Good morning! In today’s trending news stories;
- 1. Following the judgement of the Supreme Court on Thursday, 26th October, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, accused the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, of abusing the powers of his office. Justice Muhammad expressed concerns about various issues within the judiciary, including the concentration of power in the CJN’s office, the unaddressed vacancies in the Supreme Court, disparity in salaries among judiciary staff, perceived injustices, and the decline in the quality of service.
2. President Bola Tinubu’s approval of Professor Tunji Olaope as the new chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC). The appointment, as stated in the Nigerian Constitution’s Section 154, was confirmed by Ajuri Ngelale, the special adviser. Additionally, 11 senior officials were chosen to serve as representatives in various states. The incoming FCSC leadership, along with the new chairman, is expected to commence duties on November 30, 2023, coinciding with the conclusion of the current chairman and members’ term on November 29, 2023.
3. The situation at the United Nations General Assembly regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas is becoming heated as the US envoy, criticizes Arab states for supporting the resolution of the Hamas by telling Israel to cease fire.
4. Mozambican security forces used excessive force and weapons against peaceful protesters after local elections, resulting in casualties, including a 10-year-old boy. The protests on October 27th, 2023, followed the ruling party’s victory in most municipalities, despite voting irregularities. The police used lethal force, sparking clashes during demonstrations in Maputo and in the northern province of Nampula. Human Rights Watch criticized the security forces’ actions, citing violations of international guidelines on the use of force and firearms.
5. After weeks of the naira weakening, there was a shift in the foreign exchange market, as the naira unexpectedly strengthened by N166 against the dollar within a short period in the Peer to Peer (P2P) market on October 27, 2023. This significant appreciation of 16.34% (N209) in value caused losses for traders who previously bought dollars at a higher rate, specifically over N1,300 for a dollar.
6. The Lagos State government and CIG, a Chinese car manufacturing company, celebrated the completion of the first 2000 vehicles assembled at their plant in Lagos. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu praised CIG for this initiative, emphasizing the job creation potential and its contribution to the local economy. CIG Motors’ chairman, Daina Chen, mentioned the establishment’s beginnings during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, detailing plans to assemble over 50,000 vehicles and increase production to 5000.
7. Popular Nigerian producer, Don Jazzy has paid the medical bill of N6 million for Nigerian footballer Fakiyesi Abisola Anthonia’s surgery. Anthonia had made a request to the public on social media, sharing her year-long struggle with knee pain following an injury during a football game. Don Jazzy responded to her plea by transferring the requested sum to her account, wishing her a speedy recovery.
