The Supreme Court is set to rule on five appeals related to the ongoing crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

After hearing arguments on the defection of 27 lawmakers, the apex court reserved its judgment, with a date to be communicated to the involved parties.

Among the key issues, Governor Siminalayi Fubara is challenging the legitimacy of Martin Amaewhule as Speaker, arguing that he and 26 other lawmakers forfeited their positions by allegedly defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At its last sitting, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed Governor Fubara’s appeal challenging the legality of re-presenting the 2024 state budget before the Amaewhule-led Assembly.

The case was struck out after Fubara’s lawyer, Yusuf Ali, withdrew it, stating that the appeal was no longer relevant.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu for his silence on the ongoing crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as an implicit approval of anti-democratic tactics aimed at undermining the lawmakers’ will.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku condemned what he termed “backdoor tactics” and the use of state-backed security forces to overturn the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, despite being voted out by a majority of Assembly members.

Earlier on Thursday, Obasa had forcefully entered the Lagos Assembly complex, insisting he remained the Speaker, even as most lawmakers opposed his return.

Atiku argued that Tinubu’s silence on the crisis casts doubt on his commitment to democratic principles, especially in light of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s recent claims that the president engages in selective political control.

“Despite his undisputed influence over Lagos politics, President Bola Tinubu has remained conspicuously silent. His refusal to address the crisis suggests an implicit endorsement of the anti-democratic maneuvers aimed at imposing his preferred candidate against the overwhelming will of Assembly members.

“This silence is both deafening and deeply troubling,” Atiku stated.

He accused Tinubu of reducing Lagos politics to a struggle between the noble values of *Omoluabi*—which emphasize integrity, fairness, and public service—and the coercive tactics of *Area Boy* politics, where power is maintained through force rather than consensus.

Atiku urged the president to publicly denounce any attempts to subvert democracy in Lagos and to ensure that due process is respected.

“Nigeria’s democracy was hard-fought and must not be undermined by those who should be its foremost defenders. We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant and steadfast in protecting the integrity of our democratic institutions,” he said.

MTN Nigeria reported a post-tax loss of ₦400.44 billion for the financial year ending December 31, 2024, attributing the decline to the naira’s devaluation, which significantly increased foreign exchange losses and affected earnings.

According to the company’s audited financial statements released on Thursday, this represents a 192% rise from the ₦137.02 billion loss recorded in 2023.

With over 80 million subscribers, the telecom giant noted that the sharp depreciation of the naira greatly impacted its foreign exchange exposure, causing forex losses to surge to ₦925 billion, up from ₦740 billion in the previous year.

MTN highlighted that the naira weakened from ₦907/$1 as of December 31, 2023, to ₦1,535/$ by the end of 2024.

Despite the losses, the company’s revenue grew by 36% to ₦3.36 trillion in 2024, compared to ₦2.47 trillion in the previous year, driven by increased demand for data and digital services.

A section of the report stated, “Foreign exchange losses from the revaluation of foreign currency-denominated obligations resulted in a post-tax loss of ₦400.4 billion (2023: ₦137 billion loss), despite a positive Q4 performance with a profit after tax of ₦114.5 billion.

“As a result, we recorded negative retained earnings of ₦607.5 billion (December 2023: negative ₦208 billion), which marked an improvement from the June 2024 balance of ₦727.2 billion.”

The company’s operating profit, representing earnings from its core business activities, stood at ₦778.2 billion—up marginally by 0.46% from ₦774.6 billion in the previous year. However, these gains were erased by forex losses.

MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola remarked, “We are encouraged by our business’s resilience in 2024, which underscores our commitment to driving growth and managing costs.

“Despite facing significant macroeconomic challenges, including record-high inflation, currency volatility, and energy price fluctuations, we remained focused on executing our strategy and delivering long-term value to stakeholders.

“We appreciate the authorities for the recent approval of tariff adjustments, which are crucial for the industry’s sustainability and addressing our negative capital position.”

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc was incorporated on November 8, 2000, as a private limited liability company.

The Nigerian Communications Commission granted the company a license on February 9, 2001, to build and operate GSM cellular network systems and provide related services nationwide.

MTN officially began operations on August 8, 2001.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare system, emphasizing that quality medical care should be a fundamental right for all citizens, not a privilege.

Speaking at a Public Hearing of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary) on Thursday, Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate Leader Oyetola Ashiru, reaffirmed the Senate’s dedication to ensuring accessible and efficient healthcare services nationwide.

He expressed concern over the current state of the country’s healthcare system, describing it as a “failure we must refuse to accept.”

He stressed that every preventable death signifies not just the loss of life but also the loss of dreams and potential contributions to the nation’s progress.

“Each time a Nigerian dies from a treatable illness, we do not just lose a life, we lose a dream, a future, and a piece of our nation’s greatness,” Akpabio stated.

He vowed that the Senate would work to prevent further deaths caused by inadequate medical facilities, lack of hope, or insufficient expertise.

Akpabio also addressed the ongoing exodus of Nigerian medical professionals seeking better opportunities abroad, as well as the increasing number of citizens traveling overseas for medical treatment.

He described the situation as unacceptable and called for a healthcare system that retains top talent and provides quality treatment locally.

“It is disheartening to see our people, suffering from conditions that should be treated at home, forced to seek medical care abroad. This is not the future we envision for our children, nor the Nigeria we pledged to serve,” he said.

The public hearing reviewed several key healthcare bills aimed at strengthening secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions. These include:

– The establishment of National Eye Centres in Adamawa and Kogi States to combat rising cases of blindness and improve specialized eye care.
– The creation of a Federal Orthopaedic Hospital to provide advanced treatment for musculoskeletal disorders and trauma cases.
– Amendments to the Federal Medical Centers Act to enhance service delivery and upgrade federal medical facilities across the country.

Akpabio assured Nigerians that the 10th Senate remains fully committed to their well-being. He pledged that the Federal Government would prioritize healthcare, treating it as an essential right rather than a luxury.

The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) has announced free medical surgeries in celebration of its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s 83rd birthday.

Born on March 2, 1942, in Ifewara, Osun State, Adeboye will turn 83 on Sunday.

In a statement released on Thursday, his son, Pastor Leke Adeboye, revealed that the initiative, part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, will provide various free medical services.

These include obstetrics and gynecology care, general and specialized surgeries, eye surgeries, dialysis sessions, reading glasses, and consultations.

The church stated that the Redeemer’s Health Centre (RHC) will facilitate the medical services, and interested individuals can register by contacting the designated phone numbers or visiting the RHC premises.

“Pastor Adeboye’s dedication to giving back to society is evident in RCCG’s numerous CSR initiatives, which have impacted over 166 million lives and completed more than 990,000 projects,” the statement noted.

The RCCG further emphasized its commitment to making a difference in various sectors, highlighting that its healthcare interventions have reached over nine million beneficiaries, completed 33,052 health projects, and established four intensive care units across different locations.

The church described the free medical initiative as a reflection of Adeboye’s lifelong commitment to serving humanity and making a meaningful impact on society.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims to begin the search for the crescent marking the start of Ramadan 1446 AH on Friday.

This announcement was made in a statement on Thursday by Prof. Sambo Junaidu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council, Sokoto.

“The Muslim community is hereby informed that Friday, February 28, which corresponds to the 29th day of Sha’aban 1446 AH, should be the day to observe the sky for the new moon of Ramadan 1446 AH,” Junaidu stated.

He encouraged Muslims to report any sightings to their nearest district or village head, who would then relay the information to the Sultanate.

Junaidu also quoted the Sultan as offering prayers for Allah’s guidance and blessings upon Muslims as they fulfill their religious obligations.

For immediate reporting of moon sightings, the following contact numbers were provided: 08037157100, 08066303077, 08035965322, 08099945903, and 07067146900.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a sacred period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community observed by Muslims around the world.

The Federal Government has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Halal Products Development Company (HPDC) to position Nigeria as a major player in the global halal market, which is valued at $7.7 trillion.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima described the deal as a transformative step that will turn Nigeria into a global halal economic powerhouse.

“This agreement aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda by creating jobs, attracting foreign direct investment, and diversifying our economy.

The halal economy is not limited to Muslim consumers—non-Muslim majority countries like Brazil, Australia, and Thailand are already leveraging it for significant export growth,” Shettima’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted him as saying in a statement on Thursday.

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Ibrahim Hadejia, Shettima emphasized that the partnership would drive investment, technical cooperation, and market access in key sectors such as food production, pharmaceuticals, finance, and livestock.

The agreement was signed with HPDC, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, in the presence of Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Chairman of the Makkah Halal Forum’s Organizing Committee Fawaz bin Talal Al-Harbi, and Chairman of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdullah bin Saleh Kamel.

Aliyu Bunu Sheriff, Special Assistant to the President on Export Promotion, highlighted that the deal builds on Nigeria’s expanding Islamic finance sector, which has successfully introduced Sukuk bonds for infrastructure financing and established Islamic banks such as Jaiz Bank, Taj Bank, and Lotus Bank.

Sheriff added that the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) will support the initiative through capacity building, regulatory framework development, and financing opportunities.

The Nigerian delegation included key government and business figures such as the Chairman of Dar Al Halal Group, Alhaji Muhammadu Ladan Dikko; Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bank of Industry, Mansur Muhtar; Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole (represented by Ambassador Nura Rimi); and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar (represented by Ambassador Mahmoud Lele).

Others present were the Chairman of the Nigeria-Saudi Chamber of Commerce, Ibrahim Usman; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun (represented by Nur Muftau Baba Ahmed); CEO of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Nonye Aneyi (represented by Mustapha Aminu); Deputy President of NACCIMA, Jani Ibrahim; and Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olasupo Olusi (represented by Jelilat Ismaila-Ayinde).

The agreement is expected to enhance investment and cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, expanding opportunities in halal food production, pharmaceuticals, finance, and livestock.

The Federal Government has announced plans to standardize electricity tariffs for customers in Bands B, C, and A to enhance efficiency and reliability in the power sector.

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this on Thursday at the Public Presentation of the National Integrated Electricity Policy and Nigeria Integrated Resource Plan in Abuja.

The initiative was developed with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF).

Currently, Band B customers, who receive between 17 to 18 hours of electricity daily, pay ₦63 per kilowatt-hour, while Band A customers, who get just two extra hours of supply, are charged ₦209 per kilowatt-hour.

Adelabu noted that in 2024, the power sector implemented a cost-reflective tariff for about 15% of consumers, a move he described as a significant step forward.

“It was a pilot program and a proof of concept, and I believe it has worked. Those enjoying 20 to 24 hours of electricity daily are satisfied, despite paying ₦209 per kilowatt-hour, as they consider it a better alternative to generators,” he said.

He added that as efforts to upgrade distribution and transmission infrastructure continue, more customers would be moved to Band A.

Following the migration of some customers, the power sector recorded a 70% revenue increase, from ₦1.05 trillion in 2024 to approximately ₦1.7 trillion.

“We will review the tariff, but this does not mean an increase,” Adelabu clarified. “Our goal is to build on our 2024 progress, not just to grow sector revenue, but also to invest in upgrading the aging infrastructure needed to support a stable electricity supply.”

He also expressed concerns over the slow pace of migrating Band B and C customers to Band A, attributing it to the reluctance of Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to invest in the sector.

“A significant amount of investment is needed to accelerate this transition, and the regularization of tariffs for Band B and C customers to Band A will be carried out gradually,” he concluded.

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the Nigerian Army seeking to reinstate the conviction of Major Akeem Oseni, who was previously found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the death of a junior colleague but later acquitted.

Oseni was originally sentenced to 10 years in prison by a General Court Martial on February 7, 2020, following a 2017 incident involving the disciplinary action of Lance Corporal Benjamin Collins.

He and three other officers—Major O. Osawe, Captain S. Amosu, and Lieutenant Dogary—had been instructed to punish Collins for allegedly attempting a jailbreak.

According to court documents, Oseni halted the disciplinary process soon after it began, counseled Collins, and called a superior officer, who reprimanded the soldier and ordered his return to detention.

Later, during routine inspections, Oseni was informed that Collins was struggling with his leg restraints.

He promptly called the officer in charge of the detention facility and arranged for Collins to be taken to the Defence Headquarters Medical Centre, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Following the court-martial, Oseni was convicted of manslaughter, while Captain Amosu was acquitted. The two other officers, Major Osawe and Lieutenant Dogary, were later discharged and acquitted by the Army Council on November 24, 2020.

Oseni challenged his conviction at the Court of Appeal, which overturned the ruling and declared him innocent.

However, the Nigerian Army contested this decision at the Supreme Court in an attempt to restore the conviction.

The appeal was ultimately dismissed due to procedural deficiencies, as the Army failed to compile and submit the necessary records.

Delivering the lead judgment on Wednesday, Justice Uwani Aji stated, “The application filed on 9/10/2023 for an order dismissing this appeal for failure to compile and transmit the record of appeal is hereby granted as prayed. The said appeal No. SC/CR/948/2023 is hereby dismissed.”

Oseni was represented by a legal team comprising David Ogundipe, Abdulwahab Abdulakeem, Aisha Okuribido, and Oluwafemi Oluwadamisi.

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Oyo State, Rofiat Lawal, has been abducted by unidentified gunmen along the Benin-Ore Expressway.

A friend of the victim, Agbakwara, revealed the incident in a Facebook post on Wednesday, explaining that Lawal was traveling from Benin City, the capital of Edo State, to Ibadan en route to Ogbomoso, where she was to report at her NYSC place of primary assignment when she was kidnapped on Tuesday.

According to Agbakwara, the abductors are demanding a ₦20 million ransom for her release.

“My close friend, Lawal Rofiat Kofoworola, was kidnapped while traveling from Benin to Ibadan to resume at her PPA in Ogbomosho. She managed to call me yesterday and said she was inside an Ore-bound bus when she was taken,” she wrote.

She further shared that Lawal struggled through university by working at a company in Benin City to support herself. She expressed distress over how to raise the ransom, given Lawal’s humble background.

“This is someone who has worked tirelessly to fund her education by working at Dufil Company in Benin. Now, kidnappers are demanding ₦20 million, which her parents, who are less privileged, cannot afford.

“I reported the case to the NYSC secretariat in Ibadan and provided her call-up number, but there has been no response. Please, Nigerians, I need your support. If anyone can help spread this message, reach out to the authorities, or assist in any way, please do. She has been my close friend since my first year in university, and I have been devastated since this happened,” Agbakwara pleaded.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, the Oyo State NYSC Coordinator, Odoba Oche, stated that security agencies had been informed and were taking necessary action.

He added that the NYSC was only made aware of the abduction after Lawal’s parents reported it on Wednesday. The matter has since been escalated to the NYSC National Headquarters as well as the Ondo and Edo State NYSC offices.

However, Oche noted that Lawal traveled to Benin without notifying the NYSC, which violates the scheme’s guidelines.

“The NYSC has consistently advised corps members to inform authorities before traveling and to avoid night journeys,” he emphasized.