News & Announcements

Russia’s ex-president, Dmitry Medvedev has warned that attempts to arrest Vladimir Putin abroad after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant against him would be seen by Moscow as a “declaration of war”.

Medvedev, who served as president between 2008 and 2012, has made increasingly hawkish speeches since Putin sent troops to Ukraine, repeatedly issuing nuclear threats.

Late on Wednesday, he said Russian weapons would hit a country if it arrested Putin.

The ICC, based in The Hague, last week announced an arrest warrant for the Russian leader, accused of deporting Ukrainian children.

“Let’s imagine — it’s clear that this is a situation that will never happen — but nevertheless let’s imagine it does,” the Putin ally said.

He added, “The current head of a nuclear state arrives on the territory of Germany and is arrested. What is this? A declaration of war against the Russian Federation.”

Medvedev said that if this happened, “all of our means, rockets, and others, will fly on the Bundestag, in the Chancellor’s Office, and so on.”

The United Kingdom Government says it is collating relevant information to take action against some individuals who engaged in or incite electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours in the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections in Nigeria. 

In a statement on Wednesday, British High Commission said actions such as UK visa ban will be imposed on such individuals.

The UK’s statement was released about 24 hours after the United States Government threatened to take “all available actions” against those who undermined the just-concluded elections in Nigeria.

The statement was signed by the Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe.

“The UK Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew Mitchell MP, said on 21 February, that the UK is prepared to take action against those who engage in or incite electoral violence and other anti-democratic behaviours, and action could include preventing people from obtaining UK visas or imposing sanctions under our human rights sanctions regime.

“We can confirm that we are collating relevant information, with a view to taking action against some individuals,” the statement read.

The British Commission commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improved logistics during the governorship elections, particularly when compared to the presidential election three weeks ago.

“More polling units opened on time, there was greater evidence of BVAS and IREV working and results uploaded in real-time from polling units and collation centres. These are positive markers to build on for future elections,” the Commission stated.

However, the Commission said members of its observation mission observed violence and voter suppression in numerous voting locations on Saturday.

“We witnessed and received credible reports from other observer missions and civil society organizations of vote buying and voter intimidation the destruction and hijacking of election materials and the general disruption of the process in numerous states including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers.

“In addition, we observed incidents of harassment of journalists. Freedom of speech and a free press are crucial for a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to go about their work without being threatened.

“The UK is concerned by the use of inflammatory ethno-religious language by some public and political figures. We call on all leaders not just to distance themselves from this kind of language, but to prevent those who speak on their behalf from doing so in this way,” the statement added.

The British Commission hailed the commitment to democracy by many Nigerians despite being faced with intimidation and hostility.

“We urge any party or individual who wishes to challenge the process or outcome of the elections to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channels. We will be observing the course of legal challenges made.

“The 2023 elections are not only important to Nigeria and Nigerians, but to Africa and the world as a whole. As a long-term partner, the UK is committed to strengthening the ties between our countries and peoples, including by supporting democratic development.”

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, Pius Anyim, a former president of the Senate, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, and Aslam Aliyu were all suspended by the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday.

According to the PDP Constitution’s provisions, the party said the suspension became effective on Thursday and that it was decided after a thorough review of the party’s operations (as amended in 2017).

In addition, the PDP reported suspected anti-party acts by the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to the National Disciplinary Committee.

A statement from the national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, detailing this, was released.

“The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to remain united and focused at this critical time,” the statement added.

Through his media assistant Lere Olayinka, Fayose responded by calling the suspension by the National Working Committee, which is led by Senator Iyorchia Ayu, “the last kick of a dead horse.”

The former governor claimed in a statement headed “My suspension is Ayu’s last kick of a dead horse – Fayose” that Ayu and his associates were merely using the supposed suspension as their newest comic routine to amuse themselves.

The PDP would be saved and given new life in due course, according to Fayose and those who stuck by the party when Atiku and his cronies let it to perish. He further added, “The supposed suspension will have no leg to stand.”

Following the defeat of the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar in the presidential election on February 25, Fayose had earlier this month lambasted his party and Ayu in an interview with Arise TV.

He further said, “This Ayu was the one who led Atiku to the gutters. They took him to the gutters. You see when a man cannot come out. At 80, what does he want to do after that?”

Fayose commented on a video that showed members of a civil society organization in Abuja protesting the election results, saying, “Let me first fault the people I saw here today that are calling themselves civil society. They are PDP members, he partially remarked.

In response, Ortom claimed that by reporting him to the PDP’s disciplinary committee for alleged anti-party conduct, the national working committee was violating an ongoing court order.

Additionally, Governor Ortom claimed that the party’s leadership had shown contempt by disobeying the court order that forbade the party or any organ of the party from taking any disciplinary action against him.

His chief press secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, said this in a statement on Thursday.

“I think the national leadership of our great party is losing its sense of direction. Instead of the leadership to sit  back and think of ways of how to rebuild the party from the ruins of the defeat from the just concluded elections, they are going about chasing imaginary shadows.

“In any case, the first person the party should refer to the disciplinary committee should be the national chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. The national chairman lost his polling unit, lost his ward, local government, and even the state,” Ikyur said.

Ayodele Fayose, the former governor of Ekiti State, Pius Anyim, the former president of the Senate, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, and Aslam Aliyu were all suspended by the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday.

The suspension, which takes effect on Thursday, was arrived at after an exhaustive review of the operations of the party, pursuant to the terms of the PDP Constitution (as revised in 2017).

The PDP also submitted the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to the National Disciplinary Committee over his purported involvement in anti-party activities.

This was announced in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

“The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to remain united and focused at this critical time,” the statement added.

It was earlier reported that Fayose blamed stakeholders and politicians for a majority of the problems affecting the country now.

Fayose acknowledged that there was a lot wrong with Nigeria, adding that nothing had changed in the country since 1979.

“There is a lot wrong with Nigeria. Since 1979, nothing has changed. I blamed the majority of the problems on the stakeholders and politicians.

“When you asked (Muhammadu) Buhari in 2015, If you lose the election, would you concede defeat?’ he said ‘I would win’. He never conceived he would lose.

“I told you the senators, House of Reps members are returning to the National Assembly. The system is sick. Nobody is protecting it.

“Rather than blame the Independent National Electoral Commission, we need to draw a red line like the army. Nothing was wrong in the elections,” he said

Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP), the candidate for governor of Abia, has guaranteed the populace that his administration will bring the state together rather than splinter it.

Otti assured voters in his victory speech on Wednesday after being named the victor of the governorship race on Saturday.

He addressed at his campaign office, which was packed with supporters, on Bank Road in Umuahia, close to the Government House.

The swarming crowd blocked the road for many hours as they danced and celebrated the LP’s overwhelming victory in the Saturday poll.

Otti words were,  “With deep humility and a profound sense of responsibility, I wholeheartedly accept your mandate to be your chief servant for the next four years.

“Before I go on, I must first dedicate this victory to God the Father Almighty, who makes everything beautiful in His own time.

“I also dedicate it to the millions of Abia citizens who have been the unfortunate victims of bad governance these past decades.”

Otti extended appreciation to all residents who participated in his election, both indigenous people and non-indigenous people.

“As you are all aware, this was my third attempt at contesting for this office, in my quest to implement my long-held vision of rebuilding Abia as truly God’s own state.

“At this third attempt, it pleased God to give us victory,” He are d.

“In the words of one Labour Party stalwart, ‘The siege is over’!

“With our votes and the collective will of the people, we have ‘broken the gates of hell and cast its bars of iron asunder.

“As recorded in the holy book, the kingdom of hell shall not prevail against us.”

Otti described his victory as “a call to service.

“Even as I come out of a bruising and long drawn out campaign, I know that this is just the beginning of the journey.

“There is a lot of work to be done and we must get all hands on deck to ensure that we take back our state and bring the much sought-after dividend of democracy.

“You voted us to serve you and not to be served.

“You voted us to alleviate your sufferings and not to compound and multiply them.

“This is a service that comes with unusually high sense of devotion and commitment given our checkered history as a people.”

He further said; “I promised you that I will serve you as the governor of all Abia people and all citizens living in Abia, irrespective of clan, religious persuasion or political leaning.

“I see my mandate as cutting across all strata of our people and I once more promise to use the resources accruing to all Abia people for the benefit of all the residents.

“I will like to assure us that we hold no bitterness against anyone and will not go on any revenge mission against anyone.

“If in the process of getting here, we have wronged anyone, kindly find a space in your heart to forgive.

“We have equally forgiven anyone that wronged us.

“This will be a government that would unite everyone in this state as we are all brothers and sisters.”

He said that there would be no discrimination at all in the services that any person might use from our government.

The governor-elect said that he was very much aware and prepared to deal with the issues of infrastructure decay, “which have continued to militate against our growth and development as a state.

“This will be tackled head-on,” he said, adding that amenities would be evenly spread amongst the citizenry.

“I made a firm promise to all civil servants and pensioners owed salaries, pensions and emoluments that an immediate payment plan would be put in place to ensure that this gets the priority it deserves.

“Nevertheless, I caution that we all will need to put in our best and row together in one direction.

“There is no magic wand that can fix all the rot and decay noticed in virtually all segments of the system since the past years.

“For us to have sustainable development, it would require very painstaking and elaborate layout of master plans to enable us tackle the menace of flooding and re-engineer our cities, especially Aba, Umuahia and other cities that would be developed in order to support our urban renewal projects.

“We therefore plead for patience and understanding as we first tackle the immediate challenges and work on the major ones.

“We remain resolute in our drive to eliminate poverty and create sustainable wealth for our people.”

“We trust God for His enablement to offer our services to Abia people in such a way that we would not disappoint you.

“We shall implement our manifesto, which is a revered pact between our administration and the good people of Abia state,” he said.

Otti reassured the people that he would run an open, transparent and accountable government devoid of waste and profligacy.

“Our doors will remain wide open and our channels of communication will remain unfettered so that your worthy contributions and suggestions will be a guiding light,” he said.

He praised his wife Priscilla, his kids, and his friends for their unwavering support during his campaign for governor.

He also praised the candidates from other political parties that competed against him, including Chief Okey Ahiwe (PDP), Prof. Gregory Ibe (APGA), and Bishop Sunday Onuoha (ADC).

Otti also thanked Ibe, Onuoha, and others for their public admissions of defeat and congratulations at a time when the conflict over the Obingwa “fictitious votes” was still raging.

Ike Ekweremadu, a former vice president of the senate, and his wife Beatrice were accused of trafficking organs in the UK.

After a six-week trial at the Old Bailey, the couple, along with their daughter Sonia and a doctor named Dr. Obinna Obeta, were found accountable for aiding a young man’s travel to Britain with the intention of exploitation.

The jury found on Thursday that they had criminally plotted to lure the 21-year-old street vendor from Lagos to London so they could take advantage of him for his kidney.

According to The Guardian UK, Justice Jeremy Johnson will sentence the defendant at a later time.

For trafficking in organs, Ekweremadu, Beatrice, Sonia, and Obeta were on trial at the Old Bailey.

The Modern Slavery Act was used for the first time to convict them on Thursday.

Ekweremadu and his wife were detained in the UK last year on suspicion of smuggling a young man into the nation for kidney harvesting.

The young man allegedly pretended to be Sonia’s cousin in an unsuccessful attempt to convince medical staff to perform a $80,000 private surgery at London’s Royal Free Hospital.

After kidney disease prompted Sonia to withdraw from a master’s degree in film at Newcastle University, the young man was allegedly given an unlawful reward to donate his organs for Sonia.

The guy and other potential contributors were seen as “disposable assets – spare components for reward,” the prosecution, Hugh Davies KC, told the court, alleging that Ekweremadus and Obeta.

According to him, they had a “business transaction” with the individual that was “emotionally frigid.”

According to Davies, Ekweremadu’s actions demonstrated “entitlement, dishonesty, and hypocrisy.”

Ekweremadu, according to him, “agreed to reward someone for a kidney for his daughter – someone in poverty from whom he separated himself and made no enquiries, and with whom, for his own political protection, he wanted no direct touch.”

Davies added, “What he agreed to do was not simply expedient in the clinical interests of his daughter, Sonia, it was exploitation, it was criminal. It is no defence to say he acted out of love for his daughter. Her clinical needs cannot come at the expense of the exploitation of somebody in poverty.”

It was reported on March 14 that Beatrice denied being involved in the effort to find an organ donor for their sick daughter Sonia.

Ekweremadu stated, according to reports, that he got engaged with the young man after his doctor recommended him not to look for a kidney donor among his relatives.

Andrew Mitchell, MP, the UK’s Minister of State for Development and Africa, declared yesterday that his government was ready to take legal action against anyone found guilty of inciting or engaging in electoral violence or other anti-democratic actions or behaviors during the recently concluded general election.

British High Commission in Nigeria, which disclosed this in a statement, said:  “We observed improvements around elections logistics by INEC during the gubernatorial elections, particularly when compared to the presidential elections.

“More polling units opened on time, there was greater evidence of BVAS and IREV working and results uploaded in real-time from polling units and collation centres. These are positive markers to build on for future elections.

“We can confirm that we are collating relevant information, with a view to taking action against some individuals.

“However, there were notable points of concern. Members of our observation mission personally observed violence, and voter suppression in numerous voting locations.

‘’We witnessed and received credible reports from other observer missions and civil society organisations of vote buying and voter intimidation, the destruction and hijacking of election materials and the general disruption of the process in numerous states, including Lagos, Enugu and Rivers.

‘’In addition, we observed incidents of harassment of journalists. Freedom of speech and a free press is crucial for a healthy democracy, and journalists must be able to go about their work without being threatened.

“The UK is concerned by the use of inflammatory, ethnoreligious language by some public and political figures. We call on all leaders not just to distance themselves from this kind of language, but to prevent those who speak on their behalf from doing so in this way.

“It is a testament to their commitment to democracy that many Nigerians were prepared to vote, despite being faced with intimidation and hostility.

“We urge any party or individual who wishes to challenge the process or outcome of the elections to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channels. We will be observing the course of legal challenges made.

“The 2023 elections are not only important to Nigeria and Nigerians but also to Africa and the world as a whole.

‘’As a long-term partner, the UK is committed to strengthening the ties between our countries and peoples, including by supporting democratic development.’’

In the Berger-Ojodu neighborhood of Lagos State, traders have complained about the ongoing dumping of trash in a median on a major route before Ojodu Motor Park.

The shopkeepers encouraged the authorities to get involved in the situation while lamenting how the pollution caused by the pile of trash on the road had been disrupting their regular business operations.

On Tuesday, a local food vendor named Folasade Monsura accused the staff of the Lagos Waste Management Authority of being ineffective and said the organization allowed the trash to pile up on the road for an extended period of time.

She said, “It takes days for the LAWMA agents to show up here. This is a business centre. All the waste from the motor park and those doing business on the other side of the road are deposited here. The refuse was not this much yesterday. By tomorrow, it will be more than this and the smell will be more.

“This is affecting business activities in this area, especially those of us that are selling food. No customer will stand here to buy food from you in this kind of smell. That is why some of us usually move our wares away from this area when the smell becomes too intense.”

Also, a professional biker in the region who asked to only be known as Musa out of fear of being targeted described the enormous pile of trash as an eyesore and a significant disturbance to local commerce.

He said, “The waste management people used to pack the waste of the area but they stay too long to show up. The refuse should not be allowed to mount this much before they pack it. The moment the refuse mounts, both pedestrians and traders in the area find it usually difficult to stay in the area.

“The agency should be coming here every day. This will help sellers and buyers to continue their businesses in the area without any need to relocate because of the unpleasant smell and an eyesore heap of refuse.”

In response, Kunle Adeshina, director of public affairs for the state ministry of environment and water resources, criticized the traders’ assertion and said they dump their trash there because they don’t want to pay.

He said, “It is ironic and ridiculous that the traders can blame the government for the dropping of refuse that they are supposed to bag on the median because they don’t want to pay.

“They even have the temerity to be complaining about it. This is why the state government procured about 100 trucks. They are not supposed to even drop their waste on the median. The traders at the market carry their waste to the median at dusk because they don’t want to pay.

“We understand the economic constraint of most traders. This is why we try to relax some of our enforcement rules. There is naira scarcity and all. We know their financial challenges and the condition of living is a bit high.

“Regularly, I know that LAWMA deploys trucks in the area. Those new trucks that the governor launched about two years ago move about all the major roads. The refuse would be cleared in a few days.”

Brother of former British Prime Minister David Cameron, barrister Alexander Cameron, passed away.

Alexander battled cancer from 2020 and passed away at the age of 59.

Cancer had forced him to leave the bar before his passing on Wednesday.

According to The Sun UK, Alex’s chambers, Three Raymond Buildings, announced his passing in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement partly read, “It is with immense sadness that Chambers announces the death of Alexander Cameron KC.

“Alex was considered to be one of the best silks at the Criminal Bar during his illustrious career and was a hugely respected and inspirational head of these Chambers.

“He will be missed enormously, and our heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Sarah, their children Imogen and Angus, and to his wider family.

“Details of a memorial service will be announced in due course,” the statement read.

At 39, the deceased was made a Queen’s Counsel and was described as a “phenomenon” with “enthralling advocacy skills”.

Alexander may have also urged David to run for office and assisted him in his ascent to that position in 2010.

On Wednesday, a plan to legalize the commercial cultivation, sale, and use of cannabis, popularly known as marijuana, sparked arguments between some members of the House of Representatives.

Benjamin Kalu and Olumide Osoba, two members of the House, had introduced a new bill to alter the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, extending the authority of the anti-narcotics agency to provide licenses for the production, distribution, and consumption of marijuana.

A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, to Confer Additional Responsibility of the Power to Grant and Revoke Licenses for the Cultivation of Cannabis (or Any of Its Three Species, Namely Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indicia, and Cannabis Ruderalis) Plant for Medicinal Purposes; and for Related Matters, was the name given to the proposed legislation.

The bill is a consolidated version of separate bills HBs. 1190 and 1918 from Kalu and Osoba.

A different House member, Miriam Onuoha, objected that the bill’s content was the same as her own, which she had long before supported, when it came up for second reading on Wednesday during the plenary.

The House Rules and Business Committee Chairman, Abubakar Fulata, was contacted by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, in order to discuss the legislation’ differences and similarities before the House meets on Thursday.

In Nigeria, cannabis usage, sales, and cultivation are now prohibited.

On January 7, 2021, it was reported that the House was considering legalizing the production and trade of cannabis, commonly known as hemp or marijuana, for use in research, as well as for medical and aesthetic uses, as well as to generate income for Nigeria.

A Bill for an Act to Regulation the Production, Possession, Availability and Trade of Cannabis for Medicinal and Research Use, and Related Purposes is the title of the Cannabis Control Bill, 2020, which is sponsored by Miriam Onuoha.

If the measure is passed into law, hospitals and physicians would be able to prescribe patients doses of cannabis for therapy, while dispensaries and retail outlets will be able to sell it.

The relevant agencies will be given the authority to “regulate the growth and use of cannabis; register cannabis growers and users; issue licenses to cannabis growers, processors, producers, manufacturers, and users; and develop awareness programs on the growth and use of cannabis,” according to Onuoha.

The organizations also provide federal and state governments with advice on issues involving cannabis growers, producers, manufacturers, and consumers. They also educate the public on the proper and improper ways to use cannabis, conduct research, and develop cannabis-related policies.