The New York judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trump’s hush money case has scheduled sentencing for January 10, just 10 days before his inauguration. Judge Juan Merchan indicated he is unlikely to impose jail time. Trump, who became the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime, can choose to appear in person or virtually for the sentencing.

In an 18-page ruling, Merchan upheld Trump’s conviction by a New York jury, dismissing various motions from Trump’s legal team to overturn the verdict. Instead of incarceration, the judge is leaning toward an unconditional discharge, meaning Trump would face no conditions following the sentencing. However, the decision would see him entering the White House as a convicted felon.

Although Trump faced a potential four-year prison term, legal experts had long doubted that the judge would impose jail time. Merchan emphasized that incarceration was not a likely outcome, a view also shared by prosecutors, who deemed a jail sentence impractical.

Following the decision, Trump criticized the ruling on his platform, Truth Social, calling it a “Rigged Charade” and labeling Merchan a “radical partisan.” He claimed the decision was unconstitutional and threatened the presidency’s future.

Trump’s conviction in May involved 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The payment was allegedly intended to silence claims of a 2006 sexual encounter.

Trump’s attorneys had sought dismissal of the case on various grounds, including an argument that former presidents are immune from prosecution for acts committed while in office. Merchan rejected this claim but acknowledged that Trump would regain immunity once sworn in as president. As a result, the judge deemed it necessary to impose sentencing before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved the appointment of 45 permanent secretaries and three executive secretaries as part of efforts to enhance governance in the state.

The announcement was made on Friday through a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade.

The statement reads: “Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the appointment of a record 45 permanent secretaries and three executive secretaries. The announcement was signed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni.”

The move underscores Governor Makinde’s commitment to strengthening the administrative structure of the state.

Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara has reaffirmed Victor Oko-Jumbo as the legitimate leader of the State House of Assembly. Speaking on Thursday during the signing of the N1.1 trillion 2025 budget at the State House in Port Harcourt, Fubara emphasized that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC) are no longer recognized as lawmakers.

Clarifying the situation, Fubara stated, “For anyone still confused, we have only one assembly, and it is headed by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo. A group set out on a misguided journey months ago, only to realize too late they were heading into dangerous waters. Now they seek to turn back, but the decision has been made.”

Fubara further expressed his frustration over the behavior of the defected members, saying, “No governor in Nigeria would tolerate the kind of disrespect I endured from that group. Our focus remains on the interests of Rivers State, and we will uphold the integrity of governance. We have moved forward, and there’s no turning back.”

Bismarck Rewane, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, has described President Bola Tinubu's 15% inflation target for 2025 as "aspirational" and "bullish." Speaking during a monitored program on Thursday, Rewane expressed skepticism about the feasibility of the target, emphasizing the gap between aspirations and economic realities.

During the presentation of the 2025 ₦49.7 trillion budget before the National Assembly on December 18, 2024, Tinubu projected a significant decline in Nigeria's inflation rate from 34.6% to 15% by the end of 2025. However, Rewane questioned the realism of this forecast, suggesting a more moderate decline is likely.

"The target is an aspiration; the reality, as we see it, is that inflation could drop from approximately 35% to somewhere between 27% and 25%. A 15% inflation rate is very bullish and aspirational, but aspirations are fine to have," Rewane said. "We operate in the realm of reality, and in reality, 27% to 25% seems more achievable. I’d rather bet on that than overly optimistic scenarios."

At the start of Tinubu’s presidency in May 2023, Nigeria’s inflation rate stood at 22.41%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). By November 2024, it had surged to 34.6%, marking a sharp increase of over 12%. Experts attribute this spike to the economic impacts of Tinubu's twin policies: the removal of petrol subsidies and the unification of forex rates.

Rewane’s analysis underscores the challenges of achieving significant inflation reduction in a volatile economic environment, highlighting the need for realistic targets amidst bold aspirations.