Category Nigeria News

Musa Mohammed has been reappointed as the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN)’s (RTEAN) duly elected Executive President by the Court of Appeal.

The three-member panel, which was presided over by Justice Hamma Barka but read by Justice Abba Mohammed, decided not to hear Eriyo Osakpamwan’s lawsuit, describing it as academic and devoid of practical relevance because the case’s duration (2018-2023) had already passed and a new election had been held in the interim.

The panel unanimously decided that proceeding with the matter would not have a beneficial legal purpose because the circumstances had already predominated the appeal.

Justice Mohammed argued in the lead judgment that courts are used to resolve real-world legal disputes rather than academic debate.

When a suit has no practical value for the parties involved, it is academic. The current leadership is already in place as of 2023, and the current tenure expired. He claimed that the court could not turn the page.

Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike concurred that Alhaji Musa Mohammed’s tenure, which is contested, ended in 2023, while 2025 is now. Therefore, neither party is in any way benefiting from this appeal. Now, the appeal is theoretical. There was still a live issue between the parties at the time the appeal was filed in 2021. I concur that the appeal should be dropped because it is academic.

Read more here:  A Court Retains Ex-Imo Commissioner Lasberry-Okafor Anyanwu’s Conviction.

The National Industrial Court (NIC) decision in 2020, which declared the emergence of Mr. Yusuf Ibrahim Adeniyi as the RTEAN’s national president and secretary-general, respectively, illegal, led to the leadership dispute.

Musa Mohammed was recognized as the organization’s legitimate president in the court’s 2018 and 2019 resolutions.

Osakpamwan was unhappy, so he appealed on seven grounds before dropping six, leaving only a question of jurisdiction, specifically whether the NIC had the authority to hear the matter without seeking conciliation or arbitration, as permitted by the Trade Disputes Act.

Given the lapsed time of the contested tenure, the Court of Appeal decided that procedural procedures like conciliation should be used to start litigation.

Effectively, the decision puts an end to a five-year legal tussle over the association’s leadership.

Mohammed praised RTEAN members nationwide for their patience and loyalty, and the judiciary for upholding justice in his response.

The legitimacy of this decision is demonstrated by the stability of RTEAN’s internal governance and the strength of our democratic institutions. He declared that “we are moving forward — unwavering, focused, and ready to serve the interests of all Nigerian transport employers.”

He also urged all members to work together to promote cohesion and advancement, including former opponents. He also extended an olive branch to all members.

Let’s put the past behind us and concentrate on creating a stronger RTEAN that will be effective for promoting national development, he added.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, claimed on Thursday that Vladimir Putin should encourage “regime change” in Russia, arguing that this would lead to further destabilization of Russia’s neighbors.

His remarks were made at a conference held by Finland to mark the 50th anniversary of the “Helsinki Final Act,” a treatise intended to boost cooperation between Cold War foes.

“I think Russia can be pressured to put a stop to this war,” he said. In an online address, Zelensky stated that it “started it” and that it can be “made to end it.”

Moscow will continue to try to destabilize neighboring countries even after the war is over, he added.

READ MORE:   Ukraine Next Week Promotes New Peace Talks With Russia

Additionally, the head of state of Ukraine stated that it was necessary to use Russian-frozen assets to good effect.

“We need to completely defy Russia’s war machine,” Zelensky said, “We need to put every frozen Russian asset, including the stolen wealth of corruption, to work defending against Russian aggression.”

He continued, “It’s time to confiscate Russian assets, not just freeze them, and use them to advance peace, not war.”

Zelensky gave an address from a distance, despite being given an invitation to attend the Helsinki conference in person.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated last week that the country would participate but not send high-level representatives there.

The Helsinki Final Act was signed in Helsinki’s capital on August 1, 1975 by the Eastern and Western blocs.

The creation of the OSCE, which brings together 57 nations, was the result of a historic agreement between 35 nations, including the Soviet Union and the United States.

Borderless inviolability ,

State sovereignty, non-use of force, and, most importantly, the inviolability of borders are among the key tenets of the agreement.

The participating States will refrain from attacking these borders at the present and future time, according to the treaty’s text, “because they regard all one another’s frontiers as well as the borders of all States in Europe as inviolable.”

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which has resulted in the most severe crisis in OSCE history, these commitments have been severely challenged.

Zelensky said on Thursday that one of Putin’s main ideas is that its borders should be where they are now, which is now popular in Russia.

Russia’s request to be exempt from the OSCE has been met with unsuccessful opposition.

However, Russian lawmakers earlier voted to forbid parliamentary assembly from the body because it was anti-Russian and discriminatory, despite the country being still listed as a member state on the organization’s official website.

After attracting around 1, 000 immigrants without visas, Finland closed its 1, 340-kilometer (830-mile) eastern border  with Russia in mid-December 2023.

The Kremlin has refuted Helsinki’s claim that the surge was the result of Russian interference.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been warned by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop mobilizing underage voters ahead of the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) election in Ekiti State in advance of the governorship election in 2026.

In a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, INEC announced that in-person registration will begin on August 25, 2025, while the online phase of the CVR will begin on August 18, 2025.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, stated that the Commission would work with security forces to ensure a peaceful and credible exercise.

He urged political actors to abstain from organizing underage or ineligible people, warning them that they would face arrest and punishment as well as those who aided them.

“Let me repeat that political parties should not mobilize people who are not eligible, especially those who are under 18 for the CVR exercise. They will be detained and charged if found guilty. Security organizations have received information and will be involved. To verify eligibility, those who are in the voting age must present their birth certificates. Anyone who allegedly possesses fake documents will be detained, according to Omoseyindemi.

The REC explained that the CVR exercise will be conducted across INEC offices in the state’s 16 local government areas, as well as at designated centers, using technology to ensure transparency and compliance with electoral rules.

He claims that those who have just turned 18 are eligible voters as well as those who have lost their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and those who want to transfer or update voter information.

“Our democracy needs to be deepened,” says CVR. He continued, “It gives eligible citizens the opportunity to be included in the National Register of Voters, as well as allowing transfers, corrections of personal details, and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs,” he continued.

Oluwakemi Akomolede, the state director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), echoed the call for credible participation and stated that the organization would increase public education efforts to raise awareness.

She urged political parties and civil society organizations to support mobilization efforts and reiterated that “we are committed to raising awareness of the importance of the CVR as a means of increased electoral participation.”

Samson Itodo, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, has criticised the inconsistent laws governing local government elections and warned that the current situation is putting strain on democratic rule.

He accused state governors of using local governments as political extensions, claiming that they frequently use them as extensions of their authority. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Itodo stated on The Morning Brief on Channels Television that “the governors view local government as a tool for control.” They can use that power to gain political influence and control of state affairs.

It is said that “when they have control over the local government structure, it significantly affects their electoral success” as well as give them the opportunity to control the state’s resources.

He backed earlier remarks made by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the head of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who had criticized state electoral bodies for conducting elections that weren’t properly organized.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman consistently made the point, according to Itodo, and it supports the state’s opinion of conduct and the quality of the election.

The National Assembly proposed binding local elections in accordance with Chapter 6 of the Electoral Act, which regulates national elections, according to Itodo, claiming that these structural issues were a part of the national assembly’s decision.

He claims that irregularities, manipulation, and what he refers to as “local election banditry” are frequently the result of local elections.

He reacted to the constitutionality of election commissions appointed by unelected sole administrators, saying, “I don’t think this passes the legality or constitutional test.” This will likely be upheld in court, I hope.

He warned that civic disengagement would only only make things worse for the electoral process, even if it was legitimate.

In a coordinated operation at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday evening received 139 Nigerian migrants who had left Agadez, Niger Republic.

22 adult males, 52 adult females, 33 male children, and 32 female children made up the returnees, who arrived on a Sky Mali flight at 7:57 p.m. Representatives from other relevant organizations also received them from NEMA’s Kano Operations Office.

A NEMA official reiterated the organization’s commitment to Nigerian citizens’ safe and dignified return during a press conference at the airport.

The official, who requested anonymity, stated that “Today’s exercise is part of our ongoing efforts to support compatriots who find themselves stranded abroad.”

The returnees were transported to Badala Hotel for temporary accommodation after being documented at the airport, where profiling and other support activities were carried out the following day.

One of the returnees, Amina Lawal, expressed her relief at being safely returned home. Although the journey was challenging, we appreciate the warm welcome from the NEMA and the Nigerian government.

NEMA officials reiterated the organization’s commitment to the welfare and reintegration of returnees and described the reception exercise as “well-coordinated and successfully conducted.”

The official continued, “We will work with our partners to ensure that these returnees’ communities receive the necessary support,” the official continued.

Also read: NEMA Repatriates 104 Nigerians from Algeria

Migration Issues and Porous Borders

The Niger Republic’s northern borders are notoriously porous, facilitating frequent and largely unregulated cross-border travel. Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, and Sokoto states bordering the Benin Republic, as well as Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Borno states sharing borders with Niger, as well as Borno bordering Chad.

Lucky Irabor, a former chief of the defense staff (CDS), revealed in 2022 that of the 261 approved by the Federal Government, 137 were unprotected borders alone.

“Nigeria has approximately 364 approved international border points, with approximately 261 in the North-East and North-West regions. Only 124 of these are manned, with the rest 137 manned by security agencies, according to Irabor.

The current CDS, Christopher Musa, advocated for the fencing of the country’s borders during a media briefing at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja in June 2025.

Many Nigerians, however, see border fencing as a gimmick, especially for a nation that struggles with high debts, high incomes, and widespread corruption.

Sani Shinkafi, a former member of the Zamfara State Bandits Persecution Committee, described the state’s failures in killing 35 kidnap victims as a failure of the government and the security apparatus.

Shinkafi also referred to the killing as being cruel and deeply disheartening in a statement on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

“It’s unfortunate,” he said. Because the military camp was so close to their camp, he claimed, there was a failure of the government and a failure of the security apparatus in terms of not using some technological means to rescue the kidnapping victims.

“The distance between the military personnel’ camps and the camps of the armed bandits is not greater than three kilometers. He continued, “I got the information from a trustworthy source.”

Read more about Bandits’ killing of 38 hostages in Zamfara after collecting a 50m ransom

The victims were among 53 people taken from the Banga community in February, according to Shinkafi, who is also a security analyst.

Each of the abductees’ families had demanded $1 million.

The bandits at their hideout gave the remaining 35 victims four jerrycans of fuel and 18 Android phones, each costing more than N100,000, to the bandits, despite the community raising additional funds.

He disclosed that community members were stopped by army officers stationed nearby as they were delivering the ransom and items because they had not been given an order to assist.

He claimed that the tragic outcome may have been caused by the inaction’s resistance.

He referred to the bandits as “betrayers,” claiming that they had lied and were corrupt after breaking previous peace agreements and promises.

He claimed that only five victims had been released to the community, and that a baby had been delivered while in captivity, and that the mother had cardiac arrest after the child’s death.

He claimed that two more women gave birth while the bandits were in charge.

Shinkafi criticized the Federal Government’s and Nigeria’s security institutions’ disregard for their obligations and criticized their lack of empathy. Zamfara State Governments had done their part by working with the DSS and deploying military personnel who had previously been involved in the Boko Haram conflict.

He claimed victory was still possible if the Federal Government properly deployed its military forces, noting that some of the bandits’ lieutenants were killed by the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF).

He continued, “Armed banditry is not new in Zamfara,” adding that the crisis had persisted for more than ten years due to the country’s severely underfunded and ill-equipped security agencies, as well as poverty, corruption, and high unemployment, poverty, corruption, and weak judicial system.

He emphasized the need for both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, including deradicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

He also emphasized the value of receiving accurate instruction on how to handle weapons.

When questioned about the role of the state government, he claimed that because of the state’s constitutional restrictions, troops could not be deployed by the state.