Robert Imoh by Robert Imoh May 6, 2025
Court bans Nnamdi Kanu’s in-law from 3 proceedings over live streaming

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, banished Mrs Favour Kanu, wife of Prince Fineboy Kanu, the younger brother to Nnamdi Kanu for streaming the proceedings of the court life on her Facebook page.

Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is being prosecuted by the Federal Government for alleged terrorism charge.

Justice James Omotosho, who gave the order, after Mrs Favour admitted engaging in the act and apologised to the court, held that Mrs Favour would have been charged for contempt of court.

Although Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, also apologised on her behalf, Justice Omotosho insisted that Mrs Favour would be barred from three proceedings.

The judge expressed surprise that despite that Mrs Favour’s phone was confiscated on the last adjourned date when she was caught recording him, she still went ahead to post the video online.

” I want to hear from her. Were you not the one that I took your phone?

“I did not give order to forfeit that phone. I don’t know if she might be a wife to my brother (Nnamdi Kanu,” the judge said, but Prince told the judge that she is his wife.

The judge, who cautioned against any act that could cause delay in the trial, assured all parties in the case that justice would be served.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has announced that over 8,000 terrorists and bandits were neutralised across Nigeria in 2024 under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Matawalle attributed the improved security outcomes to renewed strategic military operations and the focused leadership brought by the Tinubu administration.

In addition to the killings, security forces reportedly arrested more than 11,600 suspected criminals and recovered over 10,000 illegal firearms nationwide.

These figures were contained in a statement released Monday by Patience Ituke, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence’s Director of Information and Public Relations.

Commending the President’s reform agenda, Matawalle expressed confidence that Tinubu’s efforts are laying the groundwork for national progress and may position him favorably for re-election in 2027.

“Bello Matawalle lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his transformative reforms, asserting that these initiatives will pave the way for a brighter future for Nigeria and potentially secure Tinubu’s re-election in 2027,” the statement noted.

The minister outlined several major accomplishments under the current administration, particularly in the defence sector.

The neutralisation of over 8,000 terrorists and bandits, arrest of 11,600 suspected criminals and recovery of more than 10,000 illegal weapons.

He also highlighted the establishment of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell as a significant step in strengthening coordination among security agencies to combat kidnapping.

Matawalle further cited the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development as a strategic move to boost agricultural productivity and reduce grain prices, particularly in northern Nigeria.

“The Ministry of Livestock Development is harnessing the agricultural potential of the region, boosting the economy, and improving livelihoods,” he said.

On infrastructure, the minister mentioned ongoing road construction projects and upgrades to the nation’s transportation networks. He believes these efforts will drive economic growth, especially in underserved communities.

While confident in the President’s record so far, Matawalle noted that Tinubu’s chances for a second term would ultimately depend on the sustained momentum of these initiatives.

Students under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigerian Students, blocked the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Camp section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to protest the alleged mismanagement of N100billion funds allocated to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The blocking of both sides of the busiest highways in the country by the protesting students, however, caused gridlock as the vehicular movement was halted for more than one hour.

Addressing newsmen from a text jointly signed by the National Vice President, Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs of NANS and the Ogun State Chairman of NANS, Akinbodunse Sileola Felicia and Gabriel Abiola Francis, respectively, Gabriel explained that students were mobilized to block the ever-busy expressway in order to get attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive action on the graft discovered in the disbursement of student loans.

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and Related Offences (ICPC) in a statement by its spokesperson, Demola Bakare, last Thursday, said the anti-graft agency had launched a comprehensive investigation into discrepancies in the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) student loan disbursements.

Bakare added that the probe was as a result of reports implicating 51 tertiary institutions in unauthorised deductions of N3,500 to N30,000 from students’ institutional fees funded by NELFUND.

He noted further that preliminary findings revealed a significant gap in the financial records of the disbursement process.

While the federal government reportedly allocated N100 billion, only N28.8 billion reached students, leaving N71.2 billion unaccounted for.

Bakare further informed that the ICPC’s Chairman’s Special Task Force acted swiftly, inviting stakeholders, including the Director General of the Budget Office, the Accountant General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria officials, and NELFUND’s CEO and Executive Director for documentation and interviews.

The investigation revealed NELFUND received N203.8 billion as of March 19, 2024, comprising N10billion from the Federation Allocation.