Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa Government last Tuesday distributed 31 motorcycles to district and village heads to monitor ongoing government projects in their areas.
Speaking at the occasion, the Project Manager of Local Apprenticeship Scheme, Alhaji Sani Jada, said the distribution of motorcycles was aimed at encouraging village heads to monitor government projects in their respective areas.
He said: “I wish to state that the motorcycles are meant for the supervision of Local Apprenticeship Scheme training activities and other government projects in your respective districts.’’
He warned against the use of the motorcycles for other purpose, adding that government would not hesitate to retrieve them and assign them to more serious person.
Bauchi
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has appealed to religious, traditional and political leaders in Northern Nigeria to take urgent steps to re-build the region currently being ravaged by insurgency.
He made the appeal when he met with former President, Court of Appeal, retired Justice Mamman Nasir, in Bauchi, Tuesday.
According to him, the leaders have the responsibility to restore lasting peace by identifying the main causes of the insurgence that has devastated the development of the entire region. Earlier, Nasir said the religious, traditional and political leaders had been disturbed by the lingering crises that had assumed communal and ethno-religious dimensions.
Borno
Gunmen last Sunday shot dead Malam Murtala Mohammed, a lecturer at the Mass Communication Department of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) at his residence in Maiduguri.
According to Eyewitnesses Mohammed was shot at his 202 Housing Estate, opposite the university campus.
Also speaking, Malam Yusuf Ibrahim, a neighbour of the deceased, said the victim appeared to have been trailed by his killers from the university campus before coming to his house. Ibrahim also said the killers fled immediately after shooting the deceased severally at close range.
FCT
Malam Mohammed Garba, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, was on Sunday elected the new President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ).
According to a release in Abuja on Monday signed by Mr Joseph Mutah, the Press Secretary to the Minister of Information the election took place at the third Congress of the Federation, which ended in Casablanca, Morocco, on Sunday.
“Garba had earlier been elected into the nine-member Steering Committee of the continental body, which unanimously elected him to lead the group for the next three years,’’ it said.
The statement said Mrs Louisa Rogerio from Angola was elected the Vice President, while Mr Stanislas Nkundiye from the Democratic Republic of Congo bagged the post of Treasurer. It said that 73 delegates from 28 countries voted during the election.
Kaduna
The National Youth Leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr Obadia Haruna, has blamed “intruders bent on disintegrating Nigeria” for the worsening security situation in some parts of the North.
Haruna made the observation on Tuesday in Kaduna at a unity forum organised by an NGO, Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria.
The CAN youth leader observed that the current violence and insecurity in the region had caused major set backs to the social and economic growth of the nation. The leader of the NGO, Pastor Yohana Buru, said the gathering was meant to bring together Muslims and Christians in the divided city to promote unity, love and understanding.
Kano
Local farmers in most parts of Kano State have started clearing their farms in readiness for this year’s planting season.
Farmers in Rimin Gado, Gwarzo and Kabo local government areas of the state, had commenced the clearing exercise about two weeks ago.
Investigation showed that some of the farmers who had completed the clearing of their farms had since been bringing local manure to their farms.
Farmers who travelled to some parts of the country in search of greener pastures during the dry season (popularly known as Ci Rani) had also started returning home.
Katsina
No fewer than 900 victims of last year’s flood disaster in Sandamu Local Government Area of Katsina State have shared N11.3 million as assistance by the Federal Government.
The Special Adviser to the state governor on Community Development Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, stated this while distributing the donation to the victims in Sandamu, Tuesday.
Yusuf said the amount was part of the N300 million released to the state by the federal government to assist last year’s flood victims in addressing some of their problems.
The Caretaker Chairman of Sandamu local council, Alhaji Sani Sabo, said the victims had earlier received relief materials from the state and local governments, as well as Non Governmental Organisations and philanthropists.
Kogi
Victims of the 2012 flood disaster in Kogi have rejected the offer of N3, 000 compensation from the state government, describing the gesture as inadequate.
The flood, which affected nine local government areas of the state, destroyed more than 500 houses and rendered15,00 residents homeless.
Some of the victims said that they were paid N3, 000 compensation on Thursday by a team of government officials at LGEA Primary School at Gadumo, Lokoja.
Among the victims were Mr Zacheus Momorebe, Mr James Oguche, Mr Suleiman Ogidi and Mr Olaitan Ayorinde, who claimed to be landlords.
Kwara
The Catholic Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, the Most Rev. Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, has urged the three tiers of government to do more for the citizenry to ensure their well-being.
Atoyebi who made the appeal in an interview on Monday in Ilorin urged governments at all levels to embark on people-oriented programmes.
“Most of the political manifestoes and electioneering promises remain unfulfilled and many projects unimplemented. “Government exists for the welfare of the people, and as such, they are to cater for their common good and lift them up socially,’’ he said.He advised the political class to be honest and desist from acts capable of causing division among the people.
Ogun
Members of the various PDP factions in Ogun last Monday, held a closed-door reconciliatory meeting at the hilltop residence of former Olusegun Obasanjo.
Those who attended the four-hour meeting were Chief Segun Oni, a former PDP National Vice-Chairman, South-West, Sen Jubril Martins Kuye, a former Minister of State for Finance and Chief Sarafa Ishola, a former Minister for Mines and Steel Development.
Kuye told newsmen that the development was part of the moves to reposition the party ahead of the 2015 General Elections and that the intra-party crises had caused a lot of setbacks to the party in the state,
He said that it was necessary for elders of the party to come together and “mend broken fences”, to move the party forward.
Oyo
The Oyo State government said on Monday that its urban renewal programmes were geared toward safeguarding and empowering the people.
The Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr Adebayo Olagbenro, said in an interview in Ibadan that to ease the hardship of the traders, the government had put in place temporary and permanent palliatives to further boost socio-economic development
He said that ownership of shops in the new complexes was not too rigid as they had been constructed on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) flexible payment module, for different business categories.
‘’We are poised towards aiding business development at all levels and not killing businesses as some people wrongly want to believe,” the commissioner said and called for patience on the part of the citizenry, saying that the ongoing restructuring in the state would be beneficial to all.
Plateau
The University of Jos will graduate 7,946 students, including nine in first class division, at its 26th convocation on Saturday April 6.
The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, who made this known when he briefed newsmen on Tuesday, said 613 students graduated with second class upper degrees.
“Out of the total number of grandaunts, 50 will be awarded doctorate degrees, 491 will receive master’s degrees, 67 will have postgraduate diplomas.
Mafuyai said that the university had made landmark achievements in the academic year, adding that one of the major achievements was that it became an ICT-driven institution.
Yobe
Water and sanitation projects are to be commissioned in 256 communities in Yobe under the 10th European Union Development Fund (EDF.
The General Manager of Yobe Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Malam Mohammed Bukar, who disclosed this in Damaturu said that 256 rural communities would be provided with water and sanitation facilities under the 10th EDF intervention.
The manager said that under the programme, European Union will provide 70 per cent of the funds, Yobe government 18 per cent, while local governments of the communities would provide 12 per cent.
Bukar said that the programme would promote clean water supply and storage, household cleanliness and the culture of hand washing among women and children.
Zamfara
Vice President Namadi Sambo says the Federal Government will establish 100 “Almajiri” Special Schools across the nation as part of its efforts to prevent street begging.
He stated this in Gusau, Zamfara , on Sunday at the end of the week long National Qur’an Recitation Competition.
According to Sambo, the schools when fully established, will promote both Islamic and western education among school-aged children who are now roaming the streets.
He stated that although the schools would be built across the country, a larger number would be established in the northern part of the country.
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.”