The Nigeria Police Service Commission has approved the promotion of two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police to the next rank of Deputy Inspectors-General.

It also approved the promotion of six Commissioners of Police to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and the elevation of 17 Deputy Commissioners of Police to Commissioners of Police.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the commission also approved the promotion of 24 Assistant Commissioners of Police to the next rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police; 49 Chief Superintendents of Police to the rank of Assistant Commissioners.

It also endorsed the elevation of 74 Superintendents of Police to Chief Superintendents and 866 Deputy Superintendents of Police to Superintendents.

The commission took these decisions at its 13th plenary meeting which held in Abuja on Monday, December 20 and Tuesday, December 21, 2021, before it adjourned to January 2022 to continue with further deliberations.

During the meeting, the force also approved the confirmation of 7,166 ASP11 to ASP1 and considered 24 promotion appeals relating to adjustments in promotion dates, seniority, etc.

The two AIG’s promoted to DIGS are AIG Zaki M. Ahmed and AIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo.

While AIG Zaki was promoted to cover the vacant duty post that was created as a result of the retirement of DIG Tijjani Baba who retired on October 6, 2021, AIG Kokumo will be filling the gap left by DIG David Oyebanji Folawiyo who retired on November 21, 2021.

Commissioners of Police Buba Sanusi, CP, Katsina State; Ndatsu Aliyu Mohammed, CP Anti-Fraud, Force Headquarters Abuja; Bello Sani Dalijan, CP INEC; Sahabo Abubakar Yahaya, Cp Yobe State; Akingbola Olatunji, CP Benue State And Hakeem Odumosun, CP Lagos State whose appeal for the adjustment of promotion date was approved were promoted Assistant Inspector’s General Of Police.

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The 17 Deputy Commissioners of Police promoted to Commissioners of Police after an interactive session with the commission are; Josephine Nneka Anyasinti; Rhoda Adetutu Olofu, Godwin Aghaulor; Effiom Emmanuel Dca, Zone 5 Benin City; Stanley Kanayo Chukwu Ude; Charles Ifeatu Mozie; Tajudeen Olakunle Bakare; Longe Kehinde Patrick; Samuel Olukayode Emmanuel; Faleye Olaleye; Yetunde Longe; Haruna Gabriel Garba; Tajudeen Akinwale Abass; Rex Dundun; Ambrose Sunny Onah, Dc A&F Kwara State; Durosinmi A. Olatoye And Ndu Innocent Anene.

The 24 promoted Deputy Commissioners of Police include; Hope Urunwa Okafor; Ajo Geofrey Orue; Olufunke Adeayo Ogunbode; Stephen Olubunmi Ogedengbe, ACP Swat, Fcid Annex Lagos; Yabode Oluwatoyin Agbminoja; Ojo Adekimi; Adebowale Lawal; Yemi John Oyeniyi; Obasi Mary Okereke; Moses Ashu Ottah; Felix Akineme Nnebue; Sunday Adeolu Oke; Gazali Alade Abdul-S; Salam; Fidelis Ndubuisi Ogarebe, Former CSO To Enugu State Governor And Ac State Cid, Enugu State Command; Alamu Muyideen Obe; Olubode Ojajuni; Sheikh Mohammed Danko AC Seb, Fciid, Lagos; Simon Asamber Lough; Abiola Reuben Olutunde; Charles Ezekwesiri Dike; Victor Avwerosuo Erivwode; Nnanna Oji Ama; Michael Adegoroye Falade and Yakubu Useni Dankaro.

CSP Edwin Jimmy Mkpa; Mannir Yusuf Ghafai; Ebri Onen Ndidi Alifi Oguamalam; Sikiru Oladejo Saura, Former ADC To Oyo State Governor And Currently Dpo Igbokoda, Division Ilaje, Ondo State; Mathew Chukwuemeka Eze, Enugu State Command and Musa Danko Muhammad were among the Chief Superintendents Of Police whose promotions were approved to the next rank Of Assistant Commissioners Of Police while Damji Abare Adamu; Stanley Chinonso Agu; Apochi Joseph and Samuel Martins were among the 74 SPS promoted to CSP.

Joseph Suneyanaghoto; Nnamdi Okeke, 0/C D9 Anti Robbery State Cid Enugu; Oluwatoyin Adesope; Christopher Chiroma; Stephen Nonjar; Nkiruka Nwode, Zonal ProZone 13, Ukpo, Anambra State And Marcel Amaechi Ozochi 2i/C Swat Ebonyi State were among the 866 DSPs promoted to SPs.

The commission considered some promotion appeals and approved the harmonization of the promotion date and proper placement of 10 chief superintendents who were also promoted to assistant commissioners of police.

They include CSP Sunday Ogenyi, Andrew Ali and Juliet Barasau.

Nigeria Police Promotes Two AIGs, Over 7,000 Others

The Federal Government has declared Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th December 2021, and Monday, 3rd January 2022 as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day celebrations respectively.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, felicitated Christians and Nigerians at home and in the diaspora on this year’s Christmas and New Year festivities.

Ogbeni Aregbesola enjoined Christians to practice the doctrines of Christ, which include but not limited to these – faith, hope, and love.

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“We must emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on Humility, Service, Compassion, Patience, Peace, and Righteousness, that His birth signifies. This will be the best way to portray Christ and celebrate his birth,” he noted.

He emphasized that peace and security are two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity.

The minister urged Christians and Nigerians to make the best use of this festive period to pray for the total eradication of insecurity bedeviling the country.

Aregbesola strongly charged Nigerians not to be lulled into a false sense of security on the COVID-19 pandemic but to note that it is increasingly assuming a very dangerous and harmful dimension with the emergence of a virulent variant, Omicron.

“This calls for deliberate responsibility and discipline on the part of all,” the minister stressed.

He also enjoined all to adhere strictly to and observe all the stipulated non-pharmaceutical protocols and guidelines such as wearing of facemasks, frequent washing of hands with soap and water, using of hand sanitizer, and avoidance of large groups.

Furthermore, the minister urged that quick reports be made to medical authorities with regards to any respiratory illness observed in one’s self and others before, during, and after the yuletide.

Speaking further, he asserted that this Yuletide calls for spartan discipline in order to prevent the spread of the virus in our community and the nation as a whole.

Aregbesola asked Nigerians to “moderately celebrate the festival without large groupings and observe all the protocols stipulated by medical authorities. Take it as a point of personal responsibility to prevent the spread of the virus”.

The minister also assured that the government has put in place effective measures for the security of lives and property and expects Nigerians to support the efforts of security agencies by providing useful information that will assist them in the performance of their duties.

He admonished all citizens to remain focused and expressed confidence that the year 2022 would be a better year for everyone.

On behalf of the government, Aregbesola wished Christians in particular a happy Christmas and Nigerians a peaceful and prosperous New Year celebration.

FG Declares Holidays For Christmas, New Year Celebrations

Lagos State has signed a 10-year Bond to raise N137.3billion to finance key infrastructural projects in the state.

The 13 per cent Fixed Rate Series IV Bond Issuance, under the N500 billion Fourth Debt Issuance Programme, is adjudged to be the largest single bond in the Nigerian domestic market.

The signing held yesterday at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, with Chapel Hill Denham as the major issuing house.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the money would be used to finance projects in the transportation, environment and health sectors, including the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the Lekki Regional road, Epe Highway, Ijedodo road in Alimosho, Oba Sekumade road in Ikorodu, Demurin, Kosofe, Soluyi Shomolu, Iwaya, as well as drainage systems to curb flooding.

He promised that the projects would be visible and impactful.

He said: “We will continue to uphold our commitment to remain the most responsible issuer in the Nigerian Capital Market. We will continue to raise the bar, live within the tenets of our promise to our citizens, and continue to ensure that our Greater Lagos agenda is on track and deliverable.

He pointed out that the conclusion of this process will bring to 377.715 billion the total value of bond issued from the Lagos State’s 500 billion debt issuance program.

The Commissioner for Finance. Dr Rabiu Olowo,  said Lagos has set a new record in the domestic bond market, stating that the initial amount sought by the state was oversubscribed, indicative of the state’s credibility and the leadership ability of the current administration.

“We set out to raise N125 billion, but at the end of the exercise, total bid represented about 117 per cent over subscription of the intended amount, Olowo said, stating that this strong response from the investing community to “our administration’s bond issuance is humbling, and it is indeed a testament of the continued investor confidence in the state’s ability to deliver on its infrastructural and socio-economic development objectives, as well as our ability to meet our funding obligation in the medium to long term."

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Managing Director of Chapel Hill Delham, Ms. Kemi Awodehin, who represented other issuing houses, thanked the government for the confidence reposed in them to raise finance for key projects in the state.

24 issuing houses, 18 trustees, six solicitors, eight banks and two rating firms were involved in the signing process.

Lagos raises N137.3b bond to fund infrastructure

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was reported to have generated over N2.5 trillion revenue between January and November this year.

NCS National  Public Relation Officer, Timi Bomadi said, the agency was given N1.679 trillion revenue target for this year, based on its last year’s performance.

Addressing reporters at a press conference in Lagos yesterday,  Bomadi attributed the remarkable success to the current leadership of the Service, and to the diligent and hardworking officers of the NCS.

Although the image maker only mentioned N2 3 trillion as revenue collected by the service to date, but sources at The Federal Ministry of Finance (FMoF) stated that the service generated about N2.5trillion between January and November this year.

Bomadi said: “In the current year, the Nigeria Customs Service has already exceeded expectations in revenue generation by going beyond the target set for it by the government. Also in its anti-smuggling activities, the Service has made landmark seizures of absolutely prohibited items and items prohibited by trade."

“In August, the service made seizures of 17,137 kg of pangolin scales, 44 kg elephant tusks and 60 kg in pangolin claws all valued at over 22 billion naira. This was made possible through active collaboration between NCS, US, British, and German officials who helped in tracking the suspicious shipment. It further led to the arrest and prosecution of some foreign nationals and their local collaborators."

“In October FOU operatives in zone A seized 751 bullets concealed in garri sacks, while arms, ammunitions and military uniforms were intercepted at Tin Can port Lagos in September 2021 just to mention a few. Our warehouses in all border formations are overflowing with seizures of rice, groundnut oil, used clothing, used vehicles etc."

“At Apapa Area I Command, through the cooperation of other sister agencies and the Nigerian Navy a landmark seizure of cocaine with a DPV of $54 million was made. This seizure was unique for the fact that the illicit substance was found in one of the components of a bulk carrier of sugar. In the same command, 97 containers carrying illicit, expired drugs and other offensive goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N17.5billion naira was seized."

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Bomadi said the service is also facilitating trade at ports and border stations through the modernisation/automation of import/export processes, aimed at reducing trade costs and the simplification and harmonisation of Customs processes to help in the development of local industries, improves economic prosperity,  boost the revenue base of the Federal Government and enables foreign direct investment.

Currently, the image maker said, the NCS has integrated and automated over 90 per cent  of its activities and collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Finance for the introduction of the National Vehicle Registry VReg portal which among other things incorporates an automated vehicle valuation mechanism that authenticates Vehicle Identity Number (VIN) and validates the make, model and year of manufacture for easy assessment of value for Customs purposes.

The service, according to him, has NCS has also introduced mobile applications for verifying the authenticity of documents by enforcement officers on patrol. This app will eliminate delays in verifying genuine Customs documents on our highways making it difficult for forgers to get away with their illegal acts, while easing the journeys of law abiding citizens.

“Members of the public have continued to avail themselves of copious information on both its web based and mobile applications."

“The e-customs project which is certain to take off next year will provide end to end automation aimed at eliminating physical contact and the potential for subjective judgments based on unethical considerations. Fast track and Authorized Economic Operator schemes are there to enhance and facilitate the experience of traders with track records for honesty and transparency."

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He continued: “However, all trade across borders is associated with different levels of risk necessitating the establishment of control mechanism via risk management. In managing of goods in transit, the historical antecedents of importers/exporters and agents, countries of origin, fiscal policy, security, wellbeing, health and safety of citizens."

“The Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II) meets the TFA criteria for the SIMPLIFICATION of Customs processes and procedures. While it provides easy access to Customs information regarding trade regulations, it allows for easy interface and an enhanced user experience. Importers or their agents can access the Customs portal from the comfort of their homes and offices. Declarations, assessments and payments are made via web based applications on the trader zone. At the Customs zone, selectivity is triggered based on risk assessment and the required mode of examination indicated in the system. Release is activated when no infringements requiring interventions are discovered."

“NICIS II allows for the full integration of other regulating authorities like Standards Organization of Nigeria, (SON) and the Nigeria Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). In so doing all regulatory issues concerning other agencies are expected to be treated expeditiously and simultaneously to facilitate trade. However, an important to note that the potential speed for execution under the NICIS II platform can be impeded by the operations of other agencies that are yet to fully define and automate their risk criteria for integration with the existing platform. In this case the efficiency of the system becomes defined by the slowest players in the team,” Bomadi noted.

Although, he admitted that the valuation of goods by officers of the service is another area that has often drawn criticism from some stakeholders and importers, he said: “there is no market in the world where prices remain static over time Same is true for other components of Customs value, which includes insurance and freight charges. When we add the ever increasing rate of exchange into the mix, the inevitable result has to be commensurate increases in the value component of declared items used for calculating duty. Therefore situations where some insist on declaring fictitious values for customs purposes will always be met by adjustments reflecting current realities.”

revenue generated by Nigeria custom service 

Customs generates N2.5tr revenue in 11 months

Libya’s education minister was arrested on Monday as part of an enquiry into a lack of schoolbooks, the prosecution service said.

Moussa al-Megarief “was placed in preventative detention pending an investigation into (possible) negligence”, it said in a statement.

“The Public Prosecution has launched an enquiry to determine the circumstances around contractual procedures for the printing of textbooks and the reasons for a shortfall,” it said.

A number of other officials are wanted for questioning, including the minister for planning, it added.

Since the times of dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libyan authorities have had a budget earmarked to provide free textbooks to each student at the start of the school year in September.

However many of this year’s books have yet to be delivered, forcing students to make full photocopies from just a handful of books per class.

Many pupils had still not been supplied with their books by mid-December.

“I’ve got three children in primary school and copying each book for several classes costs us hundreds of dinars,” a major expense for cash-strapped Libyans, said Zakiya Abdelsamad, a secretary at a medical clinic in Tripoli.

Several stationary and office supplies shops have profited from the situation, selling overpriced copies of the books.

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Before Megarief was arrested, the education ministry had blamed the delay on the complex process of reunifying Libya’s curriculum after a key east-west schism in 2014 produced different versions.

Eastern and western camps signed a landmark ceasefire in October 2020 and have been working to align school curricula across the country.

The ministry has also posted the books on its website in PDF format.

The minister’s arrest comes just four days ahead of presidential elections meant to cap a transition phase, but widely expected to be delayed.

Libya Minister Arrested Over Lack Of School Textbooks

Turkey’s troubled lira nosedived Monday after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cited Islamic teachings to justify not raising interest rates to cushion the currency against historic falls.

Erdogan has pushed the central bank to sharply lower borrowing costs despite the annual rate of inflation soaring to more than 20 percent.

Economists believe the policy could see consumer price increases reach 30 percent or higher in the coming months.

But Erdogan said in remarks aired by state television that his Muslim faith prevented him from supporting rate hikes.

“They complain we keep decreasing the interest rate. Don’t expect anything else from me,” he said in the televised comments.

“As a Muslim, I will continue doing what our religion tells us. This is the command.”

Islamic teachings forbid Muslims from receiving or charging interest on loaned or borrowed money.

Erdogan has previously cited his religion in explaining why he believes interest rates cause inflation instead of reining it in.

High interest rates are a drag on activity and slow down economic growth.

But central banks raise their policy rates out of necessity when inflation gets out of hand. High interest rates return value to saving money for consumers and make it expensive for companies to invest, thus reducing the demand that often fuels rising prices.

The Turkish lira has now lost more than 45 percent of its value since the start of November alone.

It fell Monday by as much as 10 percent against the dollar before paring back some of the losses.

The main stock exchange in Istanbul also briefly suspended trading for the second successive session as the currency rout extended to Turkish shares.

“You cannot run a modern economy integrated into the global economy on this basis,” economist Timothy Ash of BlueBay Asset Management said in a note to clients.

“Even Saudi Arabia really does not attempt full shariah compliant macro(economic) management.”

Turkey’s nominally independent central bank — stacked in the past year with Erdogan’s allies and supporters — has used four successive rate cuts to lower its policy rate to 14 percent from 19 percent.

Diplomats think the powerful but increasingly unpopular Turkish leader believes that economic growth at all costs will help him extend his rule into a third decade in an election due by mid-2023.

Erdogan last month launched a self-declared “economic war of independence” aimed at breaking Turkey’s reliance on foreign investment and the fluctuating cost of imports such as oil and natural gas.

But the policy is meeting increasing resistance from powerful business leaders who had largely rallied around Erdogan during his 19-year rule.

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The TUSIAD lobby of major exporters issued an unusually firm rebuke of the president over the weekend.

“The policy choices implemented here are not only creating new economic problems for businesses, but for all of our citizens,” the big business lobby said.

“It is urgent that we assess the damage that has been done to the economy, and quickly return to the implementation of established economic principles, within the framework of a free market economy.”

Erdogan attacked TUSIAD directly after chairing a cabinet meeting at which ministers agreed to introduce tax and other support measures aimed at making lira holdings more attractive compared to dollars and euros.

“You are scheming to topple the government,” he told members of the industrial lobby.

“Do not hold out your hopes in vain. You’re dreaming. You will have to wait until June 2023,” he said in reference to the date of the next scheduled election.

Turkey’s Currency Loses Value As President Erdogan Goes Religious

Music producer-cum-singer, Samuel Oguachuba, aka Samklef, has said other artists want to be like Wizkid.

While revealing that Starboy is his favourite artist, the “Molowo Noni” singer said Big Wiz is fearless and a pace setter.

“Every artist wants to be like Wizkidayo,” he wrote.

Samklef produced a large portion of Wizkid’s widely acclaimed album Superstar, thereby contributing to the success of the album.

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Every artist wants to be like Wizkid, says Samklef

Newly-promoted Remo Stars beat MFM FC 2-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2021`/2022 season opener on Friday. 

Remo Stars dominated much of the proceedings in the first half of the encounter and came close to taking the lead in the 13th minute. But Ifeanyi Ojukwu’s effort was not enough.

The game ended goalless after 45 minutes. When the match resumed, it took Akanni Qudus 10 minutes to connect beautifully to Ifeanyi Ojukwu’s pass for the opening goal.

Oyedele Adebayo almost levelled things for the Olukoya Boys but his effort was denied by Kayode Bankole.

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The match was almost headed for a 1-0 victory for Remo Stars but Andy Okpe doubled the lead for the Sky Blues three minutes into added time with an easy tap-in.

Before the clash, both sides have met four times in Nigeria’s elite league. MFM won thrice while the other game ended in a draw.

Asides from Friday’s tie, nine other fixtures will be played later this weekend – Sunday by 4 pm.

Akwa United face Kano Pillars; Lobi Stars battle Rivers United while Finidi George’s Enyimba host Abia Warriors in the Abia derby.

Other games will see Heartland welcome Nasarawa United; Sunshine Stars play  Wikki Tourists and Katsina United vs Rangers.

Below is the full list of matches for the opening games in the 2021/2022 season:

Newly-Promoted Remo Stars Beat MFM FC In League Opener

The National Drug Law Endorsement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed illicit drugs weighing 24.486 tons in Osun State.

Among the illicit drugs destroyed were cannabis sativa and Psychotropic substances.

The Commander, Yomade Ogunbiyi, said the drugs were exhibits.

He said: “A total of 24.486 tons of assorted drug exhibits is being destroyed.

“A public destruction of exhibits is stipulated in the Act which established NDLEA (CAP N40LFN as amended ).

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“To fully appreciate the drug problem, NDLEA Osun State Command arrested and seized, in the last five years: 2017 – 3335.311kg; 2018 – 1148.5kg; 2019 – 2,424.587kg; 2020 – 1,006532kg; and 2021 – 3,001.44kg.

“Osun is one of the Cannabis producing states in Nigeria. A lot of the farms were destroyed in the years past.

“Efforts are seriously ongoing to eradicate the culture of cannabis production in the state.”

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NDLEA destroys 24 tons of illicit drugs in Osun

The body of a man identified as Olalekan Odunare, who jumped into a Lagoon located in the Epe area of Lagos has been found.

His body was found on Thursday. A family member who craved anonymity confirmed this development.

A viral video shows Olalekan sitting on the handrail of the Lagos Bridge, before jumping into the lagoon.

Body of man who jumped into Lagos Lagoon found

President Vladimir Putin hailed Russia’s “model” relations with China in a call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and confirmed he would attend Beijing’s Olympics, as both countries face increasing criticism from the West.

The video call came days after G7 foreign ministers discussed Moscow’s sabre-rattling against Ukraine and Beijing’s crackdowns in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

“In February we will finally be able to meet in person in Beijing,” Putin said in a national television broadcast of the conversation after he said he would attend the Games, calling Xi his “dear friend”.

“China-Russia relations have withstood all kinds of stern tests, and are showing new dynamism and vitality,” Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported Xi as saying.

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The United States, Britain, Canada and Australia are not sending political representatives to the Olympics over China’s abuse of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

Beijing and Moscow denounced the diplomatic boycott and Putin on Wednesday said both leaders opposed “any attempt to politicise sport and the Olympic movement”, a criticism Russia has repeatedly levelled at the West.

Russia was found to have used a state-backed doping programme at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and was banned from international competitions afterwards.

Russian athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals — without the Russian flag or anthem — if they can prove their doping record is clean.

Russian officials including Putin are banned from attending international competitions unless invited by the head of state of the host country. Xi has invited Putin to attend.

Both China and Russia have seen their relationship with Western nations deteriorate in recent years and have sought to project a more unified front.

On Wednesday, Putin told Xi that “a new model of cooperation has been formed between our countries” that includes a “determination to turn our common border into a belt of eternal peace and good-neighbourliness”.

“I consider these relations to be a real model for inter-state cooperation in the 21st century,” the Russian leader said.

After the call, the Kremlin’s top foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said that the conversation between “two great friendly states” had lasted 90 minutes and was “very positive”.

“Both stated that the relationship had reached an unprecedented high level,” he told reporters.

The talks came after both Russia and China were pointedly left out of US President Joe Biden’s democracy summit last week.

The US and its allies have for weeks accused Russia of planning an invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour Ukraine, warning of massive coordinated sanctions should Putin launch an attack.

Tens of thousands of Russian troops are stationed near Ukraine, where the West has accused the Kremlin of backing pro-Moscow separatists since 2014.

Russia rejects the allegations and blames the West for stoking tensions.

In calls on Tuesday with the leaders of France and Finland, Putin said he wanted security talks with the United States and NATO to begin without delay.

Russia’s demands included stopping NATO from expanding east and the deployment of weapons in neighbouring states, including Ukraine.

China’s relationships with multiple Western allies, meanwhile, have cratered in recent years over a host of issues — from trade and security to Beijing’s human rights record and vows to seize Taiwan, which it claims.

China, an authoritarian one-party state, responded with fury to being left out of the Biden summit, branding US democracy a “weapon of mass destruction”.

Beijing’s diplomats overseas and its state-controlled media ramped up a propaganda blitz criticising Western democracy as corrupt and a failure.

Instead, they touted “whole-process people’s democracy”, aiming to shore up legitimacy for the ruling Communist Party, which has swung increasingly authoritarian under Xi.

Russian president in a meeting with China's president 

Putin, Jinping Hail Relations Amid Tensions With West

A South African court has ordered former president Jacob Zuma to return to prison, invalidating the medical parole he was granted in September.

The decision to place Zuma on medical parole is “declared unlawful and set aside”, read the ruling by High Court Judge Elias Matojane.

Zuma, 79, was jailed in July for 15 months for contempt of court after he refused to give testimony to corruption investigators.

His jailing sparked violent protests and looting in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal that spread to the financial hub Johannesburg in July, claiming over 350 lives.

That was the deadliest violence in South Africa since the end of white-minority rule in 1994.

Current President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the unrest as an orchestrated attempt to destabilise the country.

Zuma was granted medical parole on September 5, but the exact reasons were never revealed. While in prison, he was taken to hospital for surgery to treat an undisclosed ailment.

South African Court Orders Ex-President Zuma Back To Jail

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.