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Italy, Netherlands, Others To Enforce ICC Arrest Warrants On Netanyahu

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Several countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, and Canada, have announced their intention to comply with arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The warrants, issued on Thursday, accuse both Israeli leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

These charges include allegations of starvation, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts during the conflict that escalated after Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The violence has led to over 44,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread displacement in Gaza.

This marks the first time a sitting leader from a major Western nation has faced war crimes charges from the ICC.

The warrants also target Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, but the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant are particularly significant due to their high-ranking positions.

In response, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto confirmed that Italy, as an ICC member, would be legally bound to arrest Netanyahu should he enter the country.

Crosetto expressed disagreement with equating Israeli leaders with Hamas, but emphasized Italy’s obligation to comply with the ICC’s orders.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed this stance, underscoring that Italy’s actions would be driven by legal, not political, considerations.

Similarly, the Netherlands pledged full compliance with the ICC’s decision.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated that the country would arrest Netanyahu if he entered its territory, highlighting the Netherlands’ commitment to the principles of the Rome Statute, which governs the ICC.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also weighed in, affirming that the arrest warrants were legally binding and that all EU member states must comply with the court’s ruling.

He emphasized the importance of respecting the ICC’s decisions and called for an end to the violence in Gaza.

In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the country would enforce the arrest warrants. As a founding member of the ICC, Canada has long supported international law.

Trudeau reiterated Canada’s commitment to justice and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, increased humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims praised Trudeau’s position, seeing it as a significant step toward justice for Palestinians.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also called for the implementation of the ICC’s decision, stating that Palestinians “deserve justice.”

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Court Orders Enugu Agency To Pay N55 Million For Illegal Demolition

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The Enugu State High Court has ordered the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) to pay N55 million in damages to Chinedu Onyebuchi for the unlawful demolition of his property in Enugu.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday in suit No. E/124/2015, Justice Kenneth Okpe ruled that the actions of the ECTDA were “unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, and unwarranted.”

The plaintiff, represented by P.A. Afuba, SAN, had initially sought N80 million in damages. However, the court awarded N30 million in special damages and an additional N25 million in general damages.

The special damages included compensation for rent Onyebuchi had to refund to tenants, the costs of rebuilding, and the losses incurred due to the demolition.

The judgment stated: “I agree with the plaintiff that the demolition of his shops was unlawfully carried out.”

Justice Okpe noted that the ECTDA’s defense, which cited Section 13(4) of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority Law, was misapplied.

The section pertains to unapproved structures, but the court found that Onyebuchi’s building had received proper approval from the authority.

The court further emphasized that the ECTDA failed to follow proper procedure, noting that Section 15(1)(b) of the law required the agency to serve a written notice of removal before carrying out any demolition.

This notice was not issued in Onyebuchi’s case.

The judge declared the demolition of Onyebuchi’s six shops and basement on Lagos Street, Ogui-Nike, Enugu, to be unlawful and ordered the ECTDA to refrain from interfering with the plaintiff’s building.

The court also directed the agency to pay N30 million in special damages for the destruction of the property, as well as N25 million in general damages for the emotional and financial distress caused to Onyebuchi.

The legal proceedings, which began with a writ of summons filed in July 2015, saw the ECTDA represented by Nkechi Okegbe, the Chief Legal Officer from the Ministry of Justice.

Justice Okpe concluded that Onyebuchi was entitled to compensation and protection from any future interference by the ECTDA in his property.

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Varsity Denies Employing Sacked UNIZIK Vice Chancellor

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The Federal University, Gusau (FUGUS) has refuted claims made by Bernard Odoh, the recently sacked Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), that he was employed as a professor at the institution.

At an emergency press conference on Thursday, FUGUS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muazu Abubakar, categorically stated that Odoh had never been hired as a professor by the university, nor had he ever worked there in any capacity.

Abubakar emphasized that documents allegedly showing Odoh’s appointment and confirmation as a professor—bearing dates of April 30, 2015, and November 12, 2015—were “fabricated” and part of “administrative fraud.”

The documents were also allegedly signed by the former university registrar, Ibrahim Kaura, whose tenure had ended years prior.

Notably, the documents were dated November 8, 2024, six years after Kaura had left the institution.

This follows a series of media reports regarding the controversial sacking of Odoh, who had been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK by its governing council, led by Greg Mbadiwe, in late October 2024.

The reports included claims that Odoh had been offered a tenure appointment at FUGUS, a claim that has since been discredited.

Abubakar explained that the university had received multiple inquiries from the public regarding Odoh’s allegations.

In response, the university conducted an internal investigation and issued a formal disclaimer to clarify that Odoh was never employed by FUGUS.

“The university management, after a thorough investigation, has confirmed that Dr. Odoh was neither employed nor appointed as a professor at FUGUS,” Abubakar said.

He added that Odoh continued to present the fraudulent documents despite the university’s disclaimer, causing reputational damage to the institution.

The situation has drawn criticism, with Abubakar describing Odoh’s actions as a direct challenge to the credibility and integrity of FUGUS.

He stressed that no official records or documentation exist to support Odoh’s claims.

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) expressed support for the decision by President Bola Tinubu to remove Odoh and the UNIZIK governing council.

This development follows Tinubu’s action on Wednesday, which dissolved the governing council and terminated Odoh’s appointment as vice chancellor of the university.

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2027: Retire From Your Long-standing Presidential Ambition; 31 Years of Trying Is Enough, Bode George Tells Atiku

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Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to retire from his long-standing presidential ambition after 31 years.

George advised Atiku to step aside and focus on his role as an elder statesman, especially as the 2027 election approaches.

In a press conference held at his office in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, George pointed out that Atiku, who will be 81 years old in 2027, has been contesting for the presidency since 1993 and should now focus on leaving a legacy for future generations.

He implored Atiku to “calm down” and cease further attempts to become president.

“To Atiku, my advice is this: You will be 81 years old in 2027, and you have been contesting for the presidency since 1993. This is the time for you to calm down and act like an elder. I appeal to you in the name of Allah to take it easy and leave everything for posterity,” George said.

George also expressed concerns about the internal crisis within the PDP, attributing it to members prioritizing personal ambitions over the party’s collective interests.

He criticized party members who, despite aligning with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), have not formally defected from the PDP, calling them “cowards.”

“We are where we are today because of a self-inflicted crisis; we should bury our individual ambitions now and not allow the PDP to crumble. Elders of the party should tell some of these funny characters to cool off and think of our national interest instead of their personal interest,” George stated.

He added that the country is facing significant anger and hardship, with some party members focusing on their own political careers rather than confronting the government’s shortcomings.

George specifically addressed the ongoing tension between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, urging Wike to ease his efforts to undermine Fubara.

He called on Wike to step back from his attempts to “bring down” the current governor and emphasized that no individual is bigger than the party.

“My advice to Wike is very simple. You are my political son. I am appealing to him to cool off immediately. Forget what happened in the past and let us work together in the interest of this party,” George said.

He also questioned the motivations behind the crisis, asking why some party members were encouraging Wike to attack Fubara, despite Wike’s significant role in Fubara’s rise to power.

George expressed concern that the ongoing conflict within the party was being fueled by selfish interests, rather than efforts to resolve the issues.

“Why are some party members encouraging his predecessor to bring him down? Governor Fubara was helped by Governor Wike to become the number one citizen of Rivers State. Why should he now behave like a slave to his predecessor and others?” George asked.

He concluded by urging PDP leaders to mediate in the conflict and prevent further divisions within the party, stressing that it was time to learn from past mistakes and ensure the party’s survival.

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Just In: NASS Lacks Authority To Legislate On Lotteries – Supreme Court Nullifies Lottery Act

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Dailygazettenig
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On Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment, nullifying the National Lottery Act 2005 passed by the National Assembly.

The seven-member panel of justices unanimously ruled that the Act was no longer valid in any state, except the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the National Assembly holds legislative authority.

Justice Mohammed Idris, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that the National Assembly does not have the constitutional power to make laws governing lotteries and games of chance.

The court affirmed that such powers fall solely under the jurisdiction of the state Houses of Assembly, which have exclusive authority over these matters.

Detail soon…

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IPOB Disowns Simon Ekpa, Labels Him a ‘Destructive Agent’ Terrorizing Southeast

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed secessionist group, has publicly distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based Biafran agitator.

In a statement issued on Friday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, emphasized that Ekpa was never a member of IPOB and was never registered with any of the group’s chapters, including the one in Finland.

Ekpa, who has been a controversial figure in the Biafra independence movement, was arrested on Thursday by Finnish authorities.

The arrest was linked to his alleged involvement in spreading terrorist propaganda via social media back in 2021.

Following his arrest, the district court of Päijät-Häme in Finland placed Ekpa in custody. Alongside Ekpa, four other individuals were apprehended in connection with suspected terrorist activities.

IPOB strongly condemned Ekpa, calling him a “destructive agent” who was hired to infiltrate and undermine the peaceful self-determination movement of IPOB.

The group also criticized both the Nigerian and Finnish governments for allegedly shielding Ekpa from earlier attempts at arrest.

In the statement, IPOB clarified that Simon Ekpa was never part of their organization, nor did he have any leadership role within it.

IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has consistently advocated for Biafra’s independence through peaceful means, specifically through a UN-supervised referendum.

IPOB’s leadership lamented that some Biafrans were misled into believing Ekpa was a genuine advocate for their cause, only to later realize he was working to destabilize the movement.

The dispute between IPOB and Ekpa traces back to 2021 when Ekpa was briefly appointed to manage Radio Biafra, the broadcast wing of the movement, after Kanu’s arrest.

However, Ekpa was quickly removed from this role after he refused to adhere to the organization’s engagement rules. This led to a fracture within the group, with Ekpa going on to form his own faction.

He became increasingly outspoken against IPOB’s leadership, issuing his own directives, including the controversial sit-at-home orders in southeastern Nigeria, which have been linked to violence and unrest.

Ekpa later declared himself the prime minister of the Biafra government in exile and formed an armed group called the ‘Biafra Liberation Army.’ Through social media, he has spread disinformation, incited violence, and shared gruesome images related to the unrest in southeastern Nigeria.

IPOB has repeatedly distanced itself from Ekpa’s actions, denouncing his calls for violence and disassociating the group from his self-declared leadership.

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Court of Appeal Upholds Rivers LG Elections, Upturns Judgment Blocking Voter Register Release

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Dailygazettenig
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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a ruling that prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from providing the voters register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of the state’s local government elections held on October 5.

A three-member panel, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, delivered a unanimous decision, stating that the Federal High Court had erred in its judgment.

The appellate court also criticized the lower court for prohibiting security agencies from providing protection during the election.

The panel ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear a case concerning Rivers State’s local government elections, noting that Section 28 of the Electoral Act applies solely to federal elections, governorship, and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.

Earlier, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had ruled in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which had filed a lawsuit against the election.

The court had halted the election, citing the RSIEC’s failure to adhere to necessary legal procedures.

It found that the RSIEC had not issued the required 90-day notice before scheduling the election and had not finalized the update and revision of the voters register before setting the election date.

Justice Lifu had ordered that INEC refrain from releasing the certified voters register to RSIEC, effectively preventing the use of the register for the October 5 polls.

The APC had argued in its lawsuit that RSIEC was not authorized to compile or maintain a separate voters register and could only use the one held by INEC for the local elections.

The Court of Appeal’s decision nullified the earlier judgment and allowed the local government elections to proceed as scheduled, emphasizing that the lower court’s actions were beyond its jurisdiction.

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National Assembly Approves President Tinubu’s N1.7 Trillion Loan Request

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On Thursday, the National Assembly approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request for an external loan of N1.77 trillion ($2.2 billion).

This approval came after the committees on local and foreign debts in both the Senate and the House of Representatives presented their reports for consideration during plenary.

This decision raises Nigeria’s total debt to a record N136 trillion, marking a new peak in the country’s borrowing levels.

President Tinubu’s request, which was submitted as part of the 2024 Appropriation Act, was read out by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during separate plenary sessions on Tuesday.

The loan approval has sparked criticism, particularly from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who expressed concern over the rising debt burden.

Atiku, who was the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that the current administration’s loans are exacerbating Nigeria’s economic woes.

He accused the National Assembly of enabling this borrowing spree and stated that the country is becoming increasingly overwhelmed by its debt.

He also referenced a recent World Bank report that placed Nigeria as the third most indebted nation to the International Development Association (IDA), which only adds to the troubling debt narrative.

Atiku further questioned the necessity of the loans, given President Tinubu’s earlier claims that record tax revenues from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Customs Service were being used to fund the national budget.

Atiku described the loans as a “burden” on the Nigerian populace, adding that their terms and implementation were not adequately scrutinized, thereby exerting undue pressure on the country’s economy.

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Canada Uncovers Over 10,000 Fake Foreign Student Acceptance Letters

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revealed that it has identified more than 10,000 fraudulent student acceptance letters, raising alarms about the integrity of Canada’s international student admission process.

The IRCC uncovered the fraud after implementing stricter verification measures to combat the growing problem of fake acceptance letters, which had been discovered in previous years.

According to Bronwyn May, the Director-General of the International Students Branch at IRCC, these enhanced procedures were part of a comprehensive review of 500,000 student applications conducted over the past year.

Of the applications reviewed, 93% were confirmed to be legitimate, while 2% were found to contain fraudulent documents, and 1% were tied to canceled admissions.

In many cases, universities and colleges had failed to properly verify the authenticity of acceptance letters before admitting students.

The crackdown on fraudulent letters followed incidents in 2023 when international students faced the risk of deportation after receiving fake acceptance letters from an unlicensed consultant in India.

This prompted the Canadian government to introduce a new mandatory system requiring educational institutions to verify acceptance letters through an official online portal.

This verification process now applies to all applicants, both within and outside of Canada.

Jenny Kwan, the immigration critic for Canada’s New Democratic Party, described the situation as “extremely alarming” and urged the government to address both the fraudulent activities and the possible involvement of educational institutions.

Kwan emphasized that Canada has a duty to protect international students who have been duped and cautioned that the country’s reputation as a top destination for international education could be jeopardized if these issues are not addressed promptly.

International students play a vital role in Canada’s economy, not only through the substantial tuition fees they pay but also by contributing to job creation and fostering cultural exchange.

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Court Adjourns Diezani’s Asset Forfeiture Suit Against EFCC

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the hearing of a motion filed by former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in her ongoing legal battle with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, has rescheduled the hearing for February 17, 2025.

Alison-Madueke, through her counsel, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed a motion to amend the originating process in her bid to challenge the EFCC’s action regarding the forfeiture of her assets.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, seeks to extend the time within which to apply for an order to set aside the EFCC’s public notice announcing the sale of her assets.

In her application, Alison-Madueke argues that the court orders granting the forfeiture of her assets were made without proper jurisdiction and that she was denied a fair hearing in the process.

She seeks to annul the EFCC’s public notice for the sale of her assets, claiming that the forfeiture orders were issued in violation of her constitutional right to a fair hearing, as guaranteed by Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The former minister contends that she was never served with the charge sheet, evidence, or any summons related to the criminal charges against her.

She further claims that the forfeiture orders were based on misleading information and that her constitutional right to property was violated.

In response, the EFCC, represented by Detective Rufai Zaki, urged the court to dismiss Alison-Madueke’s application.

Zaki, a member of the investigative team handling the former minister’s case, insisted that Alison-Madueke had been duly charged in court and that the application for the final forfeiture of her assets was legitimate.

He emphasized that the court’s 2017 order for forfeiture had not been overturned on appeal and that the assets were lawfully sold as part of the ongoing efforts to recover proceeds of crime.

The EFCC further noted that the auction of Alison-Madueke’s assets had begun on January 9, 2023, in line with the court’s order.

During the court session on Thursday, Alison-Madueke’s lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, informed the court of their intention to amend their application challenging the final forfeiture order.

However, no EFCC representative was present in court.

Justice Ekwo confirmed that the EFCC had served the necessary documents to Alison-Madueke’s legal team and adjourned the case to February 17, 2025, for the hearing of the motion to amend the originating summons.

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