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  • Yet another jailbreak at Koton Karfe

    Yet another jailbreak at Koton Karfe

    The jailbreak reported on Monday, March 24, 2025 at the Koton Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kogi State, has brought the issue of security at our various correctional centres to the front burner again.

    The 253 custodial centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, have experienced many jailbreaks over the years, but the Koton Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre has recorded six of such since 2012. In one of such incidents at Koton Karfe in 2016 masterminded by the inmates, 13 of them escaped and till date have not been rearrested. A correctional officer of the NCS was killed during the Monday jail break with 12 inmates escaping after tampering with the padlocks in a section of the facility.

    The frequency of these jailbreaks gives room for concern about public safety and the security of correctional facilities across the country. Security experts and analysts have blamed the recurring prison breaks on infrastructural deficit, overcrowding of cells, prolonged trial of suspects, and poor remuneration of prison staff, among other issues.

    Statistics from the NCS show that as at March 25, 2025, there are 79,669 inmates in our prisons with 26,898 convicted, while 52,771 are awaiting trial inmates. This shows that out of the 79,669 inmates 34 per cent are convicted and 66 per cent awaiting trial. The Koto Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre, built in 1934 and re-commissioned by the Federal Government in 2015 with a capacity for 320 inmates, is not exempted from the problem of overcrowding.

    Undue delays in the nation’s criminal justice system resulting in a huge number of awaiting trial inmates contribute to these incessant prison breaks. As the number of inmates increase, the limited holding spaces are unable to cope. Clearly, the problem of prison congestion and jailbreaks are intertwined.

    We call on the Federal Government to increase investment in prison security infrastructure, including surveillance cameras, alarm systems, and recruitment of additional security personnel. The recently commissioned five Bullet Resistant Guard-Booth vehicles at the National Headquarters, Abuja; Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje; Maximum Security Custodial Centres, Port Harcourt, Kano and Lagos should be extended to other vulnerable custodial centres like Koton Karfe.

    The Guard-Booths, meant to secure the Custodial Centres against external attacks, are equipped with long range surveillance capabilities to protect against high level threats. They aid early threat detection and facilitate effective combat responses.

    We welcome the order of the NCS management for a comprehensive audit to plug the constant breaches of the facility at Koton Karfe. The public should be informed about the audit’s outcome, and anyone found complicit should be dealt with. This will help in strengthening transparency in the system.

    We also urge the state governments and capable individuals to help in upgrading our prisons to foster security of the larger community.

  • Anambra APC Ticket: Why the stakes are higher this time

    Anambra APC Ticket: Why the stakes are higher this time

    As the All Progressives Congress, APC, prepares for the decisive April 5 primary in Anambra State, one truth stands clear: the stakes have never been higher. For the party and for Anambra, this election is not just another contest — it is an opportunity to rewrite the political narrative of the South-East, to consolidate the progressive ideals heralded by President Bola Tinubu, and to prove that the APC is ready to govern with credibility and competence in regions where it once struggled.

    The Anambra governorship election in November 2025 is not an ordinary poll. It is the last off-cycle gubernatorial election before the 2027 general election. It is the litmus test of APC’s growth in the South-East and a referendum on the party’s ability to present viable, unifying leadership beyond its traditional base. This is why the APC must field its strongest, most acceptable and most strategic candidate. That candidate is Valentine Ozigbo.

    It’s true that all the aspirants have best interests for Anambra State but in my consideration of what is the best interest for my party, the APC, Val Ozigbo meets my admiration.

    Speculations have been rife that Ozigbo is a mole for Mr. Obi of the Labour Party, but I disagree with the allegation. It’s more like suggesting. If there are moles for Mr. Obi, they are better found in the states that Mr. Obi won during the 2023 election. Ozigbo’s anticipated victory in the November Anambra governorship election cannot guarantee significant votes for Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.

    In as much as I hold Governor C.C. Soludo in very high regards, sadly, he is not a member of my political party, the APC, and in politics, loyalty to party comes first. Now that all eyes are on the APC gubernatorial ticket for the Anambra State election, Val Ozigbo has had memberships of the PDP, LP and now he is in the APC. He knows the terrain, ran for the elections, and I cannot say much for the rest of his rivals in the APC.

    For those unfamiliar with Ozigbo’s remarkable journey, he is a man who rose from humble beginnings in Amesi, Aguata Local Government Area, to become a distinguished corporate leader, a philanthropist, and a unifier. From excelling as the best graduating student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to leading one of Nigeria’s most iconic corporations, Transcorp Plc, Ozigbo’s story is one of brilliance, tenacity, and integrity.

    As Managing Director of Transcorp Hilton Abuja, he oversaw a $100 million renovation that transformed the hotel into Africa’s leading business destination. As President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, he led a conglomerate with interests in hospitality, power, and energy, championing innovation and corporate excellence. But more importantly, he has consistently translated personal success into public service through philanthropy, mentorship, and community development.

    Ozigbo’s foray into politics in 2020 was no accident. It was a deliberate decision to leave the corporate boardroom and step into the public square—to answer a higher call of service. In 2021, running under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ozigbo emerged as a formidable contender, coming a close second despite running against the combined might of the federal and state governments, entrenched political structures, and financial odds.

    Since then, he has remained at the centre of Anambra’s political discourse. He played a crucial leadership role in the Obidient Movement of 2023, galvanising the youth and the middle-class electorate across the South-East. His recent decision to join the APC has opened a new chapter—bringing with him not only his formidable political structure but also the credibility and goodwill he commands across political divides.

    In a state where zoning, religious alignment, and public acceptability are decisive factors, Ozigbo scores highest among all APC aspirants. According to a confidential evaluation document by the APC, he ranks first, scoring 74 per cent in key metrics, including zoning, religious support, and public popularity—outperforming the incumbent governor, Charles Soludo, in recent grassroots polls.

    Ozigbo is not a transactional politician. He is a bridge-builder. His campaign is not about party supremacy—it is about people-centred leadership. He has built relationships across PDP, Labour Party, APGA, and civil society. His defection to APC has created a rallying point that could unify previously fragmented political interests in Anambra. If APC is serious about delivering a historic victory in the South-East, it must embrace this unifier.

    Beyond numbers and strategy, Ozigbo is a leader of ideas. His vision for Anambra is well-documented—a clear economic plan anchored on digital economy, youth empowerment, security, and infrastructure. His investments in young people speak volumes: through the VCO Foundation, he has committed N400 million in partnership with Decagon Institute to sponsor 100 Anambra youths in software engineering, providing a pathway out of unemployment and poverty.

    Critically, Ozigbo possesses something his rivals lack—an expansive grassroots movement and the ability to transcend party lines. In the 2021 election, he outperformed APC’s own candidate. Today, he has brought to the APC not only his capacity but also the goodwill of thousands who believe in his brand of leadership.

    His campaign is self-funded, removing the burden of financial dependency from the party. His cosmopolitan corporate background, vast diaspora network, and clean political record set him apart in a field often riddled with godfatherism and mediocrity.

    As APC looks towards November, the party must decide whether it wants a candidate who can win the primary—or a candidate who can win the election. The difference matters.

    The people of Anambra are yearning for a new kind of leadership—one that transcends slogans and symbols, and delivers results. Valentine Ozigbo embodies that aspiration. For APC, he is not only the safest bet; he is the smartest one.

    Mr. President, Aswaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, believes in harvest of talents, not about lobbying or money. Therefore, now is the time for our party to help the President harvest one of the talents so that the APC can avert the crisis as it is being experienced in the PDP presently.

    The road to Anambra’s redemption begins with the right choice on April 5. The APC has a rare chance to make history. That chance is Valentine Ozigbo.

    * Dr Onoh was the 2023 President Bola Tinubu’s campaign spokesman in the South-East

  • My take on the Lagos-Calabar expressway

    My take on the Lagos-Calabar expressway

    I had written this article when the controversy started over the award of the contract for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar highway and decided to archive it. Since the controversy seems to be unending, here is my take. It is from three perspectives: as a Niger Deltan, a Lagosian and a Nigerian. I have been hearing of the proposed expressway for a while, but it really came into my consciousness around 2009. Someone I considered as a friend, no, “brother,” approached me with the idea of buying acres of land to build an estate near the proposed Lagos-Calabar Expressway.

    I did not bother with due diligence because beyond the closeness, he is a lawyer and property owner in Lagos. I felt secured enough. He introduced us (there was another subscriber) to a property agent he claimed had an enormous reputation for buying large portions of land for oil company and multinational workers and cooperatives, etc. We went to see the land and areas marked for the expressway. “From here, three hours we don reach Delta through Koko,” he told me. For someone who prefers travelling from Lagos to Delta State by road, that was music to my ears.

    They showed us the survey plan of the land and we made payments. At some point, the initiator (lawyer) who introduced us to the agent suddenly pulled out of the deal, citing insults from another subscriber due to his (lawyer) inability to meet up with his own payment. The rest of us had already put our money in the transaction. We paid for survey for each plot and were at the point of meeting the baale of the village. A health challenge came up and I could not follow up immediately. By the time I was ready, the phone numbers of the agent were off. I drove to his office in Lagos Island. A major online sales company had taken over his office space. I went online. Nothing came up in my search.

    I sent all the documents I had through another lawyer to Alausa, Ikeja, for verification. They were all fake. I checked all the evidence of the transactions in my possession. They all bore the agent’s name. “To ensure transparency,” our go-between “as a lawyer” had advised us to do everything directly with the agent who had vanished into thin air till date. There was nothing linking the lawyer with the transactions. We lost our investment and the dream of a massive appreciation in value of our property in future. He lost nothing because his name means nothing to him. Left in the lurch, I went home licking my wounds.  I suspect a collusion between him and the agent looking back now. Anyway, I am sharing my experience to warn people going into investment in properties that scammers abound. You can’t be too careful.

    But my personal loss did not diminish my interest in this project. When former President Goodluck Jonathan became head of state, I thought he would prioritise the construction of this road, especially since the Niger Delta, where the bulk of the wealth of Nigeria comes from, stands to benefit substantially from the construction of this road. I was very disappointed that he did nothing about the road in his five years as president. I count that as a major failing of his presidency. The road is important to the oil producing states in Nigeria: Rivers, Delta, Edo, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa State and Ondo states.

    Moreover, it is a major alternate route from Lagos to the Niger Delta.  To date it is shocking that there is only one route from Lagos to the Niger Delta, more so when this route is shared with the heavy vehicular traffic going to the East. Once there is a problem with that road, everybody is stuck.  I remember once when we travelled from Houston to Boerne in the US. We used the main expressway. On our way back, Google Map took us through another route. Until we got to the gate of the house, we never used any of the roads we took to Boerne. I was blown away. We are way behind in terms of road and rail infrastructure. In fact, transportation infrastructure generationally, but the coastal road is a step in the right direction.

    That is why I am in full support of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to transform the transportation sector. Our roads, railways and air transportation need serious upgrade. The coastal road is part of the works going on in our roads today. If you travel abroad, you will be shocked how far behind we are, but I always tell people that “na when you wake up be your morning.” Better late than never, but we must hasten up. All state governments also need to develop the transport infrastructure in their states.

    It is shocking that work is just starting on a road that was conceived 50 years. It was not as if the road was conceived for the future. The Lagos to Benin road has been the only road linking the Niger Delta and Eastern Nigeria to Western Nigeria from time; so construction of this road should have started shortly after its conception. I know the commencement of the road has been shrouded in controversy. Prominent and some other Nigerians have criticised the cost of the road project. The most recent criticism came from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in one of his latest books to mark his 88th birthday. I do not have the knowledge of how much it would cost to construct such a coastal road; so I leave that for experts. Others said it did not follow due process. They should tackle the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, on that. Government should adequately compensate those whose properties were affected.

    The road is for the general good. It will open up the coastal areas of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom. These coasts have many beaches; so I see an explosion in tourism and other economic activities. I salivate because the explosion in economic activities will be unbelievable. The coastal road is key to unlocking a multi-billion-naira economy. It will create thousands of jobs in these states, thus reducing unemployment  and crime. While crime remains a condemnable act, some of the youngsters currently involved in criminal activities will refrain from crime if they are involved in legit economic activities.

    Critics also argue that the route of the Lagos part of the coastal road is primarily for the benefit of the Eko Atlantic City, which is a brainchild of the president when he was Lagos State Governor. I will not dispute it, but the Lekki axis needs this road. The government was short-sighted in having only one major road linking Victoria Island to Lekki. There ought to have been three major roads ab initio. The Lagos axis of the coastal road will ease the suffocating traffic in Lekki. Whatever shortcomings there are, the coastal road is a game changer. Whatever issues should be resolved. You don’t throw away a baby with the bath water. I am a long-time, strong advocate for this. I am all for it.

  • Nigeria’s int’l influence dwindling due to lack of ambassadors – Don

    Nigeria’s int’l influence dwindling due to lack of ambassadors – Don

    ABUJA: A lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr Christian Okeke, has described as dangerous, President Bola Tinubu’s refusal to appoint ambassadors in Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions, saying the country’s influence in the comity of nations is gradually fading.

    For over 19 months, Nigeria has had no Ambassadors following their recall by the president.

    He said for the sake of national interest, prestige and development, President Tinubu should appoint heads for the country’s foreign missions.

    Okeke said; “It is exactly a year and seven months since the president ordered, with immediate effect, the recall of the country’s envoys on September 2, 2023.

    “Since the recall happened, all has not been well at the 109 foreign missions, even though those within the corridors of power may not want to admit this and advise the president accordingly.

    “In international diplomatic practice, some countries may not be disposed to deal with a lower diplomatic representation, as Charge d’Affaires may not be invited to a meeting between foreign ministers and ambassadors since his position is equivalent to that of a director.

    “The implication is that the presence and influence of our country among the comity of nations have since started to diminish, since it is currently being represented by low-ranking diplomatic officers.

    “Many sovereign states must have started seeing Nigeria as a joke and country that is not interested in having robust relations with the outside world.

    “Crucially, the officers currently in charge at the different embassies, high commissions and consulates may be trying their best to avoid any lacuna, but the truth remains that they are faced with limitations.

    “The president needs to act fast, if not for anything else, for the sake of protection of Nigerians abroad from maltreatment, the sake of the country’s international leadership roles and ambitions, as well as the need for national survival and security.

    “The giant status of the country is unconsciously shrinking over this failure to act fast to replace the recalled envoys.

    “Ordinarily, the process leading to such an appointment could take up to six months. What this means in essence is that it could take up to six months again for Nigeria to restore her representation as it should be.

    “In case the president has forgotten that he is yet to replace the recalled envoys, those around him owe it as a duty to the country to remind the president end ensure that he takes urgent action.

    “The president’s intervention in this regard is an act of patriotism that should not slide”, he added

  • APC wants Fubara investigated over allegations by ex-HoS

    APC wants Fubara investigated over allegations by ex-HoS

    ABUJA – The All Progressives Congress, APC, has asked security agencies in the country to investigate the suspended Governor of Rivers state, Mr Siminalayi Fubara over recent revelations by the former Head of the State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke on how state officials allegedly orchestrated the bombing of the State Assembly.

    APC said the public revelation made by Dr Nwaeke on how the suspended governor facilitated the incident has now vindicated it.

    Chairman of the party in the state, Sir Tony Chidugam Okocha in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja said Dr Nwaeke as the Head of Service in Rivers State at the time, was the Number 3 man in the State, and as such, his account as stated by him cannot be hearsay.

    “The APC in Rivers State is strong in her belief that the relevant Security Agencies will be professional enough to get at the root cause of this whole matter, and make such public.

    “The verbal attacks staged against the resigned HoS, will not deter the Statesman from unveiling the rots of Sim Fubara’s which we harped on as opposition political party. On this matter, APC shall function as watchdogs”, said Okocha.

    The APC in Rivers State had earlier accused Fubara of being the brain behind the incident.

    Noting that no matter the level of the thickness of darkness, it cannot withstand daylight, APC said tax payers money in Rivers State was wasted in a way and manner that cannot be forgotten in a hurry amidst scarce resources, and global economic crunch.

    “As if that wasn’t enough, the suspended governor went a step further in less than 48 hours after the bombing to personally supervise the pulling down of the assembly complex, while his supporters cheered him on.

    “The Supreme Court put it rightly in her unanimous judgement delivered on 28th February, 2025, by describing the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara as a ‘Dictator’.

    “Yes, he was a Dictator! The explosive revelation or allegations if you like, made by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service in Rivers State further corroborates the position of the Rivers APC as submitted by Sir (Chief) Tony C Okocha, the State Party Chairman, that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the architect of the entire political crisis in Rivers State, leading to the swift intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, with the declaration of a state of emergency to restore law and order, and forestall a total breakdown of peace in Rivers State.

    “In a press release by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service in Rivers State, he stated categorically that the political crisis was “orchestrated by Fubara himself”.

    “What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.

    “Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State”, Okocha added.

  • Guidelines for LG poll has no force of law – Justice Iheka

    Guidelines for LG poll has no force of law – Justice Iheka

    An Imo State High Court, presided over by Justice Ben C. Iheka, has ruled that provisions in the guidelines for the conduct of local government elections in the state have no force of law.

    This ruling was part of a 45-minute judgment delivered by Justice Iheka in a suit, HOW/1051/2034, instituted by Nze Greg Anyanwu and Action Alliance, AA, against Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISIEC, challenging the September 21, 2024, local council poll in the state.

    Iheka said: “The guidelines are made pursuant to paragraph 32 of Schedule iv of the Imo State Electoral Law number 5, 2001, as variously amended.

    “Guideline, by the definition of the New Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language, International Edition, is ‘officially declared, but not legislated limitations…as instructions for a procedure’.

    “In effect, it is not a legislation and therefore, not a law for the conduct of the elections. The Law number 5 of 2001, is the enabling legislation or Law of the state in the conduct of the local government council elections.”

    Continuing, Justice Iheka said: “Section 2 of the principal Law, Law number 5 of 2001, provides that: ‘Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in any other enactment or law, the conduct of elections under this Law, shall be under the direction, organization and supervision of the Commission and in accordance with the provision of this Law’.

    “The oral submission of the plaintiff’s counsel on the unconstitutionality of the amendment of the law, divesting the Chief Judge of the state, and vesting it in the Governor of the state, the power of appointing the Chairman and members of the Election Tribunal, does not deserve the dissipation of my time and energy to discuss in this judgment, as the issue is not for determination before me, in this matter.

    “On issue number one, in this case before me, I hold that the question raised in the originating summons on the issue is misconceived both in law and facts and that the Local Government Council Election Tribunal for the local government council election, held in Imo State on September 21, 2024, was duly constituted in accordance with the extant law in Imo State.

    “The issue is resolved against the plaintiff in favour of the defendant. I, therefore, hold that the provision of the Guidelines for the conduct of the 2024 local government council election in Imo State, not being legislation or law, regulating the conduct of the said election, noncompliance as alleged in this case or at all with the provision is immaterial and non-substantial to invalidate the election or electoral process.

    “On the whole, this suit fails and the claim of the plaintiff is hereby dismissed. I assess cost at N500,000 against the plaintiffs, in favour of the defendant.”

  • ‘Top Gun’ and Batman star Val Kilmer dies aged 65

    ‘Top Gun’ and Batman star Val Kilmer dies aged 65

    Val Kilmer, one of the biggest Hollywood actors of the 1990s who shot to fame playing Iceman in the original “Top Gun”, has died aged 65 after a career of memorable hits and on-set bust ups.

    The cause of death was pneumonia, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer told the New York Times on Tuesday, which was the first publication to announce the news.

    He battled throat cancer after being diagnosed in 2014 and appeared in the “Top Gun” sequel and a 2021 documentary appearing physically diminished and with a raspy voice.

    His film credits include blockbusters such as Oliver Stone’s “The Doors,” in which he played Jim Morrison, as well as a short-lived stint as Batman in “Batman Forever” in 1995 opposite Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones.

    “Once you’re a star, you’re always a star. It’s just ‘what level?’” he told the Hollywood Reporter in an interview in 2012.

    “And I was in some big, wonderful movies and enjoyed a lot of success, but I didn’t sort of secure that position.”

    – Tributes-

    A versatile character actor who also cultivated a theatre career, he toggled between big-budget successes, commercial flops and smaller independent films after his breakout role in “Top Gun” opposite Tom Cruise.

    Kilmer was superbly cast playing the cocky, square-jawed and mostly silent fighter pilot-in-training Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 box office smash hit.

    After a cameo in Quentin Tarantino-written “True Romance,” Kilmer also went on to star alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in “Heat”.

    But he developed a reputation as a difficult actor who sometimes clashed with directors and co-stars.

    A 1996 Entertainment Weekly cover story dubbed Kilmer “The Man Hollywood Loves to Hate,” depicting him as a sometimes surly eccentric with exasperating work habits.

    “Hollywood and our business, it’s a very social business, and I never tried to be involved in the community of it,” he conceded in a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

    Tributes flowed in on Tuesday from some of his past directors, however.

    Francis Ford Coppola, who worked with him for “Twixt”, wrote that Kilmer “was a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know”, while “Heat” director Michael Mann also praised his range and “brilliant variability.”

    “After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news,” Mann wrote on Instagram.

    The official “Top Gun” account on X posted a picture of Kilmer as Iceman, saying he had left an “indelible cinematic mark”.

    – ‘ Magical life’ –

    Born Val Edward Kilmer on New Year’s Eve 1959, he began acting in commercials as a child.

    Kilmer was the youngest person ever accepted to the drama department at New York’s fabled Juilliard school, and made his Broadway debut in 1983 alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.

    Having fallen out of favor after the turn of the century, he was mounting a comeback in the 2010s with a successful stage show about Mark Twain that he hoped to turn into a film when he was struck by cancer.

    “Val,” an intimate documentary about Kilmer’s stratospheric rise and later fall in Hollywood, premiered at the Cannes film festival in 2021 and showed him struggling for air after a tracheotomy.

    It also hinted at his frustration at signing autographs at conventions which, as he put it, was like “selling his old self.”

    Kilmer “has the aura of a man who was dealt his cosmic comeuppance and came through it,” US publication Variety wrote of the film. “He fell from stardom, maybe from grace, but he did it his way.”

    When he reprised his role as “Iceman” in the long-awaited sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” Kilmer’s real-life health issues, and rasp of voice, were written into the character.

    “Instead of treating Kilmer — and, indeed, the entire notion of Top Gun — as a throwaway nostalgia object, he’s given a celluloid swan song that’ll stand the test of time,” GQ wrote.

    On his website, Kilmer had described himself as leading a “magical life.”

    “For more than half a century, I have been honing my art, no matter the medium. Be it literature, movies, poetry, painting, music, or tracking exotic and beautiful wildlife,” he wrote.

    According to the Times, he is survived by two children, Mercedes and Jack Kilmer.

  • Gov Yusuf, Kwankwaso, Emir Sanusi attend funeral prayers for Galadiman Kano

    Gov Yusuf, Kwankwaso, Emir Sanusi attend funeral prayers for Galadiman Kano

    Prominent Nigerians, including Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, attended the funeral prayers for the late Galadiman Kano, Abbas Sunusi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sunusi, a revered figure in Kano, passed away at the age of 91 after a prolonged illness.

    The Chief Imam of Kano, Prof. Sani Zahradeen, led the funeral prayers at the Emir’s Palace on Wednesday. Among the attendees were the NNPP Presidential candidates, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Abbas, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state.

    Other notable personalities present at the burial held at Gandun Albasa graveyard, included Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibri, and Nasiru Aliko Koki, who represented APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The late Sunusi was a prominent figure in the Emirate, having served as Wamban Kano and a senior counsellor under the late Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

    He is survived by his wives and 35 children. (NAN)

  • Court restrains Abia govt from appointing new judges

    Court restrains Abia govt from appointing new judges

    UMUAHIA – A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has restrained the Abia State Government and her agents from engaging in a fresh process for the appointment of new judges in the state.

    The order followed an application brought by two litigants questioning the state government’s effort to engage in a fresh process in the appointment of 10 new judges.

    Abia State Judicial Service Commission, in 2022, shortlisted candidates for appointment as Judges in the Abia State Judiciary.

    The candidates on October 17, 2022, attended an interview conducted by the National Judicial Council.

    The candidates were also said to have been screened by the Department of State Security, DSS, and were awaiting official announcement as Judges before some people instituted a suit which stalled the process.

    The state government had jettisoned the 2022 exercise and began a fresh process which angered the 2022 shortlisted applicants.

    Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne and Victoria Okey Nwokeukwu had for themselves, and on behalf of the 2022 shortlisted candidates for the appointment as Judges of Abia State Judiciary, dragged the Abia State Judicial Service Commission, the Chief Judge of the state, the Attorney General and eight others before the court.

    The plaintiffs sought an interim order of the court directing the plaintiffs and the defendants to maintain the status quo in the suit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction in the suit.

    The plaintiffs also prayed to the court for any further order or other orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.

    After reading the affidavit of urgency in support of the motion ex parte deposed to by the 1st plaintiff, Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne; and the submission of the counsel for the plaintiffs, Obinna Nkume, the court presided by Justice S. B. Onu ordered all parties to the suit to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the plaintiffs’ motion on notice.

    The court also ordered that the plaintiffs shall enter into an undertaking as to damages if the order ought not to have been made.

    Speaking after the court ruling, U. U Amadi, who described himself as a concerned citizen of Abia State said until the process of appointment of Judges is insulated from executive interferences and influence, the administration of justice will be in jeopardy.

  • Man loses N33m meant for studies abroad to sports betting, seeks financial help

    Man loses N33m meant for studies abroad to sports betting, seeks financial help

    A man from Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, has been left devastated after losing KSh 2.8 million (approx. N33 million) meant for his studies abroad to sports betting.

    Dismas Mutai reportedly lost the substantial sum while betting on Aviator, an online gambling platform, and has since taken to social media to seek assistance from well-wishers, including politicians.

    He expressed his distress and admitted that the loss had affected his mental well-being.

    “I’m not okay; I will no longer pretend to be okay. I have fallen into a disastrous trap. A trap that I never anticipated in my life. Depression is slowly taking me to the grave. You must have even noticed an unusual change in my behaviour. Aviator flew away with over KSh 2.8 million of people’s money,” he stated as quoted by Tuko News, a popular Kenyan news website.

    Seeking Forgiveness and Support

    Mutai used the platform to plead for support from Kenyans of goodwill, acknowledging his mistake and the toll it has taken on his life.

    He apologised to his family for disappointing them, stating that he had struggled with gambling addiction despite having strong ambitions for a better future.

    “To my mum and the entire family, forgive me. I understand the level of trust you had in me. I have weaknesses just like any other human being, and this has become my greatest weakness,” stated Mutai.

    He also appealed to his community for forgiveness, emphasizing his previous involvement in village affairs and his hope for a second chance.

    “Perhaps the UK was not meant for me, but just give me a chance to survive so that I can be a living testimony to many,” he pleaded.

    Mutai’s Educational Aspirations

    Mutai had secured a scholarship to study for a Master of Science in International Project Management at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in London.

    Screenshots shared online indicate that his program was set to begin on January 13, 2025, and conclude on January 16, 2026.

    Public Reactions and Warnings Against Sports Betting

    The incident has sparked reactions from Kenyans online, many of whom condemned gambling as a dangerous habit that can lead to financial ruin and mental distress.

    Some called on the government to regulate or ban platforms like Aviator to prevent similar cases in the future.