Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Mr. Karim A. A. Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to issue a formal ‘preventative statement’ regarding the ongoing violence, unlawful killings, crimes against children, and other violations of international law in Plateau State, Nigeria. In a letter dated Saturday and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged Mr. Khan to undertake a preliminary examination into the situation in Plateau State and extend any current investigations to cover the ongoing crisis. SERAP also requested Mr. Khan to visit Plateau State, demonstrating the ICC’s commitment to delivering…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
Doyin Odebowale, the former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, has stated his reasons for declining to work with the newly sworn-in governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Odebowale, who had served alongside Akeredolu for nearly three decades, expressed his inability to replicate the same level of dedication and loyalty to Aiyedatiwa that he had shown to Akeredolu. He, along with other key aides, resigned from their positions following the demise of Governor Akeredolu, who passed away in Germany after battling prostate cancer. In a statement to journalists in Akure, Odebowale reflected…
The Acting Chairman of Gwale Local Government Area (LGA) in Kano State, Bashir Kasim Dandago, has issued a statement distancing the council from a court order that restrained Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from utilizing funds from the joint State/Local Government Account for the construction of two bridges in the state. Speaking to journalists alongside six out of 10 councillors of the LGA, Dandago rejected the court order obtained by the chairmen of the 44 local government areas of the state. He highlighted that the elected council chairman, Khalid Ishaq Diso, who signed the lawsuit leading to the court order, is…
In a New Year message titled ‘New Dawn,’ the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has underscored the need for a change in Nigeria’s leadership and policies, which it considers as the longstanding challenges faced by the country since its independence in 1960. The party, led by its National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, expressed hope that 2024 will mark a turning point where Nigerians will actively engage in reshaping the nation’s destiny. APM emphasized the importance of holding governments at all levels accountable as a crucial step in the quest for a better society. In its statement, the APM acknowledged the existence of…
Former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, has condemned the recent bandit attacks on communities in the state on Christmas Eve, describing the assailants as having a cleansing agenda to take over the land. In a statement issued by his media consultant, Clinton Garuba, on Saturday, Jang expressed concern over the orchestrated attacks aimed at disrupting the peace and serenity that the people of Plateau State deserve. Jang reiterated the urgent need for the Federal Government to consider the establishment of state police as part of measures to address insecurity. He emphasized that state police would enable a more effective…
The Senate has summoned the country’s top security chiefs to address the Christmas Eve attacks on communities in Plateau State. The attacks, which occurred on December 23 and 24, 2023, disrupted Christmas preparations and resulted in the destruction of homes and looting of properties. The Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Hassan Abubakar; Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi; and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun are among those invited to appear before the Senate. The decision to summon the security chiefs came after Senator Diiket Plang, representing Plateau Central, brought the attacks…
The Senate has passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill, increasing the budget from the initial N27.5 trillion proposed by President Bola Tinubu to N28.7 trillion, marking an increase of about N1.2 trillion. The approval of the bill came after the Senate Committee on Appropriation presented its report, which was endorsed during the plenary session on Saturday. Senator Solomon Adeola, while presenting the report, stated that the committee based its deliberations on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Paper (MTEF/FSP) approved by the National Assembly. He noted that the committee made adjustments to the oil benchmark, setting it at 77.96 dollars…
Former lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has cautioned those criticizing President Bola Tinubu over the persistent insecurity in the country, particularly in the northern region. In a post on his verified Facebook page, Senator Shehu Sani expressed his concern about the hypocrisy of many people in the North who tolerated insecurity during the eight years of Buhari’s administration but are now vocal about it under Tinubu’s leadership. He stated, “It’s too early to forget how they shielded the past administration from criticism. At one time, all the Nation’s security, intelligence, and defence apparatuses were headed by Northerners.” Reflecting on his own experience,…
Former spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation and national chairmanship hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Showunmi, has criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, President Bola Tinubu, for alleged confusion and mismanagement after the last presidential election, which he claims they rigged to win. Speaking at the sidelines of the PDP’s end-of-the-year party in Ogun State on Saturday, Showunmi blamed the APC for the country’s current hardships, stating, “The APC have manipulated, and they are now confused. Everything is not working. Life is now really unbearable.” He highlighted the high cost of…
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has decorated 120 newly promoted officers at the Edo Command with various ranks as part of its nationwide promotion exercise. During the ceremony, the Comptroller of Correctional Service, Edo Command, Philomena Emehimola, urged the newly promoted officers to view their elevations as a call to greater responsibility. She emphasized the need for them to demonstrate diligence and commitment to justify their promotions. Emehimola stated, “Those of you who have been promoted, you must be ready to do more work, for the rewards for promotion is more work. You have been called to duty, and you…
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has successfully reunited seven children from Bauchi State with their parents, following the bust of an inter-state child abduction and trafficking syndicate by the Kano State Police Command. The children were handed over to their families on Friday in a heartfelt ceremony. The Police in Kano had been conducting a thorough investigation into reports of missing children, which led to the arrest of nine suspects involved in the syndicate. The syndicate, known for its involvement in inter-state trafficking, abduction, purchase, and sale of minors, operated across seven states, including Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta,…
Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Governor of Ondo State, has pledged to maintain the accomplishments of his late predecessor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Aiyedatiwa made this commitment during a candlelight procession organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ondo State chapter, to honor the late Akeredolu at the Government House in Akure on Friday night. In his remarks, Governor Aiyedatiwa hailed Akeredolu as a fearless legal luminary and a committed leader. He lauded Akeredolu’s dedication to justice and public service, which earned him the title “Senior Advocate of the Masses.” The governor expressed appreciation for the gesture of the NBA members, stating, “What you…
Timothy Osadolor, a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is “technically” no longer a member of the party. Osadolor cautioned against giving credence to Wike’s statements, alleging that the minister engages in “double-speak” on various issues. In an interview with Trust TV, he remarked, “The truth is that Wike has technically left the PDP. When last did you see him in any PDP function?” The PDP Deputy National Youth leader went on to assert that Wike’s actions, including his purported…
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has demanded the resignation of Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, citing his alleged failure to address the rising security challenges in the state. The call for Governor Soludo’s resignation comes in the wake of a recent attack in the state that resulted in the death of two policemen, two civilians, and the abduction of several others. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, involved an attack on the convoy of Chief Chris Uba, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). COSEYL, in a statement issued by its President General,…
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced the commencement of special operations by the police to tackle the prevailing security challenges in Plateau State. He made this known during a condolence visit to Governor Caleb Mutfwang in Jos on Friday. Egbetokun emphasized the commitment of the police force to ending the cycle of violence in Plateau State. He revealed that he had directed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of Zone 4 to relocate to Plateau State, underscoring the seriousness with which the police are addressing the situation. He urged communities not to collaborate with criminals but to…
The Nigerian Senate has announced a special plenary session scheduled for Saturday, December 30, 2023, to deliberate on and pass the 2024 Appropriation Bill. This decision comes in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s earlier presentation of the N27.5 trillion budget proposal to the National Assembly in November, with a call for swift approval before the year-end. The proposed budget outlines a targeted revenue of N18.324 trillion, with a deficit of N9.18 trillion to be covered through a combination of internal and external borrowings, as well as proceeds from privatisation. Previously, the Senate had planned to reconvene on Friday, December…
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has given the green light for the provision of a take-off site for the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area. The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Lands, Surveys, and Urban Development, Emamusi Obiodeh, on Friday. The approved take-off site for the university is the location previously occupied by the Delta State School of Marine Technology in Kwale. Governor Oborevwori has allocated 15 hectares of land, along with all the existing facilities and infrastructure from the former marine technology school, which has since relocated to…
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule signed two executive orders and one regulation law on Friday. The governor performed the function during an emergency meeting of the State Executive Council in Lafia. Speaking at the event, Sule said that the executive orders are for the adoption of the Framework for Responsible Investment in Land Intensive Agriculture, FRILIA, and the implementation of the Nasarawa Governance Result and Efficiency Mechanism, NGREM. According to the governor, the regulation law, on the other hand, was for strengthening the Nasarawa State Investment and Development Agency, NASIDA, Law 2020, to improve the framework for public-private partnerships, PPP,…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue has raised concerns over what it perceives as a growing state of anarchy under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia. In a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson, Bemgba Iortyom, the PDP condemned the indefinite suspension of Kwande LGA Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Terdoo Kenti, and other members of his Executive Committee. According to Iortyom, the suspension of Mr. Kenti and his committee members is an aberration that highlights the disregard for democratic principles and the leadership incompetence of Governor Hyacinth Alia. The PDP spokesperson dismissed the suspension as inconsequential,…
Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, a former Presidential candidate and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Ghali Na’Abba, former Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, and former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State. He described their deaths as a significant loss to Nigeria’s politics and democracy. In a statement released by his media office in Abuja, Olawepo-Hashim praised the late Na’Abba and Akeredolu as political giants who had a profound impact on the country’s political landscape. He lauded Na’Abba as a patriot, selfless politician, and true democrat who stood against dictatorship and championed the…