Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The Benue State Police Command last Tuesday arraigned a 32-year-old man, Raphael Tyokua, over alleged criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms, house breaking and theft.
Tyokua was arraigned before a Makurdi Upper Area Court 2.
According to the prosecutor, Mrs Omaye Ujeta, one Kputu Orya, who resides behind ‘E’ Division Police Station, Makurdi, reported the matter at ‘E’ Division Station, Makurdi.
Ujeta quoted Orya as saying that Tyokua, a resident of Anta village, Makurdi conspired with two others still at large, broke into his office at Aggo School, along Abua King Shuluwa Road, Akpehe in Benue, and robbed him.
She further quoted Orya as saying that the accused and his accomplices entered into the office through the ceiling, and stole two hp laptops with their chargers, valued at N110,000 and N45,000 cash.
FCT
An FCT Area Court Judge, Abubakar Sadiq, last Tuesday sentenced a driver, Mubarack Umar, to eight months imprisonment for stealing a tricycle.
The court sentenced Umar, 23 of Galadimawa village, Abuja, after he pleaded guilty to a count charge of theft.
The court, however, gave him N40,000 option of fine.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Dalhatu Zannah, had told the court that on July 4, one Ayuba Musa of Kado Life Camp, Abuja, reported the incident at the Utako Police Station.
Zannah said that Musa reported the matter for proper investigation which led to the arrest of the convict.
According to Zannah, the convict committed the offence on July 3 at about 10 p.m. along Obafemi Awolowo expressway, Jabi.
Gombe
Farmers in Gombe State have commended the state government for its procurement and sale of fertiliser at subsidised rates to farmers in the lead up to the 2017 farming season.
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo recently announced that a bag of NPK fertiliser would be sold at N4,800 and a bag of Urea fertiliser at N5,800, as against their prevailing market prices of N8,500 and N5,800 respectively.
Some of the farmers, who spoke to newsmen in Gombe last Tuesday, expressed delight at the development.
One of the farmers, Malam Bala Garba, said that the subsidy came at the right time, particularly when many farmers were in dire need of fertiliser for their crop to grow.
Garba said that the gesture would boost their productivity and promote the food security of the state and the country at large.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government says it has treated over 29,000 cases of acute malnutrition in children in the last six months.
The State Nutrition Officer, Mr Saidu Umar, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Jos at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s mid-year review meeting.
Reports say that the review meeting organised by the UNICEF Field Office in Bauchi was aimed at reviewing the UNICEF’s activities in various sectors working in Plateau and Jigawa States.
Umar said that the treatment was carried out in 64 Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres in 12 local government areas of the state.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government says it spent N360 million in subsidising farm inputs given to farmers under the N1 billion Agriculture Intervention Scheme.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Mr Bamidele Adegoke, said this in Ilorin on Tuesday while presenting seedlings and other inputs to members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).
He said that the state government would also support farmers in land clearing and ploughing of about 2,500 hectares of land in different parts of the state under its Off-takers Demand Driven Agric Scheme.
The commissioner said the state government was committed to diversifying the state’s economy by creating agro-allied jobs and provision of input for industries.
Lagos
The Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NiMet), Prof. Sani Mashi, has faulted calls in some quarters for the creation of a separate and parallel Climate Change Agency (CCA).
Mashi, who made this known while speaking with newsmen in Lagos last Tuesday, said the establishment of such body would amount to a duplication of functions already being carried out by NiMet.
He said NiMet was established by an Act of Parliament in 2003, to provide weather services in marine, environmental and bio-meteorology for climatic and human health activities.
According to him, all stakeholders were in agreement that it had been carrying out this role both effectively and efficiently, and therefore, saw no reason for the creation of a new body with similar functions.
Nasarawa
A 27-year-old applicant, Maria John, was last Tuesday arraigned in an Upper Area Court, Masaka, Nasarawa State, for allegedly aborting a six-week-old pregnancy.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Frank Swem, told court that the accused committed the offence on July 7, at about 6.30 p.m., in Akwango, Masaka.
Swem said that the matter was reported by the accused’s boyfriend, Kingsley Ephraim, at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Masaka, on the same date.
He also said Ephraim told the police that his girlfriend (Maria), who was six weeks pregnant for him, told him that she had aborted the pregnancy.
Niger
A Magistrates’ Court in Minna last Tuesday sentenced a 25-year-old security guard, Musa Isah, to three months imprisonment for stealing N500 from an accident victim.
Isah was arraigned on a count charge of theft, contrary to Section 287 of the Penal Code.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Gunduma Ibrahim, told court that the convict, residing at M.I. Wushishi Estate in Minna committed the offence on July 15 at about 4 p.m.
Ibrahim said the convict went to a fatal accident scene in Minna under the guise of rescuing the victims.
Ogun
The Police in Ogun State last Tuesday brought eight men before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ota, for allegedly belonging to a secret cult called ‘EYE’ Confraternity.
The accused persons were: Adewale Ibrahim (23), Ajasa Olalekan (28), Adams Ahmed (28), Ojeniyi Michael (29), Remilekun Subaru (27), Oyelumade Gbenro (29), Ezra Jackson (24), and Akinyelu Kunle (26).
According to the Prosecutor, Cpl. Mustapha Abdulkareem, the accused persons, with no fixed addresses, are facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawfully belonging to a secret cult.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused persons, and others still at large, committed the offences on July 13, at about 3.00 a.m. at Ilogbo, Ota.
Ondo
A 48-year-old security guard, Sola Ikumapayi, was last Tuesday in Okitipupa, Ondo State, discharged and acquitted of the offence of assaulting and injuring his son after hitting him with a glass cup.
An Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling, however, fined him N20,000.
The Magistrate, Mr Banji Ayeomoni, warned the accused to refrain from committing such criminal act in future.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge of assault brought against him.
Earlier, Police Prosecutor Zedekiah Orogbemi told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 12 at 8.00 a.m. at Akinloye Estate, Okitipupa.
According to Orogbemi, the accused threw a glass cup at his son, who was running away from him following a squabble.
Plateau
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has advised media content managers to be very wary of what they sent out to the public as that would determine Nigeria’s direction.
Mohammed, in a speech at the National Broadcasting Commission’s 2017 Summit, last Tuesday in J0s, said that media content was like food in the body.
“Food is a necessity, but not every food is good for the body.
“It is often said that we are what we eat. Junk food is unhealthy for our health.
“It follows, therefore, that junk information is not good for our health, stability and growth as a nation.
“Content managers must thus be very sensitive; they must always weigh the possible impact of what they broadcast or publish, to the stability and development of our country,” he said.
Sokoto
A committee set up by the Sokoto State Government to verify the actual number of students entitled to its scholarship says it has uncovered 706 “ghost” students.
Its Chairman, Mr Shehu Wurno, announced this on Tuesday in Sokoto, when he presented the committee’s report to Governor Aminu Tambuwal.
Wurno said that the committee visited 40 tertiary institutions within and outside the country where it verified and confirmed 14,532 students as qualified for the scholarship.
“We have also confirmed that N544,613,724 is the total cost of students registration for the year 2016/2017 academic session, while N143,560,855 is the allowances to the verified students.
“We have also verified and confirmed that N688,174,579 is the actual amount owed as students registration and allowances for the current 2016/2017 session,” he said.
Tambuwal, who thanked the committee for its efforts, restated his administration’s resolve to give top priority to the education sector.
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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