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CSCS Recognized for Promoting Wellbeing of People with Intellectual Disabilities

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L-R: Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Central Securities Clearing System Plc receiving the Golisano Health Leadership Award 2020 from John Momoh, chairman Channels Television.
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Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, Nigeria’s capital market infrastructure, bagged the prestigious Golisano Health Leadership Award 2020, a premium recognition of its significant contributions to Special Olympics’ Health programmes and the promotion of equal access to healthcare, wellness, and fitness for people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) in Nigeria.

The Golisano Health Leadership Award is the highest honour that Special Olympics awards to health partners who are on the frontlines of bringing essential health care services to people with Intellectual Disabilities.

Commenting on the award, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, the Chief Executive Officer of CSCS Plc, who received the award said: “this award is a great honour, a privileged recognition of our commitment to human welfare, especially amongst one of the most important segments of the society, people with intellectual disabilities, who have consistently made this country proud through their dedication to excellence.

“Being an integral part of our business sustainability principles, we take seriously our social responsibility, as we believe in the mutual prosperity of our communities.

“We would continue to invest in the socio-economic wellbeing of our society, with particular interest in ensuring everyone, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity, race as well as physical and intellectual ability, has access to basic and required healthcare.”

Mr. Jalo-Waziri added that, “People with intellectual disabilities are an important part of our society and we must give them equal opportunity and indeed all relevant support to fulfill their aspirations.

“We are proud of the Special Olympics and we would sustain our partnership with this incredible not-for-profit organization which is uplifting the standards of living of people with intellectual disabilities, helping to discover their unique capabilities, providing the platform for realizing their dreams and giving hope to these specially talented fellows in the society.

“The well-documented successes of the Special Olympics are impressive, and it is a pride to be part of this humanitarian service to our society.

“We will continue to promote inclusion and acceptance of individuals with intellectual disabilities, as they deserve to be valued, respected, and fully integrated into all aspects of our social and economic institutions.

“This award is a call to service, not just for CSCS Plc to do more but to also encourage our partners, stakeholders and indeed everyone in our network to support healthcare and general wellbeing of people in our society, especially those with intellectual disabilities and other similar limitations. I use this opportunity to thank the Board of Directors of CSCS Plc, whose leadership and oversight remain the bedrock of our partnership with Special Olympics”.

The Golisano Health Leadership Awards were launched in September 2016 to recognize individuals and organizations that further the cause of Special Olympics and improve access to health care, fitness, and wellness programmes for people with intellectual disabilities. The awards are Special Olympics’ highest honour for health partners. Honourees are individuals and organizations that are shining examples of how health programmes can be successfully implemented in communities.

The Awards recognize their extensive work and progress for: increasing access to essential health care, improving the health of people with intellectual disabilities, and advancing the year-round health work of Special Olympics.

CSCS is at the forefront of giving back to the society and making positive contributions in the community. The company launched the “Care for the Littles Heroes” in 2015, an initiative aimed at reaching out to children living with various disabilities.


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Nigeria’s Digital Economy Sector Attracts $191m FDI

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Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy
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Dr. Bosun Tijjani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy,has said that Nigeria’s Communications and Digital Economy sector attracted $191 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2024, a ninefold increase from $22 million in the first quarter of 2023.

Nigeria’s Digital Economy Sector Attracts $191m FDI

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy

Speaking on the massive growth the sector has witnessed under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr Tijjani revealed plans for a $2 billion initiative to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure nationwide, beginning from the fourth quarter of 2025.

The Minister disclosed these during an interview for an upcoming State House documentary marking President Tinubu’s second anniversary.

Dr Tijani, who also highlighted the sector’s workforce development, driven by the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, revealed plans for a $2 billion initiative to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic infrastructure nationwide, starting in Q4 2025.

“These foundational reforms, coupled with advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the startup ecosystem, have positioned Nigeria as a global leader in the digital economy,” Tijani stated.

Comparing FDI inflows, Dr Tijjani said, “In Q1 2023, the sector had about $22 million; by Q1 2024, with this administration well underway, we reached $191 million. The trend continued in Q2, increasing from $25 million in 2023 to $114 million in 2024.”

According to the Minister, the 3MTT programme, launched in October 2023 to create a tech-savvy workforce, has already trained over 117,000 Nigerians in digital skills, surpassing its initial target of 30,000.

“By last year, we had already moved that to over 117,000. With an additional 35,000 in training, the programme is nearing 10% of its 3 million goal. And in the rest of the time in office, we hope to reach the 3 million,” he said.

A statement issued by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the President, on the soon to be aired interviewed with Dr. Tijjani conveyed the Minister’s celebrations of Nigeria’s ranking among the world’s top 60 countries for AI readiness and developing a homegrown large language model (LLM).

He also highlighted the launch of the AI Collective platform, supported by leading partners including Pierre Omidyar, Google, and Microsoft, to foster collaboration and innovation in artificial intelligence.

For the first time in the country, the ministry has funded 55 academic researchers to explore technology applications in agriculture, healthcare, and education.

In addition, ₦300 million was invested in 10 startups using AI and blockchain to enhance agricultural productivity.

On the Nigeria Startup House in San Francisco—an initiative targeting $5 billion in startup funding—Dr. Tijani said, “Our goal is to attract $5 billion in investments for Nigerian startups, supported by the Startup Pact and Trade Desk initiatives, which will connect local tech firms to global opportunities and government procurement.”

Tijani revealed that over 500 government technologists have been trained in AI and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), and the groundbreaking Digital Economy Bill has passed its first reading in the National Assembly.

To bridge rural connectivity gaps, the Minister projected that 7,000 telecom towers would be deployed, targeting 98% nationwide coverage, adding that the Federal Executive Council had already approved the project.

He described the progress on Right-of-Way issues as a game-changer for the country, revealing that 12 states in the federation have adopted zero-rated Right-of-Way policies.

According to him, these efforts will support the National Broadband Plan’s goal of achieving 90% penetration by 2025, up from 48% in 2024.

He projected the sector’s GDP contribution to rise from 16% to 22%, stating: “If a sector can increase its contribution by three to four per cent to the GDP, we’re about to see the economic growth we’ve not seen it before. Technology allows us to bridge the gap between governments and the people.”

Dr Tijani emphasised that the government is not chasing quick wins, hence its desire for long lasting reforms that will transform the nation’s economy for generations to come.


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Falana vs Zinox, 12 Others: Again, Attorney General withdraws Fiat from Falana

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Femi Falana and Leo Stan Ekeh
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For the second time, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has withdrawn the fiat donated to Femi Falana SAN, purporting to prosecute a case against Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Technologies, and 12 others.

Femi Falana SAN,

The case, which has dragged on for many years, arose from a transaction about 13 years ago between Citadel Oracle Concept Limited, an Ibadan-based computer firm owned by an Enugu state indigene, Mr. Benjamin Joseph, and Technology Distributions Limited over the supply of computers to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), a project in which Technology Distributions fully extended credit to Citadel and which has no bearing whatsoever with Zinox and its promoter, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh.

In the latest development, the current AGF, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, in a letter dated 2nd May 2025, addressed to The Principal Partner, Falana and Falana Chambers, and signed by Mr. M. B. Abubakar, Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, directed Falana to withdraw Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/985/2024 (FRN. v. Leo Stan and 12 others), in the interest of justice; signifying that the fiat ought not to have been donated to him in the first place.

The letter titled: Withdrawal of Authorization Under Section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as Amended, reads: “I am directed to write in reference to the above caption and to inform you that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in exercise of the power conferred upon him by section 174 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended and section 106 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, has withdrawn the fiat earlier granted to you dated 20th December 2023 to prosecute the case mentioned below at the expense of the nominal complainant Mr. Joseph Benjamin: FRG V. Chris Eze Ozims and 6 others, Charge No: CR/827/2013.

“You are, accordingly, requested to withdraw Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/985/2024 between FRN v. Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 others in the interest of justice.”

The Director, Public Prosecutions of the Federation, conveyed the message of the withdrawal to the chamber of Matthew Burkka & Co., chief counsel to the defendants, via a letter dated 6th May 2025. The letter read inter alia: “You may wish to refer to the above-mentioned subject matter and be informed that the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation is in receipt of your letters dated 24th December, 2024, 27th March 2025 and 10th April 2025 respectively, requesting for the withdrawal of the fiat donated to Messrs. Femi Falana SAN dated  20th December 2023.

“I am to inform you that after a consideration of your request, the facts and circumstances of the case, the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation has withdrawn the fiat donated to Messrs. Femi Falana SAN, dated 20th December 2023 vide a letter dated 2nd May, 2025.”

It would be recalled that the former AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, had in a letter dated 28th October 2022, withdrawn a similar fiat that was donated to Femi Falana, upon his own application, on the same set of facts and allegations. Based on the withdrawal, the charges filed by Falana, pursuant to the fiat, were struck out by two justices of the FCT High Court, Abuja (Honourable Justice Christopher O. Oba, and Honourable Justice Ade. S. Adepoju)

However, upon the appointment of the current AGF and Minister of Justice, Femi Falana, again applied and got a fiat with which he filed a new case: Charge No: FCT/HC/CR/985/2024 between FRN.v. Leo Stan and 12 others, still on the same set of facts and allegations. But upon a further review of the file at the Ministry of Justice, the AGF and Minister of Justice came to the conclusion that “in the interest of justice” the fiat and the Charges filed pursuant to it should be withdrawn.

Recall that this case and its adjunct suits had been dismissed three times by three different courts. The latest dismissal was on 20th March 2025 by Justice Akpan Okon Ebong of the FCT High Court who struck out the case filed by Mr. Femi Falana SAN, against the Chairman of Zinox Technologies, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, and 12 others, based on the fiat (that has now been withdrawn from him.)

The other defendants, who were discharged and acquitted upon the dismissal of the Charges by the courts, are Mr. Chris Eze Ozims, Oyebode Folashade, Charles Adigwe, Obilo Onuoha, Agartha Ukoha, Anya O. Anya, Femi Dosumu, Nnenna Kalu, Admas Digital Technologies Limited, Technology Distributions Limited and Zinox Technologies Limited.

The suit No. FCT/HC/CR/985/24 filed in November 2024 by Falana on behalf of his client, Benjamin Joseph, before the Federal High Court in Abuja for the same alleged diversion of N162,247,513.80 being payment for laptop supply contract at FIRS Headquarters was dismissed.

In the certified true copy of the judgment dated 20th March, 2025, Justice Ebong ruled as follows: “It is my conclusion based on the foregoing that this charge (No. FCT/HC/CR/985/2024, Federal Republic of Nigeria v Leo Stan Ekeh and 12 ORS) constitutes a gross abuse of court process and is liable to dismissal. I accordingly hereby dismiss it.”

Justice Ebong averred: “One intriguing aspect of this matter is that none of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation of the nominal complainant’s (Mr. Joseph) numerous petitions has found merit in any of his allegations against the defendants. When called upon before Senchi J. (Justice Danlami Z. Senchi) to prove his said allegations to the court, he failed to turn up in court. One then wonders on what premise he wants to maintain this campaign of persecution against the defendants.”

Previous judgments on the matter had established that rather than being the culprit, Ekeh and the 12 others were actually the victims of a failed money diversion scheme plotted by Mr. Joseph and Citadel.

The most recent charges filed by Falana on the basis of a fiat from the Attorney General was the third in a row as Mr. Joseph had earlier filed charge no.CR/469/2022, which was struck out by Honorable Justice Christopher O. Oba of the FCT High Court, by an order dated 8th November 2022.

Justice Oba ruled: “Upon hearing the counsel for both the Prosecution and the Defendants in court, the basis for which the law firm of Femi Falana filed the present charge is the authority gotten from the Attorney General of the Federation. The said authority has been withdrawn, there is legally no basis for the present charge before this court. Therefore, this charge is hereby struck out.”

Determined to push through his case, Mr Joseph  filed the same charges before Honorable Justice Ade S. Adepoju of the FCT High Court, and the charges were, once again, struck out by the Honorable Court on 19th March 2024, with Honorable Justice Adepoju holding that: “This matter was brought in dead, extinct and should be confined into the dustbin of history…I hold that the instant suit is an abuse of the process of court and it is hereby struck out accordingly.”

It will be recalled that in his petition to the police in 2013, it was discovered by police authorities that Mr. Joseph provided false information to the police, prompting the Inspector General of Police to charge him for false information in charge no.CR/216/16.

In another case filed by the EFCC, at his instance against his partner, Princess Kama, in charge no. FCT/HC/CR/244/2018,  Honorable Justice Danlami Z. Senchi of the FCT High Court (as he then was), dismissed as false all the allegations made by Benjamin Joseph, and imposed the sum of N20 million as damages against him for false petitioning in relation to these same allegations.


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Nigerian Judges Pledge to Uphold Global Digital Rights Standards in Ikot Ekpene Declaration

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Judges of the Federal High Court and National Industrial Court in Nigeria have committed to upholding global digital rights standards by endorsing the Ikot Ekpene Declaration.

The move, aimed at strengthening justice in the digital age, was announced following a workshop on digital rights and cyber governance held in Akwa Ibom.

The workshop, titled “Upholding Justice in the Digital Age: Strengthening Judicial Capacity on Digital Rights and Cyber Governance,” was organized by Paradigm Initiative with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the STANDS Project.

It brought together judicial leaders, officials from the National Human Rights Commission, and the National Judicial Institute to address legal gaps and enforcement challenges in the digital space.

Speaking at the event, Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, emphasized the need for the judiciary to adapt to the evolving digital landscape while maintaining constitutional principles.

‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, underscored the judiciary’s critical role in digital governance, noting that “the marriage between digital opportunities and economies is strengthened by judicial oversight.” He called on judges to recognize emerging digital challenges as technology advances.

Senior Officer for Anglophone West Africa, Khadijah El-Usman, also highlighted the importance of judicial engagement in digital rights protection, commending the Netherlands Embassy for supporting the initiative.

The Ikot Ekpene Declaration outlines key recommendations for judicial officers, including ensuring clarity in judicial reasoning, upholding human rights principles, expanding access to justice for vulnerable groups, and advancing the digitalization of the judiciary.

With growing concerns over privacy, cyber regulations, and digital manipulation, Nigerian judges are stepping up efforts to align justice delivery with global best practices, ensuring that digital rights remain protected within the framework of the law.


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