International
UNODC, NIALS, EU Present Module on Torture

UNODC, NIALS, EU Present Module on Torture
By: James Bwala
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, working with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and supported by the European Union on Friday presented its new Nigeria Training Module on Investigative Interviewing, the Right to Remain Silent and the Prohibition of Torture.
The launching was held at the Abuja’s Transcorp Hotel and attended by senior figures from Nigeria’s law enforcement, security, and judicial communities.
This training module was developed to place special emphasis on the importance of ensuring effective and human rights compliant interviewing within the broader framework of criminal investigations.
A statement said the UNODC believes that the module is particularly relevant given the vital role that successful interviewing strategies can play in contributing to the outcome of criminal proceedings, and consequently to the effectiveness of the Nigerian criminal justice system at large.
The statement explained that: “The module is designed to serve as a practical tool for the training of practitioners working in the criminal justice sector in Nigeria, including public prosecutors, judges, defence lawyers, investigators, legal advisers and officials of national law enforcement and security agencies. It provides practical guidance on human rights-compliant best practices for conducting investigative interviews that respect the indivisible rights of suspects in line with the Mendez Principles on Effective Interviewing for Investigations and Information Gathering.”
The Mendez Principles were developed in collaboration with UNODC by a consortium consisting of the American University Washington College of Law, the Association for the Prevention of Torture and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights. The principles are named after the former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Méndez, who was himself a survivor of torture, and were presented to the international community at the 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in Kyoto, Japan, in March 2021.
Explored in depth in this new Nigeria Training Module, these Principles are grounded in the most up-to-date research, scientific method, legal analysis, and police ethics, and offer a concrete alternative to interrogation methods that rely on pressure and coercion to extract confessions. The first UNODC-sponsored training on the principles will take place in Nigeria at the end of this month.
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The Nigeria Training Module on Investigative Interviewing, the Right to Remain Silent and the Prohibition of Torture focuses on the Nigerian context and the Nigerian legal framework while referring to applicable regional and international law, and good practices. It takes note of the most recent legislation relevant to the criminal justice system in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019 and other legal and policy developments. Building on the 2019 UNODC Nigeria Training Module on Gender Dimensions of Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism, it also emphasizes the gender dimensions of investigative interviewing, including key safeguards for the prevention of torture.
Commenting on the launch of the manual, Professor M. T. Ladan, Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, told reporters: “It is essential that investigative interviewing is conducted in compliance with human rights standards and that investigators adopt non-coercive and practical measures to obtain reliable and accurate information from suspects, witnesses and victims. The training module was developed with careful consideration of the legal and policy context in Nigeria, and aims to respond to Nigeria’s specific needs, while incorporating international and regional standards and good practices in investigative interviewing.”
Country Representative of UNODC, Mr. Oliver Stolpe added further context while thanking Dr Ladan for his central involvement in the project: “This module is one of a series of practical tools developed by the Office in conjunction with its Nigerian partners under the skillful leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and builds on previous UNODC publications tailored for Nigeria including the Nigeria Handbook on Counter-Terrorism Investigations and User’s Guide to the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011 (TPA) as amended by the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 (TPAA). We trust that it will serve as a handy work of reference, as an aid for self-study, and also as useful teaching guide in educational establishments for years to come.”
Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ms. Samuela Isopi, also welcomed the publication of the manual, commenting: “The criminal justice system in Nigeria has made significant progress in bringing suspected members of terrorist organizations to justice, but there is always room for improvement in this complex and rapidly evolving field. It is our earnest hope that this module will assist Nigerian criminal justice institutions in ensuring the use of effective interviewing techniques while respecting human rights, and thus help to strengthen the effectiveness of criminal justice responses to terrorism and uphold the rule of law.”
UNODC, NIALS, EU Present Module on Torture
International
Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis

Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis
By: Michael Mike
The Federal Government has expressed profound sorrow at the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, who died on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88 years.
The departed Holy Father, the political head of Vatican City and the head of the Catholic Church, was described in the statement as a global moral leader whose papacy was marked by humility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to peace, social justice, and the dignity of all people.
The statement read: “Nigeria commiserates with the teaming population of the catholic church in the country and joins the international community, particularly the Catholic faithful worldwide, in mourning this immense loss. Pope Francis’ deep concern for the marginalized; including refugees, the poor, and victims of conflict, resonated strongly in Nigeria, where his calls for interreligious harmony and solidarity were a beacon of hope amid challenges.
“His historic 2022 apology for the Church’s role in colonial injustices, including the suffering of Indigenous peoples, indeed set a powerful example of reconciliation. Also worthy of commendation is his advocacy for peace in Africa, and other conflict areas in the world, reflecting his universal pastoral mission.”
The statement further read that: “In this moment of grief, therefore, Nigeria extends heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and the Argentine people, who gifted the world this extraordinary pontiff.
“We pray for the repose of his soul and trust that his legacy of mercy, dialogue, and care for our common home will endure.”
Nigeria Commiserates with Catholic Church Over Demise of Pope Francis
International
Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom

Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected abduction occurred on April 18, 2025, when Mr. Yangi Ming, a Chinese national working at Panda Supermarket in Jabi, was reportedly abducted by unknown individuals.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that Mr Yangi Ming left his residence at Stargate Apartment in Durumi around 1700hrs and was last seen wearing brown shorts and a black polo shirt.
His sister, Aisha Pan, residing in Sharanda, Kano State, later received a ransom demand of ₦300 million, made from Yangi Ming’s mobile phone number.
Chinese National Abducted in Durumi Abuja, as Kidnappers demand N300million ransom
International
India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport

India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested two siblings at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during a planned travel to India with 5 kilogrammes of cocaine.
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said: “Operatives of a Special Operations Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested two brothers: John Abugu, 43, and Kenneth Abugu, 31, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja, Lagos with 5 kilogrammes cocaine concealed in walls of their suitcases while attempting to board a flight to India.”
He said the two brothers were arrested at the Lagos airport last Thursday following proactive processing of credible intelligence. He said they claimed they were travelling to India for medical treatment but when their suitcases were thoroughly searched by NDLEA officers, whitish powdery substances later confirmed to be cocaine were discovered on the walls of their bags.
Babafemi said in a similar development, NDLEA officers of the MMIA Strategic Command same day, Thursday intercepted a 20-year-old Ghanaian – British man, Parker Osei with 36 parcels of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis weighing 19.4 kilogrammes packed in a giant travelling bag. The suspect who claims he is a student of Computer Science at East London University, UK, was arrested during the inward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Bangkok, Thailand, at the E-arrival hall of the Lagos airport.
In his statement, the techie claims he lives with his parents in the UK but left London about a week ago for Bangkok where he picked up the illicit drug consignment to deliver in Nigeria.
NDLEA operatives in Kogi state have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Ngozi Ogili while moving 3 kilogrammes of methamphetamine from Lagos to Abuja. She was nabbed in a commercial transport bus along Okene-Lokoja highway last Monday. Babafemi said a follow up operation at her point of delivery in Apo mechanic area of Abuja led to the seizure of quantities of Loud and Colorado, both synthetic strains of cannabis.
In Abia state, NDLEA officers on Saturday arrested a 75-year-old grandpa, Nnanna Felix with 1.6 kilogrammes skunk, a strain of cannabis during a raid at Umunteke Asa, Ukwa West local government area, while another suspect David Chinemerem, 21, was nabbed with 2,050 ampoules of pentazocine at 7 Nnajiego Lane, Umuode road, Aba last Tuesday.
No fewer than 381 bottles of codeine syrup and 108 tablets of tramadol were seized from a suspect, Abdullahi Adamu along Potiskum-Damaturu road, Yobe state by NDLEA operatives on Saturday, just as raid operations at Osogbo motor park, Onitsha and a house at Oba in Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra state led to the arrest of Obinna Sunday and the seizure of 195,000 pills of tramadol. Also arrested during the raid at the motor park was Ugochukwu Ojalanonye with 4.2 kilogrammes codeine syrup and 5.4kg pentazocine.
In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, NDLEA operatives last Thursday arrested 51-year-old Sunday Ayogu with 25 kilogrammes skunk and 90.4 grammes of methamphetamine during a raid operation at Wuse market Abuja, while two women: Faith Etim, 64, and Victoria Etim, 40, were nabbed lasr Friday when NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army raided cannabis plantations in Esuk-Odot community, Odukpani local government area of Cross River State where 250,000 kilogrammes of the psychoactive plant were destroyed on over 100 hectares of farm land.
Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Meanwhile, while commending the officers and men of MMIA, SOU, Yobe, Abia, Kogi, Anambra, Cross River and FCT commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
India-bound Siblings Arrested with Cocaine at Lagos Airport
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