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West Africa’s regional bloc on Wednesday said a military intervention in junta-ruled Niger was “the last resort” as Nigeria cut electricity supplies to intensify pressure on the country’s coup leaders. As ex-colonial power France sent in a fifth plane to evacuate its citizens, coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani insisted they had no reason to quit the country.

Joining the departures, the United States ordered a partial evacuation of its embassy in Niamey. West African military chiefs were meeting in Nigeria’s capital Abuja to frame a response while a delegation was in Niger for negotiations, a week after the coup that shook the fragile nation.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders on Sunday imposed trade and financial sanctions, giving the coup leaders a week to reinstate Niger’s democratically elected president or face the possible use of force. “(The) military option is the very last option on the table, the last resort, but we have to prepare for the eventuality,” said Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace and security.

An ECOWAS team headed by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar was in Niger for talks, he added at the start of a three-day meeting of the grouping’s military chiefs in Abuja. West Africa’s pre-eminent military and economic power Nigeria, the current chair of ECOWAS, has vowed a firm line against coups that have proliferated across the region since 2020.

A source in Niger’s power company, Nigelec, said Nigeria had cut electricity to its neighbour as a result of the sanctions.

Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, depends on Nigeria for 70 percent of its power. Junta-ruled Mali and Burkina Faso have warned any military intervention in their neighbour would be tantamount to a “declaration of war” against them.

Chelsea 1-1 Borussia Dortmund: Mauricio Pochettino hopes Christopher Nkunku injury is not "big issue"

Boss Mauricio Pochettino hopes an injury suffered by striker Christopher Nkunku is not a "big issue" as Chelsea drew 1-1 with Borussia Dortmund to end their pre-season US tour undefeated. Mason Burstow scored a 90th-minute equaliser for Chelsea after Marius Wolf gave Dortmund the lead in Chicago.

£52m signing Nkunku, 25, went off in the 22nd minute after appearing to injure his knee when he was tackled. The pitch at Chicago's Soldier Field was in poor condition. Areas were patchy and worn after the stadium, home to the NFL's Chicago Bears, was used for an Ed Sheeran concert attended by 73,000 people last weekend. "The doctors are checking him," explained Pochettino, who felt the tackle which forced Nkunku off "maybe" should have resulted in a penalty.

"He had the chance to score but he feels something in his knee. "Hopefully it is not a big issue and that he can be quick with the team. We need a few days to assess him and until we get back to London it is difficult to know. "Always we take some risks because the pitch is not perfect as they are using it for different sports and that is sometimes the risk of the tour.

"I think it was a bit unlucky in the situation but we cannot complain about the pitch and to blame the pitch for why he suffered the injury. For me, it was bad luck."

A ministerial nominee from Kwara State, Lateef Fagbemi, says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) cannot continue to disobey court orders. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who spoke on Wednesday when he was screened by the Senate in Abuja, pledged to work with the National Assembly and the judiciary “on certain parameters” if appointed the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice by President Bola Tinubu.

Fielding questions from the lawmakers on disobedience to court orders by federal agencies, Fagbemi, who was accompanied to the screening exercise by over 10 senior advocates, said the DSS and the EFCC should conduct investigation before arrest and not arrest before investigation. He said, “The major areas where we have these disobedience of court orders, with main respect, are between these agencies. My advice will be that in matters of law, the AGF should be involved.

“DSS cannot be an island onto itself. EFCC cannot continue to behave as if there is no law. There is law and if you want to do investigation, you do investigation before inviting the accused person. It is not a question of inviting him and say you have caught a big fish and at the end of the day you say you are investigating.”

On his reaction if a President flouts court orders, the senior lawyer said, “I think with respect, you will not find the President flouting any order because the Attorney General will be made a party to.” “The mere fact an order is made does not mean that you should obey it immediately. You’ll think about it, do I appeal? If I am not appealing what do I do next? If I am not appealing, of course, I cannot subject the order of court to any order of validity.

“By Section 287, it has to be obeyed, not only by the government but by every authority and persons in Nigeria,” he said.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, elected former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as the National Chairman of the party.

The party’s NEC also elected former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, as National Secretary.

The two party officials were elected today at the 12th NEC meeting of the party held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.

Senegal said Thursday that it will participate if the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decides to intervene militarily in Niger following last week’s coup. Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall told reporters on Thursday that there had been one “coup too many” in the region and cited Senegal’s international commitments.

“Senegalese soldiers, for all these reasons, will go there,” she said.

Regional bloc ECOWAS has threatened potential use of force if the junta does not restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday. Niger is the fourth member of the bloc to undergo a putsch since 2020.

Speaking during a government press briefing in the capital Dakar, Tall Sall said Senegal was obligated to go along with ECOWAS’s decisions. But she added, “Senegal’s conviction is that these coups must be stopped — that’s why we are going there”. She also raised the question as to why ECOWAS would send troops to Niger, when it had not done so following coups in Mali, Guinea or Burkina Faso.

“To give a simple answer, because it is one coup too many”, she said.

By. Kelechi Uzomah, 08064075316

Pastor Dr. Justin Chimezie Aguguo is a successful international recognized man of God based in the United States of America and he has distinguished himself as a committed and dedicated man  of God with a touch of philanthropy.

Dr. Justin Aguguo is the Founder/General Overseer of His Royal Highness Church of God Int'l Baltimore Maryland USA/ Nigeria, with branches all over the continent of the world. 

The cleric can be said to be the unsung hero and defender of the defenceless people in the society who has nobody to speak for them. 

The energetic man of  God has the general acceptance of the people and many had described him as a living legend of his community Eziama Autonomous Community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the State of Nigeria. 

Pastor Aguguo has shown through his actions and inactions that the burden of the people of the community are topmost in his agenda as he has prioritized the people's happiness in his daily activities.

His committement, dedication, sincerity of purpose and determination to create and build the Isiala Mbano of our collective dreams can not be over emphasized because the man has completely keyed Eziama community to the map of development.

No wonder he is being loved by across board especially to the youth constituency and the christendom where he belongs. 

His humanitarian gestures is second to none and as an illustrious son of the soil and a man of God who has in one way or the other contributed immensely to the development of the community and when you take into cognisant of the achievements and contributions of Pastor Justin Chimezie Aguguo in the development of the people, only then, you will understand why many has referred him as the empowerment mastron.

There is no need to deny the obvious fact that the choice of Pastor Dr. Justin Chimezie Aguguo as a man that lives a Christ kind of lifestyle, dedicated to serving humanity. 

Long before his rise to stardom, Pastor  Justin Chimezie Aguguo has dedicated better parts of his little earnings to charity and has written his name in the gunines book of record in people's lives.

Pastor Dr. Justin Chimezie Aguguo and wife, Mrs. Kelechi Aguguo runs a foundation that has placed many indigent children on scholarships up to the university level and through his foundation, carter for the aged people and he has established businesses for women in the community to ease their burdens.

As a servant of the most high God, Pastor Justin Chimezie Aguguo has taken it upon himself to send alot of our young youths abroad in the search for greener pastures which has become a big relief to their families.

Since he began his philanthropic gestures and activities, he has given youths of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state reason to smile and live again Knowing fully well that Pastor  Dr. Justin Chimezie Aguguo rose to stardom through dint of hard work, consistency, dedication, determination and desire to change his destiny.

The workhalic and pragmatic youth empowerment and employment ambassador, Pastor Justin Chimezie Aguguo has been one of the leading men of  God both in Nigeria and diaspora that has used their offerings and personal resources to better the lives of many of the less privileged people in the society. 

The classy man of God has been one of the shining light in his Community, and it is on record that the very man of the moment has empowered vast majority of the teeming Nigerian youths and this has actually helped in reducing the crime rate in the country.

Give it to him, Pastor Justin Chimezie Aguguo has through his empowerment, uplifted so many Nigerian youths who are roaming the streets of Lagos, Abuja and Owerri and many of them today are multi millionaires.

To crown it all, Pastor Justin Chimezie Aguguo in his wisdom to reduce the high crime rate in Nigeria, placed a good number of youths and people on a salary scale and pays them on monthly basis. 

Since his emergence as a pathfinder of great nobility, the people of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State,  Southeast geo political zone and Nigeria are very grateful God almighty for bringing a man like Pastor Justin Chimezie Aguguo in their midst as a sort of comforter and helper.

It's a thing of joy that the Almighty God has given the people wonderfula servant leader and helper to ameliorate the sufferings of the people. 

The humanitarian gestures of Pastor  Dr. Justin Chimezie Aguguo Nwachukwu is highly commendable and appreciated to the people of his community and others alike. 

Dr. Justin Chimezie Aguguo is a blessing to this generation and the people are grateful to Almighty God for bringing him at this critical time to become the rescuer of the people and pathfinder of great nobility.

There's no gain denying the obvious fact that Pastor Justin Chimezie Aguguo came at the right time when hopes of thousands of people are almost loosing hope in some men of God.

The emergence of the humanitarian of our time has helped in a great way in restoring peace, harmony and togetherness in the entire Eziama Autonomous Community in Isiala Mbano. 

Pastor  Dr. Justin Chimezie Aguguo deserved commendations and appreciations for the roles he has played in bringing the lost glory of his community back within the short period of time, he has become a household name and a man of God to be reckoned with. 

It is based on his singular act of yours that I joined other well meaning people of God to pray for God's guidance and protection in all your endeavors in Jesus name Amen. 

Kelechi Uzomah is a practicing journalist and public affairs analyst based in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.