Yobe Police Command speaks on fighting crime and arrests

By: Yahaya Wakili

In a bid to combat the criminal activities in the state, the Yobe State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against crime, arresting suspects involved in heinous crimes.

This was contained in a press release issue and signed by SP Dungus Abdulkarim MNIPPR, Police Public Relations Officer, today.

He said on 10th May, 2025, Idriss Yakubu, a commercial tricycle rider from Shengele village in the Fune local government area, was arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl.

According to release, the suspect lured the victim into the bush and forcefully raped her, and suspect confessed to the crime during the police interrogation. In addition to that, four suspects were arrested and apprehended by the A. Division Police Headquarters for criminal conspiracy, theft, and other related vices.

He revealed that the four suspects identified as Abubakar Barnawa, 28; Mohd Modu, 20; Umaru Mustapha, 18; and Musa Hassan, 18, allegedly used a tricycle with a falsified registration number to conceal their identity and evade arrest.

“The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will face prosecution upon completion,” the release further added.

The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ado, psc, fdc, drawn, condemned these nefarious acts and urged the community members to report any unscrupulous elements among commercial drivers and tricycle riders to the police.

CP Ado assured the public that the command is committed to ensuring justice is served and that all untoward acts against the community will face stiff resistance.

The command also urges citizens to report any form of abuse or crime to the police and assures the public of its commitment to protecting the lives and property of the citizens of the state.

Yobe Police Command speaks on fighting crime and arrests

Zulum Apoints Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan as Chairperson of BOSCHMA

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the appointment of Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan as Chairperson of the Board of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA).

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, the appointment is for an initial term of four (4) years.

The appointment is in accordance with the powers vested in the Governor under Section 5(1) of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency Law, 2018.

Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan is a seasoned administrator and held various leadership positions including permanent secretary in the Borno State civil service in the ministries of Agriculture, Budget and Planning and Water Resources. She was also the former state Accountant General.

She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (Finance) at University of Maiduguri, and Fellow of several professional bodies including Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria and member Nigerian Institute of Management.

The newly appointed chairperson have attended numerous courses within and outside the country including Policy Strategic and Leadership course at the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, and training in International Public Sector Accounting Standards conducted by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) in London, among others.

Governor Zulum congratulated the newly appointed Chairperson and urged her to bring her wealth of experience to bear in advancing an effective contributory healthcare scheme in the state.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Borno State House of Assembly.

Zulum Apoints Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan as Chairperson of BOSCHMA

ECOWAS Court Dismisses Claims of Property Rights Violation Initiated by Nigerian Software Developer

By: Michael Mike

The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS on 12 May 2025 delivered its judgment in Case No ECW/CCJ/APP/25/24 concerning alleged property rights violation, specifically, breach of intellectual property rights. However, the Court dismissed all claims of rights violation considering that there was no deprivation of property or unlawful control of another’s property.

Case background
The Applicants – Mr Solomon Ekolama, a Nigerian and registered Engineer suing alongside a company registered in Nigeria – Far-Reaching Technologies claimed they developed a security software for crime management which was registered and certified by an agent of the Respondent – The Federal Government of Nigeria, in 2016. They averred that they submitted a copy to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) an agency of the Respondent, after which both parties held series of meetings and presentations that enabled access to their intellectual property.

They argued that NITDA published an identical software application on Google Playstore under a different name. They added that the functionality and administrative procedure of the Respondents’ application is a direct copy of their creation, accusing the Respondent of violating their right to property, theft of software application and invasion and infringement of their right to property.

The Applicants concluded that the Respondent was liable for intellectual property theft resulting in unquantifiable loss to them. They notified the Respondent of its breach of intellectual property rights on 14 August 2019.

The Respondent – Federal Republic of Nigeria denied the claims of the Applicants adding that the efforts and expenses incurred in the development of the software were done “within the freewill and pleasure of the Applicants.

Although the Respondent admitted the software was registered and certified by its agency, it argued that it did not contract the Applicants to produce or design a software and that it does not award contracts except through a procurement process in line with its Public Procurement Act. It added that the security number of its application differs from that of the Applicants’ and that the matter was premised on allegation of intellectual property theft which falls within the competence of national courts. Consequently, the Respondent urged the Court to dismiss the case in its entirety.

Court’s Findings
The Court noted that:
· The Applicants relied on Article 14 of the African Charter (ACHPR), Article 26 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Berne Convention for Protection of Literary and Artistic Work and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Copyright Treaty as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
· In accordance with Article 9(4) of its Supplementary Protocol, it could determine the matter as it relates to Article 14 of the ACHPR and Article 26 of the ICCPR but that the Berne Convention for Protection of Literary and Artistic Work and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Copyright Treaty were body of laws outside its areas of competence.
· The Applicants’ submissions under Sections 42 and 43 of the Constitution of Nigeria were understand as the Court lacks competence to examine laws of Member States or review decisions of national courts.
· The Application meets the requirements for admissibility under Article 10(d) of the Supplementary Protocol.
· The Applicants’ claims and evidence suggest a theft of their propriety interest which is a crime and not violation of right to property, and contrary to the civil character of the Court.
· The Applicants still possessed ownership of their software creation and no unlawful control has been exercised by the Respondent. Therefore, there was no breach of Article 14 of the ACHPR.
· On the right to equality under Article 26 of the ICCPR, the Applicants made no credible submissions.

Court Decision
The Court:
· Declared it had jurisdiction to determine the matter.
· Declared the matter was admissible in relation to Article 14 of the ACHPR and Article 26 of the ICCPR.
· Dismissed all claims for violations of rights including right to property and right to equality before the law.
· Ordered the Respondent to bear the costs.

Judicial Panel
The judgment was rendered by a panel comprising:
§ Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma (Presiding Judge and Judge Rapporteur)
§ Hon. Justice Gberi-Bè Ouattara (Member)
§ Hon. Justice Edward Amoako Asante (Member)

ECOWAS Court Dismisses Claims of Property Rights Violation Initiated by Nigerian Software Developer