Amnesty International has condemned officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for allegedly sending threatening messages to a corps member who criticised the President Bola Tinubu-led administration over rising inflation and economic hardship.

Daily Trust had reported how the corps member in a widely circulated video shared on Tiktok expressed frustration over the deteriorating economic conditions in Nigeria.

She openly tackled President Tinubu, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned what steps the government is taking to ease the suffering of citizens.

After her video gained traction, the serving corps member claimed she began receiving threatening messages, allegedly from NYSC officials.

She shared another video in which she was receiving calls from an NYSC official.

In the video, the official could be heard saying, “Are you normal? Keep quiet and bring down the video you posted.”

Reacting, Amnesty International, in a post on X, said instead of threatening her, the authorities “should be prioritizing addressing the country’s economic woes.”

“It is perfectly within her right to express discontent peacefully. Instead of threatening her for her opinions on rampant inflation, the authorities should be prioritizing addressing the country’s economic woes.

“Millions of people in Nigeria are facing extreme poverty. So far, the authorities have failed to put in place effective mitigation measures, leaving millions of people without the hope of getting out of the economic challenges and enjoying their human rights.

“The Nigerian authorities must stop responding with violence and threats to individuals and groups who express dissenting opinions — in utter disregard for Nigerian constitution and international law. Holding and voicing dissenting views is not a crime,” the human rights organisation said.

Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has claimed that there are plans to arrest her upon her return to Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday from the United States, where she attended the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York, Akpoti-Uduaghan stated, “I’m aware there are plans underway to have me arrested as soon as I arrive Abuja.

The Senate President Akpabio sent three staff headed by the Chargè D’Affairs of the Nigerian embassy in New York to evacuate me from the United Nations premises right after my speech. I was rescued by parliamentarians from other countries and the security,” she said.

Attempts to reach Senate President Godswill Akpabio for comments were unsuccessful, as his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, had yet to respond to multiple calls.

Addressing how she attended the IPU meeting despite not being officially nominated by the Nigerian government, Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that she secured her accreditation independently. She said she registered online as a senator and was able to attend because she was already on the IPU’s mailing list as a past participant.

“I registered online as a senator. The suspension does not remove my legitimacy as a senator. I registered online and got a pass. I attended the same programme last year and was already on the mailing list. After I got a pass, I bought my own ticket and funded my trip and participation at the event,” she said

She further revealed that this was not her first time at an IPU event. In March 2024, she was part of Nigeria’s official delegation to the 148th IPU General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, alongside Senate President Akpabio, Cross River South Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo, and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that her participation in the latest IPU event was facilitated through her previous attendance at a meeting organized by the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). She also noted that IPU events are not restricted to government officials but are open to individuals and civil society organizations.

She emphasized that she traveled to New York using a visa on her ordinary Nigerian passport rather than an official passport.

Premium Times

The Kano State Government has condemned what it describes as “gross misrepresentations” surrounding the recent Court of Appeal ruling on the ongoing emirship dispute, urging the public to remain law-abiding while the case progresses to the Supreme Court.

In a joint press statement issued by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa Dederi, and the Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, the state government clarified that the appellate court’s ruling did not invalidate its previous decision to repeal the Kano Emirate Council Law of 2019.

“It has become necessary to once again address you and the general public to correct the speculative reports emanating from some quarters, apparently intended to create disharmony among the citizens of Kano,” the statement read.

The government recalled that on January 10, 2025, the Court of Appeal upheld the repeal of the controversial 2019 law, which led to the reversion of the emirship structure to its previous status. However, it noted that Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi, who is challenging the repeal, had filed an appeal at the Supreme Court and secured a stay of execution.

“The respected panel of justices heard and granted the application for a stay pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court. This is a normal and routine judicial procedure to maintain the status quo,” the statement explained.

The Kano government expressed concern over what it termed misleading headlines and reports suggesting that the Court of Appeal had overturned its own ruling.

“It is worrisome seeing various captions and headlines deliberately intended to mislead the public by misrepresenting the facts. The judiciary, as a sacred institution, must be jealously respected and guarded for the preservation of peace and order in society,” the government asserted.

The officials further clarified that the Court of Appeal had not reversed its January 10 ruling but had only granted a temporary stay of execution pending the Supreme Court’s final decision.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal that entertained the application of Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan’Agundi did not set aside its own judgment delivered on January 10, 2025. That judgment remains valid and subsisting until the Supreme Court determines the appeal,” the statement emphasized.

The government urged Kano residents to disregard any provocations and continue to uphold peace, assuring them that legal experts were reviewing the court’s ruling to determine the state’s next course of action.

“We call on the general public to resist any provocation and continue to be law-abiding. The Kano State Government has already instructed its lawyers to closely study the outcome to determine the next line of action in accordance with our extant laws,” the statement concluded.

The ongoing legal battle over the emirship structure in Kano has sparked significant political and public interest, with both supporters and opponents closely watching the case as it progresses to the Supreme Court.