IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

A giant African pouched rat named Ronin has broken the world record for landmine detection, uncovering 109 landmines and 15 unexploded ordnances in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province, according to Belgian charity APOPO.

Since his deployment in August 2021, the five-year-old rodent has become APOPO’s most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR), surpassing the previous record set by Magawa, who detected 71 landmines during his service.

Ronin’s remarkable achievement has earned him a Guinness World Records title, underscoring the critical role of trained rats—nicknamed “HeroRats”—in humanitarian demining efforts.

Cambodia remains one of the world’s most heavily mined countries, with decades of conflict leaving behind dangerous explosives. The country had targeted becoming mine-free by 2025 but recently extended the deadline due to funding constraints and newly discovered minefields. 

... Urges Restraint, Calls for Democratic Vigilance

The Chatham House Group, a coalition of young professionals from Kogi State, has commended INEC for its impartiality and commitment to constitutional principles following the dismissal of a petition to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In a statement signed by its convener, Abdulrahman Zulqarnien Ozovehe, the group praised INEC’s decision as a “victory for democracy” and a reflection of the Commission’s adherence to Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution.

The group warned against destabilizing efforts by unnamed actors pushing for a renewed recall process and urged stakeholders to uphold democratic values.

They also cited Akpoti-Uduaghan’s recent warm reception in her constituency as evidence of continued public support and called for a focus on constructive engagement rather than divisive politics. 

The Supreme Court has nullified the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja that recognized Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Delivering a unanimous verdict on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to declare Abure as chairman, as the matter centered on internal party leadership—a subject courts are not permitted to adjudicate.

The court also noted that Abure's tenure had already expired.

The appeal, filed by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and another, was upheld, while a cross-appeal by the Abure-led faction was dismissed for lacking merit.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has denied claims that he owes N200 million to businesswoman Tracynither Ohiri for campaign materials allegedly supplied during his 2014 governorship campaign.

Speaking during an inspection of the Independence Bridge in Lagos on Thursday, Umahi dismissed the allegation as baseless, questioning the legitimacy of the claim.

“She claims I owe her N200 million from 2014, but my entire governorship campaign didn’t even cost that much,” Umahi said. “Where is the contract? Where did the funds come from? Let her publish her bank statements.”

The minister also accused Ohiri of being sponsored, alleging that she had made similar accusations against other governors. He said he initially ignored the matter, thinking it was a mental health issue, but has now instructed his lawyers to take legal action.

Addressing separate allegations of sexual harassment, Umahi strongly denied the claims, warning against what he called a dangerous trend of false accusations.

“This is unfortunate, and we’ll use this case to set an example,” he said, urging women to speak against baseless allegations that could harm genuine advocacy. 

Fenerbahce have accused Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk of acting "as if he had been shot" after a confrontation with their manager Jose Mourinho on Wednesday night. In a strongly-worded statement, Fenerbahce accused Buruk of having the "audacity to make disrespectful hand gestures" to provoke Mourinho, who then "briefly touched his nose" in response.

The Turkish Cup match, which Galatasaray won 2-1, came amid increased animosity between the two clubs. Following the match Galatasaray accused Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of "physically attacking" their manager Buruk after he appeared to grab his nose following the fiery derby match. The incident occurred after the final whistle at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, when both managers were interacting with the match officials in the centre circle.

"This was a planned provocation [by Buruk] and as part of this plan the individual acted as if he had been 'shot' and fell to the ground in a professional manner, and his disrespectful words and actions are documented on video," Fenerbahce said in a statement. "The absurdity of someone who is touched on the nose immediately throwing himself to the ground and writhing for seconds is clear to the public.

"It is evident that this individual's tendency to fall to the ground, seen during his playing days, continues in his coaching career, showing that this behaviour is a characteristic attitude." Buruk sought to play the incident down at his post-match news conference, saying there was "nothing" between him and Mourinho. 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has thrown its weight behind Nigeria’s Single Window Trade Project—an initiative aimed at streamlining trade, boosting revenue, and driving economic growth.

The endorsement came during a meeting in Abuja between Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and an IMF Fiscal Affairs Department delegation led by Marco Antonio, Technical Assistance Advisor for Revenue Administration.

According to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Information, Mohammed Manga, Antonio commended the project alongside other ongoing reforms.

Edun noted that the initiative is already in motion, with necessary approvals secured, a dedicated team established, and a structured implementation strategy in place. He emphasized its potential to boost exports, particularly as Nigeria works toward maximizing daily oil output.

Describing it as a game-changing reform, Edun reaffirmed the government’s commitment to its success, crediting President Tinubu’s leadership and the backing of the Nigeria Customs Service as critical to its progress.