IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Lawyers in Owerri, Imo State, have called for a one-week suspension of activities at the Justice Oputa High Court due to safety concerns. 

The Owerri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by Barrister Chris Ihentuge, raised alarms about vibrations in the court building, which has faced structural problems since its construction under former Governor Rochas Okorocha. Judges, including Justice Onyeukwu, have reported vibrations during court sessions, with one judge also expressing concerns about the building’s safety.

Ihentuge called for a temporary halt to court activities until experts can assess the building’s safety, emphasizing that the risk to life is unacceptable. He also criticized the ongoing absence of a Chief Judge in the state for nearly three months, attributing it to the growing challenges within the judiciary. 

The court’s poor infrastructure, including inadequate lighting and ventilation, further exacerbates the situation. Allegedly, the building was originally intended as a hotel before being converted into a court, contributing to its structural defects. 

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, announced the distribution of over 2.1 million bags of fertilizers to farmers and food aid to flood-affected communities as part of efforts to boost food production. Kyari emphasized the need to shift Nigeria’s agriculture from feeding the population to generating wealth, focusing on research, climate-resilient seeds, soil health, and smart agriculture.

He also introduced a biometric-based farmer registration system in partnership with the National Identity Management Commission to ensure targeted interventions. Kyari is addressing challenges in onion production caused by substandard seeds, with a 40% shortfall being investigated. His proactive efforts are expected to enhance Nigeria’s role as a major global player in onion production, where it ranks 7th worldwide and 3rd in Africa. Experts support his initiatives to promote sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.

President Donald Trump has threatened the BRICS countries with 100% tariffs if they move away from using the US dollar for international transactions.

Trump issued the warning via his Truth Social platform, stating, “The idea that BRICS nations are trying to abandon the Dollar, while we stand by and watch, is over. We will demand a commitment from these countries to not create a new BRICS currency or back any alternative to the US dollar. If they refuse, they will face 100% tariffs and lose access to the US economy.”

BRICS, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in early 2024 with the addition of Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the UAE, and Indonesia joined in January 2025. The group seeks to counterbalance the influence of the G7, the leading Western economic powers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the US dollar’s dominance and is pushing for a new payment system within BRICS to lessen Russia’s dependence on the dollar, especially in light of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Trump, known for imposing tariffs during his first term from 2017 to 2021, emphasized that the US would not tolerate challenges to the dollar’s supremacy. 

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has called on Nigerians to report loan apps and businesses that engage in harassment over unpaid loans. The commission emphasized that no consumer should live in fear due to aggressive debt recovery tactics.  

This follows ongoing complaints about unethical practices by some digital lenders, including threats, blackmail, and unauthorized access to customers’ contacts. The FCCPC has been working to regulate online lending platforms and has previously sanctioned several operators for violating consumer protection laws.  

Nigerians facing harassment from loan apps are encouraged to report such cases to the FCCPC through official channels to ensure appropriate action is taken. 

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intercepted 21 minors suspected to be victims of human trafficking at a checkpoint in Yobe State.  

The children, aged between 7 and 15, were found in a Toyota Hiace bus (registration number 10B-87GM) at the Geidam control point in Dunari, near the border with Niger Republic.  

According to an official NIS statement, the minors were being transported from Labule and Ibeto towns in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State to Maine Soroa in Niger Republic without valid travel documents or identification.  

Yobe State Comptroller, Mr. S.S. Jega, stated that the children had no knowledge of their destination, raising suspicions of human trafficking. He assured that they would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.  

Meanwhile, their guardian, Abubakar Saidu, a 28-year-old Islamic school teacher from Anaba, Magama Local Government Area, Niger State, was taken into custody.

The Nigeria Police have apprehended a 27-year-old dispatch rider in Abuja for allegedly transporting canisters of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.  

Authorities suspect the substance was being distributed for recreational use, despite growing concerns over its abuse. The arrest comes as law enforcement intensifies efforts to curb the illegal circulation of psychoactive substances in the country.  

Further investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended destination of the laughing gas.