Senator Lawan says he feels uplifted performing prayer with the faithful in Abuja.

By: Yahaya Wakili

President of the Ninth Senate, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON, Sardaunan Bade, Yobe North Senatorial District, said it was a truly uplifting experience to be surrounded by fellow Muslims in a place of such significance.

Senator Ahmed Lawan revealed this in a statement shared with journalists in Damaturu, shortly after he attended Juma’at prayers at the National Assembly mosque in Abuja.

“As I stood in prayer, I couldn’t help but think of the important work being done by us in the national assembly. As lawmakers, we are tasked with making decisions that affect the lives of millions of Nigerians; therefore, it is crucial that we approach our responsibilities with integrity, wisdom, and a deep sense of duty.

He revealed that, as I prayed, I asked Allah (SWT) to grant success to the National Assembly and its members under the leadership of its Chairman and my successor, His Excellency, Sen. (Dr.) Godswill Akpabio, CON. May we all be guided by generosity in all our decisions and actions.

May we work together in harmony and unity for the betterment of our beloved country. Above all, may we be shining examples of selfless leadership at all times.

The President of the 9th Senate said, “I left the mosque with a renewed sense of hope and optimism for the future of Nigeria. I believe that with faith, hard work, and the support of Nigerians, our country can overcome any challenge and achieve great things.

“And I will continue to pray for the success and well-being of our national assembly and its legislators, knowing that our work is vital to the progress and prosperity of our beloved nation, he said.

Senator Lawan says he feels uplifted performing prayer with the faithful in Abuja.

56 Young Nigerians to Travel to the United States as part of the 10th Anniversary of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. 

By: Michael Mike

The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria proudly unveils the selection of 56 distinguished young Nigerians
for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship program, celebrating its 10th
anniversary. These fellows will travel to 28 cities across the United States from June 19 to August 1, culminating in a summit in Washington D.C., where they will engage with U.S. leaders in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. Additionally, three
fellows will participate in the Professional Development Experience at a U.S. organization for four weeks following the summit before returning to Nigeria. 
 
Initiated in 2014, the Mandela
Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders stands as the cornerstone of the
Young
African Leaders Initiative (YALI). This program is a testament to the enduring U.S. commitment
to invest in Africa’s future. The fellowship offers a comprehensive program that includes academic coursework, leadership training, and networking opportunities. 
 
Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria David J. Greene welcomed the 56 young
Nigerians chosen for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship, emphasizing the rigorous selection process and their ability to lead and inspire others. He highlighted the fellows’ diverse achievements and encouraged them to share their culture in the United
States and use the fellowship to expand their influence in Nigeria. He expressed appreciation to the Public Diplomacy team and the State Department for their efforts in identifying future leaders and reminded the fellows of the importance of sharing their
knowledge upon return to their communities. 
 
Since the fellowship’s inception, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria has had the privilege of supporting
569 young Nigerian leaders through this exchange program. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria eagerly anticipates the Mandela Washington Fellowship’s continued success and its positive impact in shaping Africa’s future. 
 
The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria is pleased to announce that the following Nigerians will participate
in the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship:

56 Young Nigerians to Travel to the United States as part of the 10th Anniversary of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program. 

Defamation: Banire seeks redress from FIJ, threatens N1Billion libel suit

By: Michael Mike

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Convener of social advocacy group, United Action for Change, UAC, Dr. Muiz Banire has threatened to drag Foundation for Investigative Journalism, FIJ, to court for N1billion compensation if the organisation fails to meet his demands over damages done his 35 years legal and academic record.

This was disclosed in a letter titled “DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS AGAINST DR MUIZ BANIRE, SAN, OON PRE-ACTION PROTOCOL WRITTEN MEMORANDUM”, dated 7th May 2024 and addressed to FIJ by his lawyer, Kunle Adegoke SAN.

The letter whose copy was made available to journalists, read: “Our client Informed us, and we verily believe him, that: his attention was drawn to your organisation’s publication of
6th May 2024 with the caption: CONFIRMED: Muiz Banire Wrote the Petition That Triggered FIJ Reporter’s Abduction, published on your organisation’s website.

“In the said publication, your organisation wrote that our client is responsible for the abduction of one Daniel Ojukwu, a member of staff of your organisation.”

The letter further said “your publication deliberately conveyed the malicious
impression that our client engineered the kidnap of the aforementioned Daniel Ojukwu, thereby, suggesting that our client engages in criminal conduct; in this vein, your publication failed to mention that our client acted in line with his professional obligation in the representation of his client and that his office, M. A. Banire & Associates, authored the petition to the Inspector-General of Police on behalf of their client to report a case of
cyberbullying; your publication is, without a doubt, designed to damage the
reputation of our client, a purpose it is currently serving.

“Due to the popularity and effectiveness of your organisation’s online distribution network, millions of people have received and read your organisation’s defamatory publication; your organisation to note that your publication has dragged our client’s carefully nurtured good name in the mud and exposed our client to underserved public opprobrium; many that have read your publications, particularly his professional colleagues and associates, have expressed shock as to why our client would engage in the criminal behaviour your organisation attributed to him.

“Many also queried our client on the sins or transgressions of the said Daniel Ojukwu against the person of our client as to warrant our client resorting to the crime of engineering his abduction; to many of them, our client’s explanation that he had no personal relationship with the said Daniel Ojukwu and did not know him from Adam but only acted in his professional capacity as counsel to his client in the submission of a petition to the police on his client’s behalf fell on deaf ears; and your organisation has, through its false and heinous allegations, inflicted grievous damage on our client’s reputation.

“It is beyond cavil that the referenced publication casts a direct aspersion on the person of our client. To right-thinking members of society, you have presented
our client as a criminal who engages in abduction of people. Furthermore, your organisation’s publication has caused many to believe that our client, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a member of the Body of Benchers and a holder of a doctorate degree in Law, has no qualms in committing the heinous crime your organisation’s publications attributed to him.

“The gross implication of your organisation’s publication is that it has informed the world that our client is unfit to be a legal practitioner or an Officer of the Order of the Niger and is only fit for the four walls of a prison.”

The legal luminary therefore gave the organisation 14 days to retract and make amends, without which, he would be left with no other option than to drag FIJ before the court.

“It is in view of the foregoing that we, on behalf of our client, demand the following:
not later than 14 (fourteen) days from the delivery of this written memorandum to your organisation, your organisation immediately retracts the said publication and tenders an unreserved apology through all your organisation’s platforms and 5 (five) national daily newspapers circulating all over the federation, which must include the Punch Newspaper and ThisDay Newspaper;

“Not later than 14 (fourteen) days from the delivery of this letter on your organisation, pay the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as compensation for the reputation of our client that your organisation has maligned maliciously and/or recklessly.

As your organisation is aware, our client considers litigation only as a last resort. In this regard, our client is open to resolving this matter through conciliation, mediation, arbitration or other dispute resolution options you deem most suitable.”

At the expiration of the 14 days grace, the letter said Banire’s lawyers will pursue litigation to seek redress if the stated demands are not met. The court suit among other reliefs will seek “AN ORDER compelling your organisation to immediately withdraw the said publication and tender an unreserved apology in 5 (five) national daily newspapers, which must include Punch Newspapers and ThisDay Newspapers;

“An Order of the Honourable Court compelling your organisation to pay damages in the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) as compensation for the person of our client that your organisation has defamed.”

Defamation: Banire seeks redress from FIJ, threatens N1Billion libel suit