A retiring Supreme Court Justice, Ibrahim Saulawa, has challenged Nigeria’s judiciary to confront a practice he considers a threat to its credibility: politicians showering judges with cows, rams and other gifts. Saulawa, who retired on attaining the mandatory age of 70, urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to take action against the practice, warning that gifts to judicial officers can undermine public confidence in the courts. “Why should a politician send a ram, cow or other items to a Supreme Court Justice? It is unheard of in other countries,” he said. The jurist spoke at a valedictory session…
Author: National Update
By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja The Christian Blind Mission (CBM Nigeria) and the Sustainable Family Healthcare Foundation (SFHF) have strengthened efforts to improve flood preparedness in Kogi State, training disaster management stakeholders on inclusive emergency response as water levels rise. The three-day training, which ended on Friday, assessed the state’s disaster preparedness framework and equipped participants with strategies to protect vulnerable communities, particularly persons with disabilities, during floods and other emergencies. The workshop brought together officials of emergency management agencies, humanitarian organisations, volunteers and other stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction across the state. Speaking at the event, CBM Nigeria’s Programme…
Oil magnate Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, is backing a high-profile book launch in Abuja to promote President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, with industrialists Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu named as chief launchers. The event, scheduled for November 5, will bring together senior political figures, business leaders, governors, traditional rulers and other influential Nigerians to unveil a publication supporting Tinubu’s continued presidency beyond 2027. Organised by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Door-to-Door Movement, the event will hold at the Bola Ahmed International Conference Centre, Abuja, with attendance strictly by invitation. The book, titled The Courage to Reform: Architecture…
The reported payment of N6 million and N3 million by families of abducted prospective corps members has raised fresh questions about how 20 victims regained their freedom in Imo State. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has challenged President Bola Tinubu, Governor Hope Uzodimma and the police to explain conflicting accounts surrounding the victims’ release. While the police attributed their release to sustained search-and-rescue operations, the Imo State Government maintained that no ransom was paid. However, accounts attributed to some parents suggest that money was raised and allegedly paid to secure their children’s freedom. One of the mothers,…
With poor eyesight posing a potential danger on Nigerian roads, BATMEDICS has sponsored free eye screening, medications and corrective surgeries for about 500 commercial drivers and motorists in Abuja. The intervention, organised in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps, was held on Thursday at the Abuja Medical Store beside Jabi Park to mark the 2026 World Sight Day. Beyond routine screening, the programme covered prescription medications and corrective eye surgeries for beneficiaries diagnosed with severe visual impairments. Director-General of BATMEDICS, Ojeje Onimisi, said the initiative was designed to address healthcare needs among professional drivers whose vision is critical to…
Supporters of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have criticised the All Progressives Congress over its proposed 30-day petrol discount, describing the initiative as temporary relief after years of rising fuel prices. The group questioned why Nigerians should settle for a month-long discount after the removal of petrol subsidy pushed pump prices higher and increased the cost of living. It accused the APC of offering short-term relief instead of addressing the underlying problems confronting Nigerians. The group warned that motorists could face another round of price increases once the discount expires. “Nigerians do not need a 30-day discount. They need affordable fuel,…
A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has asked President Bola Tinubu to apologise to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Nigerians, arguing that the Federal Government’s 30-day petrol discount has revived questions about its opposition to restoring fuel subsidy. Frank said the temporary discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited retail outlets amounted to a retreat from the administration’s earlier hardline position on subsidy removal, which Tinubu announced in May 2023. In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, he argued that the government should acknowledge Atiku’s proposal to restore subsidy as a measure…
Former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, has warned political actors against using attacks on Peter Obi to divide Ndigbo, declaring that prominent supporters of the 2027 presidential hopeful are ready to break their silence. Udenwa said the fact that Obi’s supporters had remained quiet should not be interpreted as a sign of abandonment, insisting that many influential figures were backing the former Anambra governor’s presidential ambition. “The fact that we have chosen to remain silent does not mean we are not behind him,” he said. The former governor expressed anger over comments he said had come from some government officials…
The Arewa Consultative Forum has accused political leaders of allowing preparations for the 2027 elections to overshadow the worsening security crisis, warning that Nigerians continue to face killings, abductions and attacks on their communities. The northern socio-political group urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to shift its attention from electioneering to protecting lives, saying the scale of violence across the country demands urgent action. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T. A. Muhammad-Baba, the ACF said armed groups continued to attack communities, abduct citizens and destroy livelihoods while political actors focused on the next elections. “Without equivocation…
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of turning fuel price relief into an election-season tactic, questioning why Nigerians must endure years of high costs before getting a 30-day discount. Atiku said the Federal Government’s proposed discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) filling stations was a temporary political gesture that would do little to ease the cost-of-living crisis. In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku described the initiative as an inadequate response to the hardship caused by high petrol prices. He asked…