Arodiogbu re-emerge as South-East National Vice Chairman, as Gov. Mbah hails APC unity
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has re-elected Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu as its South-East National Vice Chairman to pilot the affairs of the party in the zone for the next four years.
Arodiogbu emerged alongside other zonal executives during the APC South-East Congress held at the Presidential Hotel, Enugu on Wednesday.
The election was conducted through a consensus arrangement endorsed by party delegates from the five South-East states.
Other members of the newly-elected zonal executive included: Chief Innocent Itapi, Zonal Secretary and Chief Ernest Ogbonna, Legal Secretary.
The rest are: Mr Henry Onwughaluonye, Publicity Secretary; Mr Chima Ogbonnaya, Youth Leader; Dr Stanley Nwachukwu, Leader of Persons with Disabilities (PWD); and Dr Oby Aji, Women Leader.
Announcing the outcome, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu, said that the list of candidates was adopted following a motion by party leaders and members.
“When a motion is moved and adopted, it reflects the collective will of the leadership and members of our party to accept these names as consensus candidates representing the South-East,” he said.
In a remark, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State described the development as a strong indication of the APC’s growing influence in the South-East.
“This is a testament to the fact that APC is firmly rooted in the South-East. The party has continued to grow stronger through the dedication of its leaders and members,” he said.
Mbah commended the efforts of the zonal leadership, national working committee members, and governors from the region for strengthening the party’s structure.
He also congratulated party officials who emerged from previous congresses at ward, local government and state levels, urging unity ahead of the national convention.
He appreciated President Bola Tinubu for his reform initiatives, noting that they had placed Nigeria on the path of economic growth.
Speaking, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo said the consensus arrangement was in line with the party’s constitution and demonstrated internal party cohesion.
“I congratulate members of our great party for the steady growth in membership across the South-East. Today’s exercise reflects our unity and commitment to progress,” Uzodimma said.
In his acceptance speech, Arodiogbu expressed gratitude to party members for the confidence reposed in him and his team.
The congress was attended by notable party leaders, including: Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, and former Governor of Anambra State, Sen. Chris Ngige.
It was also attended by members of the national and state assemblies and party faithful from across the zone.
The events of March 24, 2026, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, involving activist Omoyele Sowore and the subsequent response of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have triggered a conversation that extends far beyond the narrow question of courtroom etiquette.
By most accounts, the controversy arose when Sowore attempted to speak with journalists within the courtroom at a time the court was not in session, leading to a confrontation and, shortly thereafter, a strongly worded reaction from the NBA.
The Association reiterated, quite correctly, that courtrooms are not venues for media briefings and described the conduct attributed to Sowore as inconsistent with courtroom discipline. Sowore, for his part, denied staging a press conference and accused the NBA of selective outrage. Yet, beyond the immediate facts lies a deeper and more consequential issue.
This discourse is not about defending disorder. Courtrooms are solemn spaces and must be treated with restraint, dignity, and respect. No serious-minded person should encourage conduct that trivialises judicial proceedings. That is not the point. The real question is whether the intensity of the reaction reflects a deeper institutional imbalance, one that prioritises symbolic infractions while underreacting to the far more profound challenges undermining the administration of justice in Nigeria.
*A QUESTION OF INSTITUTIONAL PRIORITIES*
The NBA is undoubtedly on firm ground in insisting that the courtroom is not a theatre or a publicity arena. That principle is foundational and largely uncontroversial. However, a more pressing question arises: why does the Association often appear most animated when the issue is symbolic, yet comparatively restrained when the issue is systemic? If the legal profession must be stirred to righteous indignation, should that indignation not first be directed at the conditions that have steadily eroded public confidence in the judiciary? Reports over recent years have painted a troubling picture: declining public trust, a growing backlog of cases, and repeated warnings, even from within the judiciary itself, about delays in justice delivery. These are not marginal concerns; they go to the very heart of the justice system. Surely, these are the matters that ought to command the sustained attention, urgency, and collective energy of the Bar.
*THE REAL THREATS TO JUSTICE*
Nigeria’s judiciary is not under strain because a layman granted an interview within court premises, particularly when proceedings were not ongoing. It is under strain because of deeper, structural challenges: delays that turn justice into endurance; persistent allegations of corruption; executive pressure; manipulation of judicial processes; weak institutional discipline; and a growing crisis of public confidence. Analyses by governance and rule-of-law organisations have consistently pointed to issues such as political influence, inadequate funding, resource constraints, and internal ethical lapses as central threats to judicial independence and integrity. These are the real fault lines. This is where the crisis lies. This is the substance. This is the fire. And yet, too often, we leave the fire unattended while directing our attention to the smoke.
*SELECTIVE OUTRAGE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES*
Sowore’s central criticism, that the NBA reacts selectively, may be uncomfortable, but it is not without resonance. His question, in essence, is simple: where is the same institutional urgency when more serious violations of courtroom sanctity occur, particularly when such violations involve powerful actors or state institutions? Many Nigerians can readily relate to this concern. They see a justice system burdened by prolonged delays, weighed down by technicalities, and, at times, perceived as susceptible to influence. They observe a system where the ordinary litigant often faces a process that is slow, expensive, and uncertain. One need not endorse Sowore’s conduct to acknowledge the force of his question. And it is precisely here that greater institutional wisdom was required. An issue of courtroom etiquette could have been addressed firmly, calmly, and proportionately. It did not require the level of moral escalation that now risks presenting a single incident as emblematic of the most pressing dangers to justice delivery. It is not.
*WHERE THE REAL UNDERMINING OCCURS*
The more serious challenges confronting the administration of justice in Nigeria are well known and widely acknowledged. They include the troubling reality of cases that linger in courts for years, transforming litigation into a form of punishment. They include the growing perception that outcomes may sometimes be shaped not only by law and fact, but also by influence, pressure, and status. They include the continued reliance, in many instances, on non-legally trained personnel for criminal prosecution at the lower levels, despite statutory provisions aimed at professionalising the process. They include also the difficult welfare conditions faced by many legal practitioners, especially younger members of the Bar, and the structural distortions caused when election-related litigation consumes disproportionate judicial time and resources. Perhaps most damaging of all is the steady erosion of public confidence: fueled by recurring allegations of compromised processes, conflicting orders, and procedural manipulation. These are not peripheral issues. They are foundational.
*A CALL FOR INSTITUTIONAL INTROSPECTION*
There was a time when Nigerian courts commanded profound moral authority. That authority did not derive from ceremonial symbols or institutional posturing, but from a widespread belief that the courts were serious forums for the fair and impartial administration of justice. That confidence has diminished. And it did not diminish because of Sowore. It diminished because practices that should have remained exceptional gradually became normal: endless adjournments, selective urgency, procedural gamesmanship, weak disciplinary standards, and a professional culture that sometimes prioritises image over introspection. It is important to recognise that criticism is not hostility. In many instances, it is the highest form of institutional loyalty. To suggest that the NBA should focus more deliberately on substantive threats to justice is not to undermine the Association; it is to call it back to its foundational purpose.
*CONSISTENCY AS THE MEASURE OF CREDIBILITY*
If the dignity of the courtroom is to be preserved, it must be defended consistently. It must matter whether the perceived threat comes from an activist, a security agency, a politically exposed individual, or even members of the legal profession itself.
If the rule of law is to be upheld, the same moral seriousness must be applied to executive interference, judicial delays, corruption allegations, and disobedience of court orders, as is applied to questions of courtroom conduct. Anything less risks creating the impression, fair or otherwise, that the profession is more adept at policing appearances than confronting substance. That impression is not only damaging; it is dangerous.
*SOWORE AND THE REAL CRISIS*
It must therefore be stated plainly: Omoyele Sowore is not among the central challenges facing the administration of justice in Nigeria. At most, the incident in question reflects an error of judgment. But an individual misstep is not equivalent to systemic failure. The true challenges are deeper, more entrenched, and far more consequential: delay, distrust, institutional weakness, perceived influence, and the widening gap between the ideal of justice and the lived reality of those who seek it. These are the issues that demand the attention of the Bar.
*CONCLUSION: A CALL FOR PROPORTION AND COURAGE*
This is not an argument for indiscipline. It is an argument for proportion. It is not an attempt to excuse what should be corrected. It is a plea that we do not exaggerate minor irregularities while underreacting to major deformities. A justice system is not undone by a single interview within a courtroom. It is undone when delay becomes entrenched, when public trust collapses, when influence overshadows principle, and when reform is overshadowed by performative outrage.
The NBA remains too important an institution to be distracted by shadows. The Nigerian legal profession remains too noble a calling to be reduced to optics. And the administration of justice in Nigeria is in too fragile a state for us to misidentify the problem. Sowore is not the problem. The problem is the deeper rot that has long been visible, widely discussed, and yet insufficiently confronted. That is where the conversation must begin. That is where courage is required. And that is where meaningful reform must be pursued.
Students participating in mathematics competition to celebrate the world mathematics day
By Henry Oladele
Lagos: A consulting firm, Global Learning Advancement Network Consulting, on Wednesday advocated grooming Nigerian students to compete globally in mathematics for national development.
Mr Gbolahan Laniyan, Lead Consultant at Global Learning Advancement Network Consulting, said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during World Maths Day activities at Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Lagos.
Laniyan described World Maths Day as the largest global mathematics competition, noting that “it holds a Guinness World Record for mass participation.”
According to him, the initiative is aimed at raising world-class students and positioning Nigerian children as excellent problem-solvers in the global space.
He added that the initiative was intensifying efforts to groom Nigerian students to compete globally in mathematics through the World Maths Day programme.
“We are trying to raise world class minds and position Nigerian children, our next generation, to become excellent problem solvers,” he said.
He explained that GLAN Consulting focused on developing students through mathematics, technology and structured training systems.
Mr Gbolahan Laniyan alongside the Vice Principal, Administration, Aposyolic Faith Sevindary School, with the students
Laniyan said the organisation was at the Apostolic Faith Secondary School, one of its partner institutions, to train pupils and students aged between four and 18 years old.
He added that no fewer than 100 students from both the primary and secondary sections of the school were participating in the exercise.
“The students are engaging in fun learning and competing live with their peers globally using computers.
“We have different categories, from junior secondary classes to senior levels, all participating in stages,” he said.
On Nigeria’s representation at the global level, Laniyan said selected students had already been prepared to represent the country.
“We have done the preparation and have top students who will eventually represent Nigeria, though the competition is still ongoing,” he said.
He noted that participation in global competitions should not be limited to elite or international schools, stressing the need for broader inclusion of Nigerian students.
“It is not about the names of schools but about our children and ensuring that Nigerians are well represented in global educational events,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of mathematics, Laniyan emphasised its role in national development, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
He said countries that failed to prioritise STEM risked lagging behind in technological advancement and economic growth.
“For any nation to compete globally, it must prioritise STEM.
“When you develop mathematicians, engineers and technocrats, you are building the backbone of the economy,” he said.
He advised students to cultivate interest in mathematics by integrating it into their daily lives.
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“Mathematics starts with everyday living. It is about understanding numbers, patterns and applying them to life.
“When you take mathematics seriously, you are taking your life seriously,” he said.
Laniyan said GLAN Consulting, established in 2014, had continued to promote mathematics education in Nigeria, including hosting national online competitions.
He added that the initiative had helped boost students’ confidence and global competitiveness over the years.
The Principal of the school, Mr Temitayo Oshisanya, lauded the
students’ enthusiasm for mathematics.
Oshisanya underscored the importance of mathematics in preparing students for future challenges, describing it as essential at all levels of education.
Oshisanya, while speaking with NAN, said that the initiative was aimed at stimulating students’ interest in mathematics, improving performance and eliminating fear associated with the subject.
“Having been a mathematician all my life, I know the importance of mathematics at every level of education.
“We are creating interest in the students, motivating them to perform better and removing the phobia for mathematics by making it accessible to all,” he said.
The principal expressed satisfaction with the level of enthusiasm demonstrated by the students, noting that many were eager to participate in mathematics-related activities.
“The enthusiasm shown by the students is wonderful. You see a lot of them striving to be among those engaging actively in mathematics.
“Some of them are even having sleepless nights just to engage themselves in mathematics endeavours,” he said.
Oshisanya added that the school had put necessary infrastructure in place to support students’ participation in global competitions.
“We have prepared the ground. We have a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre and internet facilities to enable them interact and compete with their peers across the world,” he said.
He described the development as a welcome one and expressed optimism that the school would continue to explore opportunities in mathematics education to its fullest potential.
Oshisanya further noted that the school had sustained a culture of promoting mathematics excellence through periodic initiatives such as its mathletics programme.
One of the students of the school, Master Eburagbemi David, said that he enjoyed mathematics because he was good at it.
“I am good at it and I like solving it generally even though I want to study robotic engineering.
“My grades in maths have been good and I am happy to take part in this world maths day.
“I love when there are hard questions and I can break it down and solve it completely,”he said.
Another student, Master Samuel Idoko, told NAN that the mathletics programme had helped him in solving maths questions faster.
“Even though I want to study cyber security, I still enjoy maths and I appreciate my school because they focus on maths.
“My advice to my peers is that they should take maths seriously and whatever opportunities they are given, they should not misuse it,”he said.
Another student, Miss Olaoshun Temilola said that she was good at mathematics, adding that mathletics had helped her improved in her mental skills.
“I can solve questions easily and faster and I am happy that I got to know mathletics.
“My advice to my peers is that they should always practice maths and keep on trying to solve questions to become professionals,”she said.
NAN also interviewed primary school pupils engaged in mathletics, who said they enjoy working with numbers and feel prepared to tackle more advanced aspects of mathematics.
One of the pupils, a nine-year-old Trinity Opara, told NAN that she finds mathematics easy.
“I am learning to type numbers without looking, and I am getting close to perfection,” she said.
Another pupil, Master Daniel Fidelis, also nine years old, said that mathematics had exposed him to a different side of the subject, adding “it provides a faster way of working with numbers.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
APC Stakeholders in Igbo-Etiti launch voter education, mobilisation for re-election of Gov. Mbah
Stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area have launched a comprehensive voter education and mobilisation campaign aimed at seeking the re-election of Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State.
The movement, which brought together market women, youth leaders, religious leaders, civil society organizations and road transport workers, is hinged on what the organisers described as Mbah’s “transformative impact”, on the state particularly on the sectors of education, health, road construction, and infrastructural renewal.
The stakeholders convened a town hall meeting to kick-start voter education and mobilisation campaign at Central School, Aku in Igbo-Etiti LGA on Wednesday, drawing thousands of residents and party faithfuls together who are keen on the re-election of Gov. Mbah.
Speaking, Rt. Hon. Ogbonna Idike, two time Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, appreciated the participants for the overwhelming turnout.
Idike said that the event served as both a civic clinic – educating citizens on the voting process and the importance of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) — and a platform to present details of governor’s achievements in the state.
He reminded the stakeholders of the purpose of the town hall meeting, adding: “We are here to let you know what we call political education, sensitisation, and political mobilisation”.
Idike maintained that political education was meant to equip citizens, and the participants of the knowledge and skills necessary to participate meaningfully in the electoral process.
He thanked the governor for the wonderful infrastructural developments his administration had been doing in Enugu State, and Igbo-Etiti Local Government since assuming office.
“We are using the town hall meeting to activate participants to vote for Gov. Peter Mbah, and to re-echo that there is no vacancy in the Lion Building come 2027 General Elections,” he said.
Corroborating, the Deputy Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ezenta Ezeani, took participants on questions and gift of envelopes containing some amount of money.
Ezeani questions centred on the 260 Green Smart Schools Project and importance of education to mankind.
He explained that the Green Smart Schools Project stands out as one of the most revolutionary steps in education in the history of Nigeria.
“The greatest investment any government can make to any state or community is education. It is the greatest gift parents can give to their children.
“The most important investment Gov. Mbah has given to the people of Igbo-Etiti is the provision of the Green Smart Schools to every ward.
“It has never happened in the history of Enugu State. The Green Smart Schools is a generational gift by the governor and our people must protect and secure it,” he said.
Speaking, member representing Igbo-Etiti West in Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Engr. Tochukwu Amuka, emphasised on the Mbah’s aggressive infrastructural drive in Enugu State, stressing that all roads leading to smart schools must be constructed and tired.
Amuka expressed profound concern on importance of participants to have their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) as the most critical document for voting in Nigeria electoral process.
He urged the participants who are yet to obtain his or her PVC card, to do so immediately.
The lawmaker appreciated President Bola Tinubu for awarding the construction of Otukpo-Ninth Mile Road, describing it as a project that would not only slash travel time for the people of Igbo-Etiti but would also create economic growth for the people of the area.
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion included: the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Malachy Agbo; Chairman of Road Fund, Hon. Chidera Odo; and host of APC chieftains from the council area.
Court faults El-Rufai’s N1bn rights suit against ICPC, I-G, others
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, picked holes in the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by former Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State against Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and four others.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik faulted the application after Ugochukwu Nnakwu, who appeared for El-Rufai, informed the judge that he had been unable to serve the magistrate, sued alongside others as 2nd respondent in the case.
When the case was called on Wednesday, all the parties, except the 2nd respondent (magistrate), were represented in court.
Isaac Akwo, who appeared for ICPC, prayed the court to stand the matter down until 12 noon to enable his superior, Abdu Mohammed, SAN, who was at the Supreme Court for another case, to handle the matter.
But Justice Abdulmalik declined the request because she had another meeting to attend.
The judge then inquired about the 2nd respondent.
Responding, Nnakwu told the court that “the 2nd respondent had not yet been served” and that he had filed a substituted service application in that regard.
Nnakwu then began to move the motion for substituted service before the judge interrupted.
She asked the lawyer to specify the particular chief magistrate listed in the suit.
“You are supposed to include his name in your application,” the judge corrected.
Nnakwu, therefore, acknowledged the judge’s intervention and sought an adjourned date to regularise the process.
Lawyers who appeared for other respondents, including R.N. Maiguru (Inspector-General (I-G) of Police); and Chima Augustine for the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), did not oppose the application.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until March 31 for hearing of pending motion.
She equally ordered that a hearing notice be issued and served on the 2nd respondent.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that El-Rufai is demanding a N1 billion in damages against ICPC, the Chief Magistrate at the Magistrate’s Court of the FCT, Abuja; I-G and the AGF, named as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.
The former governor, in an originating motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, dated and filed Feb. 20 by Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, sought seven reliefs.
He prayed the court to declare that the invasion and search of his residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on Feb. 19 at about 2pm by the and ICPC and I-G, amounts to a gross violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights .
He said that it was a violation to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.”
He urged the court to declare that “any evidence obtained pursuant to the aforesaid invalid warrant and unlawful search is inadmissible in any proceedings against the applicant, as it was procured in breach of constitutional safeguards.”
El-Rufai, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from further relying on, using, or tendering any evidence or items seized during the unlawful search in any investigation, prosecution, or proceedings involving him.
He sought an order directing the Ist and 3rd respondents (ICPC and I-G) to forthwith retum all items seized from the applicant’s premises during the unlawful search, together with a detailed inventory thereof.
He also sought an order awarding the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) as general, exemplary, and aggravated damages, among others.
Responding, in its counter affidavit, the ICPC said it received a petition against El-Rufai and acting on the petition, it commenced an investigation, leading to the search at his residence.
It argued that its operatives acted under a valid search warrant issued on Feb. 18 and executed on Feb. 19 between 1:37pm and 3:56pm at 12 Mambilla Street, Asokoro, Abuja.
The commission said its officials were accompanied by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, and that the exercise was witnessed by El-Rufai’s wife, Hadiza El-Rufai, and his son, Mohammed El-Rufai.
The ICPC, which urged the court to dismiss the suit, listed the items allegedly recovered from the residence.
The police, also in its counter affidavit deposed to by Insp Ewa Anthony, argued that it had the statutory power to detect, arrest, investigate and prosecute offenders.
It argued that the search carried out at El-Rufai’s residence was executed pursuant to a search warrant issued by a competent court of law.
It disagreed with the ex-governor that that search warrant was invalid, insisting that it was a genuine court order.
It said that its officers who carried out the operation, complied with all applicable legal procedures in the execution of the search warrant.
According to the police, the applicant is trying to use the honourable court to shield him away from the security investigation and prosecution in the court of law.
It, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
By Biola Lawal
Abuja (FLOWERBUDNEWS): The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has began discussions with the Bangladesh High Commission to explore strategic collaboration in pharmaceutical development, trade, and regulatory strengthening.
The talks were held on Tuesday in Abuja when NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye hosted the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Miah Md. Mainul Kabir, who paid her a courtesy visit.
Flowerbudnews learnt that discussions during the visit particularly focused on opportunities for technological exchange, enhancement of the safety and quality of medicines and vaccines in both countries.
Speaking during the visit. Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring the availability of safe, quality, and efficacious medicines through robust regulatory systems and post-market surveillance.
The NAFDAC Boss stressed that the growth of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, as supported by the Agency’s attainment of World Health Organization Maturity Level 3 status, had encouraged increased investment in local manufacturing, including vaccines and biologics.
On his part, the Bangladesh High Commissioner expressed his country’s readiness to partner with NAFDAC to advance the pharmaceutical sector and deepen bilateral trade and investment.
Amb. Mainul Kabir, highlighted the mutual benefits of strengthened cooperation, and emphasised the two country’s significant market potentials and shared interests in improving access to safe and effective medicines. (Flowerbudnews)
Campaign group Avaaz’s report claims ‘substantial evidence’ that the Israeli army carried out a double-tap strike in the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab.
Rajab and two Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics were killed after an ambulance tried to save her on 29 January 2024, fleeing Israeli bombardment after Israel forced residents to leave the north [GETTY]
The Israeli army used a “double tap” strike when killing five-year-old Hind Rajab in 2024, analysis by a global campaign group found, as calls for accountability continue two years after the Palestinian’s killing.
The US-based Avaaz NGO revealed that a reconstruction of the ambulance mission approved to aid Rajab showed “substantial evidence of a deliberate ‘double tap’ tactic” in a report shared exclusively withAl Jazeera.
The tactic means carrying out two strikes on the same target and is often used to kill or injure medics and civilians who are rushing to aid people from the first attack.
“The brief brings together the timeline of events up to and beyond Hind’s death, showing what Israeli forces must have been aware of at each stage, and the frequent opportunities they had to pull back from murder,” Avaaz told the network.
The group said its report documents over 40 human rights violations and ties together how those violations are evidence of a double-tap attack on the hospital workers.
“Each violation builds to an alarming possibility: Israel is not only killing Palestinians – it is systematically killing those who try to save them,” the group said.
“The message is clear: If the medical community tries to help, it will be extinguished.”
The group highlight that the Israeli army knew when the paramedics would arrive to Hind’s aid, with the ambulance receiving permission from COGAT, an arm of the Israeli military. Avaaz adds that the vehicle was not attacked in a way it could have been perceived as a warning shot if the military thought otherwise, saying it “points to lethal targeting”.
The report also says that since three hours had passed between the initial attack on Rajab’s car and the final attack on the ambulance, it shows the Israeli army had an opportunity for “situational awareness, communication, and command decision-making”.
Avaaz said the double strike constitutes a war crime, calling for the International Criminal Court to bring justice to those responsible.
“What I have done is establish a legal framework for the previous investigation. I think it is very important that we also look at what happened to the ambulance workers as well as what happened to Hind and her family,” Sarah Andrew, legal director of Avaaz, told Al Jazeera.
Rajab and two Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics were killed after an ambulance tried to save her on 29 January 2024, fleeing Israeli bombardment after Israel forced residents to leave the north.
Rajab was trapped in a car surrounded by six corpses of her family. Recordings between her and dispatchers from the Palestinian Red Crescent show Rajab pleading for help, begging for the ambulance to come and save her.
After the ambulance and a route were finally approved, the site was targeted by an Israeli strike, causing international outrage and condemnation.
The bodies of the nine victims were recovered 12 days later, with Rajab’s family car found to be laden with 335 bullet holes.
While the Israeli military tried to deny its forces were present during the initial attack, investigations identified several Israeli Merkava tanks being present in the vicinity of the car, along with no evidence that the army engaged in fire with Palestinian fighters.
NRM Presidential Candidate, Fadere Oluwadamilare Joseph
By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo
The Presidential Candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Mr. Fadere Oluwadamilare Joseph, has pledged to reverse what he described as unfavourable policies of the current administration if elected in 2027.
Joseph made the pledge while addressing journalists on Tuesday, lamenting the decline in Nigeria’s socio-economic conditions compared to earlier decades.
He said that Nigeria once enjoyed free and qualitative education, improved security, and employment opportunities for graduates, but noted that the situation had deteriorated significantly.
According to him, the country is now grappling with high unemployment, insecurity, and economic hardship, which he attributed to what he called self-centred policies by political leaders.
“We had a country where citizens lived as their brother’s keeper, but today, insecurity and economic challenges have taken over,” he said.
Joseph criticised the removal of fuel subsidy without adequate plans to cushion its effects, as well as the state of public education, which he said had forced many Nigerians to rely on expensive private schools.
He also expressed concern over rising insecurity, alleging that inadequate welfare for security personnel and poor coordination among agencies had worsened the situation.
He stressed that the country had witnessed a steady decline from its early years of prosperity.
He said Nigeria once enjoyed free and quality education, improved security, and abundant employment opportunities, but had now become plagued by unemployment, insecurity and economic hardship.
“Years ago, Nigeria was a country people travelled to for education, where citizens lived in safety and graduates had jobs waiting for them.
“Today, we are faced with the opposite realities,” he added.
The NRM candidate decried rising insecurity, noting that citizens now live in fear, unlike in the past when movement across cities was relatively safe.
The NRM candidate called for increased funding, better equipment, and improved welfare for security operatives to effectively tackle insecurity.
On the economy, Joseph said his administration would focus on creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, alleging that several companies had exited the country due to harsh economic conditions.
He also advocated investment in electricity to reduce reliance on fuel, noting that stable power supply would benefit a larger percentage of Nigerians.
Joseph further emphasised the need for youth participation in governance, urging Nigerians to elect leaders based on merit rather than political influence.
He urged the citizens to utilise their voting power to bring about change, stressing that national development required active civic participation.
He called for a generational shift in leadership and a comprehensive overhaul of government policies to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
The presidential hopeful said his candidacy under the NRM was aimed at “rescuing Nigeria” and restoring the country’s lost glory.
CCIDESOR calls for collective efforts to rescue comatose LG system
The Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) has called for collective efforts of stakeholders and Nigerians to rescue the Local Government (LG) system from it present comatose state.
The Executive Director of CCIDESOR, Dr. Emeka Ononamadu, made the call in a media briefing on Wednesday in Enugu.
Ononamadu noted that the root cause of this failure lied in the absence of true financial, administrative, and political autonomy for LGA as evidence from CCIDESOR’s and Situationroom field monitoring of capital projects analysis across selected LGAs in South-East.
He said that the recent analysis revealed that: allocated funds are not translating into visible development capital projects; but are limited, poorly prioritised, or misaligned core constitutional responsibilities—primary education, primary healthcare, and agriculture—are neglected.
The executive director called for urgent constitutional reforms, particularly in the amendment of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, to guarantee full autonomy of LGAs and establish a citizen-driven accountability framework.
He noted that current delay in local government autonomy is not a neutral decision—it actively sustains a system that enables: fraud, waste, abuse, poverty and underdevelopment.
Ononamadu, however, said that conversely, timely constitutional reform would block major leakages of public funds, strengthen accountability systems and deliver measurable development outcomes at the grassroots.
He made a call to action on President Bola Tinubu to drive structural and constitutional reforms and champion the urgent amendment of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution to abolish the State Joint Local Government Account and guarantee direct allocation to LGAs.
“The president should provide executive backing; issue clear policy directives supporting LGA autonomy and zero tolerance for state interference in LGA funds and mobilise political consensus on the matter among others,” he said.
Ononamadu urged the national assembly to fast-track constitutional amendment of Section 162 and other relevant provisions affecting LGA autonomy and legislate transparency mechanisms.
“Enact laws mandating compulsory publication of LGA budgets, allocations, and expenditures; strengthen oversight functions; conduct regular public hearings on LGA funding and utilization; and facilitate inclusive public consultations to ensure citizen input into the reform process.”
He urged state governments to transit from control to support of LG systems, immediately cease diversion or control of LGA funds through joint accounts and allow elected LG officials to operate independently without intimidation or undue influence.
“Review and amend state laws that undermine LGA autonomy, offer capacity-building support rather than financial control, and focus on state-level responsibilities while allowing LGAs to handle grassroots development,” he said.
The executive director said that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should play critical watchdog and mobilisation role; intensify national and grassroots advocacy for LGA autonomy and accountability reforms, and expandibg independent tracking of LGA allocations, budgets, and project implementation.
“The CSOs should educate communities on their rights and tools for demanding accountability, produce evidence-based reports, generate and disseminate credible data to influence policy decisions, and strengthen alliances across CSOs, professional bodies, and community groups to amplify impact.”
Ononamadu called on the media to drive transparency and public awareness through investigative reporting: expose misuse, diversion, and underperformance in LGA fund utilization and educate citizens on LGA budgets, allocations, and their rights to accountability.
“Provide platforms for CSOs, experts, and citizens to discuss LGA autonomy; monitor and report on government commitments and actions regarding constitutional amendments and use data to tell compelling stories about gaps between allocations and development outcomes,” he said.
He called on citizens and communities to request access to LGA budgets, projects, and financial reports, attend town hall meetings, budget sessions, track implementation of local projects and report discrepancies.
“Leverage petitions, social media, and community platforms to demand accountability, elect leaders committed to transparency, service delivery, and community development,” he added.
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