Breaking; Court Dismisses Sowore’s no-case submission in DSS’ charges of Cyberbulling Tinubu.

*Fixes May 19 to open defence

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed the no-case submission made by politician-activist, Omoyele Sowore, in the charge of Cyberbullying President Bola Tinubu brought against him by the Department of the State Services (DSS).

The Court upheld DSS’ charges against Sowore for allegedly calling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a “criminal” in his social media handles. The judge fixed May 19 for Sowore to enter his defence in the charges against him.

Sowore had filed the no-case submission and prayed the court to discharge and acquit him from the 2-count charge.

In the long ruling, Justice Umar punctured Sowore’s arguments that the DSS provided only one witness, that the victim, President Bola Tinubu, wasn’t invited to testify. He held that the DSS successfully linked Sowore to the alleged crime, and that the defendant did not deny posting the offensive messages online.
The judge further ruled that the Supreme Court has long established that any evidence, no matter how small that links a defendant to an alleged crime is sufficient to establish a prima facie case established against the defendant to warrant his defence in the allegations against him.

Shortly after the ruling, counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, told the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial. However, Sowore’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar, rose to appeal to the judge that his client has something important to tell the court. Even though counsel to the DSS protested the move, insisting that the rule was that a defendant may be represented in court by a counsel or by himself, not both, the judge allowed Sowore use the microphone to address the court.
He began by openly accusing the Judge of bias, and asked the judge to recuse himself, as he wasn’t sure of getting justice in his court.

He alleged that the judge was in cohort with the federal government convict him at all costs so as to prevent him from contesting the 2027 general election.
His counsel, Abubakar echoed the same sentiment, asking the Judge to return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for re-assignment to another judge,

The DSS lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde SAN who had earlier asked the Judge not to grant audience to Sowore but his counsel on record, prayed that the recusal application be discarded.

In a brief ruling, Justice Umar ordered Sowore to file formal application for recusal and state his grievances,

He thereafter fixed May 19 for the defendant to open his defense.

Breaking; Court Dismisses Sowore’s no-case submission in DSS’ charges of Cyberbulling Tinubu

Troops arrest five suspects Fulani during cordon-and-search operation in Plateau

By:Zagazola Makama

Troops under Operation Enduring Peace have arrested five suspects during a coordinated cordon-and-search operation in Jol community and surrounding areas in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security sources said the operation was launched at about 071120A on May 7 following a manhunt for individuals linked to an earlier isolated attack in the area.

The troops, operating under Sector 6, conducted sweeping searches within neighbouring settlements in an effort to track down those involved and prevent further escalation of violence.

During the exercise, five suspects were arrested from different locations within the operational area.

The arrested suspects were identified as Ibrahim Mamuda, 60; Abubakar Ahmed, 50; Suleiman Yakubu, 19; Sale Musa, 62; and Babangida Saleh, 25.

The sources said the suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation as part of ongoing investigations into the attack.

They added that further operations are being sustained in the general area to ensure the arrest of other fleeing suspects and to stabilise the community.

Security presence has been reinforced in Jol and adjoining communities to prevent reprisals and maintain calm.

Troops arrest five suspects Fulani during cordon-and-search operation in Plateau

NESREA Moves to Integrate Informal Waste Workers into EPR Framework Through Cooperative Model

By: Michael Mike

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has unveiled plans to formally integrate informal waste workers into Nigeria’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework through a Cooperative-Led Model aimed at expanding inclusion, improving environmental compliance and strengthening the circular economy.

Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Professor Innocent Barikor, disclosed this on Wednesday during a virtual stakeholder sensitization programme on the Cooperative-Led Extended Producer Responsibility Model as a formalization strategy for the informal sector.

Barikor said the initiative is designed to bridge long-standing gaps in the EPR ecosystem by bringing informal waste collectors, sorters and recyclers into recognized cooperative structures that provide access to governance systems, financing, digital inclusion, social protection and environmental compliance support.

According to him, the cooperative-led framework would create opportunities for informal operators to gain legal identity and transition gradually into formal economic participants through digital onboarding platforms, traceability systems and a proposed Cooperative Passport framework.

“The Cooperative-Led EPR Model presents an opportunity to organize waste actors into recognized cooperatives, provide them with legal identity, digital inclusion, financial access and social protection, while simultaneously strengthening national EPR implementation and environmental data systems,” he said.

Barikor described the initiative as both a social and economic transformation strategy capable of improving livelihoods while boosting environmental sustainability and data-driven waste management practices.

Chief Steward of the Nigeria Environmental Stewardship Cooperative Society, Dr. Peter Ayim, who presented the framework, said the model offers Nigeria a scalable pathway toward building an inclusive circular economy.

Ayim noted that the cooperative system would help tackle major structural challenges confronting informal waste workers, including lack of formal recognition, poor access to financing, occupational hazards, health and safety concerns, and social exclusion.

He cited countries such as Brazil, Colombia, India and South Africa, as well as member states of the European Union, as examples where cooperative-led systems have successfully integrated informal waste actors into structured EPR programmes.

“Global experience confirms that cooperative-led systems are the most effective pathway for integrating informal waste actors into structured EPR frameworks, delivering both environmental sustainability and inclusive economic growth,” he stated.

Stakeholders at the virtual meeting included the Recyclers Association of Nigeria, Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, E-Waste Producers Responsibility Organization of Nigeria and Rural Women Energy Security, among others.

NESREA Moves to Integrate Informal Waste Workers into EPR Framework Through Cooperative Model