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Prove Those Losing Faith In Judiciary Wrong, Fubara Urges Judges, Lawyers
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged judicial officers and all legal practitioners to be more dutiful in eliciting citizens’ trust in the ability of the Judiciary to confidently dispense justice according to law.
The Governor maintained that the Judiciary must remain upright, independent, free and fearless, if it must play its role as an important ally in the collective quest for human security and progress of any society.
Governor Fubara gave the charge while speaking at the Special Court Session organised to mark the Opening of the 2024/2025 Legal Year at the Rivers State High Court premises in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The Governor said, the Judiciary must always be on the side of the law, no matter the pressure, which is why it is considered as the last hope of the common man.
He insisted: “Under our Constitution, the Executive arm and the Judiciary play different roles as separate and independent arms of government.
“However, we both share an enormous constitutional responsibility to uphold the rule of law and ensure sustainable peace and security in our State through effective administration of substantive justice to all citizens.
“For us, therefore, the Judiciary remains an important ally in our collective quest for human security and progress as no society will progress without an independent, free and fearless Judiciary. Even democracy will not endure without the Judiciary serving as its guardian angel.”
Governor Fubara noted that the Judiciary in Rivers State has remained a crest of pride for being stable, independent, productively effective, and devoid of controversies often associated with its peers elsewhere.
He lauded magistrates and judicial officers in the State, who have remained faithful to their judicial oath as they discharged their service to the State and contributed immensely to its advancement.
He said, “We also thank all other stakeholders, including the Bar, the Bench, judicial workers and the security agencies for the positive roles they have played in strengthening the Judiciary and advancing the rule of law, judicial independence, and administration of justice in the State.”
Governor Fubara, however, said that it is not yet time to rest on the laurels achieved because there are still areas requiring improvements, stressing that more has to be done to ensure universal access and speedy dispensation of justice, which are fundamental for earning the trust and confidence of all citizens.
He assured that as a government, his administration will remain alive to its constitutional responsibilities to the State’s Judiciary.
Governor Fubara said: “Since assuming office, we have done a lot to honour legal commitments to create a conducive environment for the Judiciary to thrive.
“We have respected and will continue to respect the autonomy and independence of the Judiciary as a separate and co-equal arm of government.
“Materially, we have been doing our best within available resources to enable our magistrates and judges to securely discharge their duties without fear of intimidation or interference from any person or entity.”
Governor Fubara said his administration has provided new vehicles to enhance the comfort and mobility of magistrates appointed in 2018 by the previous administration.
He also stated that his administration has facilitated the appointment of seven new judges to strengthen the judicial system further and enable the judges to cope with the ever-increasing caseload and demand for justice in the State.
He added, “We are equally determined to finish construction, furnish, and deliver the new High Court complex along Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt before the end of this year.
“Furthermore, we are working closely with the Chief Judge to renovate and equip all existing courts so that our judges and magistrates can have the comfort and convenience that they deserve to perform their duties.
“Finally, as you start the new legal year, I wish to reiterate the need to have and sustain the citizens’ trust and confidence in our judicial system, which is possible, if it can guarantee affordable and effective access and speedy resolution of disputes.”
Governor Fubara commended the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, for his progressive leadership and transformational strides.
He urged him to take the State’s Judiciary, under his watch, to enviable heights as the true last hope of the common man.
Governor Fubara also stated the willingness of his administration to continue to provide legal and material support to advance the basic objective of making the Rivers State Judiciary one of the best and most productive in the country.
In his address, Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi, stated that the Judiciary, under him, will continue to promote the rule of law and order in the State.
Justice Amadi, explained that the Rivers State Judiciary now has 51 judges with 45 of them of the State High Court and 6 of the Customary Court, adding that between 30th October, 2023 and 30th September, 2024, a total revenue of N525,322,478.85kobo had been generated.
The Judiciary, he said, also disposed of 22,725 cases of 31, 886 cases brought forward; with 14,791 cases filed, and 23,870 cases now pending.
Presenting his address, Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, said, that within the past year, he personally ensured the vetting of all legal advice to stem incidences of compromise.
He also addressed 65 fliat applications in favour of legal practitioners, signed 337 consent files, resolved 41 cases on mediation, offered 15 pro-bono representations, and attracted over N124million as tax to the State Government.
On his part, Chief Onueze Okocha, SAN, who spoke on behalf of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, expressed the hope that the courts in Rivers State will continue to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities to avert unnecessary delays that affect the just, efficient and speedy dispensation of justice.
Speaking on behalf of the eight Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Rivers State, the Port Harcourt Branch Chairman, Mrs Cordelia Eke, blamed legal officers for the deteriorating legal system, emphasising that their wrong legal opinions, and inability to condemn evil have contributed to making the Judiciary the place for needless battles.
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Drug Party: NDLEA Arrests Over 100 Suspects At Lagos Night Club
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arrested over 100 suspects at Proxy Night club located at No. 7, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, where a drug party was going on.
Spokesman of the Agency, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this yesterday, said the suspects arrested include the owner of the club, Mike EzeNwalieNwogu, alias Pretty Mike, who was taken into custody for screening.
“Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the club’s store,” Babafemi said.
The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11 pm on Saturday, 25th October, however, disrupted the gathering at 3 am on Sunday, 26th October, in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Similarly, NDLEA said a total of 70 parcels of cocaine factory packed in walls of cocoa butter formula body cream containers heading to London, United Kingdom, were uncovered at the export shed of the MurtalaMuhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, with three suspects arrested in a series of follow-up operations across Lagos.
According to the statement, “The cocaine consignments weighing 3.60 kilograms were discovered on 14th October 2025 during examination of cargoes packaged as personal effects going to London, UK on an Air Peace flight.
“A cargo agent, Lawal Mustapha Olakunle, who presented the consignment for airfreight, was promptly arrested while investigations stretching into two weeks led to the arrest of two principal suspects linked to the attempt to export the concealed Class A drug to the UK.
“In a follow up operation on 18th October, a female healthcare worker OgunmuyideTaiwo Deborah was arrested following which Mutiu Adebayo Adebiyi, the Chief Executive Officer of a travel agency, MutiuAdebiyi& Co, was arrested at his 23 LadokeAkintola Street, Ikeja GRA Lagos office on Monday 20 th October”.
In a similar development, an attempt by a 35-year-old Lesotho national, Lemena Mark, to export 103.59 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a diabeta herbs coffee tea pack to the Philippines on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from the AkanuIbiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu on Wednesday, 22nd October, was thwarted by NDLEA officers who arrested him and recovered the illicit drug.
No fewer than 21,950 capsules of tramadol 250mg concealed inside a 100-litre water heater were recovered from a suspect, Umar Abubakar, 40, who was arrested by NDLEA operatives at Bode Saadu, Morro local government area of Kwara state, following credible intelligence on Tuesday, 21st October.
In Taraba, the duo of Auwal Musa, 26, and SalihuBala, 22, were arrested on Tuesday, 21st October, with 450,000 pills of tramadol and Exol-5 at Dan-anacha checkpoint while conveying the consignment in a truck loaded with building materials from Onitsha, Anambra state, to Mubi, Adamawa state.
Also, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene/Lokoja highway, Kogi state, seized 162.200kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, from a truck on Friday, 24th October. Operatives in Nasarawa state on Wednesday, 22nd October, recovered 128kg of the same psychoactive substance from a suspect, Abubakar Muhammad, 55, in the Keffi area of the state.
A mother of two, Oyonumoh Glory Effiong, who is a major distributor of Canadian and California Loud, both strong strains of cannabis, in Lekki, Ajah, Ikoyi, Victoria Island and VGC areas of Lagos, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives on Friday, 17th October, during a raid at her Lekki home, where 500 grams of the illicit substances were recovered.
In the Ikorodu area of Lagos, NDLEA officers on Thursday, 23rd October, raided the home of a suspect, OgunyaboAdenigbigbe, at Solomade estate, where 275 litres of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance produced with black currant drink, cannabis and opioids, were recovered.
A 75-year-old grandpa, EchenduOnuoka, was arrested on Wednesday, 22nd October, at Ovum village, Obingwa LGA, Abia state, with 4.7kg skunk seized from him, while a 60-year-old grandma, Aukana John, was nabbed with 225 grams of the same substance at Apanta village, in the same LGA.
While a 150kg skunk was recovered during a raid operation at Lot camp, IkunAkoko, Ondo state, two suspects: Bashir Mohammad, 50, and Samini Ahmed Tijjani, 35, were nabbed with 234.5kg of the same substance at Yan aya ,Saminaka in Lere LGA, Kaduna on Friday, 24th October, just as another set of suspects: IsahUsman, 50, and Salvation Okoler, 18, were arrested with 8,600 pills of tramadol 225mg and rohypnol along Abuja/Kaduna highway.
At the Seme border area of Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday, 22nd October nabbed Jacob Ojugbele with 55kg skunk at Ashipa area of Badagry, while AmusaOluwabukola was arrested with 121.3 litres of skuchies at ItogaBadagry.
In Zamfara state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Gummi-Anka road on Monday, 20th October arrested a suspect, Abubakar Ibrahim, 30, in possession of an AK-47 rifle and 1,746 assorted calibres of ammunition, for AK-47 and GPMG rifles while moving them from Sokoto to Bagega forest, Anka LGA, Zamfara. Both the suspect and the exhibits have since been handed over to the appropriate security agency for further investigation.
With the same vigour, Commands and formations of the Agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities in schools, worship centres, workplaces, and communities, among others, in the past week.
These include: WADA sensitization lecture to students and staff of Asabari Grammar School, IluwaIsaleOke, Saki West LGA, Oyo; Government Day Girls Secondary School, BirninKebbi, Kebbi; St. Mark’s College, Nsude, Enugu; Kusaki Secondary School, Gboko North, Benue; Government Day Secondary School, Serti- Baruwa, Gashaka LGA, Taraba; Police Children School 2, Port Harcourt, Rivers and Hajara Ahmad International School, Tudun Wada, Kano state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MMIA, AIIA, Lagos, Kwara, Abia, Nasarawa, Kogi, Ondo, Anambra, Taraba, Kaduna, Seme and Zamfara Commands for the arrests and seizures, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed BubaMarwa (Rtd) urged them and their colleagues across the country to continue the Agency’s balanced approach to drug control efforts.
News
SERAP Demands NNPCL Account For Oil Revenues, Threatens Legal Action
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), BayoOjulari, to provide a detailed account of oil revenues reportedly flagged by the Auditor-General of the Federation in the 2022 annual report.
The report, published on September 9, 2025, raised questions over the management of multi-billion-naira transactions, including over N22 billion, $49 million, £14 million, and €5 million in oil-related revenue, handled by the national oil company.
In a letter dated October 25, 2025, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, KolawoleOluwadare, the organisation called on Ojulari to ensure transparency by identifying those responsible for any unaccounted funds and forwarding the findings to the appropriate anti-corruption agencies.
“These findings raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of public resources,” SERAP said.
The group urged the NNPCL to recover any unremitted or misapplied funds and return them to the national treasury, stressing that proper management of oil revenues was crucial for national development.
“The allegations, if not promptly and transparently addressed, could undermine public confidence and economic stability,” SERAP stated.
According to the organisation, the Auditor-General’s report drew attention to issues such as irregular payments, uncompleted projects, and documentation lapses relating to oil sector transactions.
SERAP argued that corruption and financial mismanagement in the oil sector had long hindered Nigeria’s ability to channel its vast petroleum wealth into improved public services.
“Despite the country’s enormous oil resources, citizens continue to face hardship due to a lack of accountability and transparency in revenue management,” the statement noted.
The organisation maintained that if the flagged funds were properly accounted for, more resources could be made available for sectors such as education, healthcare, and social welfare.
It added that the NNPCL must take proactive steps to comply with audit recommendations, including closing identified loopholes and enhancing oversight on contract execution.
SERAP also warned that it would take legal action should the NNPCL fail to respond within seven days.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and publication of this letter.
“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel compliance in the public interest,” the organisation said.
The group cited Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates public institutions to prevent corrupt practices and abuse of power.
News
N’Assembly Committee Approves New State ForS’East
The Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Constitution Review has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone.
According to a statement by the media unit of the committee, the resolution was reached on Saturday at a two-day retreat in Lagos, where it reviewed 55 proposals for state creation across the country.
The session, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, BarauJibrin, and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, resolved that, in the spirit of fairness and equity, the Federal Government should create another state for the region.
Kalu, who joined other lawmakers to champion additional state creation for the region, argued that a new state would give the people a sense of belonging.
When created, the South-East will be at par with the South-South, South-West, North-Central, and North-East zones, each having six states.
The South-East is the only geo-political zone with five states comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The North-West comprises seven states: Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa.
According to the statement, Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (Ifo/Ewekoro, Ogun State) at the retreat.
“The motion received the unanimous support of committee members and was adopted,” the statement read in part.
Similarly, the committee also established a sub-committee to consider the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geo-political zones, noting that a total of 278 proposals were submitted for review.
Speaking at the event, Jibrin urged members to rally support among their colleagues at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to ensure the resolutions sail through during voting.
“We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process.
“By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders—from both chambers and the state Houses of Assembly,” the Deputy Senate President was quoted as saying.
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