US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that imposes a full travel ban on nationals of 12 countries.

Persons from seven other countries have been handed partial travel restrictions to the United States.

The 12 countries include Afghanistan, Chad, Congo, Yemen, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Equatorial Guinea.

There will be heightened restrictions on people from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The order was signed Wednesday night.

Trump said the ban is in the interest of national security and cited an attack in Colorado on Sunday.

However, the order also says the secretary of state may grant exemptions on a “case-by-case” basis.

“I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,” Trump said.

“We will not let what happened in Europe happen to America.

“Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen those who seek to enter the United States.

“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.”

Many of the countries have ongoing conflicts.

Others were on the list because their governments do not give access to criminal records, Trump noted.

The order also says some of the countries have been put on the list because of difficulties US officials have had deporting citizens from those countries back home.

The travel ban, which will come into effect on June 9, mirrors a similar order by Trump during his first term in 2017, which barred nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.

Trump also signed an executive order suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in programmes at Harvard.

The proclamation temporarily blocks US entry of non-immigrants seeking to study at the Ivy League.

The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Harvard of “radicalism”, “antisemitism” and a “persistence with” diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes.

[TheCable]

In a nation where hardly a single day passes without tragedy, it can be overwhelming for public officials to respond to all the bad news. From a vehicular accident claiming no fewer than 22 athletes returning from a national sports festival to almost 200 fatalities and dozens of others believed to have been swept away by devastating floods, it has been a period of mourning in Nigeria. Even at that, the official silence to the trending video of how CSP Baba Ali Muhammad was brutally murdered by street urchins is very telling on the value we place on the life of those we expect to protect us. 

Before I proceed, let me state that crime fighting is a risky enterprise all over the world. For instance, according to the website of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 47 law enforcement officers were murdered in the first eight months of last year. “Firearms were used in 76.6 percent of the felonious deaths occurring in 2024. Among officers killed with firearms, four are confirmed to have been wearing body armour,” the FBI report reveals. “The leading circumstances surrounding the officers’ felonious deaths were related to investigative/enforcement (16), unprovoked attacks (8), and ambushes (entrapment/premeditation) (6).”

However, what is different in the case of Nigeria is the growing rate at which criminals are targeting our law enforcement officers for extermination without fear. Not to mention the way we treat our policemen—alive or dead. That is not the case elsewhere. In March this year, President Donald Trump called for a mandatory death penalty for anyone convicted of killing an American law enforcement officer. After signing an executive order that would make the death penalty mandatory in such cases, Trump called on Congress to ensure it becomes a permanent law. He also honoured the widow of NYPD Officer, Jonathan Diller, who was shot during a traffic stop in March 2023. Meanwhile, I am yet to see a presidential response to the mob killing of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Rano in Kano State.

I once referenced the response by Vivek Tulja, a satellite communication expert, to a question on why criminals, including members of the Mafia, avoid killing policemen unless they are cornered. “If you happen to kill a cop, you are best off using the last bullet in your magazine on yourself,” Tulja concluded. That appears not be the case in Nigeria given how the Rano DPO was executed in a most brutal manner by a mob not even afraid to record their own bestial action.

In recent days, I have had revealing exchanges with Mr Tunji Alapini, a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, regarding this tragedy. “That an officer of the law left his home for the office and ended up being gruesomely murdered in a ‘sane’ society is beyond imagination,” said Alapini who admitted shedding tears after watching the gory video. “I am not in full picture of the incident that made those criminals believe they have a right to take the life of an officer on legitimate duty, but from the aftermath of the Police Interim Investigation report, the mob massacred the DPO because a suspect allegedly died in the cell at his station.”

While advocating that the culprits (most of whom have been arrested by the police) be made to bear “the full consequences of their action,” Alapini also expressed concern about the lack of outrage from critical stakeholders in our country on the tragic incident. “While the Police cried out about what happened to the unfortunate officer, there was a deafening silence from the Governor of Kano State, traditional rulers, National Assembly members etc. It is almost as if the lives of our police and military personnel don’t matter. And that is both concerning and saddening.”

I share Alapini’s sentiment. As the principal custodian of peace, order and security in a constitutional democracy, no institution is arguably more important than the police. But so abused is this law enforcement authority in Nigeria that both the government and society seem not to care about their personnel. Yet, given the strategic relationship between the well-being of the police and the security of citizens, we neglect this critical institution to our own peril. 

I have in the past recounted the October 2011 statement by a police officer’s wife at the Obalende barracks in Lagos which revealed the indignities to which their families had been exposed. It may be worth repeating at a time like this. “We have been suffering in silence. These barracks are like a refugee camp. We have no toilet facilities, no pipe-borne water and no electricity, and we are now being threatened by floods and reptiles,” the woman told the visiting Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade. “We live a little above animals. We are like sub-human beings here. This is a place of death; the mosquitoes here don’t surrender to insecticides…”

How do we expect the personnel of a Police force whose families live like ‘sub-human beings’ to perform optimally? Yes, I have written several columns on the excesses of the police, but we should also be fair. If the life of a divisional police officer could be taken by a mob in such a gruesome manner and authorities in Nigeria move on as if nothing happened, what justification do we have to hold them accountable when they misbehave?

Alapini suggests that the Rano Police station be named after the deceased CSP. I agree. But I also hope those in authorities can understand that the manner in whichthe life of the Rano DPO was taken is a direct assault on social order and a grave threat to the foundation of any functioning society. And there must be severe consequences, if only to serve as a deterrence to others that when you kill a policeman in Nigeria, you are digging your own grave. It must never happen again!

Health of the President
Last Thursday, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor in charge of economic policy, Kingsley Obiora, sent me an interesting message, followed by two lengthy posts. First, the message: “I asked two AI-powered search engines to comment on ‘Power, Politics and Death’ by Olusegun Adeniyi and ‘Original Sin’ by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson and see if there are any similarities. Below are the responses from Elon Musk’s Grok and Sam Altman’s ChatGPT.”

The first forwarded post by Kingsley was the response he received from Grok. “To address the query, I’ll compare the behaviors of key actors in Power, Politics and Death by Olusegun Adeniyi and Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, focusing on their actions, motivations, and the consequences as depicted in the books.” Both works, according to Grok, “delve into political intrigue, leadership challenges, and the handling of crises, offering a lens to examine how key figures navigate power, secrecy, and public perception.” 

In both books, Grok continues, “key actors exhibited hubris by overestimating their ability to control outcomes and denying the reality of their leader’s incapacitation. This led to catastrophic political consequences—Nigeria’s constitutional crisis and the U.S. Democrats’ electoral defeat.” But Grok also admits that while there are striking similarities, contexts differ in the two countries: “Nigeria’s political system in Power, Politics and Death was marked by weaker institutions, allowing personalities to dominate over constitutional norms. In contrast, Original Sin operates in the U.S.’s more structured democratic system, where the cover-up faced greater scrutiny due to media and electoral pressures.” On the outcomes, “Yar’Adua’s death resolved the crisis by forcing a transition to Jonathan, whereas Biden’s withdrawal led to Kamala Harris’s candidacy, which still failed to prevent Trump’s victory, highlighting different stakes and timelines.”

After a lengthy disquisition of various aspects of the two books, Grok concluded: “The key actors in both Power, Politics and Death and Original Sin exhibit remarkably similar behaviors: concealing their leader’s health issues, prioritizing loyalty over public interest, manipulating political processes, displaying hubris, and being influenced by family dynamics. These actions reflect a universal tendency among political elites to cling to power, even at the cost of transparency and democratic integrity. In both cases, the consequences were severe—a constitutional crisis in Nigeria and an electoral disaster for U.S. Democrats—underscoring the dangers of such behaviors in leadership.”

The second post was what ChatGPT had to say on both books, which is remarkably similar. “Power, Politics and Death by Olusegun Adeniyi and Original Sin by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, though centered on different political landscapes—Nigeria and the United States respectively—both delve into the inner workings of presidential administrations during times of crisis. A comparative analysis reveals notable similarities in the behaviors of key actors in these narratives,” ChatGPT wrote.After also comparing different aspects of the books, ChatGPT concluded: “In summary, both books shed light on the complexities of political leadership during health crises, emphasizing how inner circles can influence decisions, manipulate information, and impact national stability. The parallels between the two administrations underscore the universal challenges of governance, transparency, and the human elements that shape political narratives.”

Reading through the posts by Grok and ChatGBT, I marveled at the incredible power of AI and the future of the knowledge industry. But the message from Kingsley also prompted me to get the book, ‘Original Sin (President Biden’s Decline, It’s Coverup, and his disastrous choice to run again’ which I read on the long flight from Boston to San Francisco enroute Dallas last Saturday. The Biden book has, of course, elicited several reactions. Even the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, waded in. “I think anybody looking again at the videos and photo evidence of Joe Biden with … a little bit of common sense can see that this was a clear coverup,” Leavitt responded to a question on revelations from the book. “And Jill Biden was certainly complicit in that coverup.”

I agree that both books are similar in subject. But they diverge on thrust. The Biden book is about shielding an incumbent presidentseeking a second term from the eyes of a public whose confidence is likely to be shaken by greater knowledge of his physical and mental state. In a way, it is also about protecting the institution of the US presidency from perceptions that could imperil orderly transition. In the case ofYar’Adua, it is about sustaining a power incumbency during a crisis necessitated by ill health. In both books, what comes out clearly is the uncharted territory of how to deal with presidential health confidence in an accountable manner without exposing the principal to public ridicule.

Perhaps because I was a participant observer in the narrative contained in the Yar’Adua book, I have sympathy for Mrs Jill Biden and MessrsMike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed and Hunter Biden—members of what was described by the authors as the ‘Politburo’—the Nigerian version of the ‘Cabal’. From my own experience, the assumption that people around a leader with health challenges are there only to preserve their own power and privileges is not necessarily true. Some may simply be helpless after weighing several factors on a problem over which they have no control.

While this is an issue for another day, the ultimate lesson—which is evident in both ‘Original Sin’ and ‘Power, Politics and Death’—is the challenge that comes with the illness of a national leader. For those close to such a leader and the country over which he presides.

The Ghost of June 12

‘Combining the techniques of a diarist, reporter and commentator, Olusegun Adeniyi reports the events as they unfolded under the late General Sani Abacha, he allows the actors of that drama to speak in their own words, he constructs the narrative in a chronological sequence and guides us to the climactic and sudden end of the Abacha misadventure. He provides strong entertainment in recording the statements of those willing agents of dictatorship who handed over the initiative to Abacha, but who ironically today are occupying positions of authority as democrats. The author mentions their names directly and confronts us with the fickleness of the human mind and the dangers of the personal factor in Nigerian politics…the characters in his account are either villains or charlatans, democrats or political mercenaries, men of principles or hired thugs. Without calling anyone names, he allows their deeds to place a judgment of history upon their heads…’

The foregoing, written by Dr Reuben Abati, is from the Foreword to ‘The Last 100 Days of Abacha’, first published in August 2005, but now part of the coming book, ‘The Ghost of June 12’. Meanwhile, I have received several messages on whether there will be a public presentation of the book. There will not be any such formal ceremony. But the book will be available for readers across the country from Monday, June 16. For pre-order, those interested should contact www.rhbooks.com.ng or Call/WhatsApp: +2349092158968; +2348028287089.

• You can follow me on my X (formerly Twitter) handle, @Olusegunverdict and on www.olusegunadeniyi.com   

But for the huge respect that I have for the organisers of this programme, I would have declined the invitation of the Nigerian Bar Association to be a panelist in this Summit. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act is 10 years. Even though the ACJA has been adopted and enacted into law by all the states of the Federation, the provisions of the law that have challenged illegal arrest and detention of criminal suspects have been ignored by the ruling class with the connivance of Nigerian lawyers.

While the rich people in the society have the resources to hire and pay senior lawyers to prevent unlawful arrest and detention, poor people are routinely arrested and detained without trial. Hence the human rights community and other stakeholders successfully campaigned for inclusion of section 34 in the ACJA. As we shall show anon, the provision has been observed in breach by the Government.

COMPULSORY VISITATION TO DETENTION FACILITIES BY MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES

Section 34 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 provides that the Chief Magistrate, or where there is no Chief Magistrate within the police division, any Magistrate designated by the Chief Judge for that purpose, shall, at least every month, conduct an inspection of police stations or other places of detention within his territorial jurisdiction other than the prison.

(2) During a visit, the Magistrate may:

(a) call for, and inspect, the record of arrests;

(b) direct the arraignment of a suspect;

(c) where bail has been refused, grant bail to any suspect where appropriate if the offence for which the suspect is held is within the jurisdiction of the Magistrate.

(3) An officer in charge of a police station or official in charge of an agency authorised to make an arrest shall make available to the visiting Chief Magistrate or designated Magistrate exercising his powers under subsection (1) of this section:

(a) the full record of arrest and record of bail;

(b) applications and decisions on bail made within the period; and

(c) any other facility the Magistrate requires to exercise his powers under that subsection.

(4) With respect to other Federal Government agencies authorised to make an arrests, the High Court having jurisdiction shall visit such detention facilities for the purpose provided in this section.

(5) Where there is default by an officer in charge of a police station or official in-charge of an agency authorised to make arrest to comply with the provisions of subsection (3) of this section, the default shall be treated as a misconduct and shall be dealt with in accordance with the relevant Police Regulation under the Police Act, or pursuant to any other disciplinary procedure prescribed by any provision regulating the conduct of the officer or official of the agency.

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that visiting Chief Magistrates and Judges are empowered to order the release of detainees, or grant them bail or direct that they be arraigned in court. But since the Act was enacted in May 2015, Chief Magistrates and Judges have failed to enforce the provisions of section 34 of ACJA by visiting all police stations and other detention facilities at least once a month.

CAMPAIGN FOR ENFORCEMENT OF SECTION 34 OF ACJA

Sometime in May 2018, the human rights community drew the attention of the then Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chair of the National Judicial Council, Justice Walter Onnoghen to the refusal of Chief Magistrates and Judges to comply with section 34 of ACJA. About a month later, a the Chief Justice directed the Chief Judge of every state of the nation, including the FCT to direct Chief Magistrates, and, where there is no Chief Magistrate within the police division, designate any Magistrate for that purpose, to, at least, every month, conduct an inspection of Police Stations or other places of detention within his territorial jurisdiction other than prison in line with the provisions of the ACJA. 

His Lordship further directed the Chief Judges to put in place appropriate mechanisms to ensure compliance with the above provisions of the ACJA. But in spite of the clear provisions of the ACJA and Police Establishment Act, Chief Magistrates and Judges have failed to conduct monthly visits to police stations and other detention facilities in the country.

 Hence, the incessant arrest, detention and torture of poor citizens by the Police and other security agencies have since become the order of the day. The Nigerian Bar Association has not helped matters as the Human Rights Committtes in its 130 branches have failed to ensure that Chief Magistrates and Judges conduct visits to police stations and other detention facilities. I must not fail to commend a former Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA, Mr. Bayo Akinlade for ensuring that visits are conducted by Magistrates in many states of the Federation.

Instead of appropriating funds for the provision of logistics for the monthly inspection of all detention facilities, the National Assembly decided to reproduce section 34 of ACJA in section 70 of the Police Establishment Act, 2020. It is public knowledge that the over 11,000 valued at about N7 trillion inserted in the 2025 Appropriation Act did not include the building of well equipped police stations in the country.

 To prevent further detention of suspects without legal justification, it is pertinent to examine the provisions of the law on other rights of suspects and detainees. By the combined effect of section 3(3) ACJA and section 6(2)(c) of the ACJA, suspects who lack the means to engage lawyers to defend them are entitled to free legal representation as the officers in every police station are mandatorily required to request the Legal Aid Council to assign lawyers to represent such indigent suspects. Since police officers are not aware of the miranda rights of criminal suspects the Inspector-General of Police should activate section 10 of ACJA without delay.

HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS IN POLICE STATIONS

Section 66(3) of the Police Act stipulates that there shall be assigned to every police division at least one police officer: (a) who is qualified to practise as legal practitioner in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Act; (b) whose responsibility is to promote human rights compliance by officers of the division.

A law lecturer, Sylvester Udemezue Esq has said that "Lawyers employed and posted to police stations across the country, pursuant to Section 66 (3) of the Np Act, 2020, are not put there to join regular investigations or to carry guns or to police join patrol teams or check-points or the operations section or to undertake other traditional work of the police, but solely to supervise and promote human rights observance by police officers serving in the police station. Thus, implementing Section 66 (3) is a special-purpose project aimed at promoting respect for human rights suspects and detainees, in line with international best practices and prevailing 21st-century benchmarks."

ILLEGALITY OF EX PARTE ORDER TO REMAND SUSPECTS

Section 293 of the ACJA empowers a Magistrate to order the remand of a suspect for a renewable period of 14 days. This provision should be reviewed as it has been grossly abused by detaining authorities and Magistrates. Since section 35(1) of the Comstituyion guarantees the fundamemtal right to personal liberty, the detention of a suspect on the basis of an ex parte applivation is illegal. It is suggested that section 293 of ACJA should be amended to provide for motion on notice for the detention of any suspect.

CONCCLUSION

No doubt, the provisions of section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and Nigeria Police Act, 2020 have confirmed the policy of the Federal Government to ensure that the fundamental right of every citizen to personal liberty is not infringed upon or abridged by law enforcement officers contrary to the procedure permitted by law. It is now left for the Judiciary to activate and implement the provisions of the law in order to end the incessant arrest and prolonged detention of the Nigerian people without any further delay.

We are of the strong view that if all detention facilities in the country are henceforth regularly inspected by Judges and Chief Magistrates as stipulated by the law, the people of Nigeria will no longer be subjected to illegal arrest and detention by the Police and other security agencies. If ACJA had been made to work since 2015, there would have been no #endsars protests in 2020. We are therefore compelled to call on Judges and Chief Magistrates to carry out their duties under section 34 of ACJA and section 70 of the Police Establishment Act.

However, to achieve the objective of the law we appeal to the respective Chief Judges to supervise the Visiting Judges and Chief Magistrates in the discharge of their statutory duties. Where there is no Chief Magistrate within the police division, the Chief Judge should designate a Magistrate for the purpose in accordance with section 70 (1) of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020.

Finally, we call on the members of the Human Rights Community including the human rights committees of the Nigerian Bar Association to assign their accredited representatives to accompany Judges and Chief Magistrates during the monthly inspection of police stations and other detention facilities in Nigeria.

(Being the Address delivered at the 1st NBA Western Zone Human Rights Summit on June 3, 2025 at Ibadan, Oyo State)  

The attention of Anambra State Government has been drawn to a malicious and deliberately fabricated online publication and social media comments making spurious claims that the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, consulted a native doctor regarding his reelection prospects. The State Government hereby debunks the allegations as totally false. 

For the interest of the general public, the video clip being maliciously circulated and misrepresented, as evidence of native doctor consultation, was taken during a recent official government meeting with Anambra-based content creators. The session, facilitated by the Special Senior Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, was organised to strengthen the partnership between the State Government and the creative industry as part of Governor Soludo’s commitment in encouraging and supporting Anambra’s creative economy.

During the interactive session, content creators were encouraged to showcase their talents, ask questions, and share their concerns about the creative industry in the state. As part of the presentations, one of the content creators performed a native doctor skit, a common comic genre in Nigerian entertainment, to demonstrate their creative abilities to the Governor and other officials present. This was purely an entertainment performance by a content creator, not a consultation session. 

The State Government thus found it deeply disappointing that critics and political opponents would stoop so low as to deliberately fabricate malicious narratives from an innocent entertainment performance and spread misinformation to mislead the public. 

Rather than engage in frivolous consultations, Governor Soludo has consistently demonstrated his commitment to developing Anambra’s creative economy through investment plans as part of the state’s economic diversification strategy. The recently commissioned SOLUTION FUN CITY project is part of such investment plans.  

The State Government also clarified that Governor Soludo does not need consultations with any native doctor to win reelection, as he relies solely on the support of Ndi Anambra based on his impressive performance and focus on delivering the SOLUTION AGENDA by transforming Anambra State into a livable and prosperous homeland.

Therefore, the Anambra State Government calls on Ndi Anambra, media channels and social media users to disregard the misinformation concerning the circulated video clip. The public is also urged to always verify information before sharing or amplifying content and reject malicious stories sponsored to mislead the public. 

As always, Governor Soludo remains committed to the development of Anambra State and will not be deterred by the antics of desperate political opponents who have chosen the path of falsehood over constructive engagement.

Signed:

Christian Aburime

Press Secretary to the Governor

The Point of Sale (POS) system has, without question, revolutionized financial transactions across Nigeria, particularly in rural and underserved communities. With limited access to formal banking structures, POS agents have filled a crucial gap, empowering everyday citizens with ease of access to deposits, withdrawals, and transfers.

However, this innovation is now being misused in ways that threaten our national security, financial system, and judicial integrity. Recently, I was approached by a respected Judge of the High Court in the Eastern Region of Nigeria, who expressed grave concern about the alarming rate at which POS machines are being exploited by criminals, particularly kidnappers and fraud syndicates. According to His Lordship, several cases involving untraceable financial transactions running into tens of millions of naira have come before his court. In most of these cases, the inability to trace the flow of funds or the identities of POS operators and beneficiaries has frustrated litigants, prosecutors, and even the court itself.

It was this judge’s concern, and his earnest suggestion, that prompted me to author this article as a means of sensitizing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), policymakers, and security agencies about the urgent need to regulate this increasingly abused financial ecosystem.

The convenience of POS transactions is now being weaponized. In one harrowing incident, the family of a kidnapped victim was forced to pay over ₦90 million in ransom via POS transactions, yet the criminal trail vanished into thin air. Without proper checks and balances, these machines have become unregulated financial conduits, operating outside the reach of law enforcement or traceability frameworks.

A particular and even more disturbing dimension is the unchecked withdrawal of money transferred to POS account holders, often without requiring any form of identification from the ultimate beneficiaries of these funds. The Hon. Judge recounted multiple cases where funds were disbursed by POS agents to individuals, sometimes acting under false identities without any verifiable documentation. In the event of a crime, both the origin of the funds and the identity of the receiver become impossible to establish. This, in effect, renders the justice system impotent.

There is no doubt that the current legal and regulatory environment is grossly ill-equipped to address this emerging threat. Many POS agents are not properly vetted, often operating without clear identification, fixed business address, or adherence to Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols. There is also no existing law that holds POS agents accountable for failing to obtain documentation from recipients of disbursed funds.

This loophole is what allows criminals to channel massive funds through POS terminals, unrecorded, unmonitored, and untraceable.

To safeguard our justice system and national financial integrity, decisive and urgent regulatory actions are needed:

1. Immediate CBN Intervention:

The Central Bank of Nigeria must urgently issue and enforce strict regulations mandating registration, licensing, and operational procedures for all POS operators. This should include mandatory transaction limits, geo-tagging of POS devices, real-time monitoring, and compliance checks.

2. BVN/NIN Linkage for POS Operators:

Every POS terminal and the bank accounts linked to them must be associated with the operator’s BVN and NIN. This will provide a direct line of accountability and aid law enforcement in tracing suspicious activity.

3. Identification Before Withdrawal of Transferred Funds:

A critical regulatory provision must now mandate that any individual seeking to withdraw transferred funds through a POS terminal must present verifiable identification, such as a NIN slip, Voter’s Card, Driver’s License, or International Passport. POS agents must retain a copy (digital or photocopied) of this identification along with a photograph of the individual, to be made available upon lawful request by law enforcement.

4. Accountability of POS Operators for Disbursed Funds:

POS operators who fail to obtain and retain this verifiable identity documentation must be held criminally and civilly liable for aiding and abetting the crime committed by either the transferor or the beneficiary. This will ensure stricter compliance and deter the indiscriminate release of funds to anonymous individuals.

Furthermore, POS agents should be prohibited from receiving funds into their personal or business accounts on behalf of customers unless the end-user is physically present and has complied with mandatory KYC requirements. This will close the backdoor currently used by criminal networks to move illicit funds.

5. Integration with Security Infrastructure:

Law enforcement agencies (EFCC, DSS, Police) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) must be empowered with secure access to a centralized POS transaction database. This integration will allow early detection of abnormal patterns, suspicious transactions, and help in preempting criminal activity.

6. Geo-Fencing and AI Surveillance:

The CBN and fintech stakeholders must deploy AI-backed monitoring and geo-fencing technologies to track the usage of POS machines, especially in locations known for recurring criminal activity. High-volume agents in rural areas should receive heightened regulatory scrutiny.

7. Public Education and Community Vigilance:

The public must be educated on the proper and safe use of POS services. Communities should be sensitized to demand identification when engaging in POS-based financial transfers and to report suspicious agents or transactions to appropriate authorities.

A Wake-Up Call to Policy Makers

The situation we face today is unsustainable. We must not wait until the criminal misuse of POS becomes a full-blown national emergency. The Hon. Judge’s courtroom experiences reflect a painful reality: our justice system is paralyzed where there is no verifiable data trail. The law cannot function in the absence of proof, and neither can justice be served in a system that enables criminal anonymity.

This is, therefore, a direct and urgent call to the CBN, the National Assembly, financial institutions, the Financial Intelligence Unit, and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians: Let us close this gaping hole in our financial and security architecture. Let us restore integrity, transparency, and accountability to one of the most widely used and increasingly abused financial systems in Nigeria today.

Dr. Monday O. Ubani, SAN

Legal Practitioner and Public Affairs Analyst

A former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has said that he has no plans to facilitate the defection of Governor Hyacinth Alia from the All Progressives Congress, APC to the People Democratic Party, PDP.

In a statement he signed on Wednesday, Maku said his participation in the recent Good Governance Tour of development projects in Benue State was completely apolitical.

As DAILY POST earlier reported, Governor Alia sparked fresh defection rumours following reports that he had engaged Maku, a member of the PDP, into his media team.

The move was interpreted in political circles as a calculated signal of realignment.

However, the former minister dismissed the speculations as false, saying it was only a sincere, non-partisan initiative.

“The Good Governance Tour is a professional effort designed to shift the focus of political leaders – across all parties and at all levels – away from endless political quarrels towards the urgent need for development and service delivery, particularly to the grassroots,” Maku said in the statement.

He explained that the concept is not new, adding that it began during his time as Minister of Information, when he initiated the National Good Governance Tour as a non-partisan platform for assessing and showcasing development efforts of incumbent leaders across the country.

“Prof Jerry Gana also undertook a nationwide media tour during his time as the Minister of information and National Orientation,” he added.

“At that time, it became clear that our political space was dominated by power tussles and not enough attention was being paid by political actors and the media to the real needs of the people.

“The tour helped many leaders to refocus on their core mandate, which was service to the people.

“As sitting Minister then, I led journalists to states governed by different political parties, and the feedback was very encouraging. Several state Governors confessed that the tour prompted them to take their development agenda more seriously.

“Since leaving office, I have remained concerned about the continued lack of priority attention to governance.

“It was in response to this troubling trend that I reached out to like-minded professionals, including Dr. Mike Omeri, former DG of the National Orientation Agency, to revive the good governance tour as a tool for civic accountability and public engagement.

“We have approached political leaders across party lines, requesting permission to assess and showcase their projects and policies. A number of them have responded positively. The Governor of Benue State, Rev (Dr) Hyacinth Alia happened to be the first to officially invite us to tour his state.

“The Governance Tour of Benue was conducted transparently and broadcast across multiple media platforms. It included a lively town hall where citizens directly engaged the government, asked tough questions, and received honest answers on development and security efforts.

“We have since received a wave of positive feedback from citizens across Nigeria, many of whom are urging us to bring the good governance tour to their own states. The widespread enthusiasm underscores the importance of what we are doing.

“Let me be clear: No part of our mission to Benue State involved persuading Governor Alia to switch political parties. That narrative is absolute fiction. Those who know him understand that he is not driven by desperation for 2027, but by a burning desire to serve.

“We are far more interested in promoting development initiatives and concrete service delivery by our leaders than in the endless cycle of political scheming and bitter power games.”

[DailyPost]

The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has dismissed reports claiming it has 10,000 job openings, describing the information as false and misleading.

In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by the Commission’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Taiwo Hassan, the FCSC clarified that only 2,130 vacancies were available under its recently concluded online recruitment exercise, which ended on March 17.

“The attention of the Federal Civil Service Commission has been drawn to a publication circulating on conventional and online media, which stated that the Commission’s available vacancies were 10,000. This is not true,” the statement read.

It also announced that the shortlisting process had been completed, and candidates selected for the next stage—the Computer-Based Test (CBT)—would be notified through various media platforms and its official website: www.fedcivilservice.gov.ng.

[TheNation]

The Premier League has officially commenced the 2025/26 season following its Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday, June 4.

With the administrative transition now complete, all 20 clubs — including promoted sides Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland — have been formally recognised as members of the top flight.

“The change from 2024/25 to the 2025/26 campaign has been formalised,” the League confirmed in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday, marking the official start of the new season.

Promotions, relegations confirmed

Leeds, Burnley, and Sunderland have received their Premier League share certificates, the final legal step confirming their promotion.

Each club was entered into the Premier League’s share register and awarded a framed certificate, officially recognising their top-flight status.

“A new share certificate for each promoted club has been signed by the Premier League directors and company secretary. As required under company law, the three clubs have been entered into the share register.”

Meanwhile, relegated clubs Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton have returned their Premier League shares, concluding their membership.

“The three relegated clubs have transferred back the share certificates that conferred Premier League status, and the Premier League Board has confirmed the cancellation of these shares,” the statement added.

Fixture release date

With all 20 clubs confirmed, attention now turns to the release of the 2025/26 fixtures, scheduled for Wednesday, 18 June at 09:00 BST.

The full schedule for the upcoming season will be unveiled ahead of the opening matchweek on Saturday, 16 August.

“All 20 clubs can now look forward to 09:00 BST on Wednesday, 18 June, when they will discover their fixtures for the 2025/26 season,” the League said.

In the meantime, the Premier League table has been reset, listing all 20 clubs in alphabetical order.

The League’s social media channels have also begun following the official accounts of Leeds, Burnley, and Sunderland, symbolising their full integration.

“The Premier League table has been reset, while the League’s social media accounts now follow those of the three promoted clubs,” it stated.

What’s next?

With the 2025/26 season officially underway, clubs will intensify their pre-season preparations. Several teams have already announced their summer schedules, including friendly matches and overseas tours expected in the coming weeks.

“Wednesday, June 4, marks the official changeover to the new season as Leeds, Burnley, and Sunderland become Premier League clubs,” the League added.

The countdown to a new campaign — promising fresh rivalries, renewed ambitions, and new narratives — has begun.

[Punch]

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has warned Disc Jockeys (DJs) of performing other people’s music publicly without license or owner’s authorisation.

Dr John Asein, Director-General of  NCC, gave the warning in an advisory issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to him, the attention of  NCC has been drawn to the practice of some DJs, who publicly perform music without obtaining the requisite copyright licences from rights holders or their approved Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).

He said under sections 9 and 12 of the Copyright Act, 2022, the owner of copyright in a musical work or sound recording had the exclusive right to reproduce, perform or communicate it to the public.

“Engaging in any of these acts without the owner’s authorisation constitutes an infringement under the Act.

“Such infringement may constitute a civil wrong or a criminal offence under section 44 (7), punishable upon conviction by a fine of not less than N1 million or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or to both.

“The public performance of music by a DJ, whether at hotels, event centres, clubs, gardens, or recreational facilities, constitutes both a public performance and a communication to the public of the musical work and sound recording, as provided for under the Act,” he said.

He advised them to obtain appropriate licences and pay royalties to the approved Collective Management Organisation (CMO) prior to engaging in such performances.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the approved CMO for musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria is the Musical Copyright Society, Nigeria (MCSN).

“The Commission is aware that the Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN), as the umbrella body representing DJs in Nigeria, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN.

“Under the arrangement, DJAN is authorised to work with MCSN to facilitate the payment of royalties by DJs nationwide, based on the tariff that DJAN had negotiated

with MCSN,” he explained.

The DG, however, stressed that the commission would not hesitate to investigate, arrest and prosecute any DJ found to be in contravention of the law.

He added that henceforth, the commission would be working with other relevant authorities to support the initiative of DJAN, to ensure that DJs carry out their trade in compliance with the Copyright Act.

(NAN)

An analysis of public holidays and official leave days as a percentage of total available workdays in a year indicates that Nigerian workers spend approximately 15.7% of their time away from work.

This is according to a review conducted by Nairametrics Research, which relied on officially declared public holidays and statutory annual leave entitlements.

In a typical calendar year with 261 potential working days excluding weekends, Nigerians are entitled to between 41 to 46 days off.

These include public holidays, annual leave, and sick leave, as stipulated by labour regulations and employment contracts.

This estimate, however, excludes workers engaged in essential services such as healthcare, security, emergency response, and those in shift-based roles, who may not observe all national holidays or who work on rotational schedules that reduce or redistribute time off.

For a country navigating the complexities of economic recovery, youth unemployment, and increasing global competitiveness, the volume of time spent off work has sparked heated boardroom debates and policy roundtables.

Yet, for the average Nigerian, these breaks are not just welcome, they are necessary.

In the United States, the term “holiday” typically refers to fixed dates of national or religious significance. In the UK and Commonwealth nations, it’s interchangeable with “vacation.” But in Nigeria, holidays and leave are deeply ingrained in the socio-cultural and religious fabric of the nation.

Holidays like Eid, Easter, Christmas, and Democracy Day are observed nationwide and often serve as periods of rest, family reunions, and communal activities. These pauses, while seemingly disruptive to productivity, are considered essential for both cultural cohesion and worker rejuvenation.

A breakdown of the 41 days of rest 

• Christmas Holidays(Dec 25 &26): 2 days (Christmas Day & Boxing Day)
• New Year(Jan 1): 1 day
• Easter Holidays: 2 days (Good Friday & Easter Monday)
• Muslim Holidays: 5 days (Eid-el-Fitr, Eid-el-Kabir, and associated days)
• Democracy Day (June 12): 1 day
• Labour Day (May 1): 1 day
• Independence Day (October 1): 1 day
• Annual Leave (Statutory): 20-28 days
• Sick Leave (Approximate): 5 days

Additionally, workers are entitled to approximately 5 days of sick leave annually, although not all employees take full advantage of this provision. So, this comes to a total of 41 to 46 days, depending on the number of sick leave days permitted or taken.

How Nigerians perceive holidays 

While some business leaders have expressed concern over the volume and distribution of public holidays, particularly when they fall mid-week and disrupt operations, data from surveys and academic research suggest that most Nigerian workers value these breaks as essential to their well-being.

• A 2020 survey of 247 bank employees in Anyigba, Kogi State, found that over 90% of respondents viewed public holidays as vital for religious observance, family bonding, and mental recovery.
• The study, published in the KIU Journal of Social Sciences, revealed a strong preference for preserving national holidays, despite occasional concerns about workflow disruption.
• Global research echoes this sentiment. A 2006 report by Ernst & Young, cited in Boyd (2014), indicated that employees who took more leave achieved higher performance reviews, with each additional ten hours of leave translating to an 8% improvement in annual ratings.

Similarly, studies by Kühnel & Sonnentag (2012) and Zenger & Folkman (2015) confirmed that regular periods of rest reduce burnout and improve staff retention.

Despite these benefits, there are concerns from an output and productivity standpoint.

A 2017 study by Botes reported measurable dips in productivity across sectors during holiday periods, especially in industries like finance, logistics, and manufacturing.

Additionally, research conducted in Sweden (Mohammed et al., 2018) found that while holidays improve morale, they can also introduce stress-related health risks tied to financial obligations and social pressures.

Nonetheless, for a country where religion, community, and family remain deeply embedded in the social fabric, these days off are not just tolerated—they are expected.

[Nairametrics]