Fixes May 18 for hearing

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, thwarted a move by Tope Temokun, counsel to online publisher and politician, Omoyele Sowore, to secure a month's adjournment in a suit he filed against the Department of State Services (DSS) and Meta Platforms Incorporated (owners of Facebook and X). The judge expressed surprise that Temokun, who as counsel to the plantiff, ordinarily should be interested in a speedy adjudication, would seek a month's adjournment. He overruled the counsel and fixed May 18 for hearing.

The Senate on Tuesday moved to reform police funding by passing the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2025, for second reading, proposing an increase in statutory allocation to 1 per cent of revenue accruing to the Federation Account, amid concerns over fiscal and constitutional implications. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, seeks to repeal the 2019 Act and introduce a strengthened legal and institutional framework for funding, administration, and support of the Nigeria Police Force.

Across Nigeria, signs of improved security are quietly emerging. Markets are opening, schools are resuming uninterrupted sessions, and communities once plagued by violence are regaining a sense of normalcy. These developments, though often unnoticed, stem from deliberate intelligence operations and enforcement actions by the State Security Services (SSS).

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has stated that there is no new tax on vehicles, following a viral infographic alleging that a new vehicle tax has been imposed by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), effective July 1.

The recent warning by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction broadcast stations over declining professional standards has drawn sharp reactions from media stakeholders, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). The directive, which targets radio and television organisations, has sparked a broader debate about press freedom and regulatory overreach ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of Duty Tour Allowance (DTA), estacode, and book allowances for civil servants, alongside the introduction of a new exit benefit scheme for retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme. Announcing the measures in Abuja on Friday, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said the government also approved a 100 per cent DTA for federal workers attending approved training programmes, irrespective of location.