Nation
THE STATE
Adamawa
The Community-Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP) has distributed N15.6 million agricultural inputs to farmers in Adamawa, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Musatafa Raji, has disclosed.
Raji, who disclosed this during the inauguration of the agriculture exhibition in Mubi last Thursday said that the project had also initiated a N200 million project for the procurement of 30 hand pumps.
According to him, 135 knapsack sprayers and 81 hand pumps were distributed to dry season farmers in the last three months.
He further said that 54 hybrid cattle, 100 rams, 32 goats, 28 pigs, 12 oil milling and four grinding machines were also distributed to farmers cooperative societies to encourage agricultural activity, reduce poverty and enhance wealth creation among the rural farmers.
“Under irrigation programme, 40 hectares of land have been put to use for cultivation of perishables such as onions, pepper, tomato, lettuce and cabbage.
Bauchi
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Bauchi State has appealed to passengers to assist in the fight against overloading by commercial vehicle drivers.
Making the plea in Bauchi while speaking to newsmen, the Public Enlightenment Officer of the commission in the state, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, noted that overloading was a problem not only to the passengers and vehicles, but also contributes to the deplorable road conditions.
According to him, overloading means excess weight on the roads, and damage of the highways.
He said passengers could assist by ensuring that only the stipulated number of passengers per vehicle was carried for safety and well-being of passengers.
“Vehicles are constructed to carry particular weight and overloading them can cause accidents, damage to the vehicles, as well as the road itself.
“One can see that a vehicle carrying stipulated number of passengers lasts longer than the one that carries heavy goods,” he said.
Borno
The Deputy-Governor of Borno State, Mr Zanna Mustapha, says the state will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Environment to actualise and achieve renewable energy.
Mustapha said this in Abuja on Thursday in an interview with newsmen after a meeting with the National Coordinator, Renewable Energy, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Bahijahtu Abubakar.
However, the National Coordinator, Renewable Energy noted that all the comments at the meeting were encouraging, adding that she was excited at the new phase of the development in Borno.
Abubakar listed the frontline states in renewable energy development in the country, including Kaduna and Cross River.
A stockebroker, Mr Emma Ndidi, explained that the unimpressive dividend announced by some companies contributed to the lull experienced in the market.
FCT
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has signed a N363 million contract with two indigenous firms for the 2009 to 2011 Oil and Gas and the 2007 to 2010 Solid Minerals audit.
Sada, Idris & Co, was hired to audit Oil and Gas sector while Haruna Yahaya & Co would audit Solid Minerals sector.
At the signing ceremony of the contract, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, charged the firms to ensure integrity and professionalism on the project.
She explained that the signing of the contract was part of plans to make NEITI’s audit regular and comprehensive in order to fast track the transparency process in the sector.
Ahmed said the agency would soon begin to automate its audit process and data gathering methods in line with its development plan.
Kaduna
North West zonal office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun the campaign against Lassa fever which has claimed at least 40 lives in 12 states.
A statement issued in Kaduna and signed by NEMA’s zonal coordinator, Musa Ilallah said the campaign was aimed at curtailing the spread of the disease.
“A survey by NEMA showed that 12 states have recorded cases of Lassa fever and this prompted our quest to sensitise the populace to the danger and likelihood of the disease spreading to other parts of the country.”
NEMA said that researches conducted by experts had revealed that people were infected by consuming food or drinks contaminated with rat excreta or urine.
Katsina
The Katsina State Senior Magistrates’ Court III has fixed March 26 for mentioning of a charge of rape levelled against a former police corporal.
Abutu Joseph is alleged to have raped a cripple and her daughter inside the Katsina Central Market Police Post on December 16, 2011 while on night duty.
The prosecution said the woman and her daughter, who came from a nearby village, were lured by Joseph to spend the night at the station to avoid being harassed, while searching for accommodation in the town.
The accused person allegedly raped the duo in the night and appealed to them not to reveal the matter.
Kwara
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday inaugurated Disaster Risk Reduction clubs in some schools in Kwara.
The NEMA Zonal Coordinator, Mr Ishaya Chonoko, explained that the Federal Government inaugurated the clubs to prepare youths for Disaster Risk Reduction programme.
He told newsmen on the sidelines of the inauguration that the exercise would be carried out throughout the federation in both primary and secondary schools.
Members of the club, he said, would become agents in the manaement of basic emergency situations occasioned by fire, flood, epidemic and windstorm disasters.
Lagos
Chief Executive Officer of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Lagos, Mr Oladele Amoda, says the company has invested more than N1 billion in new projects.
Amoda, who spoke at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos, said that the company had embarked on several projects to boost electricity supply to its customers.
He said that the company had constructed a new 15 KV injector sub-station in Yaba to reinforce supply to numerous customers in that area.
Ogun
A former Commonwealth champion in long jump, Yusuf Ali, has called for a four-year budget plan for sports in Nigeria, to enhance its development.
Ali told newsmen that inadequate funding had continued to slow down the development of sports generally, and athletics in particular.
“Until we have a special budget for sports in Nigeria, we will continue singing the old song,” said the former Olympian.
According to him, other countries have continued to be ahead of Nigeria because of the peculiar manner they fund sports.
Ondo
The Police in Akure has arraigned a 28-year-old woman, Folashade Babatunde before an Akure Senior Magistrates’ Court for allegedly pouring faeces on a female banker.
The accused, a trade and HND student at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State was docked before Mrs Rabi Abdulahi on a two-count charge of act likely to cause breach of the peace and unlawful assault.
Babatunde was accused of pouring faeces on one Agnes Olasehinde, a 27-year-old banker with the First Bank Plc, Alagbaka branch, Akure.
The offence, according to the Police Prosecutor, ASP Ayodele Atandeyi, was allegedly committed on Feb. 24, at about 12.30 p.m. at the First Bank Plc, Alagbaka branch, Akure.
Osun
The Osun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori, has expressed optimism that the Lassa fever epidemic would not spread to the state due to the premium placed on hygiene.
The commissioner spoke to newsmen in Osogbo while reacting to the prevalence of the epidemic in some parts of the country.
The state conducts an environmental sanitation exercise twice in a month.
Ilori, who explained that Lassa fever is a rat-borne disease due to dirty environment, lamented that the infection had already recorded casualties in some states.
Sokoto
Chairman Ansaruddeen Society of Nigeria, Sokoto State chapter, Sheik Bilyamu Ajani, has called on Christians to use the current lent period to pray for the political stability of the nation.
Ajani, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday, said prayers would also help to guarantee God’s protection for the citizens.
He said that lent was a time for the Christians to be close to their creator just as the Muslims usually observed the Ramadan fast.
He explained that the country was in dire need of prayers for God’s guidance, peace, progress and political stability.
Ajani also called on Nigerians to physically demonstrate the teachings of the two major religions in their day-to-day activities.
Nation
Rivers State Judiciary Counters NBA National Position over Contempt Ruling, Says Judge Acted Within the Law
The Rivers State Judiciary has faulted the Nigerian Bar Association National over its March 26, 2026 press release condemning the jailing of a lawyer for contempt, insisting the trial judge acted lawfully to protect the court’s integrity.
In a rejoinder issued by Chief Registrar High Court,David D. Ihua-Maduenyi, Esq., the judiciary said it was necessary to “set the records straight” following reactions to the NBA’s statement on the contempt conviction of Mrs. Lovinah Ugbana Benjamin.
Titled: “JUDGES MUST NOT BULLY LAWYERS OR
ABUSE POWER TO PUNISH FOR CONTEMPT AS A TOOL
FOR INTIMIDATION OF LAWYERS”
RE: IN THE MATTER OF CONTEMPT OF COURT BY MRS.
LOVINAH UGBANA BENJAMIN
IN SUIT NO.
PHC/301/2016 CORAM C. NWOGU J., OF THE HIGH
COURT OF RIVERS STATE.
The state judiciary explained that case in question is Suit No. PHC/301/2016 before Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the Rivers State High Court, where Mrs. Benjamin served as defence counsel.
The statement read thus
“We are compelled to make this rejoinder regarding the
incident of the conviction for contempt and subsequent
unconditional discharge of Mrs. Lovinah Ugbana Benjamin,
Learned Counsel for the Defendants in the above suit by Hon.
Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the High Court of Rivers State in
order to set the records straight, and not allow the
misinformation, misconception and reactions arising from the
NBA National Press Release in the matter to fester as reality or
truth.”
In the suit under reference wherein the said Learned
Counsel appeared for the Defendants, the Learned Counsel
attempted to mislead the Court by her signed and filed final
written address, by knowingly and falsely presenting non-
existent facts and evidence of a witness. When confronted by the
Court, she admitted that what she stated in her final written
the address was not true and she was unapologetic.”
“The to uphold the dignity and integrity of the Court, which the
said Learned Counsel treated with clear and brazen contempt, the
Court after following due process, convicted her for contempt and
sentenced her to prison for 3 days only, instead of the 3 months
statutory term due to passionate plea from the Bar.”
“According to the statement the suggestion of the NBA National in paragraph 10 of the
Press Release under reference that “where a court considers
counsel’s conduct improper, the proper course is to invoke
recognised disciplinary mechanisms, including referring
counsel to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee
(LPDC), rather than resorting to summary punitive measures”,
is not an invariable rule because the act of the Defence Counsel
constitutes contempt in facie curiae which the Court can punish
instantly, hence the action of the Judge is not an abuse of power
or an act of intimidation.”
“Nevertheless, due to the numerous calls from respected
members of the Bar to the offices of the Chief Registrar and the
Honourable Chief Judge for the release of the said Learned
Counsel, and the intervention of the NBA Port Harcourt Branch
delegation led by its Chairman, Mrs. Cordelia U. Eke to the Judge.
in his Chambers in the morning of 26/03/2026 where the
delegation upon learning the true facts of the incident, apologised
and pleaded for the release of the said Learned Counsel.
“The Judge
having accepted the apology signed a production warrant and
upon her production in court and oral application by Mrs. Cordelia
U. Eke, discharged her unconditionally that same morning.”
The statement further stated that It is therefore shocking to read later that day the NBA
National Press Release signed by its President and Secretary, Mazi
Afam Joseph Osigwe (SAN) and Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara respectively,
fiercely threatening and hastily advocated the following ultimata and
the immediate release of the affected
Counsel.
:That the Hon. Chief Judge of Rivers State
immediately investigate the circumstances
surrounding this incident and take
appropriate administrative action.
That appropriate disciplinary steps be taken
by the National Judicial Council, where
necessary.
That the remand of Mrs. Lovinah Ugbana
Benjamin under the circumstances be
condemned and set aside”
“That all NBA branches in Port Harcourt and
its environs and all legal practitioners
boycott the proceedings before the Court of
Hon. Justice Nwogu for a period of 7 days if
Mrs. Lovinah Ugbana Benjamin is not
released within 24 hours.
“It seems to us that it is either the NBA Port Harcourt Branch
leadership did not relate the true position to the NBA National or
if they did, the NBA National decided to speak daggers, not peace
to impugn the Judge as a villain.
“We find the position of the NBA National on this subject very
offensive and embarrassingly raising a feeling of acrimony against
the Judge in particular, and the High Court bench of Rivers State
in general. We categorically state that the Hon. Justice Chinwendu
Nwogu is one of our respected and respectful Judges with
unblemished integrity.
We view this Press Release as an isolated departure from the
enterprising and amiable leadership of the NBA National,
especially its President, whom we hold in high esteem and
admiration.”
“Whilst we appreciate the concern of the NBA National in
bringing attention to the event of 25th March 2026, we assure that
the Bench and the Bar in Rivers State remain veritable partners
in the administration of justice.
“We firmly restate that the Bench in Rivers State holds the Bar
in high esteem and this event would not disrupt the cordial
relationship between the Bench and the Bar.”