In a surprising turn of events, Senator John Azuta Mbata has been elected the new President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, contradicting earlier reports that Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, a prominent lawyer and activist, had assumed the role.
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The U.S. Supreme Court has denied former President Donald Trump’s request to postpone his sentencing in the criminal hush-money case, rejecting his application by a 5-4 vote.
Trump had sought to determine whether he was entitled to an automatic stay, but the justices did not agree.
Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels as legal expenses during the 2016 election.
Despite this, Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, has signaled that a jail sentence for Trump is unlikely.
In response, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction, calling the case a “disgrace,” but acknowledged the Supreme Court’s decision as a “fair decision.”
He continued to criticize the case, suggesting that the judge overseeing it, Justice Merchan, should not have been involved.
The Supreme Court’s decision came with notable division. Justices John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett, both conservatives, sided with the three liberal justices to deny the delay.
Meanwhile, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh supported Trump’s request to postpone sentencing.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the 2023 election, has raised serious concerns over the escalating wave of kidnappings and other violent crimes across Nigeria.
In a post on his X handle on Thursday, the former governor of Anambra State expressed his worry over the growing insecurity, warning that no one is safe as kidnappings and killings continue to plague various regions of the country.
Obi emphasized the wide-reaching impact of insecurity on critical sectors, particularly agriculture, healthcare, and education.
He highlighted the plight of farmers, teachers, and healthcare workers, many of whom have fallen victim to abductions or even death.
He pointed to recent incidents, including the killing of the Manager of the College of Nursing Sciences in Ihiala, and the kidnapping of two Reverend Sisters—one a principal and the other a teacher—in Anambra State.
“This increasing insecurity is deeply troubling and affects every aspect of our nation,” Obi said.
“Farmers are being chased off their lands, critical workers in the health and education sectors are constantly targeted, and communities are living in constant fear.”
The Labour Party leader called on the Nigerian government to take immediate action and deploy all available security resources to address the menace.
Obi also appealed to those responsible for the violence to reconsider their actions, urging them to stop terrorizing innocent Nigerians.
He stressed that nothing justifies the ongoing kidnappings and killings, which continue to cause immense suffering across the country.
An Anambra State Magistrate Court sitting in Nnanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, has convicted three brothers, including a lawyer, for conspiracy, forceful entry, and malicious damage to property belonging to a poor man.
The convicted individuals—John Nwakonobi, Tochukwu Nwakonobi, and Sunday Nwakonobi—are from Umudioka, Dunukofia Local Government Area.
They were charged with 10 counts of conspiracy, forceful entry, and malicious damage, offenses punishable under various sections of the revised Anambra State laws.
Chief Magistrate L. C. Okoye, who presided over the trial, found the three brothers guilty on all charges after an eight-year trial during which two prosecution witnesses passed away.
In his judgment, Chief Magistrate Okoye stated:
“It is my considered view that the prosecution has successfully proven the offenses against the defendants. On the other hand, the defendants corroborated much of the prosecution’s evidence through their own admissions.
“The defendants admitted that they collectively decided in family meetings to enter the disputed land. On different occasions, they sought to create an access road for their cousin and to measure land for the first defendant. The first defendant, in particular, narrated their actions to achieve these purposes.
“It is mind-boggling that the first defendant, being a lawyer who understands the law, did not deem it necessary to challenge the findings of the peace committee or resolve the title issue with the complainants.
“The defendants have failed to discharge the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, which had shifted to them. I hereby hold that the prosecution has proven the charges against the defendants.”
The court sentenced the three brothers as follows:
“You, John Nwakonobi, Tochukwu Nwakonobi, and Sunday Nwakonobi, are convicted of malicious damage under Section 415(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 36, Vol. 11, Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991. Each of you is sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦20,000 in lieu of imprisonment.”
Dim Uche Nnam Okwukwu, a prominent activist lawyer, has been elected as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
His election was announced during the ongoing convention in Port Harcourt, where he was returned unopposed by the General Assembly, according to the returning officer, Dr. Achi Achi.
The convention, which began on Thursday, is expected to conclude on Friday.
In his acceptance speech, Okwukwu expressed gratitude to the delegates for entrusting him with the leadership of the Igbo race.
He pledged to prioritize the engagement of the Federal Government to secure the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and to advocate for the restructuring of Nigeria.
Okwukwu also promised to work towards uniting the Igbo people, stating that he would bring together all factions of the Igbo community as one indivisible family.
“I am fully aware of the unprecedented trust reposed in me and my capacity to do so,” he said.
Furthermore, he outlined several key initiatives, including engaging with the Federal and State governments to address Igbo grievances, modernizing the Igweocha/Port-Harcourt and other coastal ports, and advocating for the creation of Anioma State as part of an equalization process for the Igbo.
Okwukwu, who was the only independent contestant among more than four aspirants, emerged as the consensus candidate.
The election was attended by numerous delegates from the South-East, the Diaspora, and over 200 social and cultural groups.
The Nigerian Police Force has rejected the claims circulating on social media about the theft of N1.098 billion from the Enugu State government account, asserting that the account was never hacked.
The police clarified that the incident was a case of procurement fraud, not a cyber attack.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, the police emphasized that there had been no hacking of the Enugu State Government’s account, and the allegations of a massive theft were entirely unfounded.
“The case, investigated by the National Cyber Crime Centre (NCCC), was a matter of procurement fraud, not a cyber-breach,” the statement read.
“The suspect has been apprehended, and the funds have been recovered.”
The police also encouraged the public to refrain from spreading false information and to verify news sources before sharing.
The Enugu State Government and various stakeholders are working with the NCCC to ensure the security of their financial systems.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned an injunction issued by the Kano State High Court that prevented Aminu Ado-Bayero, the 15th Emir of Kano, and four other dethroned emirs—Bichi, Rano, Gaya, and Karaye from presenting themselves as traditional rulers.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Mustapha found that the decision of the Kano State High Court on July 15, 2024, was flawed and violated the principles of fair hearing.
The appellate court criticized the lower court for its procedural and substantive errors, which it said compromised the fairness of the ruling.
The Court of Appeal ordered that the case be reassigned to a new judge by the Chief Judge of the Kano State High Court for a fresh hearing, emphasizing the need for impartiality in the proceedings.
The appellate court stressed that the earlier decision had undermined the judicial process, making it necessary to intervene in order to uphold justice.
Justice Mustapha highlighted that the breaches of fair hearing were substantial enough to justify the annulment of the lower court’s injunction.
President Bola Tinubu is set to embark on a five-day trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following an invitation from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
The visit will take place from January 12 to 18, 2025.
During his stay, President Tinubu will attend the prestigious Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) summit, which will focus on driving sustainable development and fostering socioeconomic progress.
The theme of the summit, “The Nexus of Next; Supercharging Sustainable Progress,” will bring together global leaders, policymakers, business executives, and civil society figures to discuss ways to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.
ADSW has been held annually for over 15 years and serves as a global platform for cooperation among various stakeholders to tackle global challenges and boost economic growth.
The summit aims to inspire transformative solutions that will lead to a new era of shared prosperity.
The United States and Nigeria have officially signed a memorandum of understanding to repatriate $53 million in stolen funds to Nigeria.
These funds are associated with the Galactica asset linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke.
During the signing ceremony, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), announced that $50 million of the recovered amount approximately N77 billion will be used to fund rural electrification projects aimed at boosting the reliability and availability of renewable energy across the country.
The remaining $2.88 million will be allocated as a grant to the International Institute for Justice (IIJ) to enhance counter-terrorism capacity building for criminal justice practitioners in Africa.
Fagbemi expressed appreciation for the US government’s cooperation in the recovery process, emphasizing that measures have been put in place to ensure the transparent use of the repatriated funds.
He also called for continued collaboration in finalizing other pending cases of asset repatriation.
In response, US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, affirmed that the repatriation was based on trust in Nigeria’s commitment to transparency in managing the funds, noting that without this assurance, the agreement would not have been reached.
Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, the recently sacked Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), has broken his silence, vowing to expose those he claims betrayed him following his dismissal by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
In a viral video shared on Thursday, Bichi hinted at a major revelation, promising to “drop a bomb” soon.
Since his removal from office, Bichi had remained silent and out of the public eye.
His dismissal was part of a wider reshuffle by Governor Yusuf, which also saw the removal of the Chief of Staff and five other commissioners.
However, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ladidi Garko, was reinstated as the Head of the Civil Service Commission, and the sacked Chief of Staff, Shehu Wada Sagagi, returned as Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.
In his statement, Bichi expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, but suggested that those involved in his removal were untrustworthy and deceitful.
“There are many things written, in audio, and in video. God crossed our path with people who are not trustworthy,” Bichi said.
“Time will come that we will bring things out for people to hear and understand who they are.”
Bichi also reiterated his commitment to the people of Bichi, his home community, and promised that more details would emerge soon.
It was previously reported that Bichi had been a key figure in the ‘Abba Tsaya da Kafarka’ movement, which sought to establish political independence for Governor Yusuf from his former mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Bichi, a prominent member of the Kwankwasiyya movement, had played a crucial role in the 2023 elections that led to Yusuf’s victory as Governor of Kano State.
