Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) last Tuesday
promised to sharpen the skills of INEC staff on effective report writing.
The Director-General of the fund, Prof. Longmas Sambo, made the pledge in Yola while declaring a three-day workshop for electoral officers opened.
He said the workshop was aimed at improving the knowledge, skills and attitude of the trainees in report gathering and writing, especially during elections.
Represented by Alhaji Jibrin Bukar, the Yola Area Manager of the Fund, Sambo said that the workshop was coming ahead of the 2015 general elections.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Kasim Gaidam, ssaid that the training would be a continuous exercise aimed at building working capacity of the staff for effective service delivery.
Bauchi
The European Union has pledged to support the
Bauchi State Government in the areas of health, agricultural processing and electricity, to improve the living standard of the people.
The union’s Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Nigeria, Mr Michel Arrion, said this when he visited Governor Isa Yuguda at Government House, Bauchi last Tuesday.
Arrion said that he was in Bauchi to familiarise himself with the state, the needs of the people and to also identify areas of co’operation with the state government.
He said that having gone round to assess the rate of development in the state, the union had decided to support the state in the areas of power, health and agro-processing.
Borno
An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Modu Mustapha, said it
was wrong for individuals to coerce non-Muslims into embracing Islam without their consent.
Mustapha, reacting to the reported conversion of abducted Chibok girls to Islam by Boko Haram sect, said Islam had a distinct way of converting non-Muslims to the religion.
Mustapha said it was stated in the Quran that there was no compulsion in Islam.
Another scholar, Sheikh Ibrahim Suda, corroborated Mustapha’s position, saying that Islam was a religion of peace.
A preacher, Malam Suleiman Bagobiri, contended that the insurgents were only out to damage the image of Islam by their activities.
Ekiti
The Chairman of Africa Democratic Congress
(ADC) in Ekiti State, Mr Tunji Ogunlola, says his party would win the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.
Ogunlola said in Ado-Ekiti that the party had nominated a credible candidate, Mr Bola Oroko, as flag bearer in the governorship election, adding that he would transform the state.
The chairman also said that the party was committed to a free and fair election devoid of violence, adding
that the party was determined to promote mechanised farming as well as put in place cottage industries to create jobs for unemployed graduates.
According to him, the party will introduce free education from primary to secondary school level while agriculture will be made compulsory in the school curriculum.
FCT
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reiterated the Federal
Government‘s commitment to the security of lives and property of Nigerians, in spite of the security challenges.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Olisa Metuh, said this when the Forum of PDP Zonal Publicity Secretaries paid him a visit in Abuja.
Metuh, while reacting to the spate of insurgency in the country and the abduction of the Chibok School girls, said that the PDP was saddened by the development.
He added that though Nigerians might be expecting more from the PDP as the ruling party but the party was a better alternative for Nigerians.
Gombe
Funakaye Local Government Council in Gombe State has spent
N100 million on the execution of projects in the area.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Usman Ribadu, who disclosed this in an interview last Tuesday in Gombe said the projects were provided in all the 10 wards of the area based on the development needs of each ward.
He recalled that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo had undertaken a constituency tour of all the local government areas of the state where each ward presented its development needs to him.
Ribadu said that it was based on those presentations that the projects were allocated for each of the 206 polling units in the state.
The chairman said the projects comprised of culverts, wells, bore holes, maintenance of health facilities, rehabilitation of veterinary clinics and educational facilities.
Katsina
No fewer than 28,386 people have so far registered for various
mass literacy programmes in Katsina State.
The Acting Executive Director of the state Agency for Mass Education, Alhaji Ahmad Doki, said on Tuesday in Katsina, that the programmes include: Basic and Post Literacy Classes, Integration of Quranic Education, Literacy by Radio, Women Vocational Class and Continuing Education.
He said that the agency had engaged 1,500 facilitators for all the programmes while the state government has spent N50 million on the payment of allowances of the facilitators.
Doki said that each of the 34 local government areas had at least one centre established in rural areas to reach the targeted people.
Kebbi
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone
10, Mr Bala Hassan has warned police personnel in the zone against extra judicial killings.
Hassan gave the warning last Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi while addressing officers and men of Kebbi Police Command.
He commended the Kebbi command of the police for the low crime rate in the state and urged the personnel to sustain the trend.
In a remark, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Benjamin Onwuka, said that the 4,425 policemen currently serving in the state were inadequate for effective policing.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government says it will need about
N70 billion for the provision of adequate road infrastructure in the state in the next three years.
Dr Amuda Kannike, the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, said this last Tuesday in Ilorin while briefing newsmen on government’s N23 billion bond.
The forum was convened to explain why the administration and the one preceding it took N17 billion bond in 2009, N10 billion bond in 2012 and another N23 billion bond in 2014.
Also present at the briefing were the state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ademola Bannu, and Mr Yomi Ogunsola, the Senior special Assistant on Investment Promotions and Strategy to the Governor.
Others present were the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, Dr Muyideen Akorede, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba.
Lagos
Some politicians in Lagos State have expressed their
support for a new revenue sharing formula proposed by the National Conference Committee on Devolution of Powers.
The committee had on May 5 proposed that 42.5 per cent of the revenue should be allocated to the Federal Government, 35.0 per cent to states and 22.5 per cent to local governments.
Presently, the Federal Government gets 52.68 per cent, the states get 26.7 per cent and 20.60 per cent goes to local governments.
The Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Nkem Lemchi, said that the proposed revenue sharing formula was one that could promote grassroots development.
Malam Auwal Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), an NGO, said the proposal would reduce over concentration of resources at the centre.
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has
been called upon to offer more political positions to the Yoruba community and other non-indigenes with considerable amount of residence in the state.
Leader of the group, Mr Bola Oduleye, made the request last Tuesday in Lafia when he led his members on a courtesy called on Mr Ezedinma Nonso, Special Adviser to the Governor on National Integration.
Oduleye said that offering more political positions to non-indigenes would boost their confidence and offer political appointees the opportunity to contribute to socio-economic development of the state.
He commended the governor for appointing two non-indigenes into his administration, saying like Oliver Twist, they would want him to do more.
L-R:Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Mr Folami Muslim, Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed, Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Secretary to the State Government, Dr OlurantiAdebule and General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (Lasema), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, at the 2nd Lagos Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Summit in Lagos, recently.
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.”