NEWS

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has banned the used of the title “Barrister” by lawyers and court officials, as a prefix to their names in all official engagements at the Supreme Court.This was contained in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi.Addressed to litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers, the circular said the order took immediate effect and formed part of efforts to uphold professional standards within the apex court.The memorandum on Friday read, “I am directed by the Honourable the Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers that the use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is...

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has uncovered a criminal network involved in the production and use of fake diplomatic and official government number plates in Abuja. FCT Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Sanusi, disclosed the development on Friday, July 31, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Abuja. Sanusi said the syndicate specialises in producing fake diplomatic and official government number plates allegedly used by criminals to evade security checks and gain access to restricted locations. According to Sanusi, investigations into the illegal operation began shortly after he assumed office as Commissioner of Police following reports that diplomatic and government number plates were increasingly being used by unauthorised persons. T...

Spanish authorities have said about 49,000 migrants entered the North African enclave of Ceuta from neighboring Morocco within a single day, marking one of the largest mass border crossings in the country's history.Most of the migrants on Thursday, July 31, swam around a breakwater from Morocco to reach a Ceuta beach, overwhelmed Spanish police, and forced the deployment of the army.The figure is nearly five times the daily peak of the 2015 migration crisis, when hundreds of thousands of refugees entered Europe via Turkey, mainly from Syria and Afghanistan.The national security department in the Spanish prime minister’s office said “more than 49,000” people had streamed into Ceuta in an online statement that was posted at 8am on Friday, then taken down. It said the Spanish secu...

The Oyo State High Court has ruled that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) cannot compel female candidates sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to remove their hijab before taking the examination, declaring the practice unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.The judgment settles a long-standing issue for Muslim female candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions, with the court holding that they cannot be forced to remove their hijab as a condition for writing the UTME.Justice Y. S. Adekunle, in a judgment delivered on July 20 in Suit No. I/560/2025, ruled in favour of Lawal Hameedat Adenike Olamide, a minor who sued through her mother, Mrs Basirat Ojo-Oba, after she was allegedly prevented from writing the April 25, 2025 U...

The Federal Government has launched a nationwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacity-building programme for teachers in Federal Unity Colleges, with about 11,700 educators expected to receive digital skills training aimed at transforming classroom teaching across Nigeria. Nigerian-AmericanCommunity NewsThe initiative advanced on Thursday with the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) between the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, paving the way for the nationwide implementation of the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.The programme, to be implemented through the Ministry’s Education Support Services Department, forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to modernise Nigeria’s education sector, strengthen teacher professionalis...

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed that it will not reverse its ban on small-volume alcoholic drinks in Nigeria. NigerianCurrent AffairsSpeaking in an interview, the agency’s South-East Zonal Director, Dr Festus Ukadike, said enforcement of the ban is already underway, targeting manufacturers and distributors of sachet alcoholic beverages. Ukadike said the next phase of the enforcement would involve removing the remaining affected products from the market.He added that the ban would not disrupt legitimate businesses, noting that companies can continue producing alcoholic beverages in bottles of 200ml or more. According to him, arrests and seizures have already been recorded across the South-East, including in Enugu, Imo...

President Bola Tinubu has asked state governors to “stop building flyovers where there is no numeric traffic” and do more to improve the quality of life of citizens.The President made the call while receiving traditional rulers from Oyo state led by Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, at the State House,Abuja on Thursday, July 30.Speaking directly to Oba Ladoja, President Tinubu said the financial allocations of states had increased more than four times compared to when the monarch and himself served as state governors.Tinubu was governor of Lagos from 1999 to 2007, while Ladoja served as governor of Oyo from 2003 to 2007.The president said owing to the increased financial allocations, governors are no longer borrowing money to pay salaries.“You have govern...

Former Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Ibrahim Aliyu, has passed away following a prolonged illness.According to family sources, Aliyu died in Sokoto after battling health challenges.The late politician served as deputy governor under former Kebbi State Governor Saidu Usman Dakingari from 2007 to 2015.Reacting to the development, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris described Aliyu's death as a significant loss to the Yauri Emirate, Kebbi State, and Nigeria.In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, the governor praised the late Aliyu for his integrity, selfless service, and dedication to public service.Governor Idris noted that Aliyu distinguished himself both as a career civil servant and as deputy governor, earning admiration for h...