News & Announcements

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has claimed that the administration of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in Kano state was a charade because Ganduje allegedly sold public properties, including cemeteries and schools, among other things.

Former Nigerian Minister of Defense and two-term governor of Kano state in northwest Nigeria, Kwankwaso, promised in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Friday that the incoming administration of NNPP’s Governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, would quickly right the wrongs allegedly committed by the Ganduje administration so that the good people of Kano would have some respite.

He claimed that when the video of ex-Deputy Governor Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor who lost the state election, was played, he admitted loss and congratulated the newly elected leader of the NNPP.

“That’s what’s expected. He has shown good example in the spirit of sportsmanship,” Kwankwaso said.

Nonetheless, the red cap Kwankwasiya movement’s leader reaffirmed that he would not interfere with Abba Yusuf’s future administration and that instead, in his capacity as an actual native of the state, it was his responsibility to lead and provide guidance as needed.

The 1980s massacre was apologized for by the grandson of former South Korean military ruler Chun Doo-hwan on Friday, a symbolic and momentous action praised by victims and observers.

The 1980 crackdown on a democracy uprising, which according to official estimates resulted in at least nearly 200 deaths, was visited by Chun Woo-won, 27, the first member of his family to attend the Gwangju cemetery and express regret.

New York-based Chun has attracted widespread media coverage in South Korea for accusing his relatives of corruption in his Youtube and Instagram livestreams.

He claimed during one social media broadcast to have used illegal drugs, that he was detained when he arrived in Seoul on Tuesday, but later freed.

Chun was seen in TV footage on Friday comforting the families of massacre victims.

“I give my sincere apologies. I am sorry,” he said in South Korea’s Gwangju, looking visibly emotional.

“As a family member, I acknowledge that my grandfather Chun Doo-hwan was a sinner and slaughterer who committed such a great crime,” he said at a separate event.

“The citizens of Gwangju, who overcame fear in the midst of military dictatorship and stood against it with courage are heroes and truly the light and salt of our country.”

At Gwangju, Chun Doo-army hwan’s put down protesters shortly after taking control in a military coup in 1979.

Although he was found guilty of treason in connection with the incident in 1996, his sentence was mitigated thanks to a presidential pardon, and he never acknowledged his involvement in or expressed regret for the killings.

Chun Doo-military hwan’s administration asserted at the time of the killing that the protests were a rebellion headed by followers of the then-opposition leader Kim Dae-jung and “agitators” sympathetic to North Korea.

Even as recently as 2019, a few extreme-right MPs asserted that Pyongyang was supporting the uprising.

But now “there is a consensus that the whole thing was a horrible crime by an illegitimate military government,” Vladimir Tikhonov, professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, told AFP.

“Now this consensus is being joined even by a part of the perpetrator’s own family. This is significant, and symbolic.”

Many family members welcomed the younger Chun’s visit, with some giving him a hug.

“Thank you for coming,” one told him.

“Be brave,” said another.

“Chun Doo-hwan died without ever apologising, so someone in his family should have done it in a proper manner a long time ago,” Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University told AFP.

“His grandson’s apology today showed that historical tragedies always deserve justice no matter how much time has passed.”

The Federal University of Oye-Ekiti confirmed on Friday that contrary to what some online news bloggers had said, no student had died on Thursday as a result of problems with the computer-based test.

In a statement released in Oye-Ekiti, the university’s registrar, Mr. Mufutau Ibrahim, made the pronouncement.

According to him, the management has delayed the CBT by one week in order to resolve concerns made about exam administration by students and other parties involved.

He claims that certain concerns have been expressed about the way the exams are being administered, which is problematic given that some students have not yet had their exams.

The statement read in part, “The university management noted the issues that have arisen in the course of administering the CBT as we make academic progress with the first semester examinations and strongly express regret at the turn of events.

“It is pertinent to point out that concerned students had been duly informed that the CBT had been cancelled to accommodate the JAMB Mock UTME as scheduled.

“It is unfortunate that students still troop in large numbers to the university’s ICT centre, which almost resulted in mob action.

“We did not record any death in the course of the examination as it was being rumoured by fake online news.

“To this end, all CBT Examinations have been postponed for one week as an immediate and interim measure. For the avoidance of doubt, all pen-on paper first semester examinations will go on as scheduled.”

The vice chancellor, prof. Abayomi Fasina, and his management team were credited in the statement for forming a committee to handle everything from planning to claims of extortion made against some security employees.

However, the registrar apologized to the students for any inconveniences the management’s action may have caused.

Musiliu Akinsaya, also known as Mc Oluomo, the chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Association, has interfered in the dispute between highway tax collectors and commercial drivers, often known as “agberos” in the state.

According to reports, he has also outlawed the collecting of agberos’ unlawful taxes in various parts of the state.

Remember that on Thursday, drivers of commercial buses protested extortion by the agberos by taking to the streets of the state.

“Mc Oluomo told us Thursday afternoon when we held a meeting with him at the state council that no driver from Oshodi to Tollgate must be compelled to pay illegal agbero taxes anymore.

“We are only to buy two tickets in a day, after which we will not pay anything aside from loading fees.

“The normal ticket sold and approved by the Lagos State Park Management is just N800.

“He said those extra taxes imposed at Iyana Ipaja and Agbado Ijaiye were no longer valid. We can either buy our daily tickets in Oshodi or Tollgate, and either will be recognised.

He stated that MC Oluomo had declared that on Saturdays and Sundays, drivers would no longer be required to pay tickets.

“For weekend jobs, Mc Oluomo has mandated that no driver should be made to buy tickets on Saturdays and Sundays,” he said.

“The union should only compel us to buy tickets from Monday to Friday. We should be given the chance to take something home to our families.”

He continued by saying that MC Oluomo also gave N1 million to those hurt in the assault on the drivers who were protesting.

He was happy that dreivers could resume their jobs today “with little agbero disruptions.”

“There are no more unbearable taxes. All we have to pay in a day is a little below N2,500 compared to the N20,000 we paid previously,” he added.

Chrisland School Limited, its vice principal, principal, and two other staff members were charged by the Lagos State Government on Thursday over the passing of Whitney Adeniran, a student at the school.

Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Victoria Nwatu were among the employees who were charged with the school before Judge Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.

The defendants were charged with two counts of alleged reckless and negligent behavior as well as two counts of alleged involuntary manslaughter.

Amao, the principal of the school, was shown sobbing inside the dock shortly after she, the other staff members, and the school had entered their plea.

Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the state’s attorney general, announced his presence on behalf of the prosecution when the case was called. He also informed the court that the state had charged the defendants with two counts.

Bimpe Ajegbomojun, the first defendant’s attorney, announced her arrival. Chief Richard Ahonaruogho, SAN, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, Ademola Animashaun, SAN, and chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, appeared for the second and third defendants, respectively.

The state claimed that the incident happened on February 9, 2023 in the charge information written by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins.

The defendants allegedly killed Whitney Adeniran at the Agege Sports Stadium at around 1pm by acting carelessly and negligently in a way that put her life in danger.

The indictment asserts that the offense violated Sections 224 and 251 of the Lagos State Criminal Code from 2015.

However, the defendants entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations made against them.

Onigbanjo then informed the court that the state will be calling 17 witnesses during the trial and asked the court for a date for an open trial as a result.

The prosecution had not objected to the defendants’ oral motion for bail, the defendants’ attorney informed the court in the meanwhile.

Adewale has been in police detention since March 6, 2023, according to the first defendant’s attorney, Ajegbomojun, who pleaded with the court to release him on bail while the charge was being resolved.

Nwatu, the fourth defendant, was granted liberal bail, according to Animashaun, the defendant’s attorney.

Onigbanjo, who did not oppose to the oral bail applications, pleaded with the judge to release them on bond so that they could appear in court.

In his decision on the bail requests, Judge Ogala granted the school’s vice principal and principal bail in the amount of N20 million each with two trustworthy and reliable sureties in the amount of N10 million each.

The sureties, according to the judge, must reside within the court’s geographic jurisdiction and provide documentation of their financial standing.

In addition, the sureties’ offices and residences must be validated by the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court, and they must provide proof of three years of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

The defendants’ international passports must be deposited with the chief registrar, according to Ogala’s ruling.

The second defendant, Kuku, a teacher at the school, and the first defendant, Adewale, a vendor, were both given bail in the amount of N10 million, with two reliable sureties in the same amount.

They must also have their offices and residences validated by the chief registrar, as well as provide proof of three years of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

The defendants were instructed by Judge Ogala to turn in their international passports to the chief registrar.

Trial in the matter was postponed to May 25, June 1, and June 15, 2023.

On Thursday, an Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, issued an order designating Janet Jegede, 36, as a criminal lunatic for fatally stabbing her husband Kayode.

Jegede was charged with one offense that had murderous overtones before Justice Bamidele Omotoso on September 16, 2020.

The defendant “did murder one Kayode Jegede (her husband) on November 17, 2019, at Ado Ekiti, contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Act C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012,” the allegation reads.

In his statement to the police, her stepson Ayomide claimed that she had called him and asked him to come home and take his father to the hospital because she had killed him.

According to Ayomide, “When I got home, I met my father in the pool of his blood, gasping. I saw a knife hanging on his chest. I asked her what happened, but her explanation was incoherent.

“When I removed the knife, the bleeding increased. I went outside to call neighbours to help me take him to the hospital. He was rushed to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

“My stepmother once reported my father to me asking me to warn him to stop infidelity. She had threatened to kill him if he refused to stop. I took it as an empty threat until she killed my father.”

Abayomi Olowoyo-Richard, the prosecutor, called five witnesses and produced statements from the defendant, a knife, pictures of the deceased’s corpse, and witness statements as exhibits.

However, the defendant’s attorney, Emmanuel Adedeji, sought the court to discharge and acquit her on the grounds of insanity, claiming that the defendant was mentally unstable at the time of the occurrence.

In his judgment, Justice Omotoso said, “It is settled that where a plea of insanity succeeds, the defendant will be ordered to be confined in a prescribed place to await further order of the appropriate authority.

“I hereby order that the defendant, Janet Jegede, be kept in custody as a criminal lunatic at a correctional services centre, off Afao Road, Ado Ekiti, until the governor’s pleasure be known in line with Section 223 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2011.”

The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday arrested a 27-year-old man for allegedly defiling a nine-month-old baby at Railway, Ijora Badia, in the Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area of the state.

It was gathered that the suspect, who went into hiding after perpetrating the crime on Monday, was arrested by the police in the late hours of Tuesday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect to our correspondent on Wednesday, said the suspect, upon noticing that the mother of the baby had gone out to buy something, entered the room and defiled the baby.

He explained that when the baby’s mother returned to the room, she noticed that her baby had been defiled and rushed to a nearby police station to lodge a complaint.

The policemen at the station, while attending to the aggrieved mother, gave her a medical form to enable her to take her child to the hospital for urgent medical treatment, and commenced an investigation.

Hundeyin said, “The case was reported to the police around 10 pm on Monday by a concerned public member. The suspect allegedly went to the apartment where the baby’s mother laid her on the floor and quickly went out to buy something outside the compound, had sexual intercourse with the little baby, and immediately ran away from the scene.

“The mother of the baby, aged 16, came to the station with the baby and was issued a medical form to enable her to take the child to the hospital for urgent medical attention. However, on Tuesday, around 11 pm, the suspect was smoked out from his hiding by detectives attached to the Ijora Badia Division.”

Hundeyin said a stained pant of blood was recovered at the crime scene, adding that the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation and willingly gave his statement.

“The complainant and the suspect have made statements and confessed to the crime during interrogation. The case file and suspect will be transferred to the Gender Section of the command. The suspect will be arraigned in court tomorrow,” Hundeyin added.

The Basotho people are divided between those in Lesotho and those in South Africa.

Lesotho’s parliament has debated a motion to claim huge swathes of territory from its much larger neighbour, South Africa.

An opposition MP wants to declare a Free State and parts of four other provinces “Lesotho’s territory”.

The people of Lesotho, called Basotho, lived in these areas until the 19th Century when they were seized by Afrikaners – white South Africans.
Many Basotho still live in South Africa, especially in Free State.

The Sesotho language is one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, spoken by about four million people in the country, as well as the two million inhabitants of Lesotho.

“It’s time for what is ours to be returned to us,” Tshepo Lipholo, the MP behind the motion, told Lesotho’s parliament, speaking in Sesotho.

“History has a record of what was taken from our people and that people were killed in the process. It is time to correct that,” he said.

Parliament has adjourned until Thursday when the debate will continue.

In Mr Lipholo’s vision, Lesotho would grow from 30,000 sq km (11,600 sq miles) to around 240,000 sq km (93,000 sq miles).

He said that while this was an issue dating back many decades, he believed it was important to address in the present day because the land would help bring prosperity to the people of Lesotho.

He is the leader of the Basotho Convention Movement, which campaigned on the issue during last year’s election, gaining a single seat, which he holds.

The landlocked kingdom of Lesotho is largely mountainous with limited agricultural space.
The former British protectorate is heavily dependent on the country which completely surrounds it – South Africa.

Over the decades thousands of workers have been forced by the lack of job opportunities at home to find work in South African mines.

The Lesotho government is yet to comment on the issue but it is unlikely to risk antagonising its much larger neighbour by backing it.

Mr Lipholo’s motion is based on a 1962 United Nations resolution that recognised the right to self-determination and independence for the people of Basutoland – as Lesotho was then called.

The view from South African officials is that the motion to reclaim territories some Basotho view as their own does not stand a chance of happening, because it does not enjoy the support of the majority in Lesotho.

One of the key stumbling blocks is the 1964 Cairo Declaration of the Organisation of African Unity, now the African Union, whereby African leaders agreed to recognise the existing borders of their newly independent countries, even if they were drawn up by colonial powers, to avoid stirring up conflict across the continent.

Mr Lipholo has previously told Lesotho media that he also hopes to have the motion discussed in the British Parliament “since it was the UK that gave Lesotho its independence in 1966, without correcting the borders seized by the Afrikaners”.

This is not the first time that Lesotho’s present-day borders have been a topic of discussion. In 2018 a civil group known as the Free Basotho Movement wrote to the Lesotho’s UK embassy to request that the late Queen Elizabeth remove the current frontier – essentially making Lesotho a 10th province of South Africa.

They said this would ensure free movement of Basotho people in South Africa and the perks South African nationals enjoy. That matter is ongoing.

The United States Justice Department has announced the final resolution of two civil cases seeking the forfeiture of various luxury assets derived from foreign corruption offenses and laundered in and through the United States.

According to Justice Department documents, the laundry cases involved former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and two of her business partners, Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore.

Following the conclusion of the cases, the department announced on Monday that it had recovered approximately $53.1 million in cash – the net liquidated value of the defendant’s assets – as well as a promissory note with a principal value of $16 million.

According to court papers, from 2011 to 2015, businessmen Aluko and Omokore conspired with others to pay bribes to Diezani who at the time oversaw the nation’s state-owned oil company.
In return, Diezani used her influence to steer lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Aluko and Omokore.

According to the department, the proceeds of those illicitly awarded contracts totaling more than $100 million were then laundered in and through the United States and used to purchase various assets through shell companies, including luxury real estate in California and New York as well as the Galactica Star, a 65-meter superyacht.

The real estate was also used as collateral for loans to Aluko and the shell companies he controlled. As part of the forfeiture process, those lien holders were paid.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Chief Jim Lee of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

The FBI’s International Corruption Squad in the Washington Field Office and the IRS-CI investigated the cases, with assistance from the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.

Trial Attorneys Michael W. Khoo and Joshua L. Sohn of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the cases. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas provided substantial assistance.

“These cases were brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. This initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S.

Attorneys’ Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office,” the department’s statement partly read.

In 2015, the FBI formed International Corruption Squads across the country to address national and international implications of foreign corruption.

Prof. Ayobami Salami, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s resident electoral commissioner in Ekiti State, stated on Thursday that the commission was ready to bring the election in the Ido/Osi State Constituency 1, in the Ido/Osi Council region of Ekiti State, to a peaceful and trouble-free conclusion.

Salami said, “The inconclusive election will be concluded on April 15. We only have three polling units in the constituency where the election will hold. That should not be too much of a challenge. We are prepared, we are ready to conduct the election on April 15.”

The REC requested that everyone in Ido/Osi Constituency 1 “please work with INEC and the security services so that we can have a successful end of this process,” speaking in Ado Ekiti while handing Certificates of Return to 25 members-elect of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

“I believe that we are going to get more support and more collaboration of all stakeholders. We need to work with the security agencies, we need to work with the political parties, we need to work with the civil society organizations and all stakeholders to ensure that we have a successful election in the place”.

“We issued the certificates of return to the 25 members-elect of the House of Assembly on Thursday,” Salami said, adding that the vote to choose the 26th member would be completed on April 15. Salami claimed that the election for the State House of Assembly of Ekiti State on March 18 was conducted in a very peaceful manner.

Adeoye Aribasoye (All Progressives Congress, Ikole II), a lawmaker-elect and chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Media and Publicity, expressed his gratitude to his constituents for electing him to a second term and vowed to uphold their expectations of him.

Aribasoye said, “My coming back to the Assembly is now based on experience in the art of lawmaking, oversight, monitoring activities of government and projects in my constituency. We will work with the executive to ensure that Ekiti people are better for it.”

Also, a lawmaker elect, Babatunde Omotayo (Social Democratic Party, Ise/Orun), said, “I am not going to the House to form the opposition, rather, I am going there to defend the interest of my people. I will join hands with my colleagues to pass good laws and protect the interest of my people.”