By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The All Progressives Congress has invited all stakeholders, supporters, and members, both old and new, to participate in its ongoing Membership Electronic-Registration Exercise across the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, in a post obtained from APC’s X handle on Friday, said the exercise is being conducted in all wards nationwide.

“Existing members are expected to validate their membership, while new and intending members are encouraged to register and join the party.

“Participants must be 18 years or older and possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN) to complete the registration process,” he said.

According to Morka, the e-Registration exercise is designed to digitise the Party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, provide efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions, promote internal democracy, and strengthen APC’s commitment to democratic innovation in Nigeria.

He urged all eligible Nigerians to take part in the exercise and join the progressive family of Nigeria’s ruling party.

The APC noted that the initiative is part of its ongoing effort to modernise party operations, increase transparency, and ensure that party membership is up-to-date and verifiable nationwide.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the initial diplomatic postings for four ambassador-designates, selected from a cohort of 68 nominees confirmed by the Senate in December 2023.

The announcement was made on Thursday by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

”President Tinubu confirmed the postings of Ambassador Ayodele Oke as the ambassador-designate to France, and Colonel Lateef Are as the ambassador-designate to the United States of America.”

”Also confirmed by the President is the posting of Ambassador Amin Dalhatu, former ambassador to South Korea, as the high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom.

”Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, former governor of Kebbi, is the ambassador-designate to Turkey, where the President is scheduled to begin a state visit next week.

”In a memo to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Tinubu urged the ministry to notify the governments of the four countries about the ambassador-designates, in accordance with diplomatic procedures.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the long-running trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd), former Chief Security Officer to late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over the murder of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late politician and business mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.

In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel of justices led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, the apex court held that the Lagos State government had effectively lost interest in the prosecution and abandoned the matter, thereby warranting its dismissal.

Mrs. Kudirat Abiola was the wife of MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by the then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Following the annulment, Nigeria was plunged into a nationwide political crisis marked by mass protests, civil resistance, arrests of pro-democracy activists and violent crackdowns by security forces.

Kudirat Abiola emerged as one of the most prominent figures in the struggle to actualise the June 12 mandate after her husband was arrested and detained by the military regime of General Sani Abacha.

She was assassinated in Lagos during the heat of the pro-democracy agitation, a killing that shocked the nation and became one of the most symbolic tragedies of the era.

Major Al-Mustapha, a powerful figure in the Abacha regime, was later charged by the Lagos State Government for allegedly masterminding her murder.

The case, which spanned several years and multiple legal twists, became one of Nigeria’s most high-profile and controversial murder trials, closely watched by human rights groups, civil society organisations and the international community.

However, in its ruling, the Supreme Court faulted the Lagos State Government for its failure to diligently prosecute the appeal before it.

Justice Aba-Aji noted that despite being served with hearing notices since 2020, the state government failed to file a notice of appeal and a brief of argument for a period spanning about nine years.

According to the court, such a prolonged delay amounted to a clear indication that the prosecution was no longer interested in pursuing the case.

The apex court further expressed strong displeasure that there was no legal representation for the Lagos State Government at the hearing, and that no explanation or information was provided to either the court or the respondent regarding the persistent absence.

Justice Aba-Aji held that nine years was more than sufficient time for any serious litigant to take the necessary procedural steps to keep an appeal alive.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed the case in its entirety, bringing a final legal closure to the trial of Hamza Al-Mustapha over the murder of Kudirat Abiola.