Author: Amina Mohammed

A Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Tuesday, rejected the bail application of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, citing procedural irregularities in the filing of the application. Justice Maryanne Anenih, while delivering the ruling, stated that the application was premature as it was filed before Bello was present in court or in custody. The judge said, “Having not been filed when the first defendant was either in custody or before the court, this instant application is incompetent. “Consequently, the application, having been filed prematurely, is hereby refused.” Bello, alongside two others, is facing charges brought by the Economic and…

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency are using the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to destabilise and weaken the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Paul Ibe, Atiku’s media aide, made this claim during a television interview on Monday, accusing the APC of turning the PDP into a “playground” to deepen its internal crisis and extend it to other opposition parties, with Wike acting as its “Man Friday.” Ibe stated, “I still restate that the process to bring back the party from the precipice…

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has undergone surgery following a brain haemorrhage caused by a recent fall, the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital in São Paulo announced on Tuesday. “The operation was completed without complications” on Monday night, and Lula is “doing well and under monitoring” in an intensive care unit, the hospital stated in a release shared on the president’s Instagram account. AFP

The President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier is set to arrive in Nigeria on December 10, 2024 and stay until December 12, 2024, the German Embassy said in a statement on Monday. “While in Abuja, President Steinmeier will meet with the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as with the President of the Commission of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), His Excellency Dr. Alieu Omar Touray,” the statement partly read. The German President will then proceed to Lagos, where he will engage with business representatives, visit a start-up hub and meet with members of Nigeria’s…

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised former Labour Party candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, for allegedly reaching out to legal expert Chief Afe Babalola to intervene on behalf of Lagos-based lawyer and public affairs commentator, Dele Farotimi. Farotimi is currently on trial at an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ekiti State, following his arrest at his Chambers in Lagos last week, for allegedly defaming Chief Babalola in his book ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’. The police invasion of Farotimi’s Chambers by officers from the Ekiti State Command and the alleged harassment of…

Abia State Government has commenced community engagements to communicate the government’s intentions to the people of the Nsulu clan in the Isialangwa North Local Government Area on the proposed citing of Abia airport in their community. The Chief of Staff to Governor Alex Otti, Calab Ajagba, announced this on Monday while addressing traditional rulers and other representatives of the various host communities at the palace of Eze Christopher Ebere in Umuomaita, Isialangwa North Local Government Area. He revealed that the government had earlier engaged the village heads of the various communities and secured their consent for the project. Ajagba showed…

President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of Chief Executive Officers for some establishments in the country. The establishments include the National Universities Commission, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative, and the New Partnership for Africa Development. Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, announced this in a statement he signed and released on Friday titled ‘President Tinubu announced key appointments into NUC, NERDC, NEPAD and SMDF.’ He appointed Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, a visiting professor at the NUC, as the organisation’s Executive Secretary. The statement read in…

The sister of Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, Atsi Kefas, was reportedly shot by a police escort during an attack by gunmen on Thursday. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication specializing in the Lake Chad region, the incident occurred along Kente Road in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. Jumai, the governor’s mother, and Atsi were traveling when they were ambushed by gunmen. The publication reported that a police officer assigned to escort the family “accidentally shot Atsi” while trying to repel the attackers. In the aftermath of the attack, troops swiftly intervened, rescuing the victims and evacuating…

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has dismissed the reports alleging that permission had been granted to France to establish an expeditionary military base in Nigeria. Musa faulted the insinuation that the recent visit of President Bola Tinubu to France where a lot of bilateral agreements were signed included allowing foreign military bases in Nigeria. He gave the clarification on Friday during the unveiling of the Armed Forces of Nigeria 2025 Tattoo Logo at the Defence Headquarters Abuja. According to him, no foreign body will establish any foreign military base in Nigeria, not in the north, not…

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido has emphasised the critical role of effective leadership in driving Nigeria and Africa to greater heights. In an interview with Elevate Africa published on Thursday via YouTube, the globally celebrated artist shared his thoughts on the resilience of Nigerians and the potential for the nation to achieve unprecedented progress if led by the right people. “We can’t go forward without…we need the best leaders now first, that’s the most important thing,” Davido said. He noted that while Nigerians possess remarkable adaptability and determination, the absence of visionary leadership has hindered the country’s advancement. Respond to the…