Headline
ECOWAS Parliament Elects First Female Speaker
Parliament member from Togo, Mrs Maimunatu Ibrahima, has been sworn in as the first female speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the speaker was sworn in at the second extra-ordinary session of the Parliament on Thursday in Kano.
In accordance with the parliament’s rotational system for the speakership, the position falls to Togo during this legislative session.
In her response after the swearing in, Ibrahima promised to work with her colleagues in the Parliament toward integration in the sub-region.
READ ALSO: Google To Link Africa, Australia With Landmark Umoja Cable
The new speaker promised to improve the image of the parliament in order to make it responsible and admired by all.
She also thanked her colleagues for the confidence reposed in her, assuring that she would bring her wealth of experience to bear on the sub-regional parliament.
“I am grateful to my honourable colleagues for unanimously adopting me as the First female speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
“My priority is to work harmoniously with my colleagues to advance the integration of the West African sub-region,” she said.
She also thanked the presidents of Togo, Nigeria and authorities of heads of state for supporting the parliament.
READ ALSO: Germany Threatens Tol Arrest Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu If…
Some of the female members who spoke to NAN commended members for choosing a woman to steer the affairs of the parliament.
Ibrahima, who previously served as the third Deputy Speaker in the fifth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament has been a member since 2021.
She succeeded Sen. Barau Jubrin, from Nigeria, who acted as speaker and also elected First Deputy Speaker during the inauguration of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament on April 4.
NAN reports that the parliament was established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993.
READ ALSO: Russia Passes Decree To Allow Seizure Of US Assets
The initial Protocol establishing the Parliament was signed in Abuja on Aug. 6, 1994.
It provided for the Structure, Composition, Competence and other matters relating to the Parliament.
It is the Assembly of Peoples of the Community serving as a forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus for Representatives of the people of West Africa with the aim of promoting integration.
The Parliament is composed of one hundred and fifteen (115) seats. Each Member State shall have a guaranteed minimum of five (5) seats.
The remaining forty (40) seats are shared on the basis of population.
The need for a Community mechanism to forge greater ties with the citizens of the West African Community served as impetus towards the creation of the Community Parliament.
Headline
Indian Court Denies Bail To Nigerian Man Over Drug Charges
A court in India has denied bail to a 44-year-old Nigerian national, Cristian Soporuchukwu, who is currently facing drug trafficking charges in the country.
Cristian Soporuchukwu initially entered India on a business visa but was later arrested over allegations of involvement in the sale of hard drugs.
Reports indicated that after arriving in India, Soporuchukwu travelled through Goa, Delhi, and Mumbai, where he allegedly established links with suspected drug traffickers.
READ ALSO:Indian National Arraigned In Lagos Over Alleged N22m Supermarket Fraud
He was accused of purchasing MDMA crystals and distributing them to college students and information technology workers.
According to reports, operatives of the Beguru Police arrested Cristian Soporuchukwu in April 2025 for allegedly selling MDMA crystals around Begur Lake and the AECS Layout Road area.
The New Indian Express reported that the High Court of Karnataka subsequently dismissed the Nigerian’s bail application.
READ ALSO:NDLEA Intercepts Indian Lady With 72 Parcels Of Heroin ON n Chocolate Wraps
“The anti-narcotics wing seized about 1 kg of MDMA crystals, a pocket weighing machine, 10 zip-lock covers, a mobile phone and a scooter from him,” the report stated.
Justice V. Srishananda, while ruling on the bail application, reportedly held that errors relating to the grounds of arrest could not automatically justify bail in serious narcotics-related offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, NDPS, Act.
The court further noted that Cristian Soporuchukwu had allegedly overstayed his visa in India, according to the report.
Headline
Strait Of Hormuz: US Announces Sanctions Against Iran
The United States Treasury has announced sanctions against Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority.
Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement extended the threat of sanctions to anyone paying the fees, saying they may be providing support to and receiving services from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and therefore may be exposed to sanctions risk.
READ ALSO:Strait Of Hormuz: Pakistan Thanks Trump For Pausing ‘Project Freedom’
“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash.
“Treasury has deprived the Iranian regime of revenue for their weapons programs, terrorist proxies, and nuclear ambitions,” Bessent said.
Bessent added that the US has succeeded in disrupting tens of billions of dollars’ worth of revenue from being accessible to Tehran.
Headline
US Launches New Airstrikes On Iran
The United States has launched new airstrikes in southern Iran.
The strike shot down four one-way attack drones that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz and then a ground control site.
A US official revealed that American forces struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone.
READ ALSO:US Restricts Entry Routes For Travellers From DRC, Uganda, South Sudan Over Ebola Outbreak
The official described the strikes as purely defensive, saying the US intended to maintain the ceasefire.
Report says this is the second time in three days that the US has carried out self-defense strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran.
Recall that on Monday the US carried out airstrikes against Iranian missile locations and boats that US Central Command said were preparing to launch mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
-
Headline4 days agoWoman Passes Out After Receiving 100 Strokes Of Cane
-
Headline4 days agoJUST IN: White House Locked Down Briefly As Gunman Opens Fire At Security Checkpoint
-
News3 days agoMore Pain For Nigerians As Cooking Gas Price Increases Nationwide
-
Politics3 days agoTwo Masked Men Gun Down Politician In His Rivers State Hotel
-
Metro4 days agoPolice Reject N500m Bribe, Recover N7.8bn Illicit Drugs In Lagos
-
News3 days agoFG Declares Two Days Public Holiday For Eid-el Kabir Celebration
-
Politics3 days ago‘Tinubu’s Borrowing In 24 Months Surpasses 55 Years’ Debt Record’
-
Politics2 days agoCourt Clears Goodluck Jonathan To Contest 2027 Presidential Election
-
News3 days agoOPINION: Boko Haram Comes South
-
News2 days agoOPINION: Like Oyedokun, We Are All Decapitated
