Author: bibncollar

High-profile attorney Anthony Ricco has stepped down from defending embattled American music mogul Sean Diddy Combs ahead of his upcoming sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Diddy, who is currently facing over 30 civil lawsuits, is awaiting a federal criminal trial scheduled for May 5, 2025. In a motion filed before the New York Federal Court on Thursday, Ricco formally announced his withdrawal from the case but declined to disclose specific reasons, citing attorney-client privilege. The legal document stated that Ricco had notified the judge of his decision, emphasizing that there were sufficient reasons protected by lawyer-client privilege. In his relief…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected proposals for the creation of new states in Nigeria’s Southeast, insisting that it seeks Biafra’s independence rather than additional states. This follows reports that the National Assembly is considering the creation of 31 new states, including five from the Southeast- Etiti, Adada, Urashi, Orlu, and Aba States. In a statement issued on Monday, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, dismissed the proposal as a distraction, arguing that existing states are already bankrupt and dysfunctional. “Biafrans do not want the creation of new states. Instead of multiplying economically bankrupt states, the unworkable Nigerian unity should…

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has insisted that the January 15, 1966 coup was an Igbo-led uprising, citing former military Head of State Ibrahim Babangida’s book, A Journey in Service, as evidence. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Fani-Kayode dismissed claims that Babangida refuted the ethnic nature of the coup, arguing that those making such assertions are either misinformed or deliberately distorting history. “I hate to burst your bubble, but there is NOWHERE in IBB’s book where he said that the coup of January 15, 1966, was NOT an Igbo coup. In fact, he alluded to the contrary…

Armed bandits launched a deadly attack on Domar Gidan Sule community in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing three people, looting several houses, and rustling a large number of livestock. The attack, which occurred late Sunday night, was reported by security analyst Bakatsine on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday. “Yesterday night, bandits attacked the Domar Gidan Sule community. They killed three people, looted several houses, and rustled large numbers of livestock during the attack,” Bakatsine wrote. Similarly, on Sunday, bandits also attacked Rimaye, a community in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State. As of…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s birthday message to him embarrassed his critics. El-Rufai, who recently distanced himself from the All Progressives Congress (APC), had accused the party of lacking internal democracy under Tinubu’s leadership. He claimed that the party’s organs had not convened in the past two years, coinciding with Tinubu’s tenure, and declared that he no longer recognized the APC. Despite his criticisms, Tinubu sent him a birthday message on February 16, 2025, commending the former governor. Reacting on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, El-Rufai suggested that Tinubu’s message forced some of…

Former presidential candidate Fela Durotoye has highlighted the lasting damage caused by the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election by former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, stating that it fundamentally altered Nigeria’s electoral landscape and instilled widespread voter apathy. Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program on Channels Television, Durotoye described the annulment as a turning point that made Nigerians believe their votes no longer counted. “That moment embedded the belief in our consciousness that our votes don’t count,” he said. “The danger of this mindset is that it has turned the majority into a minority.…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shared details of his discussions with Flutterwave, emphasizing efforts to drive Nigeria’s economic growth through fintech and digital innovation. In a statement on his official X account on Sunday, Tinubu revealed that he met with the management teams of Flutterwave and Alami Capital at the Presidential Villa over the weekend. Their discussion focused on strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. “Together, we are removing obstacles so businesses can thrive,” Tinubu stated. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a global fintech leader, adding that the…

I love my land where the heart welcomes the lungs and the lungs embrace the heart where the eyes glister when the lips smile and the nose runs when the eyes weep where the kinsmen like lobes of the kolanut cling like otters and huddle like penguins; I love my land where the okra plant never outgrows the planter and the tail even of the Irish wolfhound is never seen wagging the dog where both king and pauper before the throne of the kinsmen bow; I love my land where the deeds of all lie scriven on the unseen scrolls…

Attending the funeral of a High Court Judge’s mother should be an opportunity for reflection, condolence, and solidarity. Instead, what I witnessed yesterday Saturday 22 February 2025 at Umuahia during the funeral of the mother of one of the judges of Imo State High Court was a scene that left every right-thinking lawyer both embarrassed and deeply concerned about the erosion of professional dignity among lawyers.  The sight of learned colleagues — men and women who have sworn to uphold the highest standards of decorum — jostling, dragging, and scrambling for funeral souvenirs was nothing short of disgraceful. The legal…

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has issued an order restraining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its National Vice-Chairman, South-South, Dan Orbih, from conducting the party’s South-South Zonal Congress scheduled for February 22, 2025, in Calabar, Cross River State, or any other location in Nigeria. The ruling was delivered on Friday by Justice G.V. Obomanu in response to a suit filed by Tony Uchechukwu Ehogu and Field Nkor, both candidates for the scheduled congress, against the PDP and Orbih. Justice Obomanu ordered all parties to maintain the status quo as of February 20, 2025, pending the hearing…