Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has ap
proved the extension of the appointment of Justice Nathan Musa as the acting Chief Judge of the state.
Nyako also approved the appointment of Alhaji Muhammed Alkali as the acting Grand Khadi of the state Sharia Court of Appeal.
The approvals were contained in a statement signed by the Adamawa Judiciary Head of Information, Mr Ishaya Lidawus, last Tuesday in Yola.
The statement said the extensions were in line with the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
“Both appointments were in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended,” the statement said.
Ekiti
A Muslim cleric, Alhaji Musbaudeen Yisah, last Tuesday
urged Muslim faithful to be moderate in their celebration of the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival.
According to him, Muslims should use the period to serve Allah wholeheartedly and worship the creator in accordance with His command.
“It is against Islamic injunction to take loan or spend above your limited resources for the celebration. Allah does not have interest in how much you expend in buying rams but your commitment and sincerity of purpose,” Yisah said.
He noted that some people lay more emphasis on the celebration than the worship of Allah and doing His will and appealed to Muslims to monitor the movement of their children and wards during the celebration to avoid unpleasant occurrences.
FCT
Justice Abubakar Umar of an FCT High Court last Tues
day ordered a Polish woman, Dora Gilmaska, standing trial over a N9 million scam, to appear unfailingly on November 14.
The judge gave the order after the Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Samuel Ugwegbulam, said that the woman had for the second time, failed to appear in court.
The EFCC is prosecuting Gilmaska, the Executive Officer of Icon Media and Marketing Agency Limited, for allegedly forging and issuing a dud cheque of N9 million to one Tayo Olugbemi in 2012.
Her counsel, Mr Selekowei Larry (SAN), prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him trace her, electing that his client had not communicated to him, her reason for not being in court.
The judge, then adjourned the matter to November 14 for adoption of the final written addresses.
Gombe
Traditional rulers in Gombe State last Tuesday promised
to reinforce their campaign against rape in the state to save the girl-child from being ruined.
They made the promise when members of the Child Protection Network (CPN), an NGO, and officials of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) paid advocacy visit to the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar, in Gombe.
The District Head of Bolari, in Gombe metropolis, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, descried the increasing cases of rope in the state.
Earlier, the Coordinator, CPN Kano, Alhaji Mohammed Ali-Mashi, urged the traditional rulers to take the campaign to their subjects and enjoined the traditional rulers to impress on clerics to preach against the menace in mosques, churches, naming ceremonies and other social gatherings.
Jigawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State has said that it arrested a 45- year-old man for alleged fraud.
The State Commandant, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said that “the suspect had been duping people in Dutse and its environs”.
He alleged that the suspect paraded himself as a close associate of Jigawa and Kebbi States governors adding that the suspect promised to secure his victims contracts to supply 500 cars each to the Kebbi and Jigawa governments.
Gidado said the suspect told his victims that the money would be used to pay for his hotel and feeding allowances throughout his stay in the states to facilitate the contracts.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has expressed
dissatisfaction with the level of sanitation in the state, saying the government must justify the N90 million it spends monthly on refuse disposal.
The House took the stand last Tuesday after reviewing the report of its committees on Environment, Natural Resource, Solid Minerals, Works and Transport as well as Land, Survey and Country Planing.
The Assembly had on September 25 mandated the committees to jointly evaluate the sanitation situation in the state following complaints from the public.
It said the state was too dirty and that the government needed to take action to justify the huge monthly expenditure on refuse evacuation and disposal.
Kogi
Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) last Tues
day said it had rehabilitated 300 km out of 1, 630 km federal roads in Kogi.
The Director of FERMA in the state, Mr Kayode Emmanuel, said in Lokoja that 225 km of the roads were awarded to contractors for rehabilitation.
According to him, the remaining 75 km were executed through direct labour by the agency and listed the roads rehabilitated to include: Itakpe-Ogaminana-Kabba road, Ajaokuta-Anyigba road, Anyigba-Otukpa road and Kabba-Okorogbede road.
The director said that all the Federal Government roads in the state were in good condition except Okene-Ajaokuta road, Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti road and Egbe-Kwara State boundary road which were in terrible shape.
Kwara
A bill seeking an amendment to the Area Court Law of
Kwara, 2006, last Tuesday passed second reading in the state House of Assembly.
The bill was sent to the House in September by Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed.
The motion for the second reading of the bill was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu AbdulKareem, and seconded by Mrs Ebun Owolabi representing Ekiti Constituency.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Prof. Gana Yissa, who presided over plenary, referred the bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges for more inputs. He directed the House Committee on Business and Rules to monitor the progress on the bill.
Nasarawa
The National Association for the Blind, Lafia chapter in
Nasarawa State, has urged the state government to institute a scholarship scheme for its members.
The Chairman of the union, Malam Hassan Adogo,who made the appeal in a statement last Tuesday in Lafia Adogo said members of the union needed scholarships to enable them to pursue studies that would make them become self-reliant later in life.
He said the blind had always participated in elections but never received any dividends of democracy when elected governments were inaugurated.
The scholarship, he added, would go a long way in helping many of its members to complete and even further their education.
Ogun
The Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Ogun territory, last
Tuesday said it had received 362,593 letters and parcels within eight months.
The Area Postal Manager, Mr Afolabi Mathias, said in Abeokuta that emphasis was shifted from individual mailers to bulk mailers between January and August.
The manager said that the use of ICT had enhanced the services of NIPOST, adding that the Internet was, however, limited in the number of facilities provided.
According to him, the baggage on ground can not be sent by Internet and maintained that the post would continue to be relevant because people would continue to receive and send messages, especially hard copies.
He advised students to embrace the habit of writing letters to improve their writing skills, saying that the use of postal service would boost their writing skills.
Ondo
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation,
Chief Olu Falae, last Tuesday, urged members of the cc State House of Assembly to render selfless service to the people.
Falae made the remark in his Oba-ile residence in the state when the lawmakers paid him a condolence visit over the death of his son, Deji in the plane crash in Lagos last Thursday.
The Afenifere Chieftain appreciated the lawmakers over the Assembly’s nomination of his deceased son as a two-time commissioner under Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s administration.
In a remark, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Dare Emiola, who led other lawmakers to Falae’s house, described Deji’s death as “rude shock and as a great loss to the people of the state.“
Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has directed
the Ministry of Finance to begin the payment of October salaries to the state civil servants.
A statement Tuesday in Sokoto by the Senior Special Assistant to Wamakko on Media, Malam Sani Umar, said the directive was to enable the Muslims to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir slated for October 15, next tuesday.
It stated that the payment of the salaries should start today.
‘’The governor has therefore, directed the state Ministry of Finance to ensure that the salaries are paid latest by Friday. ‘’The measure is meant to assist the civil servants to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir comfortably with their families,’’ the statement added.
Yobe
Yobe State Livestock Pilot Development Programme, Dr
Mustapha Gaidam, said 5.2 million livestock had been vaccinated against various diseases since 2009 in the State.
Mustapha said in Damaturu on Saturday that the state was now targeting 1.7 million cattle, sheep, goats and dogs in the 2013 mass vaccination.
He explained that 800,000 herds of cattle were to be vaccinated against Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) and Black Quarter (BQ).
“Also, 900,000 sheep and goats will be vaccinated against pest de petit ruminantes and 2,500 dogs will be vaccinated against rabies”, he said.
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.”
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