Politics
Biafra: Transfer my case to South-East – Nnamdi Kanu tells Abuja court
The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja to transfer his trial to the South-East.
Kanu based his application in pursuant to Order 49, Rule 3 of Federal High Court Rules 2019 and Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act.
The application signed by Kanu’s lead Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor was addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja and dated January 30, 2025.
He said on 24th September 2024, Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court entered an order recusing himself from handling this case.
He said her recusal followed Kanu’s demand that she step down from his case due to law of confidence in her handling of the trial.
According to Ejimakor: “We are Solicitors-of-Record to the Defendant, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (hereafter: our Client/Defendant) in the above-captioned matter.
“Pursuant to Order 49, Rule 3 of Federal High Court Rules 2019 and Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act, we hereby humbly apply for transfer of this matter from the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to any division of the Court in the Southeast. Our Application is grounded on the following:
“On 24th September 2024, Honorable Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako entered an Order recusing himself from handling this case, pursuant to an oral application made by the Defendant in open court. The said Order is hereby attached and marked as Annexure 1.
“We are reliably informed that, following the said recusal, Justice Murtala-Nyako promptly sent the case file to Your Lordship for the purpose of reassigning it to another Judge of the same Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
“However, it came to pass that Your Lordship was unable to reassign the case to another Judge of the Abuja division because none of Their Lordships (in the Abuja division) agreed to take the case, thus leading to the situation where Your Lordship has now sent the case back to Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, from whose Court we received a hearing notice setting the matter down for hearing before His Lordship on 10th February 2025. See Annexure 2.
“Your Lordship, we are minded to hereby protest sending this case file back to Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako because His Lordship no longer has jurisdiction as he stands recused by virtue of the subsisting Order that His Lordship had made and enrolled under his hand.
“Given that no other Judge in the Abuja division is willing to take the case, the only option left is to transfer the case to any division of the Federal High Court in the Southeast geopolitical zone, especially since the offenses are alleged to have had impact in Southeast (and not Abuja), which thus gives the Southeast divisions a far superior jurisdiction than any other division, including Abuja.
“This also accords with Order 49, Rule 3 of Federal High Court Rules 2019, Section 45 of the Federal High Court Act and the case of IBORI vs. FRN (2009)3 NWLR (pt.1128) 283.
“For the forgoing reasons, we respectfully request that our humble application be considered and granted before the hearing scheduled for 10th February, 2025 in order to prevent a grave miscarriage of justice to the Defendant.”
Politics
Breaking: Diri Orders Autopsy on Bayelsa Deputy Governor’s Death, Warns Against Politicisation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
Governor Diri gave the directive on Saturday while receiving former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Government House in Yenagoa.
Reacting to the incident, the governor condemned what he described as widespread misinformation and speculation on social media, warning against any attempt to politicise the deputy governor’s death.
“I want to make an appeal. I have seen people politicise his death. In Ijaw land, there is no enmity in death. Let nobody politicise the passing of our dearly beloved deputy governor,” Diri said.
“If anyone truly loves him, this is the time to show it. I have directed that an autopsy be carried out to reveal the cause of his death. There is a lot of nonsense going on on social media.”
The governor further urged the public to focus on mourning and honouring the late deputy governor, noting that the state government had declared three working days of mourning in his honour.
“If anyone is issuing statements to eulogise him, let it end there. Let us mourn him because Bayelsa State is in a mourning mood,” he added.
Governor Diri also called for unity and love among the people, reminding them of the inevitability of death.
Speaking during the condolence visit, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Ewhrudjakpo as a committed and dedicated individual who played a key role in the activities of his foundation.
“For me, he was someone my foundation and I will never forget. He represented the governor in all our programs,” Jonathan said, adding that Ewhrudjakpo worked tirelessly in that role, even more than when he served as deputy governor.
The founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, has said he will never take part in partisan politics, not for even billions of naira.
He stated that no amount of money, including “$1 billion,” (1.4 Trillion naira) would make him join politics.
Oyedepo made this known during an impartation service at Shiloh 2025 held at the church’s headquarters in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.
He explained that partisan politics is not part of his life’s calling and that is why he has chosen to stay away from it.
In his words: “In 2015, I warned the church that trouble was coming. Didn’t trouble come?
“Partisan politics is off my calling. If you give me $1 billion to join politics, I won’t, because it is off my course.”
The bishop also said the world is in urgent need of God’s intervention because of the times we are living in.
According to him, believers are being trained as an end-time army to bring solutions to national and global problems, similar to what biblical figures like Joseph and Daniel did.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on his birthday, December 13.
President Tinubu celebrates with the Minister and former governor of Rivers State, giving thanks to God Almighty for enriching him with a life defined by purpose, service, and courage.
The President describes Chief Wike as an audacious top performer who defies obstacles and delivers results.
President Tinubu acknowledges the ongoing transformation of the Federal Capital Territory through infrastructure expansion, highlighting the Minister’s recent intervention that broke the 14-year logjam in the construction of the Apo-Karshi road.
The President commends Chief Wike for his resilience, can-do attitude, and commitment to excellence in all assignments.
President Tinubu thanks the Minister for his consistent efforts in delivering results and wishes him a happy birthday and strength to further his good work in the FCT.
“Nyesom Wike has been one of the shining stars in the cabinet, an exceptional performer, developing infrastructure in the Federal capital as never seen before and proving that his moniker as ‘Mr Project’ is not limited to his home state of Rivers.
“I commend him for being one of the champions of our Renewed Hope Agenda, even though he belongs to another party and wish him well as he marks another year in his life journey”.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
December 13, 2025
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