Headline
Ogun: WAEC Presents Certified True Copy Of Gov Abiodun’s Certificate To Tribunal
An official of the West Africa Examination Examination Council (WAEC), Mr. Fasasi Sarafa, on Friday appeared before the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, to present the certified true copy of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s WAEC certificate to the panel.
The examination council was subpoenaed to tender Abiodun’s O’Level Certificate following allegation of certificate forgery leveled against the governor by one of the witnesses called by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the course of proceedings at the tribunal.
All counsels to the respondents expressed no objection to the certificate tendered, but counsel to petitioners, Gordy Uche, SAN, said he had reservations concerning the copy of certificate brought by WAEC in comparison with what was earlier submitted by counsel to Governor Dapo Abiodun.
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He, also informed the court that the 2nd respondent was ready to open his case, adding that he would close his case between Tuesday and Wednesday next week as he applied for an adjournment for his client to have enough time to prepare witnesses.
Meanwhile, a witness, Alowolodu Jimoh, an APC ward collation agent from Sagamu, appeared before the panel to testify in favour of his party and alleged that electoral process was disrupted by hoodlums who were opposed to the use of BVAS at his polling unit. The witness was cross examined by counsels to respondents.
Under cross examination by the counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Olumide Ogidan, who asked him if the election was free and fair, the witness answered in affirmative, he, however, posited that the process was disrupted by opposition to the use of BVAS in some polling units which made all parties in the election to be awarded the score zero by INEC.
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On his part, counsel to the 3rd respondent, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, asked the witness to show the tribunal his INEC agent card, which was tendered and subsequently marked as an exhibit RA4.
In its ruling, the tribunal admitted the scanned copy of the subpoena issued on WAEC, and marked it Exhibit RA1 while the original acknowledged copy was admitted and marked Exhibit RA2. The Governor’s result as produced by WAEC was marked Exhibit RA3.
Tribunal therefore, adjourned till Monday, 7th August, 2023
Headline
Nine Countries With Nuclear Weapons In The World
Since the first atomic bomb was developed in 1945, only a small number of countries have acquired nuclear weapons.
Concerns about the spread of these weapons led to the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968, which aimed to prevent further proliferation. At the time, only a few states had nuclear capabilities.
However, since then, the number has grown to nine, with North Korea being the only country to withdraw from the NPT and subsequently develop nuclear weapons.
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Combined, the United States and Russia possess roughly 87 per cent of the world’s total nuclear inventory and about 83 per cent of the warheads stockpiled for military use. Of the estimated 12,241 nuclear warheads worldwide, around 9,614 are part of active military stockpiles, ready for deployment via missiles, aircraft, ships, or submarines.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), these are the nine nuclear-armed states and their estimated warhead counts:
Russia – 5,459 nuclear weapons
United States – 5,177 nuclear weapons
China – 600 nuclear weapons
France – 290 nuclear weapons
United Kingdom – 225 nuclear weapons
India – 180 nuclear weapons
Pakistan – 170 nuclear weapons
Israel – 90 nuclear weapons
North Korea – 50 nuclear weapons
Headline
FULL LIST: Nigeria Emerges As Africa’s Third Most Formidable Military Force
Nigeria has secured the third position among African nations with the most formidable military forces in the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index, according to Global Firepower’s annual report cited by The PUNCH on Monday.
The index evaluates 145 countries based on over 60 metrics, including troop numbers, equipment capabilities, financial resources, logistical efficiency, and geographical advantages to assess military strength.
In the 2025 rankings, Egypt maintains its lead as Africa’s top military power, followed by Algeria in second place and South Africa in fourth. Nigeria’s rise to third underscores its growing military capabilities, driven by investments in personnel, equipment, and counter-terrorism efforts.
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Here is a list of African countries ranked in the 2025 Global Firepower Index.
1. Egypt (19)
2. Algeria (26)
3. Nigeria (31)
4. South Africa (40)
5. Ethiopia (52)
6. Angola (56)
7. Morocco (59)
8. Democratic Republic of the Congo (66)
9. Sudan (73)
10. Libya (76)
11. Kenya (83)
12. Chad (84)
13. Mozambique (89)
14. Tunisia (90)
15. Tanzania (92)
16. Cameroon (93)
17. Ivory Coast (102)
18. Mali (104)
19. Zambia (109)
20. Ghana (110)
21. Zimbabwe (111)
22. South Sudan (113)
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23. Uganda (114)
24. Namibia (116)
25. Niger (119)
26. Eritrea (120)
27. Republic of the Congo (121)
28. Botswana (122)
29. Mauritania (123)
30. Senegal (125)
31. Burkina Faso (129)
32. Madagascar (130)
33. Gabon (133)
34. Liberia (138)
35. Sierra Leone (140)
36. Somalia (142)
37. Central African Republic (143)
38. Benin (144)
Headline
Middle East Crisis Dominates EU Foreign Ministers’ Brussels Meeting
The foreign ministers of EU member states on Monday were set to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East at their June meeting in Brussels.
The talks come amid growing international alarm after the United States joined Israel in launching strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
A key question for the ministers will be whether Europe can help steer the crisis back towards diplomacy.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Sunday urged all sides “to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,” in a statement posted on X.
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Another item on the agenda is an internal EU review concluding that Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip are not in line with the principles established for its close cooperation with the European Union.
The report, requested by EU foreign ministers in May, questioned whether Israel was still adhering to the basic principles of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
These include that relations between the parties to the agreement are based on respect for human rights.
The finding relates, in particular, to Israel’s blockade of aid supplies into the Gaza Strip, where some 2 million Palestinians live.
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Israel had blocked aid from reaching the devastated coastal territory for almost three months, saying that the Palestinian extremist organisation Hamas was benefiting from the supplies.
The governments of the EU member states and the EU now face the question of whether and how to respond to the analysis, options range from suspending the current partnership agreement to imposing economic sanctions.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who is expected to attend the talks in Brussels, was among those who opposed initiating the review.
The German government argues that maintaining open channels of communication with Israel is essential.
(NAN)
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