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  • CJN didn’t order Nnamdi Kanu’s release – NJC

    CJN didn’t order Nnamdi Kanu’s release – NJC

    ABUJA– The National Judicial Council, NJC, has debunked the report that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, ordered the immediate release and repatriation of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, back to Kenya.

    The council, in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, described the report as the figment of imagination of the writer, stressing that the CJN has nothing to do with Kanu’s case.

    “The Council wishes to state that the media report is false and figment of imagination of the writer, as there are no Court proceedings, decision or judgment where such statements ascribed to His Lordship was made.

    “The Council categorically emphasizes that the Hon CJN neither preside over any Case of Kanu at the Apex Court, where jurisdiction issue was argued nor makes any such pronouncement.

    “His Lordship, the Hon CJN never wrote any formal letter to the Kenya Government or Kenya High Commission apologising on the issue of arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and trial.

    “The Council urges members of the public to disregard the fake story,” the statement, which was signed by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, read.

    Meanwhile, Kanu, who is answering to a seven-count treasonable felony charge the federal government initiated against him, is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.

    He is billed to take a fresh plea before a new judge, Justice James Omotosho, who was handed the case file after the previous trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, recused herself following Kanu’s allegation that she was biased.

    Counsel to the embattled IPOB leader, Alloy Ejimakor, earlier applauded the CJN for a swift intervention he said led to the reassignment of his client’s case to a new judge, despite initial refusal of the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to do so.

    Kanu was first arrested in Lagos on October 14, 2015, upon his return to the country from the United Kingdom, UK.

    On April 25, 2017, Justice Nyako granted him bail on health grounds after he had spent about 18 months in detention.

    Upon the perfection of the bail conditions, he was on April 28, 2017, released from the Kuje prison.

    However, midway into the trial, the IPOB leader escaped from the country after soldiers invaded his country home at Afara Ukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, an operation that led to the death of some of his followers.

    Kanu was later re-arrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and extraordinarily renditioned back to the country by security agents on June 27, 2021.

    Following the development, the trial court, on June 29, 2021, remanded him in custody of DSS, where he remained till date.

    The trial court had on April 8, 2022, struck out eight out of the initial 15-count charge that FG preferred against the defendant. It held that the discarded allegations lacked substance.

    Likewise, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, on October 13, 2022, ordered Kanu’s immediate release from detention even as it quashed the charge against him.

    However, dissatisfied with the decision, the Federal Government took the matter before the Supreme Court, even as it persuaded the appellate court to suspend the execution of the judgement, pending the determination of its appeal.

    While deciding the appeal, the Supreme Court, on December 15, 2023, vacated the judgement of the appellate court and gave the Federal Government the nod to try the IPOB leader on the subsisting seven-count charge.

     

     

  • Tinubu is desperate to whip opponents to their knees — Niger Delta activist

    Tinubu is desperate to whip opponents to their knees — Niger Delta activist

    Niger Delta activist Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe has described President Bola Tinubu’s interventions in the Rivers crisis as part of the ploy to whip political opponents to the knees.

    Speaking on Arise TV on Thursday, March 20, 2025, Sara Igbe condemned the suspension of Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of Rivers State, stressing that the president has no power to do so.

    The activist also knocked the President for sparing his minister, Nyesom Wike, whom he accused of causing confusion in the Niger-Delta and other parts of the country.

    Describing the President’s action as illegal, Sara-Igbe said Tinubu suspended Fubara because he was desperate to decimate opposition parties.

    According to him, section 305 which the president applied in suspending Fubara should have been applied in the North where bandits and terrorists are taking lives of Nigerians.

    “In the case of Rivers State, there’s no war, no fight, the whole place is quiet and yet a state of emergency was declared. Not only that, an elected governor was suspended, the House of Assembly was also suspended. This is somehow not proper, it’s an illegal action.

    “Mr President seems to be desperate to whip opponents to their knees and Wike is the hatchet man of Mr President.”

    Prior to Fubara’s suspension, the activist said during Niger-Delta leaders’ meeting with Tinubu, the president blamed Fubara and spared his minister.

  • Immigration to roll out e-Visa soon, explains how it’s fighting corruption

    Immigration to roll out e-Visa soon, explains how it’s fighting corruption

    ABUJA: The Nigeria Immigration Service NIS on Thursday said it was on the verge of rolling out electronic visas, a system it said would reduce inefficiency and curtail corruption.

    Comptroller General of the Immigration Service CGIS, Kemi Nandap disclosed this while declaring open the 3rd Nationwide Sensitization Campaign on ensuring efficient Service Delivery through Zero Tolerance for Corruption which held at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja.

    She said; “The Service is on the verge of introducing an electronic visa (e-Visa) to make it easier for travelers to visit Nigeria. This online visa application process is designed to be more efficient and convenient for applicants by eliminating human contact in the application process thereby minimizing the risk of corruption”.

    The event had as its theme, “Increased Digitalization and Consolidated Innovations for Efficient and Transparent Services”.

    She said the anti-corruption event would also be held across all Commands and Formations of the Service.

    Speaking on the various measures put in place to fight systemic corruption, the immigration boss said the recent automation of most processes in the Service has reduced human contacts and therefore the chances of corruption is now low.

    While she urged the public to hold the Service accountable, Nandap also solicited useful advice, and added that where the Service has also done well, the personnel should be commended.

    According to her, the NIS plays a pivotal role in National Security, Border Management, and Facilitation of regular Migration, adding that this immense responsibility implies that her actions significantly impact the image of Nigeria.

    On the various anti-corruption initiatives in the Service, Nandap said; “Last year, we made a firm commitment to mitigate corruption in all its forms. It was on this basis that we engaged in an increased digitization and consolidated innovations to improve service delivery and eliminate corruption in the Service.

    “One of our flagship initiatives is the Passport Automation Programme. This innovation has significantly reduced the processing time for passports, making it easier and more convenient for Nigerians to obtain their travel documents. But that is not all – our automation programme has also eliminated the opportunities for corruption that existed in the manual process, due to increased human interface.

    “Another critical component of our anti-corruption strategy is the Contactless Passport Application Process. This innovation enables Nigerians to submit their applications online, eliminating physical contact with our officers. This not only makes the process more efficient but also shut out any avenue for corruption.

    “The introduction of e-gates in Nigeria is a significant step towards enhancing security, streamlining airport processes, and improving overall travel experiences. These e-gates are designed to facilitate efficient and secure passenger processing, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing the risk of corruption.

    “Additionally, the introduction of body cameras by the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS is a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in our operations. The use of body cameras is a solution to curb brutality, enhance evidence gathering and documentation, and rebuild public trust in the Service. It can provide firsthand evidence in criminal investigations, serving as crucial evidence in legal proceedings and helping to validate witness accounts.

    “Our collaboration with Interpol is another key aspect of our anti corruption efforts. By working closely with international law enforcement agencies, we can share intelligence, best practices, and expertise to combat corruption and other transnational crimes. Moreover, I am very proud to announce that, of the only five Interpol trainers recently certified for Nigeria, an NIS Officer is among. These further boosts our efforts and commitment to stemming corruption in the system.

    “In the same vein, in partnership with National Anti-corruption Agencies such as SERVICOM, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), we are strengthening internal mechanisms to ensure that our Officers imbibe the tenets of Hostmanship and Service Delivery ethics. Officers in violation of ethical standards shall face the full wrath of the law”, she added.

  • Wife watching porn not grounds for divorce, Indian court rules

    An Indian court has ruled that wives watching pornography is not grounds for divorce, adding that women retain the right to masturbate and do not surrender their sexual autonomy once they marry.

    Conversations around female sexuality are considered taboo in India, especially with married women who are expected to prioritise their husbands and children over themselves.

    Wednesday’s ruling in the southern state of Tamil Nadu came after a man appealed the decision of a lower court that refused to grant him a divorce.

    His case rested on several acts of alleged cruelty by his spouse, including what he claimed was her addiction to masturbating while watching pornography.

    In dismissing the appeal, the Madras High Court ruled that “self pleasure is not forbidden fruit”.

    “When masturbation among men is acknowledged to be universal, masturbation by women cannot be stigmatised,” the court said in its ruling, a copy of which AFP has seen.

    The court added that a woman “retains her individuality” even after getting married and that her “fundamental identity as an individual, as a woman, is not subsumed by her spousal status”.

    The court argued that addiction to pornography was “bad” and could not be “morally justified” but was not legal grounds for divorce.

    Divorce remains taboo across much of India with only one in every 100 marriages ending in dissolution, often owing to family and social pressure to sustain unhappy marriages.

    Chronic backlogs in India’s criminal justice system mean some divorce petitions take years to reach a resolution.

  • Release of Nnamdi Kanu not connected to S-East security issues — Soludo

    Release of Nnamdi Kanu not connected to S-East security issues — Soludo

    The governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has said releasing the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention and insecurity in the South-East are two different issues.

    Kanu has been in detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) for about 5 years since his arrest from Kenya by the Nigerian government despite calls from different quarters for his release.

    Some people who are calling for the release of the IPOB leader argue that it will reduce the level of insecurity in the South-East.

    But during a media chat to celebrate his third anniversary on Monday, Governor Soludo, who is among those who have been calling for Kanu’s release said: “The release of Nnamdi Kanu for me is different from the issue of security, I separate the two, I don’t link the two.

    “Nnamdi Kanu for me is for us to have a conversation of a long-term future for the Igbos and that is a different conversation.

    “For the criminals who are kidnappers, we have given them an olive branch, come out, we will train you, we will empower you, we will rehabilitate you, if you don’t we take you out.”

    Soludo said his continued appeal for the release of the IPOB leader is to have him around so that he could be a part of a broader discussion to decide the future of the Igbo people.

    However, the governor recalled that whilst he continued his appeal for Kanu’s release, “a whole lot of this Simon Ekpa and some of this his band of criminals took over and turned the things into a killing spree, just killing people with reckless abandon.”

    Simon Ekpa, who claimed to have taken over as IPOB leader upon Kanu’s arrest, was  arrested in Finland where he resides in November last year by the Finnish police for what it termed  “public exhortation to an offence, committed with terrorist intent.”

    Governor Soludo said that he has no idea what Ekpa is pursuing other than to “swindle people for money.”

  • Emergency Rule: No court order restrains Ibas, Ehie clarifies

    Emergency Rule: No court order restrains Ibas, Ehie clarifies

    The Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Dr. Ehie Edison, has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the state government obtained a court injunction to prevent Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (rtd) from resuming duties.

    In a statement personally signed on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Ehie described the reports as false and an attempt to escalate the already tense political atmosphere in the state.

    “Certain individuals are spreading misinformation that I secured an order from the Rivers State High Court preventing the Sole Administrator from assuming office at Government House, Port Harcourt,” he said.

    He further debunked claims that the alleged order stemmed from a fictitious lawsuit challenging the federal government’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

    “Ordinarily, I would ignore such baseless social media rants from troublemakers seeking to create disaffection. However, to prevent the public from being misled, I must set the record straight. Even the originators of this falsehood couldn’t spell my name correctly or provide any credible legal details regarding the supposed lawsuit,” he added.

    The former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly urged the public to disregard the misinformation, emphasizing his commitment to peace and lawful conduct.

    “I remain law-abiding and committed to conducting my affairs peacefully. I urge the good people of Rivers State and Nigerians at large to treat this reckless post as an attempt to incite unnecessary anger and division,” Ehie stated.

  • Tinubu acted in Nigeria’s interest — Rivers Assembly

    Tinubu acted in Nigeria’s interest — Rivers Assembly

    PORT HARCOURT—Suspended Rivers State House of Assembly has backed the declaration of state of emergency on the state by President Bola Tinubu, who removed the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu, from office.

    The assembly  in a statement signed by the speaker, Martin Chike Amaewhule, in Port Harcourt yesterday, claimed that the declaration was as a result of the refusal of the Governor of the state to adhere and implement the Supreme Court judgement in the state.

    He said: “The condition of our dear Rivers State today is mainly because of the malfeasance of the governor who serially disobeyed judgements and orders of courts, failed to govern the state in line with his oath of office and the constitution.

    “The governor’s despotic and tyrannical actions as confirmed by the courts in which he also unconstitutionally obstructed the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is an arm of government from functioning, underlies this situation.”

    Amaewhule promised that his team would abide by the declaration, adding that the appointment of a sole administrator for the state was in the best interest of Rivers.

    “As an Assembly, we assure you all, our constituents that we would abide by this declaration, even though it is not what we prayed for.

    ‘’The President has acted in the best interest of the country, therefore, we call on you all to remain calm as the sole administrator appointed by the President assumes his duty in the best interest of our state and nation.  Rest assured that we would give any kind of support required of Rivers State House of Assembly to the sole administrator in the best interest of our dear state.

    “Once again,we thank you all tor your continued support, prayers and understanding. We expect that you will all give the sole administrator the needed support to steer the ship of state during this period of emergency.”

  • Shettima tasks lawmakers on legislation to enhance food security

    Shettima tasks lawmakers on legislation to enhance food security

    ABUJA — VICE President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday implored lawmakers across the nation to enact relevant legislation that would enhance nutrition and food security to ensure that every household in Nigeria has access to the manifold diets required for a healthy and productive life.

    This, according to him, is the reason why the administration is spearheading the Nutrition 774 Initiative to improve coordination, financing, and accountability in ensuring “that every mother and child—regardless of where they live—has access to lifesaving nutrition interventions tailored to their needs.”

    Speaking when he met with the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security led by the leader of delegation and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Shettima underscored the role of the legislature in making the Nutrition 774 initiative a success.

    “For too long, our responses to malnutrition have been fragmented, donor-driven, and inconsistent. Nutrition 774 changes that. It is government-led, government-funded, and government-implemented because we understand that food security cannot be outsourced.

    “The role of the legislature in making this initiative a success cannot be overstated. You are essential in reviewing key laws—from maternity leave policies that support improved infant nutrition to the removal of multiple taxation on food produce to curb inflation. But beyond policies, we need execution. We have had enough reports, enough recommendations, and enough committees. What Nigeria needs now is action.”

    Explaining why the federal government’s interventions align with global aspirations such as the UN Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063, Senator Shettima pointed out that the Tinubu administration is integrating the initiative with its broader national policies, including the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, the National Policy on Food and Nutrition, and the National Policy on Food Safety.

    He continued: “We are not working in silos. Nutrition 774 is not a standalone programme; it is part of a larger national strategy under His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to build a Nigeria that can feed itself and nourish its people.

    “The success of this initiative will not be measured by the eloquence of our discussions but by the tangible impact on the lives of our people. It will be measured by the reduction in stunting, by the number of children who can concentrate in school because they are well-fed, and by the number of mothers who can access the nutrition they need to give birth to healthy babies.

    “And it will be measured by the way we, as leaders, take responsibility for ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of their social or economic background, has access to proper nutrition.”

    Senator Shettima noted the link between malnutrition and insecurity, observing that the regions worst hit by food insecurity are also the regions most affected by violence and instability.

    Calling for immediate action, the Vice President told the lawmakers that by investing in nutrition, the nation is investing in national security, long-term stability and economic growth, even as he warned that desperation will always set in whenever people struggle to eat.

    His words: “When young people are denied a fair shot at life because their bodies and minds were weakened by poor nutrition in childhood, the consequences ripple through generations. This is why investing in nutrition is not just a moral obligation; it is an investment in national security, economic growth, and long-term stability.

    “Honourable Members, we have talked enough. The time for action is now. Hunger and malnutrition do not wait for committee resolutions, and neither should we. It’s time to move from policy to execution, from discussion to impact.

    “The Nutrition 774 Initiative is a lifeline, a roadmap, a commitment, and I am confident that with you on board, we will not only fight malnutrition—we will win.”

    Earlier, leader of the delegation, Hon Okafor, said his committee has the core mandate of looking at existing laws on nutrition and food and amending them to bring them up to speed with global realities.

    He said, “We engaged the Conference of Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, and today, we are happy to report that all state assemblies now have committees on nutrition and food security.”

    According to Okafor, key legislative reforms under consideration include extending maternity leave from three to six months, regulating the sale of bulk and potentially adulterated vegetable oil in open markets, and addressing multiple taxations on food products transported across different regions of the country.

    “We want to commend you, the Vice President, for your leadership in the nutrition sector, especially with the N774 Initiative. We believe that this scheme will bridge the missing gap in our nutrition interventions so far, being a bottom-up approach,” he said.

    Also, Majority Leader of Ekiti State House of Assembly and Chairman of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Michael Tolulope Ige, said one of the impacts of the forum is that it has given a unified approach and a platform where all houses of assembly members can come together to discuss and look at the existing laws on nutrition in different states.

    “The NLNN strengthens the collective implementation of policy frameworks. It has also built our capacity on nutrition-related issues and the economic implications of nutrition. Also, the inauguration of nutrition committees at the state assemblies has created a dedicated approach for the advocacy of nutrition programmes at the state level,” he said.

  • Our prisons in deplorable conditions, audit panel tells FG

    Our prisons in deplorable conditions, audit panel tells FG

    ABUJA–A panel that was mandated to carry out extensive audit of all the prisons in the country, on Wednesday, submitted its report to the Federal Government.

    Report of the audit exercise which was conducted from January 13 to  March 14, 2025, was received by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, at the Federal Ministry of Justice headquarters in Abuja.

    Head of the panel, Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, before the presentation, lamented that most prisons in the country are in very  deplorable conditions.

    He further decried the swelling number of awaiting trial inmates in the country, adding that his team discovered that some have been on remand for over 10 years without a case file or legal representation.

    Fapohunda, SAN, said the audit process included physical visitations to the custodial centres as well as interaction with inmates.

    He said: “In the course of the audit, the working group reviewed the detention warrants of the inmates and, in some cases, visited the specific courts on whose orders the inmates were remanded to further authenticate the detention warrants.

    “The mandate of the working group was mainly to focus on the legal status of Section 35 inmates (inmates that have been kept in detention for a longer period than the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed for the offence).

    “Under this heading, the working group identified two distinct categories of inmates. There were those inmates in remand for non capital offences who, after being arraigned, their cases were caught up by the slow judicial process and would require the active intervention of the State Ministries of Justice.

    “The second category was those inmates remanded for capital offences, including terrorism. Indeed, in one custodial centre, the working group discovered at least seven inmates remanded for offences relating to terrorism who have been on remand for upwards of 10 years from date of detention.

    “The working group was unable to find any record that showed that they were brought before any court since the date of their detention. The intervention of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation is urgently required in this instance

    “It would have been odd in the extreme if the working group had simply focused on the status of Section 35 inmates and ignored the plight of other inmates deserving urgent attention.

    “This category of inmates includes those without legal representation. Indeed, several inmates continue to be kept in detention for periods longer than the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed for the offence because they do not have legal representation.

    “The working group found that an alarming high number of inmates in the custodial centres under review were without legal representation.  The HAGF is invited to note that although the legal aid council of Nigeria is mandated to provide free legal services to inmates without legal representation, it is presently under resourced and thus barely able to make a significant difference.

    “There were also inmates with life-threatening ailments who required urgent medical attention, the cost of which was outside the budget of the Correctional Services. The Working Group also identified several minors, including those whose ages as stated on their warrants of detention were incompatible with their physical outlook.

    “In addition, the Working Group recommends that the HAGF convenes a meeting of the Body of Attorneys-General, with a view to achieving a coordinated response between Federal and State Governments on the legal status of all inmates including but not limited to those who have overstayed without trial,” he added.

    The AGF said the government would study the report and come up with reforms that would strengthen the criminal justice system in the country.

    “The mandate of the working group is crucial to achieving the standards we have set for ourselves in our effort to reform our criminal justice system.

    “The vision of Mr. President is for a criminal justice system that maintains law and order, deters crime, punish offenders, and at the same time strives to rehabilitate those offenders in order to facilitate their recovery and reintegration to society,” the Justice Minister added.

  • Senate approves chairman, 11 members for National Assembly Service Commission

    Senate approves chairman, 11 members for National Assembly Service Commission

    ABUJA – THE Senate has approved the appointment of Dr. Saviour Enyiekere as the Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) and 11 others as members of the Commission.

    The Upper Chamber, however, stepped down the confirmation of the second member from South-East, Nnanna Kalu.

    The approval yesterday was sequel to the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service during plenary on Wednesday.

    Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Cyril Fasuyi, said the Chairman of the commission is Dr Saviour Enyiekere, South-South; Suleiman Hunkuyi, North-West, Yusuf Yusuf; North-West.

    Others are Aminu Malle; North-East; Alhaji Mahmud; North-East, Mark Terso; North-Central, Salihu Balogun; North Central, Taiwo Oluga; South-West, Afeez Ipesa-Balogun; South-West.

    “Festus Odii; South-East, Patrick Giwa; South-South, Mrs. Mary Ekpeyong; South-South”.

    According to Fasuyi, based on the findings, the committee is satisfied with their credentials, performance, experience and reputation, adding, “Mr. President, there is a point that I would like you to note. The Committee recommends that the Senate confirm the nominations of 12 out of the 13 members of the commission as chairman and members of NASC except the nominees from the south-east zone.

    “The member from the South-East Zone should be stepped down pending the outcome of the committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.”

    In his contribution, Senator Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West, who commended the chairman and members of his committee for doing a painstaking job, said: “But you see, what is worth doing is worth doing well. From inception till date, the state of Bayelsa, of the six states in the South-south has never produced a member of this commission.”