The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly criticised the governors of Anambra and Enugu states, Chukwuma Soludo and Peter Mbah, for organising elaborate receptions for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains in detention.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA described the ceremonies as “politically motivated” and “insensitive”, particularly in light of what the group referred to as the unjust arrest and prolonged detention of Kanu by the federal government.

President Tinubu recently visited both Enugu and Anambra states, commissioning projects and participating in state-organised events marked by pomp and pageantry.

His latest stop was in Anambra, where he was received at the Chinua Achebe International Airport, Umueri, by Governor Soludo and other dignitaries.

HURIWA, a pro-democracy and civil rights group, criticised the governors for failing to use the opportunity of the president’s visit to raise critical issues affecting the South-East region, especially the continued detention and trial of Nnamdi Kanu on treason and terrorism charges.

“We are not against the president visiting any part of the country,” HURIWA said.

“However, it is disturbing that governors from the South-East would organise extravagant state-funded events without addressing the insecurity and marginalisation that have plagued the region.”

The group accused Soludo and Mbah of ignoring the widespread calls for Kanu’s release, including from political and traditional leaders across the region, and of instead focusing on personal political gain.

“Chukwuma Soludo even claimed that releasing Nnamdi Kanu would not reduce insecurity in the South-East. This level of indifference is not only misguided but also betrays the trust of the people they were elected to serve,” the statement added.

HURIWA further alleged that while governors from other regions prioritise their regional interests in negotiations with the federal government, their South-East counterparts have shown little commitment to addressing the region’s developmental challenges or advocating for equitable representation in national appointments and infrastructure projects.

The group called on Southeast leaders to realign their priorities and focus on protecting the rights and interests of the Igbo people, rather than staging public events that appear to endorse the continued marginalisation and persecution of their constituents.

President Tinubu is expected to commission several projects during his Anambra visit, part of what the state government describes as a showcase of “legacy achievements” under the Soludo administration.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has disclosed intentions to give away nearly all of his $200bn wealth, leaving only one per cent for himself, as he shuts down the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Microsoft co-founder stated on Thursday in a post on his personal blog, Gates Notes, that the foundation, which is considered to be among the most significant charitable organisations globally, will close its doors by December 31, 2045.

“People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them.

“There are too many urgent problems to solve for me to hold onto resources that could be used to help people,” he said.

He added, “That is why I have decided to give my money back to society much faster than I had originally planned. I will give away virtually all my wealth through the Gates Foundation over the next 20 years to the cause of saving and improving lives around the world. And on December 31, 2045, the foundation will close its doors permanently.”

In a chart shared in the blog post, Gates revealed that he plans to give away 99 per cent of his wealth by 2045, leaving just one per cent, or about $1.6bn, for himself and his family.

Founded in 2000 with his now ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, the foundation has spent over $100bn on global health, education, and poverty alleviation, helping to fund vaccine development, medical research, and emergency aid around the world. 

He also notes a shift from the original plan.

“This is a change from our original plans. When Melinda and I started the Gates Foundation in 2000, we included a clause in the foundation’s very first charter: The organisation would sunset several decades after our deaths. A few years ago, I began to rethink that approach.

“More recently, with the input from our board, I now believe we can achieve the foundation’s goals on a shorter timeline, especially if we double down on key investments and provide more certainty to our partners,” he stated.

Daily Mail reports that the remaining one per cent of his fortune may ultimately go to his three adult children: Phoebe, Rory and Jennifer.

Outlining the foundation’s achievements, he said, “I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished in our first 25 years.

“We were central to the creation of Gavi and the Global Fund, both of which transformed the way the world procures and delivers lifesaving tools like vaccines and anti-retrovirals. Together, these two groups have saved more than 80 million lives so far. Along with Rotary International, we have been a key partner in reviving the effort to eradicate polio.

“We supported the creation of a new vaccine for rotavirus that has helped reduce the number of children who die from diarrhea each year by 75 percent. Every step of the way, we brought together other foundations, non-profits, governments, multilateral agencies, and the private sector as partners to solve big problems—as we will continue to do for the next twenty years.”

Despite decades of impact, the Gates Foundation has drawn criticism from some who say Gates holds too much sway over global health funding decisions.

But, in an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, he remains unapologetic, saying, like any private citizen, he can choose how to spend the money he earns

“I think 20 years is the right balance between giving as much as we can to make progress on these things and giving people a lot of notice that now this money will be gone,” he said.

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has advised the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi to resolve the internal issues in his party before commenting on national issues.
He questioned how it is possible to resolve the crisis of Boko Haram and other national issues while the crisis in the LP remain unsolved.

Akpabio stated this while responding to Obi’s recent comments that the “labour of our heroes past is all in vain.”

Obi, in his tribute on Wednesday during the Memorial Lecture and Day of Tribute for Edwin Clark in Abuja expressed concern about the current state of Nigeria, stating that the sacrifices of past leaders such as General Gowon and former President Jonathan were in vain.

However, speaking on Thursday, during the Valedictory Session in honor of the late politician, Akpabio asserted that while social media can be a tool for communication, it is largely unregulated and often used to sow division.

He urged Obi and other presidential aspirants to first resolve their party issues before focusing on the national stage.

He said, “If you cannot resolve the crisis in your Labour Party, how can you solve the crisis of Boko Haram or other major national issues? I urge those aspiring to lead Nigeria to first address the issues within their own parties.”

He also took the opportunity to highlight his achievements as a former governor, saying, “I can proudly speak about the dualized thoroughfares in my city, the international hospitals, and the digitalized governor’s offices. I also initiated free and compulsory education and worked towards religious unity by sponsoring over 5,800 Muslims and over 12,000 to 15,000 Christians on pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem.”

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has stated that the Nigerian government is working closely with the Finnish authorities to extradite Simon Ekpa for prosecution over offences allegedly committed against the country’s national security and sovereignty.

The AGF disclosed this on Thursday during the quarterly stakeholders and citizens’ engagement programme organised by the Ministry of Justice at its headquarters in Abuja.

He assured stakeholders that Ekpa’s case would not be abandoned, emphasising that, upon his extradition to Nigeria, the state would pursue the matter diligently.

“Simon Ekpa’s offence is a cross-border offence. If he committed an offence there and committed another one here, we cannot request his release to us until they have dealt with him. After that, we can request his extradition,” he said.

Fagbemi reiterated: “Simon Ekpa committed offences both there and here.”

The AGF further stressed that one of the Ministry’s critical mandates is to foster collaboration and cooperation with the international community to ensure that criminals find no safe haven.

He highlighted successes in extraditions, citing the cases of Hassan Bun Hussein Abolore Lawal and Okechukwu Josiah Odunna, extradited to the United States in January and March 2025, respectively.

Additionally, he mentioned the extradition of Benjamin Nnanyereugo, also known as Killaboi, from Qatar to Nigeria in April 2025 to face murder charges for the killing of Augusta, his girlfriend.

On terrorism, Fagbemi revealed that the Ministry successfully conducted 237 terrorism cases between December 9 and 13, 2024, leading to the prosecution and conviction of 226 suspects.

He announced the establishment of a Joint Case Team on cybercrime to foster inter-agency collaboration, improve investigations, and ensure effective prosecutions in line with global best practices.

The AGF highlighted notable progress in asset recovery and management, including the gazetting of the Proceeds of Crime Regulations, 2024, which standardises automated asset forfeiture management.

He said a National Database on Asset Recovery and Management was also developed to ensure transparency.

He reported that Nigeria executed an Asset Sharing Agreement with the United States on January 10, 2025, resulting in the repatriation of $52,882,018.95. Of this, $50 million will fund the Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project, aimed at providing electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians, while the remaining $2.88 million will support counter-terrorism capacity building.

The minister noted that discussions are ongoing with jurisdictions such as the United States, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and France to repatriate additional funds.

The AGF further disclosed that the Ministry is reviewing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act to better protect vulnerable groups, adding that proposed reforms include enhanced victim protections, revised penalties, and a Victims’ Support Fund.

He stated that the Ministry secured six convictions for sexual and gender-based violence, including the conviction of Peter Nwachukwu, husband of late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu.

To address child-sensitive justice, the AGF highlighted the review of the Borstal Institutions and Remand Centre Act, 2004, and the development of the Children and Youth Correctional Institutions Bill, 2004.

He said the reforms aim to rehabilitate and reintegrate children involved in terrorist activities in line with international child rights standards.

He also emphasised the importance of collaborating with civil society, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders to uphold restorative justice approaches that prioritise the welfare of women, children, and vulnerable persons.

A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that no funds from the Kogi State Government were traced to the American International School, Abuja (AISA), in respect of school fees payment for former Governor Yahaya Bello’s children.

Bello is facing a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering, fraud, and the misappropriation of public funds amounting to N80.2bn.

Testifying before Justice Emeka Nwite, the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, an internal auditor at AISA, stated during cross-examination by Bello’s counsel, Joseph Daudu, that there were no records indicating any wire transfers from the Kogi State Government or its local government areas into the school’s account.

He further confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear on the list of parents who made payments or in any of the transaction records examined.

Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Nwite dismissed an objection raised by the EFCC regarding the admissibility of a previous judgment delivered by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.

The ruling had favoured the Bello family in a dispute over $1.6m paid to the school.

Justice Nwite held that the EFCC’s objection was premature and deemed the judgment relevant and admissible under Sections 102 and 104 of the Evidence Act, marking it as Exhibit 19.

The EFCC, through its counsel Kemi Pinhero, had argued that the defence could not tender such a document before the prosecution had closed its case.

However, Daudu countered that the admissibility of documents is governed by their relevance, not by the stage at which they are presented. The court agreed, ruling that the prosecution’s objection was speculative and that the relevance of the document could not be ignored.

Further into the cross-examination, Ojehomon confirmed that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any correspondence or authorisation letters regarding the payment of $760,910 to AISA. He disclosed that the school had a contractual agreement with Bello’s brother, Ali Bello, concerning the tuition and advance payments for future enrollment of younger children.

The payments in question, totaling $1,606,763.68, were made in two parts: one covering current tuition and another serving as an advance to secure admission slots for younger children starting in August 2022. Ojehomon confirmed that AISA later refunded $760,910.84 to the EFCC.

The FCT High Court judgment admitted as evidence emphasised that AISA was not under any court order to refund the money and that the payments were made based on a contractual agreement with the Bello family. The court ruled that the school could not legally transfer any portion of the fees to a third party, including the EFCC, without a valid court order.

Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter to May 9, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.

One person was confirmed dead and three others sustained varying degrees of injuries on Thursday following a collision between a bus and a truck in Lagos.

The accident occurred along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, opposite the Ace Delight Event Centre, shortly after Green Spring.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, stating that the injured victims were rushed to the hospital for medical treatment.

“A fatal road crash has occurred opposite Ace Delight Event Centre after Green spring, it involved a Coaster Bus and a Truck.

“The sad incident took a life and three other victims were swiftly rushed to the hospital for treatment.

“Recovery of the affected vehicles is also ongoing,” LASTMA wrote.

As of press time, the cause of the accident had not yet been determined.

LASTMA urged motorists to drive with caution and adhere to speed limits to prevent similar tragedies.

“Always drive cautiously at all time and keep to the speed limit,” the agency advised.

Meanwhile, THE WHISTLER reports that a pedestrian was killed over the weekend at Ojota after being struck by a truck while attempting to cross the expressway illegally.

The victim, whose identity remains unknown, reportedly ignored the designated pedestrian bridge and tried to dash across the busy expressway when he was hit by a truck traveling along the main carriageway.

He died on the spot from the impact.

Dubai’s Emirates Group, which includes the Middle East’s biggest airline, announced on Thursday gross annual profit of $6.2 billion, its third record in three years.

The 18 per cent rise in profit, based on strong customer demand, slimmed to $5.6 billion after the UAE’s recently introduced corporate tax, which was applied for a full financial year for the first time.

“The Emirates Group has raised the bar to set new records for profit, revenue and cash assets,” chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said in a statement.

The group invested $3.8 billion in new aircraft, infrastructure and technology “to support its growth plans”, the statement said.

Its workforce grew by 9 per cent to an unprecedented 121,223 employees.

The group declared a $1.6 billion dividend to its owner, the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD).

Emirates airline, excluding the group’s other businesses, posted a record $5.8 billion pre-tax profit, up 20 per cent from the year before.

Its revenue grew by 6 per cent, reaching $34.9 billion.

Emirates’ ground services arm Dnata also boasted a record pre-tax profit of $430 million, up 2 per cent from last year.

State-owned Emirates Group operates the world’s largest long-haul carrier.

As of March, it had 314 aircraft pending delivery, including 61 A350s and 205 Boeing 777x, the statement said.

It said it was retrofitting 219 aircraft at a cost of $5 billion to make up for delayed aircraft orders.

Sheikh Ahmed had previously said the group was retrofitting 90 per cent of its fleet to make up for the delays.

AFP

The Senate leadership on Thursday cautioned the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, against making public statements that could create friction between the  National Assembly and the executive led by President Bola Tinubu.

The warning came after Badaru publicly dismissed a planned two-day national security summit by the Senate, stating that such gatherings were unnecessary in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges.

Speaking at plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele criticised the minister’s comments, warning that such remarks could undermine legislative initiatives and strain relations with the Presidency.

At a ministerial briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Badaru had said the armed forces were already better equipped and more sophisticated than insurgents, and emphasised that effective strategy, not summits, was the key to national security.

“Strategy is far more important than a summit,” the minister said. “The summit will give input for the strategy, but operational orders come from the Defence Chiefs, not from public discourse.”

Reacting, Akpabio expressed disappointment, stating that open criticism of the Senate’s resolutions could worsen the already dire security situation.

“If the Ministry of Defence has any issue with any Senate resolution, it should not address it in the marketplace,” Akpabio said. “It should reach out to the Senate President or Senate elders. Such public remarks could lead to unnecessary executive-legislative conflict.” 

Akpabio commended the 10th Senate for staying focused on national priorities despite distractions.

Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele described the minister’s remarks as demoralising and unhelpful.

“We are elected to work for the people and support the President’s agenda. But when we are falsely portrayed or publicly undermined, it becomes difficult to build synergy,” Bamidele said.

He added, “That the Minister of Defence could describe a Senate-backed national security summit as unnecessary is troubling. Summits may not be perfect, but they remain critical avenues for gathering diverse perspectives to inform strategic decisions.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Thursday called on President Tinubu to order the deployment of additional security personnel to Plateau State, following recent attacks on Bokkos and Bassa local government areas.

The call followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance jointly sponsored by lawmakers Ishaya Lalu and Daniel Ago.

Lalu decried the repeated violence and mass killings in Jos and surrounding communities, stating that the recent attacks have left many dead, thousands displaced, and livelihoods destroyed.

“These incidents represent a troubling pattern of violence in Plateau State that has persisted for years, despite previous interventions,” Lalu said. “The situation has resulted in a worsening humanitarian crisis, with inadequate relief and support for displaced persons.”

The motion, when put to a voice vote by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, received overwhelming support.

The House urged the President to immediately deploy additional security forces to the affected areas to prevent further bloodshed. It also called on the National Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons to supply relief materials, medical aid, and establish proper IDP camps.

Furthermore, the House mandated its Committees on National Security, Defence, and Police Affairs to investigate the root causes of the persistent attacks and submit a report with recommendations within four weeks.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs was also tasked with developing a comprehensive rehabilitation plan to rebuild destroyed homes, schools, and healthcare facilities in the affected communities.

The Cardinal Conclave has elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope of the Catholic Church.
Naija News disclosed important information of the new Pope who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

Date of Birth: Sept. 14, 1955

Nationality: American and Peruvian

Position: Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops; president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America under Francis

Experience: Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru; head of the Augustinian religious order

Made a cardinal by: Francis

Brought to Rome by Pope Francis in 2023 to lead the powerful Vatican office that oversees bishop appointments globally, the 69-year-old Chicago native is now the leader of the Catholic Church.

What makes Prevost particularly intriguing is his dual identity: while American by birth, he has lived most of his ecclesiastical life in Peru, where he became a citizen in 2015 and served for years as a bishop and then archbishop of Chiclayo. This Latin American connection helps soften the long-held taboo against electing an American pope, given the global dominance of the U.S. on the political stage.

A humble Augustinian at heart, Prevost has kept a notably low profile since arriving in Rome, even as his influence has quietly grown. Twice elected as the top leader of the Augustinian order, his leadership was recognized early by Francis, who appointed him to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and later to oversee bishop nominations — one of the most critical responsibilities in the Church.

Perhaps most tellingly, Francis trusted Prevost with ushering in one of the Church’s most radical reforms, allowing women to help decide which bishops are recommended to the pope. In 2025, he was elevated to the Church’s highest cardinal rank — a clear sign of papal favor.

Known for his joyful demeanor and humility, Prevost still inspires affection in his former diocese. “No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humor and joy,” said the Rev. Fidel Purisaca Vigil, his former communications director in Peru.

Pope Leo XIV is aged 69 years.

• Full text of Pope Leo XIV’s first speech: ‘Peace be with you’

The following is the full first speech of Pope Leo XIV, given from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica shortly after his election as the new pope and leader of the Catholic Church.

“Peace be with all of you!

Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still have in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed Rome!

The pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning.

Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God cares for us, God loves all of us, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward.

We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to reach God and His love.

Help us too, then help each other to build bridges – with dialogue, with encounter, uniting all of us to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!

I also want to thank all the fellow cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice – always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of Saint Augustine, (an) Augustinian, who said: “With you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.” In this sense, we can all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges (and) dialogue, always open to receive (people), like this square, with open arms – everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.

(Switching into Spanish) And if you allow me also, a word, a greeting to all those, and particularly to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so much, so much to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.

(Switching back to Italian) To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.

Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to stay close, to help us with her intercession and her love.

So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother.”

-Reuters