Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB), has decried the low enrolment of students from the North East region into technical schools in the country.
The NABTEB North East Zonal Coordinator, Mr Gabriel Yalamu, said this in an interview with newsmen in Yola last Monday.
Yalamu, who described the situation as “worrisome”, said that the development was among the major factors hindering the economic growth and contributed to the security challenges in the zone.
He attributed the development to the lack of commitment by some state governments, organisations and wealthy individuals from the region.
FCT
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, last Monday urged Nigerians to speak less on the planned amnesty for Boko Haram to allow the committee to perform its responsibilities.
Enang spoke in Abuja ahead of Tuesday’s resumption of the Senate from a two-week Easter recess and said it was necessary for Nigerians to avoid comments capable of escalating the lingering insecurity in the country.
“This is to allow the committees and persons saddled with these responsibilities to concentrate on their jobs and contact the appropriate persons and extract the appropriate commitments.
“Lets us allow those saddled with these responsibilities to work. We should be positive and optimistic on the expected outcome,’’ he said.
Enang said the conference of four Senate Committees on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) had the responsibility to determine the modality for the public hearing on the bill.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Haruna Wakili, has approved the immediate removal of Malam Abba Ibrahim as Principal of Government Secondary School, Maigatari.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Malam Ismail Ibrahim, and made available last Tuesday in Dutse, directed the principal to hand over the administration of the school to the Vice-Principal (Administration), Malam Sabiu Tsmaiya, pending the appointment of a new principal.
The former principal was also directed to report to the ministry for further directives.
Meanwhile, the state government has approved the re-appointment of Prof. Garba Goje as Rector of the Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, for a second term.
The statement explained that the appointment was with effect from April 25. According to it, Goje’s re-appointment is based on performance.
Kano
Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board said last Tuesday it would collaborate with the ward development associations in the state to ensure cleanliness of the environment.
Director of Solid Wastes of the board, Alhaji Ismail Bello, said in Kano that the partnership had resulted in appropriate waste disposal and evacuation of refuse within the metropolis.
He said “we have community associations that liaise with us. We have established a rapport that ensures that when they want to embark on sanitation, our staff are notified, so as to apportion a day for the exercise. “
Bello also said that the board was already working toward evacuation of drains to allow for free flow of water during the forthcoming rainy season.
“Our men are already engaged in 24-hour service in clearing of refuse across the city .
Kebbi
The Chairman, Northern Houses of Assembly Speakers’ Forum, Alhaji Habibu Musa, has commended the Federal Government’s proposed amnesty to Boko Haram.
Musa, who is the Speaker of Kebbi House of Assembly, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi last Monday that amnesty was a major step toward solving the security challenges in the country.
He said dialogue was the potent means adopted the world over to resolve conflicts, stressing that amnesty would provide the required avenue for issues to be resolved peacefully.
Kogi
Kogi State Water Board says it will soon embark on the disconnection of pipes illegally connected to offices, business premises and residential houses in Lokoja and its environs.
The General Manager of the board, Mr Vincent Abakpa, said in Lokoja on Tuesday that this measure had become necessary due to the refusal of water users to heed several warnings from the board.
He said that those found guilty of the illegal connection would be made to face the law as staff of the board had been mandated to go round and identify culprits.
Kwara
An Ilorin Area Court last Tuesday dissolved the five-year-old marriage between one Aminat Tunde and her husband, Jimoh, over lack of a child in the union.
The 43-year-old house wife had approached the court to dissolve the marriage over the lack of a child in the marriage.
The petitioner, a resident of Fate area of Ilorin, also told the court that her husband was too harsh and fond of placing curses on her.
According to her, their marriage was contracted in 2008 and was yet to produce any child. She prayed the court to end the marriage, saying her husband was making life difficult for her.
Her husband did not object to the prayer of his wife, saying, she was free to go. “My wife’s wayward life style has forced me not to have any pity for her situation,” he said.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, has warned residents of Ado-Odo in Ado-Odo/Otta Local Government Area to shun violence or risk imposition of curfew in the area.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Mr Muyiwa Oladipo.
The youths were protesting the alleged refusal of Akanni to visit one of his rivals to the throne who was in the hospital following an auto crash involving the monarch and the man.
The action resulted in a reprisal attack by supporters of the monarch resulting in violence in various parts of the town.
Amosun, however, cautioned the residents against violence to avoid the wrath of the state government and assured the people that the government would set up a committee to investigate remote and immediate causes of the crisis.
Osun
The Osun State House of Assembly has warned road contractors handling road projects across the state against low quality work.
The Chairman, House Committee on Works, Mr Abiodun Awolola, gave the warning during the committee’s oversight visit to Ede North and Iwo Local Government Areas of the state.
Awolola, who particularly condemned the work done on Iyalode road in Iwo, ordered the contractor in-charge to stop work on the project due to poor quality of work.
Oyo
A former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, last Tuesday said his political opponents were behind the rumour making the rounds that he was a murderer.
Speaking against the backdrop of the renewed political violence in Ekiti State, Fayose told newsmen on phone that the rumour was part of a smear campaign ahead of the 2014 governorship election in the state.
He said: “ my popularity in Ekiti ahead of the 2014 governorship election is a dilemma to my opponents and that is why they are looking for any opportunity to blackmail. I am not a murderer as they claimed. Nobody or court has arraigned me for murder in the last seven years. Are we saying that the system is not working?’’
Fayose, a PDP governorship aspirant in the election, said his political opponents had nothing to use in campaigning against him. “It is all political gimmicks and intrigues. They are running a failed propaganda,’’ he said.
Fayose appealed to his supporters to remain resolute and shun acts capable of heating up the polity.
Plateau
The Plateau State Government has threatened to blacklist non-performing contractors, saying that it is no longer prepared to tolerate “unserious people’’.
The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Solomon Maren, gave the warning while inspecting ongoing projects in Langtang on Monday.
“We are tired of revoking contracts and will soon start collecting a data of non-performing contractors to shut our doors against them,’’ he said.
Maren warned contractors handling government projects to improve in delivering quality jobs and on scheduled time.
He warned that government would not tolerate a situation where some firms frustrate its desire to improve the living standards of the populace.
Maren decried the slow pace of work on the five- kilometer Langtang Road and declared that the job was being delayed.
According to him, this road has taken too much time. I can’t see how a five kilometer road will take you more than two years to finish.
Sokoto
The Chairman, Sokoto North Local Government, Sokoto State, Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi last Monday urged the three-tiers of government to empower youths to check restiveness in the country.
Abdullahi said in Sokoto that proper investment in youths would prevent them from being used as agents of destruction, noting that the lingering insecurity in the country would be resolved if government produced policies and programmes aimed at providing jobs to the teaming unemployed Nigerians.
He also called on the Federal Government to work out modalities that would revamp the nation’s ailing companies.
Abdullahi called on wealthy Nigerians to complement government’s efforts by setting up companies to create jobs, and identified poverty and unemployment as factors responsible for the insecurity situation in the country.
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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