A Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, granted a motion by a former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking his release from the Kuje Prison custody. Justice Mohammed Liman before who the applicant’s motion was pending, granted the prayer of applicant, and ordered the release of Kalu, from prison. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kalu was sentenced to 12 years for N7.2billion fraud belonging to Abia. The verdict was handed...
May 30, 2019 marks the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra. For the sake of a younger generation that has not been taught Nigerian history, it is important to put some context to the emergence of Biafra. It may all have started from the political crisis of 1964 which culminated in the coups of January 15, and July 29, 1966. What is clear is that the declaration of Biafra followed a...
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appealed for restraint and social cohesion as violent protests grow across the United States over police brutality. Guterres’ spokesman, Mr Stéphane Dujarric, conveyed his message while addressing UN correspondents on Monday. “The situation we are seeing today we have seen in different parts of the world before. “Grievances must be heard, but they must be expressed in peaceful ways, and authorities must show restraint in responding to demonstrators,” he said....
The Golf superstar, Tiger Woods has called for calm in the ongoing protest over George Floyd’s death. Woods describes the death Floyd as a “shocking tragedy”, noting that the law enforcement officers “trained so diligently to understand how, when and where to use force.” He added that violent protests were not the answer as unrest is seen across the United State on Monday. He expressed his “utmost respect” for police and likened the situation to...
The Nigerian musician and entertainer, Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek as stage name is dead. The musician died at the age of 71. It was learned that he died in a hospital in New York on Monday evening after a prolong illness. Uzoma Omenka, his manager, confirmed his death in a video uploaded on the late musician’s Instagram handle. Omenka added that he has been getting calls from all over regarding the passing...
About a month after the Ekiti State government set up a geographic information system-based COVID-19 response hub to manage data on the pandemic, the state government has established a mobile molecular laboratory to ramp up testing for COVID-19. The state partnered with 54gene — a company set up to provide genomic data for Africa – to set up the laboratory at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH). The COVID-19 mobile laboratory is equipped with testing...
Leading record labels will mark “Black Out Tuesday” this week, suspending business and working with communities to fight racial inequality after protests erupted in the U.S. following the death of a black man, George Floyd, in police custody. Several top artists have also spoken out in response to the death and subsequent demonstrations, some of which have turned violent. “We stand with the black community,” Universal Music, part of Vivendi, said on its Twitter account,...
In a 2000 paper published in the International Journal of African Studies, I presented a case for local police devolutions in Nigeria that will bring the police closer to the people. The article argued that a colossal policing command headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria could not possibly provide adequate policing functions to the security trepidations of the citizens. That proposition was deduced before the mayhem of the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of Nigeria...
The Federal Government has pushed the battle to contain the coronavirus pandemic to states. It gives the community spread as a reason for its decision. The decision was made public on Sunday by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha. He added that the Federal Government will therefore only provide supervision and coordination. Mustapha, who spoke at the State House after he...
The National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, told nine APC Governors at a meeting yesterday that primaries are crucial to democracy. A source at the meeting in the State House, Marina, Lagos, said the former Lagos State Governor emphasized the importance of primaries to democracy. He admonished the party leaders to safeguard in the preparation for the choice of standard-bearers. Last week, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and...
