Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
No fewer than 500 women have benefited from the vocational and skill acquisition programme initiated by the Maiha Local Government in Adamawa during the last two years.
The Coordinator of the programme, Hajiya Zainab Abdullahi, told newsmen in Maiha last Tuesday that the measure was to empower women and enhance their economic wellbeing.
She said the beneficiaries were trained on aquaculture, poultry, livestock and crop production as well as tailoring, soap making and groundnut oil processing.
Abdullahi said the local council had distributed soft loans, sewing machines and other working tools to enable the women to set up their businesses and engage in gainful productive activities.
Bauchi
Bauchi State Ministry of Water Resources sunk 500 boreholes in various parts of the state between 2007 and 2011.
The outgoing Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Bukar Bayero, made the announcement on Tuesday in Bauchi while handing over the affairs of the ministry to the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Yerima Yusuf.
He said that most of the boreholes were sunk in rural areas to ease the water problem faced by the people.
Bayero said that some of the boreholes were sunk in hospitals and schools in various locations in the state.
He advised Governor Isa Yuguda to appoint credible people as commissioners to enable the government to sustain and improve on its achievements so far.
Borno
The Borno co-ordinator of NAFDAC, Malam Adamu Sabo, in Maiduguri called on the producers of foods to avoid adulteration or be ready to face the consequences.
Sabo, who made the call in an interview with newsmen, noted that palm oil, groundnut oil, fruits and other food items were being adulterated by the sellers to maximise profit.
He said the adulteration was harmful to human health, pointing out that such act affected the functions of body organs.
Adamu said the agency would not accept any thing other than a high level of hygiene in the production of food items.
Ekiti
A 32-year-old man, Mr Gabriel Adeniyi, last Tuesday appeared before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s court charged with the vandalism of equipment belonging to the PHCN in Ado-Ekiti Business District.
Our Correspondent reports that the accused person was allegedly caught vandalising the company’s transformer located along Oke-Ila Street in Ado-Ekiti.
The Police Prosecutor, Mr Ewuola Ebenezer, told the court that the accused person and two others, now at large, were arrested by the police at midnight on Feb. 12 while vandalising the equipment.
Ebenezer, a corporal, said that the accused person had committed an offence punishable under Section 509 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 30, Volume 2, Laws of Ondo State, as applicable to Ekiti State.
FCT
Miss Dupe Shittu, a seamstress in Utako Market, last Tuesday, pleaded with an Abuja Customary Court to order a judicial separation from her 22-year-old relationship with Mr Isaac Omolua.
Shittu also wants the court to give her custody of the three children that came from the relationship and to restrain Omolua from abducting them.
She told the court that Omolua, who is above 60 years, was a polygamist with three wives and 10 children.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has warned residents against the dumping of refuse in drains, on rail tracks and highways, warning that it would deal with anyone violating the directive.
Mr. Zakariah Shamaki, the state Commissioner for Environment, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna last Tuesday.
Shamaki said that notorious dump sites had been identified and would soon be cleared.
He disclosed that the state government had cleared 20 out of the 49 dump sites discovered last year.
He expressed concern over the indiscriminate dumping of refuse and said that the state government would apply appropriate measures to stop the act.
Katsina
Alhaji Yakubu Wada, acting chairman of Malumfashi local government in Katsina State on Monday enjoined youths to participate in community development programmes.
Wada made the call while addressing group youth associations at voluntary dredging of Malumfashi dam embarked by youths associations aimed at enhancing water storage and water passages.
He said community development efforts would enhance development as government have enormous burden and called on wealthy individuals and organisations to assist such initiatives.
Kobbi
The Kebbi Department of Fire Services has said that two persons died in the 44 fire incidents it recorded between January and April.
The State Director of Fire Services, Alhaji Garba Zagga, said in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that about 85 per cent of the fire incidents were caused by electrical faults.
Zagga told newsmen that Jega, Aliero, Birnin Kebbi and Koko/Besse local government areas recorded the highest number of fire incidents.
He said that the two deaths recorded were in Koko/Besse Local Government Area, while 13 houses and property worth N800,000 were lost in Barbarejo in Suru Local Government Area.
Kwara
Dr Aishat Saka of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital says Nigeria records 114 deaths in every 1,000 births.
Saka said in an interview with the newsmen in Ilorin last Tuesday that the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria was 948 per 100,000 live births.
She said adequate maternal nutrition was essential for new born babies and advised nursing mothers to embrace exclusive breast-feeding with a view to improving the intellectual capacity of their children.
Saka said adequate nutrition was a major determinant of health and growth as well as the determinant of the intellectual capacity of the child.
Logos
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has begun the clearing of waste from water bodies in the state, Mr Ola Oresanya, the Managing Director, has said.
Oresanya told Journalists in Lagos that the project was ongoing in Lekki, Badagry, Ikorodu, Iddo, Snake Island and Oworonshoki.
He expressed the hope that that the exercise would enhance the preservation of aquatic life.
“We have commenced a routine operation of waste collection and disposal from across lagoons in the state.
Niger
The Niger State Government has spent N1 billion on the purchase of 13,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser for sale to farmers on subsidy, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Aminu Yusuf, has announced.
He told newsmen that the purchase was part of government’s efforts to boost food production in the state.
Yusuf said the NPK brand of fertiliser would be sold at a subsidised rate of N2,500 per bag against the N4,800 market price, while the Urea brand would be sold at N2,100 per bag against the market price of N4,500.
Plateau
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau has approved the appointment of Mr Gyang Pwajok as his new Chief of Staff.
The appointment is contained in a statement signed by Mr Atang Azi, the Permanent Secretary, Policy and General Services, in Jos last Tuesday.
It said that the appointment was with immediate effect.
Until his appointment, Pwajok was the Director-General, Research and Documentation in the governor’s office.
The new Chief of Staff replaces Mr Ignatius Longjan, who is now Deputy-Governor elect.
Sokoto
Alhaji Bala Yabo, member-elect, Sokoto State House of Assembly, has promised to introduce a scholarship scheme for all qualified pupils in his constituency.
Yabo told newsmen in Sokoto that the measure would complement the effort of the state government in its resolve to provide qualitative education in the state.
He said education remained a tool needed to fight poverty and all machinery had been put in place to ensure youths acquired western education, to enable them to contribute positively to the development of the area.
“We must at this material time begin necessary modalities that will make our future generation relevant in the task ahead,” he said.
Taraba
The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) in Taraba has accused men of inciting Nigerians against one another, and causing religious crisis in the country.
Hajiya Zainab Galadima, the Chairperson of the association, made the accusation in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo.
According to her, the Islamic religion considers all human beings as equal before God.
She said that she could not understand why men used the religion as an instrument for division.
“My understanding of the Islamic religion is that all human beings are equal before God.
“The closest person to God is the one who is righteous, not the one that belongs to a particular religion.
Zamfara
Prices of beans have increased by about 15 per cent in Gusau, Zamfara.
A survey conducted by Our Correspondent in grain markets in Gusau on Tuesday showed that a bag of beans, which was N8, 000 four weeks ago, now sells for between N9,000 and N9,500, depending on the quality of the grains.
Also a measure of beans, which was N250 last month, now costs between N260 and N270.
Mallam Muhammadu Kabiru, a beans dealer, told Our Correspondent that they expected the high prices to come down any moment from now.
Nation
Zabbey Emerges Social Impact Man Of The Year 2025 …Reaffirms Commitment To Ogoni Transformation
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, has been named Social Impact Man of the Year 2025 by Daily Independent Newspapers.
The award was presented at the Independent Awards 2025 Silver Jubilee Edition held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, as part of activities marking the organisation’s 25th anniversary of editorial excellence.
Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers, Steve Omanufeme, said the award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and transformative impact in their respective fields. He explained that recipients emerged through a rigorous process involving public voting, editorial board scrutiny, and assessment by a panel of judges.
Omanufeme noted that Zabbey’s selection reflects his outstanding contributions to environmental restoration and community development in Ogoniland through the Ogoni cleanup project.
With over two decades of experience spanning research, advocacy, capacity development, and administration, Zabbey has, within three years of leading HYPREP, implemented people-focused initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and restoring degraded ecosystems.
Under his leadership, the project has reportedly created more than 7,000 direct jobs and facilitated the training of thousands of youths and women in high-demand skills, including mechatronics, cybersecurity, commercial diving, underwater welding, and data analytics.
HYPREP has also trained over 5,000 beneficiaries across 21 vocational skill areas, providing start-up kits to support entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.
In the area of environmental sustainability, the agency has established 31 environmental clubs in secondary schools and trained 2,500 youths with International Maritime Organization (IMO) certification to support shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration efforts.
The project has recorded significant ecological milestones, including the cleanup of over 1,000 hectares of shoreline and restoration of 560 hectares of mangroves. This progress contributed to the designation of Ogoni mangrove wetlands as a Ramsar Site of international importance.
Beyond environmental remediation, HYPREP has expanded its social intervention programmes to include educational grants and scholarships for over 1,000 students, support for small and medium-scale enterprises, and skills training for persons living with special needs.
Infrastructure and healthcare development have also featured prominently, with ongoing projects such as the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, a Cottage Hospital, the Ogoni Power Project, and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration. The agency has further strengthened emergency healthcare delivery by donating five ambulances to medical facilities in the region.
Additionally, potable water has been provided to more than 40 communities, alongside the construction of wind-powered water systems in underserved areas.
Speaking on the award, Zabbey described it as a validation of HYPREP’s integrated approach to environmental restoration, healthcare improvement, and economic empowerment.
“We remain committed to delivering a cleanup that not only restores the environment but also improves livelihoods in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
HYPREP, in a statement, expressed appreciation to the management of Independent Newspapers for the recognition, the Federal Ministry of Environment for its oversight role, and the Ogoni communities for their continued support and collaboration.
The agency was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to implement the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland and restore areas impacted by oil pollution.
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.”
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