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Alleged cyber bullying: Sowore writes court, seeks adjournment

The ongoing trial of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, before a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged cyberbullying was stalled on Thursday owing to his absence and a letter he wrote praying for an adjournment.

At the mention of the case, prosecuting lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), noted that the defendant was absent in court.

Defence lawyer, T. O. Etonyeaku, who said she was holding the brief of Sowore’s lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), told the court that the politician was in Ekiti State for his presidential campaigns.

Etonyeaku prayed the court for a stand-down to enable another senior lawyer, who was earlier in court before the commencement of proceedings, arrive and conduct the case of the defence.

The judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, drew the attention of both lawyers to a letter written the court by the defendant. The judge asked Kehinde if he was aware of the letter.

The prosecution lawyer denied being copied the letter. He argued that it was wrong for an accused person, who was being represented by a lawyer, to bypass the lawyer and write directly to the court and also fail copy the other party.

He added that since there is no evidence that Sowore has discontinued with the service of his lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, he ought not to have written personally to the court.

Kehinde however, conceded to an adjournment in the interest of justice.

The prosecuting lawyer noted that the defence was yet to respond to the written address he filed, as ordered by the court, on the issue of whether or not he could be subpoenaed to testify as a defence witness.

Justice Umar adjourned till November 3 for adoption and continuation of defence.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his August 2025 published posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, describing President Tinubu as a ‘criminal’ and accusing him of lying about the level of corruption in the country.

5 things to check before buying honey

Buying pure honey in a typical local market can feel like taking a gamble. When you walk into a market, almost every seller swears their honey came straight from the forest. But once you get home, you often realize you bought boiled sugar syrup mixed with brown dye.

?Fake honey is everywhere nowadays because adulterators mix real honey with cheap corn syrup, rice syrup, or sugar water to double their profits. Spending hard-earned money on fake honey is frustrating, especially when you need it for health, tea, or cooking.

?According to agricultural reports from the Agriculture Institute, pure honey has a low natural moisture content and high density, which causes it to behave differently from water-based sugar mixtures. Knowing how pure honey reacts can save you from buying adulterated sugar mixtures.

In this article, Tribune Online examines five direct, practical things you must check at the market before paying for that bottle of honey.

Check how thick and flowy the honey feels

?The first thing you should inspect at the seller’s stall is the honey’s thickness and how it flows when poured. Real honey is naturally dense and moves slowly when you tilt the bottle or drop a spoonful.

?When you ask the seller to pour a little drop on a spoon or saucer, watch how it falls. Authentic honey will pour continuously in a thick thread without breaking quickly, forming a small pile at the bottom before flattening out. If the liquid splashes like water or spreads out immediately, it contains added water or thin sugar syrup.

Perform a quick water drop test

?You can easily carry out the famous water test right at the market stall using a small cup of plain water. This test works because original honey does not mix with cold or room-temperature water easily due to its heavy molecular structure.

?Ask the seller to drop a single teaspoon of honey into a clear glass or cup of water without stirring it. Pure honey will drop straight to the bottom of the glass as a solid lump and stay intact. Adulterated honey or sugar syrup will start melting instantly, leaving cloudy trails in the water as it dissolves on its way down.

Try the thumb or paper towel test

?Another quick physical test you can perform on the spot is testing a small drop on your thumb or a piece of paper. Pure honey stays together because of high surface tension and low moisture content.

?Put a tiny drop of honey on your thumb nail. Original honey will sit in a neat lump and remain intact without running down your finger. If the drop spreads out immediately or drips down your hand like water, it is diluted. Similarly, if you drop pure honey on a paper napkin, it will sit on top without soaking through quickly, whereas fake honey will leave a wet water ring on the paper.

Smell the floral aroma and check the taste

?Never pay for honey without smelling and tasting a small sample first. Authentic honey is produced by bees from flower nectar, so it carries a distinct natural scent.

?When you open the bottle, pure honey should give off a mild floral, woody, or herbal aroma depending on the vegetation where the bees collected nectar. Fake honey usually smells like plain sugar syrup or has no scent at all. When you taste real honey, it gives a complex sweetness followed by a slight scratch or tickle at the back of your throat, whereas fake honey just tastes like flat sugar water.

?Watch out for natural foam, pollen, or crystalisation

?Many market buyers mistakenly assume that clear, spotless honey is the best quality, but the exact opposite is often true. Unprocessed, raw honey usually contains minor natural imperfections that show it came directly from a beehive.

?Look closely at the bottle for small specks of pollen, tiny air bubbles, or faint foam near the top neck. If you notice that the honey has turned thick, cloudy, or sugary at the bottom of the bottle during cold weather, do not panic. This process is called crystallisation, and expert bee farmers confirm it is a natural sign of raw, unheated honey. Honey that remains completely crystal clear for years without solidifying has likely been heavily processed or mixed with artificial syrup.

37 years on: How NCC moved from Alaba raids to online disruption as the piracy fight goes digital

The Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) has evolved over the years in its fight against copyright infringement. For much of its 37 years the Commission fought pirates in physical confrontations chasing them through markets from Alaba in Lagos to Eweka in Onitsha and seizing cassettes DVDs CDs and pirated books. As technology advanced and pirates went digital the Commission evolved too.

The Copyright Act of 1988 created the Commission to protect creators and fight piracy. For decades that meant physical enforcement in Lagos Onitsha Kano and Aba and success was measured in trucks: trucks raiding Alaba Market and trucks seizing pirated VCDs.

Thirty-seven years later NCC Director-General Dr John Asein says the metric has changed.

‘We used to measure our success by how many times we visited Alaba’ he said. ‘Now we measure our success by how many people online complain that their business has been disrupted. Piracy that they were enjoying is now being made a thing of the past.’

That shift reflects an institution that has grown from a law-enforcement body into what it now calls ‘the engine room for Nigeria’s creative economy.’

From markets to the internet

Piracy moved online and so did the NCC.

‘The last few years have been remarkable’ Asein said. ‘We found that more pirates are now online. And we have found that we can disrupt many online activities. Some of them have even come to us to complain that it’s now costing them more to operate.’

The Commission points to two landmark cases. The first is NetNiger which after a three-year investigation led to a prosecution at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The second is MovieBox which was using a .ng domain.

‘We worked closely with NIRA and were able to bring down the .ng domain’ Asein explained. ‘MovieBox became an embarrassment to Nigeria. We’ve done so much now to disrupt the whole MovieBox operations.’

He added a caution: ‘I won’t say we are there yet. But once you get hold of technology and have the right support from the right owners you can match these illicit activities online.’

At a recent event in Lagos international rights owners commended Nigeria for its online enforcement. Asein credited the current administration saying that under the Renewed Hope Agenda rights holders are seeing renewed hope because their rights are better protected.

From stopping piracy to paying creators

By the 2010s Nigeria’s cultural exports had raised the stakes with Afrobeats on global charts and Nollywood on Netflix. The question was no longer only ‘How do we stop piracy?’ but also ‘How do creators get paid?’

Asein said the Commission responded by creating the e-Copyright portal strengthening its oversight of collective management organisations (CMOs) and expanding digital takedowns. The CMOs include the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) the Musical Society of Nigeria (MCSN) and the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG).

The law that changed everything

Asein described the Copyright Act 2022 as ‘the most significant reform in the 37-year history of the Commission.’

‘It criminalises camcording recognises rights in digital transmissions and provides a safe harbour framework’ he said. ‘A songwriter can now clearly license her work for TikTok and if it’s used without permission there are real penalties.’

The biggest breakthrough he said came with money.

‘For the first time since the Copyright Act was passed in 1988 we were able to send ?1.2 billion to each of the three CMOs: music film and literary’ he said. ‘This administration deserves commendation for unlocking that. Authors are now benefiting not just from books sold but from inflows we unlocked.’

He said the Commission is pushing the CMOs to be ‘transparent accountable and ensure good governance so that royalties actually trickle down to the right owners.’

Since 2022 the NCC has rolled out new regulations and is training judges and Ministry of Justice legal advisers nationwide. Two to three more regulations are expected before the end of 2026.

Building for 2030 and beyond

At 37 Asein says the focus must be on mindset and money.

‘We are fighting a mindset. People think if it’s online it’s free. Our job is to show that free for the user often means broke for the creator.’

He said the Commission is building a national database of works and working with banks to accept copyright as collateral.

‘My vision is simple. I want a filmmaker in Jos or a musician in Port Harcourt to walk into a bank and say ‘Here is my IP. Finance my next project” he said.

He is optimistic about the next decade. ‘The world is moving into an AI-driven economy. I want to see Nigerians at the forefront. Nigerian music has now become a global brand. I say our Afrobeats is what reggae was in the 70s. By 2030 and beyond every person in this world will be looking for Afrobeats to sing.’

Honouring past leaders

The anniversary also gave the Asein-led administration an opportunity to honour past Directors-General and retired directors as part of efforts to strengthen the system. The Commission also announced that awards would be institutionalised in the names of past Directors-General.

‘It’s not about one person’ Asein said. ‘We are one family. Whether you are a present DG or retired you must believe you still have a stake. We should not treat ourselves as statistics. We are human beings.’

He concluded: ‘As we mark 37 years let it be clear. We didn’t just come to police creativity. We came to make sure creativity pays.’

Justice Ministry pledges support

The Commission’s parent ministry the Federal Ministry of Justice assured it of support at all times. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi who was represented by Mr Patrick Oyor Director of Legal Drafting in the ministry said the support was necessary for a flourishing creative and knowledge economy.

‘The Federal Ministry of Justice under whose supervision the Commission operates will continue to support efforts to strengthen copyright administration and enforcement and to promote an enabling legal and regulatory environment in which Nigeria’s creative and knowledge economy can flourish’ he said. ‘As the economic significance of creativity innovation and intellectual property continue to grow the work of the Commission will become even more important to our national development.’

He added: ‘As the Commission looks to the future it must continue to build on the foundations established by successive leaderships while responding effectively to a rapidly changing copyright environment. Digital technologies streaming platforms artificial intelligence and new models of creating distributing and exploiting creative works are creating both opportunities and challenges for copyright administration. These developments demand strong institutions forward-looking laws and policies effective enforcement innovative regulation and sustained engagement with creators investors and users of copyright works.

‘In meeting these challenges the experience and institutional wisdom of those who have served before remain valuable resources.’

He encouraged the Commission to maintain appropriate channels to continue drawing on the knowledge and experience of its former leaders and senior officers.

The minister said the ceremony was about gratitude and legacy. ‘It is about recognising those who served preserving institutional memory and reminding those still in service that their own contributions will in time become part of the history upon which future generations will build.’

He also stressed that public service is a fundamental service to the nation and that its true measure lies not merely in the number of years spent in office.

Stakeholders pledge support

Mr Tosin Akeredolu Acting Executive Director of REPRONIG pledged the society’s continued support for the legacies left by the honourees and expressed hope that they would remain available whenever their experience was needed.

The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Dr Usman Akanbi pledged the association’s support for the NCC in protecting the copyright and intellectual property of Nigerian writers. He said the Commission had helped establish a coalition to better protect writers’ intellectual property. He congratulated those who had led the coalition and noted that the partnership between the Federal Government through the NCC and stakeholders had given writers greater priority in copyright protection.

The Deputy President of the Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) Alhaji Isiaq Ajibola expressed excitement over the recognition of the former Directors-General and retired directors. He said copyright is not merely legal terminology to publishers but a fundamental basis of their work and the knowledge economy. He commended the NCC for its recent collaboration with the NPA particularly in tackling piracy and congratulated the honourees on their immense contributions to the Commission.

UN Biodiversity Summit enters decisive final week as govts confront finance gaps, economic drivers of nature loss

The UN Biodiversity Conference has entered its final week with initial decisions adopted and hundreds of millions of dollars pledged, as governments tackle tough negotiations on biodiversity finance and economic incentives driving nature loss.

The conference, comprising COP 17, 12th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the 6th Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing, is due to close Friday. This week, it is convening approximately 1,500 people at the High-Level Segment on 27-28 October, including 140 ministers and deputy ministers of finance and environment, to address barriers to implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022.

Negotiators made progress on several fronts during the opening week, adopting four COP 17 decisions on invasive alien species, gender, education and knowledge management; eight substantive decisions advancing the Cartagena Protocol, including on monitoring and reporting, compliance and strengthening national processes for its effective implementation; and two decisions advancing the Nagoya Protocol on monitoring and reporting and compliance.

Among other decisions this week, the Global Review will consider evidence provided in the State of Biodiversity Action report, launched by UN Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of COP 17, which found widespread national commitment but substantial gaps in ambition and delivery.

‘COP 17 is enabling a total mobilisation of more than $1.8 billion from all sources – governments, philanthropic organisations and investors – in support of strong biodiversity action,’ said COP 17 President Hambardzum Matevosyan. ‘The first week has shown that cooperation can deliver progress. The second week must demonstrate that political commitment can deliver action.’

Delivering those results will require governments to place biodiversity at the heart of economic and financial decision-making, a challenge brought into sharper focus by the participation of finance ministers at COP 17.

‘Nature is not a luxury we protect when economies can afford it. Nature is what makes economies possible. The arrival of finance ministers at COP 17 sends an important signal,’ said Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. ‘Biodiversity loss is not simply an environmental problem. It is an economic problem, and the solutions must reach into the heart of economic decision-making.’

The scale of the challenge is reflected in the financial incentives that continue to drive biodiversity loss, often undermining investments in its protection and restoration.

‘Financing the destruction of nature with 30 dollars against every dollar spent restoring it is like paying 30 people to tear down your house for every one hired to rebuild it,’ said Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Ms Schomaker outlined three priorities for turning commitments into results: accountability, alignment and acceleration. Accountability means using national reports, scientific evidence and the first global review to identify shortcomings and guide stronger action. Alignment means ensuring that public budgets, private investment, economic policies and financial incentives support rather than undermine global biodiversity objectives. Acceleration means moving faster to implement the Framework’s 23 targets by 2030.

‘The global review showed us where progress is being made and where we are falling behind,’ she said. ‘Yerevan focuses all Parties on closing those gaps.’

Closing those gaps, however, will require governments to overcome significant differences in the negotiations. Major questions remain over who should contribute to international biodiversity finance, how much funding should be mobilised and through which mechanisms. Parties also remain divided over language on reducing or phasing out harmful incentives, including agricultural subsidies.

Other unresolved issues include which commercial users of digital sequence information should contribute to the Cali Fund; arrangements for the new permanent body on Indigenous Peoples and local communities under Article 8(j); and how biodiversity action should be aligned with climate commitments and other international obligations.

CEOs Network Africa opens nominations for 2026 awards gala night

A pan-African leadership and networking platform CEOs Network Africa (CNA) has opened nominations for the 2026 CEOs Network Africa Awards and Gala Night.

The event is scheduled for 6 December 2026 at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa State House Aso Rock Abuja in partnership with the SSA to the President on Arts Culture and Creative Economy.

Held under the theme ‘The Refiners of the Future’ the 2026 edition will bring together distinguished entrepreneurs business leaders investors policymakers innovators creatives and emerging changemakers shaping Nigeria’s and Africa’s future.

The theme recognises individuals who refine systems advance ideas transform industries and create opportunities that will shape Africa’s next chapter of growth.

Speaking on the theme Alli-Bob Cinwon Founder of CEOs Network Africa said: ‘The future is shaped by those willing to refine what exists reimagine what is possible and create what comes next.

‘The Refiners of the Future are building stronger institutions creating opportunities challenging conventional thinking and turning ambition into meaningful progress.’

The event is being held in partnership with the SSA to the President on Arts Culture and Creative Economy as part of a broader effort to strengthen engagement between young entrepreneurs the private sector and government.

Speaking on the partnership Ayomide Adeagbo the SSA to the President on Arts Culture and Creative Economy the Host and Headline Partner said: ‘Across Nigeria and Africa a new generation of leaders is redefining progress.

‘They are transforming industries creating opportunities influencing culture and opening doors for others. This year we are bringing these voices together to recognise the work shaping what comes next.’

The 2026 CEOs Network Africa Awards will recognise outstanding contributions across a wide range of sectors including business finance technology and innovation agriculture real estate creativity media governance social impact education sports and other areas contributing to Africa’s development.

The Awards Committee will be chaired by Ms. Pearl Ohanele. Commenting on the significance of the awards the committee chair said: ‘The Refiners of the Future are those with the courage to improve what exists while imagining what does not yet exist. Recognising them is about drawing attention to the ideas and actions shaping the future we want to build.’

The 2026 CEOs Network Africa Awards and Gala Night will be an evening of recognition connection and high-level conversation bringing together influential voices from government business investment civil society and the creative and technology ecosystems.

2027: APC tells Atiku to quit politics says ex-VP has nothing to offer

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate to retire from active politics saying he has nothing new to offer Nigerians.

The ruling party said Atiku failed to address the country’s socio-economic challenges during his eight years as Vice President and should not present himself as the solution to problems his administration helped create.

Addressing newsmen in Kano on Thursday APC Presidential Campaign Spokesperson Mallam Alwan Hassan said Atiku should take responsibility for unresolved national problems rather than seek to govern the country.

‘It is extremely offensive that Atiku who served in an administration and was a member of the party that created and left many of Nigeria’s longstanding problems unresolved now presents himself as the answer to those same problems’ Hassan said.

Hassan said Atiku’s repeated unsuccessful bids for the presidency showed Nigerians were unwilling to entrust the nation’s destiny to him.

He also questioned the source of the former Vice President’s wealth saying his transition from the Customs Service to a billionaire remained insufficiently explained.

He further alleged that Atiku was disposing of some of his assets to finance his political ambition warning that public office should not be used to recoup personal investments.

On the North the APC spokesman dismissed claims that the region would not vote for President Bola Tinubu in 2027 and challenged Atiku to show evidence of his contributions to the region’s development in the last 27 years.

‘And on the North Atiku must account for his record. The people of the North deserve more than declarations of his pretentious concern. What has he done for the North in 27 years? Where are his investments? In Dubai! Yet he wants us to believe he has the North’s interest at heart?’ he queried.

On Peter Obi presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Hassan said the North would not risk its votes on any candidate but Tinubu.

He alleged that the former Anambra State governor failed to demonstrate democratic credentials by not holding local government elections during his eight years in office and accused him of switching parties to avoid competitive primaries.

Speaking on why the North will support Tinubu’s re-election Hassan said the President’s capital investments and socio-economic policies in the region justified his return.

He said Tinubu inherited a fragile economy citing the Federal Government’s State of the Economy presentation to the Federal Executive Council on October 28 2026.

According to him Nigeria’s economy grew by only 2.74 per cent in 2023 with net usable external reserves of about $859 million despite gross reserves of $35 billion a fragmented foreign exchange market with spreads exceeding 60 per cent a tax-to-GDP ratio of about 7 per cent and debt servicing consuming about 97 per cent of government revenue.

‘The administration responded with reforms intended to address structural weaknesses in public finance foreign exchange management and allocation of national resources. The removal of the petrol subsidy and restructuring of the foreign exchange market were among the most consequential decisions. They also imposed significant adjustment costs on Nigerians.

‘However nearly three and a half years into the administration the available indicators provide an opportunity to assess progress. The economy recorded real GDP growth of 4.43 per cent in the second quarter of 2026 compared with annual growth of 2.74 per cent in 2023’ Hassan said.

Jilted lover docked for allegedly assaulting girlfriend

A 29 year-old man, Yusuf Ajisafe was on Wednesday docked in a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan for allegedly beating up and inflicting injuries on his girlfriend who terminated their relationship.

Ajisafe pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of malicious damage, assault and escape from lawful custody.

The prosecution counsel, Insp Ayodele Ayeni told the court that the defendant committed the crime on Oct. 15, at about 4.30 p.m., at Idiaro area in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ayeni stated that Ajisafe allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, Titiloye Balogun after she informed him that she was no longer interested in the relationship.

The police alleged that the defendant also inflicted injuries on Balogun using a sharp object and also destroyed goods in her shop worth N300,000.

Ayeni explained that Ajisafe escaped from police custody where he was being held, but was rearrested after an intense search.

He noted that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 451 and 249 of the criminal code cap 38 vol. ii laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.

The court’s President, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.

Owoseni said that one of the sureties must be a relative. She adjourned the matter until Dec. 10 for trial.

FG arraigns fake agency DG Adeyemi in Court

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, arraigned the self-acclaimed Director-General of the ‘fake’ Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Prince Matthew Adeniyi Adeyemi, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Adeyemi was arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a 22-count charge bordering on forgery, false personation as a public servant, and obtaining over N27 billion to start the fake agency and N3.8 billion for personnel costs.

The prosecuting agency, ICPC, alleged in the charge that Adeyemi obtained the N30.8 billion from government coffers by forging a document addressed to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

The prosecution alleged that, on March 8, 2024, in Abuja, the defendant forged a document, to

a letter Reference: SH/COS/209/A/3456 dated 8th March 8, 2024, purportedly signed/ issued by the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the President, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, appointing Adeyemi as the Director-General of the ‘fake’ PFIPC, with the intention of causing it to be believed as genuine and occupying government office facilities at the Federal Secretariat Complex Phase III.

ICPC claimed that the forged document was presented by the defendant as portraying himself as Director-General of the PIFPC in order to obtain government recognition and legitimacy for the purpose of carrying out his fraudulent activities.

Adeyemi was further alleged to have forged a document, captioned, ‘Re: Request for approval of self-accounting status’, addressed to the Accountant-General of the Federation for the non-existent agency to operate within the government financial reporting structure.

He was also alleged to have forged documents to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to get a domain name for the agency.

The prosecution accused Adeyemi of gifting N210,000 to Aminu Abdullahi, an Assistant Chief Technical Officer in the Office of the Secretary General of the Federation (OSFG), ‘to facilitate the allocation of office space,’ without official authorisation.

He was further alleged to have gifted the sum of N300,000 to an officer in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Ogaba Harry, to facilitate the release and handover of two official vehicles, a Prado Jeep and Land Cruiser Jeep, to him (Adeyemi).

ICPC also alleged that on July 29, 2025, the defendant collected he sum of N20 million from the Managing Director of Divine Dopacy Nigeria Limited, Oyekunle Gbenga, under the false pretence of a ‘project facilitation loan’, in respect of a purported contract valued at N2.8 billion awarded by the ‘fake’ agency for the procurement of furniture, electronics and refurbishment of his (Adeyemi’s) official residence.

According to ICPC, all the alleged offences were carried out between 2024 and 2026.

It added that the offences contravened Sections 364, 366, and 132 of the Penal Code Cap. 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990; Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act and Section 9(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 9(b) of the same Act.

Adeyemi, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in the open court.

Following his not-guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, Fatima Bardi, asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case against the defendant.

Counsel for the defendant, Ibrahim Angulu SAN, on his part, applied orally to the court to grant the defendant bail, citing Adeyemi’s prolonged detention and health challenge.

According to him, Adeyemi had spent 155 days in detention and had obtained a health report from the police clinic, where he had been receiving treatment, to show his deteriorating health condition.

Justice Halilu, however, directed the defence counsel to file a written bail application.

He subsequently adjourned the case to November 9 for commencement of trial and possible hearing of the defendant’s bail application.

Bread prices rise as bakers cite skyrocketing wheat, fuel costs

Bread manufacturers across Uganda, operating under the Uganda Bakers Association, have made an urgent appeal to the government to intervene and curb the escalating cost of production, specifically highlighting the soaring prices of wheat and diesel.

The manufacturers have also called on consumers to bear with them following a decision to increase bread prices nationwide.

Addressing journalists at a press conference hosted at Ntake Bakery in Nalukolongo, industry leaders explained that the price of crucial raw materials, particularly wheat flour, alongside diesel required for machinery and distribution fleets, has surged dramatically in recent months.

The association’s leadership noted that these rising operational expenses left them with no alternative but to adjust wholesale and retail bread rates to keep their businesses viable.

Canon Dr Gaster Lule Ntake, the chairperson of the Uganda Bakers Association, stated that manufacturers had absorbed the surging costs for as long as possible to cushion ordinary Ugandans from additional financial strain. He noted that despite their efforts to hold rates steady, the pressure on production margins eventually became unsustainable, forcing a modest upward adjustment across standard loaf sizes.

Under the updated pricing structure, a one-kilogram loaf of bread previously sold to retailers at Shs 5,000 at the factory level has increased to Shs 5,500. Consequently, end consumers purchasing the one-kilogram loaf from retail shops are now expected to pay between Shs 6,000 and Shs 6,500. A half-kilogram loaf, which previously left the factory floor at Shs 2,500, now costs Shs 3,000 wholesale, with retail prices projected to range between Shs 3,300 and Shs 3,500.

In light of these adjustments, Dr Ntake urged retailers and shop owners across the country not to exploit the situational rate changes by imposing excessive profit mark-ups on everyday consumers. He emphasized that the baking sector relies heavily on diesel fuel both to power heavy bakery equipment and to transport finished goods to retail outlets nationwide, making fuel price surges particularly damaging to the supply chain.

Adding to the sector’s grievances, Isaac Njoroge of Jonisa Bakers Limited, a member of the association, highlighted the industry’s deep reliance on global markets. He explained that roughly 80 percent of all raw materials used in commercial bread production in Uganda are imported, leaving local bakers highly exposed to international supply chain disruptions and foreign exchange volatility. He pointed out that the strength of the US dollar against the local currency has drastically increased the cost of importing essential inputs like wheat flour and baking additives.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to reviewing prices downward as soon as global wheat prices stabilize, exchange rates calm, and local fuel costs subside. In the interim, the bakers continue to petition relevant government ministries to consider targeted tax relief or policy interventions on key agricultural inputs and energy to protect both local manufacturing and consumer purchasing power.

2027: City Boy Movement woos Christian leaders in Bauchi, Gombe for Tinubu

The Directorate of Christian Religious Affairs of the City Boy Movement has intensified efforts to mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, engaging Christian leaders in Bauchi and Gombe states.

The engagement, led by the directorate’s head, Hon. Belusochukwu Enwere, brought together leaders of various Christian denominations, youths, women and representatives of the Christian communities to discuss political mobilisation and peaceful participation in the forthcoming general elections.

The meeting was aimed at strengthening the movement’s relationship with Christian communities while creating awareness about the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration.

Speaking during the engagement, Enwere emphasised the importance of involving religious leaders in grassroots political mobilisation, noting that their influence could help shape public opinion and encourage greater civic participation.

‘Religious leaders have an important role to play in educating their followers about the political process and encouraging them to participate actively in deciding the future of our country,’ he said.

He urged the Christian leaders to take the message of the administration’s programmes to their respective churches and communities, stressing that sustained grassroots engagement was necessary to build awareness and support ahead of the 2027 elections.

Enwere also called for peaceful political participation, urging supporters of the President to pursue their mobilisation efforts through dialogue and persuasion rather than confrontation.

‘Our objective is to encourage responsible political participation and ensure that the mobilisation for the 2027 elections is conducted peacefully. We must promote our message without violence, intimidation or anything capable of disrupting the peace of our communities,’ he said.

The directorate encouraged participants to sensitise eligible voters on the importance of exercising their democratic rights and making informed choices at the ballot box.

The organisers maintained that political campaigns should focus on policies, programmes and issues affecting citizens, while urging religious leaders to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence despite political differences.

The engagement also sought to strengthen collaboration between the City Boy Movement and faith-based communities in Bauchi and Gombe, with the organisers expressing optimism that sustained consultations would expand the movement’s grassroots presence.

They noted that engaging Christian leaders, women and youths would provide an opportunity to communicate the administration’s agenda to more communities and encourage greater participation in the electoral process.

The initiative forms part of the City Boy Movement’s broader strategy to mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term bid across different regions and social groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.

As political activities gradually gather momentum, political parties and support groups have intensified consultations with community stakeholders in a bid to consolidate their bases and persuade voters.

The directorate reiterated its commitment to peaceful political engagement, urging Christian communities in Bauchi and Gombe states to promote national unity, tolerance and non-violent participation as the country prepares for the next general elections.