
Supporters of human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore have accused operatives of the Department of State Services DSS of forcefully arresting and injuring him within the court premises. This incident occurred shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore to be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the determination of his application to stay an earlier order revoking his bail. The judge also dismissed Sowore's application for recusal due to alleged bias and adjourned the matter until June 24. A live video on Sowore's Facebook page reportedly showed a DSS operative grabbing and dragging him, while others prevented his loyalists from intervening. His supporters then blocked the Federal High Court Complex gates, insisting that the court's order was for remand in a correctional facility, not DSS or police custody. Agena Roberts Ande, the FCT Chairman of the African Action Congress, condemned the DSS's actions, stating they must obey the law. Sowore, who is being prosecuted by the DSS for alleged criminal defamation after reportedly describing President Bola Tinubu as "a criminal," had previously stated he was not surprised by the remand order and would be stronger upon his release.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadA senior medical doctor with the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, working in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, has died from Lassa fever complications. The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, confirmed the death on Monday in Makurdi, stating that contact tracing and surveillance measures have been activated. The deceased reportedly battled the illness for over two weeks. Dr. Ogwuche noted that the death occurred as the state was preparing to be declared free of Lassa fever. The doctor, who hailed from Kwande Local Government Area, initially declined hospital admission, requesting home management, but was later referred to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State due to kidney complications, where he subsequently died. His remains were buried according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention protocols. Following this new outbreak, the ministry has intensified public awareness campaigns and reactivated response measures. Health authorities are also on alert for other infectious disease threats like Ebola, with strengthened surveillance across health facilities. The state had nearly completed a 42-day incubation monitoring period for Lassa fever before this new case emerged, necessitating a fresh observation cycle.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Zachariah Fera-Achinyan, in charge of the Force Intelligence Department, stated that extortion, human rights abuses, and other misconduct by police personnel are signs of unprofessionalism and indiscipline. Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting in Gombe State, Fera-Achinyan noted that officers who engage in extortion often live beyond their legitimate means, citing instances where a corporal might live like a Deputy Superintendent of Police. He emphasized that professionalism requires sacrifice and contentment, and urged the public to recognize such behavior as a deviation from professional ethics. The DIG recalled a past culture of modesty within the Force, where officers were encouraged to live within their earnings. He also condemned other forms of misconduct, including drinking on duty and poor appearance, stating that a shabbily dressed officer often behaves shabbily. Addressing the manpower shortage, Fera-Achinyan acknowledged that Nigeria's police-to-population ratio falls short of the United Nations' recommendation of one officer per 400 people, with over 300,000 officers for a population exceeding 200 million. He explained that this shortfall led to the adoption of community policing strategies and assured that efforts are underway to improve the situation through ongoing recruitment, with plans to recruit 50,000 new officers. Gombe State is expected to receive 96 newly recruited officers for each of its 11 local government areas.

Canada's year-on-year inflation reached 3.2 percent in May, a 29-month high, primarily driven by elevated gasoline prices resulting from the Iran conflict. Statistics Canada reported that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz contributed to a 33.2 percent increase in pump prices compared to the previous year. Despite this, experts suggest that the overall inflation picture does not indicate an immediate widespread rise in consumer costs. Senior TD Bank economist Leslie Preston noted that oil prices have decreased since a tentative peace deal between Iran and the US, and gasoline prices are following this trend, leading to an expectation that May will be the peak for headline inflation this year. The Bank of Canada has maintained its core interest rate at 2.25 for five consecutive announcements, balancing the need to stimulate an economy affected by US tariffs with inflationary pressures from the Middle East.