Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
A Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr Sule Bathner, has
advised people with diabetes ailment to feed more on fiber and starchy food.
Speaking in Bauchi at the monthly meeting of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Bauchi chapter, Bathner also said that moderate consumption of fat, cholesterol and protein and other classes of food items was advisable.
According to him, a combination of mixing food items that had starch and fiber slows down the digestion process, making it convenient for the system of diabetics to assimilate.
He said that this process assisted greatly in ensuring a controlled sugar level in the person’s system. The physician also advised against the common practice of moving the outer layer of grains before preparation.
Borno
The Borno State Government will prosecute contrac
tors found wanting in the execution of projects, Gov. Kashim Shettima has said.
The governor stated this while laying the foundation stone for the construction of the N823 million Bama Ultra Modern Market in Bama, heaquarters of Bama Local Government Area.
Shettima said the government would also sanction site engineers who failed to ensure that contractors executed standard job.
“Let me warn that government will henceforth apply sanction on any site engineer who allows contractors to execute poor jobs. “Government will also blacklist and prosecute contractors who execute bad jobs.
FCT
The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has approved
the commencement of clinical training for students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja. The university disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Gwagwalada, FCT.
It said the approval followed a visit to the institution by the VCN’s Accreditation Committee on December 4, 2012.
The statement signed by Malam Waziri Garba, the institution’s Information Officer, said the approval was contained in a letter written by VCN to the university.
Kano
A group, under the aegis of Concerned Arewa Patri
ots (CAP), has called for the fielding of a credible candidate from the north to contest for the country’s Presidency in 2015.
The North-West Co-ordinator of CAP, Mr Maiyaki Idris, made the call in Kano while briefing newsmen.
‘’CAP hereby appeals to the North to passionately address the crucial choice of a presidential candidate with credible standards devoid of ethnic, political and religious sentiments,’’ he said.
The group appealed to politicians from the north to ensure the selection of a candidate who is “incorruptible, sellable, reliable’’.
Kogi
Farmers in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi have
appealed to the Federal Government to provide seedlings and relief materials to cushion effects of the 2012 flood disaster.
The farmers, in separate interviews in Ibaji, told newsmen that they lost all their crops and granaries to the disaster. The Tide reports that Ibaji Local Government Area was the worst hit area in the state by the 2012 floods.
This had led the Federal Government into evacuating all residents to Idah town in the state.
The area is a border riverine community between Kogi and Anambra, comprising no fewer than 34 villages with farming as the major occupation of inhabitants.
Kwara
Alhaji Nurudeen Mohammed, a former Commissioner
for Finance in Kwara, has urged the nation’s anti-graft commissions to intensify their efforts at tackling corruption to engender development.
Mohammed, who stated this in Ilorin, appealed to the EFCC and ICPC to live up to their mandates of ridding the menace of corruption, which he said had reached an alarming rate.
He pleaded with the judiciary to ensure quick dispensation of justice, especially in matters that related to corruption.
The former commissioner, who is the Tafida of Kaima in Kwara, urged Nigerians, irrespective of religion and social cultural background, to work with security agencies in their bid to ensure a crime-free society.
Lagos
A university lecturer, Dr Oluyombo Onafowokan, on
Sunday in Lagos urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts that would further reduce poverty among Nigerians in 2013.
Onafowokan who is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Financial Studies, Redeemer’s University, Mowe in Ogun, told newsmen, government needed to be pro-active.
He said this would help it in achieving an improved standard of living for the populace.
Nasarawa
Mr Raphael Saka, the Chairman, Nasarawa State
House of Assembly’s Committee on Education, in Lafia decried the low level of school enrolment of the girl-child in the North.
Saka told newsmen, there was the need to address the imbalance if Nigeria must attain its set target of Education For All (EFA) by year 2015.
‘’It is only in the North that people are forced to go school, especially the females. It is a hard sell convincing parents that a girl should be educated first before getting married.
Niger
The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has appealed
to religious leaders to use religion to foster unity, peace and harmonious coexistence among Nigerians.
Abubakar made the appeal at the 4th graduation ceremony of 70 students of Madarasat Tahfizil Quran Wa Tarbiyatul-Islamiya School, Bida, and the school’s N20 million appeal fund in Bida.
“The two major religions of the world, Islam and Christianity preach peace as such the leaders of both religions should join hands to foster unity among Nigerians.
He cautioned all those that were aggrieved to always use dialogue to resolve their differences rather than confrontation.
Osun
Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Saturday in Ile-
Ife unveiled an Ife ancestral monument, popularly called Ori-olokun, as part of activities marking the inauguration of Ori-olokun garden.
The governor performed the unveiling of the huge Ori-Olokun sculpture at the Ori-Olokun Roundabout, formerly Mayfair Roundabout in Ile-Ife.
He described the monument as a precious heritage of the Yoruba race, and urged the people to protect and preserve it.
Mr Taiwo Olaiya, the Executive Secretary, Ife Central Local Government, under whose jurisdiction the garden is situated, also described the monument as the most famous in history.
Oyo
The Anti-Vandal Squad of the Nigeria Security and
Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has arrested four suspected pipeline vandals.
The four suspects, Tijjani Abdulahi, 33; Sarafa Sanusi, 35; Wasiu Ajibola, 35; and Sunday Solomon, 40, were paraded at the Command Headquarters at Iyaganku, Ibadan, by the State Commandant, Mr Clement Adesuyi.
Adesuyi, while parading the suspects, told newsmen that the suspects were arrested late Friday evening at Ajanla farms area in Sanusi Village along the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
He said that the alleged culprits had already tapped into an NNPC petroleum pipeline that passed through the area and were only waiting to convey the products when they were apprehended.
Yobe
The Yobe Ministry of Sports will develop a new
scheme of partnership with schools and institutions in the state to promote sporting activities at the grassroots.
Alhaji Yusuf Yahaya, the state Commissioner for Sports, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
He explained that the scheme was intended to develop potential to make good use of sporting facilities at the zonal community sports centres.
The commissioner noted that the zonal community sports centre in Geidam, which was designed to improve sports development at the grassroots, would be completed in 2013.
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.”