Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Chief Matron, Bauchi State Urban Maternity, Hajiya Fatima Dangambo, has said that health workers were being counselled on tolerance for better service delivery.
In an interview in Bauchi, Monday she said there was the need for counselling to improve relations between health workers and patients’ relatives, who often rain abuses on health workers at their duty post.
Dangambo said that such issues which were related to free drugs for women and under-five children had being on going in the state.
“We have to counsel our staff to be tolerant and not make such abuses stop them from performing their duties because such words will not have any impact on them physically”, he said.
FCT
The Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs Joy Bob-Manuel, on Tuesday in Abuja reiterated the commitment of the council to provide legal aid to the indigent.
Bob-Manuel made the call at a sensitisation campaign organised by the council to create awareness on its activities.
She said the campaign was a nationwide project meant to sensitise Nigerians of their right to seek legal services and the readiness of the council to provide free legal aid to them.
According to her, the processes involved in getting the services of lawyers in the council are not complicated, adding that the major requirement was a written application.
Gombe
No fewer than 2,806 patients were admitted at the Snake Bite Treatment and Research Centre, Kaltungo, Gombe State from January to November, 2012.
The Medical Officer in Charge of the centre, Dr Habu Ballah, made this known in an interview in Kaltungo on Tuesday.
He said of the figure 33 patients died owing to the delay in reaching the centre, while four others died on arrival at the centre.
Dr Ballah recalled that 316 patients attended the centre in 2011, saying the existing figure was higher owing to factors such as flooding, lack of awareness of treatment at the centre and increase in farming activities.
He said apart from the state, patients were brought from Taraba, Plateau, Bauchi, Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano, Yobe and even Cameroun.
Jigawa
Residents of Dutse, Jigawa on Tuesday described President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state as a positive step to fast track the rapid development of the state.
A cross section of the residents in Dutse, said that the visit was a ‘’welcome development’’.
Alhaji Garba Abbas, a teacher, said that the two-day official visit by the president would attract federal projects to the state.
A Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Isa Haruna, said the visit would enable the president to meet his people and assess their needs.
Kaduna
The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), in Kaduna State, on Tuesday ordered local council workers protesting delay in salary payment to return to work.
Comrade Shehu Abubakar, the President of the union gave the order after a close door meeting with NULGE officials of Kaduna North Local Government.
The meeting followed protest by members of the union of the local council, which began on Monday, over delay in the payment of their three months salaries.
Kaduna North, Igabi, Sabon Gari, Kaduna South and Kaura Local Governments have been unable to pay the salaries of their workers for months due to inadequate funds.
Abubakar said the state government and the union were meeting on the matter, and assured the workers that the issue would be resolved amicably. He advised members of the union to always follow due process in demanding for their rights.
Kogi
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended the prompt response mechanism instituted by the Kogi Government toward handling internally displaced persons in relief camps.
The Director, Emergency Risk Management and Humanitarian Response, Dr. Brennan Richard, gave the commendation on Tuesday, when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Idris Wada. Wada was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi.
Richard said that the health impact associated with the flood could be devastating, if not properly managed.
Kwara
The Kwara Government said it planned to create 16 additional parastatals in the state to energise its activities.
This is contained in a release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Abdulwahab Oba, in Ilorin, Monday.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said this when he received the Chairmen of Boards of parastatals and agencies who paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Ilorin. According to him, the parastatal will be sixteen new boards and with over members.
The governor said they would be charged with the responsibility of running various segments of government to ensure efficiency in service delivery among others.
Nasarawa
The Chairman of Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) Dr Abdullahi Modibo, has assured all political parties in the state of a level play ground in the forthcoming local election.
Modibo gave the assurance in an interview in Lafia on Tuesday
The chairman, however, appealed to the electorate to come out enmass and vote for the candidates of their choice during the exercise, adding that their votes would count.
He also assured all the constants that the poll would be free, fair and credible.
Niger
As part of its Four-Year-Strategic Plan for the education sector, the Federal Government on Tuesday launched a capacity building programme for teachers in English Language, Mathematics and Science.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, who was launching the programme in Suleja, Niger State, said the programme followed a needs assessment carried out in selected secondary schools in the 36 states and the FCT.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike said that every effort would be made to ensure that resources provided were used regularly to improve the quality of teaching and learning.
Ogun
A 33 year-old mechanic, Mr Yemi Oyeniyi, fled his matrimonial home in Abeokuta, following a scan revelation that his wife was carrying triplet.
The mechanic’s wife, Mrs Esther Oyeniyi, said her hospital bed that her five year-old marriage had earlier produced two children.
She said that her husband absconded since June 3, 2012 when the result of the scan revealed that she was carrying triplet.
She described the disappearance of her husband as worrisome, saying that the development had forced her to relocate to Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Oke Yidi in the metropolis.
Oyo
Three commissioners were dropped from the from the Oyo State Executive Council in a cabinet reshuffle in Ibadan, Monday.
The reshuffle was announced by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Waheed Olajide, after the council meeting. Olajide also announced the swapping of portfolios by some commissioners.
He said that those dropped include, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde; Works and Transport, Mr Bosun Oladele; Information and Orientation and Mr Kazeem Adedeji, Trade, Investment and Cooperatives.
Plateau
Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State on Tuesday in Jos signed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) bill into law.
While performing the ceremony, Jang warned against the diversion of relief materials meant for victims of emergencies.
Stakeholders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had severely criticised Plateau over its inability to establish a SEMA, in spite of its numerous man-made and natural disasters.
Shortly after signing the bill, the governor said:“I believe this bill I signed into law is holistic and positioned to be relevant to the present realities of global trends in disaster management.
Sokoto
Electricity Consumers Association, Sokoto State chapter, on Monday, demanded the payment of N1 billion as compensation from the PHCN for allegedly disrupting electricity supply to the state in the last three days.
Electricity workers in the state carried out their threat of disconnecting the state at the expiration of a two-week ultimatum to Governor .Aliyu Wamakko to apologise over an alleged manhandling of one of their colleagues, an allegation which the governor had since denied.
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.”