The police command in Akwa Ibom says it has deployed 2,000 personnel in Ikono, Ini and Ibiono Ibom local government areas for the federal constituency by-election on Saturday.

This is contained in a statement in Uyo on Friday by the state police spokesperson, SP Odiko Macdon.

Mr Macdon said there would be restrictions on movement from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the affected local government areas, adding that only INEC staff members, health workers and security agents would be exempted.

He urged residents of the areas to come out to exercise their franchise without fear of molestation or intimidation.

The police spokesman also warned perpetrators of violence to steer clear of election venues or face the consequences of their actions.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has begun the distribution of sensitive materials ahead of the February 3 re-run election in Bauchi State.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Appeal Court has ordered a re-run election across 42 polling units in four state assembly constituencies, including Bauchi Central, Zungur-Galambi, Ningi 1, and Madara-Chinade.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Mohammed Nura, who monitored the exercise on Thursday, said that ballot papers and result sheets were distributed to the areas in the presence of representatives of political parties, security agencies, and other stakeholders.

He said the commission was ready for the conduct of the rerun election, adding that it was committed to the timely delivery of the materials to the areas.

The commission, he said, trained 126 ad hoc personnel, comprising presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, and supervisory presiding officers, as well as 21 collation and returning officers, for the exercise.

“The election will be conducted using BVAS for accreditation, authentication, and result upload to the IReV.

“So far, BVAS for all the PUs have been configured and is ready to be used on election day while our technical support staff will be at each PU to ensure the device works,” he said.

According to Nura, the Registration Area Centres (RACs) will be activated on Friday by 4 pm, adding: “This is not different from the 2023 election but a continuation of it.

“All political parties that fielded candidates during the 2023 general election in these constituencies will participate in the rerun elections.”

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is investigating his predecessor, Hadi Sirikaover the controversy surrounding the Nigeria Air deal.

He spoke while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

Asked about the Nigeria Air deal, Keyamo said: “The EFCC is investigating that deal. There is a criminal investigation going on. I have called for the report.”

Keyamo also disclosed that no local airline would be designated as a national airline, adding that “we will establish a proper national carrier.”

In August, Keyamo had faulted the deal by Sirika and suspended the whole arrangement to allow for an audit of contracts.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had launched the Nigeria Air, a few days before the end of his administration.

The controversy surrounding the establishment of Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, had forced veteran aviator Girma Wake to resign as Chairman of Ethiopian Airlines.

The Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt. Dapo Olumide, had said the aircraft used to unveil the country’s national career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines.

He added that the aircraft was returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling on the last day of the Buhari administration in May.

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the disengagement of Mr Babatunde Irukera as the Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

This is contained in a letter addressed to President of Senate, Godswill Akpabio and read at plenary on Tuesday

.The letter read, “In accordance with the provisions of Section 8(2) of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Act 2018. I hereby seek the kind confirmation of the Senate in respect of the disengagement from office of Babatunde Irukera as Executive Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC with effect from January 8.

“While I hope that this Senate will consider this request expeditiously, please do accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished senators the assurances of my highest. Regards.”

The Delta House of Assembly confirmed on Tuesday Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s three additional commissioners for appointment as members of the State Executive Council.

This followed their successful screening by the parliament, presided over by the speaker, Dennis Guwor, in Asaba.

The nominees were Elemejero Ohwovoriole as commissioner for justice, Ifeanyi Osuoza, information commissioner and Kalanama Penawou, local gvernment and chieftaincy affairs commissioner.

Mr Osuoza pledged to do his best in discharging his duties.”I will ensure that I reverse the trend in the Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, Warri and the Pointer Newspaper.”

I will also ensure there is training and re-training of staff because I know that training and re-training are very critical in order to bring out the best in them.”

I want to also use this opportunity to appeal to journalists in the state to keep hope alive. I am here to make a difference,” he said.The house has confirmed 29 commissioners.

The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi has called on President Bola Tinubu to take up the responsibility of tackling the ravaging security situation in the country.

Obi stated this in a post on his official X handle on Monday while reacting to the gruesome murder of Elesun of Esun Ekiti and Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti.

It was reported that the monarchs who were returning from a security meeting in Irele-Ekiti were attacked and killed by suspected bandits.

Reacting, Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, asked the president to “wake up from his sleeping bed” and tackle the security problems.

He wrote, “We are saddened by the report that Elesun of Esun Ekiti and Onimojo of Imojo Ekiti were murdered earlier today, cause of death: Insecurity and Tinubu.

“We call on Tinubu to wake up from his sleeping bed and save Nigeria from total collapse. Don’t speak up today. Tomorrow, insecurity might consume you or a loved one.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, adjourned a N50 billion suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, against the Nigerian Government, until April 27 for further mention.

Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter after Aloy Ejimakor, the lawyer who appeared for Kanu, informed the court that he had just filed a notice for a change of counsel.

Ejimakor told the court that he would be taking over the case from Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who filed the suit on April 7, 2022.

Justice Ekwo directed the lawyer to find out if a similar matter was not pending before any sister court or other courts, or if a judgment had not been delivered in a similar suit.

The judge, who observed that no counsel appeared for the defendants, ordered that a hearing notice be issued and served on them against the next adjourned date.

DAILY POST reports that Kanu had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF as 1st and 2nd defendants, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022.

Kanu, who sued the defendants over allegations bordering on violation of his rights, alleged that he was kidnapped from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to stand trial.

Unknown gunmen, on Saturday, kidnapped Alhaji Akeem Akintola, the Oyo State Chairman, Tipper, Lorry and Quarry Park Management System (PMS).

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akintola, popularly known as KUSO, was kidnapped at his residence at Ajiboye area, Omi Apata, Ibadan.

A source, who did not want his name published, said the gunmen stormed Akintola’s residence in the early hours of Saturday and abducted him to an unknown destination.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Oyo State, SP Adewale Osifeso, proved abortive.

Several calls put through to his number were not answered.

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadarin, (OPHD) have arrested three suspected gun runners in Zamfara State.

It was gathered that one of the suspects, Aminu Ibrahim, is alleged to be the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ward chairman in Birnin Yero ward in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the State.

A military intelligence source in the state said Ibrahim, with his accomplices, known as Musa Usman Seun and Isah Mohammed were arrested on Monday.

The source further said: “The troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation Haderin Daji acted on credible intelligence on activities of a notorious gunrunner trying to smuggle arms into the state.

This medium also learnt that the troops quickly arranged a roadblock where they arrested the three suspected gunrunners.

“The 3 suspects, Musa Usman Seun, Aminu Ibrahim, and Isah Mohammed were apprehended at Shinkafi on 22nd January 2024 and the sum of two million five hundred and eighty thousand Naira, 1 Volkswagen Wagon, 3 mobile phones and other items recovered from them.

“A preliminary investigation revealed that the huge sum of money recovered from the suspects was for the exchange of assorted weapons at the Illela border in Sokoto State. The suspects are undergoing further interrogation.”

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said reckless politicians who want to win elections at all costs infiltrated the electoral body’s election result portal, IReV, during the 2023 elections.

Jega said these reckless and desperate politicians destroyed INEC’s efforts to get the election right.

He spoke while featuring on Channels Television’s Inside Sources Programme on Friday.

According to Jega: “In 2023, INEC did its best under very difficult circumstances, and a lot of these difficult circumstances were caused by the mindset of our selfish politicians who wanted to win by hook or by crook.

“INEC has over time introduced technology to make the process of election results very transparent with integrity, but from my own experience when I was in INEC from 2011 to 2015, I suspect that a lot of that has continued to be so up to 2023, our reckless politicians try to be a step ahead of INEC.

“If you introduce something today and you try it, they try to be a step ahead of you and beat it by the next election.

“I feel that something has happened, that in spite of the confidence and the very articulate manner the INEC chairman (Mahmood Yakubu) had spoken about the IReV, it then failed.

“I believe that some of our reckless politicians may have infiltrated it and truncated it but INEC will take the blame for that.”

Jega said politicians use their “said and means” to truncate and bypass the IReV portal.

While calling for a probe, Jega charged INEN to tell Nigerians what happened to IReV.

President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the appointment of Dr Samuel James as the Acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa.

This decision, pending the appointment of a substantive Rector, was communicated through a letter dated January 23, 2024.

The letter, signed by Dr A.U. Ejeh, Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions at the Federal Ministry of Education, was transmitted to Dr. Munir Ahmad, the Registrar of the Polytechnic.

The announcement was made in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on Friday by Safina Sabo, the Acting Director of Information and Publicity for the institution.

Dr James assumes the role of Acting Rector following the expiration of the tenure of the previous Rector, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan.

According to Sabo, Dr James, who previously served as the Polytechnic’s Deputy Rector, Academics, has been appointed as the acting head until a substantive Rector is appointed.

The Federal Ministry of Education made this decision after Dr. Alhassan’s five-year single tenure elapsed on December 31, 2023.

on January 15, that Dr James had initially been appointed as the Overseer of the institution by the Polytechnic’s outgoing Rector, Dr Abdullahi Alhassan Ahmed.

The decision had generated controversy as the appointment is said to be contrary to the stipulations of the Polytechnic Act.

In response to his appointment, the new Acting Rector, Dr Samuel James, expressed gratitude to God and the Federal Ministry of Education for the opportunity to serve in this capacity.

He pledged to work collaboratively with the management and staff of the Polytechnic to achieve important goals and contribute to the institution’s progress.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that it is set for the February 3 rerun elections in Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo and Orumba North and Orumba South federal constituencies in Anambra.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr Elizabeth Agwu, made this statement on Wednesday during a media interaction at the INEC headquarters in Awka.

Agwu said the rerun election was in response to a court order that directed that the election in the 21 polling units in the two federal constituencies be cancelled and rerun conducted instead.

According to her, the election would be held in five polling units: four wards in Nnewi North, 16 polling units and one ward in Orumba North.

She added that INEC in Anambra had made adequate preparations to ensure the election was credible, free and fair.

She reminded the concerned LGAs that there was no winner yet until after the rerun elections for the candidates in the federal constituencies.

The REC urged the 97,438 registered voters in the affected LGAs to come out en masse to cast their votes.

She also admonished the 161,914 registered voters in Orumba North and South to come out on February 3 to vote for their preferred candidates.

Agwu assured voters of tight security before, during and after the election, stressing that the commission had been engaging security agencies in meetings to provide adequate security for the electorate willing to exercise their franchise.

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has vowed to press on with her campaign in the wake of a second consecutive loss to Donald Trump.

Ms Haley toured much of New Hampshire ahead of Tuesday’s primary, courting both independent and moderate Republican voters.

But she was unable to catch Mr Trump, who had a comfortable 10-point lead with most ballots counted.

The former president last week won a landslide in Iowa’s caucuses.

Days later, Ms Haley became the last remaining rival to Mr Trump, with the sudden departure of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis from the Republican field.

At an election night party in Concord on Tuesday night, Ms Haley conceded the New Hampshire race, congratulating Mr Trump on his win.

But she vowed to take her bid to become the Republican party’s presidential candidate back home to South Carolina, the state where she served as governor.

“New Hampshire is first in the nation,” Ms Haley said to a boisterous room of supporters. “It is not the last in the nation.

“This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go. And the next one is my sweet state of South Carolina.

Mr Trump did not seem to take well to the speech, calling her “delusional” at his own election night party. “Who the hell was that imposter that went up on that stage that went before and claimed victory?” he said.

Team Haley hit back almost immediately, describing his speech as a “furious and rumbling rant”.

“If Mr Trump is in such good shape, why is he so angry?” the campaign said in a statement.

For months, Ms Haley remained cautious in her criticism of Mr Trump, the prohibitive frontrunner and her former boss.

But in New Hampshire last weekend, as she campaigned through her 52nd birthday, the former UN ambassador made her most pointed attacks to date, warning of his friendships with “dictators”, questioning his mental acuity and slamming his “lies”.

Exit polls from CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, showed her 11th-hour sprint may have paid off – two-thirds of voters who made their decision in the last few days voted for her. And Ms Haley outperformed opinion polls that had shown her trailing Mr Trump by around 20 points.

Still, despite the Granite State’s sizable bloc of independent voters – those who were considered likely to favour Ms Haley – she could not fully close the considerable ground between herself and the former president.

“Nikki put in the time, put in the work and put in the money,” said Katon Dawson, a Haley surrogate and the former chairman of the South Carolina Republican party.

“With that said, Donald Trump is an 800 pound gorilla that has his arms around the base.

“Across New Hampshire ahead of the primary, some members of that base told the BBC they thought Ms Haley was insufficiently conservative. Others said they liked her personally, but that they would not waver in their support for Mr Trump.

“I’m not sure about some of her policies,” said Pat Hansen on Tuesday in Manchester. And it reflected poorly on Ms Haley, she believed, that top Republicans in South Carolina had turned their backs on her and endorsed Mr Trump.

Ms Haley is opting out of the third Republican contest – caucuses in Nevada – meaning her next major match-up with Mr Trump is several weeks away, in South Carolina’s primary on 24 February.

There, she hopes to be welcomed by a loyal base of voters who twice sent her to the governor’s mansion.

“She’s got a track record here,” said Bill Nettles, a Democrat who served as a top prosecutor in the state while Ms Haley was governor. “She left office very popular.

“But even with her close ties to the state, opinion polls show Ms Haley trailing Mr Trump by 30-plus points.

Experts said a loss in her political backyard would likely be fatal to her campaign.

“The momentum is moving toward Trump rapidly and he’s likely going to close the nomination early,” said veteran Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. “There’s little doubt now.

“And there’s this daunting piece of political trivia for Ms Haley: no Republican candidate has ever won the first two states and not gone on to become the Republican nominee.

President Bola Tinubu has said his administration will continue to provide the needed interventions in the oil and gas industry in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.

Speaking when he received a delegation led by Mr Clay Neff, President of Chevron International Exploration and Production, on Tuesday in Abuja, President Tinubu said Nigeria would strengthen its long-standing partnership with the multinational company in line with the evolving dynamics in the oil and gas industry.

The President welcomed Chevron’s commitment to build on its investments in shallow and deep water operations in Nigeria, noting the company’s ongoing $1.4 billion drilling project with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.

He also commended Chevron for its dedication to reducing its carbon footprint in the country.

“You must see the PIA as a legacy law. We assure you of quick interventions and turnarounds on any issue you may have in your operations in our country.

Nigeria is proud of the 60-year partnership with Chevron, and we believe this partnership will be strengthened to add mutually beneficial value for the benefit of your shareholders as well as the living standards and economic opportunities of our population,” President Tinubu said.

In his remarks, Mr Neff pledged that the company would continue to operate in full adherence to the highest standards, even as it meets its investment commitments in Nigeria.

He highlighted the company’s contributions to domestic gas supply, noting the delivery of 25 per cent gas through a joint venture with NNPC Limited.

The Enugu State House of Assembly has ordered the immediate suspension of work on the land causing a dispute among Obeagu Awkunanaw, Ugwuaji, Ugwu Afor Akpugo, and Umuedenwaoko Akpugo.

The order is in a statement by the Special Committee on Land Disputes chairman, Pius Ezugwu, in Enugu on Monday.

Mr Ezugwu stated that the order became imperative to pave the way for all parties to work toward a peaceful resolution of the dispute.

He warned that engaging in any activity on the disputed land was an invitation to violence and war, which he said the committee would not tolerate.

Mr Ezugwu directed the police and other security agencies to arrest anyone found around the disputed lands or engaging in any form of work in the place.

He also directed traditional rulers, president-generals and developers in the affected communities to appear before the committee at the Assembly complex on Tuesday.

According to him, the crucial meeting is vital for a comprehensive discussion and resolution of the land dispute.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Donald Trump.

He quit ahead of the Republican primary election in New Hampshire, where he was polling in the single digits.

Mr DeSantis was once considered a strong contender for the party’s nomination – but on Sunday he said he did not “have a clear path to victory”.

Nikki Haley, Mr Trump’s last remaining challenger, said she was the “only one” able to beat US President Joe Biden.

Ms Haley will go head-to-head with Mr Trump in New Hampshire on Tuesday, the second in a series of state-by-state contests to pick a Republican nominee for the November general election.

In a nearly five-minute long video on X, formerly Twitter, released on Sunday afternoon, Mr DeSantis said his campaign had “left it all out on the field”.

“If there was anything I could do to produce a favourable outcome – more campaign stops, more interviews – I would do it,” he added, as he ended his seven-month campaign.

The Florida governor said he was endorsing Mr Trump, who is the clear frontrunner after winning the first contest in Iowa with 51% of the vote. Mr DeSantis said it had become clear that a majority of Republican voters “want to give Donald Trump another chance”.

He acknowledged “disagreements” with the former president, but said Mr Trump was “superior” to Mr Biden, who is almost certain to be the Democratic nominee in November’s general election.

“I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee, and I will honour that pledge,” Mr DeSantis said.

There were loud cheers when Mr Trump made his first comments about Mr DeSantis’s withdrawal and endorsement to a room in New Hampshire full of supporters on Sunday afternoon.

Later, addressing an audience at a rally, Mr Trump described his former opponent as a “really terrific person”, adding: “He ran a really good campaign, it’s not easy.

“Mr DeSantis had presented himself as the Republican candidate who could deliver Mr Trump’s populist agenda without the drama or baggage.

But one of the speakers at the event, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, referred to him as “diet Trump”. And several supporters of Mr Trump told the BBC they liked the Florida governor but felt this was not the right time for him.

Lynne Mason, 60, said she thought Mr DeSantis’s campaign was “a little weak” and she had “expected more from him”. Mr Trump, she added, was the “only person at this time who can save this country”.

BethAnne Tatro, another local backing Mr Trump, agreed. “I think that President Trump has proven, from being in office previously, that he can do this again and get things back on track.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, before Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama.

He was re-arraigned yesterday on a 20-count amended charge bordering on conferment of corrupt advantages, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and obtaining by false pretences to the tune of $6,230,000.00.

Count one of the charges read: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, male, adult, sometime in 2018 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did use your position as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to confer a corrupt advantage on Sa`adatu Ramallan Yaro, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria by awarding a contract for the supply of 37 (Nos.) Toyota Hilux Vehicles at the cost of N854, 700,000.00 to April 1616 Investment Ltd, a company in which the said Sa`adutu Ramallan Yaro is a director and you thereby committed an offence.”

Count 20 of the charges read: “That you, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele male, adult and Odoh Eric Ocheme (still at large) on or about the 8th day of February, 2023 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court knowingly obtained by false pretence, the sum of $6,230,000.00 by falsely representing that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation vide a letter dated 26th January, 2023 with Ref No. SGFF.43/L.01/201 requested the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide a contingent logistic advance in the sum of $6,230,000.00 “in line with Mr. President`s directive” which representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence.”

Before Emefiele took his “not guilty” plea, his counsel, Mathew Burkaa (SAN) objected to the charges, citing Section 221 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015.

However, Justice Muazu, relying on Section 396 of ACJA, overruled his objection, stating that any objection in respect of the charges should be heard after the defendant has taken his plea. He also advised the defence counsel to tender his objection in writing.

Upon Emefiele’s “not guilty” plea to all the charges, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) asked the court for a trial date. Justice Muazu adjourned the matter till February 12 and 13, 2024, for continuation of trial and sustained the bail earlier granted to the defendant.

The EFCC, had on November 17, 2023, arraigned the former CBN governor before Justice Muazu on six-count charges bordering on procurement fraud to which he also pleaded “not guilty.”

Donald Trump has urged the US Supreme Court to put a “swift and decisive end” to his exclusion from Colorado’s presidential primary ballot.

In a court filing on Thursday, Mr Trump said “chaos and bedlam” would be unleashed if other states followed Colorado and banned him from primaries.

Colorado’s top court banned Mr Trump in December, accusing him of engaging in insurrection over the Capitol riot.

An identical ruling in Maine was placed on hold by state judges on Wednesday.

The 14th Amendment of the US constitution excludes anyone who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding federal office.

But in his filing on Thursday, Mr Trump’s lawyers argued that the provision does not apply to the presidency, writing that the office is not among those listed in the amendment.

“The Court should reverse the Colorado decision because President Trump is not even subject to section 3, as the president is not an ‘officer of the United States’ under the Constitution,” the submission read.

“And even if President Trump were subject to section 3 he did not ‘engage in’ anything that qualifies as ‘insurrection,” it added.

The 77-year-old remains the firm frontrunner in the Republican presidential race, and his lawyers argued that his disqualification from the ballot would “disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans”.

The filing gives an insight into the arguments Mr Trump’s legal team will present when the Supreme Court hears the case on 8 February.

His appeal to the nation’s highest court over the Colorado decision means that the nine Supreme Court justices could end up making a hugely consequential judgment on his eligibility to run for the White House.

The Republican primaries in Colorado and Maine are scheduled for 5 March – so-called Super Tuesday – when many states hold their votes to choose party contenders. But postal ballots need to be sent out weeks beforehand, meaning the Supreme Court is under growing pressure to act.

Similar efforts to disqualify Mr Trump in at least 30 other states are underway, his submission claimed. Efforts in Minnesota and Michigan have already failed, while a state court in Washington struck down another bid on Thursday.

The US’ top court, which has a conservative majority – with three justices appointed by Donald Trump when he was president – faces a difficult decision in ruling whether to apply the 14th Amendment.

Historically, the provision – approved in 1866 – was intended to prevent the return of Confederate politicians to powerful offices within the US government following the Civil War.

But its application in the modern day has never been tested, and academics have expressed some scepticism whether it can be applied to Mr Trump’s case.

“You don’t have a clear definition of what insurrection is within the meaning of the 14th Amendment. It’s not clear. It just uses the word,” Prof Robert Tsai of Boston University told the BBC last month.

The other issue with disqualifying Mr Trump on the grounds of engaging in an insurrection is that he has not yet been found guilty of doing so by any court.But legal experts have previously said the court may take unfavourably to claims that the presidency is not covered by the 14th Amendment, as argued in Mr Trump’s submission on Thursday.

“If there’s anybody who’s an officer of the United States, it’s somebody who holds the highest and most powerful office in federal government,” Prof Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University, said.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said it relocated its corporate headquarters from Abuja to Lagos to reduce expenditures.

This was disclosed in a statement by FAAN spokeswoman Obiageli Orah.

According to the statement, aviation minister Festus Kayamo ordered the relocation to stop the waste of public resources and rip-off of the public purse.

The FAAN management and stakeholders, which also involved the unions, agreed that the action was in the best interest of the authority and the country for now, noted the statement.

“Those affected by the decision to move the headquarters to Abuja have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja. It was ill-advised in the first place to move the headquarters to Abuja when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate all of them at once.

“Having returned to Lagos, the Authority will be liable to pay them DTA because technically they are working out of station as their official posting is to Abuja,” said FAAN.

It noted that more than 60 per cent of the FAAN activities were in Lagos, given the huge passenger volume of the Lagos airports.

“The minister has rolled out plans to get concessionaires to build befitting offices for the Authority in Lagos and Abuja. Until that is done, the authority will continue to manage its old building in Lagos that can accommodate all its directors and senior officials for now,” added the statement.

FAAN explained that Abuja would continue to have full operational offices as the FAAN had not scaled down operations in Abuja one bit.

“It is just the technical decision of where the authority has its ‘corporate headquarters’ that has been taken without affecting the structure of operations as they are for now in both cities.

“⁠In the near future, when befitting corporate buildings have been built for the authority in both Lagos and Abuja, a final decision will be taken as to the location of the permanent headquarters,” the agency stated.