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AGF Moves To Block Presidential Pardon For Corrupt Leaders

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has proposed a constitutional amendment to block presidential pardons for corrupt leaders, aiming to strengthen the fight against corruption.
The proposal, made at a one-day roundtable organized by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja on Monday, seeks to exclude corruption cases from the prerogative of mercy.
The ICPC event, themed ‘Building a Unified Front Against Corruption in Nigeria,’ brought together State Attorneys-General, Commissioners for Justice from all 36 states, and representatives from civil society organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders to enhance collaboration and strengthen anti-corruption efforts. The roundtable was supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
According to the Minister of Justice, the proposed amendment will be pursued in the next constitutional review to ensure that corrupt leaders face the full weight of the law.
The AGF stated that the proposal would be a significant step toward addressing corruption in Nigeria, a major concern for citizens and the international community.
Several high-profile individuals convicted of corruption in Nigeria have previously received presidential pardons.
Notable examples include the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, pardoned by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, and the former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who received a pardon in 2015.
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The AGF said, “I have always believed that no one can claim to know everything, and it is through collaboration with others that we achieve the best results. United we stand, divided we fall. In the fight against corruption, everyone is a stakeholder. Believe me, everyone is involved.
“In fighting corruption, we need to focus on the facts, not on where someone is from or their religion. If someone is accused of embezzling money, the focus should be on the facts of the case.
“I suggest that in our next constitutional amendment, matters of corruption should be excluded from the prerogative of mercy. This is the only way we can progress.
“We want to return to an era where showing your passport and mentioning your profession automatically earns you respect. When we travel outside the country, and you reach immigration or border stations, they first ask you, ‘What work do you do?’ Sometimes you feel like hiding your passport, but you have to show it.
“Let us return to this approach when dealing with corruption. We should also avoid the trend of public sentiment influencing actions, especially in Nigeria, where political polarization is rampant. Investigations should be thorough, and charges should be clear and concise.”
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu, lauded the proposal, noting that corruption undermines institutions and stifles development. He reiterated the Senate’s commitment to supporting anti-corruption initiatives.
Ideozu stated, “Corruption is not just a legal challenge; it is a social cancer that erodes trust, undermines institutions, and stifles development. It is a problem that requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach, involving every segment of our society.
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“As State Attorneys-General, you hold significant responsibilities in the administration of justice at the state level, and your role in this fight cannot be overstated.
“We must ensure that our justice system operates with the highest level of integrity, where the rule of law is upheld, and where there is no place for corruption to take root. Prevention is always better than cure.”
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), emphasized the importance of collaboration between the ICPC and State Attorneys-General in preventing corruption and promoting good governance.
He explained that the ICPC has been working to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts through preventive measures and enforcement.
Specifically, Aliyu said that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) will be enhanced through collaboration.
He stated, “Corruption is a complex problem that has permeated all aspects of life and suppressed development in Nigeria. Both Federal and State institutions are stunted because of multiple harmful practices, greed, and impunity.
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“Reaching institutions at the State level requires the involvement of State officials. It demands expertise, collaboration, informed strategies, and knowledge sharing. Knowledge and expertise are not based in one place and are not easily acquired without a determined and focused pursuit, with adequate resources.
“This collaboration with the Attorney General can lead to more effective preventive strategies, enhanced inter-agency cooperation, and a more corruption-resistant public sector. We can also win the confidence of the public in government institutions and the criminal justice system in particular.”
Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Rt. Hon. Kayode Moshood Akiolu, assured the ICPC of legislative backing, stating that the House of Representatives is committed to playing its legislative role in ensuring the federal government’s success in the anti-corruption fight.
Akiolu said, “At a period in our national life when the economy is struggling, citizens are grappling with existential issues, and the government needs all the resources it can get to execute developmental projects and pull our country out of the woods.
“The need to rein in corruption and plug revenue leakages has never been greater. To the uninitiated, it might seem like the government does a lot of talking. But the truth is that corruption is a complex phenomenon to contend with.
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“Corruption is a national problem; it is not a federal problem. All hands need to be on deck to help steer the ship of state from corruption-infested waters and onto safe waters where national development can thrive.”
Keynote speaker, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), emphasized the need for a unified front against corruption, while Chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes reiterated the Senate’s commitment to supporting anti-corruption initiatives.
According to him, this development will boost the federal government’s anti-corruption drive and promote accountability among public officials.
A panel discussion, moderated by former Lagos State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), featured experts including Mr. Ekpo Nta, former Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Mohammed Tabiu (SAN), Prof. Abdulkarim Kana (SAN) (Designate), and Barr. Hauwa Abubakar, Attorney-General of Borno State.
The discussion identified key challenges and opportunities for enhancing anti-corruption efforts, including addressing corruption-inducing social norms, promoting public education and awareness, and strengthening institutional frameworks.
News
VIDEO: Why I’ve Never Tried Convincing My Christian Wife To Convert To Islam — Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has explained why he has never attempted to convince his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, to convert to Islam, stressing his belief in love, religious freedom, and mutual respect among people of different faiths.
Speaking on Saturday at the funeral service of Nana Lydia Yilwatda, mother of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwada, Tinubu said his marriage to a Christian pastor has never created any conflict in their home.
The president, who arrived in Jos, Plateau State around 2 p.m. for the ceremony at the COCIN headquarters church, said he inherited Islam from his family and has always upheld the principle of freedom of religion.
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He noted that both he and the First Lady serve the same God and would ultimately be answerable to Him, adding that what matters most are people’s deeds, character, and love for others.
Tinubu urged Nigerians to embrace tolerance and peaceful coexistence, emphasising that hate should never have a place in the country.
He also prayed for the repose of the soul of the late Lydia Yilwada and asked God to grant comfort and blessings to those she left behind.
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He said, “Hate is not an option for us. Love is what you preach, that we should love one another.
“Nobody, nobody determines what God has ordained. God’s ordained action and his promises are what matter. I inherited Islam from my family. I didn’t change. But my wife is a pastor. She prays for me.
“No conflict. And I never did at any single time try to convince her or convert her. I believe in the freedom of religion.
“We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same almighty God. We will answer to him. We will account to him. Our deeds, our character, our love for our fellow beings are what are important.
“May the almighty accept the soul of Lydia and give all that she left behind blessings and glory, so we say, may her soul rest in peace.”
News
UK Police Quiz Six After Fatal Synagogue Attack

Six people arrested on suspicion of “terrorism”-linked offences after a fatal car-ramming and knife attack on a UK synagogue remained in police custody on Saturday, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged people not to take part in pro-Palestinian protests.
Two people were killed and three others seriously wounded in Thursday’s attack in northwestern Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.
Police shot dead the assailant, Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old UK citizen of Syrian descent, within minutes of the alarm being raised.
Three men and three women are in custody.
The attack has heightened fear among Britain’s Jewish community.
Police said they were patrolling places of worship across the city “with a particular focus on providing a high-visibility presence within our Jewish communities”.
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The attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in north Manchester was one of the worst antisemitic incidents in Europe since the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel led by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive on the Gaza Strip has killed at least 66,288 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, according to health ministry figures in the occupied territory that the United Nations considers reliable.
The Gaza conflict has inflamed passions in Britain, with frequent pro-Palestinian rallies in cities that some critics allege have stoked antisemitism.
A “global movement for Gaza UK” protest went ahead in London late on Thursday, with police making 40 arrests.
London’s Metropolitan Police asked organisers delay another planned demonstration backing the banned Palestine Action group later on Saturday.
However, organisers Defend Our Juries rejected the calls.
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A spokesman said the group “stood in solidarity” with the Jewish community over the attack.
– Accidental shooting –
Starmer urged protesters not to join the pro-Palestinian rally.
“I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews. This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain,” he said on X.
During the attack, Shamie was seen “with a big knife, banging his knife into the glass, trying to get through”, synagogue chairman of trustees Alan Levy, who helped barricade the doors, told ITV News.
“The heroes of the congregation who saw what was happening then came to the doors because he was trying to break the doors down to get in,” he added.
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A UK police watchdog, meanwhile, said it would look at the police shooting of Shamie.
The probe would also look at the shooting of a second victim who suffered a fatal gunshot and a third person who was shot but survived.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said there was no evidence anyone other than police used firearms at the scene.
“Our independent investigation will look at the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of Jihad Al-Shamie,” it said in a statement.
“A post mortem has today (Friday) concluded another man who died at the scene suffered a fatal gunshot wound.”
IOPC investigations are standard practice in situations where the use of force by police may have resulted in the death of a member of the public.
News
Edo Inaugurates Committee On Drug Abuse, Healthy Living

Edo State Government has inaugurated Drug Control Committee for the state and local governments, aimed at curbing the menace of drug abuse in the state.
Inaugurating the committee, Governor Monday Okpehbolo said the committee was not only saddled with the responsibility of curbing the menace of illicit substances, but to promote healthier living across communities in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo described the initiative as “a vital step in our unwavering commitment to stopping the menace of drug trafficking and substance use among youths.”
The governor, who bemoaned the rising tide of drug dependency and its impact on society, pointed out that the committee’s creation aligns with the national drug master plan and represents a bold stride toward protecting Edo future generations.
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On his part, Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, represented by ACGN, Fidelis Cocodia, Zonal Commander, Zone 13, emphasised grassroots interventions, awareness campaigns, and support systems as the backbone of the fight against drug abuse.
Edo State commander of the NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed that while national drug use prevalence stands at 14.4 percent, Edo state surpasses the average at 15 percent.
He noted that the state is one of the hardest-hit states in the country, warning that the trend has fueled crime and heightened youth vulnerability.
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The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole pledged to make Edo a model in drug control through rehabilitation, youth enlightenment, and second-chance opportunities for recovering addicts.
Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, described drug abuse as a pandemic, noting that “you hardly see a crime without drugs being involved.”
She added that women’s empathy and influence must be harnessed in the campaign against drug abuse.
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