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The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, has expressed deep sadness over the passing of the Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Usman Mohammed Ankwai.

Guwor, who is the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, said the news of the loss of Rt Hon Ankwai came to him as a rude shock, especially at this critical point in the nation’s development.

Conference Chairman Reflects Delta’s Legislative Strength
The Conference Chairman, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Nkem Nwaeke, described the sad incident as heartbreaking and painful.

Rt Hon Guwor, on behalf of colleagues nationwide, regretted the loss of such a committed legislator, humble leader, and a true brother in the service of the nation.

He disclosed that Rt Hon Ankwai passed on in Cairo, Egypt, after a brief illness, noting that the late Speaker’s dedication to the progress of Kebbi State and his contributions to the Conference of Speakers in Nigeria will be sorely missed.

Scrutiny Department to Ask “Is the Law Working?”
Guwor stressed that the demise Rt Hon Ankwai, was a great loss not only to the Government and people of Kebbi State but to the entire legislative community in Nigeria.

“At this painful moment, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the Government and people of Kebbi State, members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, and indeed all who mourn this irreparable loss,” Guwor said.

The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, prayed Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant the late colleague peaceful rest.

He also prayed that Allah give his family, the people of Kebbi State, and all those who mourn him the fortitude to bear this great loss.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un — Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”, Guwor stated.

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Iran on Monday executed a man convicted of acting on behalf of Israel and the United States during a wave of anti-government protests earlier this year, the judiciary said.

“Ali Fahim, one of the enemy elements in the terrorist riots of Dey (January)… was hanged after the Supreme Court reviewed the case and confirmed the verdict,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online website said.

His execution is the latest related to the protests that broke out in Iran in late December against rising living costs before morphing into nationwide anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9.

The execution also takes place against the backdrop of Iran’s war with Israel and the United States, which erupted on February 28 with strikes that killed the Islamic republic’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Mizan said Fahim was convicted of working against Iran on behalf of “the Zionist regime and the United States” as well as breaking into a classified military site to seize weapons.

Iranian authorities said the rallies began peaceful in December before turning into “foreign-instigated riots” involving killings and vandalism.

Tehran has said more than 3,000 people were killed during the unrest, including members of the security forces and bystanders, and has attributed the violence to “terrorist acts”.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), however, says it has recorded more than 7,000 deaths, the vast majority of them protesters, adding that the toll could be higher.

AFP

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Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has removed his chief of staff, Ziv Agmon, after strong public reactions to leaked comments in which he allegedly made racist remarks.

Netanyahu made the announcement late on Sunday through a post on 𝕏, stating that Agmon would soon leave his position.

“Ziv Agmon will leave his post in the coming days once his successor, Ido Norden, takes office,” he stated.

Agmon, who worked as acting chief of staff and also served as spokesperson to the prime minister, came under criticism after he was reported to have described Jews of Moroccan origin as “baboons.” He was also accused of making negative remarks about members of the Likud party, as well as the prime minister’s wife and son.

The comments caused widespread anger and led to immediate reactions from the public, forcing the prime minister’s office to act quickly.

The decision to remove Agmon came shortly after an earlier position appeared to support him. Less than two hours before the announcement, the Likud party’s official Telegram channel quoted Netanyahu as saying he wanted Agmon to remain in office for the sake of “stability and continuity.”

Agmon’s replacement, Ido Norden, is already attracting attention over past actions. Reports by Israeli journalists claimed he once created fake 𝕏 accounts to promote his book about the “deep state.” In the book, he blamed Israel’s failure to stop the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on hidden institutional forces.

His appointment will also need approval from Shin Bet.

Norden, a lawyer and economist, currently leads the “Forum of Senior Officials,” a right-wing group that supports more ideological diversity in Israel’s public sector. The group has often criticised what it calls a lack of diverse thinking within government institutions.

This development adds to recent controversies involving people close to Netanyahu. One of his allies, Tzachi Braverman, who has been named as Israel’s next ambassador to London, was reportedly questioned by police over claims he interfered in an investigation linked to a leak during the Gaza war.

In addition, some of Netanyahu’s aides have been mentioned in the “Qatargate” scandal, where former associates are accused of receiving money from Qatar to improve its image in Israel during the conflict.