SCPD 2026: Tech law expert, Basil Udotai, commends CJN, Supreme Court over historic digital judiciary mandate - ITREALMS

Renowned technology law expert and managing partner of Technology Advisor LLP, Basil Udotai, Esq., has commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the Supreme Court for the landmark launch of the Supreme Court mandatory upload of electronic copies of processes, record of appeal and other matters, under Practice Directions (SCPD), dated June 30, 2026, reports ITREALMS.

Udotai described the initiative as perhaps "the most consequential judicial technology reform in our nation’s contemporary legal history," asserting that it will catalyze the birth of a multi-billion naira Judicial Technology (JudTech) industry in Nigeria.

The 100-Naira Citizen: How Nigeria’s rushed biometric mandate left vulnerable defenseless against digital extortion by Remmy Nweke - WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

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Human toll of inverted timeline:
Far from the sleek, air-conditioned federal conference rooms of Abuja, 53-year-old market trader Comfort Alao found herself trapped in an algorithmic nightmare. It began when her mobile phone lines were abruptly deactivated under the federal government's strict, zero-compromise National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage sweep. For Comfort, losing her line meant losing her livelihood; her micro-savings account, mobile banking, and contact with wholesale suppliers vanished overnight.

Desperate to restore her economic lifeline, she spent two days navigating a chaotic, crowded third-party front-end enrollment center in Lagos. There, she surrendered her fingerprints, high-resolution facial biometrics, and home address to an unvetted private contractor using an unencrypted Android device.

Beyond Father’s Day: The silent health mandate and legacy of Aloy Abarah - Weekend Digits@ITREALMS

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As the curtains fall on a remarkable three-day spiritual and civic mobilization, the atmosphere across many communities has shifted from standard weekend festivities to a more reflective, somber, yet deeply empowering reality. 

The first weekend of May was far more than a routine gathering of patriarchs; it evolved into a dual-purpose forum for radical health transparency and a heart-touching memorial for a legal luminary and late Deanery Coordinator, the tragic loss of Barr. Aloy Abarah.

Digital solidarity and mandate of world day of the poor by Remmy Nweke - WeekendDigits@ITREALMS

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FinTech redefines charity for the World Day of the Poor. REMMY NWEKE in this WeekendDigits@ITREALMS, shows how digital transparency, blockchain, and USSD close the distance, ensuring aid reaches the poor with dignity and accountability.

Digital call to encounter:
In a world defined by the speed of digital transactions and the abstraction of financial capital, the Catholic Church's World Day of the Poor; observed annually on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, typically mid-November, issues a powerful summons. Established by Pope Francis, this observance moves beyond simple charity, serving as a mandate for personal encounter and active solidarity with the marginalized.

The Day, therefore, challenges us to consider how we, as individuals and institutions, can intentionally bridge the physical and emotional gap with those in need.

Soyinka’s Metamorphosis, Echoes from “The Peoples Mandate! This is my story By Sunny Igboanugo - ITREALMS

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Today I formally announce the publication of my book, titled: Soyinka’s Metamorphosis: Echoes from “The People’s Mandate,” a copy of which I have just received on arrival from the UK where it was published. It is a direct response to the book: Baiting Igbophobia, The Sunny Igboanugo Thesis, authored by Prof. Wole Soyinka and released sometime in January this year.

This 2024 marks my 33 years of practice as a journalist, starting from my debut with The Guardian in 1991 to joining Daily Independent in 2001 as pioneer staff and now Publisher of Whirlwindnews, an online newspaper.

Halilu assures BPSR of mandate delivery - ITREALMS

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The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu has assured the Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) that the agency would deliver on its mandate of transforming Nigeria’s technology and innovation landscape.

The EVC/CEO stated this at the opening ceremony of a two-day staff training of NASENI by the Bureau, led by its Director-General, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi for the mandatory deployment of Self-Assessment Tools (SAT) for service delivery at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja, on Monday January 12, 2024.

Halilu reaffirmed the commitment of the Agency in fulfilling its mandate by maintaining a steadfast focus on NASENI 3Cs principles of Collaboration, Creation, and Commercialization through harnessing the power of technology, human skills and talents to deliver remarkable benefits to Nigeria on multiple fronts.

Obi denies report 'he will bleed to death over mandate' - ITREALMS

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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has denied reports on social media alleging he will bleed to death until his mandate is restored, reports ITREALMS.

He also urged all “Obidient” family and all men and women of goodwill to remain calm, prayerful and alert to the events in the country.

CPN, not NITDA has mandate to register, license IT contractors – NCS insists

ITREALMS:

The last may not have been heard of the controversial registration and licensing of Information Technology (IT) contractors embarked upon by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has insisted that only the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) has the power to conduct registration and licensing in IT industry, reports ITRealms.

NCS, ITRealms recalls is the umbrella organization of all Information Technology professionals in Nigeria and diaspora, interest groups and stakeholders in the country.

Anything other than CPN registration, NCS told ITRealms is tantamount to double registration and contravenes the Federal Government policy on ease of doing business and lacks due process.

The latest is coming in reaction to NITDA insistence in carrying on with the so-called registration and licensing, this NCS decried, saying it may lead to the registration of quacks and non-professionals because the exercise is devoid of due diligence as enshrined in the CPN Act 49 of June 1993.

As alluded by NCS President, Prof. Adesola G. Aderounmu to ITRealms, is self-serving and any undercurrent discovered in the industry should be have been reported to CPN promptly.

NCS further argued that based on CPN mandate of Act 49 of June 1993, only the Council has the authority to register and license IT contractors, citing the CPN Act section 2, subsection 2 on membership registration, which states inter alia:

“Persons admitted to the membership of the profession shall be registered as members of the profession in various categories including the corporate member category.”

Also NCS cited section 8 (1) on the list, which states thus, “CPN has the mandate to keep, publish, print the list of all registered professional and is available for inspection for members of the public at all reasonable time. This has been in operation since 1998.”

And finally, NCS cited the CPN Act section 18, subsection 2b, which focused on licensing and asserted that “It prescribes the form of licence to be issued annually.”

NCS president, a professor of computer science, pointed out that the call for another registration and licensing of IT contractors by NITDA is equivalent to double registration which is contrary to the Federal Government’s policy on ease of doing business.

“Furthermore it may lead to the registration of quacks and non-professionals,” NCS president declared.

Aderounmu who also is the Director, African Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, maintained that the failed and substandard public IT projects alleged by NITDA as basis for current controversial registration and licensing, should have been reported to CPN for necessary action.

“IT contracts should only be awarded to CPN registered members; the list is available online and in accordance with Public Procurement Act 2007,” NCS president said

Prof. Aderounmu emphasised that registering and licensing IT contractors is not within the mandate of NITDA, which is to create framework, guidelines and policy to develop IT.

“When properly implemented, it will solve the problem of unemployment in Nigeria which is the focus of the present administration,” NCS president insisted.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Kabila’s mandate expiration: DRC set to block social networks

ITRealms:

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may have concluded plans to block social networking websites including Facebook and Twitter, and WhatsApp, before President Joseph Kabila's mandate expires on Sunday’s midnight, reports ITRealms.

The government order to this effect as gathered by ITRealms, was sent to at least three internet service providers (ISPs) and sighted  by correspondent Thursday, indicated that this order will probably hamper the organisation of public protests against Kabila.

According to AFP News Agency, the letter from Congo's Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC) requested the "temporary blocking of sharing of images, video and voice [data] over the network" from 11:59pm local time (2259GMT) on Sunday.”

ARPTC, however, did not give its reason for the orders, just as the list of platforms to be blocked was very lengthy, including Skype.

"In cases where partial blocking is not possible, you are required to block access to the relevant social networks entirely," the regulator said.

Text messages will continue to function as normal.

The government's plan was first raised on Tuesday at a meeting of the ARPTC.

"The ARPTC verbally instructed us during the meeting to filter connections on social networks," one internet company executive said, before adding the "trials are likely to be carried out overnight Thursday and Friday".

"We will comply with what has been demanded. It's part of our [legal] obligations," said a manager at one of the affected ISPs.

ITRealms recalls that President Kabila's second term in office would end on Monday, December 19, 2016.

Chuks Egbune/GEE with additional reports by AFP

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