Gunmen shot dead eight people in Mexico’s most violent state, authorities said Sunday.

The five women and three men, who have not been identified, were killed in the street on Saturday night in Guanajuato, the prosecutor’s office said.

Guanajuato is a thriving industrial hub and home to several popular tourist destinations, but it is also considered Mexico’s most violent state, according to official homicide statistics.

The gunmen have not been caught.

The shootings took place in the municipality of Cortazar, where in 2023 gunmen stormed a water park and killed seven people, including a child.

The National Guard arrested on Sunday a man in Guanajuato identified by local media as the leader of hitmen for the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel.

Violence in Guanajuato is linked to ongoing conflict between the Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the Jalisco New Generation cartel, one of the most powerful in the Latin American nation.

Drug-related violence has seen more than 480,000 people killed in Mexico since the government deployed the army to combat trafficking in 2006, according to official figures.

The management of the Federal University Dutsinmm Katsina State, on Monday, shut down the school following violent protests by students over an alleged killing of their colleague.

Reports said two students were allegedly shot by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force operating in the area, leading to the death of one.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue told our correspondent in Katsina on Monday morning that “some officials of the CJTF shot two students in error, thinking they were bandits’ informants.

“One of the students died on the spot while the other one was shot in the leg and has since been taken for medical attention in a nearby hospital.

“Following this development, students have been involved in violent protests since yesterday when the incident happened and they took to the streets in Dutsinma, burning vehicles as well vandalising property”.

Also speaking with PUNCH Online, a resident of the area, Mallam Usman, said the protesting students blocked the Dutsin-Ma–Katsina highway and set tyres on fire, drawing the attention of security forces.

“Military personnel and police officers arrived at the scene to restore order. The security forces reportedly employed a diplomatic approach, calming the situation without resorting to force.

“The demonstration extended into the town, with students chanting slogans and expressing their dissatisfaction over the incident”, the source said.

Meanwhile, the FUDMA Senate in a statement on Monday, announced the immediate closure of the school and directed students to proceed on a “one-week mid-semester break starting from Monday 24th”.

“The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, announced the decision of the Senate and advised the students to leave campus before 6.00 pm Monday, 24th February 2025.

“The management wishes the students a happy and peaceful mid-semester break,” the statement stated.

Also, the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq has confirmed the incident.

Sadiq stated, “Yes, I’m aware of the incident and I will release an official statement soon.”

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have manned the Federal High Court in Abuja, as the trial of former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello on alleged fraud charges resumed on Monday.

The operatives were wielding various brands of guns and blocked one of the major roads leading to the court complex with one of their vehicles.

Apart from guns, dogs and other weapons have been fully deployed at the court entrance by the security men.

As of the time of this report, lawyers who felt uncomfortable with the intimidating presence of the EFCC operatives, especially being subjected to unnecessary checks, were murmuring aloud, wondering what prompted the takeover of the court.

Recall that the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Friday, December 13, 2024, granted Bello bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties in like sum.

This was after the former governor pleaded not guilty to the 19-count charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He is facing an alleged money laundering trial involving N80.2 billion but has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Joseph Daudu, SAN, is leading the defendant, while Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, heads the EFCC legal team before Justice Emeka Nwite.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has blamed the prolonged trials and prison congestion in the country on poor investigative processes, lack of thorough case preparation and delays in prosecution.

Justice Kekere-Ekun urged the police and other sister agencies to complete their investigations before filing charges to prevent the striking out of cases due to lack of evidence.

The CJN called for enhanced coordination among the police, the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary to ensure seamless prosecution of cases.

A statement by her Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Tobi Soniyi, said Justice Kekere-Ekun spoke in Abuja when she hosted Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and his team.

The CJN expressed concern over non-compliance with court orders by some law enforcement agencies, saying such attitude weakens the integrity of the justice system.

She said the rule of law requires strict adherence to judicial decisions, adding that any act of disobedience undermines public trust in law enforcement and the judiciary.

Justice Kekere-Ekun urged the IGP to issue clear directives to police officers to ensure that they respect court judgments and orders and implement same without delay.

The CJN expressed concerns over threats to judges, court officials, and litigants, especially in high-profile or politically sensitive cases.

She sought Egbetokun’s support to ensure the security of judicial officers as well as prevent anyone from intimidating or harassing them.
Justice Kekere-Ekun called for enhanced police presence at court premises, particularly in areas prone to violence or unrest.

The CJN also expressed concern over increasing cases of unlawful arrests, prolonged detentions and extra-judicial actions.

She stressed the need for compliance with constitutional safeguards, including the right to legal representation, the right to be informed of charges, and the right to be promptly brought before a court of competent jurisdiction.

Justice Kekere-Ekun urged the police and other security agencies to protect the rights of vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

The CJN emphasised the need for enhanced compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 which, among others, prohibits arrests in lieu of culprits, inhumane treatment of suspects and provides for mandatory electronic recording of confessional statements.

She stressed that under Section 7 of the ACJA, it is illegal for the police to arrest family members or associates in place of a suspect.

Justice Kekere-Ekun urged the police to enforce internal disciplinary measures to ensure that its personnel do not engage in unlawful practices.

The CJN also urged the IGP to put in place mechanisms for monitoring and preventing police brutality, as well as ensuring that officers who violate these provisions are held accountable.

She reiterated the constitutional and legal obligations to treat suspects with dignity and ensure compliance with Section 8(1) of the ACJA, which prohibits torture, inhuman or degrading treatments.

The Senate Committee on Finance will today begin its public hearing on the four Tax Reform Bills.

Its House of Representatives counterpart will begin its public hearing on Wednesday.

The four Bills are: the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the Joint Revenue Board Bill, and the Nigeria Tax Bill.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent the four Tax Reform Bills to the National Assembly as part of his administration’s commitment to foster a more efficient and equitable tax system in the country.

The four Bills seek to repeal the Capital Gains Tax Act, Cap C1, LFN, 2004; the Casino Act, Cap. C3, LFN, 2004; the Companies Income Tax Act, Cap. C21, LFN, 2004; the Deep offshore and Inland Basin Act, Cap. D3, 2004; the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act, Cap. 117, LFN, 2004; the Income Tax (Authorised Communications) Act, Cap. 14, LFN, 2004; the Personal Income Tax Act, Cap. P8, LFN, 2004; the Petroleum Profits Tax Act, Cap. P13, 2004; the Stamp Duties Act, Cap. S8, LFN, 2004; the Value Added Tax Act, Cap. V1, LFN, 2004; the Venture Capital (Incentives) Act, Cap. V2, LFN 2004; and the VAT Modification Order 2021.

The Bills also seek to amend the Customs, Excise Tariffs, Etc. (Consolidation) Act Cap. 49 LFN 2004; the National Information Technology Development Agency Act, 2007; the National Lottery Act, 2005; the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Act, Cap. N107, LFN 2004; the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone Act, Cap. 05, LFN 2004; the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021; the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment, Etc.) Act, 2011; the Companies Income Tax (Significant Economic Presence) Order 2020, and the Nigeria Start-up Act, 2022, among others.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa, told reporters that the public hearing would hold on February 24 and 25.

He said the decision of the Senate to start the hearings today followed a series of consultations with stakeholders across the country to iron out areas of concerns in the Bills.

Also, House of Representatives spokesman Akintunde Rotimi announced in a statement that the public hearing would bring together government agencies, business leaders, tax experts, private sector representatives, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the general public to provide insights and recommendations into the proposed tax reforms.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has detained a 24-year-old Thai lady, Ms. Pattaphi Wimonnat, for attempting to smuggle 43 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 46.60 kilogrammes into Nigeria through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, who made this known yesterday, said she was arrested after operatives discovered the illicit consignment in her boxes.

Babafemi said the suspect confessed to being a hired drug trafficker.

She was arrested last Thursday during the inward clearance of passengers on Qatar Airways flight from Thailand via Doha, Qatar at the Arrival Hall, Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport.

According to a statement by Babafemi, the drug cartel promised to pay her $3,000 upon delivery of the illicit consignment.

Babafemi said another bid by a syndicate to ship 68 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 42.2kg concealed in walls of crated cartons to London, United Kingdom, through the export shed of the Lagos airport was also frustrated by NDLEA officers last Friday.

Babafemi’s statement reads: “Three suspects: a freight agent and two dispatch riders – were initially arrested in connection with the seizure before the mastermind of the shipment, Samuel Bitris, was swiftly traced to his Exodus Estate, Ajah, Lagos home where he was arrested.

“At the Port Harcourt Port Complex, Onne, Rivers State, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th February intercepted 49 cartons containing 49,000 pills of tamol, a brand of tramadol 225mg in a 40ft container during a joint examination of the shipment with men of Customs Service and other security agencies.’’

Ondo State Police Commissioner Mr Wilfred Afolabi has ordered the deployment of personnel and security measures around the venue of the swearing-in of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aiyedatiwa will be sworn in today as the governor of Ondo State.

This is contained in a statement made available to reporters yesterday in Akure by CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, police spokesperson.

Afolabi, in a statement made available yesterday in Akure by Odunlami, said the deployment was to ensure the safety of attendees.

He said the deployment would also ensure smooth running of activities, while escorts attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs) would not be permitted entry with rifles, as part of security measures.

“However, they may remain around the stadium perimeter in designated areas.

“Also, commuters who regularly use routes around the venue are advised to take alternative routes for ease of movement and to reduce congestion.

“Vehicle owners, who usually park around Stadium area, are advised to park in safer locations, to avoid damage, congestion or obstruction on the road.

“All security agencies will be on ground to enforce compliance with these guidelines,” the CP said.

Afolabi, therefore, urged residents to align with the guidelines, to ensure a secure and orderly event.

The Federal Government on Friday announced plans to end visa-on-arrival policy and introduce landing and exit cards as part of security reforms in the country.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the closing ceremony of a weeklong capacity-building training organised for personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Abuja on Friday.

According to Mr Tunji-Ojo, the decision was made to tighten the country’s borders and ensure that only legitimate travellers enter the country.

The visa-on- arrival policy was introduced in 2020 due to the limited Nigerian embassies worldwide and to provide short stay entry issued at entry points to foreigners from countries where there is no Nigerian embassy.

However, Mr Tunji-Ojo said that the government noticed how foreigners exploit the visa-on-arrival policy by travelling to neighbouring countries by air and complete their journeys through land borders to bypass security checks. He described the policy as a disruption to Nigerian security, noting that it was unacceptable since it made it impossible to accurately identify foreign visitors or their population.

Mr Tunji-Ojo stressed the need for a rigorous screening process because Nigeria cannot serve as a haven for wanted criminals. He added that to address the issues, the federal government planned to introduce a comprehensive solution by March 1 or April 1, to include replacing the visa-on-arrival policy with automated landing and exit cards.

He further said that the automated landing and exit cards would be integrated with global security databases, including Interpol and criminal record systems to ensure only legitimate foreigners could get access to the country.

Mr Tunji-Ojo said, ”The visa-on-arrival issue is one of the core policy issues because I always tell people the visa is not just an approval of entry, it is a migration management device. It is a security device to manage migration into your country. So the way it is at the moment is very subjective. We are not really too objective and that is why we are automating the whole process end-to-end. And the e-visa solution, we are working hard to be able to meet the first of March or peradventure if we are unable, the first of April, we will hit it live.

“We will automate the system. People apply online and we will do what we need to do. That solution will be integrated with the Interpol system, the criminal records system, so that we can be able to make decisions. We do not want foreign attachés approving and issuing visas. It is not going to be that way anymore, we want to be able to screen people more. Nigeria cannot be a destination for wanted criminals in the world. Nigeria is not a haven for any criminal and it will never be. Another thing we are trying to do even for our expatriates is to see how we can integrate these our immigration solutions. What we are doing is to harmonise all these solutions in our data centre, harmonise the database and be able to let the solutions speak to one another rather than having solutions in silos.

“We want to have integrated solutions. So what we are looking at is that, for any decision that borders on immigration into Nigeria, it will be impossible for approvals to be given without the clearance of interpol, criminal records system and all background checking agencies in real time.

“Security is not a sector where you can afford to be 99.9 per cent correct. You just have to be 100 per cent. We believe that it is better for us to take decisions based on objectivity rather than subjectivity. And of course, that will lead to the cancellation of the visa-on-arrival process because the visa-on-arrival we understand is not a system that works, because I don’t expect you to just come into my country without me knowing that you are coming into my country. No, it is never done anywhere and of course, we are also introducing what we call the landing and exit card. We do it now, but it is manual. We are not going to be doing that anymore. This is 2025. This is not 1825. So technology must take its place.”

Mr Tunji- Ojo stated,”A scenario where it is difficult for NIS, on the tip of a finger, to tell me the number of foreigners who are entering into Nigeria is unacceptable. A scenario where somebody comes into Nigeria, disappears and becomes untraceable is unacceptable. A scenario where there is abuse of immigration policies and processes is unacceptable. A scenario where somebody needs to come to Nigeria, stay for six months, waiting to regularise their residency in Nigeria is unacceptable. It is not done anywhere in the world. Why we are trying to do these is to be able to safeguard our people, it’s for us to be responsible in the comity of nations, and for us to be able to contribute our fair quota to international peace.”

Also, the minister assured Nigerians that when the e-solutions were implemented, it would connect with security agencies in Nigeria and around the world, including Interpol which would help identify and catch people wanted by the law, no matter where they were and enhance global security collaboration and cooperation.

The local government election in Osun State on Saturday witnessed a poor turnout of the electorate in the state.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria who monitored the election in some local governments reported that there was no presence of ad hoc staff of the State Independent Electoral Commission in polling units visited.

In Osogbo, some of the polling units located at Ogo-Oluwa, Alekunwodo, Olaiya, Oja-Oba, among others, were devoid of electorate, OSSIEC staff and security personnel as at 9:15 am.

NAN also observed that the voters’ list was not displayed at some of the polling units visited.

However, election took place in Units 18, 19 and 20, ward 4, Ataoja D.

Although Governor Ademola Adeleke ordered the restriction of vehicular movement from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. across the state, this was not complied with as there was free vehicular movement without any form of restriction.

NAN, however, also observed that there were roadblocks along the major roads by the police.

Similarly, in Ile-Ife, there was no sign of the electorate as well as OSSIEC ad-hoc staff in some of the polling units visited.

However, shops, markets and other shopping malls were under lock and key.

In Ede, the home town of the governor, the situation was a bit different.

Electorates were seen in some of the polling units visited with OSSIEC and hoc staff attending to them.

At Obalaoye Grammar School, Unit 2 Ward 4, some electorate were seen on queue at 8:00 am waiting to cast their votes.

Also, Oloba Atapara Ward 1, unit 6 witnessed a few electorates waiting to be accredited and to cast their votes.

One of the electorate, Mr Nifemi Akingbala, said that the process had been so peaceful and urged all voters to cast their votes without fear.

Akingbala commended the electoral umpire for making the process peaceful.

Another electorate, Mrs Aminat Idowu Aminat said that she cast her vote at 8:20 a.m.

Aminat commended the peaceful conduct of the election.

At Alajue 1, Unit 8, voting ended at 8:56 a.m.

The presiding officer at the unit, Emmanuel Olayiwola, said the election started at 8:30 a.m. Olayiwola, however, said that the election was generally peaceful.

Also, at 150A Station Road, ward 8, unit 6, some electorate were also seen around the place.

The presiding officer, John Olawale, said that the election ended at 8:30 am.

Olawale said that the electoral body was in the process of sorting out the votes for counting.

NAN also observed that elections concluded early in most of the polling units in the town.

Meanwhile, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, cast his vote at unit 5 ward 9 Asi in Odo-otin LGA.

Egbedun, after casting his vote, commended OSSIEC for the peaceful conduct of the election.

The speaker commended the electorate for standing firm on the side of the law.

He assured the electorate that the election would reflect the will of the people.

Egbedun also commended the electorate for coming out en mass to cast their votes.

A container load of hospital equipment and consumables worth millions from Canada donated by the Alaafin-Elect , Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade, has been delivered in Oyo town amid kudos and jubilation among residents.

The ultra modern equipment brought to the town on Friday would be installed at the community health centre also being constructed by the paramount ruler.

According to the Royal father, the donation was to ensure even development in the community and to support the mantra of inclusive governance of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.

The aim, he added, was to help the less privileged, stressing that, the construction of the health centre and donation of medical equipment was to help those with health challenges.

A statement by the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaiye, said the monarch expressed optimism that the equipment would ease the challenges confronting the people in accessing quality medical treatment.

It stated that the equipment included ultra sound machines, electrical beds among others.

Some of the residents who witnessed delivery of the equipment described Oba Owoade as a monarch with “self-awareness, courage, respect, compassion, and resilience, who is learning agile and flex his influence while communicating the vision, showing gratitude, and collaborating effectively.

“With this laudable feat, our monarch has proved himself that he is able to set a practical vision and suitable, achievable targets. He knows how to set smart goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Kudos to our pragmatic Paramount Ruler,” the statement added.

The Ogun State Police Command on Saturday said its operatives on Friday at about 8:30 pm foiled a kidnap attempt of some travellers around the Warewa axis of the long bridge of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and neutralised four of the kidnappers during the ensuing gun duel.

The spokesperson for the state police command, CSP Omolola Odutola disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

The bandits were said to have ambushed a white Paragon commercial vehicle with number plate BDG 753 YH, driven by one Mr Morufu Adedeji and heading towards Lagos.

The armed men reportedly forcefully halted the vehicle, pointed a gun at the driver, and began robbing passengers at gunpoint.

Odutola said, “During the attack, some passengers managed to escape through the rear door, which had been smartly and courageously opened by the driver.

“This act enraged the kidnappers, who then brutally assaulted the driver to the point of unconsciousness. Other motorists raised an alarm, which was swiftly intercepted by the Anti-Kidnapping Team on patrol.

“Upon arrival, the police operatives engaged the fleeing criminals in a gun duel. Four of the armed men were fatally injured, while others escaped with gunshot wounds into the surrounding forest.

“The bodies of the neutralised kidnappers have been deposited at the State Hospital Morgue, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, for autopsy and further investigation.”

Items recovered at the scene of the crime included one locally made pistol with two cartridges, two daggers, cash sum of ₦20,000, one Tecno Android phone, one solar power bank and three USB lights suspected to have been stolen.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to ridding the area of criminal activities.

In a move to further strengthen the security in that area, the CP has reinforced the tactical operatives and ordered them to remain stationed at strategic flashpoints, in Arepo and heighten routine patrols to ensure the security of residents and commuters.

The command urged members of the public, especially medical practitioners, to report any individuals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds.

Three youngsters have been arrested over their bid to remove a six-month-old foetus for money ritual in Minna, Niger State capital.

It was learnt that the suspects, Martha Andrew, James Luka and Johnson John, had lured a pregnant woman from Rafin-Yashin area of Minna to a hotel along the Eastern Bye-pass in Minna in a bid to remove the foetus for ritual purposes.

According to the suspects, they had promised to pay the victim N30 million if she could have a miscarriage while still in the hotel.

The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, who confirmed the incident, said the three suspects were tracked and arrested by police operatives of the SCID, Minna around a hotel along Eastern Bye-Pass, Minna.

He said that during interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, adding that the allegations filed against them were conspiracy and attempt to cause miscarriage.

“The suspects were arrested as they conspired to take a pregnant victim from Rafin-Yashi area of Minna to one ‘Gbege’ presently at large.

“They lured the victim with a promise to pay her N30 million naira to remove her six-month-old pregnancy for ritual purposes.”

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of $4.7 million, N830 million, and multiple properties linked to former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

But yesterday, Emefiele legal representative distanced the ex-CBN Governor from the forfeited properties.

Delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Yellim Bogoro granted the forfeiture request filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Bilkisu Buhari-Bala. This ruling followed the court’s earlier dismissal of an application seeking to halt the judgment.

The funds, now forfeited to the federal government, were held in First Bank, Titan Bank, and Zenith Bank accounts managed by individuals and entities including Omoile Anita Joy, Deep Blue Energy Service Limited, Exactquote Bureau De Change Ltd, Lipam Investment Services Limited, Tatler Services Limited, Rosajul Global Resources Ltd, and TIL Communication Nigeria Ltd.

Properties affected by the interim forfeiture include 94 units of an 11-floor building under construction at 2 Otunba Elegushi 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos; AM Plaza, an 11-floor office space on Otunba Adedoyin Crescent; Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos; Imore Industrial Park 1 on Esa Street, Imoore Land, Amuwo Odofin LGA, Lagos; Mitrewood and Tatler Warehouse (Furniture Plant at Bogije) near Elemoro, Owolomi Village, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Lagos; and two properties purchased from Chevron Nigeria, located in Lakes Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

Additional properties include a plot at Lekki Foreshore Estate Scheme, Foreshore Estate, Eti-Osa, LGA; an estate at 100 Cottonwood Coppel Texas Drive, Coppel, Texas, owned by Lipam Investment Services; land at 1 Bunmi Owulude Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; and a property at 8 Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Justice Bogoro held that all these properties and funds are proceeds of unlawful activities which are bound to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The judge held: “I find that the activities of the respondents here were unlawful. Why should they have a problem of dollars immediately Godwin Emefiele left CBN as a governor of the bank and salary could not be made?

“I hold that they are not legitimate business activities.

“I hold that Anita Omoile is a close crony of the former CBN governor Godwin Emefiele who has been given undue influence to unlawfully sway dollars from CBN.

“Consequently, I find that all the monies and properties in the schedule are finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

The EFCC through its counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had cited Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 44(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution in its application, seeking an interim forfeiture on the grounds that the funds and properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Bogoro, finding merit in the EFCC’s application, ordered the interim forfeiture and mandated the publication of the order in a national newspaper.

Following the failure of the defendants or anyone else to prove that the funds legitimately belonged to them, the judge then made the interim order permanent.

Reacting to the judgment yesterday, Emefiele’s legal representatives categorically denied his involvement in the ownership of properties recently forfeited by a Federal High Court in Lagos.

A statement signed by Olawale Fapohunda, Esq., on behalf of his legal team, clarified that the properties, allegedly linked to Anita Joy Omoile and her companies, including DeepBlue Energy Limited, do not belong to Emefiele or any member of his immediate family.

The clarification follows reports that Justice Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, had granted a final forfeiture order on the properties. However, the legal team pointed out that Justice Aneke, another judge of the same court, had previously discharged an interim forfeiture order on the same assets.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we categorically disassociate our client from the ownership of the assets in question,” the statement read. “The assets do not belong to our client or any member of his immediate family.”

The statement further explained that DeepBlue Energy Limited, incorporated in 2009, is owned by a relative of Emefiele but is not linked to him directly.

Emefiele’s legal team urged the public and stakeholders to refrain from associating the forfeited properties with him, emphasizing that the reports misrepresent the facts.

United States President Donald Trump had a heated exchange with a Democratic governor Friday over his order barring transgender athletes from women’s sports, with the state leader telling him: “See you in court.”

The Republican president was making televised remarks to a gathering of the country’s governors at the White House when he raised the executive order he signed earlier this month.

“Two weeks ago I signed an executive order banning men from playing in women’s sports. Many Democrats are fighting me on that, I hope you continue because you’ll never win another race,” he said.

The ban is “to protect women,” he claimed.

“Are you not going to comply with it?” he asked Janet Mills, governor of the northeastern state of Maine.

“I’m complying with state and federal laws,” Mills responded.

“Well, we are the federal law… You better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t,” the president said.

“See you in court,” she responded.

“Good, I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one. And enjoy your life after governor, because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics,” a visibly angry Trump replied.

Trump’s order allows US government agencies to deny funds to schools that allow transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams.

Some Maine officials have said they will continue a policy of allowing transgender students to choose which team they play on, citing state law under the Maine Human Rights Act, according to the Portland Press Herald.

Mills and the state’s attorney general have vowed to fight any move to deny the state federal funds, the newspaper reported.

Later Friday, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced an investigation into Maine’s education department for alleged violations of Title IX, the landmark civil rights law that forbids discrimination on the basis of gender in educational facilities that receive federal support.

A statement cited allegations that Maine’s education department “continues to allow male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics and that it has denied female athletes female-only intimate facilities, thereby violating federal antidiscrimination law.”

Craig Trainor, DoE acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, said Maine must comply with Title IX to continue receiving federal funds.

“If it wants to forgo federal funds and continue to trample the rights of its young female athletes, that, too, is its choice,” he said in the statement.

Mills called it a “politically directed move” to strip funding “paid for by Maine taxpayers.”

“This is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a President can force compliance with his will, without regard for the rule of law that governs our nation,” she added.

Republicans hammered Democrats on transgender issues — especially when it came to youth and sports — ahead of the 2024 election, capitalizing on a broader culture war over LGBTQ rights.

Since his return to power, Trump has demonized any recognition of gender diversity, attacking transgender people — a small minority of the population — and gender-affirming care for minors in both his rhetoric and in executive orders.

Trump has said he will also push the International Olympic Committee to change its rules on transgender athletes before the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The G20 meeting of foreign ministers of major economies will begin on Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Middle East conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine are at the top of the agenda.

However, emerging markets such as South Africa, Brazil and India want to talk primarily about restructuring global institutions, adaptation to climate change and fairer economic development.

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has confirmed that Russia will be represented at the two-day meeting, while foreign minister Wang Yi is expected from China.

A diplomat from the U.S. embassy will represent America.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio cancelled his participation amid a spat with South Africa over a land expropriation law.

A Foreign Office official will represent Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock.

The G20 includes 19 countries, the European Union and the African Union.

The group represents about 80 per cent of the world’s population and more than 85 per cent of global economic power.

Hamas is due to hand over the bodies of four hostages on Thursday, including those of the Bibas family, who have become symbols of the hostage crisis that has gripped Israel since the Gaza war broke out.

The transfer of the bodies is the first such handover of remains by Hamas since its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war.

The Palestinian militant group said the return of the bodies of Shiri Bibas, her two young boys —- Kfir and Ariel -— and a fourth captive, Oded Lifshitz, would take place in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis.

Footage of their abduction, filmed and broadcast by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel, showed the mother and her sons Ariel, then four, and Kfir, just nine months old, being seized from their home near the Gaza border.

Yarden Bibas, the boys’ father and Shiri’s husband, was abducted separately on October 7, 2023, and was released from the Gaza Strip in a previous hostage-prisoner exchange on February 1.

The repatriation of their bodies is part of the first phase of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on January 19 after more than 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Thursday would be “a very difficult day for the State of Israel -— a heartbreaking day, a day of grief”.

Under the ceasefire’s first phase, 19 Israeli hostages have been released by militants so far in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners in a series of Red Cross-mediated swaps.

Of the remaining 14 Gaza hostages eligible for release under phase one, Israel says eight are dead.

The Bibas family members have become national symbols of the hostage ordeal, encapsulating the despair that has gripped the nation since the Hamas attack.

While their deaths are largely accepted as fact abroad after Hamas said they were killed in an Israeli air strike early in the war, Israel has never confirmed the claim and many remain unconvinced — including the Bibas family.

Late on Wednesday, the Israeli campaign group the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it had been informed about the “heart-shattering” news of the deaths of the three Bibas family members.

The Bibas family said it would wait for a confirmation from official channels.

“Should we receive devastating news, it must come through the proper official channels after all identification procedures are completed,” it said in a statement late Wednesday.

Israeli authorities have not officially named any of those to be returned, but Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday that it had received a list of the hostages whose bodies were to be handed over and that the families had been informed.

The National Forensic Medicine Institute in Tel Aviv has mobilised 10 doctors to expedite the identification process, public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday.

Israel and Hamas announced a deal earlier this week for the return of the remains of eight hostages in two groups this week and next, as well as the release of six living Israeli captives on Saturday.

The hostages forum named the six as Eliya Cohen, Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu.

The ceasefire in Gaza has been held despite accusations of violations on both sides.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday that talks would begin “this week” on the second phase, which is expected to lay out a more permanent end to the war.

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP on Wednesday that Hamas was ready to free all remaining hostages held in Gaza in a single swap during phase two.

He did not clarify how many hostages were currently being held by Hamas or other militant groups.

Hamas and its allies took 251 people hostage during the attack, of whom 70 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.

That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,211 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 48,297 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory that the United Nations considers reliable.

Staff members of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, under the National Association of Academic Technologists , have honoured the late Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist who was killed by a lion in the university zoo.

Olawuyi died on February 19, 2024, while attempting to rescue a junior colleague who was attacked by the lion during feeding.

To mark the first anniversary of his tragic death, NAAT organised a one-day workshop titled “Workplace Safety Awareness” at the Pit Theatre, Department of Dramatic Arts.

Speaking at the event, NAAT National President, Mr. Ibeji Nwokoma, described Olawuyi as a martyr who died saving another life.

Represented by the immediate past National Treasurer, Dr. Rachel Hassan-Olajokun, Nwokoma urged the university management to rename the zoo in Olawuyi’s honour.

“I want to commend the OAU NAAT executives for organizing this workshop. I also advocate that the zoo should be named after the late Mr. Olawuyi. He was a man of virtue and our martyr,” Nwokoma said.

He further emphasised the need for safety consciousness, stating that Nigerians are an endangered species in the workplace due to poor safety policies.

In his remarks, OAU NAAT Chairman, Matthew Oluwaniyi, expressed disappointment that the official investigation report into Olawuyi’s death had not been released, a year after the incident.

“One year ago, we lost a dedicated professional, a colleague, and a comrade whose courage and sense of duty went beyond mere responsibility. Comrade Olawuyi gave his life to save another.

“Regrettably, despite marking the first anniversary of his passing, we are yet to receive the official report on the circumstances surrounding his death,” Oluwaniyi stated.

He described the workshop as a call to action, urging the university management to implement better safety policies and protective measures for workers.

“This workshop is more than just an event. It is a reminder that safety is not just a conversation but a responsibility. We must ensure that the lessons from Comrade Olawuyi’s sacrifice lead to improved policies, better protective measures, and a workplace where no staff member feels unsafe in the line of duty,” he added.

The family of a Chinese youth footballer declared “brain dead” after he sustained a serious injury during a match in Spain have accused the Beijing FA of withholding information about the incident.

Guo Jiaxuan, 18, fell into a coma on February 6 after an accident during a training match between the Beijing men’s U-20 team and a Spanish side from a Madrid suburb, according to a statement by Beijing’s football association.

The Beijing FA did not provide details of the specific circumstances that led to Guo’s injury, and the player’s brother said on social media on Wednesday that authorities had “delayed again and again” releasing information.

The family is demanding video footage of the match, details on the medical treatment before he reached the hospital and information about Guo’s insurance.

In the social media post, also reported by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, Guo’s brother complained that they had not seen anyone from the Beijing FA in days.

He also shared screenshots of phone text conversations which appeared to show repeated requests for information being ignored.

“The family just want to know the truth, why is it so hard?” he wrote.

In their statement, the Beijing FA said that “medical staff from both teams rushed on to the field for on-site first aid” before Guo was airlifted to a local neurosurgery hospital where he was later declared “brain dead”.

He was transferred to China for further care last week but his condition shows “no improvement” his brother wrote.

“We are gradually accepting reality,” he said.

Guo has played as a defender for the U-19 team of top-tier Beijing Guoan and was selected for China’s U-17 team in 2023.

He was also previously included in the FC Bayern World Squad, an annual project run by Germany’s largest club to unearth global talent.

The Senate will begin a two-day public hearing on the four tax reform bills presented by President Bola Tinubu to improve the nation’s tax administration.

The Senate Committee on Finance chairman, Sani Musa, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mr Musa, after a closed session with members of the committee, said that the public hearing would be held from February 24 to 25.

“We intend to take on two of the bills each day of the session for the press to be fully abreast with what we intend to do. The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024 Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill and Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill,” stated the senator.

According to him, the bills will overhaul the tax administration and revenue generation in the country, as many of the provisions contained in them are landmark in nature.

He said this would put Nigeria on the same pedestal as advanced economies, saying that infrastructure, education, agriculture and other sectors of the economy would be adequately taken care of with enough funds.

Mr Musa stated that the committee members had studied the bills and robustly engaged with several stakeholders before deciding to hold the public hearing.

He expressed the belief that the public hearing would go well, adding that President Bola Tinubu had repeatedly assured that he would not interfere in any of the processes of the tax reform bills.

“It is our duty as legislators to do the needful for the good of this country. We are all representatives of different tribes, religions, geography and we are Nigerians.

“What we will work towards giving Nigerians are laws that will put us on track economically. And by the grace of God, we will succeed,” he said.

Mr Musa added, “We have also invited the minister of petroleum resources, the chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Services and the statistician-general of the federation so that he will be able to come and give us his own submission.”

Mr Musa assured that the National Assembly would, at the end of the day, produce legislation on tax administration that would be acceptable to Nigerians.

Gen. James Hecker, Commander of the U.S. Air Forces, Europe and Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), says the U.S. Air Force will carry out airstrikes against terrorist targets across Africa.

Mr Hecker stated this at a digital news conference on Wednesday, Wednesday, at the 2025 African Air Chiefs’ Symposium in Lusaka, Zambia.

Mr Hecker said terrorist groups like ISIS were high-value targets that threatened African nations and the U.S. and would be targeted by the U.S., as it did against ISIS in Somalia recently.

“They are significant high-value targets that threaten African nations and threaten the United States. So we will continue to go after terrorist organisations that threaten our African partners as well as the United States,” he said.

Mr Hecker said the U.S. was willing to collaborate with African air forces, not only by way of security support but also through humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

On Boko Haram insurgency and how the U.S. air force can help the Nigerian military achieve air superiority over the terrorists, he said the U.S. had already been supporting Nigeria.

“Well, I think as you know, the U.S. government has provided training and equipment to Nigeria for quite a while, so hopefully, that will help them out.

“But what we’re looking at in this conference is not that. We’re not talking about air superiority or conflict. We’re talking about how we can help each other – African nations can help one another – and that’s what the goal of this conference is,” Mr Hecker said.

Zambia’s air force commander, Oscar Nyoni, gave an insight into the symposium and how AACS member states would respond to humanitarian needs if a disaster struck.

According to him, with AACS, humanitarian or disaster needs like foodstuff, logistics, supplies, and aerial vehicles will be easily provided by member states, who will contribute whatever they are able to contribute.