The ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to compensate Oluwatimilehin Adebayo with ₦5 million for the violation of his right to freedom from torture.

The court also ordered Nigeria to conduct a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation into the torture and prosecute those responsible.

Adebayo, in a suit marked (ECW/CCJ/APP/47/23), accused some police officers from Ogun State of subjecting him to severe physical abuse, including beating him with the handle of an axe and tying his limbs with chains to a pole.

He said this ordeal caused him physical injuries, including trauma to his scrotum and left him suffering from significant psychological distress.

However, the respondent, the Nigerian Government, challenged the jurisdiction of the Court, arguing that the case was filed outside the three-year limitation period stipulated under the Court’s rules, rendering it statute-barred.

It also argued that the Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the matter, arguing that it would involve reviewing a case that is either pending (sub judice) or already decided by a municipal court within the respondent state.

However, the court, in its judgment sent to our correspondent via email on Thursday, dismissed Nigeria’s preliminary objections, asserting its jurisdiction to hear human rights cases.

It clarified that the three-year limitation period under Article 9(3)(b) of the Court’s Protocol does not apply to cases of human rights violations.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Dupe Atoki, the court held that these acts constituted torture, violating Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Nigeria is a party.

“The Court noted that the torture was intentional and aimed at coercing Mr. Adebayo into signing a pre-written statement. Consequently, it ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to pay ₦5 million in compensation to the Applicant for the violation of his right to freedom from torture.

“It also ordered Nigeria to conduct a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation into the torture and prosecute those responsible.

“However, the Court dismissed the claim that the applicant’s right to a remedy had been violated, noting that there was no evidence the Applicant had formally reported the abuse to relevant authorities,” it added.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has dismissed allegations that the state will gain the most from the proposed tax reforms, urging Nigerians to thoroughly understand the provisions of the reforms before concluding.

Speaking on Wednesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Africa Investment Forum Market Days 2024 in Morocco, Sanwo-Olu addressed concerns raised by Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum.

Zulum claimed on December 2 that the value-added tax (VAT) sharing model proposed in the reforms would disproportionately favour the states of Lagos and Rivers.

Sanwo-Olu countered Zulum’s assertion, emphasising that the reforms aim to create a more efficient tax system that benefits all states by addressing structural challenges in revenue generation and distribution.

Sanwo-Olu said, “What those uncomfortable with the tax reform are not willing to accept is that there is no way of making an omelette without breaking the egg.

“You cannot make changes if the reforms are not set in. I have advised that people should take time to read the provisions of the reform very well and to fully understand what they’re trying to do.

“I have seen comments around. Comments like Lagos is going to be the major beneficiary. It is not true. Lagos is actually going to be a shaped-off in some places, but on a larger scale basis, we see it as a global thing for a better governance structure.

“All of us will play better and we’ll be able to discipline ourselves more. Some of the things that you will see is that you need to work harder for you to get the full benefit of the reform. So it’s not just an easy kill.”

According to Sanwo-Olu, while Lagos state may face some losses in certain areas, it will also gain greater opportunities to play a more significant role.

He stressed the urgent need for reform, pointing out Nigeria’s low tax-to-GDP ratio, which ranks among the lowest globally.

The governor expressed optimism that the proposed reforms would unlock significant opportunities for all states and non-governmental actors.

He reassured Nigerians that the reforms are not intended to hurt anyone but to foster a fair and inclusive system that benefits everyone.

The governor said, “I have a positive attitude to it. I see it as a very wonderful reform. Tax-to-GDP ratio in Nigeria is one of the lowest in the world.

“So, there are a few things that need to happen, and like I keep saying, not only when you make those changes, you will not be able to see the opportunities that are found in your account.

“We really need to be bullish. We need to be encouraging ourselves and know that the intention is not to hurt anybody. This, I am very sure of.

“The intention is to better a lot, but not just better a lot of one person or one set of people. It’s for all of us, and so we should look at it this way.”

Sanwo-Olu, who attended the forum alongside other governors to attract investors, said he has been actively engaging stakeholders to clarify misconceptions about the reforms.

The governor said he has personally urged the presidential tax reform committee, led by Taiwo Oyedele, to intensify its public engagement efforts.

He also acknowledged that some resistance to the reforms stems from misunderstandings but noted that public engagement is a positive development.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has criticized the Federal Government’s student loan initiative, arguing that beneficiaries often struggle to repay the loans.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Thursday, ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke stated that the union’s research on student loan systems in other countries shows that graduates often become societal burdens and feel demoralized.

“Imagine a student graduating from the university with a loan of five million naira, even me as a professor, I cannot pay back such a loan in 20 years’ time..

“A student who graduated has a loan of N5 million and is not sure of getting a job in the next 10 or 20 years”, he said.

Osodeke suggested that increasing the budgetary allocation for education would eliminate the need for student loans.

He also noted that this is the third attempt to implement such an initiative, which previously failed, raising doubts about its viability this time.

Citing the United States, where student loans are prevalent, he mentioned that many students are unable to repay their debts, leading to severe consequences, including suicides.

He added that President Joe Biden had to intervene to address the loan crisis.

The professor questioned how the initiative could succeed in a country with a high unemployment rate.

Erhriatake Ibori-Suenu, the daughter of former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party House of Representatives caucus.

Ms Ibori-Suenu announced her defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in a letter read on the floor of the House on Thursday.

Her Father, Ibori served as the Governor of Delta State from 1999 to 2007 and is believed to have retained his hold on the political structure of the the PDP in the state.

Ms Ibori’s defection is the latest in the gale of defection rocking the minority caucus.

Earlier, four members of the Labour Party caucus also defected to the APC.

A major defection wave has rocked the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, as four members have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The four LP candidates that defected on the floor of the House on Thursday are from four states: Kaduna, Imo, Edo and Cross River.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced the defection on the floor of the House.

The lawmakers are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency) and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo).

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has likened governance to a covenant where politician must live up to the campaign promises made to the electorates.

This was as Wike said President Bola Tinubu is fulfilling his promises through him.

Wike disclosed this while inaugurating the construction of the Kabusa Ketti Access road in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said: “I tell people something: there is nothing difficult about government. Note that Mr President has come through me to fulfill the promise he has made.

“This time around we will send people who will listen. Politics no be grammar… Make una no dey follow people wey dey speak grammar. You don see who grammar help?

“We will send people who will come back to you and say this is what you sent me to do and this is what I have brought.”

The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has successfully recovered over N31 million from four officers accused of unlawfully arresting and extorting a civilian. This recovery follows allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of power within the force, sparking widespread discussions about integrity and accountability in law enforcement.

The development was confirmed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who addressed the incident publicly while also dispelling rumors that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was involved in shielding a cartel suspected of introducing questionable new Naira notes into circulation. Adejobi reaffirmed the force’s commitment to justice and transparency in addressing such allegations.

The incident, which took place on August 26, 2023, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, implicated four officers: Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Peter Ejike, Inspector Ekeinde Edwin, Inspector Esther Okafor, and Sergeant Talabi Kayode. All officers were attached to Zone 7, Abuja. Acting on DSP Ejike’s directives, the team, led by Inspector Okafor, unlawfully detained a civilian, Andrew Ejah, an employee of Fatfad Cargo Nigeria Limited, who was transporting N74,950,000 on behalf of his clients.

According to reports, the officers falsely reported that only N31,790,000 was recovered from the funds being transported. Furthermore, they allegedly pressured Mr. Ejah and his associates to forfeit a percentage of the recovered money in exchange for halting further investigations. These actions raised suspicions about the integrity of their claims and the actual amount recovered.

Dissatisfied with the officers' actions, the owners of the funds filed a petition with the Force Headquarters in Abuja. This led the IGP Monitoring Unit to initiate a thorough investigation. Their efforts resulted in the recovery of the N31,790,000 from the implicated officers. However, concerns remain regarding the full amount recovered from Mr. Ejah, as the discrepancies in reported figures suggest possible foul play.

The Nigerian Police Force has since taken disciplinary action against the involved officers. This case serves as a critical example of ongoing efforts to combat corruption and restore public trust within the police force. The NPF reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and maintaining transparency in its operations, vowing to handle similar cases with utmost diligence in the future.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted claims that it discovered $800 million, ₦700 billion in cash, and drugs valued at ₦1 trillion at the residence of Bello El-Rufai, the eldest son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing the reports as false.

The commission made this known in a terse statement on its official Facebook account.

This clarification follows speculations that the EFCC discovered the alleged sums of money and drugs at Bello’s residence in Kaduna State.

However, the anti-graft agency described the claims as a false narrative of its activities.

The EFCC, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard the reports, stating:

“‘EFCC Discovers $800 Million, ₦700 Billion Cash, and ₦1 Trillion Worth of Drugs at Nasir El-Rufai Son’s House in Kaduna’

"This piece of news quoted above is a false narrative of the activities of the EFCC. Members of the public are enjoined to ignore it.”

Daily Post reports that Bello El-Rufai also debunked the speculations, denying that the EFCC discovered large sums of money and drugs at his residence.

Former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner Ademola Banu were arraigned yesterday at the State High Court in Ilorin, the state capital, for alleged stealing and mismanagement of N5.78 billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned the duo in October for allegedly stealing public funds meant for the payment of teachers’ salaries at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) as well as to provide security and other infrastructural facilities across the state.

The duo pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

They were admitted to bail, and the case was adjourned for trial.

At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the EFCC presented its first witness (PW1), Abubakar Hassan, an Assistant Director of Finance at UBEC.

Led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Hassan told the court that the state government misappropriated about N5 billion meant to execute projects at primary and junior secondary schools between 2013 and 2015, when Abdulfatah Ahmed was governor.

“The matching grant fund from UBEC is meant to provide certain infrastructural facilities for both students of primary and junior secondary schools. Such facilities include the construction of primary schools, provision of laboratories for students, construction of toilets, provision of water and sanitation and cultural education,” he said.

Explaining the objectives of the UBEC when it was established in 2004, Hassan said: “UBEC law provides that the Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board, its Executive Secretary, and the Director of Finance are signatories to Matching Grants Account. The Matching Grants Account is opened with any commercial bank or the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”

The witness explained that the state has to prepare action plans (budgets), defend the projects, and get approval before it can access grants from UBEC.