Bashir El-Rufai, the son of ex- Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has begged Nigerians following backlash over his controversial comment on X (formerly Twitter).

Bashir, known for his brash social media presence, had posted a controversial remark suggesting that the killings in Southern Kaduna would persist if residents continued to attack Fulani herdsmen.

It is your stupid mother that is an elephant. And Southern Kaduna residents will keep seeing sheghe (trouble or suffering) if they continue to attack indigenous Fulani herdsmen.

” Oloshi,” Bashir wrote in response to an X user, @qykali, who had accused his father of overseeing “industrial-scale ethnic cleansing” in the region during his tenure as governor.

The term sheghe (shege)—a Hausa slang implying severe suffering—was perceived as an endorsement of violence, igniting outrage from many Nigerians who saw it as an attempt to justify the recurring massacres in Southern Kaduna, where suspected herdsmen have repeatedly attacked communities.

Following the backlash, Bashir deleted the tweet and later offered an apology, admitting that his initial post was “in bad taste.”

My tweet about Southern Kaduna residents & persecuted Fulani herdsmen was in bad taste & also badly written in an attempt to make a point in the heat of the moment. I apologize for that to those that know me, and are aware that I don’t harbor such sentiments,” he wrote on X.

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Nyesom Wike, has stated that the Minister’s involvement in Rivers State politics has not in any way hindered his duties in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In an interview with TVC, Olayinka emphasized that Wike, as a politician, must remain actively engaged in politics to maintain relevance.

He rubbished speculations that Wike’s political activities in Rivers State have distracted him from his ministerial responsibilities.

According to Olayinka, Wike possesses remarkable energy and multitasking abilities, ensuring that his work in the FCT remains unaffected. He highlighted that the minister’s performance is evident on the streets of Abuja, where residents can attest to his efforts in governance.

Olayinka also noted that while no leader can solve all problems, Wike’s contributions to the FCT are undeniable, and his political engagements should not be viewed as a distraction.

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday halted the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II’s as the Emir of Kano.

A three-member panel of justices led by Justice Okon Abang unanimously halted the implementation of the January 10 judgement, which vacated the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment by a Kano State High Court, which it held was done without jurisdiction.

The judgement, which was delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the nullification of Sanusi II’s appointment was done without the required jurisdiction and ordered the transfer of the suit to the Kano State High Court.

However, ruling on the fresh applications with numbers CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, the appellate court agreed that the applications seeking to halt the enforcement of the earlier judgement pending the appeal before the Supreme Court were competent and meritorious.

“The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice,” he said.

Justice Abang also noted that the subject matter before the court needed to be preserved because the applicant had served as emir for five years before his removal, adding that he deserved the right to protection.

On January 10, Justice Kolawole, in vacating the order against Sanusi II’s appointment, held that the matter, being a chieftaincy dispute, ought to have been determined by the high court of Kano State rather than the Federal High Court, which he described as “a grave error”.

The Federal High Court in Kano, presided by Justice Abubakar Liman, had on June 20, 2024, nullified the Kano State Government’s Kano Emirates Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.

In the fundamental rights enforcement suit by Aminu Baba-Dan’Agundi, the presiding judge further directed parties, including the Kano State House of Assembly, to maintain the status quo during the reign of Emir Ado Bayero.

However, the appellate court in its ruling, cited Section 251 of the Nigerian Constitution and Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act to hold that the matter was a chieftaincy and state legislative dispute and not a fundamental rights matter, and such ought to have been taken before the Kano State High Court or the FCT High Court.

“The proper order to make is to order the 1st respondent (Baba-Dan’Agundi) to transfer the pending suit before the Federal High Court to the high court of Kano State where the chief judge shall assign it to a judge who has not been previously involved in the hearing of the suit,” he said.

The judge awarded the cost of N500,000 against Dan’Agundi and in favour of the Kano State House of Assembly.

However, following the opinions of the presiding justice, Justice Mohammed Mustapha and Justice Abdul Dogo that the right order was to strike out Dan’Agundi’s suit filed at the Federal High Court and not to transfer same, the matter was struck out.

The five appeals — CA/KN/126/2024 between the state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/140/2023 state assembly and Dan’Agundi; CA/ABJ/142/2024 Kano State Government and Dan’Agundi; CA/KN/200/2024 Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Attorney General of Kano State; and CA/KN/161/2020 Kano Government and Dan’Agundi emanated from the same issue before the Federal High Court

[Daily Trust]