Headlines

Mali’s military junta has strengthened its grip on power by appointing General Abdoulaye Maïga as the country’s new prime minister. The announcement, made on state television ORTM, follows the dismissal of civilian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga, who had raised concerns over the junta’s decision to delay the presidential elections originally scheduled for 2024.

Choguel Maïga’s removal was formalized through a presidential decree signed by interim leader General Assimi Goïta. The appointment of General Abdoulaye Maïga, a key figure within the junta, consolidates the military’s control over Mali’s transitional government, encompassing the executive, legislative, and now the prime ministerial office. Despite sharing the same surname, Choguel and Abdoulaye Maïga are not related.

The junta, which seized power in two coups in 2020 and 2021, has repeatedly delayed the country’s transition to civilian rule, citing security concerns. Analysts believe General Maïga’s close ties to General Goïta were instrumental in his selection. “The choice of General Maïga signals a more assertive military stance as the country approaches the prospect of elections next year,” said Ulf Laessing, director of the Sahel Program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

General Abdoulaye Maïga, 43, has served in multiple high-profile roles, including deputy prime minister, government spokesperson, and minister of territorial administration. Known for his fiery rhetoric, he has frequently criticized France and the now-disbanded United Nations peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA. At the United Nations General Assembly in September, he condemned Algerian diplomats who accused Malian military operations of causing civilian casualties near the Algeria-Mali border.

Since taking power, the junta has tightened restrictions on freedom of expression, with reports of over a dozen politicians and activists detained for opposing military rule. The appointment of General Maïga as prime minister underscores the junta’s firm hold on Mali’s governance as the country’s path to a promised return to civilian rule remains uncertain.

Bode George, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to reconsider his political ambitions for the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday to mark his 79th birthday, George urged Atiku, who will be 81 in 2027, to step back and allow younger candidates to emerge. Highlighting Atiku’s long history of presidential bids since 1993, George appealed to him to embrace the role of a statesman for the good of the party and the nation.

“I appeal to you in the name of the Almighty Allah that you serve, take it easy and leave everything for prosperity,” George said.

The PDP stalwart also raised concerns over the state of the party, citing internal divisions and self-serving interests as major challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections. He described the PDP as “a shadow of itself” and blamed some members for undermining efforts to strengthen the party’s unity.

George called for urgent reforms within the PDP and emphasized the importance of inclusivity as the party prepares for its National Convention. He also criticized certain members of the party, whom he referred to as “desperados,” accusing them of collaborating with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the detriment of the PDP’s prospects.

Reflecting on the party’s founding ideals, George lamented that the vision of the PDP’s deceased founding fathers had been betrayed by factionalism and personal ambition. He urged members to prioritize the party’s collective goals over individual interests to rebuild its reputation and electoral strength.

In his concluding remarks, George reiterated the need for unity within the PDP, warning that its future success hinges on the ability of its members to work together for the greater good.

The Nigerian Defence Headquarters, Abuja, has stated that Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will be extradited to the country to face charges against him.

Speaking on the arrest of Ekpa in a short press statement made available to SaharaReporters, the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chris Musa, was pleased with Ekpa’s trial.

Gusau wrote: “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice.”

Recall that the Finland district court in Lahti had ordered the remand of Simon Ekpa on probable cause for public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent in Nigeria.

Ekpa was accused of using social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda linked to IPOB, a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria.

The court alleged that the offences dated back to August 23, 2021.

Finland authorities have also investigated Ekpa in the past for alleged financial crimes, including the collection of funds through questionable means.

The head of the investigation, crime commissioner Otto Hiltunen of the Central Criminal Police, stated, “The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland with means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria. The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”

However, the remaining four suspects, accused of financing terrorism, are believed to have committed the crime in August 2022, also in Lahti.

These individuals, who are of foreign background, were born in the 1960s and 1970s.

Helsingin Sanomat (HS) reports that five suspects were arrested during the first week of the investigation, with police highlighting international cooperation during the preliminary phase.

It was previously reported that authorities suspect Simon Ekpa of being involved in the crime of collecting money unlawfully. In February 2023, Ekpa was arrested in a private apartment in Lahti.

Ekpa was later released the same evening after being questioned.

At the time, police also disclosed that they had received multiple reports about Ekpa’s activities on social media. This prompted an investigation to determine whether he could be linked to other crimes.

Simon Ekpa is known in Finland as a local politician affiliated with the National Coalition Party.

He has served as a deputy councillor and represented the party on the Lahti region’s public transport board.

Meanwhile, from his home in Lahti, he has used social media to call for election boycotts and support for Biafra’s independence efforts.

The Senate and House of Representatives have approved a $2.2 billion loan request from President Bola Tinubu to address the N9.1 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget.

The approval came on Thursday after both chambers considered reports from their respective committees on local and foreign debts. The funds, equivalent to approximately N1.7 trillion at an exchange rate of N800 to the dollar, will be raised through financial instruments such as Eurobonds and Sukuk.

Aliyu Wamakko, chair of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, presented the report and emphasized the significance of the funding for the country’s economic framework.

Earlier this week, Tinubu submitted the loan request to the National Assembly following the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) approval of the borrowing plan. According to Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, the $2.2 billion will be sourced from $1.7 billion in Eurobonds and $500 million through Sukuk financing.

Edun further clarified that the borrowing will be executed within this fiscal year, with the final funding approach determined by market conditions and guidance from transaction advisers.

The federal government has also proposed N47.9 trillion as the total expenditure for the 2025 fiscal year, reflecting its broader financial and economic reform agenda.

Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile during an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, Kyiv’s air force said, in what would be the first use in war of a weapon designed to deliver long-distance nuclear strikes.

The launch, if confirmed, highlights rapidly rising tensions in the 33-month-old war after Ukraine fired U.S. and British missiles at targets inside Russia this week despite warnings by Moscow that it would see such action as a major escalation.

Security experts said it would be the first military use of an intercontinental ballistic missile. ICBMs are strategic weapons designed to deliver nuclear warheads and are an important part of Russia’s nuclear deterrent.

“Today there was a new Russian missile. All the characteristics – speed, altitude – are (of an) intercontinental ballistic (missile). An expert (investigation) is currently underway,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video statement.

The Ukrainian air force said the missile was fired from the Russian region of Astrakhan, more than 700 km (435 miles) from Dnipro in central-eastern Ukraine. It did not specify what kind of warhead the missile had or what type of missile it was. There was no suggestion it was nuclear-armed.

Ukrainska Pravda, a Kyiv-based media outlet, cited anonymous sources saying the missile was an RS-26 Rubezh, a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 5,800 km, according to the Arms Control Association.

The RS-26 was first successfully tested in 2012, and is estimated to be 12 metres (40 ft) long and weigh 36 tons, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). It said the RS-26 can carry an 800-kg (1,765-pound)nuclear warhead.

Security operatives exchanged gunfire in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday after mistaking each other for members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The incident occurred at Izuchukwu Junction along the Nnobi/Nnewi road around 7 p.m., sparking tension in the area. Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, clarified that the clash was not an attempt to disrupt the burial of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, as speculated in some reports.

Ikenga explained that the misunderstanding arose when one security agency mistook police operatives for hostile forces and opened fire on them.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the security operatives had trailed a suspect to a checkpoint before the gunfire ensued,” Ikenga said.

He added that bullets struck the fuel tank of a Toyota Venza Sedan carrying the police operatives, causing the vehicle to catch fire. Two innocent passersby were injured in the incident and are currently receiving treatment at a hospital.

The police spokesperson urged residents to remain calm as joint security forces have been deployed to maintain peace during the burial ceremonies. He assured the public that investigations are ongoing to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been arrested and remanded in Finland for disseminating terrorist propaganda.

Reports show that the district court of Päijät-Häme found Ekpa guilty of the offence, which occurred in 2021 in the Lahti municipality. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also confirmed the arrest of four additional suspects in connection with alleged terrorist activities.

Ekpa, who holds dual citizenship in Finland and Nigeria, has identified himself as the leader of IPOB following the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu. Finnish authorities have accused him of using social media platforms to incite violence in Nigeria’s south-east region.

Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen of the NBI stated, “He carries out these activities from his social media channels, for example.”

This is not the first time Ekpa has faced legal action. In February 2023, he was arrested at his residence in Lahti but was released after hours of questioning.

Ekpa gained notoriety for urging Igbos to boycott Nigeria’s 2023 general elections through his social media channels. In September 2021, he renounced Nigeria and pledged to return the medal he won for the country at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships.

Ekpa’s rhetoric and actions have drawn criticism for allegedly fuelling violence in the ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s south-east.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced the seventh phase of its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Initiative.

In a statement released on Tuesday, ICPC spokesperson Demola Bakare disclosed that the initiative, which began on November 18, 2024, targets projects valued at N610 billion in 22 states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The states involved are Kwara, Niger, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Abia, and Enugu.

Bakare stated, “The ICPC has kicked off Phase 7 of the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Exercise.

“The tracking of the constituency and executive projects is an initiative of the commission that began in 2019, focusing on how well money allocated to critical sectors of education, health, agriculture, water resources, and power, amongst others, by the government is utilised.

“The seventh phase, involving 1,500 projects with a total project value of N610bn, commenced on Monday, November 18th, 2024, in 22 states across the six geopolitical zones. The states are Kwara, Niger, Kogi, FCT, Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Abia, and Enugu State.”

The initiative aims to ensure that government funds allocated to key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, water resources, and power are utilized effectively.

Bakare added, “The Phase 7 tracking exercise will cut across agencies of government, including intervention agencies such as the North-East Development Commission, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Rural Electrification Agency, the National Primary Health Care Development Authority, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, and the Ecological Fund Office.

“The objective of the exercise is to deepen adherence to due process in the execution of government projects, improve value for money, and entrench the culture of compliance with the scope and specification as contained in the contract documents.”

The ICPC’s tracking initiative, launched in 2019, seeks to promote transparency and accountability in the implementation of government projects nationwide.

A bill to amend the Nigerian Constitution and allow voting by citizens in the diaspora has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation, co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Representative Sodeeq Abdullahi, aims to amend the 2022 Electoral Act to enable Nigerians living abroad to participate in elections.

The bill was initially passed for a second reading in July and referred to the Committee on Electoral Matters for further consideration.

Following its progress on Tuesday, the bill has now been directed to the Constitution Amendment Committee for additional legislative review.

Details later …..