Nation
THE STATES
Borno
A humanitarian organisation, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) last Sunday, said it had deployed more than 1, 700 personnel to Borno State to provide emergency support services to communities ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.
The organisation also known as ‘MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES’, said it was providing intervention in the areas of health care delivery, food and nutrition support as well as water and sanitation services.
The MSF’s Head of Mission, Mr Moctar Abassi, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the personnel included 1, 600 Nigerians and 130 expatriates.
Abassi said that the organisation had extended its outreach to 11 locations, to enable it render support to the displaced persons and vulnerable persons in the state.
He listed the benefitting areas to include Maiduguri, Pulka, Gwoza, Monguno, Damasak, Benisheik, Dikwa, Banki, Ngala, Rann and Bama.
FCT
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, has approved the appointment of Prof. Bisala Ekele, as the substantive Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH).
The Assistant Director of Information in the hospital, Mr Frank Omagon, made this known in a statement last Sunday, in Abuja.
It said that the letter signed by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, indicated that the appointment was for a four-year term with effect from June 1, 2017.
The acting president, in the statement, called on the new CMD to be conscious of the enormous responsibilities of the office.
“You must be conscious of the yearnings of our people for an effective and responsive healthcare delivery system,” it quoted the acting president as saying.
Gombe
The management of the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Gombe State, has declared a ‘no work, no pay’ policy following the indefinite strike embarked by lecturers of the institution.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director, Establishment and Council Affairs Ibrahim Shehu, last Sunday, in Gombe.
Reports have it that the lecturers embarked on an indefinite strike on July 11 demanding the payment of the backlog of allowances owed them by the college authority.
Shehu described the action by lecturers under the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) as uncalled for.
He added that the management of the institution has no option but to apply the policy in line with directives by the federal government.
Kano
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, last Saturday, observed that Fulfulde language and culture in Nigeria were slowly ‘dying,’ warning that it was a question of time before they became ‘extinct’.
Ganduje made the observation in Yola during formal inauguration of Board of Trustees and Directors of newly established Yola-based Pulaku Radio FM station.
“Fulfulde is becoming a dying language in Nigeria, especially among the elites; Fulanis themselves should wake up and promote their language.
“Many elites who are Fulani by origin will tell you, sometimes with some element of pride, that their father or grandfather was Fulani but they (elites) cannot speak the language,” Ganduje lamented.
Kwara
One of Landmark University’s best graduating-students in the 2016/2017 academic session, Oladiran Ezekiel, has attributed his feat to the inspiration he garnered from his father, a chartered accountant.
Ezekiel said this last Sunday, during the post-convocation thanksgiving service held within the university in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, where it is located
Our correspondent reports that Ezekiel was among the 468 students that graduated during the institution’s 4th Convocation held last Friday.
Sixty-six students, that included Ezekiel, graduated with First Class Honours in various courses of studies.
Ezekiel, apart from bagging a First Class Honours in Accounting, is also a certified Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) as well as being a member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) upon his graduation.
Lagos
The Managing Director of the Jos-based Nigeria Film Corporation, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, says Nigerian movies are among the best internationally in terms of contents, settings and acceptability.
Maduekwe told newsmen in Lagos that many movie-producers and marketers were smiling to their banks because of impressive turnover from the sales of their videos based on quality and public acceptability.
“There is no doubt that today Nigerian movie-producers are improving in the qualities of their home videos.
“Take for example the “Wedding Party’’ or “1976’; these are blog busters that are raking-in hundreds of millions of naira for their producers, because they have better production qualities,.
Niger
Five students are to enjoy full scholarship to study Medicine at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, courtesy of a Niger State lawmaker, Mr Danlami Bako.
Bako, representing Rafi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, told newsmen last Saturday, that the sponsorship was part of efforts to support the educational pursuits of youths.
“The sponsorship is my own little way of encouraging the educational development of our teeming youths in Rafi.
“The importance of education in one’s life cannot be over-emphasised and that is why I support people who are willing to embrace it,’’ he said.
Bako disclosed that he had paid the WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees of 22 students drawn from the 11 wards in his constituency.
Osun
Outraged by the abduction and killing of a Permanent Secretary in Osun State, Mrs Kemi Kolawole, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, has called on the Federal authorities to provide adequate security on the nation’s highways particularly the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Expressway.
He spoke against the backdrop of the killing of Kolawole and her driver, on Okene-Abuja highway by some suspected kidnappers.
“It is painful and shocking,” the speaker said in a statement last Saturday, in Osogbo, signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Goke Butika.
Salaam decried the spate of killings and insecurity particularly on Okene-Abuja road and urged Kogi and the Federal Government to take urgent steps to find the killers of the permanent secretary and her driver.
Oyo
Property owners occupying government lands at Fasade and parts of Egbeda town in Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State, have appealed to the state government not to demolish their houses.
The spokesman of the affected landlords, Mr Michael Adeniyi, made the appeal last Saturday, because of the ongoing demolition of unapproved structures built on government lands at Ajoda new town.
According to Adeniyi, appeal remains the only option for the landlords, having realised that the lands actually belong to the government.
“We have resolved to make this passionate appeal to the state government to leave out our community out of the several hectares acquired.
Plateau
The Plateau State Police Command says it has apprehended a 25 year-old man for allegedly posing as ‘female sex worker’ in Jos.
The command’s spokesman, ASP Terna Tyopev, told journalists, last Saturday, in Jos, that the suspect, identified as Michael Atseng, was arrested on July 13 at Gwom Guest House, Hwolshe, at about 9:30pm.
“The hotel management alerted us that someone is lodging in their hotel who poses as a woman but with physical features of a man.
“We mobilised our men and at exactly 9:30 pm, he was accosted and had been in our custody, “ Tyopev said.
Tyopev, who described the suspect as a “habitual homosexual’ said in 2016, he was arrested by soldiers but returned to his normal business after he was released.
Sokoto
The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu, last Sunday, visited Wamakko, the home of Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North),to condole him over the death of his younger brother, Rep.Abdullahi Muhammad(APC-Kware/Wamakko).
Bagudu, according to our correspondent, was accompanied on the visit by his Sokoto State counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.
Bagudu described the death of the late lawmaker as a great loss not only to his family and Sokoto State, but also to the country in general.
He prayed God to repose the soul of the deceased and grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Responding, Wamakko commended Bagudu for the gesture and described Muhammad’s death as a collective loss.
Taraba
A member representing Ussa Constituency in the Taraba State House of Assembly, Mr Timothy Anderifun, has awarded scholarship to 200 students from his constituency studying in various tertiary institutions across the country.
Presenting the scholarship last Sunday, in Jalingo, Anderifun said he was moved to reach out to the students given his personal experience during his school days.
According to him, the scholarship is to encourage them to work hard so as to become patriotic future leaders of the country.
“I want to encourage you to work hard, even in the face of economic hardships and insecurity facing the nation.
“Education remains the bedrock of any societal development and it is my belief that you all will succeed in your endeavours.
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.”