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Binance to resume further withdrawals on Tuesday

Crypto exchange Binance said on Monday that it intends to resume withdrawals for additional networks and assets tomorrow as the next phase of its recovery following a massive cyberattack last week.

The company added it will roll out the withdrawals progressively and share details when ready.

Binance said it has covered around 95% of the impacted amount, while the remaining 5% represents tokens that are less liquid and “take longer to source at the required scale.”

It repeated that it will absorb the financial impact of the stolen funds and will work with industry partners to complete the remaining acquisitions.

Domestic Violence: NHRC records 122 cases in Kwara

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Kwara said it recorded 122 domestic violence cases from January to October 2026.

The commission’s coordinator in Kwara, Mrs. Olajumoke Olaoye, disclosed this in an interview newsmen on Monday in Ilorin.

Olaoye, however, said there had recently been an improvement in awareness of rights within marriage and the willingness of victims, including men, to speak out against domestic violence.

She said the commission received complaints from both men and women, although women made more reports. The coordinator, however, added that the cases were not limited to physical assault but included emotional, sexual and economic abuse.

According to her, some men are reluctant to report abuse by their wives because of societal expectations and the stigma associated with being a male victim.

Olaoye also identified spousal rape as a form of sexual violence, stressing that marriage or payment of bride price did not remove the need for consent in sexual relations.

She, however, expressed concern over the tendency of some families to cover up sexual abuse, particularly rape cases, instead of seeking justice for victims.

She said cultural and religious misconceptions had contributed significantly to the prevalence of domestic violence, particularly against women.

‘Our culture has relegated women to the background, and there are still some traditional settings where women are not allowed to participate in certain meetings or express their opinions. Some people also interpret religious teachings to mean that women must endure abuse in the name of respecting their husbands. But things are changing because we have been engaging religious leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to ensure that they support efforts to reduce domestic violence,’ she said.

She added that the commission had also received cases involving physical abuse of children, stressing that discipline should not be used as an excuse to violate their fundamental rights.

On legal protection, Olaoye cited Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2020 (VAPP Law), as key instruments protecting victims against domestic violence.

She said the VAPP law provided comprehensive provisions against different forms of abuse, including physical assault, economic violence, sexual abuse and the unlawful deprivation of a spouse’s property.

According to her, the law provides penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for offenders. Olaoye said the implementation of the law in Kwara was progressing gradually, noting that the Ministry of Justice had started relying on its provisions in prosecuting criminal cases, particularly rape.

She said the commission also has mechanisms for handling cases beyond its administrative capacity at the state level.

According to her, such cases can be referred to the commission’s headquarters for consideration by its council, which can conduct inquiries and issue decisions enforceable as High Court judgments.

She added that the commission could also engage pro bono lawyers through its legal department to pursue public interest litigation on behalf of victims who could not afford legal services.

The coordinator said the commission collaborates with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), police, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

She also named the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as a collaborator in addressing cases requiring intervention.

On seeking assistance, Olaoye said victims could lodge complaints via physical visits, phone calls, WhatsApp messages and emails.

She added that victims could also report anonymously or through third parties, particularly where they feared intimidation or stigmatisation.

Olaoye urged victims of domestic violence to speak out and seek assistance rather than endure abuse in silence. She urged families, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to support efforts to curb domestic violence and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

Russia’s emergency alert app targeted in large-scale cyberattack

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said on Monday that its official mobile application, used to warn residents about Ukrainian drone attacks, had been targeted in a large-scale cyberattack that allowed hackers to distribute false information.

In a statement published on its official Telegram channel, the ministry said attackers had exploited a security vulnerability in the application to circulate misleading messages among users.

The ministry said specialized technical teams were working to eliminate the vulnerability and restore the application’s normal and secure operation.

The application is used to provide emergency notifications to residents, including warnings about potential drone threats amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The incident comes as cyberattacks continue to affect digital infrastructure and communication systems during the conflict, raising concerns about the reliability of emergency warning services.

The ministry did not identify those responsible for the attack or specify how many users had received misleading notifications.

How bureaucracy leaves power equipment rotting in ports

Recent revelations that more than 300 containers of critical electricity equipment imported by the Federal Government remained stranded at Nigerian ports for years have exposed the administrative bottlenecks and institutional inefficiencies undermining efforts to improve electricity supply across the country, experts have said.

The equipment, some of which have reportedly been trapped in the ports for close to two decades, were procured under various government-funded and development-partner-supported electricity projects, including the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) donor-funded projects and the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

Despite their importance to the country’s electricity infrastructure, the equipment have been unable to reach their intended destinations because of unresolved import documentation, disagreements over duty exemptions, mounting shipping demurrage, port charges and bureaucratic delays involving government agencies.

President Bola Tinubu has consequently directed the immediate clearance of the stranded containers, a move that has generated mixed reactions among stakeholders in the power sector.

While some experts have welcomed the directive as a demonstration of political will to address longstanding challenges in the electricity industry, others believe the development exposes years of institutional failures that cannot be resolved through presidential orders alone.

What power minister said

Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe, who disclosed the presidential directive after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, expressed dismay that equipment meant to strengthen the country’s electricity infrastructure could remain abandoned at the ports for such an extended period.

Tegbe said: ‘Those containers are not empty. It is appalling to see that we find ourselves in such situations.

‘They were imported by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power/Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) under various power projects over the years.’

However, industry experts said the circumstances surrounding the stranded equipment reveal structural weaknesses in government procurement, importation and project implementation processes.

Nigeria has an installed electricity generation capacity of approximately 13,014.40 MW to 13,625 MW, while available or generated power fluctuates between 4,000 MW and 5,403 MW.

This was largely attributed to ageing or inadequate infrastructure to support transmission and power distribution.

It would be recalled that the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) recently recovered abandoned power equipment worth billions of naira from various seaports across the country, following an intervention by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, said during a visit to the NPA in August that the released items were in 110 abandoned containers and 216 packages.

Some experts called for a critical evaluation of the equipment in order to retrieve those that are still useful.

A former Chief Technical Officer, Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) and MD/CEO, Idfon Power Engineering Consultants (iPEC) Limited, Engr. Idowu Oyebanjo, said the situation arose when the projects were awarded to contractors at low cost without demurrage.

According to him, some of the contracts are structured on Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) Lagos terms, meaning the equipment are delivered to the Lagos port without sufficient arrangements to ensure their prompt clearance and transportation to the project sites.

He explained that the difficulties begin even before the containers arrive in Nigeria, as critical import documentation and duty exemption approvals are often not completed before shipment.

Oyebanjo stated that upon the arrival of the containers and notification sent to the shipping agents, the agents approach TCN to obtain an Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC).

However, TCN would reportedly inform them that the relevant file was with the Ministry of Power, while the ministry, in turn, would say it was with the Ministry of Finance.

He added that the Ministry of Finance often views the imported equipment as potential revenue for the government and consequently seeks to impose a five per cent import duty.

He noted that such equipment should ordinarily benefit from the relevant government exemptions, considering that they were imported specifically for public electricity infrastructure projects.

According to him, some of the consignments arrive without properly processed Form M, the mandatory import declaration form; Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR); Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP) certification; and Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC).

These omissions, he said, leave the equipment exposed to additional clearance requirements and charges.

Oyebanjo said the situation becomes more complicated after the containers spend 90 days at the ports without clearance.

He disclosed that a particular batch of 22 containers accumulated liabilities of N483.88m because of the conflicting classifications and the continued accumulation of shipping charges.

Providing details of the contents of the containers, Oyebanjo said they include critical electricity infrastructure approved by the Federal Executive Council for various transmission projects.

Among the equipment are 300 Mega Volt-Ampere (MVA), 330/132/33 kilovolt (kV) transformers intended for Ikeja West, Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) spares, 33kV double-circuit lines for Katampe and materials for the proposed Super Grid.

He said some of the equipment had remained in the ports for about 20 years.

Oyebanjo alleged that the prolonged delays had also created opportunities for an auction racket, claiming that some overtime cargo were auctioned to cronies at about 10 per cent of their value before being resold to TCN.

‘How to avoid recurrence’

To prevent a recurrence, he recommended the establishment of a dedicated TCN desk at the Nigeria Customs Service, rather than leaving the process entirely within the purview of the Ministry of Finance.

Such a desk, he said, should operate with pre-approved duty waivers to ensure that documentation and clearance arrangements are completed before the equipment arrive in the country.

He also called for a change in the procurement structure for future electricity projects, recommending that all new contracts adopt Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) arrangements, under which contractors would be responsible for delivering equipment to the project sites rather than simply bringing them to Lagos ports under CIF terms.

On his part, a power expert, Engr. Ibrahim Sulu said since 2016, presidential approvals have cleared stranded power equipment again and again, only for it to pile up.

He said the country needs a standing rule that does not depend on whoever is minister, adding that all contracts are Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) to the project site, with the contractor bearing demurrage.

A power stakeholder, Duru Oguzie, expressed dismay over the prolonged abandonment of the equipment, describing the situation as evidence of a lack of patriotism among some Nigerians entrusted with managing public resources.

He criticised the Nigeria Customs Service for allowing the equipment to remain stranded for years when they could have been released earlier for use in the country’s electricity infrastructure.

He described the development as a show of shame, arguing that the equipment had lost much of its potential value to the country because of the prolonged delays.

Oguzie urged the Federal Government to maintain zero revenue charges on the stranded electricity equipment to ensure their immediate release.

He argued that the government should prioritise the national interest and the potential benefits of deploying the equipment rather than focusing on revenue collection from assets already procured with public funds or development financing.

However, another stakeholder, Saka Mohammad, questioned the political narrative surrounding the presidential directive.

He said the applause generated by the presidential directive was undeserved because the clearance of the equipment should be viewed within the broader context of the government’s responsibility to address the longstanding weaknesses in the power sector.

He maintained that the Federal Government should take more proactive measures to ensure that the problems responsible for the abandonment of critical electricity equipment do not recur.

However, energy expert Rasheed Adeleke described the clearance of the stranded equipment as a positive development that could support improvements in the electricity sector.

He lamented that the equipment had remained trapped at the ports for almost two decades, saying the situation exposed the persistent institutional failures and unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles slowing the development of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.

Beyond the stranded equipment, concerns have also been raised about the direction of the country’s transmission infrastructure development and the feasibility of some newly announced projects.

A competent source with knowledge of the industry said, ‘Now, as elections approach, the President has promised Nigerians that he will fix the power sector and end estimated billing. He even challenged Nigerians not to vote for him if he fails to deliver on these two promises.

‘They have now introduced the East-West transmission project without publishing the necessary details, technical studies or implementation plan. Yet, they claim it will be completed in two years and add 14,000MW to the national grid. This is being presented to Nigerians without adequately explaining the technical and commercial realities.’

The source added, ‘Electricity is not generated simply by making political promises. It requires properly coordinated investments in generation, transmission and distribution, supported by credible technical studies, financing and implementation capacity.

‘Without addressing these fundamental issues, the promise of adding 14,000MW in two years raises serious questions about the feasibility and credibility of the project.’

Kano counts losses as fire razes 110 shops at Kofar Ruwa timber market

Kano is tallying losses after a devastating early-morning fire razed 110 shops at the popular Kofar Ruwa Timber Market in Kano metropolis.

The inferno which broke out at about 7:39 a.m. on the weekend destroyed 75 permanent buildings and 35 temporary structures leaving traders with losses running into millions of naira.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement from its Public Relations Officer Kabiru Isah Jafaru.

Jafaru said the Service received a distress call from a timber dealer Alhaji Abba and immediately deployed firefighters from various stations across the metropolis.

‘On arrival the teams discovered that the fire had engulfed several sections of the market affecting 110 structures.

‘By the grace of Almighty Allah our team successfully brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to other sections’ he said.

He said no casualties were recorded while the cause of the fire and the estimated value of property destroyed are yet to be ascertained.

The Director of the Service Alhaji Sani Anas urged traders and business owners to be more vigilant and adopt fire-prevention measures especially as the harmattan season sets in when dry conditions heighten fire risks.

The Kofar Ruwa fire is the latest in a series of market fires recorded in Kano this year raising fresh concerns over safety measures in commercial centres.

Mutfwang vows to reclaim every inch of Plateau

Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has pledged to step up security operations across the state, promising to ensure that displaced residents return to their ancestral homes.

He said his administration would not surrender any part of the state to insecurity, stressing that protecting communities remained a major priority.

Mutfwang spoke on Monday in Jos while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for the 2027 general elections. He also urged party members to intensify mobilisation at the grassroots ahead of the polls.

The governor disclosed that his administration was preparing to deploy more security personnel, including 800 trained forest guards within four weeks. He also announced that a fresh batch of retrained Operation Rainbow operatives would be commissioned the following week.

‘If the people of Plateau knew the magnitude of the damage planned against our state, they would appreciate that only God’s intervention and our strategic efforts have helped us thus far.

‘One thing I have committed myself to is that I will ensure the protection of every inch of land in Plateau State.

‘Very soon, we are going to be taking practical steps to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons back to their communities,’ he said.

He added: ‘One of the things we have waited for is to get more boots on ground and, by the grace of God, next week we are going to commission a new batch of retrained Operation Rainbow operatives.

‘And in another four weeks, we are going to also release at least 800 trained forest guards. We are determined to ensure that our people return to their ancestral homes.’

Mutfwang commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting efforts to tackle insecurity and improve Nigerians’ welfare, while appealing to Plateau residents to remain patient as his government pursued lasting peace.

‘And so, all we are asking Plateau people is, trust us, be patient with us, and by the grace of God, you will not regret it,’ he said.

Turning to the 2027 elections, the governor said the APC would seek another mandate to enable his administration to complete ongoing projects and consolidate its development programmes.

‘We are going to the nooks and crannies of Plateau State to solicit their endorsement and approval for a second time in office because the many things we have begun must not be aborted.

‘We must ensure that we bring things to a very glorious height,’ he said.

He described governance as a relay race in which successive administrations must build on the achievements of their predecessors.

‘We can collectively make Plateau State better. This is our desire, and by the grace of God, we are determined that we will leave Plateau State better than we met it in every sense of the word,’ he added.

The governor also declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election, expressing confidence that Plateau voters would give the President another mandate and return him for a second term.

‘We are talking about a unification movement, that Plateau people have decided in 2027 to go one direction.

‘And we have chosen that the wings on which we have chosen to fly in 2027 are the wings of the APC.

‘I am confident that come January 16, 2027, by the grace of God, Plateau State will return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a resounding victory. And that two weeks later, the people of Plateau will renew their mandate for us to continue on the good journey we have started,’ he said.

Mutfwang urged APC candidates and campaign council members to promote unity and mobilise voters across their respective constituencies, warning against actions that could create divisions within the party.

Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Rufus Bature, commended members of the campaign council for accepting to serve and urged them to ensure peaceful, issue-based campaigns.

‘We have no reason to be courtiers of violence. We are known for peace and we will continue on that trajectory.

‘Let’s travel together. We’ll do all we can to make sure that the campaign is seamless and flawless,’ he said.

FG to open application platform for 5000 Renewed Hope Homes in Lagos

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is set to open an application platform for Nigerians interested in acquiring homes under the 5000-unit Renewed Hope Housing Programme.

The housing project is being developed in partnership with Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Limited in Ibeju-Lekki Lagos State.

The development follows the groundbreaking ceremony at the weekend at Lekki Aviation Town Yegunda Government Resettlement Scheme Ibeju-Lekki.

The project will deliver 5000 housing units across Lekki Aviation Town The Parliament and GranVille Estate within 36 months.

Interested Nigerians have been encouraged to begin exploring mortgage options through the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and their respective mortgage banks ahead of the opening of the application platform.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony the Minister of Housing and Urban Development Muttaqha Darma said President Bola Tinubu remained concerned about Nigeria’s estimated 15 million housing deficit affecting approximately 120 million people.

He said the Federal Government was considering a nationwide social housing programme involving the construction of 100 housing units in each local government area alongside a proposed 100000-unit housing scheme.

Darma added that feasibility assessments and costing exercises were ongoing to accommodate differences in construction costs across states.

The Managing Director of Harmony Gardens Abdullahi Mosadoluwa said the partnership was aimed at making homeownership more accessible through structured mortgage financing and flexible payment arrangements.

He encouraged Nigerians particularly parents seeking homes for their children and citizens living abroad who planned to return or retire in Lagos to explore the opportunity.

Mosadoluwa reaffirmed the company’s commitment to completing the 5000 housing units within 36 months with supporting infrastructure and sustainable community planning.

Traditional rulers at the ceremony commended the Federal Government’s partnership with the indigenous developer expressing confidence in the company’s capacity to deliver the project.

They also praised its contributions to community development infrastructure provision and the welfare of host communities.

Also speaking Damola Akinyelure of Metroscape commended Mosadoluwa’s involvement in housing development including his contributions to the 4000 housing units delivered in Karsana Abuja.

The ceremony attracted representatives of the National Assembly the Federal and Lagos State governments traditional institutions and the business community.

FG targets lower export costs faster trade processes with National Single Window

The Federal Government has moved to reduce export costs eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and accelerate trade processes through the implementation of the second phase of the National Single Window (NSW) a digital platform designed to simplify Nigeria’s import and export procedures.

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Mrs Nonye Ayeni disclosed this on Monday in Enugu during the National Single Window Phase 2 (Export) Stakeholders’ Sensitisation and Engagement Session held at Hotel Sunshine.

Ayeni whose address was read by the Southeast Regional Coordinator of the agency Mustapha Umar Farouk said the initiative would connect relevant government agencies through a unified digital platform reducing duplication improving transparency and making cargo clearance more efficient for Nigerian businesses.

She stressed that export competitiveness depended not only on product quality but also on the efficiency of procedures involved in moving goods from producers to international buyers.

‘Export competitiveness depends on more than the quality of a product. It also depends on whether that product can move from producer to buyer efficiently with the right documentation clear regulatory requirements and reliable timelines’ she said.

According to her delays and uncertainty in export procedures could affect product quality delivery commitments financing costs and buyers’ confidence particularly for businesses dealing in perishable agricultural products.

She said small and medium-sized enterprises stood to benefit significantly from simplified regulatory requirements reduced administrative burdens and improved access to international markets.

Ayeni urged government agencies and private sector operators to collaborate towards effective implementation stressing that the platform must be accessible reliable and responsive to the practical needs of businesses.

‘The National Single Window should therefore be judged by the practical difference it makes to businesses. Exporters need a platform that is accessible dependable and responsive’ she said.

She reaffirmed NEPC’s commitment to supporting the initiative through export documentation guidance capacity building market information and trade linkages to strengthen the competitiveness of Nigerian products.

In his presentation the Director of Operations of the National Single Window Project Mr Peter Ekunkoya said the engagement was organised to sensitise exporters promote stakeholder collaboration and secure support for the second phase.

He explained that the NSW would provide a centralised digital platform where traders clearing agents and other stakeholders could submit standardised information and documents to fulfil import export and transit regulatory requirements.

Ekunkoya said the platform would replace the fragmented system in which businesses navigate multiple government agencies and largely manual processes providing a single-entry point for regulatory applications documentation and payments.

He disclosed that the first phase commenced operations on March 27 2026 covering import licences permits and certificates issued by agencies including NAFDAC the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) NESREA and NAQS.

Giving an update on its performance as of October 2026 he said the platform had processed 175138 licences and permits registered 12629 importers and agents fully onboarded five government agencies and trained more than 8000 users.

He added that 27 airlines had been onboarded for air cargo manifest transmission while 56 shipping lines had joined the platform for sea cargo manifest processing.

Ekunkoya said Phase 2 scheduled for delivery between the fourth quarter of 2026 and the first quarter of 2027 would automate export licences permits certificates Registered Exporter Number applications warehouse registration and other export documentation.

He further disclosed that end-user training would run from November 16 to December 14 across Lagos Abuja Port Harcourt Kano and Enugu with the third phase expected between the third and fourth quarters of 2027 covering customs declarations Form M applications oil and gas processes and advanced risk analytics.

The project director urged exporters freight forwarders clearing agents and other stakeholders to embrace the platform saying its successful implementation would simplify trade reduce revenue leakages attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts.

CJ Gesmundo: Humility in greatness

I may have intuitively, though fearlessly, foretold the ascent of Alexander G. Gesmundo to the highest post in our judiciary. On Jan. 6, 2006, in my cluttered chamber as the two-week-old chief justice (CJ), I inducted him as a new Sandiganbayan magistrate. After formally administering his oath of office with both of us in our official robes, I matter-of-factly offered him my seat so he could sign his appointment papers. Spontaneously, I told the inductee whom I had never met before, ‘Please, sit down on my chair. One day, you will occupy it.’

AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, 15 YEARS LATER, on Apr. 5, 2021, he was appointed the 27th chief justice of the Philippines. Remarkably, CJ Gesmundo neither sought his nomination to the post nor coveted the appointment. Though not the most senior or second most senior justice at the time, his ascension was nonetheless accepted by all the justices-a tribute to his modesty, intellectuality, collegiality, and integrity. They knew his ascent did not involve political bargaining or calculated ambition; it was the natural culmination of a life devoted to humility in greatness.

Without fanfare or publicity, he took his oath as the primus inter pares of the Supreme Court before Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe (who normally should have been a shoo-in for the top post), with the Court en banc as witnesses. Unlike prior chiefs who were sworn in by the President at Malacañang, this act of independence from the appointing authority endeared him to his colleagues.

Over the years, CJ Alex and I have grown quite fond of each other. At my request, he has faithfully chaired the board of judges of the legal scholarship program of the Foundation for Liberty and Prosperity (FLP) for five years since his appointment. Graciously, he welcomed the finalists into the inner sanctum of the Supreme Court-a privilege reserved for a select few-where he and the board conducted their interviews. Even beyond that, he inspired the interviewees to champion liberty and prosperity under the rule of law, a legal philosophy he shares with FLP.

HE INHERITED A JUDICIARY BESET BY THE RAVAGES of the pandemic and a huge backlog of cases. Undaunted, he spearheaded a reform agenda called the ‘Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027,’ a five-year blueprint to guide the judiciary toward case decongestion, enhanced legal education, technology-driven court processes, coupled with a steadfast protection of constitutional rights.

Though passionate in forging digital transformation, he nonetheless always stressed that technology is merely a means; justice for our people remains the ultimate end. Thus, he pioneered the Court’s framework on ‘human-centered augmented intelligence’ to ensure that innovation supports, rather than supplants, human judgment.

Anchored on this vision, he ensured the accessibility and responsiveness of the courts to ordinary citizens. As he so simply but eloquently summarized, ‘[t]he majesty of the [Supreme] Court shines clearest and brightest in our devotion to rendering justice swiftly, without fear or favor.’

A brief survey of his key decisions reveals a passion for substantive justice over technicality. He consistently interpreted the law to humanize it. In People v. Pagal (Sept. 29, 2020, en banc)-in which he acquitted the accused of murder despite his guilty plea-CJ Gesmundo opened his ponencia with a quote from Cicero, asserting that essential justice for the poor transcends the immense power of the state to prosecute.

Truly, the words of justices carry a god-like finality, immortalized in jurisprudence, read, debated, and admired (or despised) long after they pass from this Earth. Despite this rather intoxicating power, CJ Alex kept to his characteristic humility and relied on his conscience and private prayers to guide his every decision.

NOTABLY, HE FOSTERED COLLEGIALITY IN THE COURT. He listened intently to his peers, welcomed divergent views, and did not impose his will. When tempers flared during difficult debates, he would quietly arbitrate to preserve institutional unity.

His modest, selfless approach to leadership stems from his reverence for the office. Indeed, he views his headship more as a divine calling and less as a worldly achievement. True, he did not seek the top office in the judiciary, but our country is infinitely better because he accepted the call to it. Surrendering to a duty larger than himself, he personified the constitutional duty of ‘proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.’

On Nov. 5, CJ Alex will reach the compulsory retirement age of 70 and regain his freedom after his long exile on the quiet, secluded peaks of Mount Olympus. I am personally delighted that he has accepted his election as an FLP trustee, effective Nov. 6.

As president of the association of retired justices, I will gladly welcome him as the most junior member of our group. Our retired (but not retarded) colleagues will join him in pursuing personal passions or hearing his quiet reflections about the high office he once held-remembering the humility with which he served it, and the greatness with which he left it.

L:A Bruket prepares for the holiday season with its winter collection

IN Swedish folklore, tomtar are magical creatures that protect and help you-watchful, kind, but always mischievous. In winter, as the cold grips and snow falls beyond the window, these cheerful figures return to our houses like happy memories.

Snow Dream, or Snödröm in Swedish, is L:A Bruket’s seasonal gifting collection shaped by joy, warmth and childlike wonder. Made up of five kits, each one is a limited-edition ritual offering a calming journey through scent, texture and time to oneself. Made to be given to you or your loved ones, like the tomtar, these kits help you embrace the beauty of winter.

Each kit is housed in a box, illustrated with a watercolor of tomtar by artist Alex Simpson, crafted using FSC card. Simpson’s hand-drawn images echo the nostalgia of old storybooks and childhood winter games-the relaxation, comfort and celebration of seasonal festivities.

Alongside the Snow Dream kits, these exclusive watercolors adorn the boxes of our iconic candle and room diffusers in two of the most loved scents: Coriander and Hinoki.

Icy Trails. Lip Balm + Hand Cream (Sage/Rosemary/Lavender) 30ml. P2,550. Fortifying and soothing duo for all-day cold weather protection.

Snowball Fun. Lip Balm + Hand Cream (Lemongrass) 30ml. P2,550. Energizing and moisturising duo to revitalize through the winter months.

Little Traveler. Lip Balm + Goodnight Lip Balm + Lip Balm Holder. P2,850. Dusk until dawn, hydrate lips and relax your mind on-the-go.

Soft Guard. Hand Cream (Elder) 30ml + Hand Cream (Bergamot Patchouli) 30ml + Hand Cream Key. P2,750. Deeply nourish, boost and rejuvenate hands wherever you are.

Along For The Ride. Hand and Body Wash 240ml + Body Lotion 240ml (Sage/Rosemary/Lavender). P4,550. Cleanse and deeply nourish winter skin with a much-loved duo.

Meanwhile, after the success of the brand’s seasonal Winter Pine launch last year, L:A Bruket welcomes back the scent for 2026 in new boxes printed with a wintery fog water color of a Nordic evergreen tree by artist Alex Simpson.

Limited-edition Winter Pine captures the soul of a Nordic forest in winter, immense, ice-cold and powerful in its silence.

The green resin of fir and galbanum blends with cooling mint. Grounded by earthy patchouli and dry cedarwood, the composition recreates the draw of the woods: fresh, resinous and endlessly renewing.

Winter Pine Candle 260g. P4,950

Winter Pine Room Diffuser 200ml. P5,750

Winter Pine Fragrance Tag. P2,200

L:A Bruket is available Rustans Makati, Shangri-La, Alabang, Gateway, and Cebu, or online at www.rustans.com.