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BOOs

How the Lawan senate failed its first major test

Senator Ahmed Lawan is the Chairman and President of Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly.  His emergence as Senate President was prefaced by a lot of politicking and brick-bats within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of which he is a member and...

Scoopinions

Lack of personal agency: How Nigeria is rearing unconfident and subservient citizens

One Monday afternoon in September 2003, I found myself very confused. I had recently left a school with a joint Nigerian-British syllabus and moved to a school running a fully British system, and it was my first day in the...

Activism

Kaduna court postpones judgment on El-Zakzaky’s case – what it means

A Kaduna High Court has slated August 5 for ruling on the application filed by the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat. Backstory: Human rights activist and counsel to El-Zakzaky, Femi Falana...

NASS

NBA’s rebuttal shows why no serious government should have Malami as Attorney General

In a strong response, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the justification provided by former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on why he and the President Buhari administration disobeyed valid court orders. Malami, who was recently...

Activism

Falana made three key points about FG’s proscription of Shi’ite group

Human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the order obtained by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Dayo Akpata, on behalf of the Federal Government to proscribe the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN). He said the...

Politics

APC denied rare application to reverse Supreme Court decision on Zamfara – but it’s not giving up

Nigeria’s Supreme court has rejected a rare application brought before it by the All Progressive’s Congress (APC) seeking that it sets aside its judgment nullifying the candidature of the APC in the Zamfara state elections. Backstory: Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour denied...

Today's Scoops

Boko Haram’s video claiming Leah Sharibu is dead looks like propaganda – the big picture

A video released by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) showed six Nigerian aid workers kidnapped in Borno state last week begging for their lives.  The tape had one of the abductees, a young female aide worker pleading for...

Activism

The various sides to the recent Police-Shiite confrontation that has left many dead – bottomline

A Monday ‘Free El-Zakzaky’ protest by members of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria resulted in the deaths of eight persons including six IMN members, a journalist and a deputy police commissioner (DCP). No going back: The protests are increasingly...

Politics

The presidency accounts for $1 billion security fund – but there’s a contradiction

The Nigerian government finally gave some form of account for a $1 billion fund set aside to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges. The fund to be sourced from the country’s Excess Crude Account was approved by the National Executive Council in...

Takeaways

Quick Take: 5 shocking political events this week

U.S government effects no-visa policy for blacklisted Nigerian politicians The United States government released a statement announcing its implementation of a travel ban against specific individuals involved in acts that undermined the democratic process in Nigeria. The US government’s action...

Today's Scoops

Iran asks Nigerian government for El-Zakzaky’s transfer – why it matters

The Iranian government has officially requested for the transfer of detained Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky to Tehran for medical treatment. Backdrop: Iran’s Prosecutor-General (Attorney-General), Mohammed Montazeri in his letter to local news organisation urged the Nigerian...

Nigerian Identity

Armed herdsmen take over 17 Taraba villages after displacing indigenes – the bottomline

A Taraba traditional ruler has raised the alarm over the occupation of his domain by suspected armed herdsmen. Backstory: The traditional ruler of the Kona people in Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba state, Augustine Njanmeng, said the herdsmen have...

Doing Business

Quick take: Why the fight by Nigerian students against MTN is the wrong fight

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) sealed a local office of telecoms company, MTN on Thursday. According to NANS, the protest was taken against the ‘South African’ telecoms company in protest against the xenophobic attacks and killings of Nigerians...

Today's Scoops

The 5 biggest takeaways from Buhari’s ministerial list

Two months into his fresh tenure, President Muhammadu Buhari released his list of 43 ministerial nominees that are expected to form his cabinet. Here is what you need to know about the list: Demographic spread: Although Buhari fulfilled his constitutional...

Politics

The sham truce negotiated by govt with Zamfara bandits is already falling apart

The governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, on July 18 commended the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for the role it played in helping to suspend attacks by armed bandits who have been terrorizing inhabitants of the state and forcing them to...

Scoopinions

African poverty and the Illusion of victimhood

Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya is the largest urban slum in Africa with an estimated population of up to 700,000 people. Apart from the social problems associated with a low-income shantytown, it is also notorious for being one of the dirtiest...

Politics

El-Zakzaky’s health is at risk and all eyes are now on a Kaduna Court’s July 29 ruling

Detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky reportedly suffered a stroke early last week, according to reporting by Doha based Al-Jazeera news. Backstory: El-Zakzaky through his counsel, Femi Falana (SAN) made an application before a Kaduna...

Politics

Why PDP’s constitutional concern about Edo Assembly shutdown by NASS is valid

The Federal House of Representatives recently ordered the shut down of the Edo State House of Assembly following the leadership crisis rocking the state’s legislature. However, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party has expressed opposition to the move, describing it as...

Politics

Falana’s constitutional amendment proposal will see retired judges handle election petitions – the big picture

A prominent constitutional lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) wants the return of retired judges to the bench for the purpose of handling elections’ petitions. The backstory: Falana’s advocacy is based on his frustration with the abandonment of other cases by judges...

Aso Rock

Buhari wants Fulani herdsmen to ignore order to leave Southern Nigeria – why it matters

President Muhammadu Buhari has denounced the call by a sectional Northern group for all Fulani herdsmen to leave the southern part of Nigeria. Backstory: A sectional group known as Northern Elders Forum (NEF) called on the herdsmen to return to...