Category Nigeria News

A Tunisian man has been freed days after he was sentenced to death by a court in the North African country over Facebook posts deemed offensive to President Kais Saied, his lawyer said Tuesday.

The 51-year-old man, Saber Ben Chouchane, had been sentenced on charges including “spreading false news”, defence lawyer Oussama Bouthelja told AFP.

The Paris-based Tunisian human rights group CRLDHT had said the verdict set “a serious precedent” and that Tunisia had “reached unprecedented levels of human rights violations”.

Bouthelja told AFP that overnight from Monday to Tuesday, the man’s “family contacted me and said that he had returned and was at home”.

READ ALSO: 10 More US Deportees Jailed In Eswatini

He said he did not have the details of what had helped free his client — detained in January 2024 — and was waiting to hear more from the courts.

“The last action that I carried out as a lawyer was to file an appeal on Friday”, he said.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday by a court in Nabeul, east of Tunis, Bouthelja said.

Ben Chouchane was found guilty of “insulting the president, the minister of justice, and the judiciary”, and some of his posts were also deemed to be incitement.

Bouthelja&nbsp, said he had been “shocked, stunned, astonished” by the verdict, adding: “I didn’t believe it at first”.

Tunisian law says “an attack intended to change the state structure or incite residents to attack each other with weapons, causing chaos, murder and robbery on Tunisian soil” is punishable by death.

Tunisian courts continue to issue death sentences, though the country has not carried out executions since 1991.

Saied was elected in 2019 after Tunisia emerged as the only democracy to come out of the Arab Spring.

But in 2021, he staged a sweeping power grab, and human rights groups have since warned of a rollback on freedoms.

Decree 54, the law criminalising “spreading false news”, was enacted by Saied in September 2022.

It has been criticised by rights groups for stifling free speech.

Dozens of Saied’s critics have been prosecuted under Decree 54 and are currently behind bars.

The Federal Government has charged personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS to continue to offer excellent services to its clients, declaring that efficient customer service is a right and not a privilege. 

Comptroller General of the Immigration Service CGIS, Kemi Nanna Nandap, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja when she declared open the 2025 SERVICOM Customer Service Week themed “Mission Possible” with the NIS sub-theme “Meeting and Exceeding Expectations.”

Nandap said the celebration provides an opportunity for officers to recommit themselves to professionalism, courtesy, timeliness, and citizens-centered service delivery.

“The Nigeria Immigration Service must not only meet expectations but exceed them,” she said. “Every passport issued, every permit processed, every encounter at our borders is a test of our professionalism and integrity. We must continue to build public trust and prove that we are a Service that delivers.”

READ ALSO: Alleged Terrorism: Absence Of Medical Report Stalls Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

The Immigration chief reaffirmed that the Service remains on an irreversible path of reform and modernization in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She noted that since assuming office in 2024, her administration has implemented several reforms aimed at restoring the Service’s image and improving operational efficiency.

These include the introduction of passport automation and a contactless processing system to reduce physical interaction and eliminate bottlenecks.

“Others are the deployment of e-gates and body cameras at airports, enhancing border security while promoting transparency; and intensified sensitization campaigns across formations to combat corruption and entrench professionalism,” she said.

According to her, these reforms are yielding results, reflected in improved national ratings, commendations, and awards recently received by the NIS at government performance review retreats.

Nandap urged officers nationwide to use the Customer Service Week as a time to renew their commitment to excellence. “This celebration is not for fanfare. It is a solemn call to renew our pledge of service and institutionalize transparency, courtesy, and excellence as our standard culture,” she stated.

She also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their continued support, noting that the reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda have curbed corruption and improved professionalism across the Service.

Earlier, the Special Assistant to the CGIS on SERVICOM and Reform Champion, Deputy Comptroller Muhammad Awwal Abubakar, described the Customer Service Week as “a call to reflection, action, and renewal,” emphasizing that customer service is a right owed to citizens.

“The theme ‘Mission Possible’ challenges public institutions to see obstacles as opportunities for innovation rather than excuses for inefficiency,” Abubakar said.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has described as unfortunate the fire incident that gutted a section of the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt on Monday evening.

The affected area, which serves as a creche for the babies of civil servants, was partly destroyed by the blaze.

Governor Fubara visited the site on Tuesday morning to personally assess the level of damage.

The governor was received at the Secretariat Complex by a crowd of jubilant civil servants, the Head of Service, and some Permanent Secretaries, including the newly sworn-in Austin Ezekiel-Hart.

Speaking to journalists after the inspection, Governor Fubara expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost, noting that the damage was restricted to a small section of the building.

“I came here this morning to see for myself what happened yesterday. It’s really unfortunate, but we give God all the glory that no life was lost and the damage was only in one section”, he said.

The governor explained that the incident would serve as a wake-up call to fast-track the planned renovation and refurbishing of the Secretariat Complex, which has been under consideration by his administration.

“We’ve been talking about the renovation of our foremost secretariat. With this particular incident, there should be no further delay. Whatever is required by this government to commence that process, we will immediately swing into action”, he assured.

Governor Fubara commended the state fire service firefighters for their prompt response, noting that previous investments made by his administration in the three fire service stations proved invaluable in containing the situation.

“Before the emergency rule, we took our time to invest in the fire service. I wonder what would have happened if we didn’t have a formidable and functional fire service”, he remarked.

He also appreciated civil servants for their dedication, resilience and continued support, reiterating his administration’s commitment to initiatives that will enhance their welfare and promote the well-being of all Rivers people.

“We’ll continue to do those things that will uplift Rivers people and make them happy”, the Governor added.

Watch the video below:

Sa’idu Adamu, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) state secretary, was suspended by the party’s Kaduna State chapter because of alleged anti-party behavior.

The State Executive Committee ratified the decision at a meeting held on Monday at the party’s secretariat in Kaduna, and the State Working Committee adopted it.

The Kaduna State PDP Publicity Secretary, Maria Dogo, said in a statement that the action is in line with the PDP Constitution’s 2017 as amended Articles 58 (1) and 57 (3).

Read more about Tinubu and Kaduna Protesters to protect local refineries from sabotage.

According to the statement, Adamu’s suspension, which begins immediately, will continue for a month as a result of the party’s investigations and subsequent decisions.

During the suspension, the PDP also forbade him from engaging in any party activities at all levels.

Under the able leadership of State Chairman, Edward Masha, the party is resolutely committed to upholding internal discipline, justice, and fairness, according to the statement.

General Lucky Irabor, the former CDS chief of staff, described the 2022 Abuja–Kaduna train abduction as one of his most challenging times.

Irabor, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, claimed the incident demanded his full knowledge of the military’s system and that it put the country’s security in jeopardy.

“The security situation around the country was the most alarming to me when I was a CDS.

He remarked, “The incident involving the train abduction, which increased the dynamics of the challenges we were facing at the time, was what I think was most challenging.”

The retired general argued that the Defense Headquarters needed to use a lot of resources and tactics to get the abducted passengers back.

He continued, “All the experiences one had before that time were used to ensure those who were abducted were rescued.

Relieved to be “freer.”

Irabor also cited other significant security issues that he faced during his administration, including the Niger Delta oil assets protection and the fight against insurgency in the North-East.

Beyond that, I had a thought about the North-East operation. I felt compelled to go back to ensure that operations were carried out effectively without sacrificing our teams because I spent more of my career there.

He added that stabilizing oil production was crucial for Nigeria’s economic strength, and that it was important.

The former defense chief said he now has more freedom to pursue personal goals after serving in reflection on his life.

He continued, “It’s now easier and freer for me to do what I want,” adding that his new book, Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, was inspired by his career.

Train Attack in Abuja-Kaduna

A passenger train was bombed and derailed near Katari in Kaduna State on March 28, 2022, in the tragic Abuja-Kaduna train attack.

More than 60 passengers were kidnapped, and at least eight were killed.

Train operations were suspended while rescue operations were launched following the incident.

Read more about the Kaduna Train Attack: Bandits Parade Kidnapped Victims, Including Students.

Authorities denied involvement, but many abductees were later released, reportedly after receiving ransom payments.

Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, has demanded that the police look into Uche Nnaji, the minister of science, technology, and innovation, over alleged certificate fraud.

READ MORE: Bauchi Dismisses Two Senior Civil Servants Over alleged forgery

Effiong claimed that the minister’s academic records, contradictory statements from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the minister himself needed immediate attention in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.

He expressed shock that Nnaji’s screening before appointment revealed such alleged irregularities without being noticed.

How did all of these things escape the control of the Nigerian State Security Service? Effiong posed a question on the program.

The State Security Service is keeping a conspiratorial silence as I speak to you. He continued, “It is a conspiracy.”

The lawyer urged Bola Tinubu to suspend Nnaji while the investigation is pending and described the allegations as “grave.”

“This minister must be immediately suspended until the investigation is finished,” he said.

He resisted that the police would reveal him to them for forgery investigation because they would tell Nigerians that we were a government of certificate forgers and criminality.

NRC Boss Blames Abuja-Kaduna Train Accident On “Human Error,” Read More

The government must show resoluteness to investigate the allegations, Effiong added, even if they are still unproven.

“We can’t have a minister of innovation whose innovation is currently being connected to alleged certificate forgery,” the statement continues.

President Tinubu has an opportunity to demonstrate that he is not operating a cartel but rather a law-fulfilling government, the lawyer said.

 Minister’s Aide Dismisses Allegations

Nnaji was accused of allegedly presenting fake NYSC and academic credentials.

One of his advisers dismissed the forgery claims as being politically motivated and unfounded in response to the controversy.

According to the Minister, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, he received his UNN diploma in 1985. In December 2023, the university formally confirmed this in writing.