News
Nnamdi Kanu: German group’s rep seeks Tinubu’s intervention
The Country Director/Principal Representative of German Initiative for Knowledge Transfer in Nigeria, Hon. Obinna Ichita is seeking the intervention of President Bola Tinubu for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Ichita, who spoke in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State yesterday after his visit to Kanu at the DSS custody, called for alternative dispute resolution, which according to him would yield a positive outcome.
Ichita, who was the 2023 Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in his address titled “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu: Insecurity in Southeast; Those behind the Trouble; And the need for a Presidential Intervention, lamented the negative impact of the continued insecurity in the southeast is having in the region and the country at large following the continued detention of the proscribed IPOB leader at the detention facility of the Department for State Security (DSS).
Ichita, a former Aba South State Constituency lawmaker in the 7th Abia State House of Assembly who stated that his visit to Kanu was fruitful towards ensuring lasting peace in the southeast said President Tinubu will leave his name engraved in the heart of easterners if he facilitates the speedy release of Kanu.
The German Country Director/Principal Representative who berated southeast leaders for their indifference towards the release of the detained IPOB leader disclosed that the growing insecurity in the southeast has forced his loved ones to cancel their occasions in the southeast for fear of being killed or kidnapped by armed men terrorising, kidnapping and killing innocent members of the public.
“I appeal to President Bola Tinubu to kindly intervene and graciously approve and direct the activation of a process that will see to the release of Mazi Kanu and the restoration of peace and security in Southeast through negotiation and alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
“A timely commencement of this process will achieve the desired objective.
“Further delay may defeat this goal as some may view such a gesture as a mere political strategy.
“The effects of the release of Mazi Kanu by President Tinubu may be analyzed from different perspectives; Security, Commerce, Transportation, Politics and Diplomacy etc.
“Many are in agreement that the release of Mazi Kanu by the President will not only portray the President as a unifier, but also that it will ultimately showcase Nigeria as another example of Africans solving their problems without “external directives”.
“In the last two weeks, I have had a series of meetings with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the DSS Headquarters, Abuja.
“We discussed a lot of issues around the restoration of Peace and security in the Southeast. Any development effort that does not consider the primacy of security cannot be said to be robust.
“On the strength of my previous conversations with Mazi Kanu on the 4th of November 2021 on the same subject matter, I advised the Federal Government of Nigeria then led by former President Buhari, on the model that I believed would lead to a predictable outcome in the attempt to address the issues that threaten National Security with particular reference to the Southeast.
“My argument then was that the release of Mazi Kanu would contribute in no small ways to the cessation of hostilities in the Southeast of Nigeria.”
…hails emergence of Bawa as state chairman
The Senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District Senator Manu Haruna on Sunday donated five operational vehicles to Taraba Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to enhance its operations.
Manu also seized the opportunity to congratulate the state Chairman, Hon Abubakar Bawa when he visited the secretariat in Jalingo last Sunday.
The former State Deputy Governor expressed his congratulations to Chairman Bawa and the state working committee for their election, emphasizing the importance of unity and progress within the party. He commended their commitment to strengthening the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State.
In a generous move to enhance the operational capacity of the party at the grassroots level, Senator Manu donated five vehicles — one for each Local Government Area (LGA) party chapter in Taraba Central.
This donation is intended to facilitate better coordination and outreach efforts within the party.
Senator Manu praised Hon. Abubakar Bawa for his dedicated efforts to elevate the PDP in the state, asserting that Taraba will always remain a stronghold for the party.
In response, State Party Chairman Alhaji Bawa expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Senator Manu for his thoughtful visit and generous donation. He acknowledged the impact of such contributions on the party’s progress and reemphasized the commitment of the PDP to serve the interests of the people in Taraba State.
By Francesca Hangeior
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has canvassed for greater efforts and commitments to the Federal Government’s aspirations to produce a workable legal framework for the country.
He charged the Committee put in place by the federal government to review, revise and consolidate the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN, to double the efforts and commitments to deliver on the mandate at the appointed time.
Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, spoke on Monday in Abuja at the second retreat of the Committee put in place in October last year for the laws of the federation revision and reform.
The AGF while challenging the committee to be up and doing asked the members to remain united in purpose and steadfast in the resolve to produce a legal framework that is worthy of the nation’s aspirations.
He said the second retreat organized by the federal government was a strategic consolidation of the national law reform efforts and to provide an invaluable opportunity to come up with a better workable legal framework for the nation.
“Let me start by expressing gratitude to the Chairman, Co-Chairperson and members of the Committee for their selfless service and sacrifice, to ensure that this project is executed efficiently and effectively.
“The call to be part of this assignment is indeed a sacred that inevitably and positively affects the lives of individuals, government, businesses as well as citizens of this nation.
“The general purpose of law is to regulate human behavior by protecting lives and properties in society. The inauguration of the Committee on the 24th October, 2024 marked a historic milestone in our collective efforts to modernize, consolidate, and harmonize Nigeria’s body of federal statutes.
“The retreat successfully provides a clear framework for the structure and methodology of the revision exercise, oriented the 14 Working Groups tasked with reviewing specific legal subject areas, and fostered collaboration among key institutions and stakeholders on the project.
“Following the initial retreat, I wish to note that the Committee has recorded steady progress in its work.
“The Ministry has taken several measures to ensure that the assignment is delivered efficiently, including:training sessions for secretaries of the working groups to enhance documentation and coordination; technical meetings of the main committee and its various sub-committees; working sessions and deliberations among editors and reviewers; and ongoing technical collation of revised laws by the Secretariat.
“This second retreat is a strategic consolidation of our national law reform efforts and provides an invaluable opportunity to: review progress made since the first phase;
address any technical or structural challenges encountered during the collation process;
– Harmonize the output across working groups; and set the tone for the final stages of this important project.
“The next stage of the law review and consolidation process would include editing and proofreading the reviewed legislation, ahead of the final collation, production and printing of the laws of the federation.
“It is my conviction that these phases will be executed with even greater commitment by the Committee, with the support of stakeholders and development partners.
“I wish to commend the leadership of the LFN Committee, the Secretariat for its diligent coordination and day-to-day management as well as the Working Groups, Editors, and Reviewers, for their intellectual rigour and professionalism.
“Special gratitude to our development partners, particularly RoLAC, for standing firmly behind this national project.
“Let me urge all participants to use this retreat as a platform for robust engagement, peer learning, and practical collaboration.
“We must remain united in purpose and steadfast in our resolve to produce a legal framework that is worthy of our nation’s aspirations.
” I wish to express gratitude for your commitment to duty and I charge you to work in synergy and cooperation, in the overall interest of the nation”, the AGF said.
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has replied to the Nigerian Bar Association regarding the reason for relocating its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu State.
Ibas faulted the reason cited by the NBA, describing it as misleading and uncharitable.
The Sole Administrator stated this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday by his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubo, and sent to newsmen.
He said while the NBA reserves the right to choose a venue for its conference, the association had yet to address the issue of the refund of the hosting rights paid by the state government for the conference.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
The statement partly reads, “While we respect the NBA’s right to choose its conference venues, we find it curious that the association—despite its “principled position”— didn’t address the refund of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the hosting rights of the 2025 conference.
“If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should demonstrate the same integrity by promptly returning these funds rather than benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits.”
It added, “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to the Nigeria Bar Association’s announcement dated 10th April 2025, relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
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