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The White House has accused the Nobel Prize committee of choosing politics over peace.

It said this while protesting the decision to grant the peace prize to Venezuelan activist, María Machado.

Announcing the award in Oslo on Friday, the Norwegian Nobel Committee commended Machado for her ‘tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.’

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The committee described her as ‘one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America,’ crediting her leadership with uniting a once-fractured political opposition. US President Donald Trump had publicly sought the Nobel Peace Prize, touting his role in brokering international ceasefire deals.

Reacting to Trump’s loss in a post on X, White House spokesman, Steven Cheung, said, ‘President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will.

‘The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.’

The Nobel prize winner was announced after Trump brokered a ceasefire and hostage deal to end Israel’s war on Gaza.

Trump, who claimed to have ended eight wars since returning to office for a second term on on January 20, 2025, had earlier said it would be a ‘big insult’ to the United States if he didn’t get the Nobel Peace Prize.

Senator Ali Ndume, lawmaker representing Borno South, says the Nigerian Senate is not responsible for screening nominees forwarded by the presidency for ministerial or other appointments.

Ndume made the clarification while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, in response to public criticism following the resignation of Uche Nnaji, former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, over alleged certificate forgery.

Nnaji resigned earlier in the week after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealed inconsistencies in his academic records.

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He, however, denied any wrongdoing, describing the report as a ‘sustained campaign of falsehood,’ and said his resignation was out of respect for due process and ongoing court proceedings. Ndume explained that the Senate’s role in the appointment process is limited to confirmation, while the actual screening and background checks are handled by security agencies – primarily the Department of State Services (DSS).

‘We are not screening – get this clear. Screening and confirmation are two different things,’ he said. ‘Before the president sends a candidate to the Senate, several processes are involved, including checks by the DSS. The DSS has to clear the person first.’

He noted that the Senate relies heavily on security reports in making confirmation decisions and has in the past rejected nominees based on DSS findings.

‘Last time, the DSS brought a report against someone and we rejected the person,’ Ndume recalled. ‘So don’t say we are not doing our job. We don’t do screening – we only confirm.’

The lawmaker also lamented the prevalence of document forgery in Nigeria, saying the problem cuts across various sectors.

‘This issue of forgery is a big problem in Nigeria. It’s not just among politicians,’ he said.

The European Union (EU) has announced plans to support Nigeria in deploying the X-Road model of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), as successfully implemented in Finland and Estonia, to significantly enhance public service delivery across the country.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Gautier Mignot, disclosed this on Thursday at the Nigeria GovTech Conference and Awards 2025 organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in Abuja.

The conference focused on leveraging digital innovation to improve governance efficiency.

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The X-Road is an open-source software framework that provides a secure, real-time data exchange layer between different information systems. Mignot explained that the model could interconnect all public sector platforms while safeguarding citizens’ data privacy.

‘The model is designed to protect your data in such a way that it is not exposed beyond what is strictly authorized by the user.

‘Whether it’s school registration, insurance, or other public services, the system helps you seamlessly interact with government authorities. We are looking at adapting it as used in Estonia, Finland, and other European countries,’ he said.

He added that the EU is also supporting Nigeria with the deployment of an additional 90,000 kilometres of fiber optic cables, improving digital literacy, building digital transformation centres, and providing an initial £8 million in grants and loans to advance the Nigeria Digital Economy Initiative.

The Director-General of BPSR, Dr. Dasuki Arabi, said the bureau had introduced several initiatives to accelerate government digitalisation for improved efficiency.

He explained that in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), BPSR began this process about three years ago, noting that these technologies are now becoming integral to federal government policies.

‘We are also working to integrate distributed ledger technologies into BPSR’s operations to simplify routine tasks, secure sensitive documents, and optimize resource allocation for more effective service delivery,’ he added.

Arabi emphasised the importance of human capacity development, saying, ‘We must invest in people – the true enablers of innovation. That’s why we are committed to training over 500,000 public servants on digital literacy and emerging technologies to sustain long-term impact.’

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, represented by Mrs. Esuabana Nko-Asanye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, said the federal government was implementing major reforms to strengthen the interoperability of government platforms and enhance digital identity.

He added that digitizing government services would reduce the cost of living and doing business, eliminate bottlenecks, and foster transparency that attracts investment, creates jobs, and unlocks the country’s innovation potential.

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, said the GovTech initiative was expanding the frontiers of governance and helping Nigeria adapt to disruptive technologies.

The Kogi State High Court sitting at Anyigba in Dekina Local Government has convicted one Husseini Mustapha for raping a minor, sentencing him to life imprisonment.

Justice Hauwa Yusuf, the presiding judge, delivered the judgement on Wednesday, 8th October, 2025 in the court.

The convict was said to have committed the offence at Ajakeya, Abocho, Dekina LGA of Kogi State on the 14th day of November 2024.

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He was charged in 2024, with the offences of conspiracy, punishable under Sections 97(2) of the Kogi State Penal Code, 2019, and Rape contrary to Section 31(2) of the Child Right Law of Kogi State. The victim, a minor (name withheld), was said to be in company of her sister, going to a prayer ground when the convict intercepted them and forcefully took her to a nearby bush, where he raped her.

In the judgement, Justice Hauwa Yusuf said after careful evaluation of the evidence presented before the court, she found the convict guilty of the offence of rape, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

However, the court discharged and acquitted the convict of the offence of criminal conspiracy due to lack of evidence to show the role of an accomplice who, according the prosecution, was still at large.

After the judgment, the Prosecuting Counsel and Principal Legal Officer with the Kogi State Ministry of Justice, Kunle Tolufase, Esq., thanked the Court for the well-researched judgment.

Kunle Tolufase, Esq. expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the judgment, stating that it would send a warning signal to all those committing rape and other related sexual offences.

The political landscape of Nasarawa State, like many other multi-ethnic and diverse societies, is a complex tapestry woven with formal constitutional provisions and informal, yet powerful, agreements. Among these unwritten pacts, the rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial districts stands out as a crucial element for ensuring political stability, equity, and a sense of belonging for all parts of the state. As the tenure of the incumbent Governor, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule draws to a close in 2027, a compelling case must be made for honouring this time-tested agreement and allowing the Western Senatorial District to produce the next leader of our beloved state.

The principle of rotational governance is not an invention of Nasarawa politics; it is a pragmatic tool of democratic consolidation in a pluralistic society. It serves to assuage the fears of marginalization and fosters a sense of unity by giving every major political bloc a fair chance to lead. In Nasarawa State, this unwritten agreement has, over the years, been a balm for political tensions and a pillar of our peaceful coexistence. It has ensured that the reins of power are not perpetually held by one district, thereby preventing the kind of political alienation and strife that can cripple a state’s development.

A review of the state’s political history underscores the importance of this understanding. The first civilian governor of the state, Senator Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, hailed from the Nasarawa West Senatorial District. He was succeeded by the Late Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma from the Southern Senatorial District. The baton then passed to Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, also from the Southern District, and subsequently to the current governor, Engineer Abdullahi A. Sule, from the Nasarawa North Senatorial District. This trajectory, though not always perfect or without contest, demonstrates a clear pattern of power-sharing among the three districts. It is this historical context that makes the case for the Western Senatorial District so compelling at this juncture.

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By logical progression, after the successful tenure of a governor from the North, the path to the Government House should lead to the West. This is not merely an argument for a turn-by-turn system, it is an appeal to fairness and the preservation of a political culture that has served our state well. Allowing the Western District to produce the next governor would reinforce the trust in this unwritten agreement, signalling to the people of the district that their contributions and aspirations are valued. It would prevent the perception of a broken promise and a return to a winner-takes-all mentality, which could destabilize the state’s political equilibrium.

Furthermore, a candidate from the Western Senatorial District would be well-positioned to unite the state. The district is a diverse hub, home to different ethnic groups and cultures. A leader emerging from this region, therefore, is more likely to have a broad, all-encompassing vision for the state’s development, rather than a sectional one. Such a governor would be better equipped to navigate the state’s complex social and political dynamics, ensuring that the benefits of governance are distributed equitably across all 13 local government areas.

While some may argue for a merit-based system that disregards zoning, this perspective often overlooks the foundational realities of our society. In a state where identity and a sense of belonging are paramount, zoning is not an antithesis to merit. Rather, it is a mechanism to expand the pool of qualified candidates by ensuring that every part of the state has a chance to present its best and brightest for consideration. A candidate from the Western Senatorial District who fits the criteria of leadership, competence, and vision can and should be the one to lead, but the opportunity must first be extended to the district in a spirit of fairness and mutual respect.

That is why the efforts being spare headed by Elder Statesman and First Civilian Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu should be supported by all well meaning people of Nasarawa State. I wish to propose that that in furtherance of this objective, other Elders, including Traditional and Religious Leaders should join Senator Abdullahi Adamu to get all the aspirants from the zone in a true face to face Round Table to reduce the number of the aspirants from the zone who seem to converge on the Governing All Progressives Congress APC platform. Let us put our house in order through a SWOT analysis of the aspirants so that the zone will come out from a position of strength. In addition, the possibility of a ‘Plan B’ should also be looked at in the other political parties that may have the capacity to match the strength of the governing APC.

In conclusion, the sustainability of our political stability and the continued progress of Nasarawa State depend on the honour and observance of the unwritten agreement to rotate the governorship. As we look towards 2027, the time is right for the Western Senatorial District to produce the next governor. This is not an act of political convenience but a firm commitment to the principles of justice, equity, and inclusive governance that have guided our state’s journey. By upholding this agreement, we are not just choosing a leader; we are reaffirming our collective faith in a united and prosperous Nasarawa State.

Venezuelan opposition leader and democracy advocate, María Corina Machado, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her unwavering campaign to restore democratic governance and human rights in Venezuela.

Announcing the award on Friday in Oslo, the Norwegian Nobel Committee commended Machado for her ‘tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.’

The committee described her as ‘one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America,’ crediting her leadership with uniting a once-fractured political opposition.

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‘This is precisely what lies at the heart of democracy – our shared willingness to defend the principles of popular rule, even when we disagree,’ the committee stated. ‘At a time when democracy is under threat, it is more important than ever to defend this common ground.’ Machado, a prominent critic of President Nicolás Maduro, has been at the forefront of Venezuela’s pro-democracy movement for more than a decade.

Her activism intensified after years of political repression and economic collapse that have forced roughly eight million Venezuelans to flee the country since 2014, according to Human Rights Watch.

Barred from contesting the 2024 presidential election, Machado threw her support behind Edmundo González, an opposition figure from another party, who independent observers believe won by a wide margin.

Despite widespread allegations of fraud, Maduro declared victory, prompting protests and a violent crackdown known as ‘Operation Tun Tun,’ which involved arrests, killings, and suppression of dissent.

Machado has remained in hiding since the election but continues to speak out from within Venezuela.

The Nobel Committee said its decision to honour her ‘has inspired millions of people’ across the world who continue to fight for freedom and justice.

Trump’s Bid Falls Short

US President Donald Trump, who had publicly sought the Nobel Peace Prize, was among this year’s high-profile contenders.

Trump’s administration has been a vocal critic of Maduro, and in August, it doubled the reward for information leading to the Venezuelan leader’s arrest – now standing at $50 million – accusing him of large-scale narcotics trafficking.

Despite the campaign, the Nobel Committee chose Machado over Trump, recognising her peaceful struggle for democracy as a symbol of hope for oppressed people in Venezuela and beyond.

Many communities have been reportedly thrown into darkness as cable and transformers’ vandals continue to reign supreme in some area councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Our reporter, who has been monitoring the activities of the vandals, reports that hardly will a day pass without incidence of cables, transformers or high-tension wire stolen in the most affected area councils.

Our reporter further observed that such incidences were high in Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Kuje area councils.

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Residents of the affected communities wondered why the activities of the vandals continue to thrive despite reported arrest of some of the culprits. Abuja Metro reports that barely a week after some suspected cable vandals were arrested in Kwali Area Council, another three suspects have been arrested with stolen cables in the same area council.

A police source, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the arrest of the three suspects to our reporter through the telephone on Wednesday.

He said the suspects were arrested after police intercepted their vehicle near Sheda village, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway on Tuesday, around 5:34 pm.

He said the suspects were conveying the stolen cables inside a Mazda car with registration number MBD 465 AH, when they were flagged down.

According to him, security operatives were already informed about stolen high-tension cables, and it was while searching the vehicle that the cables were discovered.

‘Actually, the suspects confessed to stealing the electricity high-tension cables along the Kwali-Abaji axis, and they will be transferred to the FCT police command after investigations,’ he said.

He said the suspects, who are currently in Kwali Police Division, will be transferred to the FCT police command upon conclusion of investigation.

It would be recalled that two weeks ago, suspected vandals were reported to have stolen electricity high-tension cables along Manderegi village near Abaji town.

Also on Saturday, a suspected vandal was arrested at Ashara village, along Yaba road, for possession of stolen high-tension cables in the area by members of the vigilante.

Earlier, vigilantes also arrested one Peters Shina for allegedly vandalizing electricity high-tension cables in the same Ashara village in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

A member of the vigilante, Yunusa Saidu, said the suspect was arrested on Thursday around 4:23 p.m. after some villagers saw the suspect and immediately raised an alarm.

He said the suspect boldly went to where some of the high-tension cables had fallen down and started cutting the cable. He added that the vigilantes quickly mobilized to the scene and arrested the suspect.

He said the suspect, who is a native from Kabba, Kogi State, but resides in Gwako village near Gwagwalada, confessed to the stealing of the cables.

Abuja Metro also reliably learnt that three suspected vandals were also apprehended with stolen high-tension cables near Piri village, also in Kwali Area Council.

A police source who preferred anonymity confirmed the arrest, saying the suspects were conveying a large quantity of high-tension cables inside a Golf car when they were arrested at a checkpoint near Piri village on Wednesday.

‘Actually, the policemen became suspicious when the driver, upon sighting the policemen at the checkpoint, parked by the roadside and fled into the bush, while three other occupants of the car also attempted to flee. However, when one of the police threatened to shoot, they could not escape,’ he said.

The source said the suspects were later taken to Kwali Division alongside the vehicle, and that investigation was ongoing to locate the driver.

Also some suspected hoodlums reportedly vandalized electricity high-tension cables between Manderegi village near Abaji town two weeks ago, which has thrown Abaji and its environs into darkness since then.

The FCT Police Commissioner, Saka Ajao Adewale, has recently ordered the Divisional Police Officers and the Area Commanders to raid hotspots in their areas and flush out the criminals, especially those link to the vandalization of the critical assets.

TAJBank Limited, the fastest growing non-interest bank in Nigeria, has disclosed that its latest N20 billion Mudarabah Sukuk bond offer recorded 185.15% oversubscription rate.

The data just released by the investment market authorities on the performance of the bond indicated that the debt instrument, with annual profit rate at 20.5% per annum, recorded N57,029,771 billion allotment, representing 185.15% oversubscription and highlighting the growing investor confidence in the bank

Speaking on the performance of the bond, TAJBank’s Founder/Managing Director, Hamid Joda, described the N20 billion Mudarabah Sukuk bond subscription rate, which is the second tranche of the bank’s N100 billion Sukuk bond programme, as impressive given the current micro and macroeconomic factors in the economy, which continue to rob off on the real income of Nigerians and other residents in the country.

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He said: ‘Let me say that this outstanding performance of the Sukuk bond is a clear demonstration that the bank is enjoying growing investor confidence and this can only be attributed to the quality of innovative products and services, value addition TAJBank is delivering in the non-interest banking subsector of the banking system, especially when analyzed within the context of the current realities in the debt instrument market today.

‘I want to thank the board, management and staff of the bank, the regulatory authorities and the investors for their contributions to the success of the bond issuance. I also assure them that TAJBank shall continue to protect their interest to ensure a win-win experience for all stakeholders as we sustain our drive to sustain the bank as the leading player in the nation’s non-interest subsector of the banking system’, he added.

In his remarks, the bank’s Co-Founder/Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, said, ‘This investment feat is a clear demonstration that investors’ trust in TAJBank and we will continue to do our best to surpass their expectations through world-class products and services. As we always, our interest in the customers and investors.’

The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has charged property owners who have received Land Use Charge Demand Notice to pay up to fulfil their obligation to the State.

The Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe disclosed this in Lokoja yesterday in a chat with Journalists on the significance of Land Use Charge, and early payment of tax.

He said the Land Use Charge introduced by the government was aimed at eliminating the burden of multiple taxations, including providing more streamlined and efficient tax system.

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Alhaji Enehe urged property owners that have received Land Use Charge (LUC) Demand Notice to pay as soon as possible to enable them enjoy early payment incentives. ‘Payment within 5 days of receipt of Demand Notice attracts 15% discount while payment within 15 days of receipt of demand Notice has 10% discount ; and payment within 25 days of receipt of Demand Notice also has 5% discount to encourage prompt payment of the LUC.

‘Payment can be made in all bank branches across the State as well as Kogi State Revenue POS Agents’ he said.

He assured that government would continue to use the revenue for infrastructure development, maintenance of the environment, and provision of adequate security for the State.

The Executive Chairman, KGIRS added : ‘The Land Use Charge offers several benefits, including; Accurate assessment of property values for taxation purposes, Identification and registration of property in the State, Allocation of land for government projects and social amenities, Employment opportunities for enumerators from the District, and Creation of a reliable database on the property makeup of the State to inform decision-making.

‘The tax obligation section of the Land Use Charge focuses on property used for lease and commercial purposes, but there are exemptions, and they include; Property owned and occupied by religious bodies for public worship or education, Public cemeteries and burial grounds,

‘Others are non-profit educational institutions and public libraries, palaces of recognised traditional rulers, community property like town-halls used for community meetings, and Property owned and occupied by pensioners’.

The Police Command in Niger State says it has arrested four suspects for criminal conspiracy and theft of motorcycles in Minna and other areas.

This was contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Thursday in Minna.

Abiodun explained that on October 3, at about 9 pm, a direct complaint was received that one Michael Isah (23) of the BYJ area of Kwamba, ran away with his friend’s TVS motorcycle.

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He explained further that the motorcycle’s registration number is ABJ 402 MV and it is valued at over N1 million.

‘On receipt of this, police operatives of Maje Division swung into action and were on the lookout for the suspect and the motorcycle.

‘Fortunately, on October 4, at about 11:30 a.m., the said motorcycle was found with Abubakar Mutawakil of Kwamba, who was making efforts to get a buyer for it.

‘He was immediately arrested, and he confessed to the crime. He also led the operatives to arrest Michael Isah, who gave him the motorcycle for disposal,’ he said. (NAN)