Author: Editor
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu “A Judge who takes advantage of the judicial office for personal gain or for gain by his or her relative or relation abuses power…. such abuse of power profoundly violates the public’s trust in the judiciary.” Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Rule 8:3 (2016) Eight and a half years ago, in May 2017, a viral audio clip circulated which was said to be a conversation between a male Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a female judge who, in the preceding year, presided over an election petition…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued the Final Transfer of Regulatory Authority Order to the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Authority (ASERA), officially empowering ASERA as the statutory regulator of electricity sector activities in Abia State. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ASERA, Mr Emeka Onyegbule, disclosed this on Thursday in Umuahia, stating that the authority to regulate the Abia electricity market took effect from December 24, 2025. He recalled that the Nigerian Constitution was amended in 2023 to allow states to generate, distribute and transmit electricity within their jurisdictions. According to Onyegbule, following the…
Our Reporter, Abuja Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday said the confirmation by the Senate that the gazetted version of the Tinubu Tax Act does not reflect what was passed by the National Assembly raises a serious constitutional concern. In a statement, Atiku said any law published in a form different from what was duly passed by both chambers of the National Assembly is invalid. “A law that was never passed in the form in which it was published is not law. It is a nullity,” he said. He cited Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the…
Our Reporter, Abuja President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed Lagos for Europe as part of his end-of-year break, ahead of an official visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President left the country on December 28 and will later proceed to Abu Dhabi at the invitation of the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. President Tinubu is scheduled to participate in the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026) Summit, which will…
Our Reporter, Abuja World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has once again bridged the worlds of global leadership and local tradition, as she joined Umu Ada Association in Isingwu, Umuahia, her husband’s village, in a Christmas dance. In a vibrant Christmas video, which she shared on her X handle during the festive season, Okonjo-Iweala is seen in traditional attire, moving joyfully to Igbo rhythms amid cheers from fellow women. The moment, captured in her hometown, highlights her enduring connection to her roots even as she leads the world’s top trade body. In Igbo society, the Umu Ada—meaning “daughters of the…
By Vitus Ozoke Here is the uncomfortable truth. Christianity survives because Joseph disobeyed a tyrant and crossed a border. The plan of salvation exists because an immigrant child survived. Redemption exists because a refugee child lived long enough to grow up. Strip away the refugee, and you erase the faith. Remove the immigrant from the story, and you erase the Gospel. You can’t worship Jesus and despise immigrants without tearing your theology in half. You can’t celebrate Christmas while criminalizing the Nativity. You cannot praise the Prince of Peace while applauding policies that would have destroyed him…” Today is Christmas,…
Our Reporter, Abuja Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has once again demonstrated his thoughtful leadership style as he paid a Christmas visit to the former First Lady of the old Imo State and wife of the late legendary statesman, Chief Sam Mbakwe, Mrs. Victoria Ahuikpeghe Mbakwe, at her residence in Avutu-Obowo, Imo State. The visit also coincided with Mrs. Mbakwe’s birthday. Governor Otti who was accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Obi Aguocha, and one of his commissioners, used the opportunity to deliver some gift items given to the former First Lady of old Imo…
Our Reporter, Abuja The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu over Thursday’s airstrike carried out by United States forces in parts of Sokoto State, describing it as evidence of the administration’s failure to effectively tackle terrorism and banditry. In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party questioned the nature of Nigeria’s collaboration with the U.S. and the operational framework under which the strike was conducted. The ADC demanded clarity on the role played by Nigerian authorities, the extent of control exercised by local security agencies, and the actual outcome of the operation.…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Nigerian government to clarify the legal basis and oversight arrangements governing reported United States airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day in parts of Sokoto State. In a press statement issued by its Executive Director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, on Friday, the civil society organisation said it had taken note of reports and subsequent confirmations by U.S. and Nigerian authorities indicating that the airstrikes were conducted as part of counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries. While acknowledging the Nigerian state’s responsibility to protect lives and confront the…
Our Reporter, Abuja An aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Paul Ibe, on Friday said that the forgery allegation surrounding Nigeria’s gazetted Tax Reform Act has proven to be indeed true, accusing the Bola Tinubu-led administration of serial document manipulation and urging that the law be discarded entirely and reprocessed from scratch. In a post on X, Ibe claimed that the Senate led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio had confirmed to the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee investigating the matter that the version of the Tax Reform Act published in the official gazette was not the authentic document…