For too long, Africa’s resources have been extracted, the value captured elsewhere, the environmental damage left behind.
No more exploitation. No more plundering.
The people of Africa must benefit - first & most - from the resources of Africa.
Today, I attended the graduation ceremony for my second Master’s degree, an MSc in Strategic Business Management from The University of Law Business School, London. It has been a journey of growth, discipline, and a reminder that learning never truly ends!
It gives me pleasure to announce the fact that Mr. President has graciously approved my posting as Nigeria's Ambassador-Designate to South Africa.
This came a few days after the initial posting to Germany was announced and after I made a formal representation to the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, that I was not comfortable with Germany for a number of personal reasons and given the fact that I had lived in Europe most of my life I would prefer to go to South Africa which is a country that I had never been to and for which I have so much interest.
I also expressed the fact that I would rather serve in a country that shares some of my convictions, beilefs and values when it comes to world affairs, that has the biggest economy in Africa, that has closer ties to Nigeria and that is more proximate to my political thinking when it comes to foreign affairs and a pan African vision.
I therefore made an application for a redeployment to South Africa two days after the initial announcement was made and I am pleased to say that after the then Foreign Minister (H.E. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar) heard my reasons he considered them favourably after which he conveyed the request to Mr. President who graciously approved it.
I will be eternally grateful to Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this favourable consideration.
I also take this opportunity to thank Senator Sam Enang, who was originally posted to South Africa and who was pleased to go to Germany instead, to agree for a straight swap.
I take this opportunity to once again confirm that this was my choice and that Germany NEVER rejected me, which was a fake report that was published in an irresponsible online magazine that thrives on sensationslism, lies and blackmail.
Their story was not only irresponsible and insulting but was also a total and complete fabrication based on hearsay, beer parlour talk and cheap gossip and designed to embarass my goodself, the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Worse still they listed a number of clearly outlandish and absurd reasons for this purported and fake "rejection" which they patched together and concocted reflecting the malevolent condition of their perverse imagination.
Our findings after a preliminary investigation was that the story was not only sponsored but was also written with malicious intent and designed to hurt and destroy my career and bring me into both national and international opprobium and disrepute.
We have reported the online magazine and the individuals that are behind it with a petition to the relevant security agencies for necessary action.
I have also briefed my lawyers to take up the matter and we shall be suing the them in a civil action for defamation.
What actually happened was that the day an "agreement" was sent to South Africa by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was on March 13th, it was leaked to them and they falsely and maliciously reported that it was sent only because I had been formally rejected by Germany which they knew to be false.
They attempted to establish falsehood as fact and this is unacceptable and far below the par of professionalism and proper journalism.
If there was such a formal rejection I challenge them to bring the proof with documentary evidence.
I repeat this never happened and I urge the media to be far more circumspect with such reports.
This statement has been made necessary due to the concern that many of my friends and loved ones have expressed over the matter and in an attempt to set the record straight.
God-willing, I look forward to serving as Nigeria's Ambassador to South Africa, a nation that I admire and respect given its remarkable and inspiring history.
(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Ambassador-Designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to South Africa)
Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Visits former governor of kogi state, Yahaya Bello, CON. Apologises and reconciles with the former governor.
The reconciliation was facilitated by the Chairman, APC Presidential Reconciliation Committee and Governor of Yobe State, His Excellency Mai Mala Buni and the Special Adviser to the President on political matters, Hon Ibrahim Kabir Masari .
NO MORE RIFT.
The pressing concern for members of the ADC, however, is this: can the Federal High Court hear and determine the substantive matter within the legally prescribed timeframe before party primaries commence?
I conclude this analysis with a Japanese Proverb: If you get on the wrong train, get off at the nearest station—the longer you stay on, the more expensive the return trip will be.
ONOGWU Muhammed, Esq.
1st May, 2026
@BashirAhmaad@daily_trust@vanguardngrnews@PremiumTimesng@thecableng
THE ADC LEGAL CONUNDRUM
NAFIU – In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court, I urge Your Lordship, by way of an ex parte application, to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the David Mark–led faction as the party leadership, as I am the Acting National Chairman of the party.
TRIAL COURT – No, I cannot grant your ex parte application. The relief sought is not one that ought to be granted without hearing the other side. Put the respondents on notice for a proper hearing of the matter in line with the principles of fair hearing and audi alteram partem.
DAVID MARK – I am filing an interlocutory appeal at the Court of Appeal of Nigeria. Why should the trial court even entertain Nafiu? Does it not know it lacks jurisdiction over internal party leadership disputes?
COURT OF APPEAL – This appeal is unmeritorious and constitutes an abuse of court process. Return to the trial court and respond to the substantive suit to ensure the expeditious administration of justice. Accordingly, I order an accelerated hearing of the case and direct parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive suit. Furthermore, for filing this frivolous interlocutory appeal, you are hereby fined the sum of ₦2,000,000 in costs.
INEC – I don’t want problem. In compliance with the ruling of the appellate court directing maintenance of the status quo ante bellum, we shall not recognise any factional leadership of the ADC pending the determination of the substantive matter at the trial court. Consequently, we have removed the David Mark–led executive from our official portal.
DAVID MARK – No way. I am proceeding on further appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
SUPREME COURT – This matter is still pending before the trial court. The Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to grant a preservative order of status quo ante bellum in respect of a matter yet to be determined at first instance. Accordingly, the said order is hereby set aside. As the apex court, I direct that this matter be remitted to the Federal High Court for expeditious hearing and determination of the substantive issues.
LEGAL IMPLICATION
The David Mark–led leadership may be falling into a red herring tactic employed by the opposing faction, designed to dissipate time and potentially run foul of statutory timelines governing party activities preceding primary elections.
In all of this, the leadership dispute remains in the cloud. The settled legal position is that the substantive rights and obligations of the parties can only be conclusively determined by the Federal High Court upon a full trial on the merits.
Regrettably, David Mark’s fishing expedition to the appellate court amounts to a procedural misstep. It is legally questionable, given that the trial court had not made any final or appealable decision against him at the time of filing the interlocutory appeal, thereby raising serious concerns as to its competence and necessity.
However, to avoid leaving party members in a state of uncertainty and the party itself in disarray, it must be emphasized that, in the absence of any subsisting order nullifying his position, David Mark arguably remains Chairman de facto, though his position is under judicial scrutiny as it stands.
I have also read opinions accusing the Supreme Court of bias for not determining the matter conclusively and instead remitting it to the trial court. Such arguments are largely academic and, with respect, reflective of a misunderstanding of judicial hierarchy and procedure. The trial court has not yet adjudicated on the matter and is therefore not functus officio. The Supreme Court cannot, under any known principle of law, assume original jurisdiction over a matter properly instituted before a lower court, except as constitutionally provided.