News
Niger: UN, AU, ECOWAS meet as ex rebel leader rises against coup plotters
Top diplomats from the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States will Thursday (today) storm Abuja, the nation’s capital, to take major decisions at an Extraordinary Summit on the political development in the Niger Republic.
The summit, which is expected to plot the ouster of the junta, will be hosted by the Chairman of the ECOWAS of Heads of States and Government, President Bola Tinubu.
This came as the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs warned the Federal Government and ECOWAS against carrying out a military action in Niger.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Salisu Shehu in a statement on Wednesday, warned that sanctions, like the ones imposed by ECOWAS, would be counter-productive and would have “socio-economic negative implications for both Nigerians and Nigeriens especially as we share common history and borders.”
The warning came as a former emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, on Wednesday, met with Tchiani in Niamey to discuss the political impasse which resulted from the overthrow of President Bazoum.
Photos of the two men were circulated on social media but there was no information on the outcome of their meeting.
Also, it could not be ascertained if Sanusi was in Niamey at the instance of President Tinubu.
Sanusi meets Tinubu
Meanwhile, Sanusi also met Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday following the ex-emir’s meeting with the junta leader. He however, refused to discuss details of his meeting with the President.
The former emir, who told journalists he was in the Villa to brief Tinubu on the outcome of his meeting with the military leaders of Niger, said he was well received in the landlocked country.
According to him, he went on the peace mission without any directive from the government.
“I came to brief him on the details of my discussions with leaders of Niger. We’ll continue to do our best to bring the two parties together to improve understanding. This is the time for public diplomacy, it’s not a matter that we leave to governments, all Nigerians, all Nigeriens need to be involved to find a solution that works for Africa, a solution that works for Niger that works for Nigeria and a solution that works for humanity”, he said.
Asked if he was a government emissary on the mission, he said “No, I was not sent by the government. Government officials were aware I was going, but it was my personal initiative, using my personal contacts to get there and I will continue to do my best. It is my duty as a leader to do that”.
Meanwhile, Tinubu, as the chairman of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, met with leaders of various Islamic sects in the country, who sought his approval to intervene and negotiate with their counterparts in Niger Republic.
Sheikh Bala Lau of Izalla group and Sheikh Abdurahman Ahmad of Ansar ud Deen, flanked by leaders of other sects, addressed journalists after their meeting with Tinubu.
Sheikh Lau said, “we thank Allah that He gave us the opportunity to meet with Mr. President and the delegation of Ulama from here in Nigeria met with Mr. President on the issue of Niger Republic. We want to find a lasting solution, we want peace and harmony to reign, not only in Nigeria, but in the sub-Saharan region and in globe as well.
“The Ulama advised Mr. President that we want peace and reconciliation. If anything happens between you and your neighbour, the holy Quran commands you to reconcile, so we want reconciliation.
“That’s why we are here and our able leader and President accepted the offer that he wants us to intervene and to talk to our brothers in Niger Republic, the scholars also there on how we can come together and bring a lasting solution to this problem.
However, a former rebel leader and politician in Niger, Rhissa Ag Boula, launched a movement opposing the military government that took power in a July 26 coup, a first sign of internal resistance to army rule in the strategically important Sahel country.
Boula said his new Council of Resistance for the Republic aimed to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum who has been in detention at his residence since the takeover.
However, in line with the resolve to restore constitutional democracy in Niger, the UN, AU and ECOWAS will hold a joint meeting to fashion out a solution to the political impasse in the landlocked country.
A senior diplomat said that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, would be at the special session.
‘’The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel is the spokesman on the Niger issue and he is likely to be at the next ECOWAS meeting,’’ the source said on the condition of anonymity.
The junta led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani had defiantly refused to yield to entreaties and diplomatic pressure to restore Bazoum to office.
Following the coup, the regional bloc imposed a battery of sanctions on the francophone country to compel the military leaders to reinstate the ousted president.
But the military leaders snubbed a one-week ultimatum to restore democracy issued by ECOWAS and also refused to meet with a delegation led by former military president Abdulsalami Abubakar last Thursday.
On Monday, the junta similarly denied the Acting United States Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland access to the coup leader and Bazoum, who was being held in the presidential palace.
Also, plans by a joint UN, AU, ECOWAS delegation to visit Niamey on Tuesday was aborted after the coup leaders said they were unavailable to meet with the mission.
On Tuesday, Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, told journalists in Abuja that more sanctions had been imposed on individuals and entities relating with the military junta.
This newspaper gathered that the new sanctions imposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria would prevent Nigerien banks from carrying out financial transactions with their Nigerian counterparts. The restriction also applied to the coupists and their collaborators.
As the opposition to the coup gains momentum, a former Niger rebel, Boula said in a statement Wednesday that his anti-coup movement would reverse the military intervention in his country.
“Niger is the victim of a tragedy orchestrated by people charged with protecting it,” the statement said.
Boula led uprisings by Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnic group in Niger’s desert north, in the 1990s and 2000s.
Like many former rebels, he was integrated into the government under Bazoum and his predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou.
The rebel endorsed ECOWAS and any other international actors seeking to restore constitutional order in Niger, adding that his group would make itself available to the bloc for any useful purpose.
Another CRR member said several Nigerien political figures had joined the group but could not make their allegiance public for safety reasons.
While the extent of support for the CRR is unclear, Boula’s statement will worry the coup leaders given his influence among Tuaregs who control commerce and politics in much of the vast north.
Support from Tuaregs would be key to securing the military government’s control beyond Niamey’s city limits.
However, Reuters reports that a video statement by army spokesman Amadou Abdramane, on Wednesday, provided no evidence to such a claim.
Abdramane accused France of wanting to create an insecure atmosphere to undermine the credibility of the junta.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has suspended renowned lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, from the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings against him.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Hajo Sarki-Bello, following the committee’s 173rd General Meeting held on June 23, 2026.
According to the statement, the suspension was approved pursuant to Paragraph 26(6) of the Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and all matters relating to the rank.
The committee explained that the suspension would remain in effect pending the determination of disciplinary proceedings before the LPPC’s Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee, as well as the conclusion of other related proceedings.
While the committee did not disclose details of the allegations against the senior lawyer, it noted that the action was taken in line with its regulatory powers over holders of the prestigious SAN title.
The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is the highest distinction in the legal profession and is conferred on lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional professional excellence and integrity.
The Senate on Wednesday passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking the establishment of state police across the country, marking a major step in ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
The approval followed extensive consideration of the proposal by lawmakers during plenary.
Before the vote, senators abandoned plans to use the electronic voting system after the device developed technical issues, raising concerns about the possibility of some lawmakers being excluded from the exercise.
To ensure full participation, the Senate resolved to adopt a manual voting process in which senators openly declared their positions on the bill.
The motion for the adoption of manual voting was moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and received the support of the chamber.
The passage of the bill represents one of the most significant constitutional reforms considered by the National Assembly in recent years, as advocates argue that state policing will enhance local security and improve responses to criminal activities.
The constitutional amendment will, however, require further legislative processes before it becomes fully operational.
The trial of six men accused of plotting to overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu took a dramatic turn on Tuesday after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the alleged leakage of sensitive court evidence to social media.
During proceedings, prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), informed the court that video recordings already tendered as evidence had surfaced online. He alleged that the materials were published by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and noted that the activist was present in court during the hearing.
Oyedepo urged the court to investigate how the videos were obtained and made public.
In response, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik directed the DSS to immediately probe the alleged leak. The judge ordered security operatives to determine whether any protected court materials were released in breach of existing witness-protection orders and to identify those responsible.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the investigation should proceed alongside the ongoing criminal trial, stressing that neither the defendants nor their legal representatives had admitted involvement in the alleged publication.
Counsel to the six defendants denied any connection to the leaked materials. Some members of the defence team argued that the prosecution should file a formal application supported by an affidavit if it wished to pursue the matter before the court.
The hearing also featured testimony from the prosecution’s fourth witness, identified only as “DDD,” who maintained that the defendants voluntarily made their statements and were neither tortured nor coerced during interrogation.
The witness dismissed claims that the accused were chained while giving statements, stating that they walked into the interview room unassisted. He further told the court that none of the defendants requested the presence of lawyers, family members, Legal Aid Council officials, or a Justice of the Peace before making their statements.
Following the testimony, the prosecution closed its case in the trial-within-trial after calling four witnesses.
The court adjourned proceedings to June 25 and June 30 for the first three defendants to open their defence, while the remaining defendants are scheduled to present theirs on July 1 and July 2.
Justice Abdulmalik also fixed July 20 for a ruling on the defendants’ bail applications.
The six men remain on trial over allegations of participating in a plot to topple the Tinubu administration—claims they have denied and which the court has yet to determine.
News
Good Governance: Nwoye Harps on Prudent Management of Public Funds, Engagement of Competent Hands
A Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Peace, Conflict and Development Studies (IPCDS), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Dr. Ben Nwoye, has emphasized the need for managers of public institutions, especially government-owned establishments, to prioritize prudent management of resources and the engagement of competent personnel.
Nwoye also stressed that placing qualified and capable individuals in positions of responsibility remains one of the surest ways to achieve good governance and sustainable development in any society.
The former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State and current Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party made the remarks on Monday during a good governance facility tour to the remodeled Government Technical College (GTC), Enugu, alongside PhD students of IPCDS.
He commended Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for the transformation of GTC Enugu under the leadership of Dr. Amaka Ngene, Chairman of the Science, Technical and Vocational Schools Management Board (STVSMB), noting that the institution has been transformed from a dilapidated facility into a modern learning centre.
According to Nwoye, the visit was aimed at assessing the progress made since a similar tour of the school in 2025.
He described education as the bedrock of national development and stressed the need for governments to continue investing heavily in the sector.
“The massive transformation that has taken place at GTC Enugu would not have been possible without prudent management of resources and the appointment of capable leadership,” he said.
“When we first visited, what we saw were merely buildings and classrooms without teachers or students. We were also shown videos and photographs depicting the terrible state of the institution before the intervention of the Enugu State Government.
“Today, barely a year later, we have returned to see whether the state-of-the-art facilities have become functional, and we are impressed by what we have seen. There are teachers, students, and fully operational departments.
“This success is largely due to the quality of leadership driving the school board. The desired transformation has truly taken place, and this goes beyond politics. It is about commitment, competence, and prudent management of public funds.”
Nwoye noted that the beneficiaries of the reforms are young people whose lives are being positively impacted through quality education and vocational training.
“We must commend Governor Peter Mbah for providing the enabling environment and resources needed to achieve this. More importantly, we must acknowledge the efforts of the Board Chairman, Dr. Amaka Ngene, who has driven the entire process.”
He added that practical examples such as GTC Enugu provide valuable learning opportunities for students studying governance and leadership.
“The challenge in our country is not the absence of laws but our failure to implement them. Previous boards allowed this institution to remain in a deplorable condition. What we are seeing today demonstrates what is possible when competent individuals are entrusted with leadership responsibilities.”
Nwoye expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the tour, stating that his students were impressed by the level of transformation witnessed across the institution.
“It is gratifying because when we teach governance principles in the classroom, we can now point to practical examples where those principles are being applied successfully. Sustainable development can only be achieved when education is treated as a priority,” he said.
Speaking during the tour, Dr. Ngene attributed the board’s achievements to a fortified database system, zero tolerance for corruption, truancy, and absenteeism, as well as a commitment to accountability and efficiency.
She also praised Governor Mbah for his commitment to education, describing the ongoing reforms as an education revolution in Enugu State.
According to her, the state’s investment in education has surpassed the UNESCO recommendation of 15 to 20 per cent budgetary allocation to the sector.
“Over the last three years, Enugu State has consistently allocated an average of 23 per cent of its budget to education, reflecting the governor’s commitment to human capital development,” she disclosed.
During the facility tour, the visiting students inspected several functional departments, including the automobile repair workshop, welding and fabrication unit, computer laboratory, garment-making section, and hospitality and catering department.
The facilities provide practical vocational training for senior students, equipping them with employable skills and entrepreneurial opportunities for the future.
Dr. Ngene maintained that Governor Mbah’s administration has demonstrated the impact of good governance through strategic investments in education and human capital development, adding that the results are already evident across the state.
With the successful conclusion of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, the Enugu State Structures for Signage and Advertisement Agency (ENSSAA) has announced plans to commence a statewide enforcement exercise against unauthorized outdoor advertisements across the state.
The Agency said the operation would target illegally displayed posters, billboards, political campaign materials, banners, and other outdoor advertisements erected without the approval and requisite permits of ENSSAA.
In a statement issued on Monday by the General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Francis Aninwike, ENSSAA said the enforcement exercise would be carried out across Enugu metropolis and all the local government areas of the state in accordance with the provisions of the ENSSAA Law 2016, which regulates outdoor advertising and signage in Enugu State.
Aninwike explained that the Agency deliberately suspended the enforcement exercise in recent weeks to allow the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election to be concluded and to avoid giving political coloration to what is essentially a long-overdue regulatory exercise aimed at restoring order, sanity, and environmental aesthetics within the state’s outdoor advertising space.
He stressed that no individual, political party, candidate, organization, or business is permitted to erect, display, or paste advertisements, including political campaign materials, without first obtaining the approval of the Agency.
According to him, political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders are advised to immediately regularize their advertisements and obtain the necessary permits before displaying campaign materials or other outdoor advertisements in any part of the state.
The General Manager noted that the proliferation of unauthorized advertisements constitutes a violation of the law, contributes to visual pollution, defaces public infrastructure, and undermines the beauty of the environment.
He emphasized that the enforcement exercise is neither targeted at any individual nor directed against any political group.
“This enforcement exercise is not targeted at any individual or political group. It is a routine regulatory action aimed at ensuring compliance with the law and maintaining a clean, orderly, and aesthetically pleasing environment across the state,” Aninwike stated.
To ensure a smooth and peaceful operation, ENSSAA said it has secured armed police escorts for its enforcement teams. The exercise will be conducted daily between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
The Agency urged members of the public to comply with extant regulations and refrain from obstructing officials carrying out their lawful duties.
Aninwike reiterated ENSSAA’s commitment to sanitizing the outdoor advertising sector, enforcing compliance with relevant laws, and ensuring that outdoor advertisements across Enugu State conform to approved standards.
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