The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has opposed the request by the Federal Government for the resumption of his trial, insisting that the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, must recuse herself from the matter.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, revealed his client’s position in a post on X on Tuesday, rejecting the Federal Government’s bid to reopen the trial.

Kanu, who is being prosecuted on seven counts of alleged treasonable felony and terrorism, was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and extraordinarily rendered to Nigeria. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

At the last court session on September 24, 2024, Kanu requested that Justice Nyako, recuse herself, citing a loss of confidence in her handling of the case.

Justice Nyako agreed to recuse herself and forwarded the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.

However, the Chief Judge returned the case to Justice Nyako, stating that two other judges had previously recused themselves, and Justice Nyako, having handled the matter since 2015, was best positioned to conclude it.

The Chief Judge instructed that if Kanu still wanted Justice Nyako to step aside, he must file a formal motion with an affidavit detailing his reasons, serve it on the prosecution, and await Justice Nyako’s determination.

Despite this directive, the Federal Government’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), requested a new trial date in a December 5, 2024, letter addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court.

Awomolo argued that the Chief Judge’s decision reinstated Justice Nyako as the trial judge.

However, Kanu’s lawyer, Ejimakor, in a counter-letter rejecting the request, argued that Justice Nyako’s decision to recuse herself was still valid and binding.

“Our position is based on the fact that Justice Nyako entered and enrolled an order recusing herself on September 24, 2024, and to date, that order remains extant and subsisting. It has not been set aside by any competent court,” Ejimakor stated.

He further accused the prosecution of attempting to mislead the court, insisting that Kanu no longer has a case before Justice Nyako.

“For the avoidance of doubt, as of September 24, 2024, the defendant no longer has any case to answer before Justice Binta Nyako,” Ejimakor said.

Demanding Justice Nyako’s withdrawal from his case at the previous proceedings, Kanu, who shouted down his lawyer and spoke for himself, maintained that he did not trust the judge to be impartial.

Addressing the judge directly, Kanu said, “My Lord, I have no confidence in this court anymore and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.

“I can understand it if the DSS refused to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the Supreme Court is regrettable. I am asking you to recuse yourself from this case.”

However, the prosecution counsel,  Awomolo, urged Justice Nyako to regard Kanu’s claim of disobeying a Supreme Court order and proceed with the hearing.

“My Lord, you should not recuse yourself on the basis of this mere observation which does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court. It is an incompetent observation. We urge this court to proceed with the hearing,” Awomolo said.

But Kanu vehemently objected, waving a copy of a document in his hand which he said was a copy of the subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court.

He proceeded to read a part that said the actions of the trial court rendered the impartiality of the judge suspect.

He also tried to explain to the judge that his objection to her presiding over his matter was not personal but that he was now fed up with the trial, which, according to him, was at variance with constitutional provisions.

Declaring her stance on the matter, Justice Nyako declared: “I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge.”

Kanu was first arrested on October 14, 2015, following his return to Nigeria from the U K and was later granted bail in 2017 on health grounds after being detained at the Kuje correctional facility.

Kanu later fled the country following a raid by the military on his home and moved back to the United Kingdom but was later re-arrested in Kenya in 2011 and brought back to Nigeria.

His his re-arrested and repatriation to the country, he has been detained in the custody of the Department of State Services.

His repeated applications for fresh bail have been turned down by Justice Nyako.

Ghana was in a frenzy mood when President John Mahama was sworn in in Accra, the capital of the country, on Tuesday.

At the centre of attraction was 73-year-old newly sworn-in Vice-President Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

Opoku-Agyemang made history as the first elected female VP in the country’s history.

The inauguration was attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye; Burkina Faso’s leader Ibrahim Traore; Kenyan President William Ruto; President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon’s Brice Oligui Nguema and other dignitaries across all walks of life.

At the ceremony, Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2017, promised to “reset” Ghana, renegotiate parts of the IMF deal and introduce a “24-hour” economy to create jobs, a major concern for many younger voters.

However, in this report, PUNCH Online highlights the major things to know about the newly sworn-in Vice President who made history as the first female to hold the office.

1. Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang was born on November 22, 1951.

2. She attended Anglican Girls’ School at Koforidua and Aburi Presby Girls’ School. She then had her secondary education at the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast from 1964 to 1971.

3. She completed B.Ed.(Hons) in English and French at the University of Cape Coast in 1977.

4. She earned a Diploma in Advanced Studies in French from the University of Dakar and obtained her master’s degree and Doctorate degrees from York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1980 and 1986, respectively.

5. She served as the country’s Minister of Education from February 2013 to January 2017.

6. She is a full professor of Literature.

7. She served as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a state university in Ghana before taking over as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.

8. In March 2007, she was one of five scholars selected to deliver presentations during the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

9. In October 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

10. Ahead of the 2012 general elections, Jane Opoku Agyemang moderated the debate with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

11. In the December 2020 Ghanaian presidential election, she was selected by John Mahama as his running mate on the NDC party ticket.

12. After she lost the election, she returned to the classroom and in August 2024, she resigned as the Vice-Chencellor of the Women’s University in Africa in Zimbabwe to join politics.

13. She was selected again as running mate to Mahama in 2024 and won, becoming the first female Vice President of Ghana.

Key political figures, including former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and allies of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, held a private meeting with the leadership of the Social Democratic Party in Abuja on Tuesday.

The closed-door meeting, which took place at the SDP national secretariat, has sparked speculations about potential political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Among the notable attendees were  Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha an ex-presidential candidate and former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen Sani Abacha and Atiku’s former spokesman, Otunba Segun Showunmi.

Although the specific agenda of the meeting was not disclosed, it is being described as part of a broader strategy to forge alliances among opposition figures with the aim of presenting a formidable challenge to President Bola Tinubu in the next election cycle.

Showunmi confirmed the meeting in a Facebook post, describing it as a “strategic gathering” convened by SDP Chairman, Shehu Gabam, to evaluate the state of opposition politics in Nigeria.

“You must set forth at dawn! A Strategic Meeting was called by HE Shehu Gabam, Chairman of SDP, with HE Nasir El-Rufai, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Otunba Segun Showunmi. The alternative to meet, greet, and review the state of opposition democratic engagement in Nigeria,” Showunmi wrote.

The SDP Chairman,  Gabam, also confirmed the meeting in an interview with The PUNCH, saying it was a meeting of like-minded individuals seeking to connect with others who shared their vision for Nigeria’s progress.

Gabam stated “There is no official statement from El-Rufai or any one of them about officially joining SDP. So, as I said, they are open to conversation and negotiations for a better Nigeria. It’s not about a political party; it’s about the future of Nigeria.

“We are looking for like-minded people who believe in the future of the country so that we can work together and uplift the individual standard of Nigeria.

“It’s not just them. The attention of the media only went to them. I have received a lot of dignitaries from different political parties in the office, discussing the way forward, how to stabilise the country, and how to offer productive, progressive advice to this government so that there will not be a crisis.

“Because once the government has a crisis, it affects every Nigerian. So, part of our responsibilities is to make sure we are not facing a crisis. When the time comes, we will decide what to do about other things.

“There is an ongoing conversation. When the time comes, we will arrive at a conclusion, and we will hold an official press conference. Once we agree on what we are going to do together, we will unveil it to all Nigerians. But at the preliminary stage, we are having our own social gatherings and discussing national issues.”

Gabam described the SDP as a responsible and respectable party that engaged in constructive opposition without provocation.

“So, principally, that’s what we are doing. More like-minded people are already on board. So today, there are other heavyweights involved, with whom we are discussing. To me, it’s a normal thing, a normal routine that I go through in the office all the time.

“So, it’s a welcome development, not just for those of us that met, but for everyone willing to come on board. SDP is a responsible party by history and analysis, and we will continue to provide decent leadership for Nigeria.

“Our interest is our country first, above any other consideration. We want to have a peaceful country, a well-coordinated country, economic prosperity, political stability for investors, and so on.

“We don’t have any other objective other than that. So we are playing our role as an opposition party, just the way APC played its role and ousted PDP from power,” he added.

The meeting comes just two days after El-Rufai dismissed rumors of his defection from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party.

On his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the former governor labelled the reports as “patent lies” and indicated he had instructed his lawyers to pursue legal action against those spreading the misinformation.

“Please disregard the patent lies and rumours about my political affiliation. I have referred the lead peddlers of the fake news for further action by my lawyers,” El-Rufai posted.

A close associate of El-Rufai also refuted the claims, suggesting that such allegations were the work of mischief-makers intent on creating political uncertainty.

The involvement of prominent APC figures like El-Rufai in discussions with SDP leaders has fuelled speculation about potential cracks within the ruling party.

While El-Rufai remains a key figure in the APC, his participation in opposition-related activities is being closely watched by political analysts.

As Nigeria inches toward the 2027 elections, this meeting signals an intensifying effort among opposition groups to consolidate and strategize for a united front against the ruling APC.

The Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation has uncovered financial irregularities totalling ₦514 billion in the 2021 operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The findings were detailed in an audit report highlighting non-compliance and internal control weaknesses within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the 2021 financial year.

Breakdown of Infractions

The audit revealed four major financial discrepancies:
1. Irregular Deductions: ₦343.64 billion was deducted from domestic crude oil sales at source without proper documentation.
2. Sinking Fund Deposits: ₦83.66 billion, classified as miscellaneous income, was retained in a sinking fund account.
3. Unauthorised Refinery Deductions: ₦82.95 billion was deducted from federation revenue purportedly for refinery rehabilitation.
4. Unsubstantiated Payments: ₦3.75 billion was flagged for unverified transactions relating to petrol sales.

Constitutional Violations

The Auditor-General’s report stated that these transactions breached the 1999 Constitution and the Financial Regulations Act of 2009.

Details of Irregularities

The report noted that ₦484.73 billion was generated from domestic crude oil sales in March and May 2021.

However, ₦343.64 billion was deducted for various expenses, including “Value Shortfall,” “Strategic Stock Holding Cost,” and “Pipeline Maintenance.”

These deductions were unilaterally made by NNPCL without sufficient documentation to justify the expenses.

Additionally, ₦50 billion of the net payable amount for May 2021 was unaccounted for, leaving a significant gap in federation revenue.

Audit Concerns

The Auditor-General attributed these issues to weak internal controls within NNPC, now operating as NNPCL.

The report warned that such practices pose risks of public fund diversion, misappropriation, and significant revenue losses for the federation.

The report read, “Audit observed from the review of NNPC SAP payment record for March and May 2021 payments that the sum of ₦484.73bn was the gross amount generated for the sale of domestic crude for the months of March and May 2021.

“The sum of ₦343.64bn from the gross amount was unilaterally deducted from the gross domestic crude sales as NNPC Value shortfall, Strategic Stock Holding Cost, Crude Oil and Products Pipeline Losses, as well as the pipelines maintenance and management costs.

“The details of each of the cost components deducted were not provided for audit review. Hence, the reasons for the deductions could not be justified by the management.

“In the month of May, the net payable that could have been remitted ought to have been ₦127.075bn, but only the sum of ₦77.075bn was remitted, leaving an unremitted balance of N50bn to the Federation Account, which has remained unaccounted for.

“The above anomalies could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at NNPC, now NNPC Ltd. This is a potential loss of Federation revenue, diversion of public funds, or misapplication or misappropriation of funds.”

The Nigeria Customs Service has said that it received 573,519 applications in the just-concluded 2024/2025 recruitment exercise, barely a week after the portal was opened.

The applicant seeking jobs for the available positions surpasses the 3,927 vacancies to be filled by the service.

Last week, Finance Minister Olawale Edun announced that the Federal Government had approved the recruitment of 3,927 officers for the NCS to bridge gaps and enhance trade facilitation.

But providing an update after the expiration of the deadline, the NCS’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, revealed that a total of 573,519 applicants have already applied for the 3,927 vacant positions.

He said the vacancies were for different positions including support and general duty staff.

According to the image maker in an interview on Tuesday, the process was seamless and thorough.

He said, “I want to break down the number of people that applied. We have two categories of officers: we have the support staff that are professionals, and we have the general duty.

“For the general duty, we have three categories of ranks. For the general duty under the superintendent cadre, we have 249,218 candidates who applied.

Under the superintendent cadre support staff cadre, he said, “We have 27,722 with HNDs and university degrees.

“For the inspector cadres, those expected to apply with their National Certificate for Education or National Diploma, we have 115,634 applying for the general duty, and for support staff, we have 12,952.

“As for the customs assistants, these are those who are supposed to come in with secondary school certificates. There are two categories: those who have basic five-credit results with Maths and English and those without Maths and English.

For the general duty, Maiwada said, ”We have 153,593 while the support staff we have 14,400, making a total of 573,000 applications.”

Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has assured Ghanaians that their President, John Mahama, would bring the required positive change in the country.

President Tinubu, along with some governors from Nigeria, graced the swearing-in ceremony of Mahama on Tuesday.

In his address, released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the swearing-in ceremony was a celebration of democracy in Africa.

He commended former President Nana Akufo-Addo for the seamless transition of power to the incumbent.

Nigeria’s leader assured of his country’s commitment to strengthening ties with Ghana across all sectors and other African countries.

The statement read:

“It is always good when a friend and brother can visit the home of a close neighbour to celebrate his success and progress with him.

“We celebrate African Democracy today as Ghana and her beloved people mark the transition from one democratic government to another. This moment does more than symbolize another milestone in the evolution of Ghanaian democratic society. It lays to bed the question of whether Ghana and Africa are capable of democratic and productive endeavours. Ghana has answered that question resoundingly. It is time that Africa’s critics stop forgetting the strides your nation, Nigeria and others have made by continuing to ask us to prove ourselves. We have nothing to prove to anyone except ourselves. We have found the critical path to our success. We shall lift our nations out of poverty and build a resilient economy at our own pace.

“Today, I am here not only as the President of Nigeria but also as an African in resolute support for Ghana and her people. This moment is a source of pride and honour for you, the entire Continent, and its Diaspora.

“The sun is out, and the sky says daylight, but I see today a Black star rising high in the African sky. This black star shines over this nation, and its rays spread across this Continent with a sense of shared history, hope, compassion, unity, and devotion to our common welfare.

“While others may seek to demean Africa and keep brother pitted against brother, that shining star reminds us of who we are. Better yet, it reminds us of who we can be. That star means that we shall always strive to work together. Even when we disagree, we shall dialogue and discuss until we reach an agreement. Never, never shall we harm others and never allow any outsider to hurt us or disrupt the unity for which so many of our heroes gave their sweat, blood, and very lives to achieve.

“The spirit of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is here today, lifting that star higher and higher. Just as Ghana draws inspiration and a well of strength from Kwame Nkrumah and many of its past leaders, Nigeria similarly draws inspiration from its founding leaders who not only fought for her independence but also cherished the close relationship between our two nations.

“May we always walk in the way and the spirit of these enlightened leaders.

“Ghana is in harmony with that spirit, and President John Mahama’s inauguration today reflects that.

“Your new president is a man of patriotic vision and substance. He loves his nation and its people to the core. He believes that your nation has a mission and intends for you all to fulfil it. No one can ask more of a leader than that.

“President John Mahama and I share a deep friendship. My dear brother, I am here to work with you. You know you can count on Nigeria’s support and goodwill whenever needed. We are your brothers and sisters. The bond is strong and cannot be broken.

“May your administration be a profound success and progress for you, Ghanaians, and our entire region.

“I am confident that the new government, under the leadership of President John Mahama, will work with Nigeria to strengthen this powerful bond, leading to greater shared prosperity for our people. I have no doubt that your administration will bring about positive change and progress.

“Your ascension to power should also mark a new and invigorated momentum in pursuing subregional integration and progress. With laser focus, we can tackle our people’s most pressing concerns: poverty, youth unemployment, instability, insurgency, and many other problems hampering our desired progress.

“May Ghana’s democracy continue to grow stronger. May progress and prosperity be your portion. Let us all look forward to a future filled with hope, opportunity, and prosperity.

“God bless Ghana and its Beloved People.

“God bless Nigeria and its Beloved People

“God bless ECOWAS

“God bless our Beloved Africa.

“I thank you for your kind attention.”

The Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, urged the state high court in Ibadan not to grant bail to the ex-queen of Ooni of Ife, Naomi Shilekunola, Hamzat Oriyomi, and a school principal, Fasasi Abdullahi.

The court had on December 24 remanded the trio in prison over the death of 35 children during a Christmas Funfair they organised in Ibadan, which resulted in a fatal stampede.

The defendants spent both Christmas and New Year’s Day at the Nigerian Correctional Services facility in Agodi.

During Tuesday’s hearing at High Court 8, Ring Road, Ibadan, the defence counsel urged the court to admit them to bail but the  Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, opposed the bail requests, insisting that the applicants had not shown sufficient grounds for their release.

“The bail request of the applicants must not be granted by the court,” Aikomo stated. He also countered claims of persecution by the state government, describing them as unfounded.

Earlier, the defence counsel argued that their clients’ detention was unconstitutional, citing procedural irregularities and challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

They maintained that the “holding charge” used to remand the suspects was not recognised under Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Waheed Olajide, representing Fasasi Abdulahi, principal of Islamic High School, Basorun, argued that the detention was unjustified.

“No formal charge is preferred against the applicant before any court of competent jurisdiction,” Olajide said.

He further emphasised Abdulahi’s poor health condition, stating, “The law makes provision for exceptional circumstances, which include ill health, upon which the suspects can be released on bail. The applicant is battling with his health and needs to be taken care of medically.”

Silekunola’s lawyer, Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN), described her continued detention as unconstitutional.

“Anybody can be detained, but it must be in accordance with the law, irrespective of the offenscs committed,” he argued. “The applicants are being held in detention pursuant to a holding charge which is not known in the criminal administration of justice. Oyo State Government has acted illegally with the continuing detention of the suspects in the prison custody. All the evidences presented by the defense counsel to buttress their case are zero.”

Hazmat’s lawyer, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN), similarly contended that the detention violated constitutional provisions.

“The holding charge used to clamp the suspects in the prison custody is not known in the criminal administration of justice,” Sobaloju argued.

Justice K.B. Olawoyin, after listening to submissions from both sides, adjourned the ruling on the bail applications till Monday, January 13, 2025.

The chairman of Nasarawa local government area council in Kano State, Yusuf Imam, popularly known as ‘Ogan Boye,’ has approved the appointment of 60 aides to serve in various capacities within the council.

The appointments were conveyed in a letter dated January 6, 2024, and signed by the Local Government Secretary, Ado Muhd Hotoro. According to the letter, the move was part of the chairman’s efforts to promote development and strengthen governance in the local government area.

“Sequel to the efforts of the Honourable Chairman of Nasarawa Local Government to promote and develop the local government area, I wish to convey the approval for the appointment of the following prominent individuals to various roles across different fields and professions,” the letter stated.

The list of appointees includes 18 Special Reporters tasked with overseeing various departments, markets, and primary healthcare centers. Other positions filled include Executive Assistant, Chief Protocol Officer, Chief Details Affairs I and II, Principal Personnel Secretary, and eight Director Generals, among others.

The letter emphasised that the appointments were made based on merit, dedication, honesty, and commitment, reflecting the chairman’s vision for effective governance.

Chairman Imam expressed confidence in the appointees, urging them to perform their duties diligently to support the local government’s development agenda.

HND graduates with part-time National Diploma backgrounds staged a protest on Monday at the Lagos NYSC secretariat, decrying a proposed policy barring them from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” called for an immediate reversal of the policy as Batch C Stream II registration commenced.

Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, described the policy as discriminatory, noting it unfairly penalises those who switched from part-time National Diploma (ND) programmes to full-time HND studies.

“Many of us struggled through our ND on part-time, only to face exclusion now. We hope our peaceful protest sparks a dialogue,” Temitope said. He urged the NYSC Director-General and the Minister of Education to intervene.

The protesters claimed to have written to relevant authorities, including the NYSC and JAMB, without receiving a response.

Adebola Osunfunrewa, from the Education Rights Campaign, criticised the proposed exclusion, calling it a setback for Nigeria’s educational system.

“How can over 3,000 graduates eager to serve be denied in a country facing teacher shortages?” he queried.

Responding to the protest, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, Christiana Salwang, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates their concerns had been forwarded to the NYSC Director-General.

“The director general is reviewing the matter and is committed to addressing your grievances within policy guidelines,” Itohan stated, urging protesters to remain calm.

The outcome of the deliberations remains awaited as the mobilisation process continues.

Three persons, including two women, have been crushed to death in a ghastly motor accident on Tuesday morning at Takie Roundabout in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

It was gathered that the accident happened when a container-laden truck lost control and overturned onto a commercial tricycle, killing its three occupants instantly.

The incident happened around 9:30am, leaving people in the area in shock.

According to an eyewitness, the truck lost control while negotiating a bend around the roundabout, causing the container to fall and crush the tricycle, commonly referred to as ‘Keke NAPEP’.

It was gathered that two female passengers and the tricycle operator were trapped beneath the container.

Despite rescue efforts, all three were eventually discovered dead.

Authorities are currently working to remove the container from the road to ease the free flow of traffic in the area.

Motorists have been advised to exercise caution when approaching the accident site