One of the buses was successfully attacked, while the second managed to escape. ArticlesRead More
One of the buses was successfully attacked, while the second managed to escape. ArticlesRead More
Appeal Court Strikes Out Nnamdi Kanu’s Rights Violation Suit Against DSS DG, AGF
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by convicted IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, over alleged violations of his fundamental rights while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). The appellate court ruled that the matter had become academic following Kanu’s November 20 conviction for terrorism and subsequent transfer to prison custody.
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal held that Kanu’s claims, ranging from alleged breaches of his rights to human dignity, quality healthcare and freedom of religion, could no longer be entertained after his conviction and life imprisonment sentence issued by a Federal High Court.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Moses Ugo stated that the issues raised in the appeal had lost relevance once Kanu’s counsel, Maxwell Opara, confirmed at the start of proceedings that his client was now being held in the Sokoto prison facility. The court noted that it could no longer grant Kanu’s request to be moved from DSS detention to Kuje prison since he was no longer in DSS custody.
Justice Ugo further explained that Kanu had previously expressed preference for prison custody and that, having now been convicted and confined to the facility he desired, his appeal seeking relocation had been overtaken by events.
The decision arose from Kanu’s challenge to a July 3 judgment delivered by now-retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which dismissed his fundamental rights enforcement suit for lack of proof.
The Director General of the DSS, the DSS itself and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) were listed as respondents in the appeal.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by convicted IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, over alleged violations of his fundamental rights while in the custody of
Read moreWARDC Calls for Stronger Laws, Digital Safety, Others for Women
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has reiterated its commitment to ending technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV) in Nigeria by strengthening survivor support, expanding digital safety education, and pushing for gender-responsive cyber laws and enforcement.
It said digital violence is real and it is growing with women and girls across Nigeria experiencing harassment, stalking, non-consensual image sharing, doxxing and other forms of abuse that undermine their safety, freedom of expression and participation in public life.
In a statement marking the 2025 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence under the global theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” Acting Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode said WARDC recognises that the internet and social media are not gender-neutral, and that addressing TF-GBV requires legal reform, capacity building for institutions, and community-level prevention and response.
To curb the menace, she revealed that the centre is open to rendering survivor-centered digital support services that includes investment in hotlines, evidence preservation protocols, free legal aid and psychosocial care tailored to TF-GBV victims.
She said it will also add capacity building for law enforcement, judiciary and regulators so complaints of online abuse are investigated promptly, evidence is preserved correctly, and survivors are protected from secondary victimisation.
Others are: “Platform accountability and industry cooperation: social media and tech platforms must implement faster, transparent reporting and takedown procedures, and provide safer defaults for women and girls.
“Sustained public education to shift social norms that normalize online harassment and to teach digital safety to girls and young women at schools and in communities.
“Digital spaces should expand women’s rights, not curtail them. During these 16 Days of Activism we call on government, tech companies, civil society and communities to UNiTE in ending all forms of violence against women, online and offline. Survivors need law, policy and practice that recognises the harms of digital violence and delivers justice swiftly.”
She also encouraged members of the public to report incidents of online abuse to WARDC’s legal team and partner hotlines with preserve evidence (screenshots, URLs, timestamps).
Meanwhile, WARDC has delivered digital security and online-safety trainings for women activists, survivors and community groups, and is working with partners to equip women with tools to protect themselves online and to document incidents for redress.
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has reiterated its commitment to ending technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV) in Nigeria by strengthening survivor support, expanding digital safety
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