Vice-President Kashim Shettima has apologised for asking lawmakers to elect a Christian Senate President for the 10th National Assembly.

Ahead of the election, Shettima said: “Under the current dispensation, the worst incompetent Southern Christian is better than the most puritanical Northern Muslim for the Presidency of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

His comments stirred up controversy and outrage, especially on social media and among the Muslim community.

However, speaking with BBC Hausa, Shettima insisted his comments were misinterpreted and that he had no intention of defaming his religion.

He said, “The comment I made is for the benefit of Nigeria but was misinterpreted. I received confidential intelligence reports that are not suitable for public disclosure.

“I sincerely did not have any intention to cause harm to any individual or the Islamic religion. However, being an imperfect human being, I seek forgiveness from the community and from my Lord. I pledge that I will never reiterate such words again, as I am a devout Muslim, and my family lineage has faithfully followed the path of Islam for more than 1,400 years.

“To anyone who was hurt by my statement, I apologise, as it was never my intention to disparage any religion.”

Godswill Akpabio, a Christian from Akwa-Ibom North-West, has since been elected as Senate President.

Boko Haram terrorists have killed nine farmers at Bulaburin Ngron Ngron near Kayamla, a village located few kilometers away from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno.

Our source from the Civilian Joint Task Force said the terrorists attacked the community around 11:00 am,  Thursday.

He said the farmers were found dropped butchered by the terrorists.

According to him, four farmers were also yet to be found.

It is not clear if they were kidnapped or have escaped.

While other two victims sustained a high degree of knife injuries.

‘The dead bodies were buried this evening and those who sustained injuries were taken to the hospital by the military for treatment,’ the source said.

Lt. Col. AY Jingina, Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations at headquarters 07 Division who responded to our reporter’s message this night said he just came back from an official trip from Gwoza and he is not aware of the incident.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) and its Director General to immediately grant the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, unrestricted access to his lawyers and family members.

Justice Hamza Muazu gave the order on Friday, following an application by J.B. Daudu, counsel to Emefiele.

it can be recalls that Emefiele was arrested by DSS on Saturday, following his suspension by President Bola Tinubu on Friday evening.

His counsel had informed the court that he had written letters to the DSS, particularly on June 14, for the purpose of taking further instructions from him, but the DSS has refused to respond to the application.

In ruling on the application, Justice Muazu said it is within Emefiele’s constitutional rights to have access to his lawyers and family members.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his party will on Thursday, June 22 close their case in their joint petition challenging the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

The petitioners, according to a pre-hearing report were supposed to close their case on Tuesday but their lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) brought to the notice of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that they lost two days out of the days allotted to them and asked that the two days be returned.

The petitioners, who told the court during the pre-hearing session that they would call 100 witnesses, have only presented 25 witnesses so far.

Speaking with newsmen, Counsel to the petitioners said, they might call additional five witnesses to have a round figure of 30 witnesses.

Uche said some of the documents to be tendered in the remaining two days would take the place of the remaining 70 witnesses.

“We are closing our case on Thursday, it was supposed to end today (Tuesday) but because we lost two days, one of which was the June 12 public holiday, the court graciously extended our time by two dafa”, Uche told newsmen after the proceedings.

Earlier in the proceedings, the petitioners lamented the difficulties encountered in getting Certified True Copies (CTC) of documents out of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of their joint petition challenging Tinubu’s election.

At the resumed hearing of the petition, Counsel to Atiku and his party told the court that, getting materials from INEC is like getting weapons from an opponent.

He told the Court that getting documents from INEC was very difficult, but commended the legal team of the electoral body, headed by Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for their assistance in getting some of the documents from INEC.

Uche applied for a stand-down in the proceedings to enable the petitioners mark the deluge of documents made available to them Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, counsel to INEC, Kemi Pinhero (SAN) told the court in his submissions that INEC officials brought the documents from all over the country and that the petitioners are yet to pay for the certification of the documents.

He said it was incumbent on the petitioners to prepare a schedule of documents they wish to tender.

The court rose for about ten minutes to enable parties in the petition put heads together and find a way forward with the documents.

When parties reconvened, Uche reported to the court that they have agreed that the petitioners go back with the documents, prepare a schedule of documents and mark them for tendering on Wednesday.

The five-member panel of Justices of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned till Wednesday, June 21 for the continuation of hearing in the petition.

A state of emergency over passport issues in the nation was declared on Friday by Caroline Adepoju, acting comptroller general of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Adepoju stated that there was a pressing need to solve the issues Nigerians encounter in getting international passports during her business visit to Lagos.

According to a release from the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr. Tony Akuneme, the acting CGI officially opened the Murtala Muhammed International Airport’s state-of-the-art Visa-on-Arrival Lounge.

READ MORE: Immigration release names of shortlisted candidates

The NIS director utilized the occasion to make an extensive plan of action to adequately address the problems public.

She said that the facility was evidence of the NIS’s dedication to enhancing travelers’ overall travel experiences while entering Nigeria.

She claims that the proclamation of a state of emergency on passport-related matters represents a renewed commitment on the part of NIS to address the problems encountered by Nigerians trying to get passports.

“It represents a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritise efficiency, transparency, and excellence in service delivery, “she said.

Adepoju directed all Passport Control Officers, relevant units and personnel, including Missions abroad, to eliminate all hindrances preventing Nigerians from accessing Passports promptly.

“NIS is leveraging technology and instituting robust administrative measures to enhance the Passport application and issuance process.

“We urge all Nigerians to remain patient and cooperate with the service as it takes decisive steps to address the Passport crisis,” she said.

Former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Makurdi, the state’s capital, to begin his investigation.

Following an invitation from the anti-graft organization, Ortom visited the EFCC’s office on Tuesday.

Around 10:08am, the former governor, who traveled in his personal SUV, arrived at the EFCC headquarters in the old GRA district of Makurdi.

He was later joined by his two former aides including Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase and his Principal Special Assistant, Abraham Kwaghgu.

The former Governor was still at the office of the law enforcement agency as of the time of filing this report.

President Bola Tinubu has declared that candidates who are unable to concede defeat in the last general elections do not deserve the joy of victory when they eventually win in subsequent polls.

The President, who made the declaration in his Democracy Day Nationwide Broadcast, admitted that the 2023 presidential election was intensely contested, attributing the outcome to the country’s improving democracy.

According to Tinubu, “the beauty of democracy is that those who win election today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round.”

He pointed out that those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are currently “taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man”.

The President described as natural the disappointment expressed by politicians who were not favoured by the outcome of the February and March elections.