News

SAN Writes 44-page Letter To Buhari, Demands Kanu’s Immediate Release

Published

3 years ago

October 5, 2022

Mazi Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has written President Muhammadu Buhari, asking for the urgent release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

In the 44-page letter directed to Buhari, and obtained by The PUNCH, Ozekhome stressed the consequences of not releasing Kanu after so many calls for his release by the public, including the United Nations Working Group.

The lawyer stated that Kanu could be released “through a more political solution,” which he said the President could do by instructing the Attorney-General of the Federation to wield his power under section 174 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999) as amended.

According to the lawyer, releasing Kanu would immediately halt the “restlessness and sit-at-home mantra currently ravaging the South-East and paralysing businesses and normal life.”

Ozekhome, who alleged that Kanu was being subjected to inhumane and degrading conditions, noted that the “continued detention of Kanu violates all known laws both international and domestic.”

The lawyer reminded Buhari of the UN working group’s report which the UN adopted at its 93rd session, and which he said indicted the Nigerian and Kenyan government over the extradition and detention of Kanu. He accused the State Security Service of being a judge in its own case; Lord and master to itself by conspiring with the Kenyan government to forcefully rendition Kanu back to Nigeria.

Ozekhome said not releasing Kanu would “mean that Buhari does not subscribe to the rule of law and respect for citizens’ fundamental human rights.”

Adding that Kanu’s alleged deteriorating health in detention was not being properly managed by the SSS, the lawyer asked Buhari “not to let Kanu die in detention.”

The letter was acknowledged by the Federal Ministry of Justice on Tuesday.

Kanu is being tried at a Federal High Court in Abuja for charges bordering on treasonable felony.

News

EPL: Arteta Gives Update On Havertz, Saliba, Gabriel, Others

Published

2 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has provided the latest update on four of his players ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Brentford on Wednesday.

The four players are Kai Havertz, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Leandro Trossard.

Arteta’s side will host Brentford in a Premier League tie at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Arsenal head to the game following a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in their last game over the weekend.

“Kai Havertz is still weeks away,” Arteta said at his pre-match press conference as quoted by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday.

“We are all desperate to have him. I mean, it is a player that, personally, I love so much for what he brings to the team – his character, his personality. I see him suffer, being outside.

“Gabriel Magalhães is doing very well, but it will take weeks to see him back.

“For William Saliba and Leandro Trossard, hopefully it’s a matter of days.

“For Saliba, this one is very bizarre injury… but hopefully it will be a short time out.”

News

BREAKING: Tinubu Nominates New Defence Minister

Published

4 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, rtd, as the new Minister of Defence.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu disclosed Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday.

Musa served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.

He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.

News

Edo Govt Bars Journalists From Covering Event In State House

Published

4 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Journalists invited by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to cover the declaration of Edo as the official hosts of the 2026 NDDC Sports Festival were on Tuesday barred from covering the event inside the Government House in Benin City.

The journalists had sat at the venue of the event named Presidential Villa inside the Government House at around 11:00 a.m. for the official kick off of the event.

After waiting for over one hour in the Presidential Villa, information came that the venue for the event had been changed to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) office, prompting both the journalists, NDDC officials and other dignitaries to move from the Presidential Villa to the SSG office.

Not too long had both the journalists and other dignitaries seated at the conference hall of the SSG that one of the protocols of the governor popularly known as Pikolo arrived at the hall and announced that the government was informed that only 27 persons were invited for the programme, hence anyone whose name was not in the government list would not be allowed into to the programme when it commences.

A few minutes after Pikolo made the announcement, Chairman of the Edo State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Kehinde Osaigede stood up to announce that he had been sent a message that the venue had been changed to the initial venue (Presidential Villa).

Moving out of the SSG section of the Government House to the Presidential Villa, journalists came across the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, and when he saw them (journalists) he asked after exchanging pleasantries, “were you invited by the organisers? No, I will not allow you in, this is strictly for State House reporters. The governor is personally attending the programme, so it is strictly for the State House. Presidential Villa? No!”

Shortly after uttering the above words near the Deputy Governor’s section inside the Government House, Itua moved hurriedly to the Presidential Villa section and the gate was shot for screening of persons.

When journalists and others invited got to the gate of the Presidential Villa they were subjected to screening. While some dignitaries were screened in, some journalists and some staff members of the NDDC were shut out of the venue.