The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, in Benue State, Wilfred Anagbe, has appealed to President Donald Trump of the United States to match its renewed designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, with concrete action.

Bishop Anagbe made this call on Thursday, while testifying before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, which is investigating Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a CPC

He said, “On behalf of millions of Christians in Nigeria and in the diaspora, we want to thank President Donald Trump for his bold leadership in designating Nigeria as a CPC. I commend you and this subcommittee for ongoing efforts on this matter.

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“It is a vital step, but must be backed by serious action. One, use the Magnitsky Act for targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials and others tolerating or condoning Islamic violence in the country.”

The cleric also called on lawmakers to tie security and humanitarian aid to measurable improvements.

“Expand humanitarian support for IDPs. The IDPs must return to their ancestral homes, and this requires security guarantees from the Nigerian Government,” he said.

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Bishop Anagbe told lawmakers that many Christian victims in Benue remain traumatised, adding that one priest he knows cannot walk after surviving a terrorist attack.

‘Deborah Samuel’s murderers remain free’ – US defends designation of Nigeria as CPC
He accused the federal government of downplaying casualty figures and abandoning survivors of repeated assaults.”

Anagbe also argued that President Donald Trump’s earlier CPC designation “aimed to stabilise Nigeria” but “worsened the safety of Christians.”

A grandson of the late Nigerian nationalist and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, is dead.

Olusegun, who was the former executive director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), died at the age of 62.

The Awolowo family confirmed his death in a statement on Thursday.

The statement reads in part: “with extremely heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather — Olusegun Awolowo.

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“He was the world’s most phenomenal husband, father and grandfather — steady, wise, endlessly loving, and the constant anchor of our family.

The family described him as a “painfully loyal servant to Nigeria” who dedicated his life to public service with vision, integrity, passion and unwavering commitment.

“He was a true family man, a great friend, a wonderful servant of God, and a deeply beautiful human being. He loved his family. He loved his work.

“He loved his country. And he lived every day with purpose, humility and a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him,” the statement added.

The family concluded by saying, “We are shattered by this loss, but forever grateful for his life, his legacy, and the love he poured into all of us. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyers have vowed to appeal his conviction, insisting that the judgment does not hold water.

Addressing the press at the Federal High Court shortly after Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment that sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment, his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, who was at the court as a consultant, said they were heading to the upper court.

He argued that a man cannot be convicted for mere spoken words, questioning why that should be the case at the Federal High Court.

“What kind of precedent is being laid here? We are heading to the Court of Appeal,” he said.

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“The Court of Appeal is the only court in this country, or the next court in this country that sits as a jury. We are going to approach justices there to check out what happened in court today.

“And we are pretty sure the justices will agree with us that today was the symbol of the travesty of justice that everybody has been suspecting.”

He said further: “If the Court of Appeal disagrees with us, we head to the Supreme Court. Nnamdi Kanu is not going to stand convicted. He’s going to get overturned.

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“This is the only day I have witnessed a man being convicted for mere pronouncements, just for what he said from his mouth, not what he did with his own hands.

“The verdict is not consistent with the evidence laid before the court. The sentence is overbroad, cruel and unusual.

“How can you convict a man for making a mere broadcast from a location that was never named and he never tied that broadcast to any single incident of violence, or even someone slapping someone, not to talk of terrorism.”