By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The Coalition of Geopolitical Youth Associations of Nigeria and Civil Society Organisations have expresses their profound outrage, disappointment and categorical rejection of “unjust criminalisation of a matter fundamentally civil in nature” involving one of Nigeria’s foremost legal minds, Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN.

The CSOs comprise youth leaders drawn from the six geo-political zones, including but not limited to the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, Oodua Youth Parliament, Concerned Ndibo Youth Movement, North Central Youths Assembly of Nigeria, Nigeria Youth Advocacy for good governance and allied civil society organisations.

In a statement jointly issued by the to groups, they said they are “deeply concerned by the actions of the Hon Attorney General of the Federation using the instrumentality of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in pursuing a criminal prosecution over a property gift transaction reportedly intended for registration in London, an issue that, by every reasonable legal standard, falls within the realm of civil dispute resolution.”

According to them, “The transformation of such a matter into a criminal prosecution raises serious questions about proportionality, fairness, and adherence to due process. It sends a troubling signal to Nigerians and the international community that legal interpretation may be stretched beyond reason in matters that require civil adjudication, not criminal sanction,especially as the UK adjudicatory tribunal found Prof Ozekhome blameless in it’s judgment.

“Professor Mike Ozekhome is not just a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); he is a towering symbol of Nigeria’s democratic struggle and evolution. For decades, he has stood fearlessly against military dictatorship, constitutional infractions, executive recklessness, and human rights violations.

“His sacrifices both personal and professional have helped shape Nigeria’s legal and democratic jurisprudence and strengthened the rule of law.

“It is therefore most painful and highly unacceptable that a man whose legacy is intertwined with Nigeria’s democratic struggles could be subjected to what appears to be a needless and avoidable prosecution, particularly after an earlier case on the same subject matter had been withdrawn by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in a competent court of law.

“On behalf of Nigerian youths and civil society organisations nationwide, we acknowledge the intervention of the Hon Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, for assuming later oversight of the matter.

“We had recognized this as a step towards restoring institutional balance and reaffirming constitutional authority within the prosecutorial framework under the leadership of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

“However, we firmly state that oversight alone is not enough. We,as well as most Nigerians, had expected him to terminate the proceedings that appear targeted at him alone since none of the other lawyers mentioned in the case has been arraigned.”

The groups demanded the following: “Immediate and Unconditional Withdrawal of the Charges; call upon the Honourable Attorney-General to exercise his constitutional powers under Section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to discontinue this needless prosecution forthwith. Justice delayed in this context is justice denied.

“Prosecutorial powers must never be used in a manner that blurs the line between civil and criminal jurisprudence. We demand a clear reaffirmation of this distinction to prevent future abuse.

“Investigative and prosecuting agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC that had initially rushed to court and given the case wide publicity, must operate strictly within the bounds of the law and avoid sensational actions that may erode public trust and confidence in anti-corruption efforts.

“The continued prosecution of a respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria over a matter widely perceived as civil risks undermining confidence in Nigeria’s justice system and diminishing the standing of the legal profession.

“Nigeria’s global image must not be compromised by prosecutorial decisions that appear excessive or legally questionable, particularly when they involve individuals of international legal repute.

“Nigerian youths demand a justice system that is impartial, principled, and immune from perceptions of intimidation or selective application of the law.

“Let it be clearly stated : our call is not for immunity from the law.

“No Nigerian is above the law. However, the law itself must not be stretched beyond logic or fairness ot targeted at specific critical individuals in pursuit of outcomes that could have been resolved through civil mechanisms.

“Justice must never be weaponised. Justice must never be selective. Justice must never be perceived as retaliatory. Justice must never been seen as persecutory.

“We therefore urge the Honourable Attorney-General to act decisively and courageously in defence of constitutionalism, fairness and national interest by discontinuing these charges in their entirely.

“Nigeria’s democracy was built on sacrifices made by Nigerians amongst whom Ozekhome’s name resonates clearly. It must not be weakened by prosecutorial excesses of retaliatory measures.
Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.”

The joint statement was signed by Amb. Olasunkanmi Kolawole,
Convener & President
North Central Youths Assembly of Nigeria; Dr. Isah Abubakar,
Co-Convener & President
Northern Youth Council of Nigeria; Comrade Tochukwu Okoye, President
Concerned Ndibo Youth Movement of Nigeria; Activist Olamilekan Oladimeji,
President Odu’a Youth Parliament,Malam Lukman Lawal, National Coordinator
Youth Alliance for National Transformation and Comrade. Alabi Akeem Abiodun, National Coordinator
Nigeria Youth Advocacy for good governance.

From Dan Amasingha, Minna

The Niger State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Army Properties Limited (NAPL) for the construction of a N121 billion ultra-modern market in Suleja, the headquarters of Suleja Local Government Area of the state.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the state government by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, and the Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Umar.

Representing NAPL were the Vice Chairman of the company, Lt. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun (rtd), the Group Managing Director, Brig. Gen. Isah Doma, and the Company Secretary, Barrister Ahmad Belel Ismaila.

At the signing ceremony, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described the agreement as a milestone in the economic transformation agenda of the state, noting that the proposed market is expected to become the largest commercial hub in Northern Nigeria.

According to the governor, the project is designed to stimulate massive economic activity and strengthen the commercial link between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory.

He disclosed that when completed, the market could generate an economic turnover estimated at between N500 billion and N1 trillion, further boosting the economic fortunes of the state.

Bago also explained that Suleja has historically served as a strategic commercial gateway to Abuja, making it an ideal location for a mega market capable of supporting the growing trade demands of the Federal Capital Territory.

The governor added that the partnership with NAPL was aimed at leveraging the organization’s capacity and experience in large-scale infrastructure development to ensure the successful execution of the project.

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of NAPL, Brig. Gen. Isah Doma, described the partnership as a rare privilege and an opportunity for the company to contribute to the development of Niger State.

He expressed appreciation to the state government for the confidence reposed in the company and assured that NAPL would deliver the project in line with the expectations of the government and the people.

Doma further pledged that the company would approach the project with utmost commitment and professionalism, promising that the opportunity would not be taken for granted.

China has cut its annual economic growth target to a range of 4.5 per cent-5 per cent, the lowest expansion goal since 1991 as it grapples with challenges both at home and abroad.

It is the first time the target has been lowered since it was cut to “around 5 per cent” in 2023.

The details were released during China’s biggest political gathering, known as the “two sessions”, alongside the release of some details of the 15th Five Year Plan for the world’s second largest economy.

Beijing aims to reshape its economy as it faces issues like weak consumption, a shrinking population, an ongoing property crisis, global trade tensions and an energy crunch due to the Iran war.

The lower target gives China “more room to manage the economy” without being forced into making huge financial commitments just to hit a precise goal.

“China has used flexible targets before, particularly during the pandemic, but it’s not the norm,” Jason Bedford from the East Asian Institute research group added.

The two sessions event, which began on Wednesday and usually runs for at least a week, brings the country’s leaders together for back-to-back meetings.

Details of China’s gross domestic growth (GDP) target and its objectives under its latest Five Year Plan were included in a 46-page report published.

The full text of the plan, which will outline China’s economic development objectives to 2030, will be voted on during the closing day of the gathering.

It is expected to be released by state media one or two days later.

Li told delegates that the Five Year Plan will include investments in innovation, high-tech industries, scientific research and more efforts to boost household consumption.

His comments underline Beijing’s concerns that weak domestic consumption makes the country too reliant on exports, as well as highlighting its ambitions to upgrade the country’s manufacturing industries.

The report outlines plans for more than 100 major projects over the next five years to expand China’s industrial capacity, with a focus on science and technology, transportation and energy.

Beijing also made clear its ambitions to be a global technological powerhouse, with plans to roll out artificial intelligence (AI) tools across key industries.

China aims to lead a green energy push, reducing carbon emissions and improving environmental protection, Li wrote.

The country will also build a “childbirth-friendly society” as it addresses concerns over employment, education and healthcare, the report said.

China faces an ageing population and falling birth rates, complicating Beijing’s plans to boost its economy.

In January, official figures showed that China hit its 5 per cent economic growth target for 2025 as a whole. But Beijing also said economic expansion had slowed to 4.5 per cent in the last three months of the year, weighed down by weak domestic spending and a long-running property crisis.

More than two-thirds of China’s provinces have scaled back their growth ambitions, either lowering targets or shifting language from aiming higher than a certain rate to targeting “around” that level.

Zhou Zheng, a policy analyst at China Macro Group, said Beijing’s new growth target reflects that it is “being realistic” as it deals with complex domestic challenges and a difficult global trade environment.

China’s economic growth still marks a “great achievement” given it has been simultaneously tackling major issues that are deeply interlinked and will take time to solve, Zhou said.

But Georgetown University researcher Ning Leng said China’s growth figures should be taken with “a grain of salt”, as other data suggests a weaker economic picture.

The crisis in China’s property sector has hit the country hard and is a key reason for its domestic consumption being weak, she added.

The real estate market once accounted for nearly a third of the Chinese economy and was a key source of income for local governments – many of which now have huge debts.

The industry’s problems have also led to layoffs and pay cuts across the country.

Manufacturing and exports have helped support China’s economy, recording the world’s biggest-ever trade surplus last year – the value of goods and services sold abroad compared to its imports – of $1.19tn (£890bn).

But it means China has become particularly reliant on exports to plug the gaps, which is a weakness the US can sense, Ning said.

US President Donald Trump’s tariffs have put further pressure on China’s export-reliant economy.

The country has responded by pouring huge resources into redirecting trade to other countries to ensure its products can be sold, sustaining its manufacturing sector, said Ning.

Trump is expected to visit China in April and meet President Xi Jinping for their first face-to-face talks this year.

Meanwhile, the US-Israel war with Iran means Beijing has now lost two key sources of cheap oil this year.

It also can no longer access Venezuelan oil after the US seized President Nicolás Maduro in January.

But Beijing has highlighted that it is far less dependent on fossil fuels as it has for several years been transitioning to renewable energy.