NEWS
Court Orders Foreign Ministry, NIDCOM to Return Nigerians Imprisoned in Ethiopia

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affair and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to bring back no fewer than 270 Nigerians currently imprisoned or detained in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, gave the order of mandamus compelling the ministry and NIDCOM to receive and return the imprisoned Nigerians consequent upon the decision and declaration of the Ethiopian government that it had no budget to take care of them.
“I find that the applicants have made a credible case for this court to issue Order of Mandamus to compel the 1st and 2nd respondents to perform their statutory functions and I so hold,” Justice Ekwo ruled.
The applicants; Sunday Mmaduagwu, Henry Anyanwu and Leonard Okafor, had filed the originating motion on notice.
They had sued NIDCOM, Foreign Ministry, the Senate, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN) and the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) as 1st to 6th respondents respectively, on behalf of Nigerians imprisoned in Ethiopia Prison.
The motion was brought pursuant to Order II, Rules 1, 2 & 3 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as FREPR 2009) and Sections 6 (6), 34 (1), 35 (1), (4), and (6), 36 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Also cited in the suit was Articles 4, 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, LFN 2004 (hereinafter referred to as ACHPRRE Act 2004) and under the inherent jurisdiction of this court.
They sought “a declaration that the fundamental rights of the applicants as provided by Sections 33, 34, 35 of the 1999 Constitution; Articles 2, 3, 5, 6, CAT — Articles 4 (1) & (15), Article 16 UNUDHR; Articles 3, 5, 6, 25 (1) & (2) BPT — General Assembly Resolution 45/11 of 14 Dec 1990 had been violated by the 1st — 4th respondents.
They sought an order compelling the 1st & 2nd respondents to receive and return back Nigerians imprisoned, detained in Kaliti Ethiopia prisons, consequent upon the decision and declaration of Ethiopian Government that they have no budget for their food, firewood, medicine and any other form of welfare and on the face of their call for Nigeria to take them back to Nigeria.”
In the affidavit in support of the motion, Mmaduagwu deposed that he is the first cousin of Mr. Remigius Anikwe, who was imprisoned at Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.
He said Henry is a brother to Mr Chinedu Michael Anyanwu, who is also detained or imprisoned in Kaliti prison, while Leonard is a relative of Mr Okafor Livinus Edochie, who also is in detention in the same prison.
Mmaduagwu averred that since he arrived in the prison to see his cousin, he met over 270 Nigerians arrested and being detained.
He said some of the persons in the prison were not even tried as they do not understand the language and neither were they offered the services of an interpreter.
According to him, the treatment being given to Nigerians in detention are shocking as any exchange of words with the indigenes will attract mass beating, and this has led to the collapse and death of some.
“Some young Nigerians who were on transit with visa are reported to have been arrested, dispossessed of their money and valuable properties and false witnesses suborned to testify against them in a foreign language.
“Many are detained and denied the opportunity of proper hearing by any court and till date, they do not know the reason for their arrest.
“They are also denied access to their families, the outside world and even the services of a lawyer, making their family assume they are dead.
“Some of them had to admit offences they did not commit after prolonged torture by the prison officials,” Mmaduagwu said.
He alleged that NiDCOM, in a television interview, even stated that what the detained Nigerians in Kaliti Prison are given as food cannot be fed to rats.
He said the commission attested to the fact that they were not given any drugs for any form of sickness, except paracetamol, despite people suffering from kidney failure with swollen legs.
“A lot of them are dying and they were informed by the prison officials that the Ethiopian government has asked the Nigerian Embassy to come and take their people back having no budget to feed them and provide medical aid.
“Every week, about two or three deaths are recorded. They have not been buried neither have their corpse been brought to Nigeria,” he said.
Mmaduagwu, who said that all the respondents were aware of the citizens’ plights, urged the court to grant their reliefs.
Delivering the judgment on Nov. 14 and the certified true copy of the documents sighted on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo said he observed that the application was brought on behalf of Nigerian citizens detained and imprisoned abroad.
The judge held that the motives of the applicants were not unreasonable as it is rationally expected that a citizen of a country who is abroad and who needs the intervention of his/her country of origin will expect the requisite succour from the home country when occasion arises for such.
“The 1st and 2nd respondents cannot be allowed to argue their way out of their respective statutory functions,” he said.
He further held that the applicants had made a compelling case in the suit that Nigerian citizens who were detained and imprisoned in Kaliti Prison, Ethiopia by the Ethiopian government required the intervention of NODOM and the ministry.
The judge, who ordered the ministry and NIDCOM to receive and return the imprisoned Nigerians home, refused to grant their 1st relief seeking a declaration that the detained Nigerians’ rights had been breached by the respondents.(NAN)
NEWS
Unique Secondary School Expands Outreach, Honors Ogbodo, Launches Scholarships

By David Torough, Abuja
Unique Secondary School Makurdi (USSM), a leading private educational institution in Benue State, continues to make significant strides in academic excellence and community impact.
In a bold move to increase accessibility and reward excellence, the school has unveiled a new examination centre in Oju Local Government Area, launched a scholarship scheme for families with multiple children in the school, and honoured a distinguished alumnus, Dr.
Mark Ogbodo, by naming a recreational facility after him.The newly inaugurated Dr. Mark Ogbodo Park was officially commissioned on July 24, during a colourful ceremony held at the school’s New GRA campus in Makurdi.
The event drew an impressive turnout of students, staff, parents, alumni, and dignitaries.
Chairman of Unique Schools and co-founder of USSM, Engr. Felix Atume led the commissioning, describing it as a tribute to dedication and impact.
Dr. Ogbodo, an author and founder of Lydia Memorial Hospital, Ugbokolo, was visibly moved by the honour.
In a social media post after the event, he wrote: “Who am I to deserve this great honour? What impact have I made on USSM? These thoughts flooded my mind as I stood speechless in awe.”
He praised the school leadership, particularly Principal Mr. Samuel Ortsega, and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for the recognition.
Also unveiled at the event was a scholarship programme aimed at easing the financial burden on families with more than one child enrolled at USSM.
The initiative was met with excitement and gratitude from parents in attendance. Furthermore, the newly established Oju exam centre was widely applauded for eliminating the long travel often required for external examinations, especially for students living in remote areas.
Founded on September 1, 1998, by Engr. Atume and Mrs. Juliana Atume, a noted philanthropist, USSM has built a strong reputation for nurturing students through academic rigor and character development.
Originally a day school, it added a boarding facility in 2007 to cater to growing demand. Situated in a serene environment, the school provides a secure and conducive atmosphere for learning.
USSM is part of the larger Unique Schools family, which began with Unique Nursery and Primary School in 1995.
The secondary arm offers a comprehensive curriculum infused with entrepreneurial and vocational training in areas such as catering, fashion, cosmetology, and design—preparing students with practical skills for life beyond the classroom.
The school boasts modern infrastructure, including science laboratories, an ICT centre, a digital library, spacious classrooms, quality boarding facilities, a healthcare unit, and the expansive Engr. Felix Atume Hall. Recreational amenities include courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, a football pitch, and indoor games like chess and scrabble.
In keeping with global trends, USSM has embraced digital innovations such as an online result-checking system and is planning an enhanced presence on social media.
The school runs a three-term calendar and prepares students for key national examinations including BECE, WAEC, and NECO.
Ambitious plans are underway to launch Unique Technical College, which will focus on technical and vocational education.
As the evening of July 24 transitioned into a celebratory dinner in honour of the 2025 graduating class, guests—including PTA members, parents, alumni, and staff—shared heartfelt goodwill messages. The PTA Chairman described the event as “unparalleled in the school’s history.”
Through initiatives like the Oju centre, new scholarships, and the celebration of alumni impact, Unique Secondary School Makurdi continues to set the benchmark for holistic and community-rooted education in Benue State.
Foreign News
Zelensky Announces New Draft Law on Anti-corruption Bodies after Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has approved the text of a draft law guaranteeing the freedom of two anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine – days after nationwide protests broke out over changes curbing their independence.
Kyiv’s Western partners had also expressed serious concerns over the legislation.
On Thursday, Zelensky seemed to backtrack, saying the new bill was intended to safeguard the independence of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap), and to protect them from Russian influence.
He said the text of the bill was “balanced”, but did not provide any details.
The law passed earlier this week brought Nabu and Sap under the control of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president.
At the time Zelensky justified his decision to curtail the bodies’ powers by citing Russian influence. The day before, Ukraine’s security services had carried out searches and arrests targeting alleged Russian spies at the agency.
The passing of the legislation instantly sparked the largest protests since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 in several cities across Ukraine, with many worrying the law would severely undermine the Nabu and Sap’s authority and effectiveness.
Thousands of people gathered in streets and squares across Ukraine, holding placards calling for the legislation to be vetoed.
Several commentators accused Zelensky of democratic backsliding. Their concerns were further exacerbated when Ukraine’s Western partners signalled their displeasure with the bill.
Ukraine has official EU candidate status and a spokesman for European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen previously warned Kyiv that the rule of law and the fight against corruption were “core elements” of membership to the bloc.
On Thursday, the Commission said it “welcomed” the Ukrainian government’s decision to take action against the bill.
“We are working [with the Ukrainian government] to make sure that our concerns… are indeed taken into account,” the spokesman said.
Nabu and Sap were created in 2014-15 as one of the requirements set by the European Commission and International Monetary Fund to move towards a relaxation of visa restrictions between Ukraine and the EU.
Writing on Facebook, opposition MP Oleksiy Goncharenko noted Zelensky said that “the independence of anti-corruption institutions must be guaranteed.”
“First we take it away, and then we say that it must be guaranteed. So why was all this necessary?”
In his message on social media on Thursday, Zelensky did not acknowledge the protests or the backlash but said it was “important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine.”
NEWS
Why I Quit Banking for Music – CDQ

Nigerian rapper CDQ has revealed that he left a stable banking job to pursue his true passion, music.
In an interview, the hip-hop star shared that becoming a banker was a move to honor his late father’s wishes, but it wasn’t where his heart truly belonged.
“I quit my bank job.
I couldn’t tell my mother or any family member then. I left the house and went to stay with Masterkraft in the studio,” he said.CDQ admitted that while at the bank, he often found himself scribbling lyrics during work hours instead of focusing on his official duties.
The internal conflict eventually led him to a bold decision, quitting his job to chase a career in music.
According to him, even his close friend and producer, Masterkraft, was shocked when he learned about the decision. Interestingly, Masterkraft used to lend CDQ suits to wear to the bank.
“I told him banking isn’t my passion. I will probably just do it to make ends meet. But music is something that, whether it gives me a return or not, I’m still happy doing it,” CDQ added.
CDQ’s gamble paid off. He shot to fame in 2016 with his hit single “Indomie” featuring Masterkraft and Olamide.