Nation
THE STATES
Governors of States, during a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday
Benue
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, says that God
has given the people of Nigeria everything a nation needs to be successful.
Ortom, who made the remark at Igbor in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state, however said the country had failed to harness its resources to become a successful nation.
The governor was at Igbor to inspect the Benue Burnt Bricks Company and Ikwe Wildlife Resort.
He noted that the state was blessed with abundant human and natural resources which needed to be properly tapped for the good of all.
According to him, the failure to transform existing industries in the state and across the country is part of what is retarding the nation’s development and the attendant hardships faced by people.
FCT
The Nigerian military says it has the constitutional and
moral responsibility to protect Nigerians and could not suddenly engage in mass murder as portrayed in the allegations by Amnesty International.
Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, said this while briefing newsmen on the recent allegations of war crimes against some senior military officers by the Amnesty International.
Abubakar said following the Amnesty International report released on June 3, the Nigerian military as a responsible corporate organisation was bound to respond to the allegations in order to put the records in proper perspective.
He recalled that upon the written request from Amnesty International to the military to comment on the allegations, the military promptly commenced investigations into the allegations.
He said consequently, several investigations on the allegations were ongoing.
Gombe
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Gombe
State, has ordered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expedite action on the reproduction of necessary documents requested by lawyers to prosecute their petitions before it.
Justice Mathew Adewara, Chairman of the tribunal, being assisted by Justice Abba Mohammed and Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman gave the order at the pre-hearing season in Gombe on Saturday.
The chairman gave the order following the complaints by Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), who is the counsel of the petitioner, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya and APC, who also petitioned the victory of Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo, joining the PDP and INEC.
He said they had made several efforts for the INEC to serve them with some of the viral documents to be use before the tribunal.
According to him, they were served with some and denied other documents as requested.
Jigawa
Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State, has re-
appointed Alhaji Sani Alhassan, as the Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir, in Dutse, said Alhassan was reappointed based on his “excellent performance in the past.”
It said that the appointment was with immediate effect, and urged the executive secretary to continue rendering selfless service to the state.
“While we commend you for the excellent performances you recorded in the previous Hajj operations, we also urge you to continue with that in future operations,” the statement further said.
Kaduna
The Anglican Bishop of Wusasa Diocese in Zaria, Kaduna
State, Rt. Rev. Ali Buba-Lamido, on Saturday advocated death penalty for corrupt public office holders.
He made the call at the Sixth Synod of the Wusasa Diocese of the Anglican Communion, held in Zaria, Kaduna State.
According to him, the death penalty option is the only way to put public officers in Nigeria in check.
Buba-Lamido said the call became imperative in view of the fact that corruption could kill more people than a conventional weapon.
“If our leaders know that they would be prosecuted if found corrupt they would be on their toes to avoid corrupt practices,” he said.
Katsina
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to
be patient and accept democracy not as a system of government but as a lifestyle in order to ensure development of the country.
The president said this when he paid homage to the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, after attending the Juma’at prayer at the Lowcost Mosque, in Daura, Katsina State.
The President, who delivered his speech in Hausa, urged those who were aggrieved after the 2015 elections to seek redress through democratic means and institutions.
Buhari noted that Nigeria was adopting democracy from the western nations and learning fast by avoiding mistakes made when studying the weaknesses and strengths of those nations.
According to him, if Nigerians decide to be hasty, some avoidable mistakes can be made.
Kwara
Nigeria has the largest population of people with sickle
cell disease in the world, with over 150,000 babies born with the serious condition every year, researches have shown.
A pharmacist with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Mr Lanre Alege, said this in a lecture delivered during June edition of the keep fit exercise for staff of the hospital at the Kwara stadium on Saturday.
He said it was estimated that only five per cent of the children with Sickle Cell Disease live past the age of 10 in Nigeria, compared to over 96 per cent surviving into adulthood in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Alege, who is the Coordinator of the programme, also disclosed that the recurrent pain and complications of the disease can interfere with many aspects of patients life, including education, employment and psychological development.
He said that Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic disorder due to the presence of an abnormal form of haemoglobin in the red blood cells, called haemoglobin S (Hb S) instead of haemoglobin A (Hb A).
Lagos
Primary school authorities in the country have been ad
vised to encourage their pupils to make use of libraries to improve their reading culture.
A management staff in the Office of the Registrar of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Dr Ayoola Olatunde, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
He said it was necessary to expose pupils to use of library facilities at tender ages.
The don described the primary school level as “ a crucial stage of development and a foundation, which the rest of the educational system is built on”.
Olatunde said that reading was one of the most effective processes of conscious learning, which must be inculcated in children.
Nasarawa
Chairman, General Private Nursing Practitioners of Ni
geria, Nasarawa State branch, Chief Stephen Angbas, has appealed to the state’s Ministry of Health to reduce the cost of renewing licence by practitioners.
Angbas made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lafia on Saturday.
The chairman, who is also the proprietor of Angbas Medical Centre, Lafia, expressed concern over the increase in charges of renewing licence fees by private nursing practitioners in the state.
“We are appealing to them to look at the issue of renewing licence fees and make it reasonable to allow the private sector participate in health care delivery services.
“In those days, it was N13, 000, but now it had gone up beyond our reach,” he said.
Plateau
The price of tomatoes has soared in markets in Jos and
its environs.
A survey carried out in some markets also revealed that the price of pepper has also gone up.
Our correspondent learnt at the Farin-Gada tomatoes market, that a basket of fresh tomatoes which sold for N800 two weeks is now N6, 000.
The paint bucket which sold for N300 two weeks ago, now sells for N800.
A basket of pepper that was sold for N600, now sells for N4, 000, while the paint bucket of pepper now attracts N700 up from N200 which it sold two weeks ago.
Taraba
The Chairman, Muslim Council in Taraba State, Alhaji
Inuwa Manu, has urged Muslim faithful to use the Ramadan to demonstrate love and peaceful coexistence among different religious adherents in the state.
Manu made this known in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo on Saturday.
He said the call became imperative following activities of miscreants who were bent on causing public disturbances in the name of religion in the state.
According to him, criminals have infiltrated religious bodies with the sole aim of causing confusion so as to benefit from it.
He urged the people to embrace peace and respect each other’s religion so as not to create room for the miscreants to capitalise on it to cause problem in the state.
Yobe
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has assured
security personnel involved in the war against Boko Haram insurgents in the state of prompt payment of allowances.
Gaidam made the pledge on Saturday during a special parade by troops of 27 Task Force Brigade, Operation Zaman Lafiya, in Damaturu.
The parade was to decorate deserving personnel who had spent a minimum of six months in the ongoing operation against the insurgents in the North East.
The governor also pledged to provide more logistic support to the brigade, to assist with its operations.
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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