We ordinarily would not waste words on faceless social media platforms like the so-called "Adamawa Happenings." However, in light of inquiries from concerned Nigerians and credible members of the press, we are compelled to set the record straight:

His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007) and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has not — we repeat, has not — resigned from the PDP. He remains a steadfast, bonafide, and loyal member of the party.

The source of this baseless rumour is a Facebook page peddling falsehoods, evidently orchestrated by desperate political operatives with nothing but mischief and confusion on their agenda. It is a calculated attempt to mislead the public and sow discord among the millions of Nigerians who look to Atiku Abubakar for direction and leadership.

This is not just fake news — it is a crude, shameless political hatchet job.

We urge Nigerians, especially supporters of the Waziri Adamawa, to disregard this malicious fabrication. It is a vile, vexatious ploy that deserves nothing but contempt.

Atiku Abubakar remains committed to the ideals of the PDP and to the democratic aspirations of the Nigerian people.

Signed:
Paul Ibe
Media Adviser to Atiku Abubakar
Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party
Abuja

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission ( FCSC), Prof. Tunji Olaopa, has described the coronation of the 46th Aláàfin Ọ̀yọ́, Ọba Abímbọlá Akeem Ọ̀wọ́adé, as a giant leap in Yoruba renaissance.

According to Prof. Olaopa, the coronation of a new Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́ is always an event that possesses social, political and cultural symbolism and significance. "This is why I deeply congratulate His Imperial Majesty, Ọba Abímbọlá Akeem Ọ̀wọ́adé, on the ascension of the throne of his fathers. This is an event whose significance transcends Yorùbáland and reverberates into the Yorùbá diaspora and the entire world where Yorùbá sociocultural and political influence is felt."

This is contained in a congratulatory message Olaopa issued to celebrate the new monarch whose coronation takes place on Saturday April 5, 2025 .

To Olaopa, the new Aláàfin is "wearing big shoes not just as the successor of the charismatic and highly influential leadership of past rulers, from Aláàfin Atìbà Atọ́batẹ́lẹ̀ to the unforgettable Aláàfin Lamidi Adéyẹmí—the traditional geniuses whose deep sense of history enabled them to curate the cultural relevance of the ancients and their traditional wisdom and institutions. He is also the inheritor of the great ancient tradition and heroic achievements of the leadership accomplishments from Ọ̀rànmíyàn to Ṣàngó, those whose foresights and selfless humanism laid the foundation of the formidable Ọ̀yọ́ Empire, and a cultural philosophy that gave the idea of the ọmọlúwàbì to the world."

For Olaopa, therefore, this ascension is therefore not a sinecure as he is confronted "with a modernizing imperative that serves as the core of the urgency of facilitating a Yorùbá renaissance at home and abroad. This renaissance must be founded on the rich tapestries of Yorùbá culture and civilization—that the Yorùbá built cities and founded dynasties; they created cultural dynamics and oversaw resilient political institutions; they conquered lands and incubate an entrepreneurial spirit that kept them on the critical frontiers of multidimensional achievements that have weathered the erosion of time. All this makes the Aláàfin a singular figure—a traditional agent of modernization that stands at the crossroads of managing the orthodoxy of tradition while launching the Yorùbá on the path of renewed modern vigor. This is even all the more so as traditional institutions in Nigeria places the traditional ruler within the context of democratic rejuvenation and consolidation. This is because it is at the level of the traditional institutional framework that Nigeria’s local governance dynamics become clarified and revitalized.

"The Aláàfin therefore becomes a symbolic pointer to the possibility of local governance that serves also as a modernizing influence on grassroots development. Yorùbá renaissance must therefore start at the level at which the Aláàfin constitutes the rallying point for southwest socioeconomic development. But this role as the vanguard of local governance means the Aláàfin has to first stimulate a climate of peaceful coexistence that constitutes the most significant element for socioeconomic development, starting from Afijio communities to the Òkè-Ògùn axis and rolling outward to the entire southwest as a corridor of development that builds on a climate of peace to instigate an industrializing progress that will eclipse past developmental efforts."

For the new monarch to realise these, according to Olaopa, he must be able to "stand above the recurring adversarial relationship that seems to define the relationship between the Aláàfin and the Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀. This is one historical moment when the Aláàfin needs to be meticulous and deliberate in deploying his status, as the symbol of cultural unity, to articulate a relational framework that will ensure that all cultural and political resources are harnessed towards the task of making Yorùbáland a source of exemplary leadership that undermines the depth of irrelevance to which traditional rulers and traditional institutions have been reduced in Nigeria’s contemporary sociocultural and political reckoning.

" The ascension of the monarch will bring a cosmopolitan touch to modernize tradition for the emancipation of Oyo people.I see the coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Kábíyèsí Ọba Abímbọlá Akeem Ọ̀wọ́adé as the signal to a new beginning not just for the Ọ̀yọ́, Òkè-Ògùn and the southwest, but essentially for the injection of a youthful dose of creative and cultural innovation into Nigeria’s democratic experiment. May the reign of His Imperial Majesty, Aláyélúwà, Kábíyèsí Ọ̀wọ́adé be long and peaceful and fruitful—Àṣẹ!."

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of Bauchi-based Islamic cleric Dr Idris Abdulaziz Dutsen Tanshi, who passed away in the early hours of Friday.

He was 68 years old.

President Tinubu, deeply moved by the loss, said the cleric contributed to moulding millions of youths and other Muslim faithful on the tenets of Islam.

The President extolled Dr Abdulaziz's efforts in countering the spread of violent extremism, especially in the early days of the Boko Haram conflict.

He said the Muslim faithful would greatly miss the cleric's trenchant voice, calling for moral rectitude and probity.

While praying for the repose of Dr Abdulaziz's soul, President Tinubu urged his family and followers to find solace in his good work.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President

(Information & Strategy)

Senator Godswill Akpabio has been in public service for over two decades, but it’s only recently that his supernatural powers have been brought to national attention. These days, the Senate President is regularly accused of doing things that would require some kind of paranormal abilities. Nigeria should be grateful for discovering this aspect of the uncommon senator. Last week, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan announced that Akpabio, working with Gov. Ododo and former governor Yahaya Bello, was the one orchestrating her recall from the Senate. She claimed that initially Gov. Ododo was reluctant to be part of the plot, but he eventually caved in due to Akpabio’s surreal powers. It doesn’t matter that the Senate President is not even from Kogi, his influence and abilities cover the whole nation, according to the suspended senator, who also blamed INEC for working for her downfall. Well, it turned out that the recall has failed, but Akpabio still stands accused.

Last weekend, the same Akpoti-Uduaghan added a more bizarre allegation to the mix, claiming that the Senate President was even planning, again with Yahaya Bello, to murder her. She said the plot was hatched at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja (where else?) and that Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong from Cross River State was part of the scheme. In fact, it was Ekpenyong that drove Bello to the hotel for the meeting, according to her. While the nation was enjoying a long weekend, Superman Akpabio was busy planning Natasha’s recall and assassination at the same time; and since Ekpenyong, the young senator from Calabar is a close friend of Akpabio’s, the plot wouldn’t sound believable unless his name was mentioned. But why would anybody try to recall a senator he is planning to murder?

 I understand that the Senate President is already talking to his lawyers and has sent a petition to the Inspector General of Police to investigate the outlandish allegations. I hope that she will honour police invitation to substantiate her claims. It was in 2018 that another Kogi Senator, Dino Melaye, was invited by the police to answer to some allegations. He went into hiding for eight days before he gave up. Melaye, who represented Kogi West, was accused of murder by the police and was declared wanted after he failed to honour their invitation. The eight-day hide-and-seek drama that followed gripped national attention and ended early January 2019 when Melaye opened his front door and came out of hiding. We shall see how Natasha, from Kogi Central, will play her own cards.

While we were still wrapping our heads around Natasha’s allegations, we heard another story of Akpabio’s powers. Senator Elisha Aboh, who lost his seat in 2023 due to a Supreme Court’s judgment, said in an interview with Arise News that it was Akpabio who influenced the Supreme Court. It was an old allegation which he had made in 2023, but had soon recanted and apologized for. But this time, he added that the Senate President had also orchestrated the sacking of five other senators and that the lawmakers in the upper chamber routinely run errands for the senate president and some even serve him tea in his residence. Talk of one man’s awesome powers!

The story of Akpabio’s supernatural powers is quite captivating. Right from his early days in politics, he has always been attributed with breathtaking abilities to the admiration of friends and foes. Some claim that he has abundance of God’s grace, while others think that his source of power is in unfathomable. He was a commissioner in the administration of Gov. Victor Attah when he planned to be governor. As the plan grew, he resigned the job late 2006 and devoted his full time to pursue the ambition. Initially, Attah was rooting for him, but later changed his mind and supported his son-in-law who was also a commissioner. Akapbio beat all the 56 aspirants, including the governor’s son-in-law and other heavy weights, to clinch the party’s ticket. He resisted all attempts by powerful political to take the ticket from him.  

As governor, he faced allegations of being the sponsor of the many cases of kidnappings in the state so as to weaken his opponents. That was the first and only time a governor would be so accused. Till today, with all the abductions happening across the country, no other state governor has ever been accused of sponsoring the kidnappings of his people. But my only regret is that the Senate President has not deployed his unique supernatural powers to solve Nigeria’s myriads of socioeconomic problems!

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Honourable Justice Binta Nyako has issued a restraining order barring all parties involved in the ongoing legal challenge surrounding the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from making public statements or granting media interviews on the matter.

The case, which was recently reassigned to Justice Nyako following the recusal of Justice Egwuatu, came up for mention today. The court took appearances from legal counsel representing both parties. Chief J.S. Okutepa, SAN, appeared for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, while Umeh Kalu, SAN; Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN; Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN; and Paul Daudu, SAN, represented the Senate and its committee.

Justice Nyako noted that several applications had been filed, including preliminary objections challenging the originating summons. She directed all counsel to submit to the Court Registrar a list and brief description of their filed processes, indicating which are deemed relevant or otherwise, ahead of the next adjourned date.

The Court further directed that all preliminary objections and the substantive suit would be consolidated and heard together on the next hearing date. Justice Nyako emphasized that in cases involving conflicting affidavit evidence, oral testimony may be required to ensure substantial justice. However, she clarified that the issue of jurisdiction would be determined first before any consideration of the substantive claims made by the plaintiff in the same judgment 

Of particular significance, Justice Nyako issued a formal order restraining all parties, including Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, their legal representatives, and members of the 10th National Assembly, from making public comments on the case through any media platforms, traditional or social. The restriction also extends to legal and political analysts, commentators, and media guests on radio and television programmes.

This development follows recent public engagements by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, including comments made at the Inter-Parliamentary Union meeting in New York, where she alleged that her suspension was a result of accusations she made concerning sexual harassment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. She subsequently granted interviews to multiple local and international media outlets, including the BBC, SKY, and DEW.

The matter has been adjourned to May 12, 2025, for hearing of all interlocutory applications and the substantive case. A date for judgment will be scheduled thereafter.

Dr. Tai Solarin, the irrepressible fighter against illiteracy and its attendant product, darkness, as well as awful cognitive impairment, was wont to warn that an educated citizenry is easy to rule, but difficult to ride, easy to govern but impossible to enslave. It is even more so when it concerns a well-educated lady who, additionally, is exposed. Then, factor in the power of woman, hitherto under-estimated and dragged down through the bully of men. Senator Natasha Uduaghan bears within her the accustomed Western European culture of a girl’s outspokenness as well as Nigerian culture of a girl’s rebellion when she feels oppressed and she has been driven to the wall.  A great many may not remember or may have been unfamiliar with the Egba women uprising led by Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti which ended in the dethronement of the Alake, who in fact, fled his throne! Since then the nation has witnessed the emergence of many women activists who do not mince words and who take to the streets over issues they consider are capable of harming national or even the interest of a state. 

Nyesom Wike may have read the handwriting on the wall that Ireti Kingibe has drawn the line in their briefs of engagement as Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the Lady as Senator representing Abuja Senatorial District covering the capital territory and communities beyond it. Wike seems to have mellowed and his rough tackles and lack of refinement tucked away when it comes to Ireti Kingibe on anything that could bring them into a collision course. Their paths hardly cross these days. Such are the unremitted fangs of a woman when she is ready to fight.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio did not demonstrate tact in his handling of the Natasha affair. With the poor handling that smirks of over-confidence he did not reckon with how far an educated and exposed woman could go, worse if she is, in addition, a lawyer like Natasha. In Western Europe or America an amorous joke carried a little far could be regarded as sexual harassment! An uncurbed display of affection towards a lady can be regarded as an attempted rape, depending on her mood. Ask Mr Donald Trump, back as President in the United States. A lady columnist, Jean Carroll accused Mr. Trump of sexual assault. The Jurors rejected her claim that she was raped, but upheld the charge of sexual abuse by Mr. Trump and held him liable also for defaming the lady over her allegations. He was asked to pay Carroll $5million (Dollars) The lady said in a statement after the verdict: “I filed this law suit against Donald Trump to clear my name and to get my life back. Today, the world finally knows the truth.”  The incident was said to have occurred at a department store in mid-1990s, although Trump commenting on the verdict said, according to PBS NEWS: “I have absolutely no idea who this lady is.” In the case of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Virginia Giuffre in the United States it ended in an out-of-court settlement. Prince Andrew paid the lady an unspecified sum of money in compensation. BBC reported at the time that Prince Andrew was stripped of all military titles, the use of the title His Royal Highness and royal patronages by the Palace. President Bill Clinton escaped being impeached by the Senate by the whiskers following allegations by intern Monica Lenwisky.  

The alleged interventionist plea by Natasha’s husband to Akpabio to allow his wife table her motions did not awaken in him a sensing that Natasha must have told her husband something. He ought to have known that from then he was carrying a burden and he has been lent feet of clay. Some other person in his shoes would have been cautious and would have bent over backwards to encourage Natasha come up with as many motions as she could dream up. What’s more, in a blatant show of power Natasha had her seat reallocated without as little as courtesy of an advanced notice. She came into the hallowed Red Chamber only to find that her seat had been moved. Akpabio finding himself in a similar seating dispute a few years back with Dr. Bukola Saraki in the chair as the Senate President was in piercing rage in which he invested seemingly all his might. Fellow Senators had to intervene to calm nerves. Former Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo refreshed memories of the incident only on Wednesday, speaking on Arise News Prime Time. He said it was over a seat and there was altercation between Akpabio and Saraki “which was resolved maturely without suspension.” 

Natasha saw in her experiences and Akpabio’s body language some payback for turning down his alleged romantic advances. The last straw was the seating rearrangement. These were the background to her protest. Is there any day there is no voice of dissent or protest in the Senate? Natasha asked why her own protest which landed her suspension of six months without pay is different. She said she did not insult anyone on the fateful day nor did she break any rules. Akpabio did not look far to realise that an insinuation of this nature was going to wake up a sleeping dog. The case of the former Acting MD of NNDC came to mind. In 2020 she claimed she slapped Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of making love advances to her. This has been resuscitated, thus lending credence to Natasha’s claims. Instead of pro-Akpabio forces in the Senate to work discretely to placate Natasha, they are talking about Senate rules. As if no one is sensing that if the issue is not swiftly and properly resolved, it may get out of control steps are being taking to escalate an already embarrassing saga. Her State Government said she should not come to the state, citing security concerns. I believe Natasha has no problem with her constituents in Kogi Central. She, in fact, owes them a journey home to put them fully in the picture. They should hear directly from her, from the horse’s mouth. In other words, if she was suspended as she has been for six months, where else should she think of going first? Not to her constituency? Does the state she represents not owe her adequate security now that she has become a controversial lady, more so that her security details had been withdrawn and her salary stopped for the duration of her suspension as parts of her punishment by her colleagues in the Senate who accused her of misconduct. 

The state government described her as “an incurable liar, a serial manipulator. She is a desperate politician who has built her political career on falsehood.” The government’s statement goes as follows: “This is yet another desperate and calculated attempt by an incurable liar and serial manipulator to mislead the public, inciting unrest, and present herself (sic) as a victim after deliberately violating the ban on political gatherings imposed by the State Government to maintain law and order…We call on security agencies to take note of her reckless utterances and inflammatory actions that pose a serious threat to peace and stability in the state. She should be held accountable for her blatant attempts to incite violence and cause unnecessary tension”.  

There is a subsisting attempt to recall her by her constituents the authenticity of which is now doubtful. The rousing reception she received on landing at Ihima, her hometown, in Okehi Local Government Area has cast serious doubts on the verity of the recall claim. She arrived in her Okehi local government area by helicopter she said was procured for her by her husband, feeling triumphant and she exclaimed that she was back in her homeland, where she is the proud daughter of Dr. Abdul Akpoti. “I am an Ebira woman, the daughter of Dr. Abdul Akpoti. They tried to stop me from coming home. We own Ebira together, and no Senate President would stop me from coming home.” She braved all odds—ban on public gathering and curfew ahead of her flying in. Roads of prospective participants at the gathering were blocked, yet the multitude was unbelievable, stretching beyond sight. They found their way to the reception. Those who gathered there defied all odds, too, avoiding roads that were blocked. With the heroic reception which featured singing and dancing, who will be in doubt that the so-called attempt at recalling her from the Senate must have been orchestrated by powerful interested elements in the state and beyond as she claimed, not by the ordinary people in her constituency who voted for her to represent them. They sang throatily, “Na awa mama be dis oh!” They carried placards extolling her goodness and support for them, and they expressed genuine love to their benefactor.

On an earlier occasion she gave an assurance of her commitment to improving the welfare of her people, especially “women and children who are the most vulnerable” during an economic crisis. On the day in question she distributed palliatives to them in the rain. One of the women touched by her effort said: “This is a great relief for us. Senator Natasha has always stood by the people, and today’s gesture proves her genuine concern for our wellbeing.” 

Commenting on the recall effort, Natasha said the petitioners were members of the opposition party, APC, and INEC must have helped them to perfect their petition and Nigeria and the world in general should ask how in two days 250, 000 petitioners could sign to recall her. She said the petitioners were unidentified names with fictitious addresses. “We saw what happened. They came around and deceived our people that they had empowerment for them with their PVC. They took advantage of our women’s illiteracy. They took advantage of poverty… The recall will not be successful.” She added: “No amount of threats and intimidation will silence my voice in seeking justice. No chain can bind me.” To corroborate her claim of forged signatures on the petition, a prominent and vocal figure, Farouk Garba, in the community was quoted by the media as saying: “Nobody visited my polling unit to ask for our signature for the recall of our senator. We are waiting for the people who forged our signature to come.” 

What the Kogi State Government ought to have done was to formally invite Natasha home, hear her own side of the story, what is happening to her in the Senate. It is an occasion to close ranks. She is widely regarded as one of the best and most resourceful members of the Senate. The testimonial ought to be a source of pride to them that they cannot afford to lose. Following the meeting which should include a few representatives of her Senatorial zone, respected leaders from the state would be assembled. The said leaders would go to Abuja and hold a series of meetings behind closed doors with the leaders of the Senate with the singular object of arresting the deteriorating situation and resolving the disputations. A few leaders of thought, some former Senators and disinterested individuals from other parts of the country could be co-opted. 

Nowhere is the abuse and unfreedom of women so nauseatingly pasted on their forehead than Afghanistan where by law women cannot go out to any public space unaccompanied by a male relative. Girls have been banned from secondary schools and prohibited from taking university entrance examinations since 2022. As of July 2023, beauty salons were ordered by the Taliban to shut down. The Taliban may appear to be succeeding in putting the women in chains since their return to power in December, 2021 after 20 years out of power. But having found their feet and power during the years of the U.S. backed Administration of Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan pushed by George Bush when they had expanded educational spaces, when they began to boast of doctors in their ranks; when they were teachers, magistrates and judges, the women are resisting the oppression with all the powers with which women are endowed–silent but sure and unmistakable. They got their encouragement and push from Laura Bush. First Lady Laura Bush took over her husband, the President’s weekly radio programme during which she addressed the situation in Afghanistan, putting special emphasis on the suppression of women and children. By 2001, when the Taliban fell, fewer than one million children were in school. But through her efforts, by 2008, children enrolment in schools had climbed to six million, one-third of them girls. She mobilized funds in the United States to build schools for the Afghans. So, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan going to the UN to appraise the world on her experiences could not have been for nothing.

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has demonstrated determination and strength. Women with such determination, strength of character and strength of followership can hardly be put down if their cause is right. Little wonder, woman activist, Aisha Yesufu, proud of the unrelenting, irrepressible posture of Natasha, said every state must send at least three Natashas to the National Assembly henceforth.

The world is still groping in the dark with the self-evident collapse everywhere including the so-called civilized world, yielding to an awakening consequent on the pressure of the Light. The pressure is the trigger and instrument of purification that is sweeping through the world in these times, manifesting in the acceleration and intensification of events, bad and good, wholesome and unwholesome, bringing an end to man’s inhumanity to man– until the whole world is cleansed of pestilential elements ahead of the Millennium. With the pressure of the Light, coming from the Son of Man, governments will sooner than later be in place only in accordance with the Will of God. As I have said before in these pages, Leaders are born, not made; they are sent, not electable.  

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),  Mr. Ola Olukoyede, on Thursday, vowed to tackle many cases of non-performing loans in Nigeria associated with underlining fraudulent content.

The EFCC boss, in a statement on Thursday, vowed to tackle such cases of fraud in the interest of justice.

Olukoyede stated this while receiving the  Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export- Import, NEXIM Bank, Mallam Abba Bello  at the corporate headquarters of the EFCC.

Olukoyede stressed the Commission’s commitment towards using the anti-corruption fight to stimulate growth in the economy.

Economic Sabotage

The EFCC boss highlighted that the Commission is not a debt recovery agency, but only steps in when a certain classification of debts constitutes an economic sabotage on the nation.

He pointed out that “many cases of non-performing loans have underlining fraudulent content and the EFCC would stop at nothing to tackle such cases.” 

“We are careful of the way we come in, particularly when it comes to the issue of loan recovery. We look at the area of economic sabotage. When somebody is granted a loan, particularly if the money is from the commonwealth or from investors’ resources in a bank, and they divert the money or the money does not go to what it was meant for, obviously that is economic sabotage. More than 90% of the cases of bad loans have underlining fraud”, he explained further.

• Olukoyede noted that the mission of the EFCC and that of NEXIM Bank align in the area of stimulation of the country’s economic growth.

“We have shared mandates with your bank as an export-import promoting bank, which is to grow the economy.  Doing that, you are promoting the economy, and on our part, one of our mandates is to also use the instrumentality of the fight against corruption to grow the economy,” he stated.

• He assured that the shared mandate between the institutions would translate to the development of the nation.

More Insights  

On his part, Bello appreciated the EFCC for assisting his bank in handling several financial cases including “abuse which was occasioned by all kinds of things, technical abuse of the process of lending money to beneficiaries of the bank.” 

• He said the bank is trying to see how it can redeem the situation.

“The EFCC helped us and played a leading role in the recovery of the monies that were given out fraudulently or without following due process,” he added.

• The NEXIM boss appealed to the  EFCC to assist his bank  in  recovering loans taken by former internal staffers of the bank.

He also sought collaboration with the Commission regarding fraud prevention within the financial institution.

[Nairametrics]

Naija News reports that the Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment, on Friday, by a five-member panel, held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to pronounce Abure the national chairman of the LP having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.

It held that the issue of leadership was an internal affair of the party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.

The Supreme Court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.

It proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal filed by the Abure’s faction of the LP for not being unmeritorious.

More Details later...

[NaijaNews]

The Fundamental Right to Protest and Speak

The Right to Voice Grievances. Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, the recent developments concerning the NYSC and the 90-day extension of service for over 30 corps members in Edo State, allegedly for expressing their grievances about unpaid allowances, are troubling and require careful consideration.

These young Nigerians, who completed their mandatory service year with dedication and commitment, deserve fairness and understanding. Their decision to air their grievances in a WhatsApp group should be viewed within the context of their right to expression and their desire for clarity concerning their entitlements. In any democratic society, the ability to voice concerns respectfully and constructively is fundamental.

The Right to Free Expression

Nigeria’s constitution upholds the principles of freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. These are vital pillars of any democratic framework. Expressing concerns, especially when rooted in legitimate grievances, should not be construed as a violation of discipline or loyalty. Instead, it presents an opportunity for dialogue, understanding, and resolution.

The National Youth Service Corps serves as an essential institution aimed at promoting unity, development, and mutual understanding. Therefore, the emphasis should be on fostering an environment where corps members feel valued and heard. Responding to their concerns with fairness and transparency would reinforce their commitment to the ideals of service.

Where Is The Justice, AGF Fagbemi?

Nigeria’s Evolving Democracy. Nigeria continues to evolve as a democratic nation. As the nation’s top legal authority, your role in ensuring that justice is served fairly and that grievances are addressed responsibly is pivotal. Where young citizens feel marginalized or unheard, there is a risk of eroding trust in national institutions.

While disciplinary measures may have their place, they should always be balanced with fairness, due process, and an understanding of the broader social and economic context in which grievances arise. Compassionate leadership can bridge the gap between authority and the people it serves.

Legal Justifications or Misinterpretations?

The NYSC has referenced ‘incitement to protest’ as a justification for its actions. However, it is crucial to ensure that such interpretations do not inadvertently suppress valid expressions of concern. Addressing grievances should not be approached as an act of defiance but as a legitimate exercise of constitutional rights.

Laws and regulations are meant to protect and guide, not to be wielded as instruments of suppression. Where policies are misapplied or overly interpreted, it is essential to revisit them with clarity and fairness.

Psychological Well-being and Fair Treatment

For young Nigerians starting their careers, feeling valued and respected plays a critical role in their psychological well-being. Situations where grievances are not adequately addressed can contribute to disillusionment, frustration, and a diminished sense of agency.

As a psychologist, I must emphasize that respectful dialogue and fair treatment are essential for promoting positive mental health outcomes. Engaging corps members constructively would enhance their morale, productivity, and commitment to national service.

The Need for Constructive Engagement

What these corps members seek is not confrontation but understanding. Addressing their concerns openly and with empathy would set a positive precedent for future interactions between authorities and the younger generation.

Corps Members Must Stand Up and Sue For Their Rights

Legal Action for Human Rights Violations and Emotional AbuseThe gravity of this injustice demands a robust response. These corps members should not only protest through words but must take decisive legal action. They have the right to sue for:

Emotional abuse: The psychological torment inflicted by the NYSC’s coercive measures, including economic deprivation and intimidation, warrants legal redress.

Human rights violations: Punishing individuals for expressing their grievances is a clear violation of their fundamental human rights. The Constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of speech and association.

Financial compensation: The 90-day extension without pay represents not only a breach of labor rights but also an act of financial cruelty. These individuals deserve compensation for the undue hardship and economic loss they have suffered.

Accountability and Disciplinary Measures

Furthermore, those responsible for this abuse of power must be held accountable. The NYSC officials involved, including Mrs. Frances Ben-Ushie, should be investigated and, if found guilty of misconduct, disciplined or even dismissed from their positions. Apologies alone are insufficient. Concrete actions must be taken to restore justice and prevent future occurrences.

The NYSC leadership must offer a formal, public apology to the affected corps members. However, apologies without genuine accountability and institutional reform are meaningless. The very structure that allows such abuses of power must be reformed.

Advocacy and Coalition Building

Nigerians across all sectors must rally together to support these young people in their quest for justice. This is not just a matter of legality—it is a societal issue that requires the engagement of civil society organizations, legal practitioners, human rights advocates, and the media. A united front will amplify the call for reform and justice.

If the NYSC or government authorities believe they can continue to abuse power with impunity, it is the duty of the courts to correct this injustice. These corps members must be empowered to sue under their civil rights, and if the courts fail them, it will only confirm what many Nigerians already fear—justice is available only to the powerful.

Nigeria’s legal community, human rights organizations, and civil society groups must rally behind these young people to protect their rights and challenge the repressive actions of the NYSC. This is not just a legal battle—it is a battle for justice and democracy.

Conclusion

Nigeria’s democratic growth relies on the ability of its institutions to listen, respond, and engage with its citizens constructively. The matter concerning the NYSC and the affected corps members presents an opportunity to demonstrate fairness, understanding, and adherence to constitutional values.

Mr. Fagbemi, as Attorney General of the Federation, your leadership can play a transformative role in ensuring that justice is upheld and that grievances are addressed responsibly. By promoting a balanced and compassionate approach, you can contribute to fostering a more inclusive and just society.

A member of the First Aid Group of the Jama’atuIzalatilBid’ahWaIqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) in the FCT, Khalid Adamu, has been reportedly killed by a suspected assassin gang, who broke into his house at Zamani village, near the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

The deceased, who until his death was the financial secretary of the aid group in Lugbe community, was killed in the early hours of Thursday, his elder sister, Rabiatu Danjuma, said.

She told Abuja Metro on the phone that the gang was about 20 in number, adding that five of them broke into his sitting room, where one of her younger sisters was sleeping and moved to his bedroom where they met him with his wife.

“They engaged him in fighting before cutting him around his head and other parts of his body.

“One of them who stood over my younger sister in the sitting room had told her that they were sponsored to kill him,’’ she said.

The late Khalid, who was a cargo clearance agent at the Abuja airport, left no child, parents behind.

The sister, however, said he adopted children from his relatives and took care of them.

The chairman, Tafseer committee of JIBWIS in FCT, Imam Yunusa Musa Almadani, confirmed that the deceased was buried around 12pm yesterday.

Repeated calls put across to the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, on the incident were not answered up till the time of filing the story

[DailyTrust]