Headlines
Nigerian prison inmates may vote in 2023 elections – Aregbesola’s aide
The Ministry of Interior on Friday said it would support the project “Pollrite 23” to enforce the right of inmates to participate in political activities in Nigeria.
The technical adviser to the Minister of Interior on Corrections, Michael Anugwa, said this while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the planning meeting of the Pollrite 23 project in Abuja.
The Pollrite 23 project is aimed at facilitating civic engagement among communities with low voters’ turnout, including inmates in Nigeria.
Carmelites Prisoners’ Interest Organisations, CAPIO, had organised the planning meeting with relevant stakeholders to find a way to achieve the project.
Mr Anugwa said the minister, Rauf Aregbesola, had passion for inmates’ welfare, especially women.
He said the minister believed that inmates should be given the right to exercise their franchise during elections.
According to him, the move by CAPIO to enshrine the right of inmates to vote is in the right direction.
“This is so, because the enabling laws do not remove the right to vote from inmates because they are inmates.
“There are certain freedoms that they are denied but voting is not one of them. So, the inmates’ right to vote must be encouraged by all and sundry.
“I will make a memo to the minister on this and strongly recommend that he partner with other stakeholders in the electioneering business.
“This will help so that the inmates will be accorded the right to vote in future elections in our country,” he added.
The executive director, CAPIO, Rev Fr. Jude Isiguzo, said the project would help enforce the electoral right of inmates, create awareness and an enabling environment for them to vote.
Isiguzo said the project was being funded by Voice, which was a part of the Dialogue and Dissent agenda of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at strengthening the lobby and advocacy capacity of CSOs.
He said this also included representatives of the most marginalised and discriminated groups.
He added that the Pollrite 23 project was being piloted in three states namely Lagos, Abuja and Enugu.
On his part, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Garba Abari, commended CAPIO for the initiative, pledging the support of his agency in enforcing the voting rights of inmates.
Abari said the agency would help to get volunteers and spirited individuals to be involved in the project.
NAN reports that other stakeholders present at the planning meeting were representatives of Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Information, NHRC, NGOs, Independent National Electoral Commission, National Human Right Commission among others.
NAN
The Police Command in Jigawa, has arrested six suspected vandals in the Kazaure Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Lawan Shiisu, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Dutse on Monday.
Shiisu said that five of the suspects, aged between 28 and 53, were arrested for vandalism, while the sixth suspect, a 30-year-old, was apprehended for allegedly receiving stolen items.
He explained that two of the suspects were arrested on Feb. 26 after allegedly vandalising streetlight, armoured cable wires and individual conduit service wires in the Bandutsi area of the LGA.
He added that three more suspects were arrested on Feb. 28 after allegedly conspiring to vandalise approximately 2,000 meters of high-tension wire in the Faru and Daba villages of the same LGA.
According to him, during interrogation, the suspects identified Musa Yahaya, a 30-year-old from the Wajen Gabas area in Kazaure town, as an accomplice and the receiver of the stolen items.
The command’s spokesperson alleged that Yahaya was aware that the cable wires belonged to the government and were stolen items.
He added that the suspects, who had allegedly confessed to the crime, had since been charged to court.
The Supreme Court on Friday, nullified the Local Government election in Rivers State, which was conducted on Oct. 5, 2024.
A five-member panel of the apex court unanimously held that the election was conducted in violation of relevant laws.
Justice Jamilu Tukur, in the lead judgment, agreed with the appellant, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that conditions precedent were not complied with before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) held the election.
Justice Tukur held that there was no evidence that the voters’ registration continued until 90 days before the election and that the requisite notices were issued as required by law.
Nigeria has lost a broadcasting icon as Chief Anike Agbaje-Williams, Africa’s first female television broadcaster, has passed away at the age of 88.
Her family announced her passing in a statement signed by Mrs. Banji Sokoya, revealing that the veteran broadcaster died peacefully in Ibadan, where she lived most of her life.
“Goodnight, my ever so cherished mummy, boss, and mentor. We’ll surely see in the morning,” the statement read.
Born on October 23, 1936, Agbaje-Williams made history as the first face to appear on television in Africa when she featured on Western Nigerian Television (WNTV) in Ibadan during its test transmission and official launch on October 31, 1959. She was also the first voice heard on Africa’s first commercial radio station, Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS), earning her the title of “Double-First.”
She had a distinguished career in broadcasting, rising through the ranks to become a respected producer and director of programmes before retiring in July 1986.
A devoted member of All Saints Church, Jericho, Ibadan, she was also one of its oldest choristers. Her family described her as a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose legacy will be cherished forever.
“The family profoundly mourns the passing of a great icon. We take comfort in knowing she lived a glorious, remarkable, and impactful life. She inspired many fans and mentees over the years,” the statement read.
The family has requested privacy during this period of mourning, with funeral arrangements to be announced later.
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