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Boris Johnson picks navy chief as head of British armed forces

Boris Johnson has selected the navy chief for the first time in 20 years as the next chief of Britain’s armed forces, a choice intended to reinforce the UK’s post-Brexit switch in focus to the Indo-Pacific region.

The prime minister picked Adm Sir Tony Radakin for the £270,000-a-year position from a field of five to replace Gen Sir Nick Carter, who had been criticised over the messy retreat from Afghanistan.

Announcing the new chief of defence staff, Johnson said Radakin had proved himself an “outstanding military leader” who would “lead the armed forces at a time of incredible change while upholding the values and standards that they are respected for around the world”.

Radakin, 55, is the first sea lord, responsible for the Royal Navy, which this year deployed the HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier and a string of supporting vessels into the Pacific as part of a more aggressive posture towards China.

Born in Oldham, Radakin is a barrister by training but has served in the navy since 1990, working his way up through the ranks until becoming first sea lord in 2019.

He said he was humbled to have been selected in a time of enormous change, adding that Johnson and the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, “have demanded reform and we must seize the opportunity the government has given us and ensure we are a global force delivering for global Britain”.

Allies emphasise his communication skills, seen as key to the job following Carter, who was heavily criticised for appearing naive about the Taliban, describing them as “country boys” who wanted an Afghanistan “inclusive for all” days after the fall of Kabul.

Earlier this year, Downing Street published an integrated review of defence and foreign policy, a key feature of which was to call for a significant British re-engagement in the Indo-Pacific, which had been abandoned in the late 1960s.

Naval power is deemed to be at the heart of competing with China, which has the world’s largest navy. Last month, the UK also signed a three-country pact with the US to supply long-range nuclear-powered submarines for Australia.

Radakin had pushed hard for the job, and there had been unhappiness in some parts of Whitehall that he had tried too hard to claim credit for the submarine deal, called Aukus, which had been negotiated at country-leader level.

The elevation also comes after the apparent suicide of the former head of the Royal Marines, Maj Gen Matthew Holmes, 54. Holmes, who had stepped down from his post in April after a navy reorganisation, had been experiencing personal difficulties.

Radakin’s main competitor was Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, 55, who runs Britain’s special forces and military cyber operations, whose allies argued had more operational experience than the navy chief. Others in contention were Gen Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, the head of the army, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, who leads the RAF.

The appointment concludes a process that lasted about a month, beginning with interviews by a Ministry of Defence panel headed by Wallace. The defence secretary then sent his recommendation to the prime minister, but the appointment is ultimately Johnson’s.

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Police arrest three suspected r3pists for def!ling children in Kebbi

The Kebbi State Command has arrested three rapists for defiling children.

The spokesman for the command, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, January 13, 2024.

“On the 5th of January 2025, at about 1600 hrs, one Kalifa Ibrahim ‘M’ aged 19 yrs of the Gwazange area, Argungu, enticed one Rukayya Umar ‘F’ aged 8 yrs of the same address, to a hidden area and had s3xual intercourse with her,” the statement read.

“On receipt of the complaint, a team of policemen responded promptly and arrested the suspect.

“In the same vein, on the 5th of January, 2025, at about 1230, the suspect, one Abdullahi Abubakar ‘m’ aged 32yrs of Gwandu town, lured one Fatima Abubakar ‘f’ aged 4yrs of the same address, to an uncompleted building and had s3xual intercourse with her. Investigation into the case is ongoing.

“Similarly, on the 6th of January, 2025, at about 1120 hrs, one Okada rider named Fahad Kabiru ‘M’ of Gesse Phase 1, Birnin Kebbi, impregnated one Hafsat Sa’idu ‘f’ aged 16 yrs. The suspect has been arrested and confessed to the crime.”

The statement further said that the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello Sani, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, to conduct a thorough investigation of the cases and ensure diligent prosecution accordingly.

The CP equally called on the good people of Kebbi State to always watch over their children and be conscious of the people to entrust with their children.

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Court Sacks Rivers PDP Chairman, Nullifies Congresses

A Port Harcourt division of the Rivers State High Court has barred the state executives of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Aaron Chukwuemeka from parading themselves as Exco of the party.

This was contained in a ruling on an interlocutory injunction delivered by presiding judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo, on Monday.

The case was filed by two Port Harcourt based legal practitioners, Edwin Woko, Love Otuonye, and two others who are members of the PDP against the party’s National chairman, state chairman, and nine others praying the court to declare null and void the purported PDP local government and ward congresses conducted the 319 wards and 23 LGAs by pro-Wike supporters on 27th of July, 10th August, and 31st August last year.

The applicants had contended that all the congresses were done in disobedience to an order of the Rivers State High Court issued on the 16th of July 2024 stopping the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as their agents and privies from conducting congresses pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons already filed.

This ruling is coming on the heels of a similar decision last year which also nullified the ward, local government, and state executives of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which had produced Tony Okocha.

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Governor Makinde presents Staff and Certificate of Office to New Alaafin

The governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde, has officially presented the staff and certificate of office to the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade.

The presentation signals the formal ascension of the new monarch to the revered throne of Alaafin of Oyo.

Governor Makinde made the presentations in a brief ceremony held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan on Monday, January 13. The governor highlighted the traditional importance of the Alaafin of Oyo, not just as a traditional ruler but custodian of rich history and tradition.

He expressed the belief that Oba Owoade will lead with wisdom, integrity, and a commitment to the unity of the Oyo kingdom.

For his part, the new Alaafin expressed gratitude to the people of Oyo and pledged to prioritise the development of the kingdom and the welfare of its residents.

Oba Owoade succeeds the late occupant of the throne, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III who reigned for 51 years before joining his ancestors.

Oyo State government announced the appointment of Prince Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo on Friday.