News

Saudi Arabia to arrest its citizens who comment against Israel on social media

Published

10 months ago

May 7, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Despite Riyadh’s lack of ties to Israel, Saudi Arabia is allegedly increasing the number of its residents who are arrested for making remarks critical of Israel about the Gaza War.

According to Bloomberg, one of the recent detainees was an executive of a business associated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 economic plan. The CEO’s opinions on the war were deemed offensive by the local authorities.

Bloomberg is told by unidentified sources that two people have asked for a boycott of American fast-food establishments in the kingdom and that a media figure has stated that Israel should never be forgiven.

According to a person acquainted with Saudi Arabia’s thinking, the arrests are intended to discourage people from making statements about the war online that could jeopardise national security.

One of the nation’s maximum-security prisons has seen a significant increase in inmates within the previous six months, according to a second Saudi source with knowledge of the situation. Several Saudi diplomats and human rights organisations confirmed this, claiming that since October 7, there has been an increase in arrests for offences relating to social media. However, according to the sources, a large number of the incarcerations might be for posts unrelated to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Fearing that pro-Palestine demonstrations will spark new uprisings against their governments, Riyadh and its regional allies, Egypt and Jordan, have clamped down on domestic protests.

The study was released when Saudi Arabia and Israel proceeded with an accord mediated by the United States.

Prior to October 7, the Biden administration had been in talks with Saudi Arabia and Israel about a possible peace deal. These conversations continued during Israel’s Gaza war, but it seems that obstacles remain in the way of an agreement.

As the discussions with Riyadh continued, an accord might see the US providing technologies to support Saudi Arabia’s nuclear power development in exchange for normalisation relations with Israel.

News

Reps Direct FCT Minister to Appoint Auditor-General for FCT Area Councils

Published

2 hours ago

February 27, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to appoint a substantive Auditor-General for the Area Councils without delay, in accordance with legal provisions.

This decision was sequel to a resolution adopted during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Wednesday, 26th February 2025, in Abuja.

The committee noted that the absence of a substantive Auditor-General had hindered the signing and submission of audited financial reports, a process mandated by the constitution.

During the session, the Acting Auditor-General for the Area Councils, Abdullahi Ibn Salihu, made a presentation, and in response, the committee chairman, Rep. Bamidele Salam, emphasised the urgency of the matter, leading to the adoption of a motion for immediate action.

He said: “Honourable colleagues, I think we should also step into this. Like I said, when we resumed in October 2023, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in Nigeria was vacant for about 2 years. The former President, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to make an appointment. And so, audit reports were not submitted. So, when we came in, myself and the Senate counterpart decided to write letters to the President and make some advocacy upon which a substantive was appointed.

“If they have the same case, I think we will also need to step in so that we can call on the Minister. We may need to write to him and invite him. Maybe he has reasons why that appointment has not been made. I think we should. We should actually have a resolution on this also”.

Earlier, during a review of the financial reports of FCT Area Councils, Acting Auditor-General, Abdullahi Ibn Salihu, clarified that most of the financial discrepancies flagged by the committee occurred under previous administrations, as he has only been in office for six months.

Key concerns raised included the failure to submit audited financial reports for 2023-2024, non-remittance of pension deductions to the Pension Commission (PENCOM), and the withholding of available audit reports from the committee.

Rep. Billy Osawaru stressed the need for strict enforcement of legal provisions against the Auditor-General’s office, insisting that such lapses must not persist.

To ensure a thorough review, a five-member sub-committee, led by Rep. Tochukwu Okere, was established to investigate and provide recommendations. Other members include Rep. Ajiya Abdulrahman, Rep. Mandara Usman, Rep. Mauruff Adebayo, and Rep. Mohammed Bargaja.

In attendance were Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, and Bwari Chairman, Hon. John Gabaya, while Kuje and Kwali were represented by their vice chairmen.

News

Day 3: Retired Nigerian police officers continue protest on Police Bills(Photos)

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2025

Naijablitznews

By Emmanuel Agaji

Association of Retired Police Officers, Kaduna chapter protest on Police Bills entered day three today, February 27, 2025, Thursday at the National Assembly.

Naijablitznews reports that some of the placards being displayed by the retired simply indicate that the output and input of November 19th, 2024 public hearing on the Bills should be implemented.

They equally supported the fact that the police force should exit the contributory scheme.

The very aged retired officers could be seen sighted sitting under the son bearing placards which they display for motorists to look at.

See photos:

News

Just in: Police restore Obasa’s security details, withdraw Meranda’s as ex-Lagos speaker set for return

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa who was impeached as speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, is set to return.

Daily Trust understands that his security details have been restored just as those of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, have been withdrawn.

Meranda was Obasa’s deputy before the impeachment. After his removal, the house unanimously elected Meranda, making her the first female to occupy the position in the history of the state.

Though she’s yet to officially resign as the Speaker of the House, her fate was reportedly sealed over the weekend by key All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders who intervened in the crisis rocking the House of Assembly.

Former National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Muiz Banire and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and some of the lawmakers had met over the weekend to find a resolution to the crisis.

It was at the meeting that the fate of Meranda was sealed as she was reportedly asked to vacate her seat.

There are indications that Obasa might return as the Speaker as following the resolutions reached by the leaders which largely favoured Obasa’s return.

“In truth, what they said was that Obasa’s removal was illegal and the lawmakers were directed at the meeting to go and return him,” sources familiar with the matter had said.

It was not clear yet when the House would reconvene to effect the expected changes.

Meranda had adjourned plenary indefinitely two weeks ago when there was commotion in the assembly as a result of invasion by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).