South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, CIO said on Monday it has requested the defense ministry and the presidential security service to cooperate ahead of the second attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The CIO said it sent letters to the ministry and the security service late Sunday asking for their cooperation and warning of legal consequences should they fail to comply, according to the Yonhap.

In the letter to the defense ministry, the CIO said any soldier obstructing the execution of Yoon’s arrest warrants and search the presidential residence could receive criminal punishment or face claims for damages in the event of human or material damage, according to the report.

In a separate letter to the presidential security service, the CIO warned of similar consequences for security personnel obstructing the investigators’ operation, in addition to possible loss of status as a public servant and restrictions on rehiring and pension receipts.

The CIO also said that security service employees will not face disadvantages for defying illegal orders to block the execution of the warrants, said the Yonhap, NAN reports.

The Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of secretly recruiting over 400 new staff to replace 1,000 employees who were reportedly forced to resign.

The group made the allegations in a statement issued in Kaduna by its Speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, who condemned the recruitment process as lacking transparency and violating due process.
Danlami alleged that the recruitment, purportedly orchestrated under the leadership of CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, was carried out without proper advertisement to allow qualified candidates to apply. He described the move as a “policy somersault,” questioning the rationale behind hiring new staff so soon after a downsizing exercise.

“We have intercepted credible reports alleging that the Central Bank of Nigeria under the leadership of Olayemi Cardoso has secretly recruited over 400 staff to replace the over 1,000 who were said to have voluntarily resigned,” Danlami said.
“How can a bank that recently shed its weight of excess staff surreptitiously employ 400 others to do what job?”

The youth leader also expressed concerns that the recruitment process may have excluded candidates from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, thereby violating the principle of federal character enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

Danlami urged the CBN to provide clarification on the allegations and ensure future recruitment processes are transparent and inclusive.

The apex bank is yet to comment on the allegation at the time of filing this report.

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has strongly condemned the recent terror attacks in Northern Benin, which left dozens dead.

The attacks, which took place on Wednesday, January 8, in the Point Trible area, were carried out by unidentified armed individuals, targeting local communities and security forces.

In a statement released on Sunday, the ECOWAS Commission expressed its condolences to the government, security forces, and people of Benin, particularly the families of the fallen soldiers.

“The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States unequivocally condemns the heinous attacks in the Point Trible area by unidentified armed men on Wednesday, 8 January 2025, which resulted in dozens of casualties,” the statement read.

The regional body reaffirmed its commitment to combating terrorism across West Africa, stating the importance of its Counterterrorism Plan of Action, which aims to address the growing threat of violent extremism.

The ECOWAS Commission extended solidarity to the government and people of Benin and pledged to continue supporting member states in their efforts to safeguard the security and well-being of their citizens.

“ECOWAS remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating terrorism in West Africa, including through the ongoing operationalization of the Counterterrorism Plan of Action in all its forms,” the statement continued.

The organization also urged member states to intensify regional cooperation, particularly in intelligence sharing and border security, to tackle the threat of terrorism effectively.