News

Aisha Buhari calls for stiffer punishment for drug traffickers

Published

7 years ago

May 28, 2019

Eric

The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has called for the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of drug trafficking, which led to the detention of Zainab Aliyu in Saudi Arabia.

Mrs Buhari made the call on Monday when the victim of the drug trafficking conspiracy, Zainab Aliyu, was led to the Presidential Villa by her parents to break the Ramadan fast with her.

News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Zainab Aliyu, who was travelling to Saudi Arabia from the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, had drugs planted on her by drug cartels operating at the airport. She was arrested by the Saudi Arabia authorities, for possession of banned substance.

However, Zainab was released after she was found innocent of the offence by the Saudi authorities, following the intervention of the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari.

The wife of the President, therefore, called on intending air travellers to be mindful and careful to avoid falling victims.

While fielding questions from State House Correspondents, the victim Miss Zainab Aliyu, called on the Nigerian authorities to ensure that those engaged in the act were prosecuted according to laid down procedure.

“I want to thank the wife of the President for inviting us to break our fast with her and Nigerians for their prayers and efforts to ensure my release.

“Though, I feel very bad that the cartel, who masterminded this act (to me) was granted bail. They have to be punished for what they did to me to serve as a deterrent to others.

“I’m not the only innocent person that fell victim, there were many innocent persons who fell victims of this illicit drugs traffickers.

“So, I will like to call on Nigerian authorities to punish the cartel,” she said.

On her part, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed her appreciation to the wife of the President for hosting the family to iftar.

Also speaking, Mr Habibu Aliyu, the father of the victim, thanked Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari for facilitating the release of Zainab Aliyu from Saudi Arabian Prison.

“Personally, since we started the struggle, I did not spend money throughout the period, so I thank everybody who contributed to the release of my daughter.

“I feel sad that the cartel, who perpetrated this act was granted bail. They even undermined the government because as I speak to you one of them was allowed to perform lesser hajj and he returned to Nigeria.

“Yes, the offence is bailable but there are stringent conditions that should be attached to serve as a deterrent.

” And to my surprise, the perpetrators have not shown any remorse for committing the act, for day one. One of them knelt down and held my leg saying that she was doing it for a living.

“So, you can imagine she’s living at the detriment of someone’s life,” he said.

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

1 day ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

2 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.