By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the National Moon Sighting Committee, has confirmed that there were no verified sightings of the crescent moon marking the beginning of Sha’aban 1446AH.

This announcement holds significant importance for Muslims in Nigeria, as Sha’aban is the last month before Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam.

Official Declaration of Sha’aban 1446AH
In a formal statement, Sambo Wali Junaidu, the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto, disclosed that no credible reports of moon sightings were received from moon sighting committees across the country.

As a result, Thursday, January 30, 2025, will be observed as the 30th day of Rajab 1446AH, while Friday, January 31, 2025, has been officially declared as the first day of Sha’aban 1446AH.

Sultan of Sokoto Endorses the Decision
The declaration was formally endorsed by His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

“The confirmation of Sha’aban’s commencement is crucial, as it ensures consistency in the Islamic calendar and helps guide religious observances for Muslims across the country,” the statement emphasized.

Call for Spiritual Preparation for Ramadan
In light of this development, the Sultanate Council has advised Nigerian Muslims to adhere to official moon sighting announcements and begin spiritual preparations for Ramadan.

Sha’aban is considered a sacred month in Islam, often dedicated to increased prayers, fasting, and self-reflection in anticipation of Ramadan, which is set to begin in the coming weeks.

The Council reiterated the importance of unity and adherence to Islamic traditions, urging Muslims to take advantage of Sha’aban for spiritual purification and devotion.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will no longer conduct admissions for the Law program in eight universities. This decision was made following the suspension of the Bachelor of Laws program by the Council of Legal Education for the 2025/2026 academic session at the affected universities.

The affected institutions are:

– *Kwara State University*, Malete, Ilorin, Kwara State

– *Bingham University*, Karu, Nasarawa State

– *Redeemers University*, Ede, Osun State

– *Western Delta University*, Oghara, Delta State

– *Taraba State University*, Jalingo, Taraba State

– *Arthur Jarvis University*, Akpabuyo, Cross River State

– *Alex Ekwueme Federal University*, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State

– *Nigerian Police Academy*, Wudil, Kano State

According to JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, the suspension of the Law programme at the Nigerian Police Academy will last for two academic sessions, specifically the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions.

“As a result, JAMB will not approve any admissions for candidates seeking to enroll in the Law program at the aforementioned universities for the 2025/2026 academic session. Furthermore, the ban on registration for the Law program at the Nigerian Police Academy will extend into the 2026/2027 academic session,” the statement concluded.

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has been arrested over her alleged involvement in the 2021 riots that left over 300 people dead, police say.

Violence, chaos, and fear ripped through the port city of Durban, then spread to Gauteng, after Zuma’s jailing sparked intense protests over four years ago.

Zuma-Sambudla, a controversial figure in her own right, was accused of sharing incendiary social media posts that fuelled the civil unrest.

The arrest comes as a “result of a meticulous investigation” said spokesperson for the Hawks elite police unit, Brig Thandi Mbambo.

Zuma-Sambudla handed herself in to Durban Central police station on Thursday morning to face charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act and incitement to commit violence, police said.

Her father’s party uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK), of which she is a senior member, confirmed her court appearance and urged supporters to “mobilize all ground forces to attend in numbers.”

While she has not commented directly on the charges, Zuma-Sambudla shared a cryptic note on X that simply said: “We see you.”

MK party spokesperson Nhlamule Ndhela told local broadcaster ENCA she had long been preparing for this moment

“She conditioned herself, because there have been many threats about her imminent arrest for the past three or four years,” he said.

He added that she will abide by the law as “a law-abiding citizen”.

This is not the first time her name has been brought up in connection to the 2021 riots, which are considered one of the bloodiest episodes in post-apartheid South Africa.

Zuma resigned as president in 2018 after nine years in office, plagued by corruption allegations, which he claimed were part of a political conspiracy.

Three years later, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court after refusing to testify before a panel investigating corruption under his presidency.

Protests erupted after he surrendered to serve his sentence.

During the unrest, Zuma-Sambudla was outspoken on X, frequently sharing images of the destruction and chaos, accompanied by the caption: “KZN, we see you.”

She used this phrase often throughout the violence. In a now deleted post, she shared a video of someone firing an automatic rifle at a poster of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In 2022, Brig Mbambo , told local media they were not directly investigating her, but she had been named in statements from sources.

In response to this, Zuma-Sambudla said on X, “I have no fear! I will not be intimidated! I have beaten the dogs, now the masters are coming out! We see you!”

At the same time, the Jacob Zuma Foundation, said in a statement the former president’s children were being targeted.

Last year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a report that said the riots were a “carefully orchestrated event”.

But it said it could find no direct link to Zuma’s arrest.

In 2023, a former security guard was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the deadly riots.

He was the first person to be prosecuted for the riots.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who succeeded Jacob Zuma in 2018, described the violence as an “attempted insurrection”.

More than 200 shopping malls were looted and more than 150,000 jobs were estimated to have been lost during the unrest, which lasted for several days.

Last year, Zuma’s MK ran against his former party, the ANC, in elections, gaining 15% of the vote to become the country’s third largest party