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Police withdraw criminal charge against businessman Albert

The office of the Inspector-General of Police has filed a notice of withdrawal in the criminal charge filed against a Nigerian businessman, Austin Albert and one other before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The withdrawal affects an amended charge marked FHC/LAG/CR/388/2026, filed before Justice Ahmed Kala, in which Albert and Jinadu Musbau Olalekan were listed as first and second defendants.

The police, in the notice of withdrawal and discontinuance dated July 24, 2026, stated that it was withdrawing the charge against all the defendants.

The notice of withdrawal, according to the police, is pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court, and stated that the decision followed the emergence of ‘certain facts’ while the case was pending.

The notice therefore stated that the complainant was withdrawing and discontinuing the case against the defendants generally, while it did not disclose the specific issues that prompted the decision.

The development effectively brings the present charge to an end for the time being, although the wording of the notice indicates that further findings are contemplated.

The notice of withdrawal reads: ‘Notice of withdrawal and discontinuance brought pursuant to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 and under the inherent jurisdiction of this court

‘Notice is hereby given of the prosecutor’s withdrawal of this charge generally against the defendants in view of the fact that while the charge was pending, certain facts emerged that require the withdrawal and discontinuance of the matter for further findings.

‘Hence, the Complainant hereby withdraws and discontinues this case against the Defendants generally pending the outcome of the findings, please.’

Fire Guts SIC Building In Takoradi

A ferocious fire gutted the main building of the State Insurance Company (SIC) in Takoradi early yesterday morning.

The inferno affected several offices in the four-storey building destroying property worth thousands of Cedis.

One of the badly hit offices was the studio of Takoradi-based New Day Television.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. However, it reportedly started from the television studio at about 9:00am.

Firefighters from Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Ghana Ports and Habours Authority (GPHA) later arrived at the scene and managed to bring the fire under control.

Recruitment: FRSC speaks on alleged 50 slots for Gombe lawmaker

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has described a viral publication alleging that Ali Isah, representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State has secured 50 appointments for his constituents in its ongoing recruitment as false.

FRSC Public Education Officer (CPEO), Osondu Ohaeri dismissed the claim in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

The spokesperson asserted that no appointment letter had been issued to any candidate in the 2026 recruitment exercise.

Ohaeri described the publication as misleading and capable of creating a false impression about the integrity of the recruitment process which does not represent the position of the FRSC.

He also clarified that candidates who emerged successful at the various stages of the screening and interview processes had merely been invited to designated training schools and the FRSC Academy for further stages of the recruitment process.

‘Such invitation does not constitute appointment into the corps. Candidates are still required to undergo and successfully complete the prescribed training, screening, regimentation and other mandatory processes within the stipulated period.

‘Only candidates who satisfactorily complete all the required stages and emerge without any disqualifying record will be considered for appointment in accordance with established procedures,’ he clarified.

The corps public education officer emphasised that under the leadership of the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, the FRSC remained firmly committed to a recruitment process anchored on merit, transparency, due process and institutional integrity.

‘No individual, political office holder, group or other external interest has the authority to confer appointment into the corps outside the established recruitment framework,’ he added.

Ohaeri urged members of the public, applicants and social media users to disregard the said publication and refrain from creating, sharing or amplifying unverified claims suggesting that recruitment slots had been allocated.

He said that such publications were not only misleading but have the potential to deceive unsuspecting members of the public and expose applicants to fraudulent activities by persons who may seek to exploit the false impression created by such reports.

He assured Nigerians that the FRSC would continue to communicate officially and transparently on every stage of the recruitment exercise through its authorised channels.

‘Members of the public are strongly advised to rely only on official FRSC communications.

‘Treat with utmost caution, any publication, message or offer suggesting that recruitment into the corps can be secured through political influence, payment or personal connections.

‘The corps reiterates that the 2026 recruitment exercise remains subject to the full statutory and administrative processes prescribed by the FRSC.

‘No candidate should regard himself or herself as an appointee of the corps until the entire process has been concluded and a formal appointment is duly communicated by the appropriate authority,’ he said.

PH backs careful recalibration of global trade rules-official

Many developing countries, including the Philippines, are open to a careful recalibration of the global trading system that protects its foundation while ensuring fairness, according to a Philippine government official here.

Speaking at the launch of the World Trade Organization (WTO) World Trade Report 2026, Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee, the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the WTO, cautioned against abandoning the current framework amid global disruptions.

‘From a development perspective, many developing countries indeed are very open to recalibration or a rebalancing to take into account the new circumstances,’ Teehankee said.

However, Teehankee stressed that recalibration does not mean dismantling the current system.

‘It really means recognizing how those who have not benefited as much can achieve [the level of] those who have succeeded,’ the envoy said, adding that developing countries such as the Philippines ‘are firm believers in the core of the system.’

The envoy explained that any adjustments to the global trading rules should reaffirm development as the core objective, with special and differential treatment (SandD) remaining ‘a fundamental part of the development bargain.’

‘SandD by its very definition is special and differential. Recalibration means being very specific on how to help those countries that have not developed as much as the leading emerging [and] developing economies,’ Teehankee said.

The envoy also said lower-income countries should be provided with the necessary tools, such as technical capacity-building, infrastructure, and investment, to keep up with other economies.

‘The overall goal should be that all countries reach a level of equality and equity that will deliver to all citizens of the world. That’s the basic objective,’ he added.

The latest WTO report revealed that low- and middle-income economies account for 45 percent of the global merchandise trade, nearly double from 23 percent in 1995.

The report said this expansion, which underpinned substantial gross domestic product (GDP) growth and helped lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, coincided with the WTO’s creation in 1995, aligning with its foundational objectives to raise living standards worldwide. /

Only 31,099 Out Of 150,000 Federal Employees Completed Pension Verification- PenCom

The National Pension Commission has extended the deadline for the mandatory online verification and enrolment of Federal Government workers to December 31, 2026, after 118,901 eligible employees failed to complete the exercise.

PenCom disclosed this in a statement while attributing it to low participation and requests from Ministries, Departments and Agencies for more time to enrol their workers.

The exercise, which began in February 2026, was initially scheduled to end on July 31.

PenCom said, ‘As at July 2026, MDAs had uploaded 62,320 records of active employees and retirees, while only 31,099 employees had successfully completed the enrolment process. These figures fall short of an estimated 150,000 active Federal Government employees entitled to accrued pension rights.’

According to the commission, the extension followed requests from several MDAs seeking additional time for their employees to participate in the exercise.

It said the extra five months would allow affected workers to properly establish their pension entitlements before retirement.

The exercise is part of efforts by the Federal Government to determine and settle pension liabilities inherited from the Defined Benefit Scheme, which preceded the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in 2004.

Under Section 15(1) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, employees who migrated from the old pension arrangement to the CPS are entitled to accrued pension rights covering benefits earned before the transition.

PenCom said the accrued rights comprise pension and gratuity benefits earned by eligible workers from their first appointment up to June 30, 2004, with the amounts determined through actuarial valuation.

The commission noted that the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had, in a circular dated April 27, 2026, directed treasury-funded MDAs to support the exercise and ensure that eligible workers completed the one-time enrolment.

It said completing the process was critical to determining the Federal Government’s outstanding pension liabilities and making adequate budgetary provisions for their settlement.

The exercise is being conducted digitally through PenCom’s Contributions and Bond Redemption Application, known as COBRA, which the commission described as a platform for data capture, validation and processing.

PenCom said early enrolment would allow accrued pension rights to be determined and the necessary funding secured from the Federal Government before affected workers retire.

‘Subsequently, the amounts would be credited to the employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts well ahead of retirement, thereby earning investment returns and boosting retirement benefits,’ the commission stated.

Under the process, MDAs are required to upload the details of eligible employees on the COBRA platform, after which the workers must visit their respective Pension Fund Administrators with the required documents to complete their enrolment.

PenCom said Pension Desk Officers trained by the commission were expected to coordinate the exercise in their organisations and assist employees through the process.

It added that it was working with MDAs, PFAs and other stakeholders to increase awareness and participation.

The commission urged eligible workers not to treat the extension as a reason for further delay.

‘All active employees of Federal Government Treasury-funded MDAs who were in service as at 30 June 2004 are covered by the accrued pension rights provisions,’ PenCom said.

It urged affected employees and their MDAs to use the extension to complete the enrolment before the December 31 deadline.

PenCom said Pension Desk Officers trained by the commission were expected to coordinate the exercise in their organisations and assist employees through the process.

It added that it was working with MDAs, PFAs and other stakeholders to increase awareness and participation.

The commission urged eligible workers not to treat the extension as a reason for further delay.

‘All active employees of Federal Government Treasury-funded MDAs who were in service as at 30 June 2004 are covered by the accrued pension rights provisions,’ PenCom said.

It urged affected employees and their MDAs to use the extension to complete the enrolment before the December 31 deadline.

Cabinet approves Rs. 2.5 b top-up for Paddy Marketing Board as Yala season purchases continue

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved an additional allocation of Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board, on a reimbursement basis, to ensure the continued purchase of paddy under the 2026 Yala season procurement program.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the additional funding was needed to ensure uninterrupted paddy purchases in affected districts as the harvest continues.

He said the Paddy Marketing Board had earlier received Rs. 6,000 million from allocations under the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry to carry out the Yala season paddy purchase program, and had been using those funds to purchase paddy from farmers. However, with the harvest still ongoing in the districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Mannar and Mullaitivu, as well as in the Mahaweli B, C and H zones, it was observed that funds currently allocated for those areas were insufficient to meet demand.

‘To address the shortfall, the Cabinet approved the release of a further Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board, drawn from the additional Rs. 7,500 million previously allocated to the Fund at the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry for implementing the 2026 Yala season paddy procurement program,’ Dr. Jayatissa said.

Responding to questions, Dr. Jayatissa revealed that actual paddy purchases have far outpaced initial projections. ‘The original Rs. 6,000 million allocation was intended to purchase 35,500 tons of paddy, to be stored across 143 storage facilities. Now, we have purchased 67,156 tons at Rs. 8,221 million. This additional sum of Rs. 2,500 million is being provided to facilitate the recovery of these funds,’ he said.

He added that purchases have continued to grow even beyond that figure, noting: ‘We have purchased over 30,000 tons more at present’, suggesting total procurement volumes are continuing to climb as the harvest progresses in the remaining districts.

Dr. Jayatissa singled out Ampara district as a significant contributor to the procurement effort, noting that 19,426 tons of paddy had been purchased from farmers there alone, worth Rs. 2,350 million.

The additional Rs. 2,500 million allocation is expected to ensure the Paddy Marketing Board can continue purchasing paddy without interruption as harvesting wraps up in the remaining districts and Mahaweli zones.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha.

NEMA, World Bank Group move to strengthen emergency readiness capacity

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja operations office, in collaboration with the World Bank Group (WBG), has conducted an assessment of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRandR) implementation in Kogi State, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster management systems across the country.

The assessment followed the EPRandR workshop held earlier in the year and was designed to evaluate the state’s Ready-to-Respond status, identify existing capacities, and highlight potential gaps that may require intervention to improve emergency preparedness and response operations.

Declaring the exercise open, NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, conveyed the Agency’s commitment to supporting states in building effective, coordinated, and resilient emergency management structures.

Mrs. Umar, who was represented by Head of NEMA Abuja Operations Office, Pharmacist Zakari Abubakar, stressed the need for continuous collaboration among stakeholders, noting that a proactive approach to preparedness, capacity enhancement, and coordination remains critical to reducing the impact of disasters on communities.

The assessment brought together key emergency management stakeholders, including representatives of NEMA, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kogi State Fire Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Kogi State Government, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

During the exercise, stakeholders reviewed existing response mechanisms, assessed institutional capabilities, and identified areas requiring further strengthening to enhance operational effectiveness during emergencies.

The NEMA-WBG partnership reflects a shared commitment to improving disaster preparedness, strengthening coordination frameworks, and supporting evidence-based planning to build safer and more resilient communities across Nigeria.

SLIM holds successful certification ceremony 2026

Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) celebrated its latest certification recipients recently at the BMICH, Colombo recognising students completed professional marketing qualifications across programs including PCM (in English, Sinhala and Tamil), CDM, Pharmaceutical Marketing, and BPE.

Chief Guests were Hemas Holdings PLC Deputy Chairman Murtaza Esufally and Brandix Group Director and CEO Asanka Wimalaratna. Guests of Honour included Past Presidents Chinthaka Perera and Gayan Perera.

SLIM President Enoch Perera reaffirmed the institute’s vision. ‘Our vision is ‘From Local Strength to Global Influence.’ We are committed to positioning SLIM as an internationally recognised marketing institute and creating greater opportunities for every learner,’ he said.

Esufally encouraged awardees to look beyond conventional marketing. ‘Great marketers do more than sell products or promote brands. They understand people, solve real problems and inspire change. In a world shaped by AI, continue to learn and adapt, but never lose sight of integrity,’ he stated.

Wimalaratna stressed on continuous learning. ‘The knowledge and skills you have gained will provide a strong foundation, but lasting success belongs to those who embrace continuous learning and personal growth,’ he said encouraging further development through SLIM.

SLIM Vice President – Education and Research Manthika Ranasinghe said: ‘To become a great marketer, you must continue learning, observing, and staying alert to everything happening around society. Every human insight matters, because every marketing decision ultimately connects with people.’

SLIM Vice President – Events and Sustainability Rajiv David said: ‘Today marks the reward for your hard work and perseverance, but it is also the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and leadership,’

SLIM CEO Chamil Wickramasinghe said: ‘The business landscape is evolving rapidly, presenting both challenges and opportunities. I am confident that the knowledge, skills, and values you have gained will empower you to navigate these changes successfully.’

Best Performance Medals and Subject Prizes honoured outstanding students, while the ceremony reinforced SLIM’s mission to develop competent, globally competitive marketing professionals. An after-party followed for networking and celebration.

Lower rice, corn harvests expected in Q3

Production of palay (unmilled rice) and corn could post double-digit declines this third quarter, according to the latest estimates of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), with smaller harvest areas expected to gnaw on output.

Based on standing crops as of Aug. 1, the PSA estimated palay production in the July-to-September period at 3.19 million metric tons (MT), down 15 percent from the 3.75 million MT harvested in the same period last year.

This was also 2.2-percent lower than the agency’s July 1 estimate of 3.26 million MT.

That decline is expected to come mainly from a smaller harvest area, which the PSA projected to shrink by 15.8 percent to 771,790 hectares (ha) from 916,770 ha a year earlier.

Palay yields, however, could improve slightly to 4.13 MT per ha from 4.09 MT.

Corn production is likewise expected to take a hit, with output projected to fall 14.4 percent to 2.08 million MT from 2.43 million MT a year ago. The latest estimate was also 1.5 percent below the 2.11 million MT projected as of July 1.

Unlike palay, however, corn is expected to see declines in both harvest area and productivity.

The PSA expects corn harvest area to contract by 12.8 percent to 688,030 ha from 789,240 ha, while average yield could slip by 1.6 percent to 3.02 MT per ha from 3.07 MT.

As of Aug. 1, about 113,790 ha, or 14.7 percent of the projected palay harvest area for the quarter, had already been harvested, yielding 455,250 MT. About 129,950 ha, equivalent to 18.9 percent of the projected corn harvest area, had also been harvested, producing 366,790 MT.

The latest outlook comes after successive typhoons ‘Luis,’ ‘Maymay,’ ‘Neneng’ and ‘Pilandok,’ which also aggravated the southwest monsoon and caused P4.38 billion in agricultural damage.

Palay accounted for P2.05 billion in losses, equivalent to 65,106 MT of lost production, while corn damage reached P127.6 million, representing 4,707 MT in production losses.

The projected decline in palay production, in particular, follows a record second quarter, when output reached 4.63 million MT, the highest for the April-to-June period since the PSA had begun recording the data in 1987.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. had said the higher output would be crucial in building up the country’s rice stocks ahead of the anticipated impact of El Niño.

Marcoleta ‘happy’ as Duterte appears in ‘good condition’ at ICC

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday said he is ‘happy’ as he noted that former President Rodrigo Duterte appeared to be in good condition after appearing before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the first time.

Marcoleta made the remarks after his bail hearing for plunder at the Sandiganbayan Third Division, which allowed the interview to be conducted inside the courtroom.

The senator, who is currently behind bars at Payatas jail, said he only saw Duterte after someone showed him the pictures from social media.

‘I am happy because I saw him at least,’ Marcoleta, perceived to be part of the pro-Duterte bloc in the Senate, said.

He also noted that he had filed a motion in ICC so he could visit Duterte in prison, which he said was denied.

‘That was the first time I saw him,’ he also noted. ‘When I saw him, he was in good condition, I could say, when you look at his face, I am happy for him.’

Duterte finally appeared in person before the ICC Trial Chamber III on Wednesday during the third status conference in his crimes against humanity case.

Wednesday’s proceedings marked the first time Duterte personally appeared before the tribunal since he was arrested in March 2025.

Duterte has been detained in the ICC for three counts of alleged crimes against humanity charges against him.

On March 12, 2025, Duterte was arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and detained at Villamor Air Base the same day before being flown to The Hague.

A complaint against Duterte was filed with the ICC in June 2017.

Duterte declared the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute or the treaty which established the ICC, in March 2018.

The withdrawal took effect a year after or in March 2019.

Despite this, the ICC said it retained jurisdiction over alleged crimes in the Philippines – from November 1, 2011, to March 16, 2019 – while the country was still a state party.

At least 6,000 people were killed during the war on drugs under Duterte’s administration, according to official government data. However, human rights watchdogs and the ICC prosecutor estimate the death toll to be between 12,000 and 30,000 from 2016 to 2019.