2025

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence. The former Chief of Defence Staff arrived at the State House forecourt at about 3:47 p.m. on Thursday before being ushered into the President’s office, where he took the oath of office. His swearing-in comes a day after the Senate confirmed his nomination following a rigorous five-hour screening session. During the screening, lawmakers questioned Musa over recent security lapses, including the controversial withdrawal of troops from Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, shortly before schoolgirls were abducted on November 17. He assured senators that he would “immediately set up a full-scale investigation” into the troop withdrawal once he assumes office. Read Also: Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Ex-Governor’s Wife, Others as Ambassadors Court of Appeal Affirms Ruling Restricting VIO from Seizing Vehicles, Issuing Fines New Zonal Police PRO Takes Over at Kano Zone One Command The retired general also pledged to probe the killing of Brigade Commander Brig-Gen. Musa Uba in Borno State, along with other attacks targeting senior military officers in recent months. Musa’s appointment follows the resignation of former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru, reportedly on health grounds. A seasoned infantry officer, Musa previously served as Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai—the North-East counter-insurgency theatre—and later as Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff. In those roles, he coordinated joint operations against Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgents and bandit networks until his retirement in October 2025. His military career spans multiple command and staff appointments across formations and tri-service headquarters, giving him extensive experience in field combat operations, training, and joint operational planning.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment barring the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from confiscating vehicles or issuing fines to motorists. In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, a three-man panel of the appellate court ruled that it had no reason to set aside the earlier judgment of October 16, 2024, which restrained VIO officials from harassing motorists on the roads. Consequently, the appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered the lead judgment. The earlier ruling by Justice Nkeonye Maha held that no law empowers VIO personnel to “stop, impound, confiscate, seize or impose fine on motorists for any form of violation.” The case originated from a fundamental rights enforcement suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, filed by public interest lawyer, Mr. Abubakar Marshal. Read Also: Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Ex-Governor’s Wife, Others as Ambassadors New Zonal Police PRO Takes Over at Kano Zone One Command Kogi Police Commissioner Kankarofi, NBA Lokoja Strengthen Partnership on Justice Delivery Marshal told the court that on December 12, 2023, he was forcibly stopped by VIO personnel at Jabi District, Abuja, and his vehicle was seized without legal basis. He asked the court to determine whether the officers’ conduct was not “wrongful, oppressive, unlawful and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.” Justice Maha granted all the reliefs sought and issued an order restraining the Respondents and their agents “from impounding and confiscating vehicles or imposing fine on any motorists,” describing such actions as unlawful and oppressive. A perpetual injunction was also issued against further infringements of citizens’ rights to movement, property, and presumption of innocence. The court stressed that only a competent court can impose fines or sanctions on motorists found to have violated the law. It held that the Respondents breached Marshal’s property rights under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Justice Maha further held that the VIO lacked the legal authority to impound vehicles or impose fines, noting that such actions violate motorists’ rights to fair hearing, movement, and presumption of innocence as guaranteed under Sections 6(6)(b), 36(1)(8)(12), 41, and 42 of the Constitution, and Articles 2, 7(3), 12, and 14 of the African Charter. Although Marshal, represented by a legal team led by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, sought N500 million in damages and a published apology in three national newspapers, the court awarded him N2.5 million. The suit listed the Directorate of Road Traffic Services as the 1st Respondent, alongside the agency’s Director, the then Abuja Area Commander identified as Mr. Leo, team leader Mr. Solomon Onoja, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Respondents approached the Court of Appeal, which on Thursday affirmed the High Court’s judgment and dismissed the appeal. (Platinum Post)

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a new list of non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, featuring Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and former Chief of Naval Staff. Also on the list are Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Interior Minister and ex–Chief of Army Staff. These names were not part of the earlier batch of nominees transmitted to the Senate. The nominations were announced during Thursday’s plenary after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter seeking the upper chamber’s speedy consideration and confirmation. In the communication, President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the screening process in order to fill strategic diplomatic positions without delay. Akpabio subsequently referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, directing it to conclude the screening and submit its report within one week. This development comes days after the president also nominated Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide; Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister; and Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for ambassadorial appointments.