Author: user user

Edcom 2: Boost early childhood, primary education curricula

Amid the numbers of ‘struggling readers’ among Grade 1 students, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2) urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to strengthen the curriculum in early childhood and primary education.

This, as 75 percent of Grade 1 learners have been found to be ‘struggling readers’, based on DepEd’s Comprehensive Rapid Literacy Assessment for the start of School Year 2026 to 2027.

Edcom 2 pointed out that students have to catch up in Grade 2 and Grade 3 levels, before they proceed in primary education to prevent a wide reading gap.

This school year, it noted that 45 percent, or about 2.2 million Grades 1 to 3 students are struggling readers.

It called for DepEd to ensure that there is a stronger link between the curriculum of early childhood care and development (ECCD) in child development centers and daycares, up to kindergarten, and Grade 1.

Under Republic Act No. 12199, or the ECCD System Act, Education Secretary Sonny Angara serves as the co-chairperson of the ECCD Council for the ECCD curriculum.

‘The law also makes DepEd responsible for children aged five to eight and directs it to recognize early childhood education as the foundation of the learning continuum,’ Edcom 2 said in a statement.

During a forum, Dr. Nonie K. Lesaux, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education said that addressing the issue of low reading comprehension among children must start in early education.

‘We need to mount a much more intensive Kindergarten and first grade experience, both in time and in the intensity of the curriculum,’ she stressed.

Edcom 2 cited that although 90 percent of Filipino children enroll in kindergarten, only 34 percent of children aged 3 to 4 have access to early childhood education.

It further highlighted insufficient schools with 4,604 barangays having no child development centers, according to data from the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said that under the ECCD System Act, DepEd can now properly set the foundation for early childhood and kindergarten, before students enter primary education.

UAAP: NU holds off struggling UST

National University maintained its grip on the second seed in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament with a 75-71 win over the University of Santo Tomas at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

The Bulldogs bounced back from a 69-65 loss to Ateneo on Wednesday to improve to a 7-3 record, just a half game behind top-seeded State U at 7-2.

‘[It’s a] good win for us, definitely. Firstly, UST is not just another team. They’re still contenders,’ coach Jeff Napa said of the Growling Tigers, who lost their third straight game.

‘It’s a good thing that the team’s effort showed up today. From start to finish, we had our troubles, but they changed their mentality and took the challenges.’

NU held a comfortable 71-64 lead after a PJ Palacielo basket with 2:41 remaining.

UST, however, went down swinging after Collins Akowe’s short stab ignited a late 7-2 run and Amiel Acido capping it with a pair of freebies that cut the Tigers’ deficit to two, 73-71, with seven seconds remaining.

Palacielo, who finished with 14 points and six rebounds, kept the Tigers at bay when he split his free throws twice in the final 6.2 ticks. He grabbed his own miss in his first trip to the line that led to his game-sealing free throw with three seconds left.

While he split his freebies, he got his own board and went to the line again for another split but it was just enough to send UST to a lowly 4-6 record.

Mo Diassana dominated for NU with 16 points and 19 rebounds. Kenshin Padrones also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Tebol Garcia chipped in 12.

The Bulldogs completed an elimination round sweep of the Tigers, whom they beat 87-85 on a game-winning triple by Reinhard Jumamoy in overtime on Oct. 10.

Acido finished with 13 points for UST, which dropped to 4-6. Mark Llemit had 12 while Akowe and Andrew Chio tallied 11 points a piece.

Court to rule on Mawogola county election petition on December 19

Masaka High Court has set December 9 to give its verdict in the election petition in which former Mawogola County MP Gorreth Namugga is challenging the victory of the incumbent Dez Oswaldo Byuuma.

Justice Rosette Comfort Kania set the date for the ruling on October 31 after the respondents presented their final witness, the Electoral Commission’s principal legal officer, Enoch Kugonza.

Kugonza dismissed claims that the Electoral Commission hired illiterate and partisan presiding officers in the Mawogola County election on January 15, which the petitioner blames for some of the irregularities.

He, however, struggled to answer some questions raised by the petitioner’s lawyers, led by Evans Ocheing and Caleb Alaka, about the alteration of results and discrepancies in the number of votes polled by candidates, which at several polling stations exceeded the number of registered voters.

Some of the names of the polling stations mentioned in the election petition include Katimba B, Kabasanda Growers, Kabundi playground and Kasaana primary school polling station, among others.

These and other polling stations, summing to 20, are said to have altered results, falsifications and cancellations, among other issues whose causes could not be clearly explained during cross-examinations by Mr Kugonza, who at some point said that he was not the author of the contested Declaration of Results forms.

‘Some of the copies of DR forms on record are not clear, because they are photocopies of certified copies; let the petitioner share the certified copies of these contested DR forms so that we can have these issues of the said falsified results get off the way,’ Geoffrey Kandebe, lead respondent lawyer, told the court.

However, the petitioner’s lawyer, Alaka, told the court they were not aware that the respondent wanted copies of certified copies, thereby asking the court to allow them to file copies of the questionable DR forms on November 2 for the court to observe them.

The presiding Judge Kania accepted the prayer by Alaka, allowing him to present the certified copies of the contested DR forms, before giving parties schedules for filing written submissions.

The petitioner will file their submissions by November 12, while the respondent will submit his by November 23, and both parties have up to November 30 to file rejoinders, and then the court will deliver its ruling on December 19, 20226.

Speaking to Journalists after the court session, Haruna Ssewaya, the respondent’s lawyer, said that they are going to embark on filing more evidence to court to show that their client (Byuuma), won the election in a free and fair manner and is the true choice of the people of Mawogola County.

On her part, Ms Namugga said that they have shown the court that there were mass irregularities in the election, adding that there is a need for the court to base its decision on this evidence, which they are going to file in written submissions, to nullify Byuuma’s victory.

According to Electoral Commission records, Byuuma won the election with 25,781 votes, Namugga polled 4,857 votes, while Independents Denis Ddumba and Maurice Mukiibi got 924 and 436 votes respectively.

Dismantling culture of terror holding NPFL hostage

The beautiful game in Nigeria continues to be held hostage by a familiar, violent specter: football hooliganism. Despite the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board’s aggressive rollout of heavy fines, point deductions and stadium bans during the ongoing 2026/2027 season, the recurring plague of fan violence remains stubbornly uncurbed. From pitch invasions and hostage-like standoffs to bloody physical assaults on match officials, Nigeria’s local stadiums continue to turn arenas of sporting entertainment into high-risk flashpoints of lawlessness.

It is deeply unfortunate that this persistent culture of violence not only compromises the physical safety of players, referees and broadcasting crews, but also severely devalues the commercial appeal and structural integrity of a league desperately trying to command global respect. Consequently, fans are steadily losing interest in attending local football matches out of fear for their safety. Moreover, if this trend persists, a day will come when no referee will agree to officiate in match venues that have become synonymous with slaughterhouses. Indeed, in recent incidents of hooliganism, match arbiters have been the primary targets of vicious attacks by irate fans.

With only 10 match days executed so far in the current NPFL season, at least five major incidents of hooliganism and severe misconduct have already been officially documented. This underscores the devastating impact of a cancer that continues to threaten the very existence of the league. However, it is important to recognise the efforts made by the league organizers to bring the situation under control. These ugly incidents-all occurring throughout October 2026-have been met with a wide range of penalties, from heavy financial fines to point deductions and stadium bans, in an effort to uphold security and sportsmanship across Nigerian football venues.

At this juncture, it is imperative to highlight the disturbing acts of hooliganism that have hit five match venues in the 2026/2027 NPFL season. During the early October clash between Inter Lagos and Katsina United, severe misconduct erupted when club officials and fans held the refereeing team hostage for over an hour. The incident escalated into physical violence, resulting in an assault on the first assistant referee. In response, the NPFL issued a comprehensive penalty package totaling a N5.25 million fine, a severe 3-point and 3-goal deduction, and a N250,000 compensation payment for player injuries.

On Matchday 9, at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe, home fans at the Doma United versus Kun Khalifat FC match breached venue security and exhibited hostile behaviour toward match officials. The situation deteriorated when fans physically assaulted the visiting team’s head coach. He allegedly lost a tooth in the physical attack on him. The league sanctioned Doma United with a N5.25 million fine and mandated that the club play its next 3 home matches behind closed doors.

Furthermore, a violent episode occurred following the late October match between Warri Wolves and Kano Pillars when a home supporter brutally attacked the second assistant referee, leaving him bleeding from the nose. The NPFL penalised Warri Wolves with a N4.25 million fine, a 3-point and 3-goal deduction and ordered the club to host all remaining home games behind closed doors. The club later paraded the suspect responsible for the barbaric act, but it is another case of medicine after death. In the past, such offenders were presented to the public just to calm frayed nerves as they were not served appropriate punishment to deter others.

Then, Matchday 10 witnessed protocol breakdowns during the Katsina United and Plateau United fixture. Home fans violated safety guidelines by encroaching on the pitch, directly compromising the safety of players and officials. The NPFL handed Katsina United a N2 million total fine, split evenly into N1 million for security failures and N1 million for pitch encroachment.

In late October, security failures at the Abia Warriors host ground were compounded by media disruption when the club’s multimedia officer attempted to physically interfere with the live television broadcast crew. The NPFL imposed a N3.2 million fine on Abia Warriors and issued a 5-match ban specifically targeting the involved multimedia officer.

The league organisers must be commended for doing their best to minimise or eliminate acts of hooliganism in the NPFL. However, in doing so, the principle of fair play and the equitable distribution of punitive measures must be strictly observed. While there were clear breaches of NPFL safety guidelines in both Gombe and Warri, Doma United faced no point deductions, whereas Warri Wolves suffered a 3-point and 3-goal penalty (pending the outcome of their appeal). Many observers struggle to understand the inconsistency. Fans of both clubs engaged in similar acts of hooliganism; therefore, both clubs should have faced comparable sanctions to ensure basic fairness.

Furthermore, beyond the fines-which no one can confidently confirm are ever fully paid by the clubs-concrete measures must be put in place to ensure that hooliganism is either eliminated completely or reduced to the barest minimum.

First, the league must transition from merely penalising clubs to criminally prosecuting individual offenders. While point deductions and multi-million naira fines dent a club’s campaign, they do little to deter a radical supporter hiding within a chaotic crowd. The NPFL board’s ‘produce the culprit’ mandate must be backed by real state law enforcement. Club management can no longer treat hooligans as overzealous loyalists; they must be treated as criminals. Handing perpetrators a lifetime ban from match venues is a necessary start, but it must be paired with immediate police arrests, public arraignments and prison sentences. When a supporter realises that assaulting a referee or invading a pitch leads directly to a jail cell rather than a slap on the wrist, the incentive for violence will plummet.

In addition, the structural approach to matchday security requires a drastic, technology-driven overhaul. Relying on generic stadium stewards and ill-equipped local security personnel has repeatedly failed, as demonstrated by the recent lapses at Katsina United and Doma United. Currently, Barau FC is dealing with its own stewards, who attempted to physically assault their players after a 1-1 draw with Kwara United at the Sani Abacha Stadium. Instead of helping to maintain order before, during and after matches, certain security personnel and stewards actively contribute to incidents of hooliganism.

Therefore, the NPFL must mandate the implementation of digital fan registries and biometric ticketing for high-risk fixtures. Furthermore, clubs must be forced to invest in high-definition CCTV surveillance around pitch perimeters, tunnel areas, and referee dressing rooms. This will create an unassailable digital trail, stripping violent actors of the anonymity that currently fuels their impunity. Security cannot remain an afterthought or a basic compliance checkbox; it must be treated as a core component of the league’s broadcast and commercial product.

Finally, club administrators must dismantle the toxic subculture of victimhood they often foster among their fans. Too often, club officials subtly validate fan anger by aggressively hounding referees in the media or physically disrupting broadcast crews as witnessed in the Abia Warriors incident. When management projects the narrative that the entire ecosystem is rigged against them, they lay the psychological groundwork for crowd violence. True reform requires clubs to actively educate their supporters on sportsmanship and implement internal self-policing mechanisms. If domestic football in Nigeria is to attract corporate sponsorship and global prestige, clubs must accept that losing a match fairly is part of the game, while winning through intimidation is an existential threat to the entire sport.

Aboitiz Power drives AEV’s 9-month earnings to P17.8 billion

Aboitiz Power Corp. led the earnings performance of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) in the first nine months of 2026, as higher electricity prices, increased contracted power sales and additional generation capacity offset weaker performance in other business segments.

AboitizPower reported net income of P26.2 billion for the January-to-September period, up 13 percent from P23.3 billion a year earlier, making it the largest contributor to the conglomerate’s earnings.

The power business contributed P14.1 billion to AEV’s consolidated earnings, accounting for about 64 percent of the group’s reported earnings mix.

AEV reported consolidated net income of P17.8 billion, a 2 percent increase from the same period last year, supported by stronger contributions from its power and banking businesses.

AboitizPower’s growth was driven by higher electricity market prices, greater volumes covered by supply contracts and additional generation from the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan (CBK) Hydroelectric Power Plant Complex and newly commissioned solar facilities.

These gains more than offset the effects of lower coal plant availability during the period.

Excluding one-off items and foreign exchange gains and losses, AboitizPower’s net income rose 11 percent to P25.5 billion. Operating earnings increased 13 percent to P63.7 billion.

The company, however, recorded lower third-quarter net income of P7.8 billion, against P10.6 billion a year earlier, reflecting reduced availability of its coal-fired power plants.

AboitizPower continued to expand its generation and energy storage portfolio, including the groundbreaking in July of a 60-megawatt battery energy storage facility in Cebu, aimed at strengthening grid reliability.

The expansion comes as power demand and supply reliability remain important considerations for the country’s electricity market, particularly in the Visayas, where additional capacity and grid flexibility are needed to support economic activity.

Banking provides additional earnings support

Union Bank of the Philippines was another major contributor to AEV’s performance, reporting a 53 percent increase in net income to P9.9 billion.

The bank’s total revenue grew 8 percent to P65.5 billion, supported by higher lending income, banking fees and wealth management services. Net interest income increased 9% to P51.9 billion.

Loans to individual customers accounted for 62 percent of its total loan portfolio, while provisions for potential loan losses declined 4 percent to P15 billion.

As of September, UnionBank had P1.2 trillion in assets and P573.5 billion in loans, contributing P5 billion to AEV’s earnings. The bank also reported serving more than 19.5 million customers in its October earnings announcement.

Mixed results across other businesses

AEV’s food and beverage operations, comprising Aboitiz Foods and Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines, contributed P4.7 billion, down from P5.2 billion a year earlier.

Higher beverage volumes at CCEAP and gains in regional livestock feeds, trading, pet food, specialty nutrition and fish feeds at Aboitiz Foods were partly offset by weaker farm and meat operations, amid import competition and softer domestic demand.

In real estate, AEV’s earnings fell sharply to P7 million from P1.7 billion, reflecting the absence of significant land sale gains recorded in 2025 and the timing of economic estate lot sales.

Residential operations nevertheless reported improved sales quality and fewer forfeitures, while economic estates benefited from higher occupancy and rental rates.

In infrastructure, AEV’s share of Aboitiz InfraCapital’s losses narrowed to P520 million from P668 million, helped by increased passenger traffic at Mactan-Cebu International Airport and contributions from the Laguindingan and Bohol-Panglao international airports.

However, Republic Cement continued to weigh on the segment, with AEV’s share of its losses increasing to P1.2 billion from P1.1 billion. Total infrastructure losses attributable to AEV reached P1.7 billion.

Despite the improvement in its nine-month earnings, AEV’s third-quarter net income dropped to P4.1 billion from P8.9 billion a year earlier, highlighting the uneven performance of its businesses.

As of September 30, AEV had total assets of about P1 trillion and cash holdings of P84.8 billion. Total liabilities stood at P621.2 billion, while equity attributable to parent company shareholders increased to P301.9 billion.

The group maintained a current ratio of 1.1 times and a net debt-to-equity ratio of 0.9 times.

In May, AEV received an A- investment-grade credit rating with a stable outlook from Japan Credit Rating Agency, which cited its diversified portfolio, recurring cash generation and financial management.

The results show the growing importance of power generation to AEV’s earnings base, with AboitizPower providing the largest share of profits as the conglomerate navigates differing operating conditions across its businesses.

2027: Adamawa PDP candidate confident of victory despite mass defection to APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa State Maurice Volnobolki has expressed confidence in the party’s chances of winning the 2027 general election despite the defection of local government chairmen and councillors to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Volnobolki gave the assurance during the inauguration of the party’s 2027 campaign council in Yola where he urged members to remain committed to the party’s campaign.

He said the defection of council chairmen and councillors across the state’s 21 local government areas and 226 wards would not diminish the PDP’s grassroots support or affect its chances at the polls.

‘There is no cause for alarm. I have no doubt in my mind that all of you representing our structures across the 226 wards and 21 local governments are capable of delivering victory for the PDP’ he said.

Volnobolki recalled the 2019 general election when the PDP won in Adamawa despite not controlling the local government councils or having councillors and political appointees.

He said the party could replicate the feat in 2027 through the commitment and mobilisation of its grassroots supporters.

The PDP candidate also commended Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s administration for its development and empowerment programmes which he said aligned with the party’s manifesto.

‘The party that brought the sitting governor is here and you are the grassroots that brought the governor. I assure you that we are equal to the task’ he said.

He pledged not to disappoint party members who entrusted him with the governorship ticket urging supporters to turn out in massive numbers and vote without fear of intimidation.

The PDP candidate also challenged other governorship contenders to a public debate saying he was ready to defend his policies and programmes before the electorate.

He said his nine-point agenda for Adamawa was anchored on three major pillars: people prosperity and peace.

According to him the proposed agenda would focus on citizens’ welfare justice fairness equal opportunities security and the provision of critical infrastructure.

Earlier Adamawa PDP Chairman Mr Belmont Dogo congratulated members of the campaign council and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to peaceful law-abiding political engagement.

‘We in PDP have no time for propaganda or cheap blackmail but to deliver good governance to Adamawa people in the coming election’ Dogo said.

Also speaking the Director-General of the campaign council Mr Hamman Ribadu pledged to intensify grassroots mobilisation across the state to secure support for the party.

The PDP State Legal Adviser Mr John Tunoh administered the campaign council’s code of conduct and urged members to remain disciplined and committed to the party’s objectives.

Tinubu: Anti-corruption war must deliver results not publicity

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that his administration’s fight against corruption will be measured by concrete results rather than publicity stressing that effective law enforcement stronger institutions and international cooperation remain central to restoring confidence in Nigeria.

The President also warned that Nigeria must never become a sanctuary for criminals who exploit innocent people whether within the country or abroad pledging continued support for security and anti-corruption agencies to pursue offenders and bring them to justice.

Tinubu made the declaration on Saturday while reacting to a commendation from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following its involvement in an international operation against criminal networks engaged in the sexual exploitation and extortion of minors.

In a statement from his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga the President said the recognition reflected the institutional effectiveness his administration is determined to promote across the country.

‘Our fight against corruption is not measured by publicity but by results. Stronger institutions effective law enforcement and international cooperation are essential to building a Nigeria where honest enterprise can thrive and criminals are held accountable’ Tinubu declared.

The President said the administration’s commitment to strengthening financial integrity and restoring international confidence was already attracting recognition citing Nigeria’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 and the European Union’s high-risk financial jurisdictions list in January 2026.

He maintained that the developments reflected progress in efforts to strengthen the country’s financial system and create a more secure environment for legitimate businesses and investments.

The latest commendation came in a letter from FBI Director Kash Patel to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede acknowledging the commission’s contributions to Operation Artemis a joint investigation targeting international criminal syndicates exploiting children.

The operation resulted in the arrest and extradition of two Nigerian suspects Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale in August 2026.

Both suspects are facing federal charges in the United States.

‘The successful outcome of these cases would not have been possible without your assistance and dedication to international law enforcement collaboration’ Patel wrote.

Reacting Tinubu praised the EFCC leadership and personnel for their professionalism describing the successful collaboration as evidence of the institutional capacity his administration was working to strengthen.

‘This is the kind of institutional performance we are determined to build across our country. I commend the EFCC Chairman and his team for their professionalism and dedication.

‘Nigeria must never become a haven for criminals who exploit innocent people whether at home or abroad. Our law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions have my full support to pursue offenders and bring them to justice in accordance with the law’ the President said.

He urged the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies to sustain their efforts against financial and related crimes assuring them of continued government backing to protect Nigerians strengthen accountability and consolidate the country’s standing among international partners.

PH exports hit new peak in Sept; semiconductors for AI lead surge

Philippine exports hit a record high in September, buoyed by the global artificial intelligence (AI) boom, which fueled demand for locally made electronics.

But the semiconductor-led surge underscored the need to diversify the country’s export base to protect the gains should the technology-driven demand suddenly falter.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed export receipts rose 35.6 percent from a year earlier to $9.9 billion, the highest on record.

Semiconductor exports, the country’s biggest export category, soared 86.1 percent to $5.7 billion, bucking the weakness in other sectors, including mineral products, machinery, gold and other manufactured goods.

Demand from the United States, the Philippines’ largest export market and a major center of AI-related investment, grew 135.3 percent to $2.6 billion in September.

In a commentary, economists at China Banking Corp. said the Philippines should power up other sectors where export performance remained weak, warning that the electronics-led growth is vulnerable to sudden reversal in global AI demand.

The bank noted that energy, water and environmental concerns were already posing a risk to data center expansion.

‘AI-related investment continues to underpin chip demand, but the cycle could eventually moderate as capacity expands, investment returns come under greater scrutiny, or technology spending slows,’ Chinabank said.

‘Although the timing of a potential downturn is difficult to predict, the Philippines’ reliance on semiconductor exports leaves it vulnerable to shifts in global technology investment,’ it added.

Trade deficit still widened

Despite the record export performance, the country’s trade deficit widened 10.3 percent in September to $5.2 billion, a two-month high, Philippine Statistics Authority data showed.

This, after imports surged 25.7 percent to $15 billion, also setting a record.

Purchases of key food commodities remained elevated amid the ongoing El Niño episode, with rice imports rising 26.4 percent and dairy purchases climbing 20.2 percent.

4 rescued after being swept by strong current in La Union

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), with assistance from four fishermen, rescued four persons who were swept away by a strong waves while swimming off Barangay San Francisco, San Fernando City, La Union, on Friday.

In a statement, the PCG said its Coast Guard Station La Union Baywatch Team responded to the incident and successfully brought the four individuals to safety.

The four local fishermen assisted the Coast Guard personnel in the rescue operation.

The incident occurred as tourists flocked to the province’s beaches during the long Undas holiday.

According to the PCG, the prompt response showed its commitment to maritime safety, emergency response and the protection of lives at sea.

The agency reminded the public to exercise caution when swimming, particularly in areas with strong currents, rocky shorelines and deep waters.

Swimmers were also urged to follow safety advisories and instructions from authorized personnel to prevent similar incidents.

US Court denies discovery request against Tinubu

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia has denied a motion by Aaron Greenspan seeking limited discovery from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and DCI Group in an ongoing lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The court’s ruling followed a suit filed by Greenspan at the US District Court seeking to obtain records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) relating to investigations involving Tinubu and Nigerian businessman Abubakar Agbele in the 1990s.

In a request filed on October 8, Greenspan asked the court to consider additional records in support of his separate application for permission to seek limited discovery from Tinubu.

In his application, Greenspan argued that the records provided a basis for investigating possible attacks against him and his website.

However, in its ruling, shared by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on his X handle, the court declared that the proposed discovery concerning alleged cyberattacks on Greenspan’s website was not sufficiently relevant to the underlying FOIA dispute involving the FBI and DEA.

Christopher W. Carmichael, President Tinubu’s lawyer in the suit filed by Greenspan, said:

‘The Court’s decision makes clear that this Freedom of Information Act proceeding cannot be used to pursue discovery unrelated to the legal questions before it.

‘By denying the request for discovery against President Tinubu and DCI Group, the Court reinforced the importance of keeping this litigation focused on the issues properly before it.’

The court also denied a separate motion by non-party Karl Von Batten seeking permission to file an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief, as well as Greenspan’s related request for judicial notice.

Additionally, the court denied Greenspan’s motion for summary judgment.

Providing further details of the ruling, another of Tinubu’s lawyers, Oluwole Afolabi, disclosed that ‘the Court also denied the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and rejected a separate request to introduce an amicus brief.’

‘While the underlying FOIA issues remain before the Court, these rulings establish important procedural boundaries and clarify which matters are appropriate for consideration in this litigation.’