Category: Business Day

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), seven days to file his final written address in his ongoing trial for alleged terrorism, following his decision not to present a defence.

Justice James Omotosho approved Kanu’s request for a week to submit the written argument after dismissing his earlier no-case submission.

Kanu had previously indicated plans to call 23 witnesses, including Nigerians and foreigners, to testify in his defence.

In a motion filed on October 21 and signed by him, he divided the witnesses into two groups those he described as ‘ordinary but material’ and others as ‘vital and compellable’ to be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act, 2011.

He had also requested 90 days to complete his defence due to the number of witnesses.

However, on Thursday, Kanu dismissed his legal team led by Kanu Agabi, SAN, and opted to represent himself. The court adjourned the case to Friday for him to begin his defence.

When the matter resumed, Kanu told the court that his former lawyers had not yet handed over his case file, prompting another adjournment until Monday.

Expecting him to begin his defence, the court reserved several seats labelled ‘summoned witness.’

At Monday’s hearing, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, appeared for the prosecution, while Kanu represented himself. Awomolo noted that the day was scheduled for the defendant to open his defence.

Kanu, standing in the dock, said he had reviewed the case file and found no valid charge against him, arguing that the prosecution had no legal basis for the case.

‘There is no case against me. If there is no case, it would be pointless to present a defence,’ he told the court.

Justice Omotosho explained that once the prosecution closes its case, a defendant may make a no-case submission, present a defence if overruled, or rest on the prosecution’s case and file a final written address.

He further clarified that if a defendant chooses not to present a defence, they may file a written address to which the prosecution will respond before judgment.

Kanu maintained that there was no valid charge against him. The judge reminded him that his earlier ruling held that Kanu had a case to answer.

Kanu then asked for a week to file a written submission asserting that no valid charge existed and that his continued detention and trial were unjustified.

He also requested release or bail.

Awomolo argued that Kanu’s decision not to present a defence meant the case was effectively concluded.

He noted that Kanu had pleaded not guilty, cross-examined witnesses, and participated in the proceedings, but now declined to proceed further.

Awomolo urged the court to adjourn for judgment, stating that Kanu’s argument amounted to a legal defence based on points of law.

Justice Omotosho observed that Kanu’s position challenged the validity of the charge, which still constituted a form of defence.

He directed Kanu to present his arguments in writing and advised him to seek guidance from legal professionals before proceeding.

‘I urge you to consult people knowledgeable in criminal law,’ the judge said. ‘You are educated, but you are not a lawyer. This is a criminal trial; please seek proper advice.’

The judge noted that after Kanu dismissed his lawyers, he considered assigning the case to the Legal Aid Council or a lawyer willing to act pro bono, but Kanu refused and insisted on representing himself.

Omotosho said he had a duty to explain the implications of that choice.

The court granted Kanu four working days from Monday to file his written address and serve it on the prosecution, which will then file its reply.

The matter was adjourned to November 4, 5, and 6 for the possible adoption of final addresses or for Kanu to open his defence if he changes his mind.

Mustapha Wali, veteran labour leader, has urged northern leaders, traditional institutions, cooperatives, and private investors to seize ownership of the Green Imperative Programme (GIP), calling it a ‘national lifeline’ for the region’s agricultural transformation.

He stressed that the initiative’s success hinges on active regional involvement, stating that the Green Imperative is not just a federal government initiative but a national programme that requires regional participation.

‘Northern state governments, traditional institutions, cooperatives, and private investors must now take ownership,’ Wali said.

Launched in 2019 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, the GIP was envisioned as a ten-year mechanisation partnership between Nigeria and Brazil.

Its ambitious goal was to supply over 10,000 tractors, 50,000 implements, and establish 774 service centres nationwide to create millions of jobs and modernise rural economies. However, seven years in, the programme hasn’t met its full potential.

Wali attributed the significant setback to limited engagement from regional stakeholders, citing their failure to provide the required counterpart funding and institutional support.

‘Mechanisation cannot be achieved through federal action alone. It requires collective ownership and sustained political will at every level,’ he said.

He described the initial phase as a ‘missed opportunity’ that could have drastically improved food production and employment, particularly in Northern Nigeria, which possesses over 70 percent of the country’s arable land.

Wali commended President Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to reviving and commercialising the programme in 2025, noting that renewed agreements with Brazil and technical partners signal a genuine political will.

‘The revival of the Green Imperative offers a second chance-especially for Northern Nigeria, where the youthful population and vast land mass make it the natural engine of the nation’s food security. Mechanisation is not a luxury; for Northern Nigeria, it is a necessity for survival and growth,’ he explained.

To ensure the programme’s long-term sustainability, Wali urged northern state governments, private investors, and traditional institutions to immediately create Green Imperative Implementation Desks within their ministries of agriculture.

He also stressed the critical need for technical training, advocating for the upskilling of youths and women as tractor operators, mechanics, and service providers.

Furthermore, he appealed to the region’s polytechnics and universities to strengthen practical agricultural engineering and mechanisation programmes.

‘The era of waiting for Abuja is over. Local leadership and regional coordination must drive agricultural transformation,’ he noted.

Wali implored state governments to provide counterpart funding, allocate land for training and service centres, and set clear mechanisation targets within their annual budgets.

He also encouraged cooperatives and private companies to partner with federal agencies to run efficient tractor-hire and maintenance services, while urging NGOs and development partners to focus their efforts on youth and women empowerment clusters.

With seven of the ten years of the initial agreement already passed, Wali warned against misusing the opportunity calling for transparency, accountability, and local assembly of equipment. He also emphasised the immediate need for practical action: ‘The farmers need GIP to start.’

He reiterated the necessity for Brazilian technicians to be physically on the ground to begin training agribusiness personnel.

‘The Green Imperative is not just a federal government project; it is a lifeline for the North. If properly embraced, it can ignite a Northern Agricultural Renaissance-one that feeds the nation, empowers the youth, and sustains livelihoods,’ Wali stressed.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has destroyed expired and substandard consumables valued at about N25 million in Kaduna State as part of efforts to protect public health and uphold product quality standards.

The items, which included 230 bags of expired sugar, soft drinks, milk, tomato paste, and insecticides, were destroyed at a designated site outside the state capital on Friday.

Speaking during the exercise, Adamu Ahmed, SON’s deputy director for the North-West Region, said the products failed to meet the agency’s quality and safety benchmarks.

‘We are here to destroy substandard products that did not comply with required standards. This is to ensure consumers do not unknowingly use items that could endanger their health,’ Ahmed said.

He explained that all 230 bags of sugar had expired and failed laboratory conformity tests, rendering them unsafe for consumption. Ahmed noted that the destruction exercise aligns with SON’s mandate to safeguard lives through standardisation and quality assurance.

‘This sends a strong message to manufacturers, importers, and distributors that SON will not compromise on quality. Substandard products pose clear danger to consumers,’ he added.

Ahmed said the confiscation followed SON’s rigorous conformity assessment process, which identified the products as health risks. He added that such enforcement actions were designed to build consumer confidence and ensure only quality goods reach Nigerian markets.

The SON official commended compliant manufacturers and importers while urging others to align with national standards. He also acknowledged the collaboration of agencies including the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA), and the Kaduna State Government.

‘This destruction serves as a warning to those dealing in substandard goods. We will not relent in enforcing quality compliance,’ Ahmed said.

Also speaking, Hena Dangari, NESREA’s State Coordinator, praised SON for its consistency in safeguarding consumers from unsafe products, describing the exercise as evidence of effective inter-agency cooperation.

‘We are glad to witness this disposal of seized substandard items. It shows SON’s dedication to consumer protection,’ he said.

Dangari advised Nigerians to report suspicious products to regulatory agencies, stressing that public vigilance was key to reducing health and environmental risks. He also cautioned against the use of single-use plastics, noting that NESREA is working with other agencies to enforce the national ban on such materials in public and private institutions.

In his remarks, Yahya Victor, general manager of KEPA, represented by Thelma Peters, director of Pollution Control and Laboratory Services, commended SON for its collaboration with state agencies.

‘We share a common goal of protecting public health and promoting environmental sustainability, and KEPA will continue to support SON’s efforts,’ he said.

Meet Abayomi Whint. A Nigerian born lawyer who arrived in Brooklyn at six years old and has just taken the oath of office as a judge of the Kings County New York Civil Court. Her story blends resilience, family values, legal excellence and a deep belief that justice must serve everyone fairly.

‘I am overwhelmed with joy. This is a tremendous honour,’ she said during her swearing in at Brooklyn Law School, surrounded by family and friends dressed proudly in white and green.

An immigrant journey shaped by service

Born in Nigeria, Whint was inspired by her grandfather, a respected magistrate and chief, who instilled in her a passion for justice and leadership. Her father, a nurse, and her mother, an educator and advocate for children, reinforced the belief that community service is a calling.

Those values followed her into the American school system. She graduated cum laude from Connecticut College with distinction in psychology and later earned her law degree from Rutgers School of Law Newark, becoming an associate editor of the Race and the Law Review and a committed advocate for racial justice.

A career built on fairness and community

Whint brings more than 20 years of public sector experience into her new role. Most recently, she served as a legal enforcement attorney in the New York City Fire Department, where she also championed diversity and inclusion initiatives as president of CONNECT, the department’s first affinity group dedicated to civilian staff. She currently sits on the Fire Commissioner’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and the Taskforce on Racial Equity and Inclusion.

Her career spans assistant corporation counsel at the New York City Law Department, deputy managing attorney and administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings and years running her own law practice handling bankruptcy, real estate, family law and civil rights matters. She has also served Brooklyn for more than a decade as a volunteer arbitrator in Small Claims Court.Her colleagues describe her as a tireless advocate for fairness.

‘How do we begin to say thank you to someone who has given so much of herself,’ said Frank Seddio, retired surrogate court judge. ‘This is the beginning of a great career in the judiciary.’

Justice that people can feel

Whint’s judicial philosophy is clear. Courts must ensure that every voice is heard. ‘The legal system should serve everyone equally,’ she explained. ‘When people leave court, they should feel they have been given due process and a fair opportunity to be heard.’

She believes judicial decisions shape the lives of families and neighbourhoods. Her compass remains grounded in restorative justice, mediation and community building. As a certified mediator, arbitrator and restorative circle keeper, she works actively to heal harm, resolve conflict and uplift those who feel excluded from the justice system.

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, celebrated the significance of Whint’s appointment.

‘Her journey speaks volumes about the resilience and determination that fuel so many immigrant families,’ she said. ‘With faith and perseverance anything is possible.’

Breaking barriers and inspiring many

Elected as one of eight new judges in Brooklyn in the November 2024 ballot, her elevation has been widely celebrated within New York’s Nigerian community. The Nigerian Consul General, Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, hosted a reception in her honour, describing her achievement as a victory for representation and community service.

Whint describes the role not as a career milestone, but as a purpose. ‘This is not just a career choice. This is my calling.’

Her arrival on the bench signals a profound message to young immigrants, women in law and communities in search of hope. Whint has vowed to work every day to make Brooklyn ‘a more just and equitable place for all.’

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has been elected as the new President of the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF).

A renowned economist and passionate boxing supporter, Edun secured all twelve (12) delegate votes unopposed at the federation’s elections held on Saturday at the Package B Indoor Sports Hall of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

In his acceptance speech, Edun pledged to introduce sweeping reforms and structural adjustments aimed at revitalising boxing development across Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the contest for the vice presidency proved more competitive, as the Southwest representative, Hon. Omonlei Imadu, triumphed over his North Central counterpart, Mighty Mike, by eight votes to four in a tightly fought race.

Imadu, celebrated for his grassroots contributions to the sport, described Edun’s victory as a turning point for Nigerian boxing.

‘I make bold to say it’s a new dawn for boxing in the country. The Honorable Minister is very passionate about the sport, and this he has shown over the years with a plethora of grassroots initiatives across the nation,’ Imadu said.

He further assured collaboration among board members to actualise Edun’s vision for the federation.

‘I and the other board members will work closely with the Hon. Minister Wale Edun to achieve his vision for Nigerian boxing,’ he added.

The newly elected vice president also commended the National Sports Commission, led by Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, for conducting a transparent, fair, and credible electoral process that upheld the integrity of the commission.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu says his team will approach Tuesday’s 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against Benin Republic in Abeokuta with full seriousness, despite holding a comfortable first-leg advantage.

The 10-time African champions lead the tie 2-0 on aggregate, thanks to goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo in the first leg played at the Stade Kégué in Lomé on Friday.

But Madugu insists his side will not underestimate the Amazons of Benin, who are expected to come out stronger in the return leg.

‘We are looking forward to a tough game from the Beninoise, but we will be ready for that by putting up a good performance with the ultimate goal of qualification for the 2026 WAFCON,’ Madugu said.

‘They have some quality players from Germany, Morocco, France and Equatorial Guinea, so we’re not taking anything for granted. Underrating any team in Africa now is dangerous – we’ll be going all out for victory.’

The Super Falcons are expected to retain much of the same lineup from the first leg, with Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal, Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Tosin Demehin, and Ashley Plumptre forming the backline.

Rasheedat Ajibade, Deborah Abiodun, and Taiwo Afolabi will anchor the midfield, while Ihezuo, Okoronkwo, and Folashade Ijamilusi are likely to lead the attack.

Madugu also has attacking options in Asisat Oshoala, Joy Omewa, and Kafayat Mafisere if needed.

The return leg will take place at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled for March 17 to April 3, 2026, in Morocco.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the appointment of Adedayo Oketola as Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the chairman of the Commission.

The announcement was made to members of the INEC Press Corps on Monday morning, in a message welcoming Oketola to the Commission’s communications team and media coordination platform.

Oketola, an accomplished journalist and media strategist, brings over two decades of experience in investigative reporting, media management, and strategic communications. Before his appointment, he held senior editorial positions at The Punch newspaper, where he covered national politics, business, and governance.

His appointment is expected to strengthen INEC’s media relations and enhance public communication as the Commission continues its reforms toward transparent and credible elections in Nigeria.

Members of the INEC Press Corps have congratulated the new CPS and expressed their readiness to work closely with him in promoting accurate and timely dissemination of electoral information.

Courts across Kaduna State were on Monday, shut down as members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) commenced an indefinite strike to demand the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary and other pending entitlements.

From the Federal and State High Courts to the Upper Shari’a, Customary, and Magistrates’ Courts, judicial activities were completely grounded, with gates locked and banners bearing the inscription, ‘JUSUN Kaduna State chapter embarks on strike,’ displayed at the entrances.

At the Shari’a Court, Magajin Gari, courtrooms were also closed, though a few staff members were seen outside the premises attending to individuals seeking affidavits.

The strike followed a notice issued on October 23, and signed by Nasiru Haruna, the union’s secretary. JUSUN accused the state government of ignoring multiple correspondences, including a demand letter dated September 1 and an ultimatum dated October 9, 2025.

According to the union, efforts to resolve the issues amicably were unsuccessful, leaving it with no option but to embark on industrial action.

Among JUSUN’s demands are the full implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), payment of withheld salaries for April and May 2021, implementation of consequential salary adjustments, and settlement of nine years’ arrears of a 20 percent salary component from 2016 to date.

Other demands include the payment of outstanding leave and transport grants covering nine years and outfit allowances for judiciary staff.

The decision to proceed with the strike, JUSUN said, was reached at an emergency meeting held on October 23, 2025.

‘An indefinite strike action shall begin on Monday. All activities of the Kaduna State Judiciary shall be shut down. All staff are to withdraw their services until further notice,’ the union’s statement read in part.

It also directed all courts and judicial units, including the High Courts, Shari’a Courts, Customary Courts, and other judicial offices across the state, to ensure full compliance with the strike directive.

Meet Abayomi Whint. A Nigerian born lawyer who arrived in Brooklyn at six years old and has just taken the oath of office as a judge of the Kings County New York Civil Court. Her story blends resilience, family values, legal excellence and a deep belief that justice must serve everyone fairly.

‘I am overwhelmed with joy. This is a tremendous honour,’ she said during her swearing in at Brooklyn Law School, surrounded by family and friends dressed proudly in white and green.

An immigrant journey shaped by service

Born in Nigeria, Whint was inspired by her grandfather, a respected magistrate and chief, who instilled in her a passion for justice and leadership. Her father, a nurse, and her mother, an educator and advocate for children, reinforced the belief that community service is a calling.

Those values followed her into the American school system. She graduated cum laude from Connecticut College with distinction in psychology and later earned her law degree from Rutgers School of Law Newark, becoming an associate editor of the Race and the Law Review and a committed advocate for racial justice.

A career built on fairness and community

Whint brings more than 20 years of public sector experience into her new role. Most recently, she served as a legal enforcement attorney in the New York City Fire Department, where she also championed diversity and inclusion initiatives as president of CONNECT, the department’s first affinity group dedicated to civilian staff. She currently sits on the Fire Commissioner’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and the Taskforce on Racial Equity and Inclusion.

Her career spans assistant corporation counsel at the New York City Law Department, deputy managing attorney and administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings and years running her own law practice handling bankruptcy, real estate, family law and civil rights matters. She has also served Brooklyn for more than a decade as a volunteer arbitrator in Small Claims Court.Her colleagues describe her as a tireless advocate for fairness.

‘How do we begin to say thank you to someone who has given so much of herself,’ said Frank Seddio, retired surrogate court judge. ‘This is the beginning of a great career in the judiciary.’

Justice that people can feel

Whint’s judicial philosophy is clear. Courts must ensure that every voice is heard. ‘The legal system should serve everyone equally,’ she explained. ‘When people leave court, they should feel they have been given due process and a fair opportunity to be heard.’

She believes judicial decisions shape the lives of families and neighbourhoods. Her compass remains grounded in restorative justice, mediation and community building. As a certified mediator, arbitrator and restorative circle keeper, she works actively to heal harm, resolve conflict and uplift those who feel excluded from the justice system.

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, celebrated the significance of Whint’s appointment.

‘Her journey speaks volumes about the resilience and determination that fuel so many immigrant families,’ she said. ‘With faith and perseverance anything is possible.’

Breaking barriers and inspiring many

Elected as one of eight new judges in Brooklyn in the November 2024 ballot, her elevation has been widely celebrated within New York’s Nigerian community. The Nigerian Consul General, Ambassador Abubakar Jidda, hosted a reception in her honour, describing her achievement as a victory for representation and community service.

Whint describes the role not as a career milestone, but as a purpose. ‘This is not just a career choice. This is my calling.’

Her arrival on the bench signals a profound message to young immigrants, women in law and communities in search of hope. Whint has vowed to work every day to make Brooklyn ‘a more just and equitable place for all.’

On 26 August 2025, Nigeria announced a six-month halt on exports of raw shea nuts. By then, we had mobilised private financing, signed export contracts, and trained our partner farmers to gather, sort, crack, and dry shea kernels, the semi-processed step before butter. Overnight, working capital sat idle, and shipment timelines snapped.

A quick note on definitions: Raw shea nuts are the uncracked fruit; shea kernels are the dried, de-hulled seed; shea butter is the extracted fat. The ban targeted nuts, but its intent, to push more value-addition at home, spilled over to operators like us who export kernels to long-established overseas processors.

Nigeria sits on one of the world’s largest shea belts, yet we’re underrepresented in global shea value chains. The instinct to build domestic capacity is right. But timing and execution matter. By mid-June (mid-season for us), processor quotas, budgets and offtake plans were already locked. There was no practical pivot to domestic processors at that point without breaking other contracts.

This isn’t the first time Nigeria has tried to steer markets with hard stops. From the Hides and Skins framework (1940s) to the land-border closure in 2019-20 to the maize-export criminalisation bill in late 2024, the logic is familiar: keep raw materials at home, fight leakage, and build local industry. But the reasons sudden export restrictions underperform haven’t changed:

1) We have a production problem: Our yields are chronically lower when compared to our peers because most production is smallholder-led and underserved. Grants and NGO projects help at the margins, but scale demands season-fit extension, drying/quality infrastructure, and reliable aggregation.

2) We have a financial problem: Appropriate working capital remains scarce. Flagship schemes that should have filled the gap (e.g., Anchor Borrowers Scheme) faltered on governance and recoveries. Cheap credit without discipline, offtake and enforcement is not finance.

3) We have an incentives problem: When cross-border arbitrage pays and borders are porous, blanket bans tend to divert rather than develop trade. Informal traders route around policy; formal operators eat the friction.

At Aké Collective, we built around those realities: a lean, farmer-led model where women’s cooperatives act as primary processors and community aggregators. It keeps overheads low, quality high, and local impact real. In what became a short foray into shea this season, partner incomes rose materially, up to 4x, for women who had long abandoned the shea trade. Despite the expectations of policymakers, the sudden shea ban did not translate into a sudden shift to butter-making within these communities. Without guaranteed buyers, equipment, and working capital, telling rural women to ‘process more’ is not a plan.

What would make the policy bite without breaking operators mid-season?

? Time-bound transition: Announce bans pre-season with a dated glide path; grandfather already-contracted volumes.

? Clarify scope: Exempt kernels that meet domestic value-add thresholds (e.g., moisture, FFA specs) while still discouraging export of unprocessed nuts.

? Processor certification and quotas: Prioritise domestic processors with verifiable capacity; allocate transitional quotas for exporters linked to local offtake commitments.

? Season-fit working capital: Create an accountable SME window (not grants) tied to delivery and quality metrics; pay rural women processing groups on acceptance, not on hope.

? Border discipline that targets leakage, not compliance. Focus enforcement on high-risk corridors and known arbitrage, not operators with mapped farms and traceable lots.

Nigeria should absolutely become a hub for value-added shea. But we get there by matching policy timing to season economics, by backing operators who already execute, and by aligning incentives so the formal route wins. Otherwise, we freeze the very supply chains we need to build the processors we want.