A court in Nigeria sentences a top militant leader to 15 years on terror charges

A court in Nigeria on Thursday sentenced a top militant leader of an al-Qaida-linked group on the country's most-wanted list to 15 years in prison for illegal mining and using the proceeds to fund terror attacks.

Mahmud Muhammad Usman, who headed the Ansaru group, had pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in illegal mining to procure arms for his militant group. It was the first conviction on a total of 32 charges brought against him by the Nigerian government.

Usman will remain in the custody of the Nigerian secret police while his trial continues. The other charges mostly include other counts of terrorism and the handling of illegal arms.

Usman was arrested last month along with fellow militant leader Mahmud al-Nigeri in an operation involving several Nigerian law enforcement agencies.

Usman's group is accused of carrying out the 2022 attack on a prison in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, that saw nearly 900 inmates escape, including dozens of Ansaru members. The group is also said to have been behind the attack on Niger's uranium facility in 2013.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, faces multiple security threats with dozens of armed groups taking advantage of the limited security presence in the rural communities to carry out attacks on villages and along major roads.

Despite military assaults on the groups, they have continued to expand their operations and carry out routine attacks. This year, Boko Haram has mounted a major resurgence.

The United States recently approved a potential $346 million weapons sale to the country that authorities have said will boost the fight against insecurity.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Nigeria Moves to Build Solar Manufacturing Industry, But Reliance on China is Inevitable

Nigeria imported Chinese solar panels last year with a combined capacity of 1,721 megawatts (MW)- enough to power roughly half a million homes.

The country now ranks as Africa’s second-largest importer, trailing only South Africa and ahead of Morocco and Algeria.

In the long run, however, the outlook may shift despite the Nigerian government’s decision earlier this year to step back from a proposed ban on solar panel imports. The halt was intended to give time to refine the policy, emphasizing joint ventures, tariff adjustments, and capacity building as tools to support local industry rather than imposing an abrupt ban.

The international consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers advised the Nigerian government to implement a gradual phase-down of imports over three to five years, a move it says would give domestic manufacturers the space to scale production, meet demand, and put in place strong quality control systems.

And now, some Nigerian and Chinese companies are moving to establish local solar panel manufacturing, a strategy aimed at addressing some of the issues related to expanding energy access and creating jobs.

Tranos, a Nigerian energy firm, broke ground over the summer on an 800-MW solar panel factory, one of the largest in West Africa. The plant is expected to initially employ 160 people, with the workforce projected to grow to 400 within two years.

In a similar push, China’s Hunan Red Sun, working with Nigeria’s IRS Group, plans to build a 600-MW solar panel plant in Kano State that will produce components, supply equipment, and develop power stations.

And since 2023, the Nigerian government has partnered with China Great Wall Industry Corporation to establish a solar cell production facility in Gora, a region rich in silicon and silica, the key raw materials for solar cell manufacturing.

This marks not only a key step in Nigeria’s efforts to localize the production of renewable energy equipment but also progress in moving up the manufacturing value chain.

However, the reality is that the solar panel manufacturing business requires substantial quantities of water, energy, and skilled labor. The Chinese companies have perfected the solar panel value chain and heavily automated the processes.

This means that since most solar panel building operations are concentrated in China, local manufacturing will still be heavily dependent on Chinese entities and will be difficult to localize in Nigeria.

Nicola Licata, a Shanghai-based environmental social governance (ESG) project manager, notes, “Logistics will be an issue for all of these African countries because supply chains for upstream wafer, ingot, poly, MGS, and quartz are still anchored in China to a huge degree.”

While Nigeria may have some of the skilled labor needed for solar manufacturing, it lacks a reliable and accessible water supply needed for large-scale manufacturing due to poor management and inadequate infrastructure.

In addition, as Nigeria builds new factories, Chinese companies are also looking to set up manufacturing operations outside China. Their goals include cutting transportation and labor costs and sidestepping U.S. sanctions — potentially creating additional competition for local firms.

Despite all the advantages local manufacturing has, Licata notes, “Overall, I’d say African manufacturing will be limited to downstream module for a long time because it’s being used to avoid tariffs for finished product exports and definitely because of the energy and water resources issue.”

“Chinese manufacturers’ interest in using African nations as a non-China or non-Southeast Asia location is meant to avoid tariffs,” she added. “But also has the potential to evaporate given whichever way Trump and the EU go,” said Licata.

However, for Tobi Oshodi, a lecturer at Lagos State University, producing locally is preferable to importing everything because it creates more employment and improves local skill development.

“And if you like, in an increasingly complicated world, it gives you some level of independence. What gives you the impression is that China is thinking of having a system that would be more reliant on the Chinese economy itself than on the outside world and things like that… So if that is the ultimate goal, what happens if there is a Chinese Donald Trump, for example, that just wants to cut off and isolate itself from the continent?”

“And in an increasingly complicated world, this gives you a degree of independence. It suggests that China is aiming to build a system more reliant on its own economy than on the outside world. If that is indeed the ultimate goal, what happens if one day there is a ‘Chinese Donald Trump’, a leader who chooses to cut off ties and isolate China from the continent?”

In such a scenario, Oshodi says that only countries that have built some of this local capacity that the policy envisions will survive.

With more companies setting up, he also advocates for Chinese companies to invest more locally, “so that you can get more profit than your counterparts in China that really want to continue importing.”As local manufacturing begins to take shape, more than one-third of Nigerians still lack access to electricity. Frequent grid collapses make power supply unreliable, which in turn makes both solar panel manufacturing and imports appealing alternatives.

By Njenga Hakeenah, China Global South Project

Ex-NNPC official convicted in US over $2.1 million bribery scandal

A United States judge has found Paulinus Okoronkwo, a Nigerian lawyer based in Los Angeles, guilty of receiving a $2.1 million bribe from a Chinese oil company to secure drilling rights in Nigeria.

He was said to have accepted the bribe while serving as an official of the state-owned oil firm, NNPC, now NNPC Ltd.

Mr Okoronkwo, 58, also known as “Pollie,” was found guilty of three counts of money laundering, one count of tax evasion, and one count of obstruction of justice.

The verdict was delivered on 29 August after a four-day trial in California.

Prosecutors told the court that Mr Okoronkwo, a dual US-Nigerian citizen, collected the payment in 2015 while serving as general manager of the upstream division of the NNPC. In that role, he was a public officer and owed a duty of loyalty to Nigeria’s government, the court said.

In October 2015, Addax Petroleum, a Swiss subsidiary of Chinese state-owned oil giant Sinopec, paid a bribe to Mr Okoronkwo in exchange for his influence in securing more favourable financial terms relating to its crude oil drilling in Nigeria, the court ruled.

Evidence showed that Addax wired the funds to a trust account in the name of Mr Okoronkwo’s Los Angeles law firm under the guise of legal consultancy.

Prosecutors described the agreement as a sham designed to cover up the bribe.

Addax was seeking to protect its lucrative drilling rights in Nigeria, which prosecutors said were worth billions of dollars.

In an attempt to cover up the bribe, Addax fired executives who raised concerns about the payment’s legitimacy and lied about the transaction during an audit, the court said.

Investigators revealed that in November 2017, Mr Okoronkwo used $983,200 of the illegally obtained funds to make a down payment on a house in Valencia, California, and failed to declare the money on his 2015 tax returns.

Then in 2022, he lied to federal agents, insisting the money was client funds and not his income.

US District Judge John F. Walter has scheduled 1 December for a sentencing hearing, at which time Mr Okoronkwo will face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the obstruction of justice count, and up to five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count.

Mr Okoronkwo is currently released on a $50,000 bond.

The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation led the investigation, with support from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

The case is being prosecuted by the Assistant US Attorneys Alexander Schwab, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Alexander Su of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section.

By Kabir Yusuf, Premium Times

Nigeria to decriminalize attempted suicide by December 2025

The federal government has said Nigeria is on course to decriminalise attempted suicide by December 2025, in a move designed to replace punitive laws with a health-centred approach.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Wednesday at a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Suicide Prevention Day, themed “Changing the narrative on suicide, creating hope through action.”

World Suicide Prevention Day was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in partnership with WHO.

Observed annually on 10 September, it seeks to unite communities, governments and organisations under the shared belief that suicide is preventable.

The triennial theme for 2024–2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.”

The campaign urges societies to challenge myths, break stigma and create safe spaces for compassion and dialogue. It also calls on governments to make suicide prevention and mental health care a priority in public policy.

From punishment to care

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Nigeria records an estimated 15,000 suicide deaths annually.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 720,000 people globally die by suicide every year, ranking it as the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29. Nearly three-quarters of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Lifeline International, drawing on WHO data, further highlights that for each suicide, at least 20 others attempt to take their own lives.

Applied to Nigeria, this translates to more than 300,000 people experiencing suicidal distress each year, many of whom remain without safe or supportive avenues to seek help.

The country’s sections 327 and 231 of the Criminal and Penal Codes make attempted suicide a criminal offence.

To change course, the government in October 2024 inaugurated a National

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Nigeria records an estimated 15,000 suicide deaths annually.

Taskforce on the Decriminalisation of Attempted Suicide, chaired by legal scholar, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe.

The taskforce was mandated to guide the country’s transition to a more compassionate, public health-oriented response.

Mr Pate, represented at the event by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said significant progress had been recorded since the taskforce began work.

“A government white paper has been finalised to guide national policy, while a draft amendment to the National Mental Health Act 2021, now the National Mental Health Amendment Bill 2025, proposes the repeal of punitive provisions in the Criminal and Penal Codes,” he said.

The draft bill also seeks to bar the prosecution of suicide survivors and provide for care and psychosocial support.

Next steps

According to Mr Pate, the draft bill has been adopted as the official position of the ministry and is undergoing statutory review with the Attorney-General of the Federation.

He added that the next stage will be presenting a memo to the Federal Executive Council for transmission of an Executive Bill to the National Assembly.

“The evidence is clear; increasing public awareness, early identification of warning signs, access to quality mental health care, and community support can reduce suicide rates. This reform is both urgent and necessary,” he said.

A growing concern

Daju Kachollom, in her opening remarks delivered on her behalf by the Director of Port Health Services, Nse Akpan, admitted that suicide cases are under-reported in Nigeria but remain a growing concern.

Ms Kachollom noted that criminalising suicide attempts does not save lives. Rather, it worsens stigma and discourages people from reaching out for help.

She stressed the ministry’s determination to pursue a more humane response to mental health emergencies.

The National Coordinator of the National Mental Health Programme, Tunde Ojo, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment, noting that those struggling with suicidal thoughts require compassion, not punishment.
Support from partners

In a goodwill message, the Vice President of Integration and Nigeria Country Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Olufunke Fasawe, noted that Nigeria is among top countries with high suicide cases.

Represented by Chizoba Fashanu, Director of Infectious Diseases, Essential Medicines, Mental Health and Commodities Access at CHAI, she said the initiative has worked with the government for nearly two decades and, in the last two years, has supported innovative mental health programmes focusing on depression, anxiety, and suicide management.

By Fortune Eromonsele, Premium Times

Decomposing body found at Nigeria’s National Assembly

A decomposing body of a man, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was discovered in a car parked outside the annexe gate of the National Assembly complex.

Multiple sources said the deceased was one of the labourers working at a construction site within the annexe.

The body was found in a red Peugeot 406 with registration number BWR-577 BF at about 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. It was first evacuated to the National Assembly Clinic before being taken to Asokoro General Hospital, where doctors confirmed him dead.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed the incident, saying an investigation had commenced into the incident.

In a statement on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the remains had been deposited at the Asokoro General Hospital while efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death were underway.

She explained that the command received a distress call about the incident and immediately mobilised officers to the scene.

“The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), National Assembly Division, immediately responded to the call and, upon arrival, discovered the deceased inside a red Peugeot 406 motor vehicle with registration number BWR-577 BF.

“The body was promptly evacuated to Asokoro General Hospital, where medical personnel confirmed that it was already in an advanced state of decomposition,” she said.

Mrs Adeh noted that the commissioner of police had ordered a discreet investigation into the incident and directed that efforts be intensified to establish the deceased’s identity.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, has ordered a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. He directed that efforts be intensified to establish the identity of the deceased. Further updates will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” she said.

Recurring security breaches

Security lapses at the National Assembly have long been a contentious issue. Despite being the heart of Nigeria’s democracy and one of the most guarded facilities in the country, the complex has witnessed repeated breaches.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported how thieves carted away manhole covers within the complex, a situation showing its security vulnerabilities.

The National Assembly is manned by multiple security outfits, including the Nigeria Police Force, the State Security Service (SSS), and the Sergeant-at-Arms, a parliamentary security unit. Officers of these agencies are stationed at strategic points around the premises, yet criminals have continued to exploit lapses.

Beyond stolen manhole covers, there have been cases of vehicle theft, missing valuables from offices such as television sets, air conditioners, electrical cables, and wires. Despite reviewing CCTV footage, security operatives have yet to apprehend the culprits.

By Abdulqudus Ogundapo, Premium Times