Author: Naija Daily News

By Deborah Nnamdi Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled judgment for November 20 in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The judge announced the date on Friday after Kanu failed to open his defence, despite being granted six days by the court to do so. In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that the defendant had been given ample opportunity to present his case and therefore could not claim to have been denied his constitutional right to a fair hearing. Kanu is facing terrorism-related charges…

By Deborah Nnamdi Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the United States Embassy in Abuja, calling for international intervention to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and prevent the country from drifting toward a one-party system. The protesters, who also submitted letters of appeal to the U.S. Embassy, the European Union complex, and the Federal Ministry of Justice, carried placards urging global partners to help protect Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the judiciary. They accused the ruling party of intimidating opposition members and undermining democratic principles, alleging a growing trend toward a one-party state. The…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Senate has directed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other relevant regulatory bodies to fully enforce the ban on the packaging of high-strength alcoholic beverages in sachets starting from December 2025. Lawmakers further resolved that no additional extension should be granted beyond the current moratorium. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong on the need to halt further extension of the phase-out of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachet formats. Leading the debate, Senator Ekpeyong reminded his colleagues that NAFDAC, after wide consultations with stakeholders…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Senate has confirmed Dr. Kingsley Ude, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from Enugu Statek, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His confirmation followed a screening session held on Th)ursday on the Senate floor, where lawmakers engaged the nominee on a range of national and international issues. Born in 1978, Ude previously served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Enugu State. During the screening, Senator Abdul Ningi drew attention when he asked Ude to comment on the “ongoing Trump threat” and propose possible solutions—a question that briefly stirred debate among senators.…

Canada has announced a sweeping reform of its immigration policy — the most significant in decades — aiming to cut the number of temporary residents by up to one-third while opening a new fast-track route for highly skilled professionals from the United States to gain permanent residency. The changes, detailed in Budget 2025 and the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, mark a shift from population-driven growth to skills-based immigration as the country faces mounting pressure from housing shortages, healthcare strain, and growing public concern over record arrivals. Under the new plan, up to 33,000 U.S.-based H-1B visa holders and other skilled…

China has unveiled a new digital arrival card system and expanded visa-free transit options in a major move to simplify international travel and attract more foreign visitors as the country accelerates its post-pandemic tourism recovery. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced that the digital arrival card, set to take effect on November 20, 2025, will allow travelers—regardless of visa status—to submit their entry details online before traveling, eliminating the need for traditional paper forms. According to the NIA, seven categories of travelers will be exempt from completing the new form, including foreign permanent residents, Hong Kong and Macao residents with…

By Deborah Nnamdi Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called for sexual harassment to be made a criminal offense across all states in the country after a man groped and attempted to kiss her in public. The incident occurred on Tuesday near the presidential palace as Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, walked to an event while greeting supporters. Videos circulating on social media showed a man approaching her from behind, placing his arm around her shoulder, and touching her hip and chest before trying to kiss her neck. A member of the presidential security team quickly intervened and pulled the man…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Sufiyanu Aliyu, for allegedly killing his 15-year-old wife, Suwaiba Abubakar, in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Sokoto. According to Rufai, the tragic incident occurred on October 27 at the suspect’s residence in Gwanyal Village, and was reported to the police by a good Samaritan. “Upon receiving the report, operatives were immediately dispatched to the scene. The area was visited, processed, and cordoned off for forensic analysis,” Rufai stated.…

By Deborah Nnamdi The Senate has approved a bill prescribing up to 14 years imprisonment for educators found guilty of sexually harassing students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The legislation, titled Sexual Harassment of Students (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2025 (HB.1597), was presented for concurrence by the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Oyelola Ashiru, during Wednesday’s plenary session. Ashiru explained that the bill seeks to protect students from all forms of sexual misconduct and abuse within academic environments while establishing clear legal frameworks for the punishment of offenders. He added that the measure aims to uphold ethical standards in higher education…

The Delta State Government has cautioned the public, especially applicants seeking admission into the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences in Asaba, Agbor, Warri, and Eku, to disregard a fake online publication claiming that the 2025/2026 admission list has been released. In a statement by Harold Ojji, for the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Health, on Wednesday, the government described the publication—which also alleged that the sale of supplementary forms for a third batch was ongoing and included fake contact numbers of supposed registrars—as a scam aimed at deceiving and extorting unsuspecting applicants and their parents. The statement further stressed that…