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Islamic Clerics, NBA Condemn Attack On Redeemed Church In Kontagora

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The Director-General of the Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs, Umar Abdullahi, said the attack on the church raised deep concerns.
Islamic clerics in Niger State have condemned last Saturday’s attack on the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) by hoodlums in Kontagora.
The incident in which the church building was looted and set on fire has drawn widespread condemnation in the state, including from Governor Mohammed Bago.
In separate interviews, the clerics said Islam prohibits aggression by Muslims against people of other faiths, and further enjoins them to treat non-Muslims well.
The Director-General of the Niger State Bureau for Religious Affairs, Umar Abdullahi, said the attack on the church raised deep concerns.
Mr Abdullahi said the actions of the attackers contradict the teachings of Islam, stressing that the core message of Islam is unity and peaceful coexistence.
“Islam teaches the importance of protecting places of worship, irrespective of the faith practised within them. The Qur’an warns against the destruction of any place where God’s name is remembered, whether it be a monastery, church, synagogue, or mosque,” he said
Mr Abdullahi cited Surah Al-Hajj (22:40), which states: “And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned.”
He said the verse underscores the sanctity of all houses of worship.
An Islamic scholar at Imam Buhari Islamic Foundation in Minna, Zakari Jibril, also said Islam guarantees the protection of the worship centres of other religious groups.
“Allah (SWT) said, ‘Let there will be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands clear from error. (Q2:256)’”, he said.
“Allah said, ‘The truth has now come from your sustainer; let then he who wills believe in it, and let he who wills reject it” (Q18:29).
Meanwhile, the Kontagora emirate council has expressed solidarity with the church members.
The Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Muhammadu Mu’azu II, said he was “deeply saddened and disturbed by the senseless and vicious act intended to provoke religious tension and undermine the peaceful coexistence among the community.
“The emirate council condemns this heinous act in the strongest terms possible and assures you that we stand with you in this difficult moment.
“We will do everything within our power to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that the church is able to continue its service without fear or intimidation,” the traditional ruler said.
In its reaction, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Minna called for peaceful coexistence among adherents of the two major religions in the state.
The chairman of the association, Isyaku Barau, described the burning of the church as a barbaric act.
Mr Barau appealed to the state government and security agencies to track the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
He also called on the Christian community in the state to remain calm and refrain from any act of retaliation.
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Rivers Judiciary Denise Media Reports On Issuing Judgement Sacking SOLAD

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, there by sacking the sole Administrator of the state, vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).

A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.

According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter Vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.

The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”

“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the statement read.

“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported”.

” Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.

The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.

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Senate Passes Bill For Establishment Of University In Abia

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The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical  and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi

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South East Caucus Kicks As  Senate Rejects  Nwosu’s Immortalisation

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South East Caucus of the Senate has  appealed to President   Bola Ahmed Tinubu  to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu  considering his commitment  to achieving a  practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly  angered by the  Senate’s  rejection of the  need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent  1993 elections  stormed out of the Senate Chambers   and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South),  as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said  late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous  national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite  history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .

Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi

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