, saying the achievement matters more for his legacy in retirement than in the moment.
His goal tally included doubles against Senegal, Iraq, and Sweden, plus a penalty winner against Paraguay and a strike versus Morocco. Messi had a shot at overtaking him with a hat-trick in Sunday’s final but was held scoreless as Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain, finishing the tournament with eight goals. England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland scored seven apiece, while Ousmane Dembele and Harry Kane each netted six.
Rodri Named Best Player
Spain dominated the rest of the individual awards. Manchester City midfielder Rodri was handed the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player, presented by FIFA president Gianni Infantino at MetLife Stadium following the final. It’s the third major individual honour of his career, adding to his 2023 Ballon d’Or and his Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2024. Messi took the Silver Ball as runner-up, with Mbappe awarded the Bronze Ball.
Simon Wins Golden Glove, Cubarsi Named Best Young Player
Goalkeeper Unai Simon earned the Golden Glove after conceding just once in eight matches and keeping seven clean sheets, beaten only by Belgium’s Charles de Ketelaere in the quarter-final. The 29-year-old was chosen ahead of Arsenal’s David Raya as Spain’s starting keeper and delivered throughout the tournament.
Barcelona’s 19-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi took home the award for best young player, having played every minute of Spain’s campaign and anchored a defence that conceded only once all tournament, restricting Argentina to just two shots — none on target — in the final itself.
Spain are champions of the world for a second time after substitute Ferran Torres hit a 106th-minute winner to wrest the trophy from the grip of Lionel Messi and Co.
Spain have become world champions for the second time in their history, Luis de la Fuente’s men beating Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New York New Jersey.
Although Spain dominated the game from start to finish, they had to wait until the 106th minute to finally find a way past Emiliano Martinez. The Argentina goalkeeper made 11 saves overall but he had no answer when Nico Williams nodded down a Pedro Porro cross at the far post and Ferran Torres buried a first-time shot into the roof of the net.
Defending champions Argentina had lost Enzo Fernandez to a second yellow card at the end of normal time yet they battled to the end. However, Spain, as when winning the 2010 final, found the answer in extra time.
This was a head-to-head worthy of the World Cup final, bringing together the champions of Europe and South America, the top two sides in FIFA’s world ranking, each of them unbeaten on the road to the final. What followed was a first half controlled by Spain, who produced the first notable attempt through Lamine Yamal after five minutes. Dani Olmo worked the ball to the teenager in space on the right side of the box and he shot low but Emiliano Martinez got down to block at the near post.
If Spain were in control, it was cagey stuff with La Roja struggling to find gaps in a deep, determined Argentina defence. With half-time approaching, openings did appear with Mikel Oyarzabal driving a shot at Martinez and Marc Cucurella dragging an effort wide.
For Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, the challenge increased with injuries to both of his starting centre-backs as the final progressed, with Lisandro Martinez making way for Nicolas Otamendi just before the break and Facundo Medina replacing Cristian Romero after 70 minutes.
By that point, Spain were still the side asking all the questions. Yamal created an excellent opportunity for Torres after 67 minutes but he headed too close to Martinez. Pau Cubarsi and substitutes Pedri and WIlliams all drew saves from the Argentina custodian as the pressure continued, culminating in the goalkeeper’s flying save from Yamal’s free-kick at the very end of normal time.
Argentina had hit 19 goals on their way to the final yet Spain’s control was such that La Albiceleste did not manage a single attempt until extra time. Their task became even greater when Fernandez was sent off following a challenge on Cubarsi three minutes into second-half added time.
Extra time brought more of the same. Martinez kept out a Williams header and Merino put another wide. Both Williams and Torres had goals disallowed. In between, though, Torres produced the defining moment to put Spain back on top of the world.
Key stats
Spain’s total of one goal conceded is the lowest for a World Cup-winning team in a single edition of the tournament.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon has set a record for most clean sheets in a World Cup tournament with seven.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, both 19, are the fourth and fifth teenagers to have played in a World Cup final. As with Pele (aged 17 in 1958), Giuseppe Bergomi (18 in 1982) and Kylian Mbappe (19 in 2018), they have all ended up on the winning side.
At 65 years and 28 days old, Luis de la Fuente has become the oldest World Cup-winning coach, surpassing the mark of his compatriot Vicente del Bosque who was 59 years and 220 days when winning Spain’s first world title.
Spain are the first team to be reigning champions of both the men’s and women’s World Cups at the same time, having won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
At 39 years and 25 days old, Lionel Messi became the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final, breaking the record of Sweden’s Gunnar Gren, who faced Brazil in 1958 aged 37 years and 241 days. Substitute Nicolas Otamendi beat Gren’s record too to become the second-oldest outfield player (38 years, 157 days).
Messi is also now the second player to have appeared in three World Cup finals, doing so in 2014, 2022 and 2026, after Brazil’s Cafu, who played in the 1994, 1998, 2002 deciders.
La Roja are undefeated in regular time in their last 38 matches (W29 D9), having not lost since 22 March 2024, when they succumbed 1-0 to Colombia in a friendly in London. This is their longest-ever unbeaten sequence and has beaten Italy’s record for a European nation of 37, set between October 2018 and September 2021; it was Spain who ended that run by triumphing 2-1 in a UEFA Nations League encounter on 6 October 2021.
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Ferran Torres (Spain)
What they said
“I feel especially proud of this generation of footballers who have grown with this idea, making it better and giving us an example of a group, of a family. They are players with exceptional talent. For me, it has been an honour to have accompanied them on this journey. I’m very emotional, looking back. We have spoken a lot with the players. We have won everything, and that is wonderful. They are a generation of footballers who are a source of pride for Spain. Together, we are stronger.
“I think the game should have been decided earlier. Dibu’s great saves prevented us from winning sooner, but it is a World Cup final and, even with ten players at the end, you have to suffer.” Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach
“[I feel] sadness but knowing that we left everything out there. I have a lot of things to say about how we got here but it’s not worth it. I want to thank these guys eternally for giving us another World Cup final and for competing until the end. They [Spain] were better, that’s the truth. But I’ll hold on to an enormous memory of what they’ve done, of what it’s worth to get this far. We have to give it huge value because it takes a lot to get here. We’re great in victory and we have to be great in defeat. Today we’re showing that we know how to lose. We lost the match and we’re owning it. But that doesn’t mean we’ll stop remembering everything we did to get here.” Lionel Scaloni, Argentina coach
“I think, in the end, the goal was for 47 million people; it wasn’t just mine or of the 26 players here. I believe that today’s outcome was written in the stars; [the game] was there for us to win, far from our people, but we did our best to make them feel as close as possible. All finals are difficult – when Messi is on the opposition team that nervousness always creeps in – but ultimately we’ve always stuck to our guns, to playing our own brand of football, and I think today we’ve shown that once again.” Ferran Torres, Spain forwardSpain are champions of the world for a second time after substitute Ferran Torres hit a 106th-minute winner to wrest the trophy from the grip of Lionel Messi and Co.
Spain have become world champions for the second time in their history, Luis de la Fuente’s men beating Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New York New Jersey.
Although Spain dominated the game from start to finish, they had to wait until the 106th minute to finally find a way past Emiliano Martinez. The Argentina goalkeeper made 11 saves overall but he had no answer when Nico Williams nodded down a Pedro Porro cross at the far post and Ferran Torres buried a first-time shot into the roof of the net.
Defending champions Argentina had lost Enzo Fernandez to a second yellow card at the end of normal time yet they battled to the end. However, Spain, as when winning the 2010 final, found the answer in extra time.
This was a head-to-head worthy of the World Cup final, bringing together the champions of Europe and South America, the top two sides in FIFA’s world ranking, each of them unbeaten on the road to the final. What followed was a first half controlled by Spain, who produced the first notable attempt through Lamine Yamal after five minutes. Dani Olmo worked the ball to the teenager in space on the right side of the box and he shot low but Emiliano Martinez got down to block at the near post.
If Spain were in control, it was cagey stuff with La Roja struggling to find gaps in a deep, determined Argentina defence. With half-time approaching, openings did appear with Mikel Oyarzabal driving a shot at Martinez and Marc Cucurella dragging an effort wide.
For Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, the challenge increased with injuries to both of his starting centre-backs as the final progressed, with Lisandro Martinez making way for Nicolas Otamendi just before the break and Facundo Medina replacing Cristian Romero after 70 minutes.
By that point, Spain were still the side asking all the questions. Yamal created an excellent opportunity for Torres after 67 minutes but he headed too close to Martinez. Pau Cubarsi and substitutes Pedri and WIlliams all drew saves from the Argentina custodian as the pressure continued, culminating in the goalkeeper’s flying save from Yamal’s free-kick at the very end of normal time.
Argentina had hit 19 goals on their way to the final yet Spain’s control was such that La Albiceleste did not manage a single attempt until extra time. Their task became even greater when Fernandez was sent off following a challenge on Cubarsi three minutes into second-half added time.
Extra time brought more of the same. Martinez kept out a Williams header and Merino put another wide. Both Williams and Torres had goals disallowed. In between, though, Torres produced the defining moment to put Spain back on top of the world.
Key stats
Spain’s total of one goal conceded is the lowest for a World Cup-winning team in a single edition of the tournament.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon has set a record for most clean sheets in a World Cup tournament with seven.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, both 19, are the fourth and fifth teenagers to have played in a World Cup final. As with Pele (aged 17 in 1958), Giuseppe Bergomi (18 in 1982) and Kylian Mbappe (19 in 2018), they have all ended up on the winning side.
At 65 years and 28 days old, Luis de la Fuente has become the oldest World Cup-winning coach, surpassing the mark of his compatriot Vicente del Bosque who was 59 years and 220 days when winning Spain’s first world title.
Spain are the first team to be reigning champions of both the men’s and women’s World Cups at the same time, having won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
At 39 years and 25 days old, Lionel Messi became the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final, breaking the record of Sweden’s Gunnar Gren, who faced Brazil in 1958 aged 37 years and 241 days. Substitute Nicolas Otamendi beat Gren’s record too to become the second-oldest outfield player (38 years, 157 days).
Messi is also now the second player to have appeared in three World Cup finals, doing so in 2014, 2022 and 2026, after Brazil’s Cafu, who played in the 1994, 1998, 2002 deciders.
La Roja are undefeated in regular time in their last 38 matches (W29 D9), having not lost since 22 March 2024, when they succumbed 1-0 to Colombia in a friendly in London. This is their longest-ever unbeaten sequence and has beaten Italy’s record for a European nation of 37, set between October 2018 and September 2021; it was Spain who ended that run by triumphing 2-1 in a UEFA Nations League encounter on 6 October 2021.
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
Ferran Torres (Spain)
What they said
“I feel especially proud of this generation of footballers who have grown with this idea, making it better and giving us an example of a group, of a family. They are players with exceptional talent. For me, it has been an honour to have accompanied them on this journey. I’m very emotional, looking back. We have spoken a lot with the players. We have won everything, and that is wonderful. They are a generation of footballers who are a source of pride for Spain. Together, we are stronger.
“I think the game should have been decided earlier. Dibu’s great saves prevented us from winning sooner, but it is a World Cup final and, even with ten players at the end, you have to suffer.” Luis de la Fuente, Spain coach
“[I feel] sadness but knowing that we left everything out there. I have a lot of things to say about how we got here but it’s not worth it. I want to thank these guys eternally for giving us another World Cup final and for competing until the end. They [Spain] were better, that’s the truth. But I’ll hold on to an enormous memory of what they’ve done, of what it’s worth to get this far. We have to give it huge value because it takes a lot to get here. We’re great in victory and we have to be great in defeat. Today we’re showing that we know how to lose. We lost the match and we’re owning it. But that doesn’t mean we’ll stop remembering everything we did to get here.” Lionel Scaloni, Argentina coach
“I think, in the end, the goal was for 47 million people; it wasn’t just mine or of the 26 players here. I believe that today’s outcome was written in the stars; [the game] was there for us to win, far from our people, but we did our best to make them feel as close as possible. All finals are difficult – when Messi is on the opposition team that nervousness always creeps in – but ultimately we’ve always stuck to our guns, to playing our own brand of football, and I think today we’ve shown that once again.” Ferran Torres, Spain forward
The Kogi State Government has confirmed that security operatives have successfully rescued the victims abducted during Tuesday’s attack on a school in Odo-Ekina, Dekina Local Government Area of the state.
The victims, who included the school principal, four students and an ad hoc staff member of the National Examination Council (NECO), were kidnapped when armed attackers invaded the school.
Announcing the development on Thursday, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, said the victims regained their freedom following a coordinated security operation launched immediately after the incident on the directive of Governor Usman Ododo.
According to him, the rescue was achieved after sustained pressure from security agencies forced the kidnappers to abandon their captives and flee.
“Just this evening, while inspecting the Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the Kogi State Government to strengthen the fight against criminality, the Governor assured newsmen that every effort was being made to secure the release of the victims,” Fanwo said.
“A few hours later, the victims regained their freedom. The sustained pressure on the kidnappers and the saturation of the forest by heavily armed security personnel forced the criminals to abandon the victims and flee.
“Security operatives remain in the forest, and the operation is still ongoing. We are determined to ensure that none of the criminals escapes justice. Our resolve is clear: anyone who chooses the path of crime in Kogi State will face the full weight of the law.
“We can confirm that the School Principal, the NECO official, and the two students have all been rescued safely. They are hale and hearty and are currently with security agencies for debriefing and necessary medical checks.”
Fanwo explained that Governor Ododo immediately directed the State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), to coordinate the rescue operation shortly after the abduction was reported.
He praised the efforts of the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, local security outfits and other agencies involved in the operation, describing their swift response as proof of the effectiveness of inter-agency collaboration in tackling insecurity.
The commissioner also commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state’s security efforts throughout the rescue mission.
“The President directed the heads of the security agencies to give Kogi every necessary support to rescue the victims,” Fanwo said.
“Today, that support has yielded the desired result. We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for standing firmly with Kogi State in our determination to protect lives and property.”
Although the victims have been rescued, security personnel remain in the forest as the operation continues to track down the fleeing kidnappers and ensure they are brought to justice.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has instituted a ₦15 billion defamation lawsuit against Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over allegations that he demanded a 48 per cent kickback from a ₦27.3 billion take-off grant approved for a federal agency.
In the suit, Gbajabiamila is asking the court to award ₦10 billion in general damages, ₦5 billion in aggravated damages, ₦200 million as the cost of the legal action, and an order compelling Adeyemi to publish a retraction and apology in five national newspapers as well as on all social media platforms where the alleged defamatory statements were circulated.
Court documents obtained by Channels Television show that the Chief of Staff firmly denied ever meeting, speaking with, or authorising Adeniyi Adeyemi or anyone else to demand or receive money on his behalf.
Represented by a legal team led by Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Gbajabiamila described the allegations as false, malicious, and defamatory.
Other members of the legal team include Senior Advocates of Nigeria Folu Oguntade, Olukayode Enitan, and Chukwudi Enebeli.
The lawsuit stems from claims made by Adeyemi during a press conference, where he alleged that Gbajabiamila demanded a 48 per cent kickback from the agency’s ₦27.3 billion take-off grant, allegedly receiving ₦400 millionthrough a proxy while requesting an additional ₦200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.
Gbajabiamila, however, maintained in his sworn statement that he had no personal, professional or official relationshipwith Adeyemi.
He also denied demanding or receiving any money, abusing his office, or influencing law enforcement agencies in any way.
The Chief of Staff further rejected allegations linking him to the death of Babatunde Tanimola, whom Adeyemi claimed acted as an intermediary, as well as claims connecting him to an alleged assassination attempt on the defendant or interference with security investigations.
According to the court filings, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers had earlier issued a cease-and-desist letter dated July 6, 2026, demanding a retraction and public apology. The notice was subsequently published in national newspapers the following day.
Rather than retract the statements, the suit alleged that Adeyemi granted additional interviews, including one with social media personality VeryDarkMan and another appearance where he repeated the allegations.
Gbajabiamila told the court that during one of those interviews, Adeyemi admitted that he had never met him personallyand had not independently verified the identity of the individual he believed to be the Chief of Staff, claiming that all communication was allegedly conducted through the late Tanimola.
Despite those admissions, the Chief of Staff argued that Adeyemi continued making the allegations publicly, further damaging his reputation.
Court documents also revealed that Adeyemi is currently facing a separate criminal trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations involving forged presidential documents and fake appointment letters.
Gbajabiamila told the court that the allegations had seriously harmed both his personal and professional reputation by portraying him as being involved in corruption, bribery, and abuse of office.
He explained that instead of responding through the media, he chose to seek legal redress to protect both his reputation and the integrity of the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
The FCT High Court has directed Adeyemi to enter an appearance within 14 days of being served with the court processes, warning that judgment may be entered against him if he fails to respond within the stipulated period.
The 2026 World Cup golden boot race is going down to the wire, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé tied on eight goals a piece heading into the tournament’s final weekend. Messi currently holds the edge thanks to four assists compared to Mbappé’s three, meaning that if the numbers stayed exactly as they are now, the Argentine would walk away with the award.
One final, one play-off
Argentina’s captain will lead his side out in Sunday’s final against Spain, a mouth-watering clash between the reigning South American and European champions. Mbappé, meanwhile, gets one more shot to close the gap when France face England in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Miami. It’s a fixture that often gets treated as a forgettable formality, but it officially counts toward goal and assist tallies — and therefore toward the Golden Boot race itself.
The chasing pack
Behind the two leaders, Norway’s Erling Haaland sits on seven goals but is out of the running after his side’s quarter-final exit, leaving him unable to add to his tally. England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six each, while France’s Ousmane Dembélé and Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal have five apiece. That means as many as six players could theoretically still be in the mix depending on how Saturday and Sunday unfold — though realistically it’s Messi and Mbappé’s race to lose.
How the tiebreak actually works
The award’s tiebreak system works in three stages: total goals first, then assists officially credited by FIFA’s Technical Study Group, and finally fewest minutes played if everything else is level. Should Messi and Mbappé finish tied on both goals and assists, the minutes count would tip things in Mbappé’s favor — he has played 609 minutes so far to Messi’s 620, partly because Argentina’s matches against Cape Verde and Switzerland went to extra time.
The scenario that flips it
That sets up a fairly simple scenario that could flip the race entirely: if Mbappé registers just one more assist against England while Messi neither scores nor assists in the final, the two would level out at eight goals and four assists each — handing Mbappé the Golden Boot on minutes played, provided he doesn’t play more than ten minutes longer than Messi does in Sunday’s final.
Team selection could decide it
How strong a side each manager fields on Saturday could also prove decisive. It’s worth remembering that in 2018, then-England boss Gareth Southgate made five changes for the third-place play-off against Belgium following the semi-final loss to Croatia; Harry Kane started that match but didn’t add to his tally. Whether Thomas Tuchel and Didier Deschamps rotate heavily or go strong this time round could shape how many chances Mbappé and England’s contenders actually get.
History says the play-off matters
Seven previous winners have scored in the third-place play-off: Germany’s Thomas Müller (2010), Croatia’s Davor Šuker (1998), Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci (1990), Poland’s Grzegorz Lato (1974), Portugal’s Eusébio (1966), France’s Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil’s Leônidas (1938). Of those seven, four — Müller, Šuker, Schillaci and Leônidas — actually needed the goals they scored in that match to win the award outright, while Lato, Eusébio and Fontaine would have won it regardless.
Where the numbers point
Taken together, the maths favors Mbappé more than the raw scoreline suggests. He only needs to match Messi’s output on Sunday and add a single assist against England to draw level in both categories — at which point his lighter workload this tournament becomes the deciding factor rather than a footnote. Messi’s path is simpler on paper: avoid a Mbappé assist, or outscore him outright, and the award is his regardless of minutes. But with two matches still to play and a rested France side facing motivated opposition in Miami, the gap is thinner than the current standings let on.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, has ordered the permanent forfeiture of assets linked to businesswoman Aisha Achimugu to the Federal Government.
The assets forfeited include jewellery valued at N4,645,170,294.90, 11 luxury vehicles worth N4.293 billion, $50,000, and N30 million in cash.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the development in a statement issued on Thursday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
According to the anti-graft agency, Justice Jude Onwugbuzie granted the final forfeiture order after delivering judgment on its application.
Achimugu has been under investigation by the EFCC over alleged money laundering and other financial crimes. She was previously detained and questioned by the commission during the course of its investigations.
The EFCC said the case followed a comprehensive financial investigation launched after intelligence reports revealed significant inflows and outflows of funds through more than 136 bank accounts allegedly connected to Achimugu.
Investigators reportedly traced billions of naira and millions of dollars moving through accounts and companies linked to the businesswoman.
The commission alleged that substantial funds passing through companies associated with Achimugu were not declared as revenue in financial statements submitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
During searches conducted at her residence under court-authorised warrants, investigators recovered the jewellery, luxury vehicles and cash that later became the subject of the forfeiture proceedings.
The EFCC further claimed that although Achimugu completed an assets declaration form during interrogation, she failed to disclose the recovered jewellery, vehicles and cash.
Based on its findings, the commission argued that the money traced through the accounts did not originate from legitimate business activities and that the recovered assets were acquired from proceeds of unlawful conduct.
The court proceedings began after the EFCC applied for an interim forfeiture order under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.
On 23 April, Justice Onwugbuzie granted the interim order and directed the commission to publish notices in national newspapers, inviting anyone with claims to the assets to appear before the court within 14 days and explain why they should not be permanently forfeited.
The EFCC said it complied with the directive before filing for a final forfeiture order.
Achimugu, through her legal team, challenged the application by filing affidavits to show cause and also sought to have the interim forfeiture order set aside.
The commission opposed her applications, insisting that its investigation clearly established that the jewellery, luxury vehicles and cash were proceeds of unlawful activities and therefore liable to forfeiture.
After considering arguments from both parties, the court reserved judgment before delivering its ruling on Thursday.
In his decision, Justice Onwugbuzie granted the EFCC’s application, ruling that Achimugu failed to provide sufficient evidence proving that the assets were lawfully acquired.
According to the EFCC, the judge held that she did not successfully challenge the evidence linking the assets to unlawful activities and therefore had no legal basis to prevent their forfeiture.
As a result, the jewellery valued at N4,645,170,294.90, 11 luxury vehicles worth N4.293 billion, $50,000, and N30 million in cash have now been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The judgment follows an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the permanent forfeiture of $13 million traced to Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited, a company linked to Achimugu.
In that earlier case, the court held that neither the company nor Achimugu sufficiently established the lawful origin of the funds used in acquiring two petroleum prospecting licences.
According to court documents filed by the EFCC, the investigation centred on Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited’s acquisition of Deep Offshore PPL 302 and Shallow Water PPL 3007 during the 2024 oil block licensing round organised by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The commission alleged that about $20 million was paid towards the acquisition of the licences through multiple transfers, while another $13 million became the focus of its investigation after intelligence suggested the funds were not generated from legitimate business activities.
Investigators claimed the money was sourced through a network of cash transactions involving bureau de change operators and intermediaries before eventually being used to pay signature bonuses for the oil blocks.
The EFCC further alleged that part of the funds originated from contractors handling projects for the Lagos State Government, although no evidence has been presented linking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu personally to any wrongdoing.
The Lagos State Government has consistently denied reports suggesting the governor was under investigation, insisting that he was neither invited nor threatened with arrest by the EFCC.
During the earlier forfeiture proceedings, Oceangate Engineering Oil & Gas Limited denied the allegations, maintaining that the funds were lawfully obtained through legitimate business operations and gifts allegedly made to Achimugu.
The company also disputed claims that it conspired with unlicensed bureau de change operators or knowingly received funds from contractors.
However, the court rejected those explanations and ruled that the company failed to satisfactorily account for the origin of the $13 million, leading to its permanent forfeiture.
Public attention first turned to Achimugu in January 2024 after her lavish 50th birthday celebration in Grenada attracted prominent political and business figures, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In March 2025, the EFCC declared her wanted over allegations bordering on money laundering and other financial crimes before she later honoured the commission’s invitation following a court order.
She was subsequently arrested upon her arrival from London at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and later granted administrative bail.
Although Achimugu has not been convicted of any criminal offence, investigations into her financial activities continue, with Thursday’s judgment marking another significant development in the ongoing case.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has nullified key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political parties’ primary elections and membership registers, ruling that they are inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution.
The affected provisions are Sections 77(5), (6) and (7), as well as Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which President Bola Tinubu signed into law in February.
The appellate court’s decision comes barely six months before the 2027 general elections.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel led by Justice Balkisu Aliyu held that the disputed provisions conflict with Sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution, which grant political parties the constitutional authority to determine their membership and nominate candidates for elections.
The ruling was delivered in the appeal filed by the Zenith Party in the case marked CA/ABJ/CV/750/2026, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed as the respondent.
The Zenith Party had challenged the May 5 judgment of Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which dismissed its suit questioning the constitutionality of the disputed provisions.
The party argued that the affected sections of the Electoral Act unlawfully interfered with the internal affairs of political parties, including their constitutional powers to determine party membership and nominate candidates.
Under Section 77(5) of the Electoral Act, only party members whose names appear in the membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before party primaries, congresses or conventions are eligible to vote.
Section 77(6) further requires political parties to use only the membership register submitted to INEC during their primaries, congresses and conventions.
Section 77(7) provides that any political party that fails to submit its membership register within the stipulated period would be disqualified from fielding candidates in an election.
Meanwhile, Section 84(2) limits political parties to either direct primaries or consensus when selecting candidates for elective offices.
According to Punch, Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike, who delivered the lead judgment, declared Section 77(6) unconstitutional, holding that it gave INEC excessive control over the internal affairs of political parties.
The court also struck down Section 77(7), ruling that it could deny political parties their constitutional right to sponsor candidates simply because they failed to submit membership registers within the prescribed timeframe.
In addition, the appellate court invalidated Section 84(2), stating that restricting political parties to only direct primaries or consensus amounted to undue legislative interference in how political parties conduct their internal affairs and nominate candidates.
The court, however, clarified that its decision does not invalidate the entire Sections 77 and 84 of the Electoral Act.
Justice Nyesom-Wike explained that political parties are still required to submit their membership registers to INEC. The judgment only nullifies the provisions prescribing the mandatory timeline for such submissions.
The ruling came on the same day another panel of the Court of Appeal overturned a separate judgment by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had earlier invalidated INEC’s guidelines for the 2027 general elections.
The United States has updated its global travel advisory, placing 23 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe under its highest travel warning and urging American citizens not to visit them.
According to the latest advisory released by the US Department of State on Wednesday, July 15, the affected countries have been classified under “Level 4 – Do Not Travel,” with the government advising Americans against travelling there “for any reason.”
Ten of the countries on the list are in Africa, including Burkina Faso, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mali, Niger and Sudan.
Explaining the designation, the Department of State said: “We issue Travel Advisories with Levels 1 – 4. Level 4 means DO NOT TRAVEL. We assign Level 4 based on local conditions and/or our limited ability to help Americans there,” describing the listed nations as “dangerous places.”
Countries On The US ‘Do Not Travel’ List
The countries placed under the Level 4 advisory include:
Burkina Faso
Uganda
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
Mali
Niger
Sudan
Central African Republic (CAR)
Somalia
Libya
South Sudan
Other countries across Asia and Europe are also included in the advisory.
Why the US Issued the Highest Travel Warning
The US government explained that many of the countries have remained on the list for years because of persistent security concerns such as armed conflict, terrorism, violent crime, kidnapping, civil unrest, weak government control and public health risks.
Uganda is the newest addition to the Level 4 advisory following concerns over the country’s Ebola outbreak, alongside security threats including crime, terrorism and civil unrest.
Although Ugandan authorities have reported progress in containing the outbreak, with officials saying the country’s last Ebola patient is expected to be discharged on Thursday, Washington maintains that significant risks remain.
The State Department warned that violent crimes such as armed robbery, home invasions and sexual assault continue to pose serious threats. It also cited the possibility of terrorist attacks and demonstrations that could occur without warning.
Additional Restrictions On The Democratic Republic Of The Congo
The United States has also introduced new travel restrictions affecting individuals who have recently visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Under Title 49 of the US Code, American citizens and nationals who have been in the DRC within the previous 21 days are prohibited from entering the United States through commercial flights.
The Department of Homeland Security said the measure was introduced due to the Ebola situation in the country.
In its statement, the US government said travellers who have recently visited the DRC will not be permitted to board commercial flights to the United States.
The advisory states: “Make all US citizens and US nationals wey don visit DRC plan to remain outside di West African kontri for 21 days bifor dem enta di United States.”
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Also Face Security Concerns
The US placed Burkina Faso on the Level 4 list in April, citing crime, kidnapping, terrorism and health concerns.
Mali was added in June over similar concerns, including crime, terrorism, kidnapping and public health risks. Niger also remains on the advisory list for related security threats.
The three countries, all members of the Alliance of Sahel States, continue to face ongoing instability linked to militant violence and political unrest.
What A Level 4 Advisory Means
The US Department of State classifies travel advisories on a scale from Level 1 to Level 4.
Level 1 advises travellers to “Exercise Normal Precautions,” while Level 4 is the highest warning issued and advises Americans not to travel because of life-threatening risks.
According to the US government, Level 4 is reserved for destinations where security or health risks are extremely severe and where American authorities may have limited or no ability to provide emergency assistance if a crisis occurs.
The Federal Government has officially renamed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after President Bola Tinubu, saying the landmark road project originated from a vision he conceived nearly three decades ago while serving as Governor of Lagos State.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced the decision on Thursday during a media briefing in Abuja, explaining that the move was meant to recognise President Tinubu’s role in initiating the idea behind the 750-kilometre coastal highway.
“That highway is named President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Coastal Highway,” Umahi said.
“By the powers conferred on me as Minister of Works, in consultation with my Permanent Secretary, the Minister of State, directors and staff of the ministry, we decided to name it after him because of his dream for it.”
Umahi stated that Tinubu first envisioned the coastal highway about 27 years ago during his time as Lagos State governor, adding that the President had not only imagined the project but also brought it to reality.
“He had that dream about 27 years back as governor of Lagos State. It is one thing to dream and another thing to have the grace of God to actualise that dream. This is one man who dreams and has the grace and divine mandate to actualise that dream,” Umahi said.
The minister also revealed that President Tinubu had approved the extension of the Fourth Legacy Highway by an additional 400 kilometres, expanding the planned route to approximately 1,100 kilometres.
He further disclosed that the President approved the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway using reinforced concrete pavement, the completion of the long-abandoned Ibi Bridge in Taraba State, the construction of the 5.76-kilometre Lau Bridge, and the dualisation of another 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.
Giving an update on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said work is advancing across multiple sections of the project.
According to him, the first phase, which runs from Victoria Island to Eleko Village in Lagos, is being developed as a model for modern highway construction. He added that the second section, stretching from Eleko to the Lagos-Ogun boundary, is about 60 per cent complete and is expected to be substantially delivered by November.
Umahi also noted that construction activities are currently ongoing in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun and Ondo states as the Federal Government continues work on the coastal highway project.
All businesses and institutions in Ghana must now use a biometric app scanner to verify national identity cards, under new rules designed to tighten security and clamp down on fraud.
Previously, many organisations relied on simply looking at the card or photocopying it for their records, a practice that left the door open for criminals to impersonate cardholders.
Every Ghanaian citizen and foreign resident in the country is required to carry a plastic biometric national ID, known as the “Ghana Card.” Rolled out over the past decade, the card has become essential to everyday life in the West African nation, needed for banking, registering SIM cards, and obtaining a passport or driver’s licence.
The card stores biometric data collected by the National Identification Authority (NIA), including all 10 fingerprints, iris scans, a photograph and a signature. Going forward, anyone checking the card will need to use a mobile app that verifies this data directly from a scan.
NIA chief Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku said in a statement that photocopying or visually inspecting a Ghana Card for transaction purposes is now a criminal offence, with biometric verification now mandatory.
Organisations that keep relying on photocopies or visual checks risk prosecution and fines of up to 24,000 Ghanaian cedis (roughly $2,100 or £1,550), the NIA said, while individuals face fines of up to 6,000 cedis (about $525 or £390).
The agency has called on organisations not yet linked to its digital verification app to begin the process without delay. Deku added that the government would brief the public in the coming days on how the amended regulations will be implemented and enforced.
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