News

Court rejects Nnamdi Kanu‘s no-case submission, orders him to enter defence

Published

10 months ago

September 26, 2025

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, dismissed the no-case submission filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Friday, held that the Department of State Services has made out a prima facie case against Kanu.

He accordingly ordered Kanu to enter his defence, as the prosecution has being able to convince the court without reasonable doubt that he has case to answer in the alleged terrorism charge brought against him by the Federal Government.

Justice Omotosho held that the evidence presented by the Department of State Services through its five witnesses were such that there was the need for Kanu to provide some explanations in the charge brought against him.

Kanu had filed a no-case submission after the prosecution closed its case in June, insisting that he has no case to answer in the charge brought against him.

Meanwhile, the Court has given the Nigerian Medical Association eight days to constitute a team of medical experts to determine the health status of Kanu.

In a ruling, Justice Omotosho ordered the NMA President to submit the committee’s report within eight days for consideration on whether Kanu should be transferred to the National Hospital for treatment.

Justice Omotosho directed that the committee, among other tasks, should assess the Department of State Services hospital to confirm whether it has the capacity to meet Kanu’s health needs.

Justice Omotosho further ruled that the NMA committee would be at liberty to make use of any hospital in the country for its investigations. He specified that the panel should comprise between eight and ten NMA members, including a cardiologist and a neurologist. The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital must also be part of the committee.

The decision followed conflicting medical reports presented by the DSS medical team and Kanu’s private consultants.

The DSS lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), disclosed the NMA’s intervention while opposing an application by Kanu’s legal team for his transfer to the National Hospital for urgent treatment.

Awomolo explained that a team of medical experts had already visited Kanu in DSS custody to assess his health, adding that the DSS medical team, led by Dr Mohammed Nasir, maintained that his condition could be adequately managed within DSS facilities.

In contrast, Kanu’s private consultants, led by Professor Martin Aghaji, a retired professor of medicine from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, argued that his deteriorating health required urgent transfer to the National Hospital, and even suggested possible treatment abroad.

The DSS dismissed Aghaji’s report as exaggerated and suspicious, particularly for recommending foreign hospitals, and alleged that he had unilaterally altered Kanu’s medication without consulting DSS doctors who had been treating him for four years.

Awomolo further argued that transferring Kanu to the National Hospital would disrupt services and pose security risks, insisting that the federal government was committed to his safety and willing to allow him access to medical experts of his choice within DSS facilities.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), however, maintained that the transfer request was based on Aghaji’s findings. He stressed that the DSS lacked the facilities to manage Kanu’s ailments and argued that it was in the interest of justice that Kanu remain alive to face the terrorism charges against him.

Ikpeazu added that his team would not oppose the NMA’s intervention, provided it was ordered by the court.

The court adjourned the matter till October 8.

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

TUMBLR

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 610

News

Fake agency: ICPC grills Femi Gbajabiamila

Published

7 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday, July 21, went before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to answer questions over his alleged investigation into the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC).

The anti-graft agency is investigating the circumstances surrounding the operation of the purported council by Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as its Director-General. Adeniyi had initially alleged that the fake agency was orchestrated by Gbajabiamila. He later retracted his claim and then alleged that it was his now deceased ally that related with Gbajabiamila when the fake agency was being set up.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on July 7, directed the ICPC to investigate the fake agency and submit its report within 30 days.

Gbajabiamila’s counsel, Jiti Ogunye, confirmed his client’s appearance before the commission in a statement yesterday.

“In full cooperation with the ICPC, acting on the directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I hereby confirm that my client, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, responded to the invitation of the ICPC.

He appeared at about 3p.m on Monday as part of the ongoing investigation into the activities of the fake PFIPC, among other issues.

My client gave his testimony, responded to questions accordingly and has since returned to his duty post.”

Adeyemi Matthew, the self-acclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, was arrested last week after a court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

He is believed to be in police custody pending the conclusion of investigations.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 37

News

Russian warship carried out live firing exercise off UK coast

Published

7 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

A Russian warship carried out a live-fire artillery exercise approximately 46 miles off the coast of Plymouth on Monday, July 20, prompting close monitoring by the Royal Navy.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the Russian frigate Neustrashimy notified HMS Tyne, a Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, of its intention to conduct the exercise before opening fire. A French military aircraft also contacted the vessel over radio to seek clarification on its activities.

The BBC reported that HMS Tyne was asked to move to a safer distance while the live-fire exercise took place, lasting about 30 minutes. The Ministry of Defence said it continues to closely monitor the vessel’s movements.

The incident is the latest involving Russian naval activity near UK waters. Russian warships regularly sail through international waters in the English Channel, although they do not enter British or French territorial waters. Last month, Royal Marine Commandos boarded a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Channel during a six-hour operation, marking the first mission of its kind by UK armed forces.

In June, a retired British couple sailing a 40-foot yacht near the Isle of Wight became involved in an incident with the Russian frigate Admiral Grigorovich. Russia accused the couple of making a dangerous approach, while the couple insisted they were not on a collision course.

The couple said the warship sounded its horn before firing warning shots into the air, an action former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described as “reckless”. The Russian Navy maintained it had attempted to contact the yacht through radio messages, flares and sound signals.

The Admiral Grigorovich had also been monitored continuously by Royal Navy patrol ships for an entire month earlier this year as it escorted Russian vessels through the North Sea, Western Approaches and other international waters.

Late last year, the Russian corvette RFN Stoikiy was intercepted by HMS Severn while transiting the Dover Strait before being handed over to a NATO ally near the French coast. Another Russian vessel, Yantar, which is used to map undersea cables, was also detected operating close to UK waters during the same period.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 37

News

Tinubu has not borrowed up to N80tn in three years– Nigerian Government

Published

8 hours ago

July 21, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Federal Government has refuted reports alleging that President Bola Tinubu’s administration incurred approximately N80 trillion in debt within three years.

The FG clarified that the sweeping total is misleading, explaining that the figure predominantly stems from accounting adjustments and currency revaluations rather than fresh borrowing.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, provided the clarification during an economic briefing with the Senate Committee on Finance Monday evening, July 20.

Lawmakers had raised questions regarding reports indicating that the present administration had added nearly N80 trillion to the N75 trillion debt burden it inherited upon taking office.

Addressing the committee, Oyedele stated that the widely circulated figures fail to reflect actual new loans taken by the government.

“When this administration came into office, public debt was around N75tn. Many people simply compare that figure with today’s debt stock and conclude that this government has borrowed massively,” Oyedele said.

The minister elaborated that the sharp devaluation of the naira significantly inflated the local currency equivalent of Nigeria’s existing external debt, given that national debt totals are officially calculated and reported in naira. NigerianFootball News

“However, following the reforms and the depreciation of the naira, the foreign currency component of our public debt had to be revalued because Nigeria reports its debt in naira. That accounting adjustment alone added more than ₦40tn to the public debt figure,” he explained.

Oyedele further noted that approximately N33 trillion was added to the national debt balance following the National Assembly’s approval to securitize Ways and Means advances.

He emphasized that this process did not constitute fresh borrowing, but rather represented the formal recognition of pre-existing obligations.

Meanwhile, members of the Senate Committee on Finance voiced concern over what they characterized as poor implementation of the capital projects outlined in the 2026 budget.

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 37