Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja team has emerged winner of the maiden edition of Baba Mai Mangoro National Para-Soccer Championship (Adamawa 2013), which ended last Saturday in Yola.
In the final match of the tournament, Abuja defeated Kano to emerge the overall winner while Adamawa came third after beating Nasarawa in the third place match by three goals to nil.
The final match between Abuja and Kano ended in a penalty shoot out after the two teams drew 2-2 at full time. Abuja scored all its three penalty kicks to have a total of five goals while Kano scored only two of its penalty kicks missing one to emerged runners up with four goals.
The prize for the most valuable player went to Mohammed Hussaini of Nasarawa, while prize for best goal keeper went to Ibrahim Abubakar of Gombe. Mohammed Abdullahi of Kano got the prize for the highest goal scorer.
Bauchi
The Police in Dass town of Bauchi State said they repelled an attack by gunmen at the town’s police station last Friday night.
The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Alhaji Mohammed Ladan, told newsmen that the attackers were repelled by his men.
Ladan said in the face-off with the gun men, a police man was shot on the leg, adding that apart from the wounded policeman the attackers did not succeed in either carting away arms or burning the station.
Confirming the attack, Information Officer of the Dass Emirate, Alhaji Bala Nalado said that the assailants only managed to pull down parts of the building.
He said that the attackers left without causing serious damages to the building. The attack was the first incident of an attack on police stations in the state this year.
Benue
The Permanent Secretary, Benue Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Andy Uwouku, has urged the Federal Government to release more grains from its reserves to meet possible shortfall of food items in the country.
Uwouku said in Makurdi on Saturday that the flood disaster in 2012 in the country was capable of affecting food supply stating that in Benue alone, all the major rice producing local governments were affected, and that rice worth millions of naira was washed away by the floods.
He said about 60 percent of rice fields in Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas was destroyed, 50 per cent of the farms in Logo, Gwer West was washed away while in Agatu, 80 percent of rice cultivations was devastated.
The permanent secretary disclosed that rice production programme was targeted at places where the crop had great comparative advantage in soil compatibility.
FCT
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has upgraded its Automated Biometric Identification System aimed at boosting enrolments of Nigerians into the national identity project.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Mr Anthony Okwudiafor, the Director, Corporate Communications, “the system was first deployed in 2010, it had only two bimodal functionalities to capture the fingerprint and the face.”
The statement added that the system had been upgraded to accommodate more features. It said the Federal Government had approved the upgrade to 70 million Databases to accommodate the two modal functionalities as part of the N30.066 billion three-year funding that was approved for the commission in 2011.
“But the Management of NIMC has been able to utilise the same funding to achieve a higher upgrade due to its cordial relationship with service providers,” it said.
Gombe
Commissioner of Information and Orientation in Gombe State, The Rev. Habu Dawaki, says the Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo administration has executed “unprecedented’’ development projects in the last one and a half years.
The commissioner said that the government was paying attention to education, roads and infrastructure, water resources, erosion control, healthcare as well as youth and women empowerment.
He said the government had embarked on a massive construction of roads with a view to opening up the state for agricultural and socio-economic development.
“Most of these roads have been completed while some are under construction,” Dawaki said.
Kaduna
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has said that corruption and poverty are national social menace that are detrimental to national development.
He said this at a lecture on “Religion, Ethnicity and Corruption : Challenges of National Security” organised by the Centre for Peace, Conflict and Security Studies, ABU, in collaboration with Students’ Representative Council of the institution.
Tambuwal, who was represented by Rep. Bashir Adamu, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, lamented over the prevalence of corruption and poverty in the country.
In his speech, the ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, observed that national conflicts were added conflicts emanating from ward, local and state levels.
Kogi
The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Yomi Awoniyi, has commended the Federal Government for awarding contract for reconstruction of the Lokoja to Benin road.
Awoniyi who made the commendation in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, in Lokoja expressed gratitude to the Controller of Works and the Zonal Director, Federal Emergency Road Management Agency, Mr Aigbe Osayi and Femi Kayode respectively.
Awoniyi said good road remained cardinal to the socio–economic well being of any society and advised the Federal Government to also construct the Obajana – Ilorin road, in view of its socio–economic significance.
He stated that the state government was ready to partner with the Federal Ministry of Works to improve all federal roads passing through the state, and assured contractors on the maintenance jobs along Lokoja – Abuja road of government’s support.
Kwara
The Kwara Government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Offa and Erin-Ile communities to allow Muslims and Christians to observe their religion obligations.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold who gave this directive in a statement in IIorin, advised Muslims and Christians in the two communities to use the relaxed period on Fridays and Sundays for religious purposes..
The statement said movement would be allowed between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m. on Fridays and between 7:00am and 2:00pm on Sundays. However, the 24-hour curfew would continue to operate on other days besides Fridays and Sundays.
Meanwhile, the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Alhaji Najeem Yasin on Friday called on the Inspector-General of Police to investigate causes of the crisis.
Yasin made the call at Offa after inspecting scenes of the crisis and described the level of destruction and loss of lives in the two feuding communities as enormous.
Lagos
The Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen has directed Messrs Borini Prono, handling the Apapa-Tincan Atlas Cove project, to hasten its ongoing construction of trailer park on the Oshodi – Apapa Expressway.
Onolememen, who spoke in Lagos on Friday while inspecting projects on the axis, had listened to the submissions of Mrs O. Osakue, Engineer Representative on the project.
Osakue had blamed the slow pace of work on illegal occupiers on its right of way and inadequate funding of the project by the government.
Onolememen said that the firm’s excuses were not genuine, and urged the company to emulate Julius Berger, its counterpart which handled phase one rehabilitation of the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, and did not wait for funds.
Oyo
Primate Rufus Ositelu of The Church of the Lord Aladura Worldwide says that licensing of religious preachers before operating in the country will not work.
Ositelu told newsmen in Ibadan, Sunday that the recent suggestion on preachers’ permit by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, was commendable due to security challenges, particularly in the north.
Ositelu, however, said considering the huge population and different religions, monitoring all religious preachers through permits was not practicable.
Ositelu commended the sultan and described him as a true leader who had worked with Christian counterparts to fight religious violence in the country.
Plateau
The Plateau State Emergence Management Agency (SEMA) has commenced the distribution of 1,500 tonnes of grains to the 2012 flood victims in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Steven Barko, inaugurated the lifting of the grains to various distribution centres on Friday. Barko represented Mr Ignatius Longjan, Plateau Deputy Governor and Chairman of SEMA’s Governing Council.
Longjan said the 1500 tonnes of sorghum and maize which were 30,000 bags, were donated to Plateau Government by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to mitigate the sufferings of the victims of the flood disaster.
SEMA Executive Secretary, Mr Alhassan Barde, said that every arrangement was completed for the distribution.
The executive secretary gave assurance that transparency and fairness would be the watch words during the distribution exercise.
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.”