By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

In a shocking revelation, authorities in Katsina State have arrested a young man named Falalu, who confessed to orchestrating the abduction of his own mother.

The incident has left the community in disbelief, raising concerns over the lengths to which individuals might go for financial gain.

In a video released by authorities, Falalu openly admitted his involvement. “I arranged for the abduction of my mother,” he stated without remorse. “We worked on it together with one Nakande and another accomplice. We were three in total.” His casual confession and tone sent a wave of outrage and sorrow throughout Katsina, as he described how he meticulously planned his mother’s ordeal.

According to local sources, Falalu was motivated by financial issues. By working with Nakande, a known figure in the region, and another unnamed associate, they devised a scheme to demand ransom from their own family members. While such incidents have tragically become common across some parts of Nigeria, family involvement has added a new dimension of horror to this case.

The Katsina State Police have since taken Falalu and his accomplices into custody, assuring the public that justice will be served.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has commanded the mass production of attack drones, signaling a major escalation in the nation’s military capabilities.

The directive comes as concerns grow about the strengthening military ties between North Korea and Russia, which have sparked international scrutiny.

State-run media outlet KCNA reported that Kim’s decision to ramp up drone production follows a series of developments aimed at boosting North Korea’s defense capabilities. In August, Pyongyang first unveiled its attack drones, a move that experts believe is linked to its growing alliance with Russia, which has been providing technical support for North Korea’s weapons programs.

During a recent demonstration on Thursday, Kim Jong Un personally oversaw a test involving drones designed to strike both land and sea targets. The test reportedly showed the drones’ effectiveness, as they successfully hit their designated targets after flying along pre-programmed flight paths.

KCNA emphasized that Kim Jong Un expressed the urgent need to establish a serial production system for these drones, with the aim of achieving full-scale manufacturing in the shortest time possible. These unmanned drones, which are equipped with explosives, function as “suicide drones,” deliberately crashing into enemy targets and acting as guided missiles.

The state media further detailed that the new drones will be capable of operating across various ranges, allowing them to target both ground and maritime adversaries with precision. The continued development and deployment of such weaponry underline North Korea’s ongoing efforts to enhance its military deterrence capabilities amidst rising tensions in the region.

With these drones set to play a central role in future military strategies, North Korea’s investment in unmanned aerial technology marks a significant shift in its defense posture, potentially altering the balance of power in East Asia.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a suit filed by 19 state governments against the federal government, challenging the constitutionality of the laws establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and two others.

The apex court threw out the suit for lacking in merit and substance.

Justice Uwani Abba-Aji who read the lead judgment held that the states were completely wrong in holding that EFCC established by an act of the National Assembly was an illegal and unlawful body.

In the unanimous judgment of a 7-man panel of Justices of the court, the power of the EFCC, ICPC and NFIU to arrest and prosecute offenders were affirmed.

The plaintiffs, in the suit, marked: SC/CV/178/2023 had argued that the Supreme Court, in Dr Joseph Nwobike vs Federal Republic of Nigeria, had held that it was a United Nations Convention against corruption that was reduced into the EFCC Establishment Act and that in enacting this law in 2004, the provision of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, was not followed.

The argument was that, in bringing a Convention into the Nigerian law, the provision of Section 12 must be complied with.

According to them, the provision of the Constitution necessitated the majority of the states’ Houses of Assembly agreeing to bring the convention in before passing the EFCC Act and others, which was allegedly never done.

The argument of the states in their present suit, was that the law, as enacted, could not be applied to states that never approved of it, in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian constitution.