Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, known for penalizing the Department of State Services (DSS) over the unlawful detention of former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele, was among 22 new Justices of the Court of Appeal inaugurated on July 10 by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola. The group also included Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom Wike, wife of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Justice Adeniyi had previously ruled against the DSS for detaining Emefiele without arraignment from June 13 to November 8, 2023, awarding N100 million in damages. Twelve new judges were also inaugurated for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, including his daughter-in-law, Justice Victoria Oluwakemi Ariwoola. In his speech, the CJN emphasized the urgent need to address rising crime and litigation in Nigeria, urging the new judicial officers to uphold the law and avoid unethical practices.
2. Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, Senior Partner at Olisa Agbakoba Legal and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step down as Minister of Petroleum Resources and initiate major reforms in the oil and gas sector. Agbakoba advocates for abolishing the current joint-venture operations between the government and International Oil Companies (IOCs) in favor of a people-centric ‘Development Oil’ approach. Agbakoba also criticized the existing framework as unconstitutional, arguing that it contradicts Section 44 of the Nigerian constitution, which mandates government ownership of mineral resources. He contends that the joint ventures effectively cede ownership to IOCs, which undermines Nigeria’s sovereignty and economic interests. The lawyer noted that in contrast to Saudi Arabia, where IOCs provide services without ownership, Nigeria’s co-ownership model fails to benefit its citizens, and he called for a complete overhaul of the legal framework governing the sector.
3. President Bola Tinubu has invited organized labor leaders to a meeting at Aso Villa on Thursday to finalize discussions on a new minimum wage, according to sources within the labor movement. Tinubu aims to resolve the ongoing negotiations during this meeting, though specific details about the time and venue have not been disclosed. The Federal Executive Council recently postponed minimum wage discussions to allow for broader consultations.
4. Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, speaking at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, made claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been isolated and controlled by certain forces, preventing effective governance. Ndume criticized Tinubu’s administration for failing to address pressing issues such as poverty, insecurity, and food scarcity. He emphasized that the President is out of touch with the realities outside the Villa, hindered by those around him, and lacks public engagement beyond press statements by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale. Ndume warned of a worsening food crisis compounded by security challenges and urged the President to engage with honest advisors. He also noted that the farmer-herder crisis remains unresolved due to ethnic biases.
5. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the purchase of agricultural equipment, including 2,000 tractors, 4,000 disc ploughs, and 1,200 tractor-trailers, through the National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (NAMP). This information was shared by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy via X. The DMCC company will supply the equipment and establish assembly plants in Nigeria. The FEC’s approval follows the Minister of Agriculture’s announcement of a 150-day import duty moratorium on several food products. It plans to import 250,000 metric tonnes of wheat and maize to replenish the strategic grain store. Nigeria is facing a food security crisis with food inflation at 40.5%, and basic consumable prices have more than doubled in the past year. Estimates indicate that nearly 31 million Nigerians may suffer from severe food shortages by August. In response, the federal government plans to acquire food supplies worth N155 billion and distribute N50,000 to 100,000 households across the nation for three months. President Tinubu has also called on state governors to address their states’ food security needs.
6. The Supreme Court has ruled that the 36 state governors in Nigeria can no longer retain or utilize funds allocated to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs). This practice, ongoing for over two decades, was deemed illegal and unconstitutional, violating Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution. The court, led by Justice Emmanuel Agim, mandated that LGA funds must be directly paid from the federation account to the LGAs, bypassing state governments. Additionally, the court declared the appointment of caretaker committees by governors to manage LGAs unconstitutional and emphasized the requirement for democratic governance at the local level. This ruling followed a suit by the Federal Government to secure financial autonomy for LGAs.
7. England secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, with substitute Ollie Watkins scoring a late winner. Despite falling behind early to a Xavi Simons goal, England equalized through a Harry Kane penalty. Watkins then clinched the win in stoppage time, setting up a final clash against Spain. The victory marks England’s second consecutive European Championship final appearance as they aim for their first major trophy since 1966.
