Nation
THE STATES
Representative of IGP, Mr Chris Olakpe (right), presenting food items on behalf of IGP to one of the widows of police officers that lost their lives on duty, Mrs Nandi Peter, during the presentation of food items to the widows in Jos last Monday.
Bauchi
The diverse ethnic and multi-religious communities of Yelwa, Kagadama, Gwallameji and Lushi of Birshi-Miri District, Bauchi, Bauchi state last Saturday celebrated six years of living together in peaceful co-existence.
The programme was organised by Muslim and Christian Youth Movement for Peace in conjunction with Birshi-Miri Concern Citizens Forum.
In his speech, Mr Yusuf Kumsu, the Chairman, organising committee of the programme, explained that the event was organised to celebrate six years of peaceful co-existence among the diverse ethnic groups in the communities.
The state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda expressed joy for the lasting peace being enjoyed in the state in spite of the current security challenges affecting the neighbouring states and commended the organisers of the event as well as religious and community leaders for the wonderful initiative.
Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, last Sunday, said some yet to be identified criminals, under the guise of Fulani herdsmen have been attacking and killing Tiv indigenes in the state.
Governor Suswam, while briefing journalists at the end of a security meeting held at the new banquet hall in Makurdi, said “some criminals are the ones attacking Benue communities, not Fulani herdsmen.
The governor added that the security meeting became necessary following the continued attack and killing of innocent Benue citizens in Guma, Gwer West and Makurdi.
Suswan said a committee had been raised, chaired by a Retired Permanent Secretary, Mr Moses Anagende, and 11 members to recommend ways of arresting the criminals. He said the committee has one week to submit its report.
Kano
The Kano State Government is to deploy sanitary in-spectors to all the 44 local government areas of the state.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, who disclosed this in an interview in Kano after the monthly sanitation exercise in some parts of the state, expressed dismay over the sanitary condition of some areas.
He specifically indicted owners of some business outfits for operating without regards to basic rules of hygiene.
Abbas also said sanitary inspectors to be deployed to the council areas would be empowered with the necessary skills to ensure the discharge of their duties.
Katsina
Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State last Sunday said the state’s Local Government elections would be conducted in the first quarter of 2014.
Shema who disclosed this in Katsina at a state PDP zonal meeting said the elections date would be announced in January for the political parties to begin preparations
The governor, who was represented by Sen. Umar Tsauri, said all the materials needed for the exercise were on ground.
The 34 local governments in the state were being managed by caretaker committees as a result of the expiration of the tenure of elected council officials early in 2011.
“The elections will take place next year, God willing, because everything has been put in place,’’ Shema said.
Kogi
Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, has called on Nigerians to strive for legacies that would outlive their stay on earth.
Awoniyi made the call last Saturday at the funeral of Mrs Elizabeth Bello, former Chief Nursing Officer in Egbe, Yagba East Local Government Area of the State.
Awoniyi, who described death as a compulsory end for all mortals, held that it was unfortunate that people now lived without thinking of leaving good legacies behind.
He said the deceased would be remembered for putting smiles on the faces of women whom she medically assisted to achieve conception and delivery and called on the family she left behind to take solace in her good works and be consoled by the testimonies about her life.
Kwara
The Chairman of Irepodun Local Government Council in Kwara State, Alhaji Luqman Owolewa, on Sunday, said the council discovered 339 “ghost workers’’ on its monthly pay roll.
Owolewa said in Omu-Aran, headquarters of the council, that an audit committee would soon be set up to scrutinise the council’s pay system.
He said the audit committee became necessary in order to fish out more “ghost workers’’ and correct other anomalies in the council’s pay process.
The chairman said that the result of his assessment of the workers few weeks after assumption of duty showed that out of the 839 workers on the council’s pay roll, only 500 were genuine staff members.
Nasarawa
The traditional ruler of Shafa Abakpa Community in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Hussaini Kyafi, has urged the Federal Government and wealthy Nigerians to promote the country’s cultural heritage.
Kyafi stated this on Sunday at Shafa Abakpa, in the Toto Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, during the 2013 Irewha Hunting Festival, an annual event which unites all the community’s tribes and brings members of the community together.
Kyafi said the event was a cultural heritage and traced its origin to the first settlers in the community, who were all hunters.
Special Adviser to the Nasarawa State Governor on Legislative Matters, Mr Musa Yusuf, said the event reminds Nigerians of their cultural values and virtues.
Niger
The Nupe Land Community Association for Grassroots Transformation has renewed its agitation for the creation of Edu State.
The Secretary of the association, Alhaji Baba Wachiko, who renewed the agitation in Bida on Sunday, said the new state, to be carved out of Niger, Kogi and Kwara states, “will cater for the needs of Nupe speaking people.”
Wachiko, who made the call in a paper he presented at the summit of the association, said the creation of the new state would serve as panacea for the socio-political and economic empowerment of the Nupe people.
He said “this agitation should not be treated as an exclusive affair of the Nupe speaking people. Rather, it is about the present and future status of Niger State which every reasonable Nigerlite should be interested in. The creation of a new state from the present Niger State is long overdue.
Lagos
The Lagos State Government said it had spent N1billion to support no fewer than 400 graduate farmers to set up their own farms.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Co-operatives, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, said in Lagos that the beneficiaries were those trained under the state’s Agricultural Youths Empowerment Scheme(AGRIC-YES).
The commissioner said that the essence of the programme was to create a generation of modern farmers, while creating job opportunities and promoting food security.
Lawal said that the programme was fully residential, adding that the government only recently inaugurated 200 units of two-bedroom apartments at the programme site, to improve the living standards of participants.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has pledged to restore the lost glory of Modakeke in 2014.
Aregbesola made the promise in a message to the 28th Modakeke Ako-ri-aaye Day Celebration and Launch of N500million Community Development Fund, Saturday.
The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Fatai Kolawole, said more local governments would be created.
He said this issue, which had been before the Osun Assembly, would be actualised and would surely favour the people of Modakeke.
Plateau
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, last Monday donated foodstuffs to widows of policemen killed while on duty in the Plateau command.
The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Olakpe, who represented the IGP, said the items was to enable them celebrate the New Year.
Olakpe said the items included a cow, 30 bags of rice and eight cartons of vegetable oil, stating that the items were for 30 widows that lost their bread winners in the line of duty within the past 12 months.
Responding on behalf of the widows, Mrs. Nandi Edache, commended the IGP for the gesture and called on the IGP to accelerate the payment of their husbands’ benefits to enable them settle their children’s school fees.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government last Sunday announced plans to sponsor 200 students to pursue various degree programmes in Cyprus and Pakistan.
Gov. Aliyu Wamakko disclosed this at the Yabo Local Government Area of the State when he inaugurated some projects executed by the Old Boys’ Association of the Sarkin Kabi Shehu Model Primary School, Yabo.
Wamakko said that the students were expected to depart Sokoto for Cyprus and Pakistan in January 2014.
He commended the members of the association for executing the projects and appealed to others to emulate them.
Wamakko stressed the need for all and sundry to complement the government’s efforts in providing a conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning.
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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