By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday launched a 25-year development blueprint, Vision 2050, aimed at boosting economic growth in Nigeria’s South-East region.

Speaking at the South-East Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders’ Forum in Enugu, Shettima said the initiative marked a shift from short-term governance cycles toward long-term, structured regional planning.

This was contained in a statement posted on X and signed by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha.

He also announced the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited, approved by President Bola Tinubu, to mobilise resources from the diaspora, capital markets, and development finance institutions for the region’s infrastructure and industrial development.

“This forum reflects foresight, responsibility, and a shared understanding that the future is not something we wait for, but something we must deliberately design.

“In recognition of the distinctive character of the South-East, its entrepreneurial spirit, its global diaspora, and its long-standing relationship with international capital, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited,” Shettima said.

He added that the company would work alongside the South-East Development Commission to address infrastructure gaps and drive regional competitiveness.

Shettima stressed that the SEDC was conceived as a delivery-focused institution rather than a bureaucratic body, with the aim of creating jobs, boosting productivity, and generating tangible economic outcomes.

“Let me be clear. This is not another layer of bureaucracy. It is a delivery institution, focused on tangible outcomes that translate into jobs, productivity, and growth,” he stated.

Governors from the region, including Peter Mbah (Enugu), Alex Otti (Abia), Charles Soludo (Anambra), and Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), pledged their support for Vision 2050 and highlighted their respective states’ ongoing development initiatives.

The forum also drew representatives of the diaspora, civil society, private sector and development partners.

Shettima particularly acknowledged Umu Igbo Unite, a US-based network of over 10,000 young professionals, emphasising that regional development would require collaboration at home and abroad.

Officials of the United Nations Development Programme, federal ministries and corporate bodies were present to share insights on long-term regional planning, industrialisation, and infrastructure development.

Shettima concluded that sustainable regional growth required deliberate action, strong institutional coordination, and active engagement from all stakeholders.

The Vice President toured an exhibition gallery organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture, highlighting South-East cultural and economic potentials.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a notice of appeal challenging his conviction and multiple sentences imposed by the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting that the trial was riddled with fundamental legal errors and amounted to a miscarriage of justice.

In the notice of appeal dated February 4, 2026, Kanu said he was appealing against his conviction and sentences on seven counts, including terrorism-related offences, for which he received five life sentences and additional prison terms after being found guilty on November 20, 2025.

“I, Nnamdi Kanu, the Appellant, having been convicted and sentenced… do hereby give notice of appeal against my conviction,” the document stated.

Kanu was convicted for offences including “committing an act preparatory to or in furtherance of an act of terrorism,” “making a broadcast… with intent to intimidate the population,” and “being the leader and member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria,” among others.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered the judgment on November 20, 2025, sentencing Kanu to five life terms for terrorism-related offences, 20 years’ imprisonment for being the leader of the proscribed IPOB, and five years’ imprisonment with no option of fine for importing a radio transmitter without a licence.

In his grounds of appeal, the IPOB leader accused the trial court of failing to resolve what he described as a “foundational disruption of the original trial process” following the 2017 military operation at his Afara-Ukwu residence.

“The learned trial judge erred in law by failing to resolve the procedural and competence consequences of the foundational disruption of the original trial process in September 2017,” Kanu argued.

He also contended that the court proceeded to trial and judgment while his preliminary objection challenging the competence of the proceedings remained unresolved.

The learned trial judge did not hear or determine the objection,” the appeal document stated, adding that judgment was delivered “while the objection remained pending and undetermined.”

Kanu further faulted the court for delivering judgment while his bail application was still pending, arguing that this affected the fairness of the trial process.

He also claimed that the trial court convicted him under a law that had already been repealed, stating that “the learned trial judge erred in law by convicting and sentencing the Appellant under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013, notwithstanding its repeal by the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, prior to judgment.

Kanu further argued that he was subjected to double jeopardy, contrary to Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution, after being retried on facts he said had earlier been nullified by the Court of Appeal.

He also complained that he was denied fair hearing, claiming that he was not allowed to file or present a final written address before judgment was delivered.

Among the reliefs sought, Kanu asked the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal, quash his conviction and sentences, and “discharge and acquit the Appellant in respect of all the counts.”

He also informed the appellate court of his desire to be present at the hearing of the appeal, stating, “I want to be present at the hearing of the appeal because I may be conducting the appeal in person.”

Kanu is currently being held at a correctional facility in Sokoto State, after his application to be transferred to a different facility in either Niger or Nasarawa State was denied.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Senate has reduced the timeline for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the notice of election from 360 days to 180 days.

This followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Tahir Monguno who moved that the earlier 360 days required for INEC to publish the notice of election be reduced to 180 days.

Monguno explained that the reduction in date was necessary to enable INEC meet up with the requirements on publication of notice, saying that it was already late if the 360 days was taken into consideration regarding the next general election.

With the amendment, INEC now have more time left to publish the notice for the 2027 elections.

Daily Trust