Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. The Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman, has issued a warning to Bello El-Rufai, son of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, cautioning against threats and intimidation towards the Assembly’s investigation into his father’s eight-year tenure. Liman’s spokesperson alleged that Bello El-Rufai, a federal lawmaker, made disrespectful and threatening remarks on social media and sent insulting messages via WhatsApp to the Speaker. The Speaker affirmed the Assembly’s commitment to pursue justice and accountability despite such attempts to obstruct its work. The statement urged Kaduna State residents to support transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
2. A Kogi State High Court has issued a restraining order against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preventing them from arresting, detaining, or prosecuting former Kogi governor Yahaya Bello. The judge, Justice I. A Jamil declared that any infringement on Bello’s fundamental human rights would be null and void unless authorized by the court. Bello had filed a case alleging a breach of his rights by the anti-graft agency. Despite this order, Bello was taken from his Abuja residence by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, according to the EFCC. This move by Ododo casts doubt on Bello’s expected arraignment on corruption charges. Conflicting court orders emerged, with a Federal High Court in Abuja granting the EFCC permission to arrest Bello, while the Kogi State High Court restrained them. Bello served as governor of Kogi State from January 27, 2016, to January 27, 2024, when he handed over to Usman Ododo.
3. The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has advocated for Nigeria to revert to a parliamentary system of government. He argued that the current presidential system lacks accountability, leading to the persistence of bad leadership. Obi suggested that in a parliamentary system, where the president is a member of parliament, accountability is more immediate, with the president required to interface with citizens regularly. He also criticized the current system for allowing leaders to evade accountability by hiring representatives to speak on their behalf. Obi emphasized the need for a system where elected officials are directly accountable to the people who elected them.
5. Renowned chess master Tunde Onakoya has embarked on a mission to exceed the Guinness World Record for the longest unbeaten chess marathon, aiming for 58 hours of continuous play. Holding in New York City’s Times Square, the event began on April 17 and is set to conclude on April 19. Onakoya has played for 16 hours straight, winning all his matches, including against National Chess Master Shawn Martinez. His manager, Taiwo, revealed that Onakoya is playing two sets of games simultaneously and must not lose either. The event has garnered significant attention and support from Nigerians abroad, as well as encouraging messages from Nigerian dignitaries such as Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Atiku Abubakar, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Additionally, the US Mission in Nigeria and the UK in Nigeria have sent their best wishes to Onakoya via social media.
