0:00
Justice Muhammad Garba Umar of the
0:02
Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on
0:04
Friday apparently rejected the plans by
0:06
the Inspector General of Police IGP Care
0:10
Eggbe token to stop the upcoming Monday
0:13
October 20th planned mass protests by
0:15
Nigerians to demand the release of the
0:17
detained Bafra Republic agitation leader
0:20
Mazi Nami Kanu. But according to the
0:24
organizer of the protest, Omi Saware,
0:26
after the judge initially declined to
0:28
grant the Nigeria Police Force an ex
0:31
party motion to stop the planned protest
0:33
in the open court, the Federal High
0:36
Court judge, Justice Umar reportedly
0:38
granted the motion in chambers, imposing
0:41
a ban on protests at Aso Rock Villa,
0:43
National Assembly or Unity Fountain in
0:46
Abuja. We await a certified true copy of
0:49
the order which our lawyers will review.
0:51
The protest remains unstoppable. While
0:54
this is ongoing, the United States US
0:56
Embassy in Nigeria has warned America
0:59
citizens to be far from the protest
1:02
areas and limit their movements in the
1:04
Nigeria capital city Abuja saying the
1:07
planned protest may lead to disruptions
1:10
and violence. Detailed of the court
1:12
action as captured by Punch newspaper.
1:15
The Federal High Court in Abuja has
1:17
refused the Nigeria Police Force's bid
1:20
to stop the free Nambdi Canyono protest,
1:23
allowing it to proceed as scheduled on
1:25
Monday, October 20th, 2025.
1:28
The inspector general of police Kyod
1:31
Egen had dispatched police lawyers to
1:34
the court to move an exarty motion
1:36
against activist and protest organizer
1:39
Saware in a bid to legally preempt the
1:42
planned demonstration slated for the Aso
1:44
Rock Villa. However, Justice Umar of the
1:47
Federal High Court Abuja declined to
1:50
grant the motion which would have
1:52
immediately restrained the protest from
1:54
taking place without hearing the
1:56
opposing side. The judge instead
1:58
instructed the police to formally serve
2:00
notice of their application on Saware
2:03
and adjourned the case until Tuesday for
2:05
a proper contested hearing. Reacting to
2:08
the judicial decision, the protest
2:10
convenor Amy Saware affirmed the court's
2:14
decision as a victory for civil
2:15
liberties and doubled down on the
2:17
scheduled protest. In a statement issued
2:20
on his exhandle on Friday following the
2:22
ruling, Saware said IG of police Nigeria
2:26
Kyote Eggbean dispatched police lawyers
2:29
to Sumi in an effort to halt the free
2:31
Namikanuno protest scheduled for Aso
2:34
Rock Villa on Monday. However, the
2:37
judge, Justice Umar of Federal High
2:39
Court in Abuja, refused to grant the
2:41
exarty motion, instead instructing him
2:44
to serve me notice and adjourning the
2:46
case until Tuesday for a proper hearing.
2:49
The demonstration organized under the
2:52
#free Namikinudo is intended to draw
2:55
attention to the prolonged detention and
2:57
legal fate of Kanu. The police action
2:59
was seen as an attempt to leverage the
3:01
courts to prevent a potentially
3:03
sensitive gathering near the seat of
3:05
Nigerian power. The adjournment to
3:08
Tuesday ensures that the planned Monday
3:10
protest is not currently constrained by
3:12
a court order, setting the stage for a
3:14
potential high-profile confrontation
3:17
between protesters and security agencies
3:19
around the presidential villa. Channels
3:22
television also on Friday reported that
3:25
ahead of the free Nambdikuno protest
3:27
slated for Monday October 20th in the
3:29
nation. Whenever controversies surround
3:31
Rufi, the outspoken and fearless
3:34
broadcaster on Arise television, one
3:37
recurring argument often resurfaces in
3:39
public discourse. The claim that Rufi is
3:43
not a journalist. Critics are quick to
3:45
emphasize that he lacks a formal
3:47
academic background in journalism,
3:49
having originally trained in animal
3:51
anatomy. But beyond the semantics of
3:53
qualification, a deeper question
3:55
emerges. What truly defines a
3:57
journalist? And what are the core
3:59
functions of journalism in society? As
4:02
mass communication teacher, we teach
4:04
students from the very first class that
4:06
the media exists to inform, educate,
4:09
entertain, and preserve cultural
4:11
heritage. Journalists also play the
4:14
crucial roles of agenda setting and
4:16
acting as watchd dogs, holding public
4:18
officials accountable and amplifying the
4:20
voices of the government. The media's
4:23
capacity to shape national conversations
4:25
is immense. By highlighting specific
4:28
issues and giving them prominence,
4:30
journalists help raise awareness and
4:32
influence public perception. It is
4:34
through such agenda setting functions
4:36
that societies engage in dialogue,
4:39
debate and reform thereby playing
4:41
participatory role in the process of
4:44
governance. When examined through this
4:46
functional lens, it becomes clear that
4:48
Rufi has consistently fulfilled these
4:51
journalistic responsibilities over the
4:53
years. His incisive questioning,
4:56
fearless commentary, and commitment to
4:59
public accountability have made him one
5:01
of the most recognizable broadcast
5:03
personalities in contemporary Nigerian
5:05
media. A notable example is his now
5:08
famous exchange with the Minister of
5:10
Works, Engineer Dave Yumi, on Arise
5:13
Television. Before that encounter, few
5:16
Nigerians had publicly interrogated the
5:19
cost per kilometer of road construction
5:21
projects executed by government
5:24
While the minister initially dismissed
5:26
Rufi's question as elementary, the issue
5:29
soon gained traction nationally. In
5:32
fact, subsequent clarifications by Yumi
5:35
and even a public response by Oyo State
5:38
Governor Sei Marinde demonstrated that
5:40
Aseni's line of questioning had forced
5:43
an important accountability conversation
5:45
into the mainstream. Through this
5:47
singular act, Rufi did what the media
5:50
are mandated to do. Hold power
5:52
accountable, enlighten the public, and
5:55
stimulate civic engagement. It is true
5:58
that a formal qualification, such as a
6:00
diploma or degree in journalism, is
6:03
generally considered a prerequisite for
6:04
professional practice. Yet, history
6:08
tells a different story about the
6:09
Nigerian press. Many of the country's
6:12
most celebrated media pioneers from
6:15
Herbert McCauley to Ernest Aoli Nambi
6:17
Azikiwayi and Aubi Awalooo were not
6:20
trained journalists in the academic
6:22
sense. Nevertheless, through passion,
6:25
intellect and experience, they became
6:28
towering figures in the nation's
6:30
journalistic landscape. In the decades
6:32
that followed, major Nigerian newspapers
6:35
like The Guardian, The Punch, The
6:38
Tribune, and the Defunct National
6:40
Concord were edited by professionals
6:42
whose backgrounds spanned literature,
6:44
political science, law, and the
6:46
humanities, not necessarily journalism.
6:50
What mattered was their adherence to
6:51
journalistic ethics and commitment to
6:53
truth. Today, journalism is evolving
6:57
faster than ever. the rise of social and
6:59
digital. Nigerian army authority has
7:02
issued a statement denying threat
7:04
messages issued against members of the
7:06
public ahead of the planned mass protest
7:08
slated for October 20th, 2025 to demand
7:12
for the release and freedom of the
7:14
detained Bafra Republic agitation leader
7:17
Mazi Nami Kanu. Just as the organizer
7:19
and chief campaigner Om Saware, the
7:22
publisher of Sah reporters news media
7:24
met to seek understanding with the
7:26
former president of Nigeria, Good Luck
7:29
Jonathan who according to Saware
7:32
promised to visit President Bola Ahmed
7:34
Tonubu to discuss the issue with him.
7:37
Nigerian Army in a statement on Friday
7:40
said the attention of the Nigerian Army
7:42
NA has been drawn to a misleading
7:45
publication by Sahara reporters alleging
7:47
that a Facebook page purportedly
7:49
operated by military personnel issued
7:51
veiled threats against certain
7:53
individuals ahead of a planned October
7:55
20th protest. The report is not only
7:58
false but a deliberate attempt to
8:00
misinform the public and discredit the
8:02
noble institution of the Nigerian Army.
8:05
For the avoidance of doubt, the Nigerian
8:08
Army has only two official social media
8:10
handles, namely at HQ Nigerian Army and
8:13
at Nigerian Army Info, which are duly
8:15
verified on Facebook X, formerly
8:18
Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Any
8:21
other page or account outside these
8:23
verified handles does not belong to the
8:25
Nigerian Army and should be disregarded
8:27
in its entirety. It is pertinent to
8:30
state that certain civilians and online
8:33
content creators now operate pages that
8:35
post military related contents purely
8:37
for the purpose of generating online
8:39
traffic and monetary gain. Such pages
8:42
have no affiliation whatsoever with the
8:45
Nigerian army. The NA therefore
8:47
dissociates itself completely from any
8:49
post, statement or activity emanating
8:52
from these unauthorized sources. The
8:55
Nigerian Army remains a professional,
8:58
disciplined and apolitical institution
9:00
committed to the defense and unity of
9:02
the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the
9:04
discharge of its constitutional
9:06
responsibilities, the NA continues to
9:09
uphold the highest standards of
9:11
professionalism, adherence to the rule
9:13
of law, and respect for human rights.
9:16
The general public and media
9:18
practitioners are hereby enjoyed to
9:20
verify all information concerning the
9:22
Nigerian Army only through its official
9:24
platforms or the Directorate of Army
9:26
public relations before publication or
9:29
dissemination. The Nigerian Army
9:32
therefore urges Sahara reporters and
9:34
other media outlets to exercise due
9:36
diligence in verifying the authenticity
9:38
of their sources to avoid the spread of
9:40
falsehood capable of misleading the
9:42
public and undermining national
9:44
security. Ami Saware in a statement made
9:48
available through his personal social
9:50
media accounts on Friday said that
9:53
earlier today in Abuja I met with former
9:55
President Good Luck Jonathan to discuss
9:57
the continued incarceration of Mazi Nami
10:00
Kanu. President Jonathan agreed that
10:03
there is an urgent and compelling need
10:05
to address this matter decisively and
10:07
justly. I thank him sincerely for
10:09
recognizing the importance of resolving
10:12
Kanu's case in the interest of peace,
10:14
fairness and national healing.
10:17
Particularly assuring was that he
10:18
promised to meet Asawaju Bola Ahmed
10:21
Tonubu to discuss this issue as soon as
10:23
possible. With this, former President
10:26
Jonathan joins a growing list of
10:28
Nigerians who have called for President
10:30
Bola Ahmed Tonubu of Nigeria has
10:33
accepted the resignation of the Minister
10:35
of Innovation, Science and Technology,
10:38
Jeffrey Uucha Naji, who had been accused
10:40
of forging the degree certificate of the
10:42
University of Nigeria in Suker and the
10:45
certificate of completion of service for
10:47
the one-year mandatory National Youth
10:49
Service Corps, NYSC, after he allegedly
10:52
failed an exit course viology repeatedly
10:56
at the university. Nigeria presidency in
10:59
a statement made available a few minutes
11:01
ago by the presidential spokesperson Beo
11:04
Anonuga stated that president Bola Ahmed
11:08
Tonubu has accepted the resignation of
11:10
Jeffrey Naraji the minister of
11:12
innovation science and technology
11:15
following some allegations against him.
11:18
President Tonubu appointed Naji in
11:20
August 2023. He resigned today in a
11:23
letter thanking the president for
11:25
allowing him to serve Nigeria. Naji said
11:28
he has been a target of blackmail by
11:30
political opponents. President Tonubu
11:33
thanked him for his service and wished
11:35
him well in future endeavors. Earlier
11:39
Nigeria state controlled media NTA had
11:42
reported that the minister of innovation
11:45
science and technology which Jeffrey
11:47
Naraji has dismissed reports questioning
11:50
his academic qualifications describing
11:52
him as politically motivated attempts to
11:54
tarnish his image. The minister has
11:57
firmly defended the authenticity of his
11:59
University of Nigeria insuka degree.
12:03
Speaking through his spokesperson Dr.
12:08
The minister said records from UNN
12:10
confirm he graduated in July 1985 with a
12:14
bachelor's degree in microbiology and
12:16
biochemistry, secondclass honors, lower
12:19
division. He described recent reports
12:22
denying his graduation as false,
12:24
malicious, and politically driven,
12:27
alleging that the controversy began
12:28
after opposition figures took key
12:30
positions within the university. Naji
12:33
revealed that the Federal High Court in
12:35
Abuja has issued protective orders
12:37
restraining the university from
12:39
tampering with his records and directing
12:41
the release of his academic transcript.
12:44
Reaffirming his focus on national
12:46
service, the minister said no amount of
12:48
political blackmail or media trial will
12:51
distract him from advancing innovation
12:53
and technology in Nigeria. He urged the
12:56
University of Nigeria to uphold its
12:58
motto to restore the dignity of man and
13:01
resist being used for partisan purposes.
13:04
In a swift reaction on Tuesday, Enugu
13:07
state government denied sponsoring
13:09
allegations of certificate forgery
13:11
against the Minister of Innovation,
13:14
Science and Technology, Chief Uuchaini,
13:17
urging him to carry his cross and clear
13:20
his name before Nigerians. The
13:22
government in a press statement issued
13:24
in Anugu on Monday by the director of
13:27
information in the ministry of
13:29
information and communication Mr. Chuku
13:31
Mechanibbo said it had no hand
13:33
whatsoever in the controversies
13:35
surrounding the minister's academic
13:37
records. The Enugu state government
13:40
dissociates itself completely from these
13:42
allegations. The honorable minister must
13:45
carry his own cross and clear his name
13:47
before Nigerians instead of dragging the
13:50
government into issues that are entirely
13:51
personal to him. Mr. Nebo declared the
13:55
director of information recalled that
13:57
chief nari had invited journalists to a
13:59
world. Princess owner Torera Majay
14:02
Kadumanu from Oan State and a
14:04
Commonwealth award winner who is
14:05
currently pursuing a master degree in
14:07
law has called on the federal government
14:09
of Nigeria under the leadership of
14:12
President Bola Ahmed Tonubu to
14:14
immediately release the detained Bafra
14:16
Republic agitation leader Mazi Nami
14:19
Kananu stating in a statement personally
14:21
signed and made available to media
14:23
newsroom on Monday that 10 years of
14:26
detention without conviction is a grave
14:28
violation of The fundamental human
14:31
rights of Marzi Nami Kanu specifically
14:34
stated verbatim that the continued
14:36
detention of Mr. Kanu without conviction
14:39
is not merely a legal anomaly. It is a
14:42
profound failure of justice and a grave
14:44
violation of his fundamental human
14:46
rights. His prolonged detention exposes
14:49
the widening gap between Nigeria's
14:51
constitutional expectations and the
14:53
daily realities of citizens. We must
14:55
have a justice system that acts with
14:57
both fairness and decisive strength, not
15:00
one ins snared in endless procedural
15:02
limbo and mired in public distrust.
15:04
According to the princess, across the
15:07
span of a decade, Mazi Nami Kanu has
15:10
endured one of the longest and most
15:12
troubling pre-trial detentions in
15:14
Nigeria's history. arrested in 2015,
15:17
accused, pleading not guilty, and never
15:20
convicted, he remains confined in a
15:22
blatant defiance of the most fundamental
15:25
human rights principles. Where is
15:27
justice when a man stands unconvicted
15:30
for 10 years, while those charged with
15:32
upholding justice remain silent? The
15:35
continued detention of Mr. Ku without
15:38
conviction is not merely a legal
15:40
anomaly. It is a profound failure of
15:42
justice and a grave violation of his
15:44
fundamental human rights. His prolonged
15:47
detention exposes the widening gap
15:49
between Nigeria's constitutional
15:51
expectations and the daily realities of
15:54
citizens. We must have a justice system
15:56
that acts with both fairness and
15:58
decisive strength, not one ins snared in
16:01
endless procedural limbo admired in
16:03
public distrust. No charge, however
16:06
grave, should ever eclipse the principle
16:08
that every individual is presumed
16:10
innocent until proven guilty. That
16:13
principle is the very cornerstone of law
16:15
and must never be broken regardless of
16:18
who holds power. As we call for Mazi
16:21
Nami Kanu's immediate and unconditional
16:23
freedom, my heart goes out to millions
16:25
of Nigerians across tribal lines,
16:28
generations, and economic classes from
16:31
Borneo to Quirre to Lagos crying out for
16:34
help against armed violence, force
16:36
displacement, demolitions, unlawful
16:38
detentions, untimely deaths, and the
16:41
persistent scarcity of life's most basic
16:43
necessities. Beyond politics, every life
16:47
matters. Marzin Amdi Kanu's health and
16:50
spirit are at grave risk after 10 years
16:52
behind bars without a proven crime. This
16:55
declaration is an urgent proclamation.
16:58
We will count every second, every hour,
17:01
every day and continue to galvanize
17:03
until Mazi Nami Kanu is restored to his
17:06
rightful freedom. Nigeria now stands at
17:09
a cross of roads where history will
17:12
judge the true motives of those in
17:13
power. The eyes of the world are
17:16
watching and the conscience of the
17:17
nation is restless. The promise of our
17:20
democracy depends not only on acts of
17:23
courage within the halls of power but
17:24
also on the bold united actions of
17:27
citizens. about Mazi Nami Vladimir
17:30
Zalinski. The president of Ukraine may
17:33
have given a clearer picture on how some
17:35
companies are apparently aiding and
17:37
making more money from the ongoing war
17:39
in his country Ukraine. saying since the
17:42
start of the war 4 years ago, some
17:44
unnamed companies in the United States,
17:47
US, United Kingdom, UK, China, Germany,
17:52
Taiwan, Switzerland, Japan, Korea
17:55
Republic, Netherlands are producing
17:57
components Russia under President
17:59
Vladimir Putin is using to produce
18:02
weapons of mass destruction to kill his
18:04
people. This Zalinski in his own words
18:07
said on Monday that in the fourth year
18:10
of the full-scale war, Russia continues
18:12
to obtain components for producing
18:14
weapons. During the massive combined
18:16
strike on Ukraine on the night of
18:18
October 5th, Russia used 549
18:22
weapon systems containing
18:27
foreignmade components from companies in
18:30
the United States, China and Taiwan, the
18:33
United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland,
18:36
Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the
18:39
Netherlands. Nearly 100,688
18:42
of foreign made parts were in the
18:44
launched attack drones, about 1,500 were
18:50
192 in Kinsel missiles, and 45 in
18:54
calibers. Zilinski stated this in a
18:57
statement made available through his
18:58
personal social media profile on Monday
19:01
after about 30 people were injured as a
19:04
result of the Russian attack on a moving
19:06
passenger train, killing one person in
19:08
Shka district of Ukraine on Saturday.
19:11
According to Zalinski, Ukraine is
19:14
preparing new sanctions against those
19:16
who help Russia and its war and we have
19:18
communicated proposals to curb the
19:20
supply schemes. partners already possess
19:23
the detailed data on each company and
19:25
each product. They know what to target
19:27
and how to respond. This week, the G7
19:31
sanctions coordinators will meet and we
19:33
expect a systemic decision to ensure
19:35
that the sanctions are truly effective.
19:38
It is crucial to shut down every scheme
19:40
that circumvents sanctions because
19:42
Russia uses each one to keep killing.
19:45
The world has the power to stop this. In
19:48
the fourth year of the full-scale war,
19:50
Russia continues to obtain components
19:52
for producing weapons. During the
19:55
massive combined strike on Ukraine on
19:57
the night of October 5th, Russia used
20:00
549 weapons systems containing
20:06
foreignmade components from companies in
20:09
the United States, China and Taiwan, the
20:12
United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland,
20:15
Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the
20:17
Netherlands. Nearly 100,688
20:21
of foreign made parts were in the
20:23
launched attack drones. About 1,500 were
20:29
192 in Kinsel missiles, and 405 in
20:32
calibers. In particular, companies in
20:35
the United States manufacture converters
20:38
for KH 101 missiles and shard and type
20:42
drones, sensors for those UAVs and for
20:44
Kinsel missiles, analog to digital
20:47
converters for drones and missiles and
20:49
micro electronics for missiles. At least
20:52
50 different micro electronic components
20:55
in each shard are produced in China and
20:57
Taiwan. Microcontrollers for us
21:01
bringing you the news in a more digital
