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ECOWAS exit: Nigerian Foreign Minister, Tuggar assures of Sahel States’ return

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Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, says he is hopeful that the three Sahel countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which recently withdrew from ECOWAS, would soon return to the bloc.

The minister of the assurance when he received the ECOWAS Parliament’s Speaker Memounatou Ibrahima, who led a delegation from the parliament on a courtesy visit to him on Friday in Abuja.

Ekwutosblog reports that the visit was part of the parliament’s efforts to strengthen intergovernmental relations and governance ahead of its 25th anniversary later in November.

“We will continue to work hard towards the success of ECOWAS and all member states, including the three recently withdrawn ones, we are encouraging them to come back.

“As we keep saying, we have not closed the door on their return, we are confident that they will return because they are part and parcel of the region, it is just a matter of time,” he said.

The minister stated that although the three countries exited ECOWAS, Nigeria and other member countries would continue relating with them as neighbours and work together in certain areas for mutual benefits.

He called on the West African media to de-emphasise the issues of their unfortunate exit and instead focus attention on the subregion’s economic development.

Tuggar also advised the media and other West African stakeholders to highlight the prevailing positive developmental projects in the remaining twelve member states.

Tuggar listed such projects to include the West African Power Pool, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation scheme, Abidjan- Lagos Corridor, Abidjan –Dakar Corridor, among others, that would enhance regional development.

According to him, the ECOWAS Parliament is an embodiment of the representation of the citizens of member states with demonstrated commitment toward constitutional and democratic governance.

Ekwutosblog reports that the trio country officially exited ECOWAS on 29th January, 2025.

Speaking earlier, Ibrahima told the minister that the delegation visited him to update him on the activities of the parliament over the last one and half years, as well as its future activities.

 

She revealed that the parliament, which was established in 2000, was preparing for its 25th Anniversary as a regional legislature.

“We are working on how we can have some capability and enhancement so that we can have more legislative role in the ECOWAS Community.

“We are looking at how we can support ECOWAS in all their programmes and activities,” she said.

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Alleged N110.4bn Fraud: Yahaya Bello Loses Bid for Overseas Medical Trip

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Justice Maryanne Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, struck out an application by the former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, for the release of his passport to enable him travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Bello alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu before Justice Anineh on a 16-count charge, bordering on criminal breach of trust and money laundering to the tune of N110.4 billion.

 

At the last sitting, Bello, through his counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, had made an application, dated June 19, 2025 and filed on June 20, 2025, praying for a temporary release of his passport to enable him attend a scheduled medical appointment in the United Kingdom, with an undertaking to return the passport to the court upon his return.

 

In his response to the application, prosecution counsel, Chukwudi Enebeli, SAN, however, urged the court to refuse the request, arguing that the application was aimed at altering the bail conditions the court imposed on the defendant, which required him to deposit his passport with the court.

 

He further argued that the defendant’s sureties ought to have been put on notice to confirm their continued willingness or not to remain as sureties if the defendant was permitted to travel out of the country.

 

The prosecution counsel further submitted that the defendant had engaged in abuse of court process by filing a similar application in another court, which was still pending.

 

“The proper thing would have been for the defendant to retrieve his passport from the other court and then apply for a travel permit before this court. Asking both courts to release the same passport at the same time creates the risk of conflicting orders, which is an abuse of process,” he said.

 

At the resumed sitting on Thursday, prosecution counsel, Jami’u Agburo, informed the court that the matter was for ruling on the application and that the prosecution was ready.

 

In her ruling, Justice Anineh held that her court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the application since the defendant’s passport was not held by her court.

 

“A review of the court’s record revealed that the applicant had previously been ordered to deposit his passport and other travel documents with the registry of the court. However, upon further inquiry and search conducted by the court, it was discovered that the said passport was not presently in the custody of the court’s registry but with the Federal High Court. The defendant even deposed to an affidavit himself, stating that his passport had been deposited with the Federal High Court in a bail earlier granted him.

 

“The simple logic is that the passport cannot be with two different courts at the same time. Since the defendant admitted depositing the passport with the Federal High Court, there is no reason making any order here in regards to the application. Courts don’t make orders in vain and as such, this court will not make any order that will be in vain since the passport in issue is not with this court but the Federal High Court,” she said.

She adjourned the case till October 8, 9 and November 13, 2025, for continuation of trial.

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Buhari did not loot Nigeria’s treasury – Akpabio

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has lauded the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a leader who served Nigeria without embezzling the nation’s treasury.

Akpabio made the remarks on Thursday at an expanded Federal Executive Council meeting held in Abuja in honour of Buhari.

The President of the Senate noted that even the former president’s critics would concede that he did not misappropriate public funds while in office.

He said, “Let us be honest, he was tough. He was a soldier who did not flinch under fire, a leader who did not flee from responsibility, and above all, a Nigerian whose loyalty to this nation was never up for sale.

“His toughness was born not out of pride but of a patriotism, a fierce, unrelenting belief that Nigeria, with all its challenges, was still worth fighting for. And yet some disagree with him.

“That is the nature of democracy. But even his fiercest critics will admit that he did not pilfer the nation’s boss, nor pander to its pleasures to the very end.”

Present at the special FEC meeting were members of the National Assembly leadership, ministers, governors, and the children of the late leader, led by his son, Yusuf.

The former Governor of Akwa Ibom State further stated that Buhari sought duty when others sought glory, describing him as a leader who did not flee from challenges.

“President Buhari did not merely pass through the corridors of power; he left his boots and imprints in them. He believed that discipline mattered, that integrity mattered, that leadership, even when lonely, must be anchored on something greater than power,” he added.

Ekwutosblog reports that Buhari served as military Head of State between 1983 and 1985 and as a civilian president for eight years, from 2015 to 2023.

He died on Sunday at a clinic in London at the age of 82 and was buried in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.

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2027: Attempts to divide Tinubu, Shettima will fail – Group warns political detractors

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The Northern Vanguard, NV, a political advocacy group based in Abuja, has issued a stern warning to those attempting to create a rift between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, ahead of 2027.

In a statement on Thursday, Edward Gulak, President of the Northern Vanguard, called on political detractors “to cease the orchestrated campaign of discord” aimed at weakening the cordial, productive working relationship between the country’s two topmost leaders.

Gulak described the current atmosphere in the presidency as one of “uncommon loyalty, harmony, and shared vision,” adding that any attempt to drive a wedge between Tinubu and Shettima was “not only mischievous but deeply unpatriotic.”

He described Shettima as not just experienced, but someone who truly understands Nigeria’s challenges in security, the economy, and regional issues.

Gulak warned that any attempt to create problems between Tinubu and Shettima will be strongly resisted by Nigerians who want peace and stable leadership.

He said Nigerians are tired of political drama, they want results, and that’s what Tinubu and Shettima are delivering. Dividing them, he said, would harm the nation.

The group believes their partnership is a rare chance for long-term political stability and commended Shettima for staying loyal, mature, and focused on his duties.

They also urged the media and public commentators not to fall for tricks or fake crises pushed by people with selfish motives.

As the 2027 elections approach, the group called on all politicians to focus on building the country, not spreading division.

“This government needs unity, not distractions. Nigerians are watching, and history won’t be kind to those who try to sabotage progress.”

“We are aware that some political merchants, driven by envy and personal bitterness, are hoping to manufacture a rift between President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in order to destabilise this administration ahead of 2027,” he said.

“These rogue elements are disappointed that the President and his Vice are working in seamless unity, and unlike what played out between former President Obasanjo and his then Vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the relationship between Tinubu and Shettima has remained unshakeable, fortified by mutual respect and purpose,” he added.

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