Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Ekiti State Chief Magistrates’ Court has struck out the defamation suit against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.

The case was dismissed following an application by the police prosecutor, Martins Akala, seeking its withdrawal.

Earlier, on January 29, 2025, the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti had also struck out cyberbullying and defamation charges against Farotimi after the police applied for their withdrawal.

Farotimi was arraigned by the Ekiti State Police on December 4, 2024, over alleged defamation of legal luminary Afe Babalola in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he reportedly accused Babalola of influencing Supreme Court justices.

He was granted bail on December 20, 2024, and the case was scheduled for hearing on February 13, 2025. However, on January 27, 2025, Babalola agreed to withdraw the charges following the intervention of traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

During Thursday’s proceedings, the police prosecutor informed the court of the directive to withdraw the charges.

“This matter is slated for hearing today. But I want to seek leave of the court to withdraw the charge against the defendant on the instruction of the police authorities,” Akala stated.

Reacting to the ruling, Farotimi’s counsel, Kembi Adejare, welcomed the decision.

“The case was struck out based on the application of the prosecution. We welcomed it. They brought us here, and they asked us to go,” he said. “In open court, I said they had just removed the chains—they brought the chains, they removed the chains. Why should we complain?”

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has called on Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, to resign over what it described as his failure to address the rising security challenges in the state.

In a statement issued on Thursday, COSEYL President General, Goodluck Ibem, expressed concern over the recent surge in killings, kidnappings, robberies, and other criminal activities in Anambra.

The group condemned the situation, alleging that Governor Soludo had failed in his duty to protect lives and property. It further cited the kidnapping and killing of two sitting Anambra State House of Assembly members under his administration as unprecedented in the state’s history.

“Its illustrious sons and daughters are kidnapped in broad daylight, with some victims losing their lives even after paying ransom. Revered priests have also fallen victim to these criminal elements,” the statement read.

COSEYL accused the governor of failing in his primary responsibility of ensuring security and issued a seven-day ultimatum for his resignation. The group warned that failure to comply would result in a mass protest involving one million people, vowing to occupy streets and roads until he steps down.

Residents of Ogale community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State have staged a protest over an oil spill allegedly caused by Shell Nigeria.

Carrying placards with messages such as “Shell, Clean Up Your Mess,” the protesters marched through the area, demanding accountability for the environmental damage.

Shell Nigeria had on February 5 reported an oil spill in Ogale, near Port Harcourt, attributing it to an overflow from a saver pit during flushing operations. The company stated that its spill response team had contained the overflow and informed relevant authorities. It also noted that arrangements were underway for a regulator-led joint assessment of the cause and impact of the spill.

The Niger Delta region has faced decades of oil spills, leading to severe environmental degradation and affecting the livelihoods and health of millions in local communities.

The Senate and House of Representatives have approved the N54.9 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In the House of Representatives, the bill was passed on Thursday after a clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole. It was earlier presented at plenary by the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, before being adopted through a voice vote conducted by Speaker Abbas Tajuddeen.

The approved budget allocates:

• N3.64 trillion for statutory transfers,
• N14.32 trillion for debt service,
• N13.06 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and
• N23.96 trillion for capital expenditure.

In the Senate, the bill was passed following the presentation of a report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out the budget breakdown before the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved a motion for its third reading. The motion was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), leading to the final passage of the bill.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 1,599 assorted arms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

During the handover ceremony in Lagos, Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that some importers of the seized weapons had been convicted, while other cases remained in court.

He added that 11 suspects linked to the arms trafficking network were also transferred for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Adeniyi emphasized the NCS’s commitment to securing the nation’s borders through targeted anti-smuggling operations and intelligence-driven interventions. He highlighted Customs’ role in national security, particularly in intercepting illegal arms and ammunition.

Speaking at the event, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, represented by NCCSALW Director General Johnson Kokumo, commended the collaboration between Customs and other security agencies. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to curbing the circulation of illicit arms.

This is not the first major arms seizure by the NCS. In May 2018, the agency intercepted 440 pump-action rifles concealed in 516 bags of Plaster of Paris (POP) cement at Tin Can Island Port. Further investigations led to the discovery of two additional containers loaded with firearms hidden among sanitary wares.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for its continued confidence in Nigeria’s economy, following its $50 million equity investment in the Lagos Free Zone.

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, highlighted the President’s remarks, describing the investment as a testament to the growing trust of global financial institutions in Nigeria’s economic direction under his administration.

President Tinubu emphasized that strategic partnerships such as this reinforce Nigeria’s position as a prime destination for foreign direct investment and industrial growth.

“The expansion of the Lagos Free Zone is critical to our vision of positioning Nigeria as the gateway for trade and investment in West Africa and across the continent. This investment by the IFC not only strengthens Nigeria’s industrial base but also demonstrates the growing confidence of international investors in our economic policies. With improved industrial and logistics infrastructure, we are creating an integrated ecosystem that will accelerate exports, attract more investment, and enhance our global competitiveness,” Tinubu stated.

The Lagos Free Zone, a Tolaram initiative, is Nigeria’s first deep-sea port-based private special economic zone. Strategically integrated with the Lekki Deep Sea Port, it is designed to ease import and export operations, enhance Nigeria’s role in regional and global value chains, and foster a more efficient business environment.

The IFC’s investment will facilitate land development, industrial expansion, and logistics infrastructure within the 860-hectare zone, aligning with Nigeria’s broader economic diversification strategy.

President Tinubu also acknowledged Tolaram’s long-standing commitment to Nigeria’s economic growth, noting that the company’s deepening investments—ranging from industrial zones to consumer goods and manufacturing—underscore the country’s strong potential as an investment hub. He cited Tolaram’s acquisition of Guinness last year as further evidence of its confidence in Nigeria’s market.

Welcoming the company’s continued efforts to drive industrialization, job creation, and economic expansion, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment that attracts large-scale, transformative investments.

The President also highlighted IFC’s broader partnership with Nigeria, including its $70 million support for power sector initiatives aimed at enhancing the country’s energy security.

“We value the IFC’s commitment to Nigeria’s economic progress and look forward to deeper engagements that will drive large-scale infrastructure projects, strengthen our industrial base, and create thousands of jobs for Nigerians,” Tinubu added.

Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has approved the release of N117 million for the upkeep and accommodation fees of 25 students studying at various universities in Egypt.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Isah Abubakar Tunga, disclosed this while highlighting the state government’s commitment to supporting its students abroad.

Tunga further revealed that the state government has also paid N14 million for return tickets for eight Kebbi indigenes who recently completed their studies at private universities in India but lacked transportation back to Nigeria.

“This is an act of compassion. These students are indigenes of Kebbi, and it is only right for the governor to assist them,” he stated.

He added that within the past year, the Kebbi State Government has spent over N2 billion on the education of local and international students enrolled in various higher institutions.

Tunga reaffirmed the government’s dedication to promoting academic and moral excellence among Kebbi students, expressing appreciation for Governor Idris’ continued support of the education sector.

A confrontation between police officers and soldiers was witnessed at a checkpoint, leading to a tense standoff.

Eyewitnesses reported that the altercation, which escalated into a physical clash, disrupted activities in the area. The cause of the dispute remains unclear, but sources suggest it stemmed from disagreements over operational procedures at the checkpoint.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the incident, but security agencies are expected to address the matter.