The Nigerian government has dismissed allegations by Niger Republic’s military leader, Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani, accusing Nigeria of collaborating with France to destabilize his country.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the claims as “baseless” and without merit.

The statement reads, “These claims exist solely in the realm of imagination. Nigeria has never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France — or any other country — to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilize the Niger Republic.”

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The Federal Government emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS, has demonstrated exemplary leadership in addressing Niger’s political crisis.

Despite the military takeover in Niger, Tinubu has prioritized dialogue and diplomacy, the statement noted.

“Nigeria remains committed to fostering peace, harmony, and historic diplomatic ties with Niger,” Idris said.

In response to claims that Nigeria supports terrorist activities, including harboring the so-called Lakurawa group, the government underscored its ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in the region. Recently, Nigerian security forces launched Operation Forest Sanity III, codenamed Operation Chase Lakurawa Out, targeting the group’s activities.

“It is absurd to suggest that Nigeria, a regional leader in combating terrorism, would conspire with foreign powers to undermine peace and security in Niger,” Idris stated.

The government also dismissed allegations that Nigeria seeks to sabotage Niger’s economy, pointing instead to its active role in joint development projects like the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway.

“These accusations are illogical and counterproductive. Nigeria has consistently supported Niger’s economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects,” Idris noted.

Nigeria accused General Tchiani of using the allegations as a diversion from Niger’s internal challenges and a ploy to undermine ECOWAS’s stance on unconstitutional changes in government.

Idris said, “Those making such claims must provide credible evidence to substantiate them. Any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in Niger Republic is both disingenuous and doomed to fail.”

The Nigerian government urged the leadership in Niger to focus on addressing domestic challenges and fostering regional cooperation.

The statement added “President Tchiani’s unfounded claims are a dangerous distraction. Nigeria remains committed to regional stability and will continue to lead efforts to combat terrorism and promote development across West Africa.”

German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday officially dissolved the Bundestag and announced February 23, 2025, as the date for an early general election.

The move comes after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government collapsed last month amid internal disputes over economic policies.

The political crisis became compounded by last week’s deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in Berlin, which has reignited national debates over security and immigration, setting the stage for a contentious campaign period.

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In a televised address, Steinmeier stressed the need for political stability, calling on parties and candidates to uphold democratic principles during the election campaign.

“Hatred and violence must have no place in this election campaign, nor denigration or intimidation… all this is poison for democracy,” he said.

The president also warned about the dangers of foreign interference, particularly on social media.

“The campaign must be conducted with fair and transparent means,” Steinmeier said, adding that “foreign influence… which is particularly intense on X,” the platform owned by billionaire Elon Musk, poses a significant threat.

Steinmeier emphasized the gravity of the challenges awaiting Germany’s next government, citing the “economically unstable situation,” ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and divisive issues like immigration and climate change.

Scholz will remain in office as a caretaker chancellor until a new coalition is formed, a process that could take months depending on the outcome of the election.

The election campaign is expected to be highly charged, with security and economic recovery emerging as key battlegrounds.

In line with the recommendations of the Osun State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Ademola Adeleke has extended mercy to 53 convicts serving various terms within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

According to Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, this was contained in a letter of commutation dated December 24th, 2024 and which has since been received and acknowledged by the relevant prison authorities read as follows:

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“WHEREAS: the inmates whose names are set out in the schedule to this order have been convicted to various terms of imprisonment to wit.

(i) Simple offences and have served substantial portions of the sentences,

(ii) Convicts sentenced to death” (having spent a minimum of 10 years in custody.)

“AND WHEREAS: following the recommendation made to me by the state advisory council on the prerogative of mercy that I should exercise my power in relation to the said inmates in order to mark the 2024 Christmas celebration.

“AND WHEREAS: in the case of the 30 (thirty) inmates convicted of simple offences, I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to remit and forgive the remainder of the said sentences in whole.

“AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to grant outright pardon to 12 (Twelve) inmates convicted of simple offences.

“4 (Four) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright pardon. AND WHEREAS: I have decided in accordance with the said recommendation to commute the sentences as follows;

“1 (One) convict has his sentence commuted from death to 15 (Fifteen) years imprisonment.

“6 (Six) Convicts have their sentences commuted from death to outright release.

“Now know ye therefore that, I Senator Ademola Jackson Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria, in exercise of the power conferred on me by paragraph (a), (c) and (d) of subsection (i) of section 212 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), I am pleased to extend my grace and mercy unto the said inmates.

“My will and pleasure thereof, is that you commute the death, life and years of imprisonment as indicated herewith in the schedule”

Those in the schedule are as follows:

CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON (SIMPLE OFFENCES)

1. OLABOMIJI NURUDEEN
2. MUSTAPHA ISAH
3. OLALEKAN ABDULLAHI
4. AYOMIDE OLOJEDE
5. AKEEM RAPHAEL
6. ADEYEMI ABIODUN
7. OLADIPUPO SEGUN
8. OMISAKIN SUNDAY
9. ADEMOLA ADIO
10. TUNDE OLAPADE
11. LATE CHIEF WOLE OLA RUFUS OJO
12. OMOLOYE OLAJIDE OLAYEMI

CONVICTS RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE (SIMPLE OFFENCES)

1. OLUBO SUNDAY
2. ISAH UMAR BIODUN
3. FAWAS KAREEM
4. OMIRIN TEMITAYO
5. OLARENWAJU AYOMIDE
6. DARE SUNDAY
7. OLADAPO TUNDE
8. GANIYU SAHEED
9. ADEWUMI SODIQ
10. ADEBAYO ADEOYE KEHINDE
11. LASIS KAZEEM
12. DAUDA OJO (59 YEARS)
13. ISMAILA RAJI
14. OSENI MICHEAL
15. AJAYI KOREDE
16. ABIONA NURUDEEN
17. OSHI SAMUEL
18. SHEU YUSUF OLATUNJI
19. OJO AANU
20. MUSTAPHA KEHINDE
21. LASIS ABEEB
22. ALEXANDRA IORLAHA
23. OJO TAIWO
24. AZEEZ MUJEEB
25. AKINYEMI DAVID
26. ADEOSUN ADEKUNLE
27. OLAOBAJU SAMUEL
28. ADURA ADEFEMI
29. PAUL BASIL
30. KUNLE DAVID

CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT PARDON FOR GOOD CONDUCT (CAPITAL OFFENCES) – 4 (FOUR)

1. SUNDAY MORAKINYO
2. SEGUN OLOWOOKERE
3. TUNDE OLAPADE
4. DEMOLA ODEYEMI

CONVICT RECOMMENDED FOR OUTRIGHT RELEASE ON HEALTH GROUND, (CAPITAL OFFENCES) –

1 OLUWAFEMI FAGBEMI

2 BEWAJI SUNDAY

3. AMEHIN GEORGE
4. AYOMIDE ARULOGUN
5. TAIWO OLUWATOBI STEPHEN
6. ABUBAKAR ABDULAZEEZ

CONVICT RECOMMENDED TO BE COMMUTED FROM DEATH TO 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT HAVING SPENT AT LEAST 10 YEARS IN CUSTODY

1. OJEKUNLE TIMOTHY