Nigeria’s defence minister, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned his appointment, with immediate effect.

In a letter dated December 1, sent to President Bola Tinubu, Abubakar said that he was quitting on health grounds.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President,(Information and Strategy), confirmed that President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and thanked Abubakar for his services to the nation.

President Tinubu will likely inform the Senate of Badaru’s successor later this week.

Badaru Abubakar, 63, was a two-term governor of Jigawa state from 2015 to 2023.

Badaru Abubakar was the National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) from 2013 to 2015.

Before this, he was president of the Jigawa Chamber of Commerce and held other leadership positions in chambers of commerce.

He was appointed as a minister on August 21, 2023, by President Tinubu.

His resignation comes amid President Tinubu’s declaration of a national security emergency, with plans to elaborate on its scope in due course.

‎‎The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nandap, who was scheduled for arraignment at the National Industrial Court on charges of conspiracy and perversion of justice, failed to appear in court on Monday.‎‎

Nandap and the Secretary of the Civil Defense, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, retired Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin, face two criminal counts in a case filed by Immigration officer Badiru Oluwafemi.‎‎

Oluwafemi alleges that senior officials obstructed a court-ordered promotion and falsely claimed an out-of-court settlement, effectively stalling his career advancement.‎‎

In 2023, the Industrial Court ruled in his favor, ordering his promotion.

However, after he passed the 2024 exams, his promotion was withheld when the Comptroller General reportedly urged the Board to tie it to the withdrawal of his lawsuits.‎‎

During proceedings held in chambers Monday, Justice Sinmisola Adeniyi admitted she had skipped a procedural step before issuing the criminal summons.

She explained that the proper process would have been to first direct the police to investigate and report back before arraignment.‎‎

The matter was adjourned to 31 March 2026 for the police report and possible arraignment of the defendants.‎‎

In a related contempt case, Justice Rakiya Haastrup fixed 17 December for hearing.

The claimant seeks the committal of the Comptroller General to prison for failing to comply with a December 2023 order directing his promotion.

The Contempt case is seeking to commit five principals of the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Board for wilfully disobeying the judgment of the court.

‎‎Counsel for the Immigration boss, Uduojie Kennedy, told the court his client had complied with the order, promoted the claimant, and placed him on a new salary scale. However, under questioning, he admitted he had no evidence of salary payment.‎‎

Similarly, Jummai Adaramola, counsel for the Secretary of the Board, argued that the order had been complied with but added that her client is protected under the Public Officers Protection Act.‎‎In sharp contrast, Armiyal Aduku, counsel for Oluwafemi insisted his client had not been promoted, undermining the respondents’ claims.‎‎

Justice Haastrup adjourned the matter, urging all parties to resolve the issue of evidence regarding payment of the judgment sum and report back at the next hearing on 17 December.

Picture: The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Rev. Bulus Yohanna and parents of the children in Kontagora with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The Federal Government has raised the hopes of parents and the authorities of St. Mary’s Private Catholic primary and secondary school, Papiri in Agwara local government area of Niger state.

Ribadu expressed the optimism when he visited the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Rev. Bulus Yohanna and parents of the children in Kontagora, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu said efforts are in top gear to ensure a swift recovery of the abducted students.

While delivering President Bola Tinubu’s message of hope and assurance, Ribadu asked Nigerians to join hands and defeat the common enemy causing havoc in the country.

The Principal of the school Rev. Sister Felicia Gyang and a representative of the Parents Mr. Luka Iliya narrated how the incident happened including the ongoing trauma they face while urging the government to do all it can to secure the safe return of the abducted students.