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Soyinka Holds Up On Damaging Green Card, Talks On The Effect Of A Trump Government On Nigeria.

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The victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race could jeopardize U.S. support in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram, according to Nigerian Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka.

In an exclusive interview, Soyinka tells Newsweek that Trump’s “bunker mentality” could see the U.S. withdraw support for counter-terrorism operations in West Africa.

The Nigerian author and playwright also says that he will not destroy his U.S. residency permit just yet, despite a pre-election pledge to “cut” his green card, which is afforded to immigrants granted permanent residence in the country.

Trump, the Republican party candidate, shocked pollsters by defeating Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s vote. The businessman and former reality television star secured victories in key swing states, capitalizing on an anti-establishment feeling among voters to win out against his more experienced rival.

Boko Haram, an Islamist militant group, launched an armed insurgency against the Nigerian government in 2009, killing thousands and displacing more than 2 million since then. The group also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in 2015, though it has recently split into factions following the appointment in August of an ISIS-approved leader.

Under the administration of Barack Obama, the U.S. has provided financial support and military training to West African countries fighting Boko Haram. The U.S. provided $71 million worth of equipment, logistics and training to five countries—Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin—that together formed a joint task force in 2015 to fight the militants, according to a February fact sheet from the U.S. State Department.

Obama also approved the deployment of up to 300 U.S. military personnel to Cameroon in October 2015 to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in the region.

“One should expect that level of collaboration to diminish. Trump’s mentality is one of, ‘What are we doing there? What business do we have over there?’” says Soyinka, speaking to Newsweek from New York.

“I foresee Trump dismissing that kind of expectation offhand and closing in, shrinking, becoming smaller in terms of [the U.S.’s] presence in other parts of the world,” he says.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari extended his congratulations to Trump on Wednesday, saying that he looked forward to working with the president-elect “to build on and strengthen relations between Nigeria and the U.S.”

Trump had little to say about U.S. foreign policy towards Africa in general and Nigeria specifically during his presidential campaign. While he has vowed to pursue ISIS in Syria and Iraq, the Republican has made no mention of whether he intends to persist with or discontinue the country’s support for counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa. Newsweek contacted the Trump campaign for further comment but received no immediate reply.

An analysis by South Africa-based thinktank the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) suggested that Trump could become “the single most effective recruiting tool for terrorist organizations across the globe,” including in Africa. The ISS cited Trump’s hardline rhetoric towards Muslims, his advocation of the use of torture and expressed desire to target the families of militants all as potential factors in Trump being used by militant groups in recruitment drives. Trump’s campaign pledge to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. has already been used in a propaganda video by Al-Shabab, a Somali militant group aligned with Al-Qaeda.

Soyinka is based between Nigeria and the U.S., where he is affiliated to several universities. In a recent discussion with students at the University of Oxford in the U.K., which was shared in a video on October 27, the author vowed to destroy his green card should Trump be declared the winner of the election.

Following the announcement of Trump’s victory on Wednesday, Nigerians took to social media to question Soyinka about whether he would honor his pledge.

The Nigerian author—who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize in literature in 1986—says he is biding his time until Trump is inaugurated in January before deciding on his next steps.

“Why don’t we wait until Trump actually takes office?” says Soyinka. “I’m just going about my normal commitments, but definitely not getting into any more commitments. Let’s put it that way for now.”

 

 

Source: newsweek

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NEWS

Speed Darlington’s ₦300m Rights Suit Against I-G Set For Hearing January 13

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Speed Darlington: ₦300m Rights Suit Set For January 13 | fab.ng

On December 23, 2024, Justice Liman issued an order directing the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, to charge Speed Darlington to court or release him unconditionally within 48 hours.

This order stemmed from an ex-parte motion filed by Speed Darlington’s lawyer, David Ihuoma.

Following this, on January 13, 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled a hearing. The hearing is for a ₦300 million fundamental rights enforcement suit. It was filed by the detained singer against the I-G.

This date was set after the singer’s counsel, Abubakar Marshal, requested an adjournment. The adjournment would allow the I-G’s lawyer, Garba Audu, sufficient time to review the legal documents served upon him.

Speed Darlington, a 39-year-old singer, was initially arrested by the police on allegations of “defamation and cyberstalking” against Burna Boy.

Although released on bail on October 8, 2024, Speed Darlington was subsequently rearrested and detained.

Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju alleged that Speed Darlington’s arrest followed a petition filed by Burna Boy. Consequently, he was transferred to Abuja for detention.

During the January 13th hearing, the court confirmed that the police had been duly served with the legal documents.

Despite the I-G’s lawyer claiming he had not yet received them, the court directed Marshal to provide Audu with a copy in open court.

When questioned by the court, Marshal confirmed that Speed Darlington remained in detention. In response, Audu explained that the police had already filed a criminal charge against the singer before the ex-parte motion for release was filed.

He further stated that while the singer was granted administrative bail, he allegedly violated the terms.

Audu elaborated that the initial hearing for the criminal charge, scheduled before Justice Ekerete Akpan, was postponed.

Subsequent attempts to reassign the case to a vacation judge for a timely arraignment were unsuccessful. The court ultimately rescheduled the arraignment for January 15, 2025, before Justice Akpan.

Audu emphasised that the police did not deliberately defy the court’s order. He cited the logistical challenges of arraignment during the Christmas holiday.

In conclusion, Marshal requested the court to order the police to release Speed Darlington to his custody pending the upcoming arraignment.

“We shall be applying pending the trial and arraignment of the applicant that your lordship makes an order admitting him to bail.

“If my lord will, as ministers in the temple of justice, we will ensure his presence in court on the day of arraignment,” he said, but Audu opposed the application.

Justice Liman acknowledged that the police did not intentionally defy the court order. However, she advised Audu, the I-G’s lawyer, to ensure the release of Speed Darlington to Marshal, his legal counsel.

This release was contingent on Marshal’s agreement to produce Speed Darlington in court as required.

“I don’t see anything the police will lose if granted bail,” the judge advised.

The judge adjourned the case to January 13 for the hearing of the substantive matter. According to reports by NAN, the fundamental rights suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1832/2024, was filed by Speed Darlington. He named the Inspector-General of Police (I-G) as the sole respondent.

In the suit, the artist urged the court to declare his arrest and detention as violations of his fundamental rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution. He sought four specific orders to address these violations.

In another filing by Adeyanju, he requested an order directing the I-G to immediately and unconditionally release him from the detention facility where he is currently held.

Alternatively, Adeyanju sought an order compelling the I-G to produce him in court.

This would allow the court to assess the circumstances surrounding his arrest and detention. Also, if deemed appropriate, he would be granted bail.

He also sought “an order directing the respondent to pay the applicant the sum of ₦300,000,000.00 (Three Hundred Million Naira) only as general, exemplary and aggravating damages for their unlawful and continued detention since 2024 till date.”

In an affidavit sworn by Esther Eyisi, a secretary at the law firm, she alleged that officers arrested Speed Darlington on October 4, 2024. This was over allegations of defaming Burna Boy.

She stated that the police detained him illegally for five days. During these days, he endured severe torture and maltreatment without being formally charged in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Eyisi further revealed that the police eventually granted the artiste bail after subjecting him to inhumane conditions for five days.

On November 27, 2024, Eyisi claimed, officers of the respondent arrested and detained Speed Darlington again, accusing him of jumping administrative bail.

She asserted that this arrest occurred despite her client notifying the officers of a medical emergency, his inability to report on the scheduled date, and obtaining their permission to travel to Owerri, Imo State, for a performance.

Eyisi argued that the continuous detention of Speed Darlington without arraignment violated his constitutional rights. She emphasized his role as the “breadwinner” of his family and called the detention unjust and unlawful.

Check out more news updates here.

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MOVIES

Funke Akindele Breaks Records Again As “Everybody Loves Jenifa” Surpasses ₦1 Billion In 12 Days

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Everybody Loves Jenifa Surpasses ₦1 Billion In 12 Days | fab.ng

The latest cinematic triumph by Funke Akindele, “Everybody Loves Jenifa,” has shattered box office records, surpassing the ₦1 billion mark in 12 days.

This unprecedented feat, achieved within two weeks, sets a new standard of success in Nollywood, a milestone many can only aspire to.

This achievement, however, is not a stroke of luck for the multi-talented actress, producer, and entrepreneur.

Akindele consistently dominates the Nigerian box office, as evidenced by her impressive track record.

Last year, her film “A Tribe Called Judah” made history as the first Nollywood film to cross the ₦1 billion threshold. Further, this solidified her reign as the undisputed queen of the big screen.

With “Everybody Loves Jenifa,” Funke Akindele unequivocally demonstrates that her success is not a fleeting phenomenon but a consistent pattern.

She has proven that she can replicate her triumphs repeatedly, shattering expectations and defying limitations.

The anticipation surrounding “Everybody Loves Jenifa” was palpable even before its official release. At an exhibitor soiree preceding the premiere, Akindele confidently made a bold proclamation, foreshadowing the film’s imminent success.

“I have faith that this film will make ₦5 billion,” she said.

While some may have initially dismissed her ambitions as overly ambitious, her resounding success has silenced all doubters.

A cursory glance at the list of Nollywood’s highest-grossing films reveals a recurring name: Funke Akindele. From “Omo Ghetto: The Saga” to “Battle on Buka Street” and now “Everybody Loves Jenifa,” she consistently reigns supreme at the box office.

This commercial success can be attributed to her unique ability to seamlessly blend humour, compelling drama, and relatable narratives into her films.

Furthermore, Akindele continually demonstrates her ability to evolve and adapt. Whether it’s through the enduring popularity of her iconic character Jenifa, her skilful assembly of all-star casts, or her innovative marketing strategies, she has mastered the art of staying relevant and captivating audiences across all age groups.

The “Jenifa” franchise transcends the realm of a mere movie series; it has become a cultural movement.

Jenifa, Akindele’s beloved character, first captivated the hearts of viewers in “Jenifa’s Diary,” a hit television series that delivered a potent blend of humour and life lessons.

With “Everybody Loves Jenifa,” Akindele has elevated her iconic character to new heights, crafting a narrative that is both side-splittingly funny and profoundly heartwarming.

Check out more movie updates here.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Police Deny Knowledge & Investigation Of VeryDarkMan’s Missing N180m

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VeryDarkMan missing N180m: Police deny investigating | fab.ng

Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, sparked a social media frenzy on Friday when he announced that his NGO’s account had been hacked, resulting in the theft of ₦180 million.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has stated that it does not know about the missing ₦180 million from his non-governmental organisation’s bank account, as reported on its website.

In an Instagram video, VeryDarkMan explained that the hackers had compromised the account and left only ₦20 million after making away with the substantial sum.

He detailed the incident, expressing his shock and disappointment at the breach.

I’ve not been myself these past few days.

Somebody hacked into the NGO website, and ₦180 million is missing. Thankfully, we’ve tracked the person, and one suspect has been arrested.

The account is now on PND (Post No Debit). There’s ₦20 million left, while ₦160 million was diverted. We’re heading to Jos to recover the money.

He stated that the incident had been reported to the police, who are actively working to recover the stolen funds.

However, when contacted on Saturday, FCT Police Command spokesperson Josephine Adeh clarified that the command does not know the case. Adeh firmly emphasised this point in her response.

The FCT Police Command is not aware of any case involving VDM’s missing funds and is not conducting any investigation into it.

The individual in question should be contacted to clarify where the matter was reported, as there is no record of such a case with the FCT Police Command.

Social media users have widely challenged VeryDarkMan’s account theft claims, expressing doubts about the reported ₦180 million loss.

The FCT Police Command’s statement denying knowledge of the incident has intensified public scrutiny of Otse’s allegations.

Online commentators have specifically questioned the origin and documentation of the funds. Also, they have questioned the technical details of the alleged cyber attack.

Check out more entertainment news updates here.

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