Colombia on Sunday backed down and agreed to accept deported citizens sent on US military aircraft, hours after President Donald Trump threatened painful tariffs to punish the defiance to his mass deportation plans.

Colombia’s leftist president, Gustavo Petro, had earlier said he would only take back citizens “with dignity,” such as on civilian planes, and had turned back two US military aircraft with repatriated Colombians.

Trump, less than a week back in office, responded furiously and threatened sanctions of 25 percent that would quickly scale up to 50 percent against Latin America’s fourth largest economy.

Petro initially sought to hit back and impose his own tariffs on US products, but by the end of the volatile Sunday he had backed down.

Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo told a late-night news conference that his country had “overcome the impasse” and would accept returned citizens.

A White House statement said that Colombia has agreed to “unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”

“Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” it said.

“President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States.”

Trump said he would suspend implementation of the tariffs.

It had been unclear even earlier how quickly Trump could impose tariffs on Colombia, historically one of Washington’s closest allies in Latin America, which enjoys a free-trade agreement with the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose wife is Colombian-American, suspended issuance of visas at the US embassy in Bogota and said visas would be revoked to Colombian government officials and their immediate family members.

The White House said the visa measures would stay in place until the first planeload of deportees returns.

Trump also vowed to subject Colombians to greater scrutiny at US airports.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has admitted that divorce from his wife, Melinda, was one of his most regretted mistakes.

In an interview with The Times published on Saturday, the tech billionaire admitted separation from his wife was a miserable experience.

“I’m more cheerful now,” Mr Gates said, but described his failed marriage as “the mistake I most regret.”

Mr Gate, 69, said that although he made other mistakes, his divorce from Melinda after 27 years of marriage was miserable for both of them.

“There are others, but none that matter,” Mr Gates said. “The divorce thing was miserable for me and Melinda for at least two years.”

Mr Gate and Ms Melinda announced their divorce in 2021, ending their 27 years of marriage.

The federal government has sought Singapore’s partnership to transform the nation’s civil service into a model of professionalism, efficiency and responsiveness.

Didi Walson-Jack, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), sought the partnership when she led a delegation to Singapore.

The delegation visited the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Singapore.

Ms Walson-Jack, in a statement by Eno Olotu, director of information and public relations in Abuja on Sunday, said the move was to learn from Singapore’s exemplary civil service.

She highlighted the critical importance of collaboration in advancing public service development in Nigeria.

According to her, the visit provided a significant opportunity for the delegation to draw insights and best practices in advancing civil service transformation in Nigeria.

She reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to global excellence in public service, pointing out that the Southeast Asian country was renowned worldwide for its efficiency, transparency, innovation and achievements in public sector transformation.

“The Nigerian delegation is eager to draw inspiration and insights from such successes to drive impactful changes in Nigeria’s civil service.

“The visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening ties between Nigeria’s civil service and Singapore.

“Not only that, both nations aim to establish a partnership between the Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development and the Public Service Institute of Nigeria.

“This collaboration will focus on joint training programmes, collaborative research, and sharing innovative solutions,” she said.

The HCSFA said the synergy between the two countries represents a beacon of hope for the quest to transform Nigeria’s civil service into a model of professionalism and efficiency.

She identified some key benefits of the partnership, including joint training programmes, collaborative research, and sharing innovative solutions.

Ms Walson-Jack said this would empower Nigeria’s civil servants with the needed knowledge and tools to excel.

She commended UNDP for facilitating the visit to the Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development, formerly the Global Centre for Public Service Excellence.

She expressed Nigeria’s commitment to implementing reforms and building partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of its public service.

The Nigerian delegation, comprising 20 Heads of State Civil Services, is the first batch in the first phase of a two-part initiative.

The initiative is designed to enhance Nigeria’s civil service by leveraging the globally renowned Singapore Public Service model, in line with 21st-century expectations.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on relevant agencies of government to prioritise the safety of lives in the event of accidents or occupational hazards.

He gave the advice against the backdrop of Saturday’s tanker explosion in Enugu which led to the death of about 18 persons and injuries to scores of others in Enugu State.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, on the 9th Mile 82 Division Expressway, Ugwuonyeama section, when a tanker conveying petrol collided with some vehicles and erupted in flames, killing about 18 persons.

The Deputy Speaker, in a statement on Sunday by his special assistant, Print Affairs, Udora Orizu, condoled the families of the victims as well as the government and people of Enugu State, praying to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

He sadly recalled a similar incident that recently happened in Niger State, urging the federal government to urgently direct relevant authorities to complete the rehabilitation of the road and others to forestall further occurrences.

The Deputy Speaker stresses the need for relevant authorities to provide safety measures and educate citizens to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Wishing the injured a quick recovery, Kalu also urged the relevant government agencies to provide relief materials to the bereaved, adding that the National Assembly will continue to support the Federal Government through budgetary allocation and legislative instruments.

He said, “I’m deeply saddened by the news of a fuel tanker explosion in Enugu State yesterday (Saturday) that caused the death of several people, with many also injured. This horrific incident happened just days after another tanker exploded in Niger State with over 80 people killed.

“I’m deeply concerned that this is one death too many. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families as well as the government and the people of Enugu State.

“I also want to use this opportunity to urge the Federal Government to take immediate action of addressing the deplorable state of our roads especially the 9th mile expressway, provide safety measures and educate citizens to help prevent such tragedies in the future. It’s our responsibility to act now and protect ourselves.”

The management of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, said it has set up a three-member committee that would relate with the police and assist it in unmasking the assailants involved in the recent killing of a student of the institution.

Earlier, Osun State Police Command said its detectives had commenced an investigation to unravel the identities of those who stabbed to death a 200-level student of Bowen University, identified simply as Paul.

The command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, who made the disclosure, further said the incident was reported at Iwo Divisional Headquarters last Wednesday at about 10:55 pm.

Opalola also said the deceased, until his death, was a student in the Department of Computer Science at the university.

“On 22/01/2025, at about 10:55 pm, one Akindoyo Joseph CSO Bowen University, Iwo, came to Iwo Police Divisional Headquarters, Iwo and reported that one Paul Thinker, a 200-level Computer Science student, was stabbed by an unknown person or persons,” Opalola said.

Speaking on the efforts by the management to get to the root of the incident and expose the perpetrators, Bowen University’s Public Relations Officer, Havillah Aliyu, in a message sent to The PUNCH on Sunday, commended the police’s prompt response when called by the management.

Aliyu also said family members of the deceased student held a meeting with the management on the campus of the university last Thursday, adding, “Normalcy is gradually returning to the campus, though the atmosphere remains one of cautious hope as we await swift justice for the perpetrator(s) of this despicable act.”

He further said, “Management is satisfied with the prompt response and professionalism displayed by the police, and we are optimistic that the culprit(s) will be apprehended soon.

“While the police are leading the investigation, a three-man committee was immediately set up during an emergency Senate meeting on the morning of Thursday, 23 January 2025. This committee, with full support from management, has been tasked with gathering as much information as possible and relaying it to the police.

“Management has taken proactive steps to enhance security by increasing manpower and enlisting the assistance of the police and other sister agencies to intensify patrols in and around the campus.”

At least 27 Nigerian soldiers were killed in a jihadist suicide attack in the northeast, two Army sources told AFP on Sunday.

On Friday, troops launched a ground offensive on a stronghold of Islamic State-affiliated militants in a wasteland straddling Borno and Yobe states.

“The suicide attack killed 27 soldiers, including the commander, and left several others seriously injured,” a military officer said, making this one of the deadliest suicide attacks targeting soldiers in recent years.

“It was dark, which made it difficult for the troops to have a clear view of the surroundings,” said another officer about the attack which happened around 2030 GMT.

He said the death toll could rise as some of the wounded were in a “critical condition”.

A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle concealed in thick foliage into a convoy of advancing troops targeting the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Timbuktu Triangle, the two military officers said.

Both officers asked not to be identified as they were not authorised to speak on the incident.

Nigerian military officials were not available for comment on the attack.

ISWAP split from the mainstream Boko Haram in 2016 to become the dominant militant faction in the northeast.

They seized territory hitherto under Boko Haram control, including the Timbuktu Triangle and Sambisa forest, a game reserve turned jihadist stronghold.

The group is notorious for planting roadside mines and rigging vehicles with explosives to target troops.

In July last year, seven troops were killed when their vehicle hit a landmine in a village where ISWAP is active.

The 15-year-old conflict has killed 40,000 and displaced around two million from their homes in the northeast.

The violence spilled into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon, leading to the creation of a regional force to fight the militants.

The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the pedestrian bridge connecting Oshodi Bus Terminals 2 and 3, citing safety concerns.

The government raised alarms over the bridge’s safety and structural integrity.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, issued the order in a statement released on Friday, expressing concerns about the bridge’s condition.

“The order also mandated the contractor responsible for the initial construction of the terminal, through the Office of Infrastructure, to place concrete barriers at the entrances leading to the bridge. This is to safeguard the lives of pedestrians who use the infrastructure,” he said.

The commissioner explained that the closure would enable a comprehensive structural integrity assessment of the bridge, to determine whether it requires repairs or reconstruction.

Osiyemi advised pedestrians to use an alternative bridge located 30 metres away while the assessment is conducted.

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, on Friday, arrested two more suspects allegedly involved in the abduction of Mrs Folasade Odumosu, the wife of a former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Hakeem Odumosu.

The suspects are 27-year-old Agbojule Smart, and Keleke Michael, 30.

They were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad.

This was confirmed in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.

The Nigeria Police Force, via its Facebook handle, noted that two locally fabricated rifles, 11 live cartridges and N2.25 million were recovered from the suspects.

“In response to the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., to go after the fleeing suspects in connection to the kidnap of the wife of retired Assistant-Inspector General, AIG Hakeem Odumosu, Mrs Odumosu, the operatives of the Lagos State CP Special Squad have apprehended 2 suspects identified as Agbojule Smart ‘m’, 27 years and Keleke Michael ‘m’, 30 years.

“The suspects were arrested in the early hours of today, Friday, January 24, 2025, while on their way out of Lagos State. Upon interrogation, they confessed to their crime; belonging to a gang of four, two of whom have been neutralised previously.

“Recovered from the suspects upon their arrest was the sum of Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,250,000), which was part of the requested ransom, 2 locally fabricated rifles, and 11 live cartridges,” the statement partly read.

Adejobi noted that the IG, Kayode Egbetokun commended the operatives “for their gallantry in apprehending these suspects and encourages them to maintain this high standard of competence in the fight against crime in all its manifestations.”

The police further stressed its commitment to improving public security, as it remains steadfast in its commitment to “reducing crime to an absolute minimum and fostering the establishment of peace across the nation.”

Folasade was abducted by four masked men from her residence in the Arepo area of Ogun State in the dark hours of Thursday, January 16, 2024.

Less than a week after her abduction, with the support of the Force Headquarters technical intelligence platforms and the Ogun State police operatives, Folasade was rescued from her captors after a gun duel with the criminals in the swampy area of Ikorodu, Lagos State on Wednesday.

The Oyo State government has signed an agreement with contractors for the execution of 68-kilometre rural access road projects under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

The state commissioner for agriculture and rural development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, signed phase I of the contract agreement with the contractors on Friday in Ibadan.

In his address, Mr Olaleye explained that signing the RAAMP interventions comprised a backlog of maintenance/rehabilitation and cross-drainage structures.

According to him, RAAMP is a major rural transport intervention project funded by the federal government and development partners like the World Bank and the French Development Agency.

“It is an inclusion of farms in the local agricultural market connectivity programme, connecting farmers to agro-logistics hubs.

“It equally strengthens the financial and institutional base for sustainability, as well as enhancing road safety, project management and institutional development support,” he said.

According to the commissioner, one of the project’s objectives is the provision of improved all-weather access to road networks of 8.0 metres in width in selected and prioritised rural development areas.

Others he mentioned include rehabilitation/upgrading and repairs of selected prioritised river crossings throughout the state and improvement of access to transport services for the state’s rural population, among others.

Mr Olaleye said if the objectives were fulfilled, the much-envisaged reduction in post-harvest losses and provision of all-year-round transportation would be attained.

The commissioner added that the projects, when completed, would improve economic activities, ease and make mobility cheaper in the rural communities.

He then charged the contracting firms not to compromise standards, saying that the design specifications and contract duration should be strictly adhered to.

The commissioner said the Federal Projects Monitoring Units, the state government and the benefitting communities would all serve as supervisors in contract execution.

The 30.3-kilometre road network of Fashola Farm Settlement and Olokoyo Junction to Ikere Junction is among the rural access roads awarded.

Dephanny Ventures Ltd, CGC Nig. Ltd., and Coastline Engineering Ltd are among the companies that signed the agreement.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, the South-West Business Director, CGC Nig Ltd, Shao Finguu, promised to deliver quality and timely projects.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group has painted a positive picture of the nation’s economic outlook for 2025 with the potential to achieve a 5.5 per cent GDP growth rate.

NESG, however, pointed out that this positive outlook was only possible provided the current reforms are sustained.

The projection was made at the launch of the 2025 Macroeconomic Outlook Report, titled ‘Stabilisation in Transition: Rethinking Reform Strategies for 2025 and Beyond’, which took place in Lagos on Thursday.

Olusegun Omisakin, the chief economist and director of research and development at NESG, stressed the importance of balancing price stability with the need for high and strong economic growth.

“We believe that at the optimal level, if we embark on more efficient policy reforms, the Nigerian economy has the potential for the GDP to end up at 5.5 per cent, and we believe that this is achievable,” he noted.

Mr Omisakin also highlighted the need for increased collaboration to tame inflation and sectoral reforms, particularly in agriculture, to optimise performance.

He noted that inefficient policy implementation could result in a much lower growth rate of around 3.4 per cent.

Mr Omisakin warned that reversing current policies could lead to a growth rate of just 2.7 per cent.

Regarding inflation, Mr Omisakin predicted that it could be moderated to 24.7 per cent by the end of the year.

He warned that if the current path was continued, it could rise to 34 per cent, leading to an extended stabilisation period.

Mr Omisakin called for collaboration between monetary and fiscal authorities and private sector participation to achieve speedy GDP growth.

He stressed the need to boost foreign exchange liquidity and stabilise the exchange rate. He also emphasised the importance of better fiscal performance.

“We believe so strongly that this must be the main focus of the government. If inflation is moderated, at the end of the year, it has a lot of benefits concerning all other macro indicators,” he said.

Overall, the NESG’s projection suggests that with sustained reforms and efficient policy implementation, Nigeria has the potential to achieve significant economic growth in 2025.

The Senate of the University of Ilorin has approved the appointment of three of the university’s retirees as emeritus professors.

They are Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, Prof. Olu Obafemi, and Prof. Musbau Akanji.

This is contained in a statement on Thursday by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun.

Akogun confirmed that the university’s highest decision-making body, at its 304th meeting on Thursday, gave its nod to the appointment of the emeritus professors.

Oloyede retired from the services of the university in October 2024.

He is a former Vice-Chancellor of the university and the current Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

On the other hand, Obafemi is a renowned scholar of English and Dramatic Literature.

He also retired from the services of the University of Ilorin in 2020.

Akanji is a former Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, and Federal University of Technology, Minna.

He is a renowned scholar of Biochemistry and retired in 2021.

The Federal Government has announced plans to build 10,000 housing units under the Renewed Hope Medic Cities initiative.

The project, which is being led by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in collaboration with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, aims to provide affordable and decent housing for medical professionals across the country.

Housing Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, revealed the plan during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors on Thursday, in Abuja.

This was according to a statement by Director, Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, Salisu Haiba, on Thursday.

Dangiwa emphasised the importance of improving the living conditions of healthcare workers, who often face challenges in securing accommodation, especially in urban centres where medical facilities are concentrated.

“We recognise the difficulties many healthcare workers face in securing suitable accommodation, particularly in high-demand urban centres where medical facilities are concentrated.

“Housing is a fundamental need that directly impacts productivity, stability, and quality of life. Addressing these challenges requires strong partnerships between the government and professional bodies like yours,” Dangiwa said.

The initiative is part of the broader Renewed Hope Housing Programme aimed at expanding access to affordable housing for all Nigerians.

The minister disclosed that, as part of this programme, “over 10,000 housing units are currently under construction across 14 locations in the country, including 3,112 units in Karsana, Abuja, 2,000 units in Lagos State, and 2,000 units in Kano State.”

In addition to these Renewed Hope Medic Cities, Dangiwa noted that 12 Renewed Hope Estates, each comprising 250 units, are under development in 12 states, with plans to extend the initiative to all 36 states.

He urged healthcare workers to take advantage of the opportunity to own homes through various ownership options, including long-term National Housing Funds mortgage loans, a rent-to-own scheme, instalment payments, and outright purchase.

An online portal has been created to facilitate applications for the housing units: renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng.

The minister also emphasised that the Renewed Hope Medic Cities initiative reflects the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of healthcare workers and supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the well-being of the nation’s medical professionals.

“Your visit today strengthens our resolve to design housing interventions that serve our national heroes—those who dedicate their lives to saving others,” Dangiwa added.

Speaking at the meeting, the National President of NARD, Dr. Tope Osundara, expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts in addressing the housing needs of doctors.

He stressed that providing affordable housing for healthcare workers would help address the long-standing issue of Nigerian doctors emigrating for better opportunities abroad.

Osundara also proposed a pilot project for the Federal Capital Territory, which would involve the construction of 1,000 housing units to serve as a template for other states.

He emphasised the need for housing units to be built within hospital premises, noting that resident doctors should ideally live near their workplaces to ensure timely response to medical emergencies.

A representative of REDAN and a member of NARD, Dr. Suleiman Sadiq explained that the Renewed Hope Medic Cities project would be a partnership between the Ministries of Housing and Health, FMBN, and public-private sector collaboration.

Construction is expected to begin between January and February 2025.

Sadiq expressed optimism that the initiative would not only improve the living standards of healthcare workers but also enhance their productivity, ultimately contributing to the betterment of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“This project is a significant step towards enhancing the welfare of healthcare workers, ensuring they have access to safe and affordable housing, and improving morale and productivity within the health sector,” Sadiq said.

The Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, has threatened that when she is tired of her role as the boss of the agency, she will throw in the towel.

Kuku said this while fielding aviation industry-based questions on Television Continental on Thursday evening.

The FAAN MD who said she had stepped on toes and would step on more people’s toes although with caution, stated “If I am tired, I will get out of the job.

“I have stepped on toes and I am still stepping on toes and I know that I need to do that with caution but definitely not at the jeopardy of the airport system.

“If I have to, I will step down, I will resign if I see that it is not working but what is important is to make sure that I do what is right.”

She also responded to criticisms that have greeted her claim that N580bn is required to fix obsolete runways across the country.

Kuku who confirmed the barrage of critics questioning what FAAN needed such a humongous amount for, appealed to all who care to understand the need for the money to find out what it takes to take care of aviation infrastructures.

She said, “I would like to clarify two things; First we have a number of runways in Nigeria today, we have mentioned to you that there are 22 airports that are owned by the Federal Government and we also support some that are state-owned.

“I also made specific reference to airports with runways that have exceeded their lifespan. The average lifespan of a runway is about 20-25 years and a lot of our runways in Nigeria have actually exceeded that time. Meaning that we had them for 30 to over 35 years.

“What it means is that we have to reconstruct those runways. The N580bn that I initially mentioned was for over 17 runways and it is not just runways but also includes some perimeter fencing and so on.

“I have seen commentaries where people asked what we would be needing those monies for. Just look it up in Google to understand what it means to build runways, taxi expansion and all that is needed to be done.”

While speaking on what she had done within her first 100 days in office, Kuku topped her achievement with the level of sanity that has been restored to Nigerian aerodromes in the last 90 days.

“We have spent too much time talking about the decay and it is time for us to start fixing things and that is exactly what we are doing. And what is more critical is the continuity, meaning that wherever we stop, somebody needs to pick that up and that is the biggest challenge that we see. Because we have a new administration we tend not to complete or continue old projects.

“Now to what we are doing; I think what to do is to block some immediate gaps which is what we have done. If you have been a traveller in the last 90 days, you will observe that the airports are cleaner and more friendly in terms of the atmosphere.”

A corps member has died in a road crash on way to the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Ebonyi State.

The Federal Road Safety Corps Sector Commander in the state, Henry Igwe, made the disclosure in Abakaliki on Thursday.

Mr Igwe said that the crash occurred on Wednesday at about 2 p.m. on Amasiri-Okigwe Road, Amenu village in Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state.

He said, “It involved two vehicles – a 14-seater Toyota commercial bus, grey colour and a commercial Mercedes Benz tipper. From our preliminary findings, it might have been caused by speeding on the part of the commercial bus. The identities and details of the number of those injured have yet to be ascertained because the victims were actually rescued by bystanders in the area.’’

The sector commander said that the injured had been taken to David Umahi Federal Hospital in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area, adding that they were currently in stable condition.

The Court of Appeal, Akure Division, on Thursday, upheld the death sentence passed on Dr Rahmon Adedoyin for the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.

Adegoke was killed between November 5, 2021 and November 7, 2021, while he lodged at Hilton hotel in Ile-Ife, owned by Adedoyin.

Adedoyin and two of his hotel staff members, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, were found guilty of the murder by the Osun High Court and sentenced to death by hanging in May 2023.

Adedoyin, however, appealed the decision of the trial court.

Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, said the appellate court unanimously upheld the lower court’s decision on the charges of conspiracy to kill and unlawful killing by the three convicts.

Omoleye said that the court, however, set aside the judgment that the Estate of Adedoyin should be responsible for payment of the school fees of the children of Adegoke.

Also the court set aside the forfeiture order of Hilton hotel and the Hilux pickup used to transport Adegoke’s corpse from the hotel to where it was buried to the Federal Government.

According to her, the court is limited to the statutory provisions as to the penalty provided by the law.

Speaking to journalists after the judgment, Counsel to the Osun State government, Femi Falana, hailed the judgment of the court.

Mr Falana, represented by Fatima Adesina, said that the lower court’s verdict had been substantially upheld.

Mr Falana said, “Substantially, the judgment of the lower court has been upheld. For the killing, they have been convicted by the trial court for conspiracy to kill, and unlawful killing. Those convictions were upheld by the court. So the only aspect of the judgment that was set aside was in respect of the various decisions of the trial court which stated that the convicts would be responsible for the education of the children of the deceased. And the Appeal Court has also set aside the lower court’s judgment on the forfeiture of the convicts’ properties.’’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lauded the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces as the nation’s heroes while pledging his administration’s unwavering commitment to their welfare.

Speaking on Thursday during the commissioning of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks and other newly constructed facilities under the Nigerian Army Special Projects in Abuja, the President expressed profound gratitude for their service.

“You are our heroes, and I thank you for what you have been doing for this country,” he said.

President Tinubu emphasized the significance of the military’s contributions to the nation, reiterating his administration’s resolve to support the troops.

“What you are doing for Nigeria is remarkable. The only way to appreciate you is to continue to show support to the men and women in uniform,” he stated.

Highlighting the importance of the newly constructed facilities, the President noted that the project aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of military personnel.

“Knowing that the federal government is always ready to provide what the troops need is essential for winning battles,” Tinubu remarked.

He assured the troops that their welfare would remain a priority, saying “it is your welfare we are not going to compromise.”

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks is equipped to address the acute shortage of accommodation for personnel of the Army Headquarters and other Army establishments in Abuja.

The project, conceptualized by Major General Philip Eromosele, commenced on November 26, 2022, and was fully funded under the late Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.

The current Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, oversaw the project’s completion on January 9, 2025, ensuring it meets the urgent needs of the Nigerian Army.

The state-of-the-art facilities include 16 Major General Quarters, 34 Brigadier General Quarters, 60 Major-Colonel Flats, 60 Lieutenant-Captain Flats, and 180 Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Flats.

Additionally, 264 Corporal-and-Below Flats, worship centres, sports facilities, and a powerhouse are part of the barracks. The facility is secured by a perimeter fence with three entry and exit gates.

Earlier in the day, President Tinubu performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a new Armed Forces Complex behind Lungi Barracks in Asokoro, Abuja.

The commissioning was attended by several dignitaries, including the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar; Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, AbdulAziz Yar’adua.

World Trade Organisation chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged nations Thursday to keep calm over tariffs, warning that a tit-for-tat trade war would be “catastrophic” for the world economy.

Okonjo-Iweala issued her appeal during a panel discussion on tariffs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in a week that saw US President Donald Trump threaten tariffs against China, the European Union, Mexico and Canada.

The WTO director general urged cooler heads to prevail, quipping: “Please let’s not hyperventilate. I know we are here to discuss tariffs. I’ve been saying to everybody: could we chill, also. I just sense a lot of hyperventilation.”

She recalled the fallout from the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in the United States during the Great Depression in 1930, which prompted retaliation and worsened the global economic crisis at the time.

“We are very much saying to our members at the WTO: you have other avenues. Even if a tariff is levied, please keep calm, don’t wake up and without the necessary groundwork levy your own,” she said.

“If we have tit-for-tat retaliation, whether it’s 25 percent tariffs, 60 percent, and we go to where we were in the 1930s, we are going to see double-digit global GDP losses, double-digit. That’s catastrophic.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday adjourned the trial of an alleged terrorism suspect, Abubakar Abdulkadir, also known as Julde, to February 17, 2025.

The adjournment was for the response of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in the ongoing trial.

Abdulkadir and six others are being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police on 19 counts of terrorism and kidnapping.

The accused, according to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/417/2023, include Abdulkadir, Adamu Musa, aka Dan Anacha; Muhammed Haladu, Sale Gagare, Musa Muhammadu, Babawuro Mukawo, Saidu Abubakar and others said to be at large.

The prosecution alleges that between February and November 2022, in Sabon Gida village of Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, the defendants “conspired to commit acts of terrorism by attacking and kidnapping Alhaji Maidabo Zide and several other innocent residents of Taraba State.”

The charge stated that this constitutes an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(a) and punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

The defendants are also accused of killing residents, demanding and collecting ransom from their victims, and stealing livestock, motorcycles, and vehicles belonging to the victims, among other offences.

Count 19 of the charge read, “That sometime in December 2022, at Bali LGA of Taraba State, while armed with guns, machetes, knives and other dangerous weapons, you committed acts of terrorism by invading Jatau village in Bali LGA of Taraba State, attacking and killing Muhammadu Umar (m) and Bagudu Umar (m) by shooting sporadically, and stealing 26 cows and food items belonging to Muhammadu Abubakar. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(2)(a) and punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.”

At Thursday’s sitting, the IGP’s counsel, Audu Garba, informed Justice Emeka Nwite that the case was scheduled for cross-examination of the second prosecution witness.
However, he added that the case file had been handed over to the AGF who is now the prosecutor.

Garba said, “My Lord, the matter is for the cross-examination of PW-2. The AGF has requested the case file and it has been transferred to the AGF’s office.”

Justice Nwite acknowledged receiving a letter from the AGF’s office, requesting a short adjournment until January 29.

However, due to the court’s schedule, the matter was adjourned till February 17.

Counsel for the other defendants did not oppose the adjournment.

However, Manjok Agom, the lawyer for the 1st, 2nd and 4th defendants, informed the court that an application for the withdrawal of the case was already before the court.

Agom said, “My Lord, I believe the application is for the case to be struck out. The AGF should be in court today, not the IG prosecuting the case. We are applying for the matter to be struck out.”

Justice Nwite clarified that the case could not be struck out since it had been handed over to a new prosecutor who was not present in court, saying, “Why are we striking out? The AGF wrote a letter requesting an adjournment.”

Justice Nwite said, “The matter is adjourned till February 17 for a report from the Honourable Attorney-General.”