Nation
THE STATES
Borno
Farmers in Maiduguri metropolis have appealed to the Joint Task Force (JTF) to review the curfew imposed in some parts of the state to enable them perform their farming activities.
A cross section of those, who spoke to newsmen in Maiduguri and Jere local government areas on Tuesday said that the curfew had negatively affected farming activities.
The JTF on Operation Restore Order (ORO) had on January 12, imposed a 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in five of the 27 local government areas of the state to curtail the activities of the Boko Haram sect.
Malam Ibrahim Audu, a farmer in Zabarmari, said that the curfew had made it difficult for farmers to operate optimally in the farm.
FCT
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to inter-religious harmony for peace and development in the country.
Vice President Namadi Sambo said this in Abuja when he received the Prefect, Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue (PCID), His Eminence, Jean Louis Card Tauran, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to him, the government supports every synergy among religious organisations as this will enhance peaceful co-existence of the diverse groups in the country.
He assured the Pontifical Prefect of the government’s support, saying: “I want to assure you that we will give you all the support you need in the achievement of all your noble objectives in ensuring that there is peace and harmony in Nigeria and the world in general.”
Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has assured corps members deployed to the state that their security and welfare would be taken care of by the government.
He gave the assurance at the close of the 2012 Batch ‘A’ NYSC orientation course at Malam-sidi Permanent Orientation Camp in Kwami Local Government Area of the State in which 446 corps members passed out.
Dankwambo, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Tha’anda Rubainu, however, advised corps members to identify with the people in the state and their aspirations for the service to be successful.
In his remarks, Mr Eli Akeme, the Head of the Civil Service in the state and Chairman of the Governing Council of NYSC, said the corps members were fully ready and eager to contribute their quarter to the development of their host communities.
Jigawa
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State has charged batch “A” of the NYSC members posted to the state to rededicate their energies towards the unity of the nation.
Lamido was speaking at the parade/official closing ceremony of the orientation course for the members in Dutse.
He described “ youths as the vanguard of peace, unity and development of any society. “
He enjoined them to be committed, resilient and dedicated to their work in the various places of their primary assignments.
“As you are set out to begin your primary assignment, it is pertinent for you to reflect on the basic fundamental rudiments in which the orientation course was predicated. “
He explained that, the NYSC programme was designed to give members exposure and make them exhibit leadership qualities in their various communities after they finished the service.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State chapter of NULGE has urged the Kaduna State Government to reverse recent redeployment of working mothers in Kaduna North and Kaduna South local Government Areas.
About 350 workers in the affected areas were transferred to 21 other local government areas in the state due to the inability of the councils to pay workers’ salary.
The state President of NULGE, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, told newsmen in Kaduna that, the call became necessary as married women could not work in places far away from their families.
He said that such transfers would reduce the affected workers’ performance as their attention would be divided.
Abubakar said that although the exercise was legal, it should consider issues of health and marriage.
Kebbi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has directed producers of packaged water in Kebbi to re-register their companies in line with new strategies to improve quality.
The directive was issued on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi by Dr. Eric Iful, the agency’s North-West zonal coordinator at a sensitisation workshop for packaged water producers in the state
He told participants that the compulsory re-registration was to enable NAFDAC to capture the bio-metric data of all clients for monitoring and evaluation towards good manufacturing practices.
Iful observed that 8,679 water packaging factories had failed to register with NAFDAC, adding, “the exercise will assist to overcome myriad of problems in the production of healthy packaged water”.
Lagos
A property consultant, Chief Kola Akomolede, has said that the worsening security situation in Nigeria might cripple the hospitality and leisure industry if not checked.
He told newsmen in Lagos that the spate of bombing and shooting could discourage tourists from coming to Nigeria.
“Even Nigerians are being discouraged from visiting certain parts of the country other than their own community,’’ he said.
Akomolede said that the hospitality and leisure industry were very important to national development because of the potentials as good source of foreign exchange earnings.
He said that opportunities abound in hospitality industries in Nigeria due to shortage of hotels and places of leisure.
The consultant said that very few cities in Nigeria could host major international events due to shortage of good hotels.
Akomolede urged the Federal Government to address the security challenges promptly.
“Besides the security issues, Nigeria is a potential tourist attraction, it’s just that we are not developing them,’’ he said.
Nasarawa
The Police in Nasarawa State has confirmed the killing of a suspected motorcycle snatcher by irate youths on Monday at Ajaga village in Nasarawa Local Government Area.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Cornelius Ocholi, told newsmen in Lafia that the suspect, Bala Bawa, from Arah village allegedly snatched a motorcycle from one Ibrahim Hassan.
Ocholi said that Bawa snatched the motorcycle after beating Hassan to a state of coma.
He noted that villagers got wind of the incident and reported to the police in the area, which led to the arrest and detention of the suspect.
He said that youths in the area mobilised themselves and stormed the police post where the suspect was being detained, over powered the men on duty, dragged out the suspect and beat him to death.
The spokesman noted that the officers on duty contacted the Nasarawa Divisional Headquarters, which is about 30 kilometres away but that before the reinforcement could reach the police post, the mob had already killed the suspect and fled.
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has appealed to security agencies in the country to always uphold their constitutional role of supporting free, fair and credible elections at all times.
The governor stated this in Akure while playing host to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Ameen Ikioda.
According to him, security agencies have crucial roles to play in sustaining the existing unity and stability of the country.
Mimiko also advised security agencies against being used by unscrupulous politicians “who are selfish and anti-people in their inordinate ambition to govern at all cost. ’’
“The role of security agencies is crucial to peace, unity and stability of our great country. Therefore, I want to plead with you to make sure that elections are free and fair in this country,” he said.
Mimiko further said his administration had implemented programmes and policies aimed at tackling poverty in the state.
He said the state’s healthcare programme, construction of mega schools and rural transformation initiatives were all targeted at the downtrodden in the society.
Plateau
Eggs mopped up following a glut in Plateau are being hurriedly distributed to some categories of people as some of them have rotten away.
Source said that the state government set up a committee, and released N30 million to buy off the eggs following farmers’ inability to dispose of them on time, especially in Chad Republic, as a result of recent border closure.
However, the eggs are being distributed by the committee after the bad ones have been removed.
Mrs Olivia Dazyam, Women Affairs Commissioner, who is in charge of the distribution of the eggs, however, confirmed that the eggs were already being hurriedly shared out.
“We are sharing 500 crates to patients and nursing mothers at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos. We shall thereafter move to orphanage homes and special schools,’’ she told newsmen.
She regretted the undue delay and attributed it to efforts to ensure that only the targeted groups benefited.
Some eggs were purchased two weeks ago with farmers who said that they were three weeks old at the time of purchase.
Information Commissioner Abraham Yiljab, had blamed the poor demand on the closure of borders with Chad that had always purchased the commodity in bulk.
According to Barko, the committee is expected to purchase 50,000 crates for distribution to students, expectant mothers, the sick and the elderly.
Yobe
The Yobe Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS (YOSACA) has observed that regular clinic attendance by expectant mothers and the voluntary HIV testing have reduced mother and child deaths in the state.
“The agency has enlightened, mobilised and encouraged pregnant women across the state to access the free ante-natal services and HIV tests provided in government hospitals,” the Executive Secretary of the agency, Hajiya Farida Mamudo told newsmen in Damaturu.
“YOSACA has trained 40 Traditional Birth Attendants in seven Local Government Areas specifically on referring pregnant women to ante-natal clinics and on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Mamudo commended the role played by traditional rulers, religious leaders and other organisations in combating HIV and AIDS as well as stigmatisation in communities.
“This collaborative effort combined with government’s determination is yielding positive results in healthcare delivery in the state,” she said.
Zamfara
The Zamfara Government has promised to provide adequate security for youth corps members posted to the state.
Governor Abdulaziz Yari made the promise during the graduation ceremony of the three-week orientation of Batch ‘A‘ youth corps members at the Tsafe NYSC camp, where he was represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Bello Umar.
The governor said government was doing “everything possible” to ensure that the corps members were given adequate protection to enable them discharge their assignment without hindrance.
He noted that insecurity in the country had posed a major challenge not only to government but all peace-loving Nigerians.
He asked them to conduct themselves, and be dedicated in their places of primary assignment.
He said that efforts were on to rejuvenate the Sharia legal system although enforcement of its law would be applied to Muslims only.
He also pledged to complete the NYSC permanent orientation camp at Tsafe which was started five years ago by the previous administration.
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.”