News
FG declares Sowore Sole defendant in Cyberbullying Charges
In the case adjourned until 22 January for the commencement of trial, Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the amended charges of cyberbullying Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, by referring to him as a “criminal” on X and Facebook.
• Activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore
The Federal Government through the Department of State Services (DSS), has removed social media platforms X and Facebook from the list of defendants in its Cyberbullying case with the activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant
In the case adjourned until 22 January for the commencement of trial, Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the amended charges of cyberbullying Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, by referring to him as a “criminal” on X and Facebook.
At the resumed hearing of the case at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, counsel for the government, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, informed Justice Mohammed Umar of the two-count amended charge.
While government counsel expressed readiness to commence trial, with a witness present in court, defense counsel Abubakar Marshal opposed the move.
Marshal argued that the witness information and sworn statement were not attached to the charge.
He cited Section 36(6) of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires that witness depositions and names be frontloaded with the charges.
Countering this position, Kehinde SAN maintained that it would not serve the interest of fair hearing to adjourn the matter, noting that previous adjournments had been at the instance of the defendant.
He further argued that since the case is criminal rather than civil, only the list of witnesses and exhibits is required to be filed.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in his ruling, directed the prosecution to provide all relevant documents to the defense team.
In the charge sheet, the prosecution alleges that Sowore knowingly and intentionally disseminated false messages through his official X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook accounts.
In one post, he wrote:“This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!”
The prosecution contends that by referring to the Nigerian President as a “criminal,” Sowore published a false statement intended to cause a breakdown of law and order, thereby posing a threat to life.
The charges carry a penalty of a minimum fine of Fifteen Million Naira (₦15,000,000.00) or imprisonment for a term of five years.
News
200 Kaduna varsity lecturers resign over poor condition of service
Most of the lecturers who left the institution secured appointments in newer universities within and outside Kaduna State.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised concern over the departure of more than 200 lecturers of Kaduna State University, (KASU).
Chairman of ASUU-KASU, Dr Abubakar Abdullahi, disclosed this at a press conference on Monday in Kaduna, lamenting that lecturers, including professors, left the institution due to poor conditions of service and non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government- ASUU Agreement.
Abdullahi said that most of the lecturers who left the institution secured appointments in newer universities within and outside Kaduna State.
Consequently, the Union has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Kaduna State Government and university authorities to implement and domesticate the agreement.
The union warned that failure to act within the period could result in a total and indefinite strike at the university.
News
Edo House of Assembly Elect New Speaker Idiaye, Hints Why Agbebaku Resign
“Once the leadership is poor, it will drag the work of the governor backwards. So we decided to say no.”
•The new Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Mr Yekini Idiaye
The Edo House of Assembly has sworn in a newly elected Speaker , Yekini Idiaye, following the resignation of the former speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.
Speaking in an interview after his swearing-in ceremony in Benin, Idiaye pledged the full cooperation of the house to the state executive, describing Governor Monday Okpebholo as a performing leader who deserved legislative backings.
“He is doing a lot for the people of Edo, so we have to cooperate with him to move the state forward,” he added.
Fielding question on the exit of the former speaker, Idiaye cited the challenges of corruption and poor leadership.
Idiaye said: ” There’s corruption here and there. Every now and then it is adjournment — we resume tomorrow, adjournment for another 30 days, 20 days — and we were all not too happy with this leadership style.”
The new speaker pointed out that a weak legislature directly affected the executive, adding that the house had to act to protect the governor’s performance.
“Once the leadership is poor, it will drag the work of the governor backwards. So we decided to say no.”
News
Defence Headquarters say X Account Compromised
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement, describing the incident as a cybersecurity matter.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has issued a notification to the public, media representatives, and relevant stakeholders regarding the compromise of its official account on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, disclosed this in a statement, describing the incident as a cybersecurity matter.
He said “appropriate technical measures had been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access.”
Uba assured the public that efforts were ongoing to fully restore control of the account, while advising members of the public to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content posted from the account during the period.
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