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Omoyele Sowore appears at the Federal High Court in Abuja after being granted ₦200 million bail in his alleged cybercrime case.

Federal High Court grants Sowore ₦200m bail with strict conditions in alleged cybercrime case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted ₦200 million bail to African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, who is facing alleged cybercrime charges. In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore to produce two sureties. One must be a traditional ruler from his community, while the other must own landed property in Abuja. The court also directed the prosecution to verify both sureties. As part of the bail conditions, Sowore was ordered to surrender his international passport to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial. The judge released the defendant to his lawyers and adjourned proceedings until Monday, July 6, when the court is expected to begin hearing Sowore’s defence. The ruling comes after the court earlier ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre while considering his application for a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him. Justice Umar had also dismissed Sowore’s application seeking his recusal from the case over allegations of bias. The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over allegations that he made false claims about Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts. The case will resume on July 6 for the opening of the defence.

Air Peace aircraft after landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport with 271 evacuated Nigerians from South Africa.

BREAKING: Evacuated Nigerians return from South Africa as 271 arrive in Lagos

Another batch of evacuated Nigerians has arrived in Lagos from South Africa as the Federal Government continues its emergency evacuation programme. According to Channels Television, an Air Peace flight carrying about 271 evacuees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly before 11 a.m. on Tuesday. The latest return follows the government’s decision to evacuate Nigerians amid tensions and anti-migrant protests in parts of South Africa. Authorities have yet to provide further details on the condition of the returnees or the next phase of the evacuation exercise. More information is expected as officials address the arrival of the evacuees.

South Africa anti-migrant protests intensify as unofficial deadline triggers unrest

South African police were deployed across major cities on Tuesday as anti-migrant protests gathered momentum following an unofficial deadline set by citizen-led groups demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country. According to AFP, as published by Channels Television, officers were deployed to prevent violence, looting and xenophobic attacks, while hundreds of foreign nationals sought refuge or assistance to return to their home countries. Business activity was disrupted in several areas, with many shops remaining closed and security personnel patrolling Johannesburg as commuters travelled to work. In Durban, protesters dressed in traditional Zulu attire marched while chanting slogans calling for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. Police closely monitored the demonstrations to prevent clashes. The protests have been organised by a coalition of small political parties and citizen groups that analysts say have built a strong social media presence, despite concerns over the spread of misinformation. Recent weeks have seen deadly anti-immigrant violence, with at least four foreign nationals, including Mozambicans, an Ethiopian and a Malawian, reported killed. Several African governments have since arranged flights and buses to evacuate their citizens. South Africa continues to attract migrants from across the continent despite high unemployment, rising crime and deteriorating public services. Labour analyst Dale McKinley said migration had become “politically weaponised” ahead of the country’s local government elections scheduled for November. Thousands of foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans and Malawians, have gathered outside consulates and collection points in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg awaiting transport home. Some said they lost their jobs or accommodation amid fears of violence and possible penalties for employing undocumented migrants. March and March movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the June 30 mobilisation marked the start of a nationwide campaign calling for the deportation of undocumented migrants but insisted the group was not encouraging violence. The South African government has mounted a major security operation to prevent a repeat of the deadly July 2021 unrest, which left about 350 people dead during widespread rioting and looting. President Cyril Ramaphosa has also announced tougher measures to combat illegal immigration while urging traditional leaders to help calm tensions. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli warned that authorities would not allow the province to descend into violence, stressing that legitimate concerns over undocumented migration must not result in xenophobic attacks. The current crisis marks one of the largest coordinated repatriation efforts by African governments in response to anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.

NYSC reforms introduce 11 specialised streams, six-week orientation

The Federal Government has approved sweeping reforms to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), introducing 11 specialised career streams, extending the orientation programme to six weeks, and restructuring how corps members are trained and deployed. According to The PUNCH, the reforms were approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday, marking the first comprehensive review of the 53-year-old scheme since its establishment in 1973. Speaking after the FEC meeting in Abuja, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the revamped orientation programme will now run for six weeks and be divided into three phases. The first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership development. The second phase will cover career mapping, financial literacy, business planning and access to finance, alongside a structured career day that will connect corps members with employers and other stakeholders. The final two weeks will provide specialised training based on each corps member’s selected career stream, academic background and skills. Under the new framework, corps members will choose one of 11 specialised streams during registration. They include Agric Corps, Medical Corps, Education Corps, Tech and Digital Corps, Legal Corps, Public Service Corps, Infrastructure Corps, Green Corps, Enterprise Corps, Creative Economy Corps, and Paramilitary and Security Corps. Officials said the specialised streams are intended to equip graduates with practical, career-focused skills that align with Nigeria’s workforce needs. The reforms also introduce a more security-conscious deployment process, with postings taking into account prevailing security conditions across the country. In another major change, the NYSC will now be led by a civilian, while the military will continue providing security at orientation camps nationwide. The government also approved a redesigned NYSC uniform aimed at reflecting professionalism and national pride. In addition, the traditional Passing Out Parade will be replaced with a graduation ceremony, while orientation camps nationwide will be assessed under a new grading and certification system to improve standards. The Federal Executive Council has directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to amend the NYSC Act and relevant regulations to provide legal backing for the reforms.