Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Gov. Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State has said that his
administration will upgrade basic infrastructure for the judiciary to enhance efficient service delivery in the state.
Bindow, who made this known when he inspected courts in Yola, said that enabling environment for the judiciary would impact positively on the people of the state.
According to him, his administration is built on justice and fairness and infrastructure in the sector will translate into providing justice to the common man.
He directed the Ministry of Works to submit the cost of procuring generating sets to his office to cushion the effects of power outage in the courts.
“My administration upholds justice and fairness and I must do my best to ensure that our courts are giving a facelift where workers will get human environment to give their best.
“It is sacrosanct that an enabling environment will boost the productivity of our judiciary staff which will in turn impact positively on our people.”
Borno
The Japanese Government has announced a donation of
three million dollars in support of victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Sadanabu Kusaoke, made the announcement at the launch of the project in Maiduguri.
Kusaake said that the project was aimed at assisting the victims to engage in gainful activities like farming and trading for social stability.
“The Japanese Government has decided to support the project for early recovery and social cohesion in the North-East of Nigeria with a 3 million dollars donation.
“This is to help people who engage in gainful activities like farming and trading to contribute to the social stabilisation and recovery of the affected communities in the three states,” he said.
Ekiti
An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has declined to
grant an ex-parte order sought by the Ekiti State Government to restrain EFCC from investigating the finances of the state.
Our correspondent reports that Justice Cornelius Akintayo refused to grant the order on the grounds that all the defendants in the case must first be put on notice to enable them prepare for their defence at the court.
The judge consequently adjourned the suit to August 23 and ordered all parties in the suit to appear before him when the motion on notice would be heard.
The suit was filed by Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, to stop the impending investigation of the accounts of the state government by the anti graft agency.
Another relief sought by the plaintiffs was an order stopping the arrest of the Commissioner for Finance, Accountant General and the managers of the banks in which the state had commitments.
FCT
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke,
says 51 Nigerians have so far been granted scholarship for Masters Degree programme in various Japanese universities.
The Japanese envoy disclosed this at the sent-forth programme organised by Japan International Co-operation Agency (JAICA), for the successful candidates.
According to him, the gesture is an initiative of JAICA to assist Nigerian youths achieve their aspiration in life.
He congratulated the students for successfully going through the rigour of the selection process which he described as “very transparent”.
“The objective is to offer Nigerian students an opportunity to study at their Masters Degree level in various Japanese universities,” he said.
Jigawa
The Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria
(AFAN), Jigawa State chapter, Alhaji Maigwa Jaga, says farmers in the state have shifted from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
Jaga disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
He said the farmers embraced the venture in response to the advice of Gov.ernor Muhammadu Badaru.
“Governor Badaru provided improved variety of sesame seeds, groundnuts seeds and rice seeds to farmers to enable them take off well,” he said.
Jaga said that the farmers were asked to form groups comprising 50 members each in all the wards of the 27 local governments of the state in order to test the viability of the programme.
Kaduna
The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme
(WAAP) says it is partnering with 40 Nigerian universities and agricultural institutions to facilitate agricultural technology transfer.
Acting National Project Coordinator, WAAP, Mr James Apochi, said this to newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State, shortly after he visited some of the selected villages for the pilot scheme.
Our correspondent reports that the coordinator visited Guga Multi-purpose Association at Guga village and Nasarawan Buhari Farmers Cooperative at Nasarawan Buhari.
“We are partnering with 15 agricultural institutes, 11 federal colleges of agriculture and 14 federal universities of agriculture.
“We started with 52 villages and now we have 500 villages that have been adopted.”
Katsina
The Katsina State Police command, in collaboration with
other security agencies, recovered 2,151 animals from cattle rustlers in July, 2016.
Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, the Katsina State Commissioner of Police disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Katsina.
He said that most of the animals recovered by the security agents were cows, sheep, goats, camels and donkeys.
The police boss said that the animals were recovered in nine local government areas that were mostly vulnerable to the menace of cattle rustling.
“The security agents recovered the animals in Funtua, Faskari, Safana, Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia, Kurfi, Dutsin-ma and Kafur Local Government areas,” he said.
Commenting on the issue of arms recovery, the commissioner said that the command had recovered three locally-made pistols and one brown pistol from criminals.
Abdullahi revealed that the command also recovered three AK47 rifles, one beretta pistol and 20 dane guns.
He disclosed that the police had recovered 85 assorted life ammunition and 49 expended empty shells.
The commissioner called on the members of the public to provide useful information about criminal activities to the police for action.
Kwara
A team of medical experts at the University of Ilorin Teach
ing Hospital (UITH) have successfully removed a tumour of about 12 centimeter in diameter from the brain of a pregnant woman.
This is contained in the University of Ilorin (Unilorin)’s Bulletin made available to newsmen on Tuesday.
It said the successful operation was carried out on a 40-year old patient, whose right side had become paralysed before the surgery.
It stated that the feat was achieved with the assistance of Prof. Wale Sulaiman ,a visiting Neuro-Surgeon from the Ochsner Medical Centre, New Orleans, U.S.A.
The bulletin stated that the 13-hour surgery captured the essence of collaboration and team work in medical practice.
Lagos
The Lagos State chapter of Environmental Health Officer
of Nigeria (EHOAN) has called on the public to desist from eating at unhygienic places.
Chairman of EHOAN Mr Akin Akingbehin, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
Akingbehin said the association was embarking on a zero tolerance campaign against food sellers operating in open places in the state.
“What is of utmost importance to us is the control of sales of food at open places.
“We are embarking on total clampdown on unhygienic display of food for public consumption.
“By this exercise, we are trying to prevent food-borne diseases, taking note of the fact that food is a veritable vehicle by which a range of illnesses which affect man are spread.
Nasarawa
A 36-year-old husband, Emma Edaih, has demanded com
pensation for the number of years he wasted in the name of marriage to his wife Uche.
Edaih made this known when he testified in a divorce petition by his wife at a Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
He claimed that he enjoyed his wife for only two months since they got married, adding that he had no problem with the court granting his wife’s request.
“But I demanded compensation for wasting my years with her in the name of marriage.
“Since 2013, we got married, I only slept with her the first two months into our marriage and after then, she never allowed me to touch her, nor will she let me sleep with her,” he said.
Osun
Three men, who allegedly assaulted a police officer while
on duty, have been docked at an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court.
The accused — Olateju Emaculate, 19; Adebayo Damilola, 21 and Olateju Threasa, 42 — are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and assault.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Fagboyinbo Abiodun, told the court that the accused committed the offences on August 15 at about 6:30 a.m. along OlaOluwa Estate in the Osun capital.
Abiodun alleged that the accused conspired and assaulted Cpl. Adetiba Ololade, attached to Dada Police Station while carrying out his lawful duty.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it has trained 500 un
employed youths from different parts of the state in domestic electrical instillation, fashion designing, tailoring and cosmetology.
The state Commissioner for Youth Development, Alhaji Musa Ausa, disclosed this at a ministerial briefing in Sokoto.
He said that the exercise was aimed at creating job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.
The commissioner said the state government paid N5,000 monthly allowance to each trainee for the three months the programme lasted.
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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