Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Rep. Aliyu Gebi, (Bauchi Federal Constituency) last Sat
urday called for devolution of powers from the federal level to the state and local government councils.
Gebi made the call in a paper entitled: “Hindrances to Transformation Agenda. The Way Forward”, he delivered at the Annual National Alumni Lecture of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
He said it would be difficult to deliver dividends of democracy with the current power structure in the country, adding that it would be difficult to realise the aims of the Federal Government’s transformation agenda if power structure remained unchanged.
Earlier, the National President of the alumni association, Malam Mohammed Wada, said the association would continue to uphold the aspirations of the founding fathers of the university.
Benue
The priest in charge of the Catholic Youth
Centre, Makurdi, Rev. Fr. Ambrose Amue, last Sunday appealed to Nigerians to exhibit humility in public service.
Amue, who made the appeal at a sermon, said that humility was necessary as those in leadership positions were entrusted with such responsibility by the people.
He said humility would always enable political officer holders to act with fear of God and provide selfless service to the people.
The cleric urged politicians to consider political appointments as an opportunity to serve the people better.
According to him, leadership is about rendering service and that those occupying the positions of responsibility must see themselves as servants rather than masters of the people.
Borno
The Borno State Government said last Sunday that it
would partner with Pakistan to harness the full agricultural potential of the state.
Governor Kashim Shettima made the statement while receiving a Pakistani trade delegation, led by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Alhaji Dauda Danladi, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Shettima pointed out that the partnership would cover areas like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, sports and gum Arabic among others, and declared that government was also making effort to revive the state’s education system through strengthening of science education.
The governor said that the administration was also willing to partner with Pakistan in the area of training for science teachers and training of medical doctors.
Jigawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State has arrested a 25-year-old woman for allegedly dumping her new born baby girl in a graveyard in Kazaure Local Government.
The NSCDC commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said last Saturday in Dutse that the suspect was arrested last Friday at Ilallah quarters in Kazaure town.
Gidado said the woman, who was a housemaid in the area, was arrested after the corps conducted a thorough investigation among divorcees, widows, housemaids and prostitutes living in the area.
He said a medical examination at the General Hospital at Hadejia revealed that the suspect was the biological mother of the baby.
Kaduna
Kaduna State chapter of the Jamaatu Izalatul Bidia
Waiqatusunnah (JIBW) last Saturday said youth empowerment was key to the eradication of moral decadence and violence among them.
Chairman of the group, Sheik Tukur Isa said this when he led other officials to pay a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area in Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
He said government at all levels should take the empowerment of young people as a cardinal point in their programmes, adding that self-reliant youths remained one of the keys to addressing lots of the social vices facing the country.
The cleric commended Jema’a local government council’s efforts at uniting the people of the area and pledged its support and prayers for unity among the people.
Kano
Kano State Government has urged residents of the state
to desist from erecting structures on waterways to avoid flooding.
The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, made the call while speaking to newsmen in Kano shortly after the monthly environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday.
Abbas said the flood which occurred in many parts of the state was man-made and could have been prevented if people did not block waterways.
According to him, “people erect structures on top of waterways and drains and when there is a down pour they experience flood because the passages are blocked. I want to commend the Governor Kwankwaso administration for its efforts to revert to Kano’s initial town plan. That is the only solution to the current situation as some structures have been moved away to free the waterways.”
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has approved the
appointment of four new permanent secretaries into the state civil service.
This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the state Civil Service Commission, Mr Felix Ogbodo.
The statement, a copy of which was made available to newsmen last Sunday in Lokoja, named new permanent secretaries as Messrs James Adedoyin, Usman Odawn, Ibrahim Joshua and Mrs Iyabode Agbore.
It said the appointments was with immediate effect.
Kwara
APC chairmanship candidate in the Irepodun Local Gov
ernment Area of Kwara State, Mr Abdulraheem Olawuyi, has called on religious leaders to assist government in reviving the nation’s education sector.
Olawuyi made the call last Sunday at the 2012/2013 Prize Giving Day ceremony of the Omu-Aran Summer School Programme in Omu-Aran.
Olawuyi who decried the not-too impressive fortune of the education sector in Nigeria, said the trend posed grave danger to the growth and economic development of the country.
According to him, any nation aspiring to develop either through research, scientific or medicinal needs to strive harder to ensure a high level educational development of its citizenry.
“Government at all levels in the country seems to be at a loss as the state of Nigeria’s education sector declines by day. It is declining at such an alarming rate, hence the need for divine intervention through prayers.
Niger
Activities of Prison Fellowship of Nigeria in the areas of
evangelism and care for inmates have brought about positive changes in the lives of inmates across the country.
Pastor Peter Okere, the chaplain of the fellowship, Suleja chapter, stated this last Saturday in Suleja, Niger State, at a one-day Prison Ministers’ Conference entitled “The Chosen One’’.
He said the fellowship’s decision to embark on prison outreach programmes was informed by its belief that prisoners deserved God’s love.
Okere urged the public to have compassion for prisoners, insisting that experience had shown that repentant prisoners had been useful in the spread of the gospel and prevention of crimes.
Ondo
A teenager, Oluwaseyi Adelegan, 14, was last Friday
murdered by unknown assailants at his father’s house in Akure.
The deceased is the son of Chief Solomon Adelegan, the National President, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services.
The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) in Ondo State, Mr Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident. It is obvious the young boy was killed while trying to move out of his bedroom to the sitting room before he eventually gave up,’’ Ogodo said.
Ogodo, who said that no arrest had been made, said that the case had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
According to him, “the information surrounding the death of the young boy is still sketchy, but I assure you that police will get to the root of the crime”.
Taraba
A joint meeting of Taraba State chapters of the Muslim
Council and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) last Saturday advised politicians not to use religion to pursue their selfish agenda in the State.
In a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Jalingo, CAN and the Muslim Council decried the manner politicians in the state were whipping up religious sentiments to achieve selfish political goals.
The communiqué was signed by the State Chairman of the Muslim Council, Alhaji Inuwa Mafindi and the state Vice Chairman of CAN, Rev. Ben Ubeh.
It observed that Taraba had been “unnecessarily thrown into a state of confusion by selfish politicians who did not mean well for it since the return of Gov. Danbaba Suntai on August 25.
The communiqué commended the State Government and the peoples efforts aimed at maintaining peace and for their tolerance of one another. It urged the people to remain calm to ensure that the prevailing peace was sustained.
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.”