In a commitment to overhaul Nigeria’s criminal justice system, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, declared the government’s resolve at the South-East Special Policy Summit on Criminal Justice Reforms in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state. Addressing attorney generals from over fifteen states, Fagbemi emphasized the importance of an effective justice system for peace, stability, and economic growth. The summit aimed at promoting access to both civil and criminal justice, focusing on the deployment of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Plea Bargaining, and Restorative Justice in the ongoing reforms. Fagbemi highlighted the dedication of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu…
Author: Editor Francis
The House of Representatives has called on the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to initiate a dialogue with the Multichoice Group concerning the recent increase in DSTV and GOTV subscriptions. The decision to advocate for discussions came after a debate on a motion moved by Umar Ajilo, who proposed the suspension of the tariff hike. During the motion, Ajilo emphasized the economic challenges faced by Nigerians, asserting that the timing of the subscription fee increment is inappropriate given the prevailing economic hardship. He expressed concerns about the “exorbitant increase in DSTV/GOTV package tariffs,” particularly for the Premium and Compact Plus packages.…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar marked his 77th birthday on Wednesday by offering scholarships to indigent pupils at Central Primary School in Jada, Adamawa State, where he initially enrolled in 1954. In a statement released by Atiku’s Special Assistant (Broadcast Media), AbdulRasheed Shehu, it was revealed that the philanthropic gesture was part of the events lined up for the ex-vice president’s birthday celebration. Returning to the school that played a pivotal role in his early education, Atiku expressed gratitude for the blessings that allowed him to succeed despite his humble background. He took the opportunity to address the pupils, encouraging…
The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has issued bail to the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. The bail, set at N300 million, was granted by Justice Hamza Muazu during a ruling on Wednesday. The court stipulated that Emefiele must provide two sureties with landed property in the Maitama District of the FCT. Notably, Emefiele was absent from the court proceedings as he had been remanded at Kuje Prison the previous week. This development follows a prior order from another FCT High Court, which, two weeks ago, directed Emefiele’s release…
Qatar has confirmed that it successfully mediated a ceasefire deal between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in the Gaza war. The start of the four-day ceasefire will be announced within the next 24 hours, the Foreign Ministry in Qatar posted early on Wednesday on social media platform X, formerly called Twitter. Qatar confirmed that Hamas is to release 50 hostages and in return, with yet to be undetermined number of Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons. “The number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementing the agreement,’’ the post said. Qatar added that the…
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the average retail price of a litre of petrol increased from N195.29 in October 2022 to N630.63 in October 2023. It made the declaration in its Petrol Price Watch for October 2023 released in Abuja on Wednesday. It stated that the October 2023 price of N630.63 represented a 222.92 per cent increase over the price of N195.29 recorded in October 2022. “Comparing the average price value with the previous month of September 2023, the average retail price increased by 0.71 per cent from N626.21. “On state profiles analysis, Zamfara paid the highest average…
President Bola Tinubu said in Berlin on Tuesday that his economic reforms as governor of Lagos State, which later propelled him to the presidency, warrant mention in the Guinness Book of Records. Speaking at the 10th German-Nigerian Business Forum, where trade deals worth hundreds of millions were signed, Tinubu posited that “if you didn’t mention me in the Guinness Book of Records, I’d thrive to find a way to insert myself because I did it without expectation.” “I governed Lagos for eight consecutive years,” the president stated, highlighting how under his tenure the state became Africa’s 5th largest economy. “Today…
A desperate crush to get through a stadium gate for an army recruiting event saw at least 31 people trampled to death in the Republic of Congo capital, officials said Tuesday. A prosecutor said he had opened an investigation into the disaster when several thousand youths descended on the Michel d’Ornano stadium on Monday night hoping for one of 1,500 army posts. Security officials said the dead were left after people tried to push through one gate. They said some tried to force the gate open while others tried to jump over a wall into the stadium. The government revised…
In a press conference held in Abuja, Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake declared the revocation of 1,633 mineral titles, emphasizing that operators failing to comply would face apprehension and prosecution. The decision followed a 30-day notice, with only 580 out of 2,213 defaulters settling their dues. Alake highlighted the publication of defaulters’ notice in the Federal Government Gazette, citing the expiration of the mandatory 30-day period on November 10, 2023. He stressed that the Mining Cadastre Office recommended the revocation after only a fraction responded by settling their indebtedness. The Minister, invoking the NMMA 2007, Section 5 (a), underscored…
The South African Parliament voted on Tuesday in favor of a motion calling for the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria, reflecting escalating tensions over violence in Gaza. The largely symbolic move passed 248-91, backed by the ruling African National Congress party and opposed by the centrist Democratic Alliance. It was introduced by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party and will not require the government to act. President Cyril Ramaphosa has accused Israel of war crimes and genocide regarding recent military strikes in Gaza that killed thousands of Palestinians. Israel withdrew its ambassador last week. The matter has strained ties.…
The U.S. Department of State recently concluded its annual TechWomen program, bringing together emerging women leaders in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), fields from over 20 countries for a cultural and professional exchange. The month-long program connected participants with mentorships from prominent American women across the tech industry and academia. Through these partnerships, the visitors aimed to build skills, networks and ideas to advance gender equity and opportunity in their home communities and encourage more girls to pursue STEM careers. “TechWomen was an answer to former President Obama’s 2009 call for increased U.S. engagement with the Muslim world in…
In a strategic move to address global telecommunications challenges, Deputy Assistant Secretary Steve Lang is spearheading the U.S. delegation at the World RadiocommunicationConference 2023 (WRC-23) in Dubai The delegation, comprising nearly 200 participants, includes key figures such as Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick and Department of Commerce Assistant Secretaries Alan Davidson and Michael Morgan. WRC-23, convened every four years by the International Telecommunication Union, aims to update the international Radio Regulations—an instrumental treaty governing the coordination and utilization of the global radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbital resources. The conference is a pivotal opportunity…