News

Terrorists Are Turning Us Into Slaves, Niger State Community Cries Out

Speaking at an emergency press conference in Minna, Saidu Salihu, Secretary of the Coalition of Shiroro Associations, called for urgently returning military forces to Allawa and surrounding communities to protect residents and allow displaced farmers to resume their livelihoods.

Salihu stated that the withdrawal of soldiers three months ago led to a surge in terrorist and bandit activities, forcing residents to collaborate with these groups for survival.

“The terrorists are growing stronger, and without military intervention, the communities are at risk of becoming a terrorist stronghold,” Salihu warned.

He called on the Niger State government to strengthen its cooperation with security agencies and equip local vigilante groups to defend the vulnerable areas. He, however, urged federal and state governments to compensate displaced persons who have lost homes, property, and their means of income.

President of the Lakpma Youth Forum, Babangida Kudodo, lamented the lack of action from both state and federal governments despite numerous reports of the deteriorating security situation.

He disclosed that some informants who were arrested and later released have become threats to the communities, further exacerbating the problem.

Further compounding the crisis, Abdullah Suleiman Erena warned that the Lakpma axis, comprising eight political wards, is at risk of becoming a stronghold for various terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, and Ansaru.

He described the situation as a “developing terrorist ecosystem,” and criticized the press and government for underestimating the severity of the issue.

He also pointed out the risk to the Federal Capital Territory due to its proximity to Shiroro LGA, stressing the urgency of dislodging the terrorists and restoring security to the region.

In his remarks, Sani Abubakar Yusuf Kokki criticized the Niger State government for failing to pressure the federal government to address the escalating security situation.

“The state government needs to do more than just lament,” he stated, stressing that the larger population cannot be abandoned in the face of these growing threats.

News

FULL LIST: Covenant emerges Nigeria’s best university for 2024

Covenant University has again secured the top spot in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.

The ranking, which evaluates universities across various performance metrics, placed the Ota-based institution ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, reaffirming its position as a higher-education leader.

The rankings, which surveyed 1,907 universities across 108 countries, assessed the institutions based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

CU emerged as Nigeria’s best, outperforming the University of Ibadan, the Federal University of Technology Akure, and the University of Lagos, which ranked second, third, and fourth respectively

The 2024 list also reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 134 million citations from 16.5 million research publications analyzed and survey responses from over 68,000 scholars collected globally.

Other Nigerian universities making the top ten include Bayero University, University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Afe Babalola University. The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta also earned a spot in the top tier, securing 10th place.

1. Covenant University

2. University of Ibadan

3. Federal University of Technology Akure

4. University of Lagos

5. Bayero University

6. University of Ilorin

7. University of Nigeria, Nsukka

8. Afe Babalola University

9. University of Benin

10. Federal University ofAgriculture, Abeokuta

11. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

12. Lagos State University

13. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

14. Obafemi Awolowo University

15. University of Port Harcourt

16. Abia State University

17. Akwa Ibom State University

18. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike

19. Babcock University

20. Baze University

21. Bells University of Technology

22. Benson Idahosa University

23. Delta State University, Abraka

24. Edo State University, Uzairue

25. Edwin Clarke University

26. Elizade University

27. Evangel University, Akaeze

29. Federal University of Kashere

30. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun

31. Federal University of Technology, Minna

32. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

33. Fountain University

34. Landmark University

35. Nasarawa State University, Keffi

36. Niger Delta University

37. Plateau State University, Bokkos

38. Thomas Adewumi University

39. Veritas University, Abuja

40. Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kan

News

Court bars VIO from confiscating vehicles, imposing fines on motorists

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling prohibiting the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping vehicles on the road, impounding or confiscating them, and imposing fines on motorists.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Evelyn Maha on October 2, stems from a fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney Abubakar Marshal.

In her ruling, Justice Maha affirmed Marshal’s assertion that there is no legal basis for the VIO and its officials to stop, impound, or confiscate vehicles or to levy fines against motorists.

The order also extends to the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander in Jabi, and the Team Leader in Jabi, with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) listed as a respondent

Additionally, the court issued a restraining order against the respondents, preventing them and their agents from impounding or confiscating vehicles or imposing fines, labeling such actions as wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful.

Justice Maha further granted a perpetual injunction to protect the rights of Nigerians, ensuring their freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property without lawful justification.

This landmark ruling is expected to have significant implications for traffic enforcement practices and motorists’ rights in Nigeria.

Celebs

Falana denies demanding ₦10m from Bobrisky for Presidential Pardon

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has dismissed the allegation that Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky while serving his six-month jail sentence from a purported private apartment reached out to him to seek a presidential pardon.

In a recent viral video, Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan, claimed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dropped the money laundering charges against the popular cross-dresser after receiving ₦15 million.

In a recorded conversation Otse played online, a voice believed to be Bobrisky’s was heard saying Falana and his son, Folarin Falana aka Falz, tried to get him a presidential pardon in exchange for ₦10,000,000.

While releasing the audio conversation aimed at exposing the alleged corruption involving Bobrisky and officials of the EFCC and the Nigeria Correctional Service, Otse said the Falanas would lose the respect he has for them if the cross-dresser’s claims about them were true.

In response to the allegation, the lawyer while speaking on Channels TV on Thursday, October 3, 2024, debunked the claim, saying he has never met Bobrisky.

“Bobrisky never spoke to me. I have never met him. I do not know him from Adam. He allegedly spoke to my son, Folarin (Falz),” he said.

Contrary to the presidential pardon claim, Falana said the cross-dresser approached Falz his son on May 4, requesting for ₦3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison.

“My son said this guy (Bobrisky) was appealing to people for assistance and called my son on May 4 or thereabout this year and said can you give me ₦3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison — we call it VIP section.

“And my son said, ‘are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons?’ He said no. Then Falz said ‘don’t call me again. I’m unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities. And be very careful, since you are already in jail for an offence. Please, if you are going to call me next time, you either do it through the superintendent, or you write a letter endorsed by the prison authorities.” the Lagos lawyer said.

Falana emphasized that his son has never negotiated fees on behalf of anybody.

Having threatened to institute legal action against Otse, the human rights lawyer described his action as infantile radicalism, saying he would make him a deterrent to other social media users who use their platforms to defame people.

Meanwhile, the EFCC’s head of the prosecution team, Bilikisu Bala, has denied the bribery allegation against the commission.

While appearing before the House of Reps committee investigating the matter, Bala said the anti-corruption agency legally dropped the money laundering charges against the controversial cross-dresser because the EFCC could not sustain the charges.