By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has issued an urgent appeal to the newly appointed acting Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, urging him to make press freedom and the safety of journalists a cornerstone of his leadership.

IPI Nigeria, in a statement, urged Disu to immediately halt the harassment, intimidation, and attacks against journalists that marked the tenure of his predecessor, Mr Kayode Egbetokun.

Under Egbetokun’s leadership, journalists were reportedly harassed, unlawfully detained, and in some cases assaulted while performing their constitutional duties.

“The police, as a critical institution in a democratic society, have a constitutional responsibility to uphold the fundamental rights of all Nigerians, including freedom of expression and the press,” the organisation said in the statement signed by Musikilu Mojeed, President of IPI Nigeria, and Tobi Soniyi, Legal Adviser.

IPI Nigeria specifically urged the new police chief to end all forms of harassment, intimidation, and unlawful detention of journalists; review and withdraw pending cases targeting journalists for legitimate professional work; introduce a reorientation programme for police personnel focused on press freedom and human rights; and establish clear communication channels between the police and media stakeholders to prevent and resolve conflicts.

IPI Nigeria noted that persistent violations under the previous administration led to Mr Egbetokun being included in its “Book of Infamy,” a record of individuals and institutions whose actions or inaction facilitated attacks on press freedom in Nigeria.

The body urged Mr Disu to chart a different course and rebuild trust between the police and the media, emphasising that press freedom is essential for Nigeria’s democracy.

“A free and independent press strengthens accountability, enhances transparency, and supports law enforcement by responsibly informing the public,” IPI Nigeria said.

Concluding on a note of constructive engagement, IPI Nigeria emphasised that the roles of the police and the media are complementary, not adversarial. It reiterated its full readiness to work with the new police leadership to address concerns and promote a relationship built on mutual respect and shared democratic values.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) newly released timetable for the 2026-2027 general elections, describing it as a “political instrument” designed to benefit the incumbent administration.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, alleged that the schedule contains deliberately obstructive provisions that could exclude opposition parties from participating in the upcoming elections.

According to the timetable, political parties are required to submit digital membership registers to INEC by April 2, 2026—just 34 days from now. Abdullahi warned that Section 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 stipulates that any party failing to meet this deadline “shall not be eligible to field a candidate for that election.”

“This is not a product of foresight, but insider knowledge,” Abdullahi said. “The ruling party had commenced the process of this registration since February 2025, long before it became a requirement of the law.”

The ADC spokesman noted that Section 77(2) of the Electoral Act mandates that registers contain detailed information including names, National Identification Numbers (NIN), photographs, and complete address details of all members—data that must be submitted in both hard and soft copies.

“What makes this requirement particularly insidious is that the ruling party had one whole year to carry out an exercise that they expect other political parties to execute in one month,” Abdullahi said. “This is more or less a practical impossibility.”

The party primaries are scheduled to hold between April 23 and May 30, 2026, approximately 55 to 92 days from today.

The ADC claimed the combined effect of the Electoral Act and the INEC timetable appears “designed to serve President Tinubu’s automatic self-succession project.”

“The ADC has joined other opposition political parties to reject the corrupted Electoral Act 2026,” Abdullahi said, adding that the party would not do anything that would “appear to confer legitimacy on a fraudulent system.”

He stated that the party is reviewing its options and would announce its position in the coming days.

The ADC called on civil society organisations, democratic stakeholders, and Nigerians to scrutinise the timetable and demand fairness.

“No democracy can endure if the rules that govern it are written to suit pre-determined outcomes,” Abdullahi said.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A fresh twist emerged in the trial of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, on Friday, as a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that his earlier bail no longer stands following the reassignment of his case.

The court held that since the matter had commenced afresh before it, all previous proceedings — including the bail granted by Justice Emeka Nwite — were deemed terminated, thereby requiring a fresh bail application.

The EFCC had filed a 16-count charge against the former AGF, over alleged money laundering and unlawful acquisition of assets running into over N8.7 billion.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecution, led by J.S. Okutepa, announced appearance and applied that the pleas of the defendants be taken on the amended 16-count charge.

Malami, his son, Abdulaziz, and his wife, Asabe, each pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.

Following the plea, the prosecution urged the court to fix a date for trial.

The defence, led by J.B. Daudu (SAN), however, asked the court to sustain the earlier bail conditions granted by Justice Nwite, arguing that the Federal High Court is one court and that the defendants had already been admitted to bail.

Responding, the prosecution acknowledged that bail had previously been granted but argued that the new court retained the discretion to either adopt the earlier conditions or impose fresh ones.

He added that while he would not press the issue further, the court should impose conditions capable of ensuring the defendants’ attendance at trial.

Recall that the earlier bail conditions included N500m bail each, with one surety each who must own property in Maitama or Asokoro. The defendants were also required to deposit two international passports each with the court, while the residences of the sureties were to be verified by the Assistant Chief Registrar.

In her ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, held that where a case begins afresh due to reassignment, earlier proceedings are extinguished in law.

The defence conceded that there was no formal bail application before the court but sought to make an oral application.

The court declined, directing the defence to file a formal bail application and serve it on the prosecution, after which a short adjourned date would be given for hearing.

The defence further informed the court that fixing a trial date could pose difficulties because the first and second defendants were currently in the custody of the Department of State Services and were unreachable.

The court responded that it could not speculate on the position of any party and that the prosecution had a duty to ensure the defendants’ availability.

The prosecution, however, maintained that the defendants were not in its custody and that it could not compel the DSS to produce them.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter till March 6 for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of the trial.

She ordered that Malami and his son be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while his wife be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre.