FG: Armed Forces, Intelligence Agencies Have Clear Mandate to Rescue Abducted Kebbi Students
olawale Ajimotokan, linus Aleke in Abuja and onuminya innocent
The federal government, yesterday, responded to the news of abduction of female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, saying the armed forces and the intelligence agencies
have been issued clear mandate to locate, rescue and safely return the students. Minister
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WheN PriNCe edWArd CAme CAlliNg AT The PresideNTiAl VillA...
L-R: British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Sir Richard Montgomery; Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun during Tinubu’s audience with Prince Edward at the Presidential Villa Abuja ... yesterday
James emejo in Abuja
In a historic show of confidence, investors have oversubscribed Lagos State’s N200 billion Conventional Bond. The transaction was overbooked by 55 per cent, of Information and National
In Show of Confidence, Investors Oversubscribe Lagos N200bn Bond
Tinubu: Public Perception of Judiciary Not Favourable, Judges Must Shun Corruption
Gov urges prayers as police launch operation to free victims after bandits shoot principal, kill vice principal Matawalle urges security to intensify search-and-rescue as ambassador opposes negotiating with terrorists ISWAP claims it executed Brig-Gen Uba after Borno ambush Declares justice not for highest bidder Says no amount of reform can succeed if integrity is compromised story on page 14
All NigeriAN Judges CoNfereNCe of The suPerior CourTs...
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Chief Justice of Nigeria and other Judges at the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference of the superior Courts held in Abuja … yesterday
PHOTO: State House.
BIg BOOst FOr NIgErIA’s OIl AND gAs Output... Chairman, Conoil Producing, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. (left), and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, TotalEnergies, Mr. Patrick Pouyanne, during the signing of a product contract by the two companies in Paris...yesterday
Tinubu: Our Economic Reforms Will Empower Nigerian Youths for Global Challenge
Receives in audience Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward 320 Nigerian youths bag Duke of Edinburgh international award
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has affirmed that various reforms introduced by his administration, targeted at strengthening the economy and relevant institutions, will secure the future for Nigerian youths and empower them with skills that will make them globally competitive.
Tinubu spoke on Monday at State House, Abuja, while receiving the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward.
The president said youths remained central to the repositioning of the economy, and their ownership of key reforms will lead Nigeria into a great future.
Edward, as Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Interna- tional Award Foundation, was in Abuja to brief Tinubu on the award ceremony, which would take place in Lagos.
Tinubu told Edward, “We will be participating in the G-20
this week. It is the third time Africa is hosting the G-20. And the central issue is about our youth. We need to strengthen the economy for our youths.
“The reforms are about growth and prosperity for the nation. It takes into full consideration demography and skills development. We are emulating best practices in exploring opportunities in several areas of skills development.
“We have a special education loan fund now that ensures that no one is left behind. The fund ensures that students who gain admission to universities stay in school and receive support to complete their education. Our goal is to use education to drive down poverty.”
The president stated that the reform spanned various sectors of the economy, with a larger vision of promoting harmony among all stakeholders and ensuring long-term synergy to meet targets.
Tinubu stated that the laying of fibre optics and other infrastructural projects will promote access and optimise the inclusion of young people in the country’s development.
He added that the government was addressing the challenge of security and crime with notable results.
Tinubu thanked the humani-
tarian agencies for assisting in ameliorating the plight of victims of terrorism in some parts of the country.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, stated that the median age in Nigeria was 17 years and reforms had been deliberately structured to create more opportunities for
participation, skill development, and growth.
The Duke of Edinburgh commended Tinubu on the economic reforms that had been receiving positive reviews across the globe.
Edward said the award ceremony will celebrate the talents and efforts of Nigerians in pursuing their passions,
developing relevant skills, and contributing to the country’s growth and development. He revealed that 320 Nigerian youths will be recognised in the various events of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Inter- national Award Foundation, to be held in Lagos, with the partnership of Lagos State Government.
Policy Alert Pushes for Women Inclusiveness in HCDTs in Rivers
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
In an effort to encourage women inclusiveness in the activities of Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) in oil producing communities, a non governmental organisation, Policy Alert with support from Canada Fund for Local
Climate Crisis: CSOs Call for Urgent Integration of Frontline Experiences
Warn Nigeria risks falling behind
A coalition of international and local civil society groups on Monday called on the Nigerian government to urgently integrate the experiences of frontline communities into national climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, warning the country risks falling further behind in its response to the escalating climate crisis.
The call was made at a
validation workshop themed; “Amplifying Community Voices of Climate Change in Nigeria”, held at the Royal Birds Hotel and Towers, Akure, Ondo State, led by the Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN) in partnership with NetHope and Nairobi-based tech organisation, Ushahidi.
Opeyemi Elujulo, the Execu- tive Director of YARN, said the initiative aims to promote climate equity by ensuring
the voices of those most affected by climate change, particularly women, youth and marginalized groups are heard, documented and reflected in policy formulation.
Elujulo, represented by the organisation’s Programme Manager, Oluwaseyi Olawuyi, noted that despite the increasing severity of climate impacts, the lived experiences of communities across the country remain largely missing from the national conversation.
Initiatives (CFLI/FCIL), has inaugurated HCDT StateWomen Action Group (SWAG), in Rivers State.
The group inaugurated the women selected from across oil producing communities in Rivers, during a two-day training for women leaders from the communities, in Port Harcourt, in the State.
Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, explained that the inaugurated women would ensure transparency in the funds allocated to
the HCDTs in the State.
He explained that the idea for the training and inaugura- tion was to ensure that women in host communities actually have the tools in their hands to interrogate developments around them from a gender lens.
He said the women should be able to analyse even the flow of funds and how those funds are being allocated to different projects to ensure that they address the needs of all segments of the society.
“Girls and boys do not have the same needs. Men and women do not have the same needs. So, we do not want to have this kind of blanket approach to project development in the communities.
“So, that is what this project is meant to address. It’s also supposed to address transparency and accountability from a gender lens. Sometimes we look at the issues of corruption and all that and we need to ask ourselves, who is benefiting from what is being stolen?
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has placed an immediate suspension on all enforcement activities carried out by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) across the nation.
The SA Media and Publicity Officer of the Minister of Art,
Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Nneka Anibeze, announced suspension Monday in a statement. She said the decision was approved by the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, following a comprehensive review of recent enforcement operations by NIHOTOUR and growing concerns expressed
by stakeholders within the hospitality and tourism sectors. The statement said the minister considered the suspension as a necessary move to restore order, protect the rights of operators, and ensure that regulatory activities were conducted within the limits of the law and in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Fidelis David in Akure
HIGH-CAPACITY INTERNET CONNECTIVITY ON THEIR MINDS...
L-R: Jennifer Udeagwu, Lanre Akinremi, Adeniyi Odejobi, all of Globacom; Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma; Lawrence Odediran and Chike Ikenna, also of Globacom, at the signing of a landmark Internet connectivity agreement between the company and the State Government on the provision of high-capacity Internet connectivity to critical infrastructure in the state, in Owerri, Imo State…recently
Fitch: Breakdown of US-Nigerian Relations Unlikely Despite Trump Threat
Says effective action requires assistance of Nigeria’s military Tuggar: Narrative of Christian killings fuelled by misinformation Declares talks with US progressing, insists Nigeria must lead any military action
A Fitch Solutions Company, BMI, has argued that despite the recent Face-off between Nigeria and the United States, both nations are unlikely to experience a breakdown in bilateral relations.
On October 31, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced
that Nigeria would be placed on a Department of State list of ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ over claims that Christians in the country were being persecuted. Other countries on the list include Mainland China, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan and Russia, among others. Trump subsequently suggested that the
US could carry out airstrikes or even deploy troops in defence of Christians in the country.
But in its forecast, the Fitch company compared Trump’s current position on Nigeria with the alleged killing of Afrikaners in South Africa, highlighting the pushback by Nigeria that nothing of such was happening.
Nonetheless, it projected that it might further push West Africa’s most populous country to cement its relations with Mainland China, especially if the planned strikes are carried out in a non-cooperative manner.
“We had already been flag- ging a likely deterioration in US-Nigeria relations over claims
FG Vows Sanctions as Airline Offloads VDM, Mr Jollof after Physical Fight
The federal government yesterday said it had commenced an investigation into a physical fight onboard a commercial flight between social media influencer, Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, also called Mr Jollof.
A viral video on Monday captured the duo trading blows inside a United Nigeria Airlines flight travelling from Asaba, the capital of Delta State to Lagos State, a development that caused disruption of the flight as other passengers struggled to separate them.
However, the two culprits were later offloaded and handed over to airport security for further interrogation, THISDAY learnt.
Speaking on the incident, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it will pursue sanctions against the duo over the violent physical altercation on the plane, stressing that the government was waiting for legal advice and appropriate action/advice.
The NCAA’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, who made this known via a post
on X, formerly Twitter said such “unruly behaviour” aboard an aircraft would not be tolerated.
Achimugu stated: “The airline should report the incident to the NCAA, and my department would forward to legal advice and appropriate action/advice.
There is no tolerance for unruly behaviour aboard an aircraft. Both individuals will face the full strength of the law. It is even more shameful when one considers both of them partners in educating their millions of followers to avoid unruly
“Whilebehaviour. waiting for information (I have reached out to our staff for details now that I am on ground), one wonders if the pilot had both passengers deplaned or if they were flown to destination. If it was the latter, there would be consequences.
“The actions of both men put the safety of all other passengers and the crew at risk. It also put the safety of the aircraft at risk. The NCAA has exerted a lot of energy and resources in educating passengers about the dangers of unruly behaviour and its consequences. In this case, no matter what led to the fracas, there is no excuse that makes it acceptable.”
The NCAA spokesman, in another post on X, said he had
confirmed that VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof were ‘deboarded’ over the physical fight. “They were deboarded. I have confirmed this,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, domestic carrier, United Nigeria Airlines has announced that it threw out the media influencers for fighting during the boarding process at the Asaba Airport on their way to Lagos.
The airline in a statement said the two disrupted boarding proceedings when they engaged in a fight. United Nigeria Airlines said the incident took place on Monday morning.
The airline explained that an altercation occurred between the two passengers who dis- countenanced all entreaties and engaged in physical combat.
“In full compliance with global aviation safety protocols, our crew responded immediately and professionally to de-escalate the situation. Both passengers were deboarded without delay to ensure the safety, comfort, and security of all other passengers and crew members. They were subsequently handed over to airport security for further investigation,” Chibuike Uloka, Public Relations Officer of the airline said.
United Nigeria Airlines said
Seeks fair hearing in planned Congress hearing on Thursday of religious persecution. At this stage, we maintain our view that a complete break with the US is “Nigerianunlikely. officials have welcomed the prospect of US assistance in fighting Islamist insurgents ‘as long as Nigeria’s territorial integrity is respected’. However, any announcement of US sanctions on the country would likely prompt the Nige- rian authorities to further bolster relations with Mainland China.
it places the highest priority on safety and maintains a zero- tolerance policy for any conduct that threatens the security or wellbeing of passengers or crew.
“After all standard procedures were completed, the flight departed safely while the passengers involved in the altercation were still with the authorities. We remain firmly committed to providing a safe, respectful, and secure travel experience across our network,” Uloka said.
“Any US move to carry out military action in a non- cooperative way would have a notably negative impact on Nigeria’s political risk profile and undermine investor sentiment, with a knock-on impact on growth projections.
“As with Trump’s com- ments regarding Afrikaners in South Africa, claims about the targeting of Christians in Nigeria are strongly contested by local officials, who insist that violence in the country is driven by criminal and terrorist groups rather than state-sponsored religious persecution,” the organisation stated.
Quoting research from the
Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) group, which suggests that, of 1,923 attacks on civilians in Nigeria so far this year, just over 2.5 per cent involved the targeting of Christians because of their religion, Fitch explained however that this is unlikely to derail the narrative being promoted by right-wing elements in the US.
“At this stage, it is unclear what the next steps by the US administration will be. One pos- sibility is that a potential $346 million arms sale to Nigeria approved by the US State Department in August 2025 does not receive Congressional approval.“However, this would likely be counterproductive. US airstrikes would need to target small groups located across a large territorial area, and would be complicated by the withdrawal of US troops from neighbouring Niger in September 2024. Effective ac- tion would therefore require the assistance of the Nigeria-based military,” it maintained.
FG Identifies Attractive Areas to Invest in Aviation Sector,
Chindu Eze
The federal government has called on the private sector to invest in lucrative areas of the aviation industry, assuring them of full support and protection of their investment.
Speaking at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria National Aviation Conference (FNAC2025), ongoing in Lagos, the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, urged investors to embrace the
Promises Incentives
long-term benefits of investing in Nigeria’s fast-evolving aviation landscape, emphasising that the opportunities and the enabling environment are strengthening every day.
This is just as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State confirmed the state government has secured approval to build the Lekki International Airport with annual capacity of five million passengers.
Keyamo in his speech, itemised FAAN’s investment opportunities
to include: Airport Infrastructure Modernization where Keyamo urged investors to partner in the form of Public Private Partnership (PPP) to guarantee returns. He also called for partnership for a World-Class Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Hub adding FAAN is positioned to facilitate a regional Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul centre in Nigeria that will serve West and Central Africa, reducing costs, retaining capital, and creating high-skill jobs.
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Chinedu Eze in Lagos
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
THIRD ANNUAL GOXI MICROINSURANCE CONFERENCE...
L-R: Board Member, Goxi Microinsurance, Dr. Henrietta Agun; Representative of the Commissioner for Insurance, NAICOM, Dr. Julius Odidi; Managing Director/CEO, Goxi Microinsurance, Mr. Shina Gbadegeshin; Africa Regional Coordinator, Microinsurance Network, Kenya, Karimi Nthiga; and Founder, Dasunoth Consulting, Mr. Sunday Thomas, at the 3rd Annual Goxi MicroInsurance Conference in partnership with Microinsurance Network held in Lagos…recently
Dangote Refinery: Fuel Price Cut Not Connected with
FG’s Suspension of 15% Import Tariff
Says it has reduced prices on more than seven occasions
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery yesterday said the recent reduction in fuel pump prices by oil marketers had no connection with the federal government’s reversal of the 15 per cent import tariff on petrol and diesel.
The 650,000 barrels per day facility located in Lagos, stressed that the narratives were entirely false, deliberately misleading, and inconsistent with actual market dynamics, stating that it adjusted prices before the decision to suspend the implementing of the policy.
For the avoidance of doubt, it stated that the factor that prompted the price adjustment was its own reduction of petrol gantry and coastal prices on November 6, rejecting the notion that the subsequent change was attributable to a tariff decision.
In a statement made available to journalists, the Dangote refinery noted that reports that the reduction in pump prices was driven by the suspension of the 15 per cent import tariff was therefore incorrect.
Nigeria’s recent suspension of the planned 15 per cent duty on imported petrol and diesel marked a significant retreat from a policy that was designed to reshape the downstream market. Dangote had hailed the move.
The duty, meant to take effect after a 30-day transition period, was introduced as part of an attempt to protect emerging local refining capacity, narrow the cost gap between domestic production and imports, and gradually steer the country toward energy self-sufficiency.
But days later the federal government stepped back, an- nouncing that the levy was ‘no longer in view’, and stressing the need to avoid a sudden rise in pump prices that could spill into inflation and deepen economic discomfort.
“To reiterate, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, on No- vember 6, reduced its PMS gantry price from N877 to N828 per litre, representing a 5.6 per cent decrease, and its coastal price from N854 to N806 per litre.
“These changes were pub- licly announced across major
media platforms, including, but not limited to, The Punch, Vanguard, The Cable, Daily Trust, The Sun, The Street Journal, Petroleumprice.ng, New Telegraph, Business Hallmark, and several others, and were implemented well before marketers adjusted their pump prices.
“The claim that the reduction in pump prices was driven by the suspension of the 15 per
Insists imported products substandard
cent import tariff is therefore incorrect. The import tariff had received the approval of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR as far back as October 21 for immediate implementation.
“Despite the non-implemen- tation of the tariff, we reduced the price of our products. As a socially responsible company, this decision, which was not affected by whether the tariff
was implemented or not, aligns with our long-standing commitment to ensuring Nigerians enjoy the full benefits of do- mestic refining,” the refinery’s management stated.
It added that since commencing operations, it had reduced prices on more than seven occasions, absorbed logistics costs to ensure nationwide price uniformity during festive periods, and
played a major role in ending the perennial and artificial fuel scarcity typically associated with the ember months.
Contrary to repeated claims by certain interests, it stated that imported products which are often below acceptable standards have consistently been sold at higher pump prices than the premium-grade fuel supplied by Dangote Refinery.
UK, Switzerland Seek Increase Women Representation in Governance
The United Kingdom and Switzerland have pooled forces canvassing increase in Nigerian women’s representation in governance.
Representatives of the two countries predicated their calls on the belief that the women folk have a lot to offer the country and Nigerians when
opportuned to serve, whether as elected or appointed of- ficials.
This is just as the leadership of the National Assembly have assured that due considerations would be giving to the Reserved Seats Bill currently pending before them.
They spoke on Monday at the opening of the 2025 Law Week of the International
Elumelu: Entrepreneurs Need Nigeria where Policies are Predictable, Financing Truly Accessible
Kayode Tokede
The Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, yesterday declared that entrepreneurs in Nigeria need the right environment where policies are predictable, infrastructure works and financing is truly accessible. Giving his keynote address titled: “Empowering
Nigeria’s Entrepreneurs: Building Institutions that Last” at the Grow Nigeria Conference 2.0 organised by the SMEDAN in Lagos, Elu- melu stated the future of Nigeria is not going to be written in some far-off boardroom but by every passionate entrepreneur, who refuses to settle for average, who beats the odds and dares to dream big.
He noted that too many businesses in Nigeria never get past the struggle as many great ideas fail because the system, the support, the ecosystem were not there, stressing that this has to change. According to him, starting businesses is good but, to sustain it is critical and that’s how to transform Nigeria’s economy.
“I started out just like many of you - restless, ambitious, ready to prove myself. But experience taught me: success isn’t about today. It’s about what remains when you’re gone. If you are chasing profit and nothing else - your journey will be short. If you’re driven by purpose and a vision to make lives better - your legacy will endure,” he said. As Akpabio, Kalu declare support for reserved seat bill
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Abuja branch.
The event themed, “Advancing Women’s Rep- resentation: Reserved Seats and the Future of Nigeria’s Legislature,” attracted participants from the international community, religious leaders, politicians and lawyers.
In her goodwill message, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Gill Lever Obe, lamented that women representation at the National Assembly remains alarmingly low, adding that Nigeria ranks very low in the Global Gender Inclusive Index.
She therefore urged the leadership of the legislature to pass the Reserved Seats Bill, as doing so would enhance the growth of the country economically as well as result in the achievement of the SDGs.
“The UK is proud to support FIDA Nigeria’s vital work in advancing women’s
representation in governance.
The Special Seats Bill for women in Nigeria represent an important step towards inclusive democracy and ensuring that women’s voices shape the policies that affect all Nigerians.
“We stand with Nigerian women lawyers and ad- vocates championing this critical reform”, the high commissioner stated.
In his own goodwill, the Switzerland Ambassador to Nigeria, Patrick Egloff, revealed that studies have shown that a country does well in governance wherever there is a mixed team “because there are things where women have other sensitivities than men, which is important to tame men into discussions.
“And there are aspects where as men we might certainly have other sensitivities. So, it is important to have both female and the male voices at the table and represented”.
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Moderation in Energy, Food, Commodity Prices Eases Inflation
to 16.05%
Food index stood at 13.12%, severe in Ekiti, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Ogun, others CPPE hails decline as win for macroeconomic stability, urges govt
James Emejo in Abuja and Dike Onwuamaeze in Lagos
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and commodities, further eased to 16.05 per cent in October, compared to 18.02 per cent the preceding month, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday.
The 1.96 per cent decline in headline inflation was attributed to a slower rate of increases in generalCentreprices. for the Promotion
of Private Enterprise (CPPE) hailed the “sharp moderation” in inflation rate, describing it as a significant win for macroeconomic stability.
According to Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, Dr. Muda Yusuf, “Nigeria recorded a significant moderation in inflation in October 2025, marking one of the strongest single-month disinflation this year.”
Year-on-year, inflation stood at 17.82 per cent, compared to 33.88 per cent in October 2024. According to the CPI Report
for October, which was released by the NBS, headline inflation “decreased in October 2025 compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., October 2024), though with a different base year, November 2009 = 100”.
However, month-on-month headline inflation was 0.93 per cent compared to 0.72 per cent in September.
“This means that in October 2025, the rate of increase in the average price level was higher than the rate of increase in the average price level in September
to strengthen food system
2025,” NBS stated. Year-on-year, food inflation stood at 13.12 per cent, from 39.16 per cent in October 2024.
The statistical agency stressed, “The significant decline in the annual food inflation figure is technically due to the change in the base However,year.”month-on-month, the food index was -0.37 per cent, compared to -1.57 per cent in TheSeptember. NBS attributed the increase to the rate of rise in the average prices of onions, fruits (oranges, pineapple),
T I nubu: Publ I c Perce PTI on o F Ju DI c IA r Y n o T FAvour A ble, Ju DG e
shrimp, groundnuts (unshelled), vegetables (ugu, okazi leaf), and goat meat, cow tail, liver, among others.
The all items less farm produces and energy or core inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produces and energy, stood at 18.69 per cent, year-on-year in October compared to 28.37 per cent in October 2024.
On a month-on-month basis, core inflation stood at 1.41 per cent compared to 1.41 per cent in AtSeptember. state level, headline
inflation on year-on-year basis was highest in Ekiti (20.14 per cent), Nasarawa (18.97 per cent), and Zamfara (18.81 per cent), while Bauchi (9.99 per cent), Anambra (11.72 per cent), and Gombe (11.73 per cent) recorded the lowest rise in prices.
PTI on Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yes- terday, said public perception of the judicial process had not always been favourable, cautioning Nigerian judges to do all within their power to stop corruption, and ensure justice is not for the highest bidder.
Tinubu gave the charge in Abuja while declaring open the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference.
He stated, “We must acknowledge, with candour, that public perception of the judicial process has not always been favourable. Citizens have
Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this, in a statement yesterday.
Idris vowed that the federal government would ensure that the perpetrators faced justice, adding that the authorities will not relent until the objective is achieved.
A wave of terror had hit the quiet town of Maga early yesterday, when heavily armed bandits stormed the secondary school and abducted several students, leaving one staff member dead.
About 4am, the attackers, equipped with sophisticated weapons, breached the school fence and forced their way into the hostel.
Police tactical units, respond- ing to the alarm raised, engaged the intruders in a brief gun duel. But despite the police presence, the bandits managed to scale the perimeter and whisked the students away to an undisclosed location.
In the chaos, Hassan Makuku, a vice principal was shot and killed, while the principal of the school was shot in a hand. Another employee, Ali Shehu, suffered a gunshot wound and was currently receiving medical treatment.
Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Kotarkoshi, confirmed the details of the incident in a statement, adding that a massive rescue
expressed frustration at delays, concerns about integrity, and anxiety over access to justice.”
According to him, “These perceptions, whether wholly justified or not, cannot be ignored. They call upon us to reflect, to reform, and to restore. For ultimately, justice does not exist for the Bench or the Bar; it exists for the people. Their faith in the judicial process is the foundation of our national stability.”
Tinubu said the bench must never be called a “sanctuary of Hecompromise”. explained, “Let us be clear. No amount of reforms can succeed if integrity is com-
operation has been launched.
Kotarkoshi stated, “The police tactical units deployed in the school engaged them in a gun duel. Unfortunately, the suspected bandits had already scaled through the fence of the school and abducted twenty five students from their hostel to an unknown destination.”
Authorities cordoned off the area and were coordinating with local vigilante groups and neighbouring state security forces to track the abductors.
Helicopters and ground patrols were sweeping the surrounding forests and villages in a bid to locate the missing girls.The incident sent shockwaves through Maga community and the wider Kebbi State, prompting calls for heightened security around schools and a swift governmental response.
Parents of the abducted students gathered at the school gate, pleading for the safe return of their daughters. The attack marked the latest in a series of banditry related kidnappings that have plagued north western Nigeria in recent months, raising fresh concerns about the capacity of law enforcement agencies to protect civilians in vulnerable regions.
The information minister expressed deep concern and solidarity with the families of
promised. Justice must never be for sale. The bench must never be called a sanctuary of compromise.
“Corruption in any arm of government weakens the nation, but corruption in the judiciary destroys it to the core.”
Tinubu said the strength and honour of the judiciary rested in proper and unequivocal in- terpretation of the constitution.
He stressed that public perception of the bench should be of utmost concern, particularly in protecting the country’s democracy.
The president said, “The theme of this year’s conference,
the female students. He said the administration shared in their pain and was firmly committed to bringing the girls home safely.
He reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, was a solemn responsibility of the state under President Bola Tinubu.
Idris added that the administration totally condemned the reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials, who were carrying out their noble duty.
He stated, “Our security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the students, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice. The federal government will not relent until this objective is achieved.
“We assure Nigerians that strengthening internal security remains a top priority. The fed- eral government is re-calibrating the nation’s military, policing, and intelligence capabilities to more effectively prevent these attacks and respond with greater speed and precision whenever threats arise.”
He urged the public to remain calm and confident, and stated that the country was also reinforcing cooperation with regional partners, through ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Multinational Joint Task
‘Building a Confident Judi- ciary,’ could not be more fitting. Confidence is the lifeblood of justice. A judgement may be grounded in law and delivered with clarity, but unless the public perceives it to be fair, impartial, and untainted, its moral authority is diminished.
“The confidence of the people is, therefore, not an abstract aspiration. It is the living measure of the judiciary’s legitimacy and the true currency of justice.”
Stressing that judges must uphold the spirit of the law, he said, “Bricks and mortar, or even digital screens, do not make justice. The true strength
Force (MNJTF), to secure its borders and disrupt terrorist and criminal networks.
Matawalle Urges Security Agencies to Intensify Searchand-Rescue Operations
Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, called for urgent and coordinated action to secure the release of the 25 schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State.
Matawalle urged security agencies to intensify search- and-rescue operations and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators were appre- hended and the victims safely reunited with their families.
The minister, in a statement by Assistant Director of Infor- mation and Public Relations, Enderline Chukwu, strongly condemned the attack by bandits on the students.
He said the attack resulted in the death of the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and the abduction of several students.
Matawalle described the incident as unacceptable and called on all security agencies to act urgently and in concert to locate and secure the safe release of the abducted students.
The statement said, “The government, led by President
of the judiciary lies in the men and women who interpret the law and give life to its spirit.
“Our Judges are the living custodians of justice; the calibre of their work defines the moral strength of the Republic. That is why judicial welfare, training, and independence are not privileges; they are imperatives.”
The president urged judges to always consider the larger picture of a united and more prosperous nation when car- rying out their responsibilities.
He stated, “In this regard, I wish to reaffirm, with clarity and conviction, the unwavering commitment of my administration to supporting the judiciary in fulfilling its constitutional mandate.
“My administration believes that a judiciary that is strong in
yielding N310 billion.
The overwhelming recep- tion from the investment community represented a historic demonstration of trust in the state.
Similarly, a N14.8 billion Green Bond was also significantly oversubscribed.
The Conventional Bond, which is the largest ever issued by a non-corporate subnational in Nigeria, attracted subscriptions totalling N308 billion, representing a 54 per cent oversubscription above the initial offer.
Commenting on the development, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said, “This is a reflection of the global confidence in Nigeria’s economy, fostered by the bold reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR as reflected in the recent oversubscription of the Federal Government’s Eurobond.”
Sanwo-Olu added, “In Lagos, ours is a testament to our resilience and the unwavering support of our private sector partners who believe in our vision of building Africa’s model megacity that is safe
capacity, efficient in processes, and uncompromising in integrity is not merely desir- able; it is indispensable to the survival of our democracy and the prosperity of our nation.
“We cannot build a just society without a fearless and functional judiciary. In this spirit, we have resolved to provide the institutional and material support that will en- able our courts to perform their duties with dignity, confidence, and“Ourefficiency. courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years. They must become beacons of efficiency, where disputes are resolved swiftly, and where litigants depart with renewed confidence in the rule of law.”
Tinubu, however, com-
secure and functional.
“We shall continue to ensure prudent financial management, accountability and fiscal transparency as we continue to provide a conducive environment for businesses to grow. Our dream is to make Lagos a global financial hub; we will keep our eyes on the ball.”
In a statement, the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Yomi Oluyomi, said Lagos remained the first sub-national government to issue an impact climate bond.
The Green bond attracted N28.7 billion, 94 per cent more than the target.
The proceeds from the bonds are earmarked to fund critical projects across the state, directly aligned along the line of the THEMES+ Agenda of the governor.
The statement added that the projects will focus on vital areas, such as transportation, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability, all aimed at significantly improving the livelihood and well-being of all Lagosians and securing a more prosperous and resilient future for the state.
Prince Adeyemi Adeniran
Acting Group Politics Editor DEJI ELUMOYE
Email: deji.elumoye@thisdaylive.com
08033025611 sms only
Anambra: INEC and Post-Soludo Guber Victory
In a post mortem of anambra’s recent poll, David-Chyddy Eleke looks at how the governorship election went, the actions of the winner, reactions of the losers and how anambra people are taking it entirely.
Anambra State is one of the states that operates an off cycle election in Nigeria. These developments are mainly because of election victories nullified by courts, leading to a fresh conduct. Anambra was the first to pull these through in 2006, leading to the first off cycle election in 2010, and since then, other states have followed. They include Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Osun and Imo States.
It was not surprising that the Anambra election drew attention nationwide. First was that it was one of the off cycle elections, but most important reason was that it came at a time that the nation had just been given a new chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, after what was loudly adjudged an abysmal outing of the commission under his predecessor, Prof Yakub Mahmoud in 2023, and so everyone was eager to see the performance of the new INEC boss.
Anambra gubernatorial election has however come and gone, but certain indices marked the performance of Amupitan in the election. They included the performance of the Biometric Voters Accreditation System also known as BVAS, the efficiency in uploading of elections results on the INEC Results Viewing portal known as IREV, security deployment, arrival of electoral personnel and materials to polling units and conduct of electoral officials.
Arrival of officials
The prompt arrival of officials of INEC in the Anambra election has been adjudged both by independent monitors, foreign and domestic observers as commendable. As early as 8am, officials had arrived most of the polling units, setting up their stands and commencing accreditation and voting at 8:30am. This is at variance with other elections in the past, where voters troop out and wait endlessly for officials to arrive.
BVAS and IREV
Except for isolated cases like some polling units in Anambra West Local Government Area, the Biometric Voters Accreditation System machine otherwise known as BVAS functioned effectively around the state. In most cases monitored by THISDAY correspondent, accreditation took less than one minute to authenticate a voter.
In the case of INEC Result Viewing portal, also known as IREV, several monitors attested to the swift uploading of results on the portal for the public to access. Infact, Governor Chukwuma
Soludo told journalists during his acceptance speech as winner of the election that he is particularly happy about the swift uploading of results on the portal. Soludo said over 90 percent of the results were uploaded on the portal even before 4pm. He also commended the general conduct of the election, including the professional conduct of security operatives deployed for the election.
Soludo’s Hardwork Paid Off
To the winner of the election, Governor Soludo, he was always sure that he would emerge winner, but was particular about the margin. Soludo always insisted that: “I know we have opposition in this election, but we do not have opponents. I can’t see any,” he always concluded. But beyond this, Soludo prepared for the election without leaving any stone unturned. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra ICT Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata told THISDAY of the preparations made technologically by the agency to ensure there were no leakages. He said: “Anambra runs with the mantra, ‘everything technology and technology everywhere’, and that mantra is what guides Mr Governor. So we as an ICT Agency knows this, and we also know that election is a very complex thing, so we decided to look for a way that technology can make things better, and the idea was how to use this technology to manage the process, such that Mr Governor and our party people
can be aware of what is happening in all the 5,720 polling units in the state.
“We also needed a way to ensure that incident reports, results and any other general information was easily captured. That way we had to come up with a strategy where we built a two way system command and control center, what you may call a situation room, one in Isuofia the governor’s hometown and one in Awka, the government house here and in that way, we were able to ensure that by 4pm in the evening, we were able to get almost all the results. We were sure the governor would win, but we needed to build a system that could help us protect Mr Governor’s votes and also ensure that the margin is wide.”
He took THISDAY on a journey of the contributions of the agency in the election victory.
“Before the election, we had also conducted a survey, using phone calls to Anambra people, with a set of seven questions, asking where they will vote and why they will be voting for such persons. Our research already had a ready result about the voting pattern, and believe me, some of the results we got tallied to an extent with the eventual outcome. That survey gave us an insight into the voting pattern and what to expect in the election. We knew we would win the election, but what we were trying to do was to see a way to guide against voter apathy. Beyond that, we already had all sorts of metrics that showed that the governor would win.
“Data is the new gold, and whether it is at the state or federal level, we need data to ensure informed decisions, so for this election, it was important to have data on this election and see how to have a dashboard that inculcates
Anambra gubernatorial election has however come and gone, but certain indices marked the performance of Amupitan in the election. They included the performance of the Biometric Voters Accreditation system also known as BVAs, the efficiency in uploading of elections results on the InEC Results Viewing portal known as IREV, security deployment, arrival of electoral personnel and materials to polling units and conduct of electoral officials.
data for previous elections, so that we can understand the voting pattern of Ndi Anambra and understand what the issues of the average Anambra person is. We deployed the Geeks and Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS); a mobile tech hub for the election, which went round distributing free WiFi. GEFAS is a support group for the governor, mainly consisting of techies (technologically advanced persons), and we used our knowledge of technology to see how we can make the best out of the election.
“Within six months period, we had given out 20 terabytes of free data across the state. What we did was that we prioritized data, and wherever they is a public event and people are gathered, we provided free data for people to have access to our Wi-Fi. Mr Governor believes that broadband is a right.
It is not supposed to be a favour of a luxury anymore, especially in this era of AI and advanced technology. People have to have access to high speed broadband, and if you move around the state, you will see more fibre optics cable being built, just to ensure that the capacity of the state keeps growing as the digital awareness of the state is growing.
“Before the election, we presented over 160 page data report to the governor, looking at the sentiments of voting in all the local government as our research found, and over 200,000 Anambra people from across all the 21 local government areas were called independently to measure their voting pattern, as part of the strategy to find out voting pattern.”
Acceptance and rejection
Since after the election, there have been speeches of acceptances and rejection, with the latter being in the minority. Among those who have rejected the outcome are; candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu; Labour Party candidate, Dr George Moghalu and that of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr John Nwosu. While Nwosu’s rejection of the result was as a result of complaints of glaring vote buying, Moghalu insisted his party’s logo was not on the ballot paper, Ukachukwu complained of violence and targeted attacks on his supporters, running mate and other agents. He insisted that he would wait and consult with his party before taking the next steps.
Amupitan
soludo
LAWYER
Quotable
‘….We are at the crossroads of reforms which have been hard and hard fought, and now, we stand on the gate of stability. We must protect that economic stability with everything we have, because if we lose the current stability, we lose the sacrifices of the last two years. It therefore means that, collectively, we cannot allow a U.S. sanction, because it will destabilise the economy, and bring us all back to the time before the reforms.’
- Prince Nduka Obaigbena, CON, Chairman of THISDAY Newspaper and Arise TV Media Group
Wike, Yerima and the Rule of Law
Introduction
Nigeria can be such a funny country, sometimes funny ‘ha ha’, and also funny in terms of being bizarre. When there are pressing matters that require attention, we waste precious time on making mountains out of molehills instead. Nigeria was designated a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) a couple of weeks ago by US President, Donald Trump, alongside a threat of physical invasion of the country, and instead of concentrating on mapping out a viable strategy to face the insecurity that has plagued Nigeria for at least a decade and a half or more, the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces are busy debating on who was rude or who should apologise in an altercation between the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, and Navy Officer, Lt Ahmed Yerima.
Meanwhile, those spearheading the call for an apology to Lt Yerima, such as the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Buratai (Rtd), are themselves major contributors to the escalation of insecurity in Nigeria due to their failure to perform their duty to fight insecurity effectively during their time in office. They are yet to apologise to Nigerians for putting them much more in harms way than anything else, when they were at the helm of looking after the security of Nigerians, and for how their acts and omissions have landed Nigeria where it is today, a CPC with allegedly over 300 IDP Camps around the country, with Nigerians living in some IDP camps for well over 10 years, all in squalor, misery and inhuman conditions (see Section 34(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (the Constitution), unable to return home because of insecurity.
Totally ignoring the failure and aforementioned breach of the Constitution by the Army under Lt General Buratai, costing tens of thousands of lives, as if the lives of Nigerians who have been lost or displaced are almost inconsequential, while magnifying Minister Wike’s abuse of Lt Yerima into a cardinal sin, seems to be disproportional. It shows that, two and a half decades after military dictatorship, the military still exalts itself over and above everything else, forgetting that, in a civilian democracy, the Constitution is the Supreme law; and in Nigeria, it is binding on all persons and authorities, including the armed forces - see Section 1(1) of the Constitution. All persons and authorities, including the armed forces, are also bound by the law.
The argument that Minister Wike’s abuse of a Military Officer is tantamount to insulting the President who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is pari passu or inferior to not allowing the FCT Minister, a direct representative of the President, whose office is established by Sections 147 & 302 of the Constitution, nominated by the President and confirmed by NASS, duties assigned by the President by virtue of Section 148 of the Constitution, on the ground of ‘orders from above’, can similarly be classified as an insult, not only to the President, but to the Constitution which is the grundnorm.
The ‘Wikerima’ Incident
I will restrict this discourse solely to what transpired in the video that Nigerians watched last week, which captured an altercation between Minister Wike and Lt Yerima (the Wikerima incident), particularly because I haven’t had the benefit of seeing any documents, nor do I have all the accurate facts of the case. I prefer to comment, only on what is known.
To be clear, I do not support the pouring of invectives on anybody, whether military or civilian, as Minister Wike did on Lt Yerima in the video. As a Minister and Life Bencher, shutting Lt Yerima up and calling him a fool, is not the kind of language that is expected from a person who occupies the position of a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and such an exalted position in the legal profession. It is unbecoming. Minister Wike should have exercised restraint, no matter the provocation. Nevertheless, I also do not support the intimidation Nigerians experience from uniformed personnel, as Minister Wike accused the military men of doing to the FCT Officials who visited the land that is the subject-matter of the dispute, claiming that they were beaten up by them and chased away.
Lt Yerima, has been turned into some sort of hero overnight, not because he performed his duty as a member of the armed forces by maybe killing insurgents, but because he stood his ground in his altercation with Minister Wike. Surely, this isn’t the standard of measure used to qualify military personnel as heroes anywhere in the world, so why should it be so in Nigeria? A Military hero is one that has partaken in armed conflict like war, and displayed traits such as patriotism, courage, bravery, possibly saving the lives of fellow soldiers in the face of attack, shown exceptional tactical skills and strategy, a strong sense of duty, integrity and so on.
The Legal Aspect
That said, we must examine the Wikerima incident, from the legal standpoint. The comments by some
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The Advocate
“…. those spearheading the call for an apology to Lt Yerima, such as the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Buratai (Rtd), are themselves major contributors to the escalation of insecurity in Nigeria…. They are yet to apologise to Nigerians…..I do not support the pouring of invectives on anybody, whether military or civilian, as Minister Wike did on Lt Yerima…..no Officer is obliged to follow an unlawful order…..it cannot be lawful duty for a Commissioned Officer in the Military, to be on sentry duty guarding land and blocking the access Government Officials to it…. Section 11 of the LUA gives the Governor (FCT Minister) or any officer duly authorised by the Governor the right to enter upon and inspect any land…. Our opinion, cannot be based upon whether we like Minister Wike or not”
that Minister Wike was lucky that he wasn’t physically harmed, maybe shot by the soldiers, shows how Nigerians have become casual about the fact that it may almost be normal for those in uniform to carry out unlawful killings at will.
Even though it is highly unlikely that Lt Yerima, as a member of the armed forces would have disobeyed his superior’s military orders to grant access to FCT Officials or Minister Wike, it doesn’t mean that he was right. Consequently, it is apposite to examine the command which Lt Yerima claimed he was obeying that day, to determine if it was lawful, and Lt Yerima’s obedience therefore, right, as even the Minister of Defence stated that they would protect any Officer following ‘lawful’ instructions.
Not all instructions are lawful. In Nwaoga v State (1972) LPELR-2114 (SC), during the Nigerian Civil War, the Appellant had been ordered by his Superior to point out the deceased to two other Officers, so that the Officers could eliminate the deceased. The Appellant’s superior Officer had cited orders from above, from State House, to support his instruction to the Appellant. In his defence, the Appellant had argued that he had to obey the orders of superior Officers. The Supreme Court per Adetokunbo Adegboyega Ademola, JSC, held thus: “The learned trial Judge, in the present case, considered in his judgement the case of R. v Smith (1900) 17 S.C. R. 561, and said: "It was held that a soldier is responsible by military and civil law, and it is monstrous to suppose that a soldier could be protected when the order is grossly and manifestly illegal. Of
course, there is the other proposition that a soldier is only bound to obey lawful orders, and is responsible if he obeys an order not strictly lawful". Similarly, in the more recent case of Onunze v State (2022) LPELR-59884 (SC) per Helen Morinkeji Ogunwumiju, JSC, the Supreme Court held that “The excuse of obedience to unlawful superior orders must not be accepted, where the orders are manifestly illegal”.
It is clear that, no Officer is obliged to follow an unlawful order. The question is whether an order to chase away FCT Development Control Officials who may have visited the land to inspect and ascertain that those on the land possibly constructing, have building plan approval and are adhering to it (which is part of their official mandate), allegedly beat them up, deny them access to the land, and also deny the FCT Minister access to the land to do same, is lawful. Obviously, the answer cannot be yes.
Statutes enacted by the National Assembly, are next to the Constitution in the pecking order - see Section 4 of the Constitution. The Land Use Act 1978 (LUA) is the law that governs landholding in Nigeria. Section 297(2) of the Constitution vests all land in Abuja in the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while Section 299 thereof provides that the FCT be treated as a State; Section 301 of the Constitution provides that references to the Governor of a State shall be construed as references to the President in the case of the
FCT, while Section 302 provides that by virtue of Section 147 of the Constitution, the President may appoint an FCT Minister to exercise his powers and functions in the FCT. A community reading of these provisions evinces the fact that, by the aforementioned powers vested in the President by the Constitution, the FCT Minister functions in the place of the President in respect of the FCT, like the Governor of a State. Section 1 of the LUA vests the land in a State in the Governor in trust and for the common use and benefit of all Nigerians, while Section 11 thereof gives the Governor or any officer duly authorised by the Governor the right to enter upon and inspect any land comprised in a statutory right of occupancy or any improvements thereon at any reasonable time of the day, and the occupier shall permit and give free access to the Governor or the official sent by him. This power is also vested in the President of Nigeria for the FCT, delegated to the FCT Minister. Therefore, whether it is a serving or retired Chief of Navy, or Lt Yerima, they appear to have breached Section 11 of LUA which makes it mandatory for the occupier to grant Minister Wike or the Development Control FCT Officials access to the land. Failure to have done so, portrays a presumption that they believe that they are above the law, and the law doesn’t apply to them. In Ugwu & Anor v Ararume & Anor (2007) LPELR-24345 (SC) per Niki Tobi, JSC, the Supreme Court held that when the word ‘shall’ appears in a statute, it is a form of a command or mandate, that something must be done or must not be done. This means that, by virtue of Section 11 of the LUA, Lt Yerima or whoever instructed him, cannot deny FCT Officials or the Minister himself, access to the land at a reasonable time of the day. The video showed that the FCT Minister arrived at the land, not in the dead of night, but in broad day light, in the morning or afternoon, which is a reasonable time of the day. See Nwaoga v The State (Supra). Again, the last time I checked, in Section 217(2)(a)-(d) of the Constitution, the functions of the Armed Forces of the Federation include defending Nigeria from external aggression and suppressing insurrection, not guarding or protecting the personal disputed land of serving or retired Officers of the Armed Forces. Also see Section 1(3) & (4) of the Armed Forces Act 2004 (AFA). And, by virtue of Section 217(2)(d) of the Constitution, NASS remains the body that can prescribe additional functions for the Armed Forces. Looking at the foregoing, could it be said that Lt Yerima was on a lawful duty which he was under compulsion to obey? A Lieutenant in the Navy, is equivalent to a Captain in the Nigerian Army. Certainly, it cannot be lawful duty for a Commissioned Officer in the Military, to be on sentry duty guarding the personal disputed land and blocking the access Government Officials to it.
Court
Those involved in the land dispute with the FCT, following the first visit by the FCT Officials, or at the hint of any impending problem regarding the land, could have immediately gone to the FCT High Court with a motion ex-parte and an affidavit of urgency attached thereto to emphasise the urgency of the matter, and pray for an interim injunction restraining the FCT Officials and the FCT Minister from entering the land to harass them, or attempting to carry out any demolition on the land etc, pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice in that regard, praying for the status quo on the land to be maintained until the final outcome of the case, whose subject-matter would then be the dispute on the title to the land, if indeed, there is one, and the matters related thereto.
Sections 28 & 38 of the LUA give the Governor (FCT Minister) the power to revoke a right of occupancy, and legal grounds for this could be overriding public interest or breach of the conditions of grant. There is however, a procedure to be followed in making the revocation, and evicting squatters from such land.
Conclusion
Proclaiming only Minister Wike as wrong in the Wikerima incident because he verbally abused Lt Yerima in the course of carrying out his duty, while exalting Lt Yerima’s actions which appear to be constitutional and statutory breaches, as acts of gallantry and heroism, shows that the matter hasn’t been examined holistically, vis-à-vis the law. Our opinion, cannot be based upon whether we like Minister Wike or not. Nigeria is no longer under a military dictatorship, nor is it a Hobbesian State, where there is no rule of law, and people can just do whatever they feel like. What was the reason for the #EndSARS Protest in 2020, in which people lost their lives, if those in uniform are free to operate how they like, and not in accordance with the laws of the land? Whether Minister Wike, Lt Yerima, the former Naval Chief who may be claiming title to the land, or the armed forces, they are all bound by the law. They are not above it.
Whether Computation of Time to Appeal is from Date or Service of Judgement
Facts
The Appellant and the Respondent were parties to an arbitration proceedings, wherein the Appellant was the Respondent, while the Respondent in this appeal was the Claimant. On 1st June 2001, the sole Arbitrator rendered an award in favour of the Respondent herein, in the sum of N2,912,000.00 (Twelve Million, Nine Hundred and Twelve Thousand Naira Only). Consequently, the Respondent filed a Motion on Notice dated 12th July 2001 before the Federal High Court, praying the court to make the arbitral award a final judgement of the court. In response, the Appellant filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection, urging the trial court to set aside the arbitral award. However, the Appellant failed to attend court proceedings on five consecutive occasions. Accordingly, on 11th December 2002, in the absence of the Appellant, the trial court struck out the Preliminary Objection for want of diligent prosecution and granted the Respondent’s prayers.
In a surprising turn of events, five years and eight months later, the Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal dated 2nd September 2008 before the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Judicial Division seeking to set aside the judgement of the trial court. In response, the Respondent filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to entertain the appeal on the ground that being a civil matter, it was filed outside the three-month period prescribed under Section 24(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004. The Court of Appeal upheld the objection of the Respondent and dismissed the appeal for being incompetent. Dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal, the Appellant further appealed to the Supreme Court.
Issue for Determination
The Supreme Court considered a lone issue for the determination of the appeal, to wit: Whether the lower court was right to have dismissed the Appellant's appeal?
Arguments
Arguing the sole issue, the Appellant contended that the judgement of the trial court was delivered in its absence and that it only became aware of the said judgement on 25th August 2005, when the Respondent served its Managing Director with the said judgement. Thereafter, the Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal against the judgement at the lower court on 2nd September 2008. The Appellant argued further that, by the proper interpretation of Section 24(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Act 2004, a Notice of Appeal in a civil matter need not be filed within 3 (three) months from the date of the decision appealed against, unlike in a criminal matter where an appeal must be entered within ninety (90) days from the date of the decision appealed against. It was contended further on behalf of the Appellant that by virtue of Section 294 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Appellant was entitled to be notified of the judgement of the trial court by the Registrar of the trial court, but that this was not done. Relying on the decision of court in OHUKA v STATE (1988) 1 NSCC 288 at 294, the Appellant argued that the court must consider the peculiar circumstances of each case to determine whether a Notice of Appeal was filed within the prescribed period. In addition, the Appellant submitted that the time within which to file an appeal does not begin to run until the Appellant has notice of the decision being appealed against, relying on ALADEGBEMI v FASANMADE (1988) 1 NSCC 1087 AT 1104.
Finally, the Appellant, while urging the Supreme Court to set aside the decision of the lower court, relied on the authority of BURAMOH OLORIODE v SIMEON OYEBI & ORS (1984) 1 SCNLR 390 to submit that assuming but not conceding that the appeal before the lower court was incompetent, the lower court ought to have struck out the appeal rather than dismissing it.
The Respondent, on the other hand, contended that it was untrue for the Appellant to claim that it only
Before their lordships
mohammed Lawal Garba adamu Jauro
Jummai Hannatu Sankey moore aseimo abraham adumein abubakar Sadiq umar Justices, Supreme Court SC/342/2011 Between
Notice of Appeal at the lower court, without first obtaining the requisite leave. Relying on its earlier decisions in INCAR (NIG.) PLC & ANOR v BOLEX ENTERPRISES (NIG.) LTD. (2001) 12 NWLR (PT. 728) 646; ODOFIN & ORS v AGU & ORS (1992) 3 NWLR (PT. 229) 350; and AKEREDOLU v AKINREMI (1986) 2 NWLR (PT. 25) 710, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal that the Appellant’s Notice of Appeal was incompetent. Consequently, the court held that, since there was no competent Notice of Appeal before the lower court, there was, in law, no valid appeal - CBN v OKOJIE (2004) 10 NWLR (PT. 882) 488; OLANREWAJU v BON LTD. (1994) 8 NWLR (PT. 364) 622; TUKUR v GOVERNMENT OF GONGOLA STATE (1988) 1 NWLR (PT. 68) 39.
In considering the proper order which the lower court ought to have made in the circumstance, the Supreme Court held that the proper order to be made where an appeal has not been heard on its merits is one striking out the appeal, and not an order of dismissal, in line with the decisions in DICKSON OGUNSEINDE VIRYA FARMS LTD. v SOCIETE GENERALE BANK LTD. & ORS (2018) 9 NWLR (PT. 1624) 230; PETGAS RESOURCES LTD. v MBANEFO (2017) LPELR-42760(SC); and FHOMO (NIG.) LTD. v ZENITH BANK (2019) LPELR-47983(SC). Invoking its general powers under Section 22 of the Supreme Court Rules to determine the appeal on its merit and make any order as it deems fit, Their Lordships held that given the peculiar circumstances of this case, wherein the Appellant was given multiple opportunities to be heard through several adjournments but failed to utilise same, exhibiting a disinterested attitude and being repeatedly absent without representation or explanation, the Supreme Court held that it will not be in the interest of justice to afford the Appellant another opportunity of delaying justice in the case. The court stressed that there must be an end to litigation, and that the antics of the Appellant were aimed at perpetuating endless proceedings. The cases of ADIGUN v A-G OYO STATE (NO. 2) (1987) 2 NWLR (PT. 56); TERIBA v ADEYEMO (2010) 3 FWLR (PT. 540) 7167; CIVIL DESIGN CONSTRUCTION (NIG.) LTD. v SCOA (NIG.) LTD. (2007) LPELR-870(SC); and BUSWELL v GOODWIN (1971) 1 ALL ER 418 AT 421, were relied on.
BaYNaN (NIGerIa) lIMIteD appellaNt And GeralD oNwUeKweIKe
(Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Abubakar Sadiq Umor, JSC)
became aware of the judgement of the trial court in August 2008. The Respondent argued that by virtue of the trial court proceedings of 24th June 2002, the Appellant reasonably had notice that judgement would be delivered on 11th December, 2002. He submitted further that although the right of appeal is constitutional, it is not absolute and must be exercised in accordance with the provisions of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004 and the Court of Appeal Rules, 2007. In this regard, the Respondent argued that since the Court of Appeal Act mandates that a Notice of Appeal must be filed within 3 (three) months when the appeal is against a final decision of the trial court, the Appellant’s right of appeal became extinguished due to its failure to file the appeal within the prescribed period. He posited that after the expiration of the three-month timeline, such a right can only be revived where the Court of Appeal grants leave for enlargement of time to appeal upon a formal application.
“…..by the provisions of Section 24(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004, an appeal against the final judgement of a trial court must be filed within three months of the delivery of such judgement, and not five years thereafter, as was done by the Appellant in this case”
reSpoNDeNt
To support his argument that the Supreme Court should dismiss the appeal, the Respondent relied on Section 24(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004; J.O. EVESON v SANUSI (1984) 4 SC 115 AT 136; AKINSANYA v UBA LTD. (1986) 4 NWLR (PT. 35) 273; and ESUKU v KEKO (1994) 4 NWLR (PT. 340) 625 AT 632.
Court’s Judgement and Rationale In resolving the sole issue identified for determination, the Supreme Court held that by the provisions of Section 24(2)(a) of the Court of Appeal Act, 2004, an appeal against the final judgement of a trial court must be filed within three months of the delivery of such judgement, and not five years thereafter, as was done by the Appellant in this case. The court relied on ONWUZULIKE v STATE (2020) LPELR-52016(SC); OLALI v NIGERIAN ARMY (2020) LPELR-50631(SC); OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT v DANLAMI NIGERIA LTD. (2007) 9 NWLR (PT. 1038) 66; and JALLCO LTD. v OWONIBOYS TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD. (1995) 4 NWLR (PT. 391) 534. Their Lordships observed that if indeed, the Appellant was unaware of the decision of the trial court until August 2008, the appropriate step would have been to file a motion for enlargement of time within which to appeal, and to depose to the facts of such unawareness in an affidavit in support of that application. The court held that the Appellant could not “gate-crash” a
A party who abandons its case, cannot later invoke the constitutional right to fair hearing as a shield for its own negligence or indolence. The right to fair hearing guaranteed under Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution does not oblige a court to compel a recalcitrant party to be heard; rather, it is sufficient for the court to provide an enabling environment for the party to present its case. A party who fails to take advantage of such an opportunity, cannot accuse the court of denying fair hearing. Reliance was placed on MFA v INONGHA (2014) 4 NWLR (PT. 1397) 343.
Regarding the submission on notification of delivery of judgement by the court, the Supreme Court rejected the arguments of the Appellant that pursuant to Section 294(1) of the 1999 Constitution, it ought to have been notified by the trial court of the judgement. The Apex Court held that the obligation of the court under that section is merely to make copies of its judgements or rulings available within seven (7) days of delivery, so that parties can apply to obtain authenticated copies. The failure of the Appellant to obtain a copy of the trial court’s judgement delivered on 11th December, 2002 until August 2008 could not be attributed to the court.
The court determined the sole issue, in favour of the Respondent. The appeal was dismissed as lacking in merit, with costs of N5 million awarded in favour of the Respondent against the Appellant.
Appeal Dismissed.
Representation
Ogochukwu Mbamalu for the Appellant. Dan Magbo for the Respondent.
Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR)(An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at abuja on Friday, the 11th day of april, 2025
Honourable Abubakar Sadiq Umor, JSC
Introduction
When revelations emerged that Retired Supreme Court Justice Kumai Bayang Aka’ahs, the sole Arbitrator in the high-stakes arbitration between General Hydrocarbons Limited (GHL) and First Bank of Nigeria, allegedly held undisclosed shares in FirstHoldCo the Bank’s parent company, the Nigerian public braced up for another scandal of compromise and corruption. Only a year ago, Nigeria celebrated a rare and decisive legal victory in London’s High Court, where Justice Robin Knowles exposed the multi-layered fraud behind the notorious P&ID arbitration.
An Arbitration System Hindered by Misconduct, Lack of Oversight and Opaqueness
In the same scale and context, the two cases reveal a troubling underlying pattern of secrecy, compromised integrity, lack of transparency, and institutional vulnerability. Together, they highlight an arbitration system hindered by misconduct and inadequate oversight. While arbitration is inherently private, it must never be opaque. Its foundation rests on the principle of impartiality. Therefore, both Nigerian law and international standards require Arbitrators to disclose any circumstances that could raise doubts about their neutrality, especially regarding financial interests. If the whistleblower allegations against Justice Aka’ahs are correct, then his shareholding in FirstHoldCo. represented a significant conflict of interest. The international standard makes it clear that, even a minor shareholding can compromise the entire process. This is not about whether the Arbitrator was genuinely biased, but whether he might appear biased to a reasonable observer. In arbitration, the perception of fairness, is as critical as fairness itself.
Parallels between GHL-First Bank and P&ID
The parallels between the GHL arbitration and the P&ID scandals extend beyond the coincidence of concealment of material information, abuse of trusted positions, massive financial stakes, and failure to observe due process, but in fact, reveal patterns of high-level corruption.
In the GHL-First Bank arbitration, the alleged non-disclosure of shareholding by Retired Justice Aka’ahs, the sole Arbitrator, equates in essence to the bribery and corruption - the same issues that led to the overturning of the P&ID arbitral award, which had earlier awarded the sum of $ 11 billion against Nigeria.
A retired Supreme Court Justice, sitting over a dispute involving a company in which he holds a financial stake and another party, goes far beyond a mere conflict of interest, reflecting active corrupt conduct. It creates such a level of corrupt interest, because Justice Aka’ahs, the sole Arbitrator was actually presiding over a case where he is, in fact, an owner of one of the parties (First Bank) by reason of significant shareholding. And, significant because that was the highest in his share portfolio. He becomes a direct beneficiary of the proceeds from his own award, which he gave to First Bank, and that constitutes corrupt enrichment. It becomes a criminal act, for a man to be a judge in his own cause.
For years, Nigerians have been told that arbitration is faster, cleaner, and more efficient than court litigation. However, both GHL–FBN and P&ID demonstrate a different reality: arbitration, mainly when shrouded in secret conflicts of interest, can become a perfect environment for
GHL–First Bank Arbitration Echoes the P&ID Scandal
This article by Frank Tietie draws a parallel between the recently concluded GHlFirst Bank (FBN) and the P&iD v Nigeria arbitrations, GHl-FBN marred by the concealment of a material fact known by FbN, that the Sole arbitrator holds a substantial number of shares in its holding company, FirstHoldCo, giving rise to allegations of bias and violation of Nigerian public policy, amongst other infractions; while in P&Id, events leading up to the arbitration were marred by fraud and corruption. This article evinces the fact that, just like P&Id, there appear to be firm grounds in GHL-FbN, for the arbitral award to be set aside and not enforced
misconduct. The danger is compounded when there’s only one Arbitrator who is the sole decision-maker (like Retired Justice Aka’ahs in the GHL-FBN arbitration), and one with an undisclosed interest or a compromised individual who withheld a material fact, casting a fundamental error on the entire arbitration.
Across the globe, the P&ID v Nigeria arbitration scandal has stressed the need for total compliance with the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 (AMA) and international arbitration standards. Section 8 of the AMA imposes a continuing duty on Arbitrators, to disclose circumstances that may give rise to justifiable doubts as to impartiality, which would lead to the setting aside of any arbitral award. The IBA Guidelines likewise consider undeclared financial interests in a party or its parent company, as a “Red List” circumstance.
In the GHL v First Bank arbitration, the non-disclosure of shareholding by the sole
“A retired Supreme Court Justice, sitting over a dispute involving a company in which he holds a financial stake and another party, goes far beyond a mere conflict of interest, reflecting active corrupt conduct. It creates such a level of corrupt interest, because Justice Aka’ahs, the sole Arbitrator was actually presiding over a case where he is, in fact, an owner of one of the parties (First Bank) by reason of significant shareholding…. an award influenced by an undisclosed financial interest would be contrary to Nigerian public policy and the express provisions of the AMA, and would be liable to be set aside; therefore, it cannot be enforced”
Arbitrator constitutes a prima facie breach of this duty, which further raises questions of potential criminal self-enrichment by being a direct financial beneficiary of the award.
In the P&ID case, the arbitration process was compromised not because of an Arbitrator’s conflict, but because the Claimant itself concealed material facts of fraud, bribery, and corruption related to the contract's validity. In the GHL-First Bank arbitration, it is the Arbitrator himself that is directly caught up in a corrupt practice, in the likely apprehension of a reasonable person. Therefore, both the P&ID and GHL-First Bank Arbitration cases highlight how nondisclosure not only creates the impression that one party or the Arbitrator himself manipulated the arbitration in favour of one side in which he has interest to the detriment of the other party, but that the Arbitrator fraudulently gave the arbitral award to protect his financial interests and make profit.
What is therefore instructive, is that just as the fraudulent P&ID arbitration was overturned; it is now expected that the GHL-First Bank arbitration should face same judicial scrutiny. Will the Nigerian Judiciary rise to the occasion, as the UK did? That’s the question requiring answers.
Reasons for Setting an Award Aside
Under the express provisions of Section 55(3) & (4) AMA, based on public policy, an award may be set aside if: the composition of the tribunal violated statutory standards; the award is contrary to public policy; and there was a breach of natural justice. These grounds are directly captured in both the P&ID and GHL-First Bank cases. In the P&ID case, the English High Court ruled that, no award based on fraud or bribery
can withstand judicial scrutiny. Similarly, an award influenced by an undisclosed financial interest would be contrary to Nigerian public policy and the express provisions of the AMA, and would be liable to be set aside; therefore, it cannot be enforced. It is the same basis for challenging both awards, being fraud, bias, misconduct, or violation of natural justice, all of which invalidate arbitral legitimacy.
Both cases expose flaws in Nigeria’s arbitration system, including secrecy, conflict of interest, inadequate oversight, and concealment of material facts. This should cause Nigerians to reflect on the broader threat that, arbitration is becoming a new frontier for elite manipulation, enabling insiders to secure decisions with massive financial implications behind closed doors. If this emerging trend of corruption is not checked, companies could face unfair liabilities, put public funds at risk, and reduce confidence in arbitration as a business-friendly mechanism for resolving disputes.
The scandal of the GHL–FBN whistleblower revelations and the P&ID case, shows that misconduct - whether by arbitrators or contracting parties - can undermine the entire system, making non-disclosure a new form of corruption. Thus, when an arbitrator sits on a dispute whilst holding shares in one of the parties’ companies, the process becomes contaminated, even without overt expression. Both GHL–FBN and P&ID demonstrate how hidden ties and fraudulent origins eventually unravel, often at a serious national cost, reenacting the principle that concealed interests ultimately blow up into national scandals. Therefore, Nigerian private companies like GHL cannot afford to allow such financial and reputational damage to their corporate interests, that arise from conflicts of interest, which dictate the outcome of an arbitration process.
Frank Tietie,
Legal Practitioner
Aviation Ministry, FHC Hold Moot Court Competition on Aircraft Financing Adjudication
Alex Enumah in abuja
As part of efforts at enhancing adjudication in aircraft financing cases, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, in collaboration with the Federal High Court, organised a Moot Court Competition on the Cape Town Convention.
The CTC Moot Court, which was created under the auspices of the Cape Town Convention Academic Project (CTCAP), with UNIDROIT and the University of Cambridge, aims to familiarise students, academics and Judges with the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol in the context of complex hypothetical facts patterns, and provides students with educational exercises involving the CTC in a simulated judicial setting.
While 18 universities, drawn from all the nation's six geopolitical zones, participated in the preliminary round, the University of Benin and University of Lagos, however, made it to the final which held at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Speaking shortly after the court session, the Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, while commending participants, observed that the CTC "has actually put Nigeria in a better perspective to aircraft lessors and general
aviation business in Nigeria".
Najomo, who was represented by Captain Donald Tonye Spiff, noted that, before now, most airline manufacturing or leasing companies did not want to do business in Nigeria, adding that with the CTC, assurances have been given.
Najomo added: "Through the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, we are now in the good books of these organisations.
"And, this is an enlightenment
programme to tell the world that we have arrived, and we are ready to do business", he said.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of the Aviation Working Group (AWG), Jeffrey Wool, observed that the moot court is one of the ways to introduce students and get them familiarised with the treaty.
"We note that the court recently passed a Practice Directive on how to address Cape Town Convention cases, this is an opportunity in the educational setting for us to become familiar with the treaty
and to give the students a firsthand experience working with Judges, industry and academics", Wool said.
The Secretary General who also doubles as a Co-Director of the Cape Town Academy Project, commended the performance of the students, describing it as "excellent".
"I have the honour of being at the five other moot courts around the world; Cambridge, Singapore, New York, Ireland and Canada.
The students really performed, compared to top universities
around the world. They should be proud of themselves", he said. Also in her remarks, Justice Binta Nyako who led two other Justices; Joyce Abdulmalik and James Omotosho, lauded the performance of the two sides, adding that, they all gave a very good account of themselves. Meanwhile, Osauyi Temiloluwa Agboanwaneten the lead counsel in the University of Benin's team) came first in the area of advocacy, Adedayo Michael (the lead counsel in the University of Lagos' team) came second.
Nigeria’s Funke Adeoye Wins IBA Young Lawyer Award
Stories by Steve aya
Funke
Adeoye, the
Founder and Executive Director
National Security, Human Rights, Dominate Gavel International Lecture
The OPTS Hall at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alausa, was filled to capacity on November 11, 2025, as legal luminaries, security strategists, scholars and civil society voices gathered for the Gavel International Annual Lecture and Awards. This year’s theme, “The Impact of National Security Policies on Vulnerable Communities: A Human Rights Perspective”, set the tone for a tense, yet hopeful conversation about the country’s future.
Chairman of the event, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, opened the forum with a call for collective introspection, describing the gathering as a rare chance to rethink the nation’s direction. With insecurity deepening across the country, he stressed that the government’s duty to protect citizens - particularly those most exposed to the excesses of security operations - remains non-negotiable.
The Keynote Address, delivered by Prof Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, challenged prevailing assumptions about Nigeria’s security strategy. He argued that many policies created to defend the nation have ironically, placed its weakest populations in greater danger. Women, children, internally displaced persons and ethnic minorities, he said, are increasingly caught in the crossfire of laws and enforcement
methods drifting away from constitutional safeguards.
Prof Ali called for a fundamental shift from Nigeria’s traditional “Statecentric” approach to a “human-centric” model, that treats security as more than military hardware and policing. True security, he maintained, must reflect economic inclusion, social cohesion and political participation - values that uphold dignity and strengthen trust between citizens and the State.
He also took aim at aspects of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, warning that provisions permitting prolonged detention, intrusive surveillance and loosely regulated enforcement, could easily become tools of abuse. To restore balance, he urged the creation of independent oversight bodies, stronger parliamentary scrutiny and specialised human-rights training for security agencies.
Retired Major General James Ataguba added a military perspective, cautioning that the persistent use of soldiers for civilian policing undermines both constitutional order and public safety. He traced many of Nigeria’s security failures to corruption and weak institutions, insisting that without swift and impartial justice, insecurity will continue to flourish.
of the Hope Behind Bars Africa, a nonprofit helping indigent inmates get access to justice and advocating justice sector reforms, has been awarded the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award by the International Bar Association (IBA). She received the award on Thursday at the IBA’s Annual Conference held in Toronto, Canada.
with exceptional records of professional contributions to the rule of law, service to humanity and ethical excellence.
The award recognises young Lawyers aged 35 and below around the world
Adeoye founded the organisation, aged just 26. Profiling the organisation back in 2023, FIJ reported that within its first five years, it had rescued 416 unjustly detained innocent inmates from various prisons through the provision of legal pro bono services.
ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards 2025 Celebrates Architects of National Progress
The Nigerian legal community gathered in grandeur last Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, for the prestigious 12th edition of the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards. The black-tie event served as a powerful tribute to the Lawyers and institutions deemed the "unseen architects" of the nation's economic growth and governance . In his address, the convener of the awards, Mr Lere Fashola, Founder and Publisher of ESQ Legal Blitz, underscored the ceremony's profound significance. "The Nigerian Legal Awards celebrates the important contribution of Lawyers to businesses, they are the unseen architects of growth, governance, and trust in our economy", Fashola
stated. He emphasised that the 2025 edition reinforced their commitment to "spotlighting the transformative role of legal excellence in shaping commerce, justice, and national progress" .
The awards ceremony was structured around three core pillars designed to honour excellence across the full spectrum of the legal profession.
The Law Firm Practice Area Categories celebrated firms and practice groups, that demonstrated exceptional skill and innovation in deals with significant commercial impact over the past 18 months.
The Nigerian Rising Stars: 40 Under 40 category spotlighted a new generation of legal talent, honouring 40 exceptional Lawyers under the age of 40, who have shown remarkable promise and leadership early in
their careers. Lastly, the Editors’ Merit Awards which honoured distinguished individuals for their lifelong contributions, integrity, and enduring impact on governance and national development .
A rigorous and transparent judging process, led by an independent international panel, ensured the awards' credibility. The Panel was chaired by Mr Kamal Shah, Partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP, and included respected practitioners and business leaders such as Noella Lubano of Oraro & Company (Kenya) and Funmi Iyayi of Templars, among others. This diverse blend of local and international expertise, guaranteed a merit-driven evaluation process aligned with global best practices.
The event celebrated a wide
array of legal professionals and institutions. Below is a selection of the notable award recipients from the evening : Lifetime Achievement Award: Alhaji Hamed Raji, SAN Honoured for a lifetime of contributions to the legal field. Legal Amazon of the Year: Mrs Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, Recognized as an exceptional female Lawyer. Editors' Merit Awards: Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN (Former Minister of Works), Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment) Honoured, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN (Minister of Aviation) Honoured And Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN (Ondo State Attorney General) were all Honoured for transformative contributions to governance and policy.
Shock in Lagos: Five Year Old Files N50m Suit Against Police for Alleged Kidnap
A five-year-old girl has filed a N50 million fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Area Commander of Area D Police Command, Lagos, Mr Bamidele Awoniyi, the Nigeria Police Force, and three others, over allegations that she was unlawfully taken and kept in Police custody without any court order. The suit was lodged at the Federal High Court in Lagos through her maternal grandmother, Mrs Goodness Apollos, who is acting as her “next friend”.
Justice Ambrose LewisAllagoa, presiding over the matter, has ordered the Area Commander and the other Respondents, to produce the child in court at the next adjourned date. The directive followed the granting of an ex-parte application moved by A. M. Ekpo, Counsel to the Applicant in suit number FHC/L/CS/2057/2025.
The Judge ruled that the Respondents must appear with the girl, to show cause why the interim orders sought
should not be granted.
Aside from the Area Commander, the other Respondents include the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State; the Nigeria Police Force; and two private individuals, Mr Chinedu Chigozie and Mr Kelvin Orwaraji. In the ex-parte application, the Applicant sought an order compelling the Police to immediately produce the child, and to identify the legal basis for her removal from her grandmother’s custody.
The Applicant also requested an interim order that, upon the child’s production, she should be returned to her grandmother pending the determination of the substantive motion and without prejudice to any decision that may later be made by a Family Court. The court was further urged to allow the processes to be served on the Respondents, through any method that guarantees timely notification.
L-R : Toyin Adekugba; Tolu Aderemi; Pastor Godman Akinlabi; Founder of ESQ, Lere Fasola; Kunle Soyibo and Leke Ladi
L-R: Hon Justice Binta Nyako, Osauyi Temiloluwa Agboanwaneten and Mr Jeffrey Wool
Introduction
Afew cases being litigated in the courts, have raised important questions about the duration of ex parte orders. Firstly, what is the policy that inspired the law regulating the life span of ex-parte orders? Secondly, how has that law evolved over the years? Thirdly, has the evolution of the law remained faithful to the policy that inspired it?
The Policy
The important starting point, is the decision in Kotoye v CBN (1989) 1 NWLR (Pt. 98) 419, where the Supreme Court of Nigeria identified historical instances of abuse of ex-parte injunctive orders, and admonished courts to ensure that such orders last for “not more than a few days …”. Several other decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, have reiterated this policy.
Evolution of the Law
At first, the procedural rules of the various High Courts implemented this policy enthusiastically. The 2004 rules of the High Court of Lagos State allow an ex-parte order to be in force for only seven days, and a Judge may only extend such order “upon application” and subject to a number of procedural safeguards. The Federal High Court’s 2001 rules provide that “if a motion to vary or discharge an ex-parte order is not taken with 14 days of its being filed, the ex-parte order shall automatically lapse”.
Subsequent reviews of the rules of the Federal High Court, then introduced modifications that have created more problems than solutions. In 2009, the word “automatically” was deleted from the provision, and in 2019, the rule maker added the phrase “unless the court otherwise directs in the interest of justice”. The fundamental flaw in this latter revision is that, it does not specify how and when a court “otherwise directs”.
The Court of Appeal’s decision in the Deux Projects Limited v Access Bank (2022) 2 CLRN 121 is understood by some Lawyers to have held that a court “otherwise orders” when it makes the ex-parte order to be in force until the hearing of the motion on notice (as is the standard practice). In our respectful view, this understanding of the decision in Deux flies in the face of logic, law and justice. Logically, it is difficult to understand how a court can “otherwise direct” a consequence that depends on a contingency that has not yet occurred (and that may never occur). What is “otherwise directed” is that, an ex-parte order terminates fourteen days after a motion to discharge it is filed if the motion is not heard. However, at the time of making the ex-parte order, a court will not know whether a motion to discharge will be filed or not. How, then, can a court direct, at that stage, that the filing of a motion to discharge will not trigger the fourteen-day expiry rule?
Legally, such understanding of Deux is also wrong. It means that a court decides pre-emptively, and on an ex-parte basis, that a subsequent motion to discharge will not have an effect that it presumptively has under the rules. In effect, before a defend ante injustice of such outcome must be obvious at this point. Before a decision is made against a Defendant that its application to discharge an ex parte order should not have the effect of triggering the fourteenday expiry rule, it is only just that such Defendant should be heard. The factors that the court must take into consideration in deciding whether to extend the life of an ex-parte order (notwithstanding the filing of an application to discharge and
How Long Should an Ex-Parte Injunction Last?
This article by Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SaN and adeola Kembi discusses the duration of ex-parte orders, using case law such as the Supreme Court decision in Kotoye v cBN as the starting point, and that of the Court of appeal in Deux Projects v access Bank as the most recent, asserting that the amendments made to the Federal High Court Civil Procedure rules in 2019 with regard to their duration have created more problems in the interpretation of their duration, and suggesting guiding principles to be followed by judicial decisions, so that there can be an alignment with the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure rules in that regard, which are consistent and clear
the subsequent expiry of fourteen days), must necessarily involve a consideration of the facts and law presented in support of the application to discharge it.
Further, this type of watering-down of the protection afforded by the fourteenday expiry rule, means that ex-parte orders are likely to remain in force for unduly protracted periods. In Deux, the order was granted on 21 May 2019, was still in force over five months later when the Federal High Court delivered its 1 November, 2019 ruling affirming the continued force of the order, and from all indications was still in force over nineteen months later when the Court of Appeal, in its 14 December, 2020 decision, affirmed that the order had not lapsed.
Law Diverges from Policy?
If Deux is good law, then the law has clearly diverged from the policy stated in cases like Kotoye v CBN (see above) and Group Danone v Voltic (2008) 7 NWLR (Pt. 1087) 637 that, given the circumstances in which they are
“…..given the circumstances in which they are obtained (that is, in the absence of the Defendant), and the tendency to abuse them, ex-parte orders must not last for more than a few days. We argue that it is time to overhaul rules of court and judicial decisions, which water down the legal protection afforded by this policy to Defendants”
obtained (that is, in the absence of the Defendant), and the tendency to abuse them, ex-parte orders must not last for more than a few days. We argue that it is time to overhaul rules of court and judicial decisions, which water down the legal protection afforded by this policy to Defendants. We suggest that in future, judicial decisions should clarify that the proper interpretation to be given to the extant Federal High Court rules relating to the expiration of ex-parte orders is as follows:
1. If a motion to discharge an ex-parte order is not heard within fourteen days of its filing, the ex-parte order expires.
2. The exception, that is, when “the court otherwise directs in the interest of justice”, can only be activated if the beneficiary of the ex-parte order files an application for the court to extend the ex-parte order. In effect, the exception is not triggered simply because the court made the ex-parte order to last until the hearing of the motion on notice. See Titilayo Plastics v Fagbola (2019) 14 NWLR (Pt. 1691) 88 (“A trial Judge granting an ex parte injunction and adjourning the hearing of the motion on notice to a long date would not save the life of the ex parte order … once [the party affected by the order applies to court to have the order varied or discharged], the time starts to run on the life of the ex parte order …”).
3. Such application must be filed and granted before the order expires, and there should be a significant burden on the beneficiary of the order to satisfy the court that the order should remain in
place. See the Supreme Court’s decision in Brittannia-U v Seplat Petroleum (2016) 4 NWLR (Part 1503) 541 (“…by effluxion of time, the interim injunction was no longer valid at the time [the first instance court] purportedly ordered that it ‘remained in force’”, and the extension of an ex-parte order after it had lapsed by effluxion of time is “a nullity, since there was no order at the material time in existence to be extended”).
4. There is nothing in the rules, that indicates that the exception can be invoked multiple times. Therefore, in a deserving case, the court can “otherwise order” only once, and for a defined period.
As shown above, these suggested guiding principles align with numerous appellate decisions that were made both before and after Deux. They also align with the standards set by the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure Rules which, since 2004 have consistently provided, despite successive revisions, that: (a) an order of injunction made upon a motion ex-parte shall abate after seven days, and (b) a Judge may extend the ex-parte order upon application, if satisfied that the motion on notice has been served and the extension is required in the interest of justice or to prevent irreparable or serious mischief, provided the application for the extension is made before the order abates, and the extension is limited to a further seven days from the date that the extension is granted.
Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SAN and Adeola Kembi, Senior Partner and Managing Associate respectively at Aluko & Oyebode, Nigeria’s ALN member firm
Babatunde Fagbohunlu, SaN
adeola Kembi
The Nwoko Affair: Child Marriage, Drug Abuse, Domestic Violence?
Social media has been abuzz in the past few weeks, with the rather embarrassing display of a soap-opera like marital dispute between one of Nigeria’s controversial Politicians, Senator Ned Nwoko and one of his six wives, regina daniels, a Nollywood actress, who has made allegations of domestic violence, threats, Police harassment and other offences against her husband. The crucial issue of her age at the time regina daniels started her relationship with the Senator, has also become a bone of contention. Senator Nwoko has made counter-allegations, accusing regina daniels of drug abuse, and irresponsible mothering of their two sons. recriminations have flowed from supporters of both parties, and the belligerence is not abating. Surprisingly, the silence from the Senate has been deafening, with feminists claiming that, had it been a female Senator in Senator Nwoko’s position, she may have already been suspended for bringing the upper Chamber into disrepute, particularly with the allegations of underaged marriage and drug use said to have taken place in Nwoko’s house. Kunle Edun, SAN; Mandy Demechi-Asagba; Suraj olarenwaju and P.D.Pius discuss the issues surrounding the rather unfortunate marital imbroglio, examining some of the pertinent laws related thereto, and questioning why there appears to be inaction on the part of the law enforcement agencies whose functions cover the offences alleged in this controversy, such as NaPTIP, NdLea and the Police
Ned Nwoko, Regina Daniels: Marriage, Drugs, Violence and Extraneous Matters
Kunle Edun, SAN Introduction
Senator Chinedu Munir Nwoko (born 21 December, 1960), popularly known as Ned Nwoko, is a Nigerian Lawyer , philanthropist, and politician who serves currently as the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial district in the Nigerian Senate. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal
Constituency of Delta State.
Regina Daniels on the other hand, is a Nigerian Nollywood actress, film producer and brand influencer. The duo reportedly got married in 2019 under the Aniocha native law and custom (as there has been no formal
“….I think the detention of Regina’s brother, Sammy was unnecessary…..The big men in the society with the connivance of some bad elements in the security agencies, take advantage of these gaps to haunt, oppress and persecute their less privileged perceived enemies”
record of a civil wedding), and the union is blessed with two sons. However, sometime in October 2025, the marriage hit rock bottom with a video which surfaced online where Regina Daniels was found seated on the floor crying and lamenting, thus - “In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing. But, in my house, I am a queen. I can’t stand the violence anymore; it’s too much”. The video has however, gone on to spark a lot of conversation(s) on social media, from the issue of underage marriage, drug abuse, mental health, domestic violence, arrest and detention of Regina’s siblings.
Relevant Statutory Provisions on the Matter
Stemming from the above, there have been a lot of issues which have formed a legal discourse over time and they are quite concerning. They are:
Underage Marriage
The principal legislation which regulates the conduct and celebra-
tion of marriages in Nigeria is the Marriage Act Cap. 218 LFRN (hereinafter referred to as the Act). This Act recognises three different types of marriages; the Statutory Marriage, Marriage under Native law and Custom and Islamic marriage. Thus, although the Act recognises the various types of marriage, it only regulates marriages conducted under the Act, that is, statutory marriage. Unfortunately, the Act does not stipulate what the legal age for marriage is, but with the combined provisions of Sections 18 & 48 of the Act, the legal age for marriage in Nigeria could be said to be 21 years. From the above, it can be argued that the marriage between Regina Daniels and Senator Ned Nwoko took place when Regina Daniels was 20 years old, as same has been re-affirmed by Regina Daniels’ voter’s card which was posted online by Senator Nwoko on his social media page; although other unverified reports indicate that she was 17 years of age at the time of
Ned Nwoko
Regina Daniels
The Nwoko Affair: child Marriage, Drug Abuse, Domestic violence?
the marriage. Nevertheless, consent was reported to have been given by her parents which exculpates Senator Nwoko (see Section 18 of the Act). In conclusion, it is instructive to note that while the above may apply to a marriage conducted under the Act, the marriage of Senator Ned Nwoko and Regina Daniels was one done under native law and custom. Hence, the position of the law under the marriage Act does not apply to their marriage; rather it is the Aniocha Native law and custom that applies.
Domestic Violence
While there is no particular legislation in Nigeria dedicated towards dealing with the issue of domestic and marital violence, the Criminal Code 1990 made provisions for criminalising Assault and Battery as contained in Sections 252 & 253, as well as Section 2 - 5 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 (VAPP). Thus, although Regina Daniels has made claims that she has been severally abused by her husband, those claims must be supported by credible facts to hold sway, as her husband has denied same. Ned Nwoko stated on his social media page that Regina Daniels is the violent one, not him, by uploading videos of the damaged windscreen of his Ferrari Sports car caused by Regina Daniels. The position of the law is settled, on the burden and standard of proof when a person is alleged to have committed a crime. The onus of proof is on the Prosecution who asserts, and the standard of proof is proof beyond reasonable doubt. Section 131 of the Evidence Act 2023 (as amended) speaks to this.
Arrest and Detention of Regina Daniels’ Brother, Sammy
It was alleged that some days after Regina Daniels moved out of Ned Nwoko’s house, her brother was arrested and detained by the Nigeria Police Force reportedly on the orders of the Ned Nwoko. While the Nigeria Police Force are empowered under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020 to effect arrest upon complaints by individuals and the public at large, such powers must be exercised within the limit of the law, otherwise it will be abused. I think the detention of Regina’s brother, Sammy was unnecessary, and it took almost 2 weeks. No capital offence was alleged. Regina's sibling ought to have been released to a surety after the arrest, while the Police continued their investigation. It is unlawful and against the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and the Nigeria Police Establishment Act 2020, to arrest and detain a suspect before commencing investigation. I also have issues with the court, remanding the sibling for
some days. That is most unfair. No one alleged that Regina Daniels' brother is a flight risk, and will jump bail over a non-capital offence. Our criminal courts should simplify the bail process in respect of simple offences and misdemeanours, by either releasing the Defendants on self-recognisance, or release them while giving them time to perfect the bail conditions.
It is sad that, because of the complexities that our security agencies and the courts have brought into the administration of criminal justice system, the bail process is now very complicated. This was never the intention of the law; as every person charged with an offence is constitutionally presumed innocent until otherwise proven guilty. Sadly also, Defendants whose trials have not even started are forced to undergo longer detention beyond the constitutional limited and undignified treatments that can be equated to serving the sentence for the offence they were charged, even when trial has not commenced.
The big men in the society with the connivance of some bad elements in the security agencies, take advantage of these gaps to haunt, oppress and persecute their less privileged perceived enemies.
Drug Usage/Abuse
Also in the video making rounds on the social media, Ned Nwoko alleged that Regina Daniels does not just do only drugs, but that
“In my opinion, the allegation of drug abuse levelled against Regina Daniels by Senator Nwoko, is an afterthought. It’s always one story or the other, to paint the victim bad. Being in this field, it is known that the woman is either labelled a psychiatric patient, or a depressed individual in need of medical attention, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, before the woman reported, there was no such referral for treatment….”
she is also an addict despite being a mother of 2. He went on to state that, Regina is much calmer and nice when she is not on drugs. Regina Daniels rebutted the allegation that she does drugs, but went further to state that Ned Nwoko encouraged her to use it, as he found her more attractive when engaging in activities in the other room. The usage, management and control of drugs in Nigeria is under the sole jurisdiction of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), established by the NDLEA Act (Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004). Their mandate includes the eradication and elimination of drugs and drug usage, arrest and prosecution of drug trafficker’s and amongst other things, provision of rehabilitation for drug users and addicts. Just recently, the social media reported a leak of the medical report of Regina Daniels purporting to confirm that she was undergoing rehabilitation at a hospital in Abuja. It was also reported that, ‘Mefi’ Nwoko confirmed the content of the leaked medical report. These are serious privacy and confidentiality breaches. Regina Daniels may want to exercise her right, to seek for redress.
If the allegations of drug abuse are true with respect to Regina Daniels being a drug addict, I expect the NDLEA to have conducted a search of the House of Ned Nwoko, and interrogate the alleged hospital. That is what responsible institutions do in sane countries, all with a view to protecting members of the public from any form of danger or harm. I guess the Police and the NDLEA are still waiting for a special directive from the top, before they will perform their basic and routine duty. Certainly, arresting a big man requires special permission from oga at the top. We joke too much, with serious things.
Kunle Edun, SAN, former NBA National Publicity Secretary and
National Welfare Secretary Domestic Violence, Child Marriage and Drug Abuse
Mandy Demechi-Asagba
Condemnation of the Unlawful Act of Child Marriage, Domestic Violence and Drug Abuse
Child Marriage is contrary to the Child's Rights Act, child marriage is a harmful practice that affects the health, education, and well-being of young girls. It is prohibited under the Child’s Rights Act and the Child’s Rights Law of Lagos State. Any marriage to a young girl under the age of 18 years is illegal and void ab initio, as a child is incapable of consenting to the marriage. Thus, the man who is of full age married to a minor will be liable to be prosecuted.
If indeed Regina Daniels was married at the age of 17, it could not be said to be a marriage between two consenting adults, as she was underage.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence, as defined by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), General Recommendation No. 19 (1992), includes: "Violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman, or that affects women disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty".
This definition encompasses various forms of violence, including: Physical violence, Sexual violence, Psychological
regina and Ned
The Nwoko Affair: child Marriage, Drug Abuse, Domestic violence?
violence and Economic violence.
The CEDAW Committee also recognised that domestic violence is a form of gender-based violence that can include:
a. Acts of physical, sexual, and psychological violence within the family or domestic unit.
b. Acts of violence perpetrated by individuals with whom the woman has a relationship of subordination or dependency.
Nigeria has ratified CEDAW, and is obligated to take measures to eliminate violence against women, including domestic violence. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 is one such measure. Survivors of domestic violence often face character assassination, oppression, and human rights abuses, including violations of their right to privacy (Section 37) and human dignity (Section 34) as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
The issue of domestic violence, recording her without her consent and character assassination of Regina Daniels by accusing her of drug addiction, and the oppression of her family are all illegality upon illegality. Domestic violence is a crime under the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault law of Lagos State, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) (VAPP) Act.
Same for the criminal act of recording her indecently. It is a constitutional violation of her right to privacy, as well as the oppression of her brother is also violation of his right of non- discrimination on the basis of class and status. These are all indices of power imbalance, in Domestic Violence cases.
One cannot but wonder how Nigeria allows lawlessness in the hallowed chamber, and/or implementing agencies looking away from such flagrant violations of the supreme law of the land and human rights violations of citizens of this great Nation - the giant of Africa
On the other hand one cannot but condemn the act of some families, who for financial gain sell their daughters into slavery - yes, the torture, the inhuman and degrading treatment, the stigma, the shame and the humiliation, the mental torture, the physical and emotional trauma, the regrets and the private despair all hidden behind a flawless public facade.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria's judgement in FRN v Okeke (2025) 16 NWLR (Pt. 2011) 293, serves as a stark reminder of the imperative to address domestic violence. This landmark case highlights the devastating consequences of unchecked abuse, and emphasises the urgent need for deliberate action to protect vulnerable individuals within marital relationships.
The court's decision underscores
the importance of acknowledging the intricate dynamics of domestic relationships, and the critical role of external intervention in preventing and addressing abuse. As such, it is essential to recognise the interplay between individual autonomy and societal responsibility in maintaining healthy, violence-free relationships. For Regina to get on social media, it must be really bad and life threatening. We as a society cannot afford to look away, nor should the Government. The recent case of domestic violence leading to the death of Temitope Felicia Odu allegedly beaten to death by her husband in Ikorodu, Lagos is one very pathetic case, because the violence had been persistent and known to all their neighbours, however, none took it upon themselves to stop the violence by reporting to the appropriate authorities. Regina has ran to us all for safety, what have we done?
Drug Abuse
In my opinion, the allegations of drug abuse levelled against Regina Daniels by Senator Nwoko, is an afterthought. It’s always one story or the other, to paint the victim bad. Being in this field, it is known that the woman is either labelled a psychiatric patient, or a depressed individual in need of medical attention, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, before the woman reported, there was no such referral for treatment - yes, corruption and or criminals must have a defence. However, drug abuse can be inflicted for sexual pleasures.
“Whereas, the ordinary man on the street caught smoking, trading or transporting Indian hemp is arrested and hauled to jail….Senator Ned Nwoko is an accomplice to the drug abuse offence, without evidence of his reporting the crime of drug abuse of Regina to law enforcement agencies”
Legal Options
Survivors have legal recourse, including seeking protection orders, filing criminal charges, and accessing support services.
Support and Resources
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA).
Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty ( WAPA).
Citizen’s Rights Directorate. Women's rights organisations.
Legal aid services et al.
Legal Authorities
- Child's Rights Act.
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Sections 34, 37).
- Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), General Recommendation No. 19 (1992).
- Domestic and Sexual Offences Law.
Mandy Demechi-Asagba, President, African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA)
The Ned-Regina Nwoko Complex Narrative
Lanrewaju Suraju
Ned Nwoko and Regina Daniels’ Saga; Nigeria’s unpunished ‘Diddy’ The very serious case of domestic violence, rape, drug abuse, spousal harassment, rights abuse, property destruction and illegal detention involving a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ned Nwoko, a man embroiled in several cases and forms of controversies, and his glamorous now estranged wife, Regina Daniels, is nothing different from the recent shocking revelation of American rapper and millionaire, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. The world
was treated to the unbelievable callous, dirty and brutal world of Diddy involving several victims, including his girlfriend. The revelations involved unbridled rape of victims, drug administration and exposure to minors, political and high-profile connections used for intimidation of victims, conspiracy and silence of staff and bodyguards, and prostitution of innocent ladies. Because the United States of America will not protect you once caught, Diddy had his day in court and is currently serving his term in a US jail. Puff Daddy is far richer, more famous and highly connected than our Senator Nwoko, but, faced the music for his established and proven crimes. Senator Ned Nwoko is most likely getting promotion for his alleged crimes, and the stimulant to do more with impunity.
Unlike the United States where the law enforcement agencies promptly took over Diddy’s mansion to prevent tampering with evidence, and several arrests were made leading to discovery of incriminating evidence and additional charges, the law enforcement agencies in Nigeria (NAPTIP, NDLEA, Police) remain onlookers. You can easily understand why; Ned is above the law, being a member of the privileged upper chamber of the National Assembly; the father of Regina is a nonentity; the fight and crimes are a family affair; and all we have heard are allegations, mere allegations.
Offences
Domestic violence under the Nigerian law, is considered an intentional and persistent abuse of anyone in a home in such a way that causes pain, harm or distress. Nigerian girls and women
Ned and regina
The Nwoko Affair: child Marriage, Drug Abuse, Domestic violence?
are subjected to multiple forms of abuse and violence in the homes, and allowed to suffer in silence. This situation led to the promulgation of the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act (VAPP) in 2015, to specifically cover offences of rape, sexual abuses, domestic violence and other related offences. This was in addition to other existing laws like the Criminal Code and Penal Code. NAPTIP is the agency with the mandate to enforce the VAPP, while the Police is sufficiently empowered to enforce the criminal and penal codes. The use and abuse of drugs freely referenced in the allegations and counter-allegations between Senator Nwoko and Regina when used either by smoking, inhaling or injecting, under the NDLEA Act, on conviction, attracts imprisonment for a term not less than fifteen years but not exceeding 25 years.
It would be wishful thinking to expect the investigation or arrest of a whole Senator of the Federal Republic under this law, but one can only hope and pray it is not deployed against Regina or some of her family members.
The purpose of this write up is not to pass any verdict on who is right or wrong in this whole disgusting, very serious and sensitive matter, turned social media joke and fun of weeks and now months, but rather, to expose the lack of proactive gestures on the part of our law enforcement agencies and the shielding of high-profile criminals from accountability, as mark of respect for their social status. It is to condemn the perennial reduction of serious criminal offences like domestic violence, rape and sexual assault in the homes, to “marital affairs” and deodorisation of crimes committed by the affluent as mere indulgence by our institutions and authorities. Whereas, the ordinary man on the street caught smoking, trading or transporting Indian hemp is arrested and hauled to jail, we have read the self-confession of use and abuse of hard drugs in high places without a whimper from relevant authorities. Whichever way it goes, Senator Ned Nwoko is an accomplice to the drug abuse offence, without evidence of his reporting the crime of drug abuse of Regina to law enforcement agencies. This is without conceding that Senator Ned is innocent of procuring and administering the drug, or even complicity in the consumption. If by any chance the allegedly recorded sex video of Regina gets to the public or social media, it would be an indictment on the entire human rights community and particularly, women’s rights group if Senator Ned retains his seat in the National Assembly and not cool his heels in prison, just like, Sean ‘Diddy’ Comb.
Forgery
I have seen the publicly released international passport of Regina with a completely different surname, Ojeogwu, with a year of birth at 2001. Unfortunately, the voter’s registration card of Regina shared on social media has her surname as Daniels, the surname known to the public. Sadly, it has a different year of birth, 1998. It is interesting to note that Regina’s legal documents had no reflection of her marital connection to Ned, despite all the public displays and flaunts. Both Ned, if the voter’s card was procured after her marriage to Ned, and Regina, are liable to prosecution for forgery with falsification of age as reflected on the card. It’s not too late. The law enforcement agencies (NAPTIP, NDLEA, Police), aren’t created and mandated to enforce laws only to apply selective enforcement based on status. The law is a respecter of no one.
Olanrewaju Suraju, Public Analyst, Commentator and Activist
Domestic Violence: A Senator’s Example
P. D. Pius
VAPP: Protection Against Domestic Violence
The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, was enacted by the National Assembly to offer protection against domestic violence and allied offences. The law has so many innovative solutions that include, seeking protection
“The Child's Right Act 2003 places the age of majority for marriage at 18 years. Thus, any carnal knowledge of a child below 18 years, is rape. It is not a defence, to say that it was consensual. There can never be a consent, for a child. This is what is often referred to as, statutory rape”
orders where a family member anticipates domestic violence. It is therefore, imperative for family members to take advantage of this law in cases of domestic violence, to seek cover or protection. It may however, be challenging where the person doesn’t have a Lawyer who is familiar with this aspect of law, or does not even have a Lawyer at all.
When I look at the whole scenario, I see that both sides have not availed themselves the benefit of proper and in-depth legal counsel. Violence in any form is now a criminal offence, and a family member can duly prosecute another who perpetrates violence in the house or family level.
Allegations of Drug Offences
The part that irks is the allegation and counter-allegations of drug abuse, and the unfortunate blind eyes of the NDLEA. A drug offence, is a drug offence. There are no time limitations, on when one can be prosecuted for a drug offence. So, when individuals or family members come online to accuse each other of drug offences, the law ought to take its course. The NDLEA should have moved in and invited both sides for questioning, and where established that they are in violation of the NDLEA Act, then they should be prosecuted immediately.
If you want to protect your family, don't accuse them in public of drug abuse or offences. This is because, there is no time limit for prosecution of criminal offences. Any subsequent administration
that is serious with prosecution of drug offences can dust the file, and have you tried before the Federal High Court. The privilege of confidentiality of husband and wife, is only intact when respected. Where the parties have already spilled the beans in public, then they should face the consequences of the confessions they made in public, which is veritable to secure a conviction before the court.
Right to Privacy
A family is entitled to its privacy. The Constitution is clear, about the right to private and family life. The law is also clear that a house owner can demand a visitor to leave his house, failing which will constitute criminal land trespass among other offences. Where you visit a family relation and he demands that you leave, you are obligated by law to leave. It is therefore, not wrong for a family relation to press charges against you where you refused to vacate his house, even if you came upon his invitation.
Statutory Rape
The Child's Right Act 2003 places the age of majority for marriage at 18 years. Thus, any carnal knowledge of a child below 18 years, is rape. It is not a defence to say that, it was consensual. There can never be a consent, for a child. This is what is often referred to as, statutory rape. Once it happens, there is no defence at all. It is a strict liability offence, and the offender may be facing life imprisonment or so. It is therefore imperative, for individuals interested in having such relationships to properly carry out due diligence and ascertain beyond reasonable doubt that their partner is not less than 18 years. This is a duty on the adult, to protect the child. This is more so, that the offence admits of no defence. You can't say that you tried to enquire, but you were misled. Any mistake on your part, you will be committing a serious offence. Each carnal knowledge is a separate rape. You may therefore, be exposing yourself to multiple rape charges, and any other family member of the child can press charges against you.
P. D. Pius, Legal Practitioner, Abuja
regina and Sons
Osinbajo Urges Entrepreneurs to Prioritise Character, Integrity for Business Sustainability
Esther Oluku
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has urged young entrepreneurs to prioritise character as the most critical ingredient for building sustainable businesses, insisting that talent and capital alone cannot guarantee long-term success.
Delivering his keynote address at the 10th anniversary of the International Breweries Foundation’s Kickstart Programme, a business incubator and grant initiative of International Breweries Plc, he stated that while talent may open doors and money may provide momentum, only strong character can keep entrepreneurs grounded, trusted and standing for the long haul.
“A business will only grow as fast and as sustainably as the character of the person building it. In the long run, character is the main
and great economic factor. Character is the foundation of trust, the compass of consistency, and that invisible architecture that supports every visible achievement. In simple terms, character is who you are when pressure comes, when opportunities arise, and when all the shortcuts disappear.
“There will be setbacks. There will be dry seasons, rejections, and moments when you will even ask yourself, ‘Did I make the right decision going into this business?’ The real challenge is not dreaming—many people have dreams and visions.
The real challenge is staying power. The ability to see a matter through. The hardest courage is not the courage to start; it is the courage to remain,” he said.
Osinbajo also noted that with integrity, businesses can build trust, leverage credit, and rise from setbacks, adding that perseverance, preparedness, hard work and delayed gratification
play key roles in business growth.
“Integrity will open doors that talent cannot. And integrity builds a brand long before advertising ever does. Integrity will sell you quicker than practically anything else. Talent may get you noticed. Money may start the engine. But without integrity, reliability and discipline, people will not trust you.”
He warned young founders against the temptation to pursue premature luxury, encouraging them instead to embrace delayed gratification, diligence and preparedness for business growth.
The former vice president also commended the International Breweries Foundation for its contribution to the nation’s entrepreneurial and economic landscape by equipping hundreds of young people with the capacity to create value, generate jobs and lead thriving businesses over the past 10 years.
Transcorp Power Plc, a power subsidiary of Nigeria’s leading listed conglomerate, Transcorp Group, has received commendation from the Executive Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, following the graduation of 75 individuals from its Vocational Skills Training and Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme (VSTEEP), marking a significant milestone in its commitment to host community development.
The ceremony, held at the weekend, also saw the induction of a new cohort into the programme and the presentation of the annual bursary award, which was significantly increased from supporting 3 to 9
deserving undergraduate students from the host communities. Represented by the Executive Chairman of the Ughelli North LGA, Omovudu Jaro Egbo, Oborevwori commended the Board and Management of Transcorp Power Plc for its steadfast commitment to human capital development and tangible community impact, and urged the graduands to be good ambassadors.
“I want to congratulate all our graduates who have taken the time to learn a skill to be entrepreneurs, in their various ways.
Wherever you find yourself, you must be good ambassadors of Delta State. You must be good ambassadors of Transcorp
Power, so that others will emulate you in this program and your impact will be felt in a way that others will want to come and learn,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp Power Plc, Mr. Peter Ikenga, stated that the event was a testament to the company’s consistent dedication to the socio-economic advancement of its host communities.
“Today is a significant milestone as we celebrate the perseverance, passion, and potential of the 75 individuals who have embarked on a journey to build a better future for themselves,” Ikenga said.
JETRO Pavilion Records 50,000 Visitors at Lagos Trade Fair
THE Japan External Trade Organisation’s (JETRO) participation at the 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair closed yesterday on a successful note, with the its pavilion attracting nearly 50,000 visitors over the 10-day event — one of the highest turnouts recorded by any foreign pavilion this year. The Trade Commissioner of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Lagos Office, Mr. Takashi Oku, disclosed the figures during an interview at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), where Japan showcased a blend of advanced technology, investment prospects and youth-focused cultural exhibitions.
This is as the organisation was declared winner of LCCI’s award in “Excellence in Culture and Trade Promotion” at the trade fair.
Oku said this year marked Japan’s 10th appearance at the Lagos International Trade Fair, but also one of its most vibrant due to the introduction of Super Japan, a two-day anime, gaming and cultural showcase that drew massive youth crowds on Friday and Saturday.
“This year, we participated on a larger scale alongside the Super Japan event to highlight Japanese pop culture. We were very impressed by the strong enthusiasm Nigerians showed,” he said.
He noted that Japan
reinforced its pavilion this year with expanded exhibitions, live activities and new brands, adding that visitors demonstrated a deep interest not only in cultural products but also in technology, manufacturing, automotive brands and innovation.
Reflecting on the fair’s overall performance, Oku said: “We were very impressed by the enthusiasm. Yesterday, for example, we held a concert and most participants were extremely excited. It was a very positive response.”
On investment, he stated that Japan continues to strengthen its footprint in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
Saharan Blend (Algeria), Djeno (Congo),
(Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic
Basrah Medium (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).
Vice President/Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Abimbola Olashore; Managing Director, Japan External Trade Trade Organisation (JETRO) Lagos, Takashi Oku; President, LCCI, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa and Deputy President, LCCI, Leye Kupoluyi, at the award presentation to JETRO Pavilion by LCCI at the closing ceremony of this year’s Lagos International Trade Fair in Lagos
Stock Market Down N1.17trn on Profit-taking in Dangote Cement, Others
Kayode Tokede
The Nigerian stock market yesterday commenced the week on a downward momentum, with a decline of N1.17 trillion on investors’ profit-taking in Dangote Cement Plc (10 per cent drop) and 23 others.
The Nigerian Exchange Limited All Share Index
(NGX ASI) lost by 1,853.82 basis points or 1.26 per cent to close at 145,159.77 basis points. Consequently, the NGX ASI Month-to-Date and Year-to-Date returns settled lower at -5.8per cent and +41.0per cent, respectively. Also, market capitalisation
declined by N1.172 trillion to close at N 92.329 trillion.
Sectoral performance was mixed as the NGX Industrial Goods index (-4.5 per cent), NGX Oil & Gas index (-1.2 per cent) and NGX Banking index (-one per cent) declined, while the NGX Insurance index (+0.1 per cent) advanced. The NGX NGX Consumer
Goods index closed flat. Market sentiment remained balanced, as 28 advancing stocks narrowly outnumbered 24 decliners.
Sovereign Trust Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 9.97 per cent to close at N3.20, per share. NCR Nigeria followed with a gain of 9.96 per cent to close at N28.15, while Tantalizers
grew by 9.81 per cent to close at N2.35, per share.
Prestige Assurance up by 9.70 per cent to close at N1.47, while Eunisell Interlinked rose by 8.52 per cent to close at N79.00, per share.
On the other hand, Dangote Cement and Nigerian Enamelware led the losers’ chart by 10 per
cent each to close at N534.60 and N40.50 respectively, while Transcorp followed with a decline of 4.66 per cent to close at N43.00, per share.
AIICO Insurance depreciated by 4.11 per cent to close at N3.50, while Guinea Insurance declined by 3.97 per cent to close at N1.21, per share.
BUSINESS WORLD
17, 2025
Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) in Nigeria billed a total of N742.34 billion to their customers in Q2,2025, but were only able to collect N564.71 billion during the period under consideration, fresh data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has shown.
Besides, collection
efficiency, which is the strength of Discos in recovering billed revenue from customers, indicated a mild improvement, rising to 76 per cent compared with 74 per cent in the previous quarter, the data indicated. This means that Discos collectively recovered a little over three-quarters of the value they charged households and businesses for electricity consumed, recording a deficit collection of about N177.6 billion
during the period under review.
Eko Disco led the pack of performers with strong collection figures, with N106 billion collected from N120 billion billed, followed by Ikeja Disco which recorded N105 billion in revenue out of N127 billion billed, while Abuja Disco followed with N89 billion collected from the N116 billion it billed.
In the same vein, Port Harcourt Disco recorded
the strongest quarter-onquarter gain, expanding its collection efficiency to 70 per cent, marking a 9.77 per cent improvement relative to Q1. The rebound is notable given the utility’s long-standing operational and network constraints.
In contrast, Jos Disco continued to show weak customer repayment behaviour, achieving only 44 per cent collection efficiency. Kaduna and Yola also posted some
of the lowest outcomes, collecting just N13 billion and N9 billion respectively, compared to their billed amounts of N26 billion and N16 billion.
An analysis of the trend showed that Discos with higher metering penetration tended to enjoy stronger repayment rates because customers perceive the billing system as more transparent and aligned with actual consumption. Conversely, regions heavily
dependent on estimated billing often showed resistance to payments, leading to perennial revenue leakages. Improvements in revenue collection appeared to be offset by persistent metering gaps, with the metering segment remaining a weak point in the performance chain, despite the federal government’s recent attempts to close the gap.
Nigeria Cannot Attain $1trn Economy without Unlocking Leasing Industry Potentials
Dike Onwuamaeze
Financial and legal experts have expressed the view that Nigeria would not realise its aspiration of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030 without engendering a legal and regulatory framework that would unlock the contributions of equipment and leasing
sub-sector to the Nigerian economy.
The experts expressed this view in Lagos during the 23rd National Lease Conference that was organised by the Equipment and Leasing Association of Nigeria (ELAN) with the theme, “Enhancing Growth and Sustainability in the Nigerian Equipment
Leasing Industry.”
In her welcome address, Chairman of ELAN, Mrs. Elizabeth Ngozi Ehigiamusoe, said that the industry recorded an impressive 23.2 per cent growth in 2024, with the value of outstanding leases reaching N5.16 trillion, compared to N4.19 trillion in 2023.
“New lease contracts in the same year stood at approximately N973 billion, while cumulative leasing volume over the past decade is estimated at N24.6 trillion,” Ehigiamusoe said. She, therefore, appealed to the federal and state governments to utilise leasing in their various developmental initiatives
aimed at bringing succour to the people.
Presenting a paper titled, “Contemporary Issues in the Nigerian Regulatory Environment: Role and Impact Analysis,” the Managing Partner of Aelex Legal Practitioners and Arbitrators, Mr. Theophillus Emuwa, who was represented by Tax and Corporate Commercial Lawyer, Aelex, Mr. Jibrin Dasun, said that “Nigeria will not unlock its economic potentials, particularly our goal toward achieving $1 trillion economy by 2030, if we do not grow our equipment and leasing practice.”
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Adighije: NDPHC’s Gas Demand to Hit 700mscf Daily at Full Capacity
The demand for gas by the Niger Delta Power Holding Plc (NDPHC), has been projected to surge to 700 million standard cubic feet per day (700mmscf/d) when all the company’s 28 gas-powered turbines operate at full installed capacity.
Managing Director of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, stated this at an industry session in Lagos, explaining that each of the 28 turbines of the company requires 25 million standard cubic feet of gas daily at full capacity.
“Currently, we have 10 power plants, comprising about 28 gas-powered turbines across the NDPHC fleet. Each of those gas turbines, when successfully synchronised to the grid, would be requiring about 25 million standard cubic feet of gas per day
“So if you do the math, that tells you what our demand would typically be on a daily basis. If you do 25 million times 28, we’re talking about millions of standard cubic feet of gas. And so, that tells you that gas utilisation, gas optimisation is central
‘Digital Assets Could Make Nigeria a Top-tier Economy’
Global finance expert, Mr. Ochuko Akejagbor has unveiled a bold national strategy that he says could catapult Nigeria into the ranks of top-tier global economies by strategically acquiring and managing utility digital assets.
Akejagbor’s proposal outlines the creation of a National Digital Asset Commission (NDAC) and National Digital Asset Reserve (NDAR), supported by State Digital Asset Commissions and Reserves across all 36 states.
According to him, these
bodies would be responsible for identifying, stockpiling, and securing high-value digital assets capable of generating massive economic returns for Nigeria.
Akejagbor, this model draws inspiration from emerging U.S. frameworks, including the Strategic Bitcoin and Digital Asset Reserve established in March 2025, which now holds more than 207,000 Bitcoin valued at $17 billion to offset America’s escalating $40 trillion national debt.
Several U.S. states, including Wyoming and Texas, also maintain similar reserves.
“We are in a once-ina-century opportunity.
Stockpiling utility digital assets will position Nigeria as Africa’s digital leader, turning us into a top-tier economy by 2030,” he said.
Comms/e-Business
Asst.
Asst. Editor, Money Market
Nume Ekeghe
Correspondents
KayodeTokede(CapitalMarkets)
James Emejo (Finance)
Ebere Nwoji (Insurance)
Reporter Peter Uzoho (Energy)
Akejagbor, who has experience in international finance, public policy, and the digital economy, argues that Nigeria must move quickly as the world enters what he describes as a Global Economic and Financial Reset.
“We are in a once-in-acentury opportunity,” he said in an exclusive interview.
Stockpiling utility digital assets will position Nigeria as Africa’s digital leader, turning us into a top-tier economy by 2030.”
to sustainability of power generation in Nigeria”, Adighije said.
NDPHC is the government-owned power generation utility company with the mandate to scale power generation and to carry out interventions across
Stories by Emmanuel Addeh in abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has launched a health insurance scheme for service attendants across its petrol stations nationwide.
The Attendants’ Health Insurance Scheme (AHIS) which was launched by NNPC
the gas to electricity value chain by way of bridging power sector infrastructure gaps.
She expressed the company’s commitment to a shared vision of unlocking more gas for domestic consumption in Nigeria. She
Retail, in partnership with NNPC Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO), will onboard over 7,000 service attendants onto the NNPC HMO platform, a statement from the company said.
The national oil company stated that this marks a significant stride in guaranteeing access to quality healthcare services
noted some visible reforms in the power sector, which she said were unprecedented. She credited those reforms and improvements in the sector to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, highlighting their insistence on the passing of the Electricity Act.
for the attendants.
According to her, with the passing of that Act, it has essentially commercialised and liberalised the power sector in a way that we’re able to commercialise our interactions like never before.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative which was held at the NNPC Mega Station in Abuja, the Executive Director, Retail Operations and Mobility, Baba-Shettima Kukawa, described the scheme as a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to deliver quality service to its customers. He said the company recognised that its station attendants serve as the primary touchpoints with customers, and that their welfare could directly impact on the quality of engagement and service delivery in a market where service excellence has become a key differentiator.
Goldman Sachs: Global Oil Demand to Grow Through 2040
Goldman Sachs has projected that global oil demand will grow through at least 2040, driven by rising energy needs and ongoing challenges in scaling lowcarbon technology and infrastructure, a year after the bank predicted a peak by 2034.
Goldman’s above-
consensus outlook came just days after the International Energy Agency (IEA) said oil demand would continue to grow over the next several decades, and a year after predicting demand would peak by the end of the decade.
The bank forecast global oil demand will grow to
113 million bbl/day in 2040 from 103.5 million bbl/day in 2024, with annual average oil demand growth to remain solid at 900,000 bbl/day in 2025-30, before slowing gradually to 100,000 bbl/day by 2040, with a likely long plateau in the early 2040s.
Key factors Goldman cited for its view include
limited alternatives for jet fuel and petrochemicals due to technology bottlenecks, an indirect boost from AI-driven gross domestic product growth, and an overall increase in global energy demand that is expected to outpace the rate at which oil is replaced by low-carbon alternatives.
Petroleum Ministry Moves to Fully Automate Official Activities
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has said that it has taken another major step in its digital transformation journey with the successful completion of a two-day presentation session on the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Project.
The session, it said, brought together members of the ECM Project Management Team (PMT) and selected
consultants for an in-depth review and demonstration of proposed digital solutions designed to automate the ministry’s document management and workflow processes.
This information was disclosed in a statement in Abuja released by the ministry’s Head of Press & Public Relations, Chris Ugwuegbulam.
Reduces Salaries for Foreign
Saudi firms are scaling back generous salary premiums that once lured top foreign talent into sectors such as construction and manufacturing as the kingdom reins in spending and reorders economic priorities, four recruiters told Reuters.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, is more than halfway through its economic transformation blueprint, known as Vision 2030, aimed at reducing dependence on hydrocarbon income, creating jobs, and expanding industries such as tourism, real estate,
Declaring the event open, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Vitalis Obi, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to adopting technologydriven systems that promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency. He urged PMT members to evaluate the presentations objectively and ensure that the most suitable and functional solution is selected
mining and financial services.
As part of the long-term plan, the kingdom has invested massively in multibillion-dollar megaprojects, vastly increasing demand for high-skilled foreign workers, but has struggled with execution and delays.
based on merit. The Chairperson of the Project Management Team and Deputy Director (ICT), Sarah Agbaka, gave an overview of the project and outlined the evaluation process. She emphasised the need for practical, scalable, and userfriendly systems capable of integrating seamlessly with the Ministry’s operations.
Foreign recruits should no longer expect to negotiate premiums of 40 per cent or more, to sometimes even double their existing salaries, which were common earlier this decade, two of the sources said, with offers far more restrained now.
Peter Uzoho
www.thisdaylive.com
opinion@thisdaylive.com
A TRIBUNAL THAT TRIES ITSELF
The leadership confusion within the Investment and Security Tribunal is unfortunate, writes SOLA ONI
page 21
WHY WAGNER BETRAYED AFRICA
The activities of Russia's mercenaries hold lessons for Nigeria, contends OUMAROU SANOU
21
LOUIS ODION celebrates Adeniyi’s nobility of spirit and moral purpose
OLUSEGUN ADENIYI AT 60
For us, the sudden demise of General Sani Abacha in the early hours of June 8, 1998 (Monday) would seem a God-send that effectively cleared the cloud of dark foreboding that had begun to gather the previous day.
Sunday Concord’s front-page lead that weekend had screamed “How Useni and Gwarzo teleguide Parties.” A transparently suicidal gambit at an illiberal time when bullets and bombs were being liberally dispensed against dissents in Nigeria.
By conventional wisdom, when fear envelops the land, certain truths are supposed to be borne only in mind, not told or written in cold print. Those who had dared otherwise under bloodthirsty Abacha were either ended in premature graves, exile or the gulag.
But the Sunday Concord of June 7, 1998, chose to bait the roaring lion in its very den.
The offending story was based on an exclusive interview Segun Adeniyi and I conducted with M.D.Yusuf, the charismatic Fulani prince, who had emerged as one of the few men of iron courage still standing up against Abacha’s maniacal bid to shed his khaki uniform and transmute into a civilian president. It was facilitated by Yusuf’s media adviser, Comrade Abdul Okwechime (who unfortunately passed on last year).
Back in the 70s, as police Inspector General, Yusuf identified with Fela and reportedly spurned official prompting to use the police to harass the antiestablishment music icon. (Additionally, the media legend, Pa Peter Enahoro (Peter Pan), told this writer that Yusuf also once dared Obasanjo, as head of state, by releasing his elder brother, Chief Anthony Enahoro, from custody without clearance from the Commander-in-Chief on the conviction that the charges against the Adolo of Esanland were trumped up.)
Now by 1998, of the flourishing “five fingers of a leprous hand” (as inimitable Bola Ige caustically described the five registered parties), only Yusuf’s Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) was proving “recalcitrant” against Abacha’s self-perpetuation aspiration.
As Segun and I drove from the Yusuf’s Ikoyi hideout earlier that week in Segun’s jalopy Peugeot 504 car after the historic interview, our childlike excitement at securing “a world exclusive” was tempered by a new anxiety about whether our editor, Mr. Tunji Bello, would find the courage to run Yusuf’s fiery words ungarnished and in full.
At a time when virtually all the remaining politicians of note were either keeping a “strategic silence” in their
respective bases or prostituting in Abuja with Abacha, Yusuf voiced what everyone was scared to say in that interview, taking the murderous regime apart. That the then FCT Minister, Major General Jeremiah Useni, and the National Security Adviser, Ismaila Gwarzo, were the ones dictating to the other four registered parties to adopt Abacha as the sole presidential candidate in a poll whose exact date was yet to be announced.
Of course, publishing such an uncomfortable truth when even Abacha’s own deputy, Oladipo Diya, and several other Generals were on the death row over an alleged coup plot, was like jumping into the lion’s den. Predictably, Abacha and his death squad were livid at Sunday Concord’s effrontery. As readers rushed to buy the copies at newsstands across the country that day, words soon reached us from usually reliable security sources, warning us to await a “reprisal.”
Then, suddenly, death preempted Abacha.
For Segun, it was obviously yet another close shave with Abacha’s murder gang. A few months earlier, he was abducted in the dead of the night by armed operatives from the then most dreaded DMI (Director of Military Intelligence) from his Surulere, Lagos home. They had scaled the fence, broken the window and whisked Segun away in his pyjamas.
His offence? His uncle, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, a wanted NADECO activist, had sent him a letter from exile. The courier was stopped at the land border, and the epistle was intercepted.
Even more horrifying was Segun’s ordeal later at the DMI facility. Left in his nightie all day without food or water, it was already nightfall when the feared lord of the acclaimed torture house, Colonel Frank Omenka, directed the “guest” be
brought before him. And there was a comical twist to this Stalinist character: an oversized tobacco pipe hung from a corner of his mouth, with bulging eyes peering menacingly over a pair of reading glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose.
On that fateful day, Omenka did not forget the last rite of his accustomed torture tactics: pulling a loaded pistol and placing it on the table ominously before asking Segun the first question: “If you tell me a single lie today, I’ll just waste you right away.”
The foregoing incidents are recalled today not just to recognise Segun’s heroic role in Nigeria’s democratic journey in the 90s but also as a cautionary reminder to the tribe of overly overexcited online trolls, particularly those probably too young to understand the titanic battle fought to rid this country of military despotism before 1999. At some point in the not-too-distant past, some people put their lives on the line for the freedom of expression which many now sometimes abuse or take for granted.
Soon after Segun’s encounter with the DMI, Mr. Sam Omatseye, Sunday Concord’s deputy editor, was similarly flagged by Abacha’s goons at the Murtala International Airport in Lagos while trying to catch an international flight. Fortuitously, one of the assailants turned out to be a lover of Omatseye’s writings in Concord. He took pity on him. So, while others looked away, he smuggled his literary idol to the aircraft’s door, beyond the reach of those assigned to capture him. That marked the beginning of Omatseye’s subsequent forced exile in the U.S.
Well, as is often the case, almost 30 years later, we are now celebrating Segun’s life at 60, while Omenka is enrolled irreversibly in the nation’s hall of shame. (In fact, the one-time Pharaoh of DMI reportedly bolted from Nigeria like a rat soon after Abacha died and was last seen in Brazil in a pathetic condition.)
In a tribute he personally signed on Segun’s birthday on November 6, President Tinubu aptly defined Segun’s journalism in the following words: “As a journalist and one of our nation’s mostread columnists, you have set the pace for disciplined conversations and informed commentary. You have also remained a significant voice and conscience of many Nigerians through your dispassionate treatises on developments in our nation.
Odion, FNGE, is Executive Commissioner, Operations at FCCPC
The leadership confusion within the Investment and Security Tribunal is unfortunate, writes SOLA ONI
A TRIBUNAL THAT TRIES ITSELF
Coded peace may have returned to the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST), but the echoes of the leadership tussle that engulfed this temple of justice still ring loud. Justice, it seemed, stumbled on its own steps and market watchers felt the tremor. For a revered institution built to steady investor confidence, the recent power struggle was a costly slip and a dangerous precedent that must never be repeated.
The IST, established under the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007, occupies a unique place in Nigeria’s investment ecosystem. It is the court of first instance for capital market disputes, mandated to deliver quick, fair, and expert decisions involving investors, operators, and regulators. Its credibility is therefore indispensable to the integrity of the entire market.
Yet, only weeks ago, the Tribunal found itself at the centre of an embarrassing leadership crisis that briefly turned it from a symbol of order to a theatre of confusion. Reports of two chairmen laying rival claims to the same office, each armed with different appointment letters, created needless anxiety across the capital market community. Mr. Aminu Junaidu, a former Attorney-General of Zamora State , assumed office on October 2, 2025, based on an appointment letter dated September 24 and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. However, the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Amos Isaac Azi, reportedly maintained that his tenure had been renewed earlier through a letter from the Ministry of Finance, dated August 2025.
The standoff reportedly saw both men show up at the IST office with separate police escorts, prompting the Registrar to intervene just to keep peace. The dispute boiled dawn to one question: did the outgoing Chairman’s record justify a tenure extension, or was the new appointee better suited for the role ? Ultimately, the former Chairman stepped down but the drama exposed cracks in the appointment of the Institution’s helmsman that will not be easily forgotten. Thankfully, the Federal Government has since moved to clarify the situation. The new leadership has taken charge, and administrative calm has been re-
stored. But the damage to perception, if not to function lingers. For a judicial body tasked with resolving capital market disputes, the sight of its leadership in open contention was unsettling. It projected the Tribunal as vulnerable to political interference and administrative disorder; a perception Nigeria can ill afford as it courts global investors.
The law is crystal clear on this matter. Section 315 of the Investments and Securities Act 2025 stipulates that the Chairman of the Tribunal shall be appointed by the President, on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, and confirmed by the Senate. The Act also stipulates that the Chairman shall have a minimum of 15-year post bar experience in the capital market. This process ensures legality, transparency, and independence. Any deviation or ambiguity around this procedure erodes the sanctity of the Tribunal’s decisions and, by extension, investor faith in Nigeria’s regulatory order.
Even though the crisis has been contained, it set a bad precedent, one that calls into question the diligence and coordination of key government organs. For a capital market already battling to rebuild trust, leadership confusion within its own adjudicatory body was a serious misstep. It sent the wrong message to investors who constantly measure Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law and institutional integrity.
Beyond the embarrassment, this episode should serve as a moment of introspection. Institutions like the IST must be insulated from bureaucratic ambiguity and political manoeuvring. Appointments should strictly follow statutory provisions, communicated clearly, and executed transparently. Anything less risks undermining years of effort to strengthen governance within the market.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Ministry of Finance must also treat this episode as a learning point. Their oversight duties extend beyond general regulation. They must ensure that every capital market institution operates within the law and projects professionalism. In a market where confidence is currency, delayed communication or silence in moments of uncertainty only breeds speculation. Regulators must move swiftly to clarify facts and reassure both local and foreign investors.
Equally important, the Federal Government must draw a clear line between administrative coordination and political patronage. The capital market thrives on predictability, not palace drama. Once confidence is shaken, recovery is slow and costly. Investors seek assurance that Nigeria’s institutions are governed by law, not by conflicting interests.
Oni, an Integrated Communications Strategist, Chartered Stockbroker, Commodities Broker and Capital Market Registrar, is the Chief Executive Officer, Sofunix Investment and Communications
The activities of Russia's mercenaries hold lessons for Nigeria, contends
OUMAROU SANOU
WHY WAGNER BETRAYED AFRICA
Bamako is burning—again, and the African Union, the regional body tasked with promoting peace and security, is panicking. The capital of Mali, once a proud symbol of West African resilience, now teeters on the brink of collapse, not from foreign invasion but from jihadists who have outlasted coups, crushed alliances, and exposed the hollowness of the “sovereign security” promised by military juntas and their Russian backers. What began as a bold pledge to “restore stability and reclaim dignity” has descended into chaos, bloodshed, racism, and betrayal— the tragic proof that mercenaries cannot buy peace, and juntas cannot govern by force. The Sahel’s descent is not just Mali’s tragedy—it is a warning to Nigeria and the entire region.
When Mali’s coup leaders expelled French and UN forces and turned to Russia’s Wagner Group in 2021, they sold their citizens a dangerous illusion: that imported soldiers of fortune would succeed where legitimate institutions had failed. Three years later, the results are catastrophic. Jihadist groups are advancing toward Bamako, civilians are dying in record numbers, and the mercenaries once paraded as “liberators” have turned Mali’s soil into a graveyard of false hope.
According to conflict monitors, nearly 3,000 civilians have been killed since Wagner’s arrival—many at the hands of their supposed protectors. Entire communities have been wiped out, markets torched, and villages erased under the pretext of “counterterrorism operations.”
The recently leaked documentary March on Azawad—a chilling selfportrait of Russian mercenaries—reveals the futility and racism embedded in their operations. Wagner veterans, now safely back in Russia, describe Malian soldiers as “cowards” and “thieves,” mocking the very people they were paid to defend. Their disdain echoes the systemic racism of Russian society, where ethnic minorities are treated as expendable cannon fodder. These mercenaries, steeped in bigotry and violence, brought to Africa not solidarity, but supremacy — the same dehumanising ideology that drives their atrocities in Ukraine, Libya, and now the Sahel.
The brutality Wagner displays toward African civilians is not aberrational—it is a feature, not a bug. These mercenaries carry to Africa the same racism they practice at home against ethnic minorities in Russia's own territories. In Chechnya, Dagestan, and other non-Russian regions, minorities face systemic discrimination, violence, and marginalisation. When these fighters arrive in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, they bring that contempt with them.
Their crimes are well-documented. In Moura, central Mali, at least 500 civilians were massacred in a single operation in March 2022. Men were executed, women assaulted, and children mutilated— atrocities gleefully shared in private
Wagner Telegram channels like “White Uncles in Africa +18”, where mercenaries celebrated their brutality with the depraved language of white supremacy. To them, African civilians and terrorists were indistinguishable—both expendable, both “sand people.” This is not counterterrorism. It is a campaign of dehumanisation. Behind Wagner’s bloody record lies a simple motive: profit. The mercenaries did not come for Pan-African solidarity; they came for gold. Mali pays Wagner not only in cash but in mineral concessions— trading sovereignty for survival. One mercenary admits in the documentary that recovering and seizing gold mines was part of their operational “successes.” They looted everything: motorcycles, trucks, excavation equipment. Mali’s resources now flow to Moscow, while its people bleed in silence.
What began as a “security partnership” quickly degenerated into an extractive occupation. Wagner’s recklessness and racial contempt alienated communities, fractured the Malian army, and emboldened jihadists. The July 2024 defeat at Tinzawaten, where 84 Russian mercenaries died alongside dozens of Malian troops, was not an exception—it was the predictable outcome of arrogance and incompetence. The withdrawal of Wagner and its rebranding as “Africa Corps” in 2025 has done little to stem the tide. Today, Bamako stands at the edge of jihadist capture.
The implications for West Africa— and especially Nigeria—are profound. Insecurity in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger does not remain contained; it metastasises. Jihadist groups like JNIM and ISGS have expanded their operations southward, exploiting porous borders, ungoverned spaces, and weak regional coordination. Refugees fleeing the Sahel are already straining Nigeria’s northern communities, while arms trafficking and extremist propaganda infiltrate the hinterland and towns.
Sanou is a social critic, Pan-African observer and researcher focusing on governance, security, and political transitions in the Sahel. sanououmarou386@gmail.com
Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA
BETWEEN THE MINISTER AND NAVAL OFFICER
Even if Wike’s language is inexcusable, the military should not act as law unto themselves
The recent confrontation between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and a naval officer, Lt Commander A.M. Yerima has once again exposed the delicate nature of civil-military relations in the country. According to the reports, captured on a viral video which has been watched by millions of Nigerians, Yerima was leading some military personnel on guard at a property which allegedly belongs to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral AZ Gambo (rtd) when the altercation occurred. The young officer prevented Wike and his retinue of aides from gaining access into the property on the grounds that he was acting on a superior order. The matter escalated to a test of will with Wike raining invectives on the young officer who maintained a calm composure throughout the fracas.
The Minister crossed the line when he called the officer a “fool”. This kind of language is unacceptable from a public servant who has an obligation to reflect decency in his conduct. Besides, the most basic concept of the nation state and national sovereignty is the willful surrender of our individual and communal rights to a sovereign who must protect us all. A soldier therefore embodies the state’s authority and values. To the extent that a professional military relies on respect and trust, which could be eroded by public ridicule, we urge our politicians to maintain decorum, even when there is a disagreement on specific actions or policies. On no account must we condone ministers acting without restraint as Wike demonstrated in the video making the rounds on social media.
Section 302 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Therefore, the action of the young officer can be construed as an obstruction of the Minister from carrying out legitimate duties as delegated to him. But Wike erred by attempting physical intimidation with mobile policemen and engaging in a public confrontation rather than exploring other avenues. The minister needs to learn the fundamental lesson that process, not presence, is a better way in carrying out his duties.
Both the recklessness of public officials who believe in the muscular execution of their brief and the impunity of military officers who engage in self-help must be discouraged in the interest of our democracy and the rule of law
For the avoidance of doubt, we do not believe it is right for military officers, serving or retired, to carry on as if they are a law to themselves. If the former Chief of Naval Staff thinks he has a case which he may well have, he should have taken it up with the appropriate authorities or in the courts. Resorting to the deployment of soldiers to block FCT officials and the minister from access to the land because they are carrying guns bought with public resources amounts to self-help.
However, there are also other issues that we should not gloss over. From the angle of law, Wike, as the FCT Minister, has the powers on land administration delegated to him by the President as stipulated in Section 297(2) and
T H I S D AY
EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU
DEPUTY EDITOR WALE OLALEYE
MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO
DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU
CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI
EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN
THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA
GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU
DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS SHAKA MOMODU, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE
Both the recklessness of public officials who believe in the muscular execution of their brief and the impunity of military officers who engage in self-help must be discouraged in the interest of our democracy and the rule of law. As Femi Falana, SAN, has quite rightly submitted, both the minister and the retired naval chief who drafted soldiers to guard his personal property were wrong. Notably, the Supreme Court had decided in Onunze vs State (2023) and Nigeria Air Force vs James (2002), that military personnel are under no obligation to obey illegal orders. Therefore, this is a good time for the Armed Forces to clarify and enforce relevant rules guiding the relationship between retired senior personnel and the various services.
It is our hope that the ongoing investigation into the regrettable incident will not only clarify the facts but also provide an opportunity for President Bola Tinubu to take the necessary
MARWA’S RE-APPOINTMENT: A RENEWED NIGHTMARE FOR DRUG BARONS
It is not surprising that the announcement of Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa’s re-appointment as Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday, 14th November, has once again sent a powerful and mixed signal across the country.
For ordinary citizens, the news comes as reassurance that the fight against narcotics will not lose momentum. But for drug barons and trafficking syndicates, it is nothing short of a renewed nightmare because Marwa’s first term clearly marked a historic level of seizures, arrests, dismantling of clandestine laboratories, and dislodgement of major drug cartels that had infiltrated every facet of society.
I have witnessed his leadership restore public confidence in NDLEA and demonstrate that Nigeria can confront organised criminal enterprises with both courage and strategy. I believe his return to office will not only ensure that
the pressure on drug traffickers continues but will intensify, because the handlers of illicit drug networks know that with Marwa at the helm, there will be no breathing space.
During his first term, we all saw an NDLEA that became more active, more visible, and more effective. The constant interception of drugs at airports, seaports, and highways showed that traffickers no longer had the freedom they once enjoyed.
The updates from NDLEA, through weekly press releases, demonstrate that the Agency remains consistently active, committed, and proactive in its efforts to curb the drug menace across the country.
The re-appointment by the President is therefore more than an administrative decision; it is a national security victory. It guarantees that the gains recorded will be sustained and expanded, making Nigeria an increasingly hostile ter-
ritory for drug peddlers and their dangerous operations. Marwa’s second term also represents continuity of reforms, vigilance, and operational excellence. His re-appointment is therefore a victory for public health, national security, and Nigeria’s global reputation as a country determined to confront the drug menace head-on.
For the first time in a long while, Nigeria has a leader who understands the strategies of traffickers and is committed to shutting down their operations. Marwa’s leadership has also helped break the myth that certain drug traffickers were “untouchable.”
Marwa’s re-appointment is therefore a lifeline to a generation that seeks guidance, protection, and a drug-free environment.
Tosin Damola, Lokoja, Kogi State
Assessing Policies that Triggered S&P’s Rating Upgrade for Nigeria
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) decision to embark on currency reforms- unifying multiple exchange rates and subsequent removal of FX trading restrictions are gaining positive feedbacks from global rating agencies. The latest applause came from S&P Global Ratings, which at the weekend revised its outlook on Nigeria to "positive" from "stable", while affirming "B-/B" rating for the country. The agency is confident that Nigeria’s monetary, economic, and fiscal reforms will continually spur growth and sustain foreign capital inflows to the economy. Precious Ugwuzor reports
Nigeria’s determination to confront multiple macro-economic headwinds with FX reforms and ongoing turnaround in the economy have earned the economic managers global applause.
The latest came from S&P Global Ratings, which at the weekend, revised its outlook on Nigeria to "positive" from "stable" on Friday, backing the country's ongoing economic reforms, and also affirmed the country's rating at "B-/B".
"The monetary, economic, and fiscal reforms being implemented by Nigerian authorities will yield positive benefits over the medium term," S&P said.
In May, Moody’s upgraded Nigeria's rating by one notch to "B3" from "Caa1", citing notable improvements in the country's external and fiscal positions, while Fitch last month kept its "B" rating and "stable" outlook.
The rating agencies continue to cite FX reforms instituted by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as crucial in the current macroeconomic stability and push to tame inflation.
President, Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria, Dr. Aminu Gwadabe, applauded the rating upgrade.
He said the FX reforms have really supported the stability in exchange rate, and is helping the economy to achieve desired growth.
Other analysts described the S&P rating as ‘a significant step forward in restoring investor confidence and economic stability.”
According to them, the development means an improvement in Nigeria’s creditworthiness, which could open up new opportunities for the country across several sectors.
Upon assuming office in October 2023, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, had prioritised reforms to rebuild Nigeria’s economic buffers and strengthen resilience.
CBN’s policies, including the currency reforms, led to investment inflows from abroad, and reduced interventions in the domestic forex market.
The unification of exchange rates and the clearing of over $7 billion FX backlog raised the country’s investment outlook, with multilateral organizations, like the World Bank describing it as bold intervention to improve the economy’s sustainability in the long run.
Also, Nigeria’s sovereign risk spread has fallen to the lowest level since January 2020, erasing the premium accumulated during the pandemic and subsequent strain on its economy. All these are deliberate efforts to woo investors and sustain capital inflows to the economy.
Analysts said that, if sustained, these reforms could support long-term economic expansion, though implementation hurdles and global oil price volatility still pose risks.
To bridge fiscal gaps, Nigeria has turned to debt markets. Last week, the country raised $2.35 billion through a Eurobond issuance to help finance its 2025 budget deficit, while continuing to borrow domestically.
Ratings from other agencies
Several feedbacks from global rating agencies about Nigeria’s economic status point to steady improvement in the country’s macroeconomic indexes.
For instance, Moody’s Investors Service recently upgraded Nigeria’s Issuer ratings from ‘Caa1 to B3,’ with a stable outlook, citing significant improvements in Nigeria’s external and fiscal positions. The new rating for the country also signals growing optimism
about the Nigeria’s economic outlook.
The agency also revised Nigeria’s outlook to “stable” from “positive”, as it expects recent progress on external and fiscal fronts to continue, though at a slower pace, if oil prices fall.
The rating agency in a statement, explained that, “The recent overhaul of Nigeria’s foreign exchange management framework has markedly improved the balance of payments and bolstered the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.”
According to Moody’s, inflationary risks in Nigeria, driven by policy shifts, have diminished. Inflation and domestic borrowing costs are showing nascent signs of easing, bolstering confidence in the stability of these policy changes, it added.
“The stable outlook reflects our expectations that external and fiscal improvements will decelerate but will not reverse entirely,” Moody’s added.
Moody’s Upgrades Nigeria’s Issuer Ratings to ‘B3’, Citing Bold Economic Reforms Before the Moody’s report on Nigeria, another rating agency, Fitch Ratings raised Nigeria’s credit rating from ‘B-’ to ‘B’, with a stable outlook.
The positive Fitch Ratings on Nigeria economy did not come as a surprise to stakeholders who have been keenly watching key economic policies from the monetary and fiscal authorities.
From exchange rate unification to reduce arbitrage in the markets, introduction of electronic FX matching platform and a new FX code to enhance transparency and efficiency in the market as well as deployment of monetary policy tightening to keep inflation on check, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has demonstrated commitment to achieving sustainable economy growth and exchange rate stability.
Already, the latest Fitch rating moved Nigeria’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) from negative to stable, meaning that the country stands a better chance of attracting foreign investment, borrow money on
international markets at better interest rates, and boost investor confidence.
Fitch also applauded government’s commitment to policy reforms implemented since its move to orthodox economic policies in June 2023, including exchange rate liberalisation, monetary policy tightening, and steps to end deficit monetisation as well as fuel subsidies removal.
“These have improved policy coherence and credibility and reduced economic distortions and near-term risks to macroeconomic stability, enhancing resilience in the context of persistent domestic challenges and heightened external risks,” the agency stated.
In his response, President Bola Tinubu described Moody’s Investors Service’s upgrade of Nigeria’s long-term foreigncurrency issuer rating as a welcome development. The President described it as a significant vote of confidence in the country’s economic direction and ongoing reform agenda’.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining prudent economic management while promoting inclusive growth.
“This upgrade signals to global investors and partners that Nigeria is back on a path of responsibility, reform, and renewed credibility. It underscores our unwavering commitment to transparency, discipline, and prosperity for all Nigerians,” he said.
“This positive rating reinforces global confidence in Nigeria’s future and represents a milestone in the administration’s goal of restoring investor trust, unlocking economic potential, and securing long-term prosperity.
“The upgrade reflects growing international recognition of Nigeria’s progress in stabilising its macroeconomic environment, enhancing fiscal transparency, improving debt sustainability, and implementing market-oriented reforms under President Tinubu’s leadership.”
An analyst, Dr. Wahab Balogun, Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer of Ambosit Capital Managers said that a better credit rating provides a foundation for Nigeria to re-engage international capital markets under more favourable terms, potentially reducing debt service costs and freeing up fiscal space for development spending.
“With the stable outlook assigned by Moody’s, Nigeria is not expected to face an imminent downgrade or upgrade. This indicates that the reforms currently in place are perceived as credible, with no immediate risks that could undermine the rating. It also reinforces the view that the government’s policy direction is yielding early positive results, though sustained implementation will be necessary to achieve long-term benefits” he said.
He added that “the dual upgrades by Fitch and Moody’s have been received in financial and investment circles as indicators of Nigeria’s return to a path of responsible economic management, capable of restoring the country’s standing in global finance.”
As Nigeria seeks to attract more private capital—both domestic and international—to power its development priorities, the improved ratings could become a useful lever in supporting long-term plans for economic diversification, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.
Backbone of positive ratings
The CBN recently took strategic step to enhance transparency and boost market confidence with the inauguration of the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Code (FX Code) in Abuja. The FX Code has so far ignited naira stability at both official and parallel markets.
Cardoso, recently launched the FX Code, emphasising integrity, fairness, transparency, and efficiency as critical pillars for driving Nigeria’s economic growth and stability.
He emphasized that the FX Code was built on six core principles: ethics, governance, execution, information sharing, risk management and compliance, as well as confirmation and settlement processes. These principles, he explained, aligned with international standards while addressing the unique challenges within Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.
According to Cardoso, “The FX Code represents a decisive step forward, setting clear and enforceable standards for ethical conduct, transparency, and good governance in our foreign exchange market. The era of opaque practices is over. The FX Code marks a new era of compliance and accountability. Under the CBN Act 2007 and BOFIA Act 2020, violations will be met with penalties and administrative actions.”
The CBN has stated that while every effort has been made to ensure that the FX Code comprehensively addresses various aspects of market conduct and practice, it is not intended to be exhaustive.
Governor Cardoso also noted that the journey towards market reform is already yielding results. He stated, “The year 2024 was marked by structural reforms that sought to return the naira to a freely determined market price and ease volatility as several distortions were removed from the market.”
CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso
TRIBUTE
Segun Adeniyi @ 60: The Nobility of Spirit and Moral Purpose
By Louis Odion, FNGE
For us, the sudden demise of General Sani Abacha in the early hours of June 8, 1998 (Monday) would seem a God-send that effectively cleared the cloud of dark foreboding that had begun to gather the previous day.
Sunday Concord’s front-page lead that weekend had screamed “How Useni and Gwarzo teleguide Parties.” A transparently suicidal gambit at an illiberal time when bullets and bombs were being liberally dispensed against dissents in Nigeria.
By conventional wisdom, when fear envelops the land, certain truths are supposed to be borne only in mind, not told or written in cold print. Those who had dared otherwise under bloodthirsty Abacha were either ended in premature graves, exile or the gulag.
But the Sunday Concord of June 7, 1998, chose to bait the roaring lion in its very den.
The offending story was based on an exclusive interview Segun Adeniyi and I conducted with M.D.Yusuf, the charismatic Fulani prince, who had emerged as one of the few men of iron courage still standing up against Abacha’s maniacal bid to shed his khaki uniform and transmute into a civilian president. It was facilitated by Yusuf’s media adviser, Comrade Abdul Okwechime (who unfortunately passed on last year).
Back in the 70s, as police Inspector General, Yusuf identified with Fela and reportedly spurned official prompting to use the police to harass the anti-establishment music icon. (Additionally, the media legend, Pa Peter Enahoro (Peter Pan), told this writer that Yusuf also once dared Obasanjo, as head of state, by releasing his elder brother, Chief Anthony Enahoro, from custody without clearance from the Commander-in-Chief on the conviction that the charges against the Adolo of Esanland were trumped up.)
Now by 1998, of the flourishing “five fingers of a leprous hand” (as inimitable Bola Ige caustically described the five registered parties), only Yusuf’s Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) was proving “recalcitrant” against Abacha’s self-perpetuation aspiration.
As Segun and I drove from the Yusuf’s Ikoyi hideout earlier that week in Segun’s jalopy Peugeot 504 car after the historic interview, our childlike excitement at securing “a world exclusive” was tempered by a new anxiety about whether our editor, Mr. Tunji Bello, would find the courage to run Yusuf’s fiery words ungarnished and in full.
At a time when virtually all the remaining politicians of note were either keeping a “strategic silence” in their respective bases or prostituting in Abuja with Abacha, Yusuf voiced what everyone was scared to say in that interview, taking the murderous regime apart. That the then FCT Minister, Major General Jeremiah Useni, and the National Security Adviser, Ismaila Gwarzo, were the ones dictating to the other four registered parties to adopt Abacha as the sole presidential candidate in a poll whose exact date was yet to be announced.
Of course, publishing such an uncomfortable truth when even Abacha’s own deputy, Oladipo Diya, and several other Generals were on the death row over an alleged coup plot, was like jumping into the lion’s den. Predictably, Abacha and his death squad were livid at Sunday Concord’s effrontery. As readers rushed to buy the copies at newsstands across the country that day, words soon reached us from usually reliable security sources, warning us to await a “reprisal.”
Then, suddenly, death preempted Abacha. For Segun, it was obviously yet another close shave with Abacha’s murder gang. A few months earlier, he was abducted in the dead of the night by armed operatives from the then most dreaded DMI (Director of Military
Intelligence) from his Surulere, Lagos home. They had scaled the fence, broken the window and whisked Segun away in his pyjamas.
His offence? His uncle, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, a wanted NADECO activist, had sent him a letter from exile. The courier was stopped at the land border, and the epistle wasEvenintercepted. more horrifying was Segun’s ordeal later at the DMI facility. Left in his nightie all day without food or water, it was already nightfall when the feared lord of the acclaimed torture house, Colonel Frank Omenka, directed the “guest” be brought before him. And there was a comical twist to this Stalinist character: an oversized tobacco pipe hung from a corner of his mouth, with bulging eyes peering menacingly over a pair of reading glasses perched precariously on the tip of his nose.
On that fateful day, Omenka did not forget the last rite of his accustomed torture tactics: pulling a loaded pistol and placing it on the table ominously before asking Segun the first question: “If you tell me a single lie today, I’ll just waste you right away.”
The foregoing incidents are recalled today not just to recognise Segun’s heroic role in Nigeria’s democratic journey in the 90s but also as a cautionary reminder to the tribe of overly overexcited online trolls, particularly those probably too young to understand the titanic battle fought to rid this country of military despotism before 1999. At some point in the not-too-distant past, some people put their lives on the line for the freedom of expression which many now sometimes abuse or take for granted.
Soon after Segun’s encounter with the DMI, Mr. Sam Omatseye, Sunday Concord’s deputy editor, was similarly flagged by Abacha’s goons at the Murtala International Airport in Lagos while trying to catch an international flight. Fortuitously, one of the assailants turned out to be a lover of Omatseye’swritings in Concord. He took pity on him. So, while others looked away, he smuggled his literary idol to the
aircraft’s door, beyond the reach of those assigned to capture him. That marked the beginning of Omatseye’s subsequent forced exile in the U.S.
Well, as is often the case, almost thirty years later, we are now celebrating Segun’s life at 60, while Omenka is enrolled irreversibly in the nation’s hall of shame. (In fact, the one-time Pharaoh of DMI reportedly bolted from Nigeria like a rat soon after Abacha died and was last seen in Brazil in a pathetic condition.)
In a tribute he personally signed on Segun’s birthday on November 6, President Tinubu aptly defined Segun’s journalism in the following words: “As a journalist and one of our nation’s most-read columnists, you have set the pace for disciplined conversations and informed commentary. You have also remained a significant voice and conscience of many Nigerians through your dispassionate treatises on developments in our nation.
“I commend your dexterity, brilliance, and knack for excellence, clearly evident in the many best-selling books you have authored. You are one of our nation’s prolific chroniclers, and the fourth estate of the realm is fortunate to have you as an esteemed member.”
Indeed, on a personal note, over the past three decades, life has brought me a circle of friends who have stuck closer than biological brothers. I count Segun among this special clan, who collectively offer me a warmth greater than the comfort otherwise provided by all the fabrics of the world, in good and bad times. It was a friendship sown by the Concord newspaper, which has grown into a kinship.
Under Mr. Bello as editor, the uncommon chemistry we both shared in Sunday Concord made everyone refer to us as “twin brothers”, despite the wide age difference. Omatseye found another mischievous alias for us, “Passion and Prose.”
The only province we both differed incontestably was “OPEC”. As a teetotaller, Segun never came close to or dabbled in
proceedings that went beyond the beverages meant for very young adolescents.
Comparatively, the 1990s were not the best time to work in Concord, as our publisher, the legendary MKO Abiola, was languishing in Abacha’s solitary confinement over the June 12 incident.
Aside from a most hazardous working climate then, pay was no longer regular, unlike the pre-June 12 days when Concord offered arguably the best salaries and working conditions in Nigeria’s media industry. But Segun, just like several other journalists, remained dedicated and loyal.
When he married in December 1998, for instance, I was his Best Man. Four years later, he was my Best Man, with Festus Keyamo as co-Best Man.
Like a protective elder brother, Segun was also my advocate in amatory affairs for years. He never gave up on me, despite my wandering eyes. Sometimes in 2000, in the year of the new millennium, when a quarrel broke out between me and my love interest at a time, he escorted me on “a peace mission” after the close of work to LUTH where the lady was a medical student at the time. It turned out to be an exercise in futility. (This was after his spirited attempt to match-make me with the Best Lady during his wedding in 1998 had ended as another failed project.)
At THISDAY, I was also the deputy to Segun variously as editor of the Saturday and Sunday newspapers between 2000 and 2002. His column comes out on Thursday on the back page, while mine used to appear onBeforeFridays.our paths crossed at Sunday Concord in 1996, Segun started his career at The Guardian six years earlier. Later, he was head-hunted by African Concord to serve as its Abuja bureau chief after which he was “snatched” by Mr. Bello to be part of his “dream team” that recalibrated the Sunday title as an unapologetically politically charged tabloid to confront Abacha head on, beginning from November 17, 1995 when the military de-proscribed Concord, Punch and The Guardian after 16-month closure.
Segun only “decamped” to THISDAY in January 1999, understandably as a newly married man deserving some stability to fully discharge his responsibilities as the “de facto and the de jure political/economic head” of a young family. He only briefly left THISDAY in 2007 to work as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the then newly inaugurated President Umaru Yar’Adua. He returned to his first love — journalism — after the man died in office on May 5, 2010.
President Tinubu’s depiction of Segun’s language as accessible also reflects his humanity. A team-player par excellence. The modesty of his taste perhaps logically explains his distaste — if not contempt — for materialism and its exhibition. At the approach of his 60th, he literally bolted from Nigeria with his wife (Tosin) on a Caribbean cruise, to stave off possible pressure to stage an Owambe. Yet, despite his near ascetic values, Segun is a man incapable of saying no to anyone, even if it means parting with his last kobo. To save him from donating himself into bankruptcy, the family has succeeded in ensuring he does not operate internet banking, fearing that he would empty his bank account to freeloaders or solicitors of the proverbial “urgent 2k”.
A man of strong Christian faith, I can also attest that Segun is incapable of hate or malice or keeping any secret. Outside journalism and writing, his life is devoted entirely to charity work. Aside from providing mentorship to various youth bodies, he, alongside his wife (Tosin), has run an NGO named the Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI), which provides succour to the needy in Abuja for several years. Here is wishing Segun, my durable “countryman”, a happy 60th birthday.
Adeniyi
STATE OF INCLUSIVE INSTANT PAYMENT SYSTEMS...
R-L: Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director/CEO, NIBSS; Henry F. Saamoi, Executive Governor, Central Bank of Liberia; Clara B. Arthur, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Interbank Payment & Settlement System (GhIPSS); Dr. Robert Ochola, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Nenda Foundation; and Sabine Mensah, Deputy CEO, Africa Nenda Foundation, at the State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (SIIPS) 2025 Report Launch held at Ezulwini, Eswatini, last Friday
Stakeholders Canvass Resource Optimisation to Break Cycle of Poverty in Nigeria, Africa
Obasanjo’s wife urges govt to create, enforce inclusive policies Obi says Nigeria should turn Trump’s ‘disgraced country’ slur to advantage
Stakeholders have urged Nigeria and other African countries to appropriately harness and channel their enormous human and natural endowments in order to break the debilitating poverty cycle that has held the country and continent down for too long.
The call was made weekend by various speakers, including wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo; renowned Kenyan scholar, Prof. P.L.O Lumumba; former presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi; and Global Board Chairman, Africa International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AICCI),
Dr. Wallace Williams, among other leaders from Nigeria and Ghana.
They converged in Abuja for the second The Paul Alaje (TPA) Colloquium, titled, “Breaking the Cycle: How Nigeria Can Lead Africa from Poverty to Prosperity.”Lumumba, who joined the colloquium virtually, noted that
Africa’s greatness was tied to Nigeria’s, and urged the country to rise to the challenge.
He said: “At different fora within and outside Nigeria, I have said ad nauseum, that the day Nigeria wakes up, that’s the day Africa will stand up. Out of every five Africans, one is a Nigerian. Nigeria has a population of approximately
Tinubu Canvasses Realistic Funding Model for Nigerian Varsities
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday called for a sustainable and realistic funding model for Nigeria’s university system, warning the country’s development goals will remain elusive unless tertiary institutions reposition themselves as hubs of innovation, knowledge creation and national progress.
Tinubu, represented by the Executive Secretary of the National University Commis- sion (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, while speaking at the 77th Foundation Day ceremony of the University
of Ibadan, which took place at the International Conference Centre of the institution, lauded the institution for sustaining its reputation as Nigeria’s premier university and for its contributions to scholarship and national development.
He said he considered it “an honour” to join the university in celebrating what he described as “a powerful milestone” in its long history of excellence, growth and transformation.
“University of Ibadan is a force to reckon with in the global realm. Through years of
steadfastness and commitment, it has continued to maintain its position as the first and the best in Nigeria”, he said.
Tinubu acknowledged the deep-rooted challenges confronting the country’s higher education sector, particularly inadequate funding, noting that these issues undermine Nigeria’s ability to compete globally.
He commended university unions for drawing public and government attention to the funding crisis.
“I assure you the challenges are surmountable if we put all hands-on deck,” Tinubu said.
Akpomudje Crowned 14th Ohworode of Ancient Olomu Kingdom
Sylvester Idowu in Warri
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Vice Chairman Body of Benchers, Albert Akpomudje, was over the weekend crowned Alaka-Eyanwien 1, the 14th Ohworode of ancient Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The coronation which
coincided with the monarch’s birthday, took place at Otorere, the ancestral headquarters of the kingdom, before the ceremony moved to his palace at Akperhe-Olomu for a grand reception.
Dignitaries who witnessed the historic event included Delta Central’s Senator Ede Dafinone serving and retired Judges, as well as members
of the Nigerian Bar Association such as Chief Thompson Okpoko (SAN), Chief (Dr.) Charles Edosomwan, (SAN), the Obasuyi of Benin Kingdom, Mr. Charles Ajuyah (SAN), Kunle Edun (SAN), former Attorney General and Commis- sioner for Justice, former Delta State Chief Judge and Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka.
He explained his admin- istration has worked to minminimise issues linked to unimplemented agreements with university workers and reiterated government’s commitment to quality education.
He also appreciated the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions for the “level of understanding shown so far” as solutions are pursued collaboratively.
250 million people.
“If you travel to any part of the world - whether you are in the United States of America, Canada, Brazil, in Australia, in Europe, and in different parts of Africa - Nigeria has doctors, engineers, scientists, teachers, traders and other professionals. They are involved in every area.”
But he argued that what Nigeria needed was to efficiently galvanise its huge human asset and natural resource endowments to leapfrog poverty to prosperity which ultimately will rub off positively on the entire African continent.
He lamented that leadership failure had affected Nigeria in the march towards greatness.
Also speaking, Mrs. Bola Alice Obasanjo, a gender advocate, argued that if Nigeria must lead Africa from poverty to prosperity, authorities must look beyond the nation’s natural resources and harness its human resource, particularly women.
She regretted that although women constitute up to half of
Nigeria’s population, and are major drivers of the informal economy, they remain underrepresented in leadership, underpaid for their labour, and undervalued in decisionmaking.
She said: “In Nigeria, empowering women is not simply a matter of fairness; it is a strategic necessity. A bird cannot fly with one wing, and any development that leaves women behind is not development at all.
“If Nigeria must break the cycle of poverty and lead Africa toward prosperity, women must be at the heart of that transformation.
“Yet, beyond representation, empowerment must reach the grassroots. Rural women who grow our food, trade in our markets, and raise our children remain among the poorest and least supported.
“Without addressing their needs in agriculture, healthcare, and education, our national prosperity will remain incomplete.”
The federal government has officially opened the application portal for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), a groundbreaking national initiative aimed at transforming student-driven ideas into commercially viable, high-impact ventures.
The S-VCG forms a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda and is designed to cultivate a new generation of Nigerian innovation entrepre- neurs capable of redefining
the nation’s economic future.
In a statement on Monday, signed by the Director of Press, Folasade Boriowo, speaking at the announcement, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, underscored the national importance of the initiative.
“The President has challenged us to look for the next Moonshot within our tertiary institutions. We are not just looking for projects; we are scouting for future Nigerian Unicorns whose roots will be planted right here in our
universities and colleges. This is an equity-free seed investment in Nigeria’s future,” he stated.
At the heart of the S-VCG is the mandate to ignite and support student-driven innovation by funding ventures that address real-world challenges with clear potential for scale and commercialisation.
The scheme offers up to ₦50 million in equity-free grants to student founders with innovations in STEMM fields Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences.
Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
YOBE STATE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT TRAINING...
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Manpower Development, Yobe State, Alhaji Abbass Isah Bizi; Yobe State Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Shehu; representing the State Governor, Focal Person on Training and Succession Planning, Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Bulama Yusuf, both receiving Award of Excellence on behalf of their State Governor from the Director General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Dr. Funke Femi Adepoju, during the opening ceremony of the Capacity Development Programme for 150 Civil Servants of Yobe State, at ASCON Topo Badagry Lagos……recently
Drawcok Issues Stern Warning as Court Blocks GTBank, Others from Selling Nestoil Towers
Wale Igbintade
Drawcok Estate Limited has issued a strong public warning over unlawful attempts to sell, lease or take possession of the iconic Nestoil Towers in Victoria Island, Lagos, despite multiple subsisting court orders restricting any such dealings.
In a detailed public notice released in Lagos, the company alerted potential buyers, investors, financial institutions and members of the public that the property located at 41/42 Akin Adesola Street and 60 Saka Tinubu Street, popularly known as Nestoil Towers, is the subject of ongoing litigation at both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Drawcok, the legal owner of the property, said it was compelled to issue the notice following recent “misleading and unlawful” representations by individuals allegedly
acting for Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and others.
Though widely known as Nestoil Towers due to branding arrangements with its first tenant, Drawcok emphasised the entire legal title, above and beneath the land, belongs exclusively to the company and not to Nestoil Limited or any bank.
Central to the dispute is Suit No. FHC/L/ CS/1812/2024, in which the Federal High Court issued a binding order restraining GTBank, its agents and assigns from transferring, leasing, selling, mortgaging, or otherwise dealing with the multi-storey commercial complex pending the determination of the case.
Drawcok stressed the order remains in force and has not been set aside or vacated by any court.
The company further revealed that several appeals, CA/LAG/PRE/ROA/
CV/66M1/25; CA/LAG/ PRE/ROA/CV/66M2/25; and CA/LAG/PRE/ROA/ CV/161M1/25, are currently pending at the Court of Appeal, underscoring the
complexity and ongoing nature of the litigation.
According to the notice, persons claiming to act under the authority of GTBank’s lead counsel in the subsisting
case have been approaching third parties, suggesting that they hold the mandate to sell or lease the high-rise building.Drawcok dismissed these
representations as false, misleading and legally unenforceable, insisting that no party is permitted to transact on the property in view of the court’s restraining order.
WHO Demands Stakeholders’ Commitment on Funding for Cervical Cancer Elimination
Says routine HPV vaccination ongoing in 32 African countries Gavi: HPV vaccine has raised $ 2.32 billion in economic benefits
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in Africa will require sustained commitment, financing and coordination, from governments, partners, communities and individuals alike.
It said that 32 member states in Africa have introduced HPV vaccination into their national
PTDF‑UDUS Collaboration Equips 30 Scholars with Next‑Gen Oil‑and‑Gas Tools
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has launched a three-day capacity-building workshop at Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS), aimed at equipping Nigerian schol- ars with cutting-edge tools for sustainable oil and gas operations.
The event, held at the university’s Center for Advancement of Science Research and Analytical
Services (CASRAS), is a joint effort between PTDF, the PTDF Professorial Chair in Petroleum Chemistry, and UDUS. PTDF’s General Manager for Research and Innovation, Mr. Olay- inka Agboola, represented by Dr. Neeka Jacob, said the programme underscores the Fund’s two-decade commitment to endowment, grant and scholarly research across Nigerian institutions.
“Over the years we have supported research that has led to patents and inventions ready for commercial deploy-
ment,” Agboola said. “These innovations are expected to be scaled up to solve real-world problems, create jobs and lift living standards.”
He added the workshop is part of a broader strategy to foster joint research and com- mercialisation in sustainable oil and gas, renewable energy, energy efficiency and security.
“Equipping scholars with the right knowledge, tools and discipline is essential if we are to responsibly harness our oil and gas potential,” he stressed.
immunization plans, reaching nearly half of all eligible girls.
Similarly, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance said HPV vaccine programme has generated US$ 2.32 billion in economic benefits across 43 lowerincome countries since 2014.
It said the push to extend access to the HPV vaccine to lower-income countries has reached its target ahead of schedule – helping protect an estimated 86 million girls in the world’s highest-risk countries from cervical cancer, and preventing an estimated 1.4 million future deaths.
In a message to mark
the World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, 2025, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, urged countries to invest more on vaccination, screening and treatment – and to place women’s health and rights at the centre of universal health coverage.
According to Dr. Janabi, “Eliminating cervical can- cer will demand sustained commitment, financing and coordination, from governments, partners, communities and individuals alike.
“I call on all Member States to accelerate national action
under the three pillars of the Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination – vaccination, screening and treatment – and to place women’s health and rights at the centre of universal health coverage
“Together, we can make elimination a reality, securing a future where every woman in Africa, wherever she lives, has access to the protection, care and dignity she deserves.” Janabi said that cervical cancer remained one of the most common and deadly cancers among women in Africa and yet is also one of the most preventable.
18 Nigerians Selected for Vocational Training in Germany
Sunday Ehigiator
18 young Nigerians have been selected to participate in a pilot vocational training program in Germany aimed at addressing the country’s shortage of skilled workers in the hospitality sector. The selected candidates were unveiled in Lagos yesterday, after passing a rigorous selection process under the African Skills
4 Germany (AS4G) initiative. The program, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and facilitated by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Giessen-Friedberg, seeks to provide young Nigerians with vocational and cultural training before deployment to Germany next summer.
Speaking to journalists, the German Consul General in Lagos, Daniel Krull, said the initiative reflects Germany’s commitment to expanding vocational training partnerships with Nigeria.
He highlighted the synergy between Germany’s ageing population and Nigeria’s youthful workforce as a key driver of the program.
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
Renowned Veteran Journalist, Dan Agbese, Dies at 81
Respected Nigerian journalist and one of the founding editors of Newswatch Magazine, Dan Agbese, is dead, marking the loss of a significant and towering figure in Nigeria’s media history. Agbese was instrumental to the establishment of Newswatch in 1984 alongside other journal-
ists, including Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, and Yakubu Mohammed. The magazine, which launched its first issue on January 28, 1985, became known for its bold, investigative reporting. Throughout his career, Agbese was celebrated for his insight and integrity. In 2019, then-President Muhammadu Buhari publicly honoured him on his 75th birthday, applauding
his contributions to journalism and nationalism.
Described as a man whose calm intellect and steady craftsmanship shaped decades of public conversation, Agbese was born in 1944 in Agila, Benue State, growing into a writer whose clarity of thought and disciplined prose made him a reference point for journalists across generations.
He studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos and later earned a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York, grounding his practice in both local awareness and globalBeforestandards. his name became synonymous with Newswatch, he had already earned a reputation as a serious newsroom
Nigeria’s Political Leaders Should De-emphasise Religion, Ethnic Considerations in Governance
Nigeria’s political leaders have been charged to place less emphasis on religion and ethnicity consideration in the implementation of their governance policies and programmes as a means to enthrone peace, progress and cohesion in the country.
In addition, the political leaders were admonished to also accommodate all Nigerians in their decision- making process.
At a one-day symposium themed: “Peace and Security Question- Agenda Setting for
A new Nigeria,” participants submitted that deemphasizing religion, ethnicity and tribalism would engender rapid social and political growth of the country.
The symposium was organ- ised by the office of the Niger State Inter Tribal Relations, and the International Peace Foundation to engage critical stakeholders in Peace Building and Security Management in a Democratic Setting.
The forum held at the Haske Luxury Hotel Minna attracted the leadership of all the ethnic nationalities in the state, representatives of the
Police, Civil Defence, the Nigerian Army and some voluntary
theSuccessiveorganisations.speakers believedmajor cause of insecurity in most parts of the country “is mutual suspicion and lack of trust and confidence in each other” especially by the leaderships of the ethnic groups which then perme- ates to their members and followers.
Special Adviser to the Niger State Governor on Inter Tribal Relations, Chief George Dike, noted that, “until such a time when political leaders view the people as one and carry
Federal High Court Begins
ChristmasVacation December 19
The Federal High Court (FHC) in Nigeria, will from December 19, 2025, proceed on this year’s Christmas vacation.
According to a statement by the Director of Information, FHC, Abuja, Mrs. Catherine Oby Christopher, the court will resume normal
court sittings in all Judicial Divisions of the country on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The vacation schedule, she noted is issued pursuant to Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended).
The statement read “The Federal High Court hereby issues notice of its 2025
Christmas Vacation as well as the approved Roster of Vacation Judges.
“In accordance with a circular duly signed by the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, the Court will commence its Christmas Vacation for the year 2025 on Friday December 19, 2025.
them along in the day-to-day administration peace and unity will continue to elude theChargingcountry”.state governors to emulate Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago by appointing those often referred to as non-indigenes into their cabinet, Chief Dike said such stand would ensure the people contribute wholeheartedly to the development of the states and the country.
professional. He edited The Nigeria Standard, later took charge at the New Nigerian, and ran Radio Benue as general manager.
But it was in 1984, when he joined Giwa, Ekpu and Mo- hammed to found Newswatch magazine, that his work took a defining turn. The magazine became a bold, reformist voice in a country struggling through military rule, and Agbese was part of the team that brought investigative rigour into weekly journalism.
Over the years, he served as managing editor, deputy editor-in-chief, and eventually editor-in-chief, leaving a clear imprint on the magazine’s tone, which was largely measured, probing, and never sensational.
Beyond the newsroom, he was an accomplished writer with a distinctly dry wit and an instinct for quiet satire. His columns were direct without being harsh, reflective without drifting into abstraction. Over time, they became lessons in how to speak truth with restraint.
He also wrote several books aimed at strengthening the profession—manuals on reporting, style and column writing that many younger journalists still turn to. In these works, he showed the same discipline he demonstrated in the newsroom: a concern for precision, for respect for readers, and for the craft of writingAgbeseitself.continued writing long after his formal career in the newsroom ended, staying engaged with national issues with the same disciplined voice he had honed for decades. His later years were marked by mentorship, commentary, and a continued defence of professional standards. He leaves behind his wife, children and grandchildren.
Sokoto Launches Massive Oral Cholera Vaccine Drive to Shield
650,000 Residents from a Liling Threat
assessment that flagged the two LGAs as recurring hotspots.
In a swift response to a fresh surge of cholera cases, Sokoto State, backed by UNICEF, has rolled out an ambitious Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign aimed at protecting 650,000 people aged one year and above across two high-risk local government areas of Dange Shuni and Goronyo.
The decision to deploy OCV follows a rapid epidemiological
“The recent confirmed cholera cases left us with no choice but to act decisively,” said Dr. faruk Umar Abubakar, State Commissioner for Health.
“We chose the oral vaccine because it is safe, needle-free and stimulates the gut immunity where cholera infection begins.”
Within the first four days, vaccinators have already reached 79 % of the target, a figure officials attribute to
strong community acceptance. The campaign’s early suc- cess has been most visible in schools and Quranic learning centres, where enthusiasm for the painless, drink-based vaccine is palpable.
At Malam Adamu’s Quranic School in the Kanwuri area of Dange Shuni, more than 200 pupils lined up for the dose, while Sahabi Denge Model Pri- mary School reported an eager turnout from its 1,300-strong student body.
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto
Laleye Dipo in Minna
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja and Sunday Ehigiator in Lagos
Late Dan Agbese
InAugurAtIOn Of thE IbADAn CEntrAL buS tErmInAL...
L R: Managing Director, Planet Projects, Mr. Biodun Otunola; former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde during the official inauguration of the Ibadan Central Bus Terminal Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State … recently
IMPROVING MIGRATION MANAGEMENT...
the end of the NIS-IOM strategic meeting held in Lagos…recently
Tinubu: Impact of Our Govt’s Reforms
Measurable, Demonstrable and Progressive
Seeks a continent where borders facilitate opportunities rather and not inhibit them Says fragmented markets threaten efficiency
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, declared that the economic impact of his administration’s reforms was “measurable, demonstrable, and progressively accelerating”.
Tinubu emphasised Nigeria’s resolve to work towards building an Africa where borders
mended the judiciary’s steadfastness and fearless interventions over the years, even at critical moments in the country’s history.
He said, “Whenever Nigeria has faced moments of uncertainty, history has recorded that the judiciary stood firm as the stabilising force of our national life.
“It is through the courage of judges and their judicial pronouncements that tyranny has been restrained, constitutional order preserved, and the voice of justice amplified above the noise of division or“Fordespair.this enduring role, I extend, on behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, our deepest gratitude and abiding respect.”
On modernisation of the judiciary, the president said, “We will continue to support the National Judicial Institute (NJI) as the leading hub for judicial education, comparative study, and professional devel- opment. Continuous learning and intellectual renewal must remain the hallmark of our Bench.
“The law evolves daily, and so, too, must those who interpret and apply it. We must
would be efficient enough to facilitate trade and other economic opportunities, instead of hindering them. He implored African nations to be disciplined in working towards building borders that met the high demands and rapid pace of contemporary technological advancement, saying fragmented markets
ensure that our judges are not only equipped to interpret law in contemporary times but also empowered to shape it in ac- cordance with constitutional values.”
He said, “The modernisation of judicial infrastructure remains a central priority. Technology is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. The digitisation of court processes, the adoption of integrated case management systems, and the provision of secure and reliable judicial facilities will receive sustained attention from this administration.
“A digital, transparent judiciary will not only improve efficiency but will also deepen accountability and public trust. We should not leave any of our courts behind in this transformation.”
The president urged par- ticipants to be rigorous and courageous in addressing the challenges facing the judiciary.
Earlier, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudi- rat Kekere-Ekun, expressed gratitude to the president for his commitment to the cause of justice in the country.
Kekere-Ekun said, “We deeply appreciate your abiding commitment to the
threaten border efficiency.
Speaking in Abuja while declaring open the “Customs Pact – Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade”, the president expressed delight to be a part of the event, which brought together partners and leaders from across the continent. He said it demonstrated the collective resolve to discard
cause of justice in our dear nation. Today, we gathered not merely to reflect on our responsibility as custodians of justice but to take a decisive step towards a judiciary that embodies integrity, resilience, and unwavering public confidence.
“The temple of justice trembles where justice is denied. We must be a symbol of incorruptible honour.
“This conference, convened by the National Judicial Insti- tute for judicial officers, is not just a tradition of necessity; it provides an invaluable platform for retrospection, collaboration, and the adoption of strategic resolutions that propel our judiciary forward.
“Here our judges engage meaningfully with one another, strengthen institutional ethics, and reaffirm the enduring commitment to dispense justice with precision, fairness and accessibility.”
Former and serving Chief Justices of Nigeria, retired and serving Presidents of the Court of Appeal, Justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, Heads of Courts, and Judges across the country attended the biennial conference.
the old habit of accepting slow borders as destiny.
Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said while nations existed to complement one another, size, resources, and talent were inconsequential if they were trapped behind inefficient borders and fragmented markets.
He said, “We adopted the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System to boost intra-African trade, and we prioritised non-oil export growth across key sectors.”
Echoing the impact of his
government’s reforms, Tinubu stated, “These reforms reinforce one another, creating a coherent foundation for stronger continental commerce and competitiveness. Each decision was a step towards a Nigeria that trades with confidence and an Africa that negotiates from a position of strength.
“We believe that our institutions have been deliberately aligned into a unified trade-enablement architecture, dismantling the traditional silos that once separated agencies.”
He explained, “The Nigeria Customs Service now advances
digital clearance systems and risk-based inspections.
“The Nigerian Ports Authority drives port efficiency. The Central Bank enables local-currency settlements through PAPSS. The Standards Organisation harmonises product standards with continental frameworks. NEPC and NEXIM Bank strengthen export readiness and provide targeted financing.
“This coordinated, integrated institutional approach is essen- tial for successful continental integration, for no single agency can deliver the scale of reform required for Africa’s prosperity.”
Obasanjo, Fayose Clash Again Over Birthday Remarks
James Sowole in Abeokuta
A fresh political spat has erupted between former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose following the latter’s 65th birthday celebration in Ibadan, Oyo State, last Saturday.
The feud was reportedly triggered by remarks Obasanjo made during the event, which Fayose described as “irresponsible” and insulting.
Though Obasanjo attended the celebration, Fayose claimed the former President demeaned him publicly, prompting Fayose to send a personal Short Message Service (SMS) to express his displeasure.
Obasanjo, however, publicly revealed Fayose’s
message while responding through a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi.
In the SMS, Fayose accused Obasanjo of being in a “heightened stage of dementia” and criticised him for making comments that were “so low” and unworthy of his age.
Fayose wrote: “Dear Baba Obasanjo, I trust this meets you well. Your coming to my birthday party, I appreciate, except for your very irresponsible comments at your age. You went so low, but I am not surprised because someone once said you are supposed to be kept away in the zoo. Sincerely, that’s where you belonged.
“I kept quiet at the func- tion so that the world will know the difference between a sane and a mad man that
you are. It is also obvious that you have lost your sanity—or should I say it is the heightened stage of dementia. Not to worry, Baba, I shall set the records straight in due course.
“Lastly, I shall appreciate if you return my money since you publicly admitted you received it but Dangote brought it back. Your leopard will never change his skin.”
In his response, the former president, who described Fayose’s note as an uncomplimentary “thank-you” wrote, “Ayo, thanks for your ‘Thank You’ message, which undisguisedly revealed who and what you are: unchanged and unchangeable. Your money has been sent back through Foluso Adeagbo, who brought it, in the same bag as he brought it, unopened by me. Obj.”
Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap (sitting left); Country Chief, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Ms. Sharon Dimanche (sitting right); and other senior management staff of NIS & IOM (standing), during the signing of the communique on key priority areas for partnership at
T I nubu: Publ I c Perce PTI on of Ju DI c IA r Y n o T fAvour A ble, Ju D ge S Mu ST S H un c orru PTI on
WALK IN SUPPORT OF UNDERPRIVILEGED ELDERLY PERSONS...
PDP Factions Announce Meetings for Today as Makarfi Quits as Party’s BoT Secretary
A clash is imminent within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as factions of both the new executive led by Kabiru Turaki and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have scheduled separate meetings at the party secretariat today.
This was as a former gover- nor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, has stepped down as Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of PDP, citing the need to uphold the party’s zoning principle.
However, the faction loyal
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed that the state’s security apparatus swing into immediate action to ensure the abducted students are released unharmed.
“Residents should remain calm and go about their busi- ness while the government and security agencies address the situation,” he said.
The minister also extended his condolences to the family of the late Vice Principal and to all families affected by the attack.
“I pray to Allah to grant him mercy, a peaceful resting place, and to console his family and loved ones over this painful and unjust loss.”
Kebbi Governor Appeals for Prayers
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, appealed for sustained prayers following a fresh wave of bandit attacks in the state.
Idris expressed concern over the increasing attacks by bandits, whom he said were crossing from neighbouring states and countries to carry out attacks in Kebbi villages.
He reassured the public of his administration’s commitment to finding a lasting solution
to Wike has summoned an emergency meeting of the party’s BoT and the National Executive Committee for today, November 18, 2025.
According to the notices, both meetings are scheduled to take place at the NEC Hall of the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
The notice indicated that the Board of Trustees meeting would commence at 11:00 a.m., followed by the NEC meeting at 2:00 p.m. It further stressed that “attendance is very important as crucial matters will be discussed and addressed.”
In the same vein, the newly elected Kabiru Turaki said his
to the security challenges, and providing logistics and financial support to security agencies.
The governor had hosted several conferences and summits with critical stakeholders in the country’s security system, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and former Chiefs of Army Staff, General Christopher Musa and Lieuten- ant General Abdulrahaman Danbazau.
He had also provided logistics support, including 100 Hilux vehicles and 5,000 motorcycles, to security agencies in the state.
Idris visited the affected communities and urged citizens to keep the abducted students in their prayers, saying, “Bandits continue to threaten the safety and future of our children. I appeal to all Nigerians to stand with us as we pursue justice and security for every corner of Kebbi.”
Ambassador Opposes Negotiating with Terrorists
A security and intelligence expert, retired Ambassador Ejike Eze, urged governments and stakeholders to reject any
faction would hold an inaugural meeting also at the same party secretariat by 10 am It was for this reason that Turaki requested police protec- tion for himself and members of his NWC ahead of their inaugural meeting.
Turaki made the request during a visit to the FCT Police Command in Garki, Abuja, citing a conflicting notice of a National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting allegedly issued by former National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu. Turaki described the notice as an attempt to cause confusion, noting that it was slated for the
form of dialogue with terror- ist groups, describing such negotiations as a dangerous precedent that can encourage further attacks.
Eze, who was the APC senatorial candidate for Enugu North Senatorial District in the 2023 general election, stressed that any administration that negotiated with terrorists “negotiates away its own legitimacy”.
In an open letter to the government, Eze said, “We must shun negotiations with terrorists, worst of all, the kind of negotiation that pardons some groups while taking a hard line on others.”
He stated that the blood of citizens murdered on their farms, raped, or displaced from their communities cried out forEzejustice.said, “Trump’s threat must be for us the catalyst— not the substitute— for our resolve as a nation. The blood of our citizens murdered on their farms, raped, or displaced from their places cries out.
“We must shun negotiations with terrorists, worst of all the negotiation that pardons some groups and takes it hard on the
same date, time and venue.
Speaking to journalists after meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Turaki said he was prepared to confront anyone attempting to disrupt Tuesday’s meeting.
“We came to interface with the FCT Commissioner of Police regarding our planned inaugural NWC meeting. We have invited our stakeholders, founding fathers, governors, National Assembly members, BoT members, state chairmen and other critical stakeholders,” he said.
He added that those issuing the parallel meeting notice were no longer members of
other. Leadership that negotiates with terrorists negotiates away its own legitimacy.”
He said the Nigerian people demanded action, not press statements.
ISWAP Claims Execution of Brig.Gen Mohammed Uba
After Borno Ambush
In a related development, insurgents from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) admitted to killing Brigadier- General Mohammed Uba.
The terrorists had ambushed a Nigerian military convoy, led by Uba, in Damboa area of Borno State on November 15, killing two soldiers and two Civilian Joint Task Force members.
But the Nigerian Army had since maintained that Uba escaped unharmed and returned to base, dismissing reports of his capture.
ISWAP countered with a statement asserting that they captured and executed Uba, releasing unverified photos.
However, security experts labelled their evidence as potential propaganda amid conflicting online narratives.
the party, recalling that their expulsion was ratified at the recent National Convention in Ibadan.
“Our National Convention has taken a decision to expel these elements, and that decision overrides any taken by any organ of the party. We have reported their moves to the police because we do not want any breach of peace,” Turaki said.
Reaffirming the NWC’s readiness to take control of the party’s assets, Turaki disclosed that the inaugural meeting would hold at the Wadata Plaza headquarters.
“We are holding the meeting at our National Secretariat. Anyone sitting there without our consent is an interloper. We haven’t asked the police to lock up our offices. We will go there, have the offices opened and perform the functions for which we were elected,” he declared.
Reacting, Anyanwu said his group wrote a letter to the
FCT Commissioner of Police on Sunday asking for Police protection, explaining that was why the Turaki group did the same‘’Wething. will hold our NEC and BoT meetings as scheduled,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Makarfi, in his resignation letter dated November 17 and addressed to the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said his decision became necessary following the emergence of the new National Chairman of the party, Kabiru Turaki who, like him, hailed from the North-west.
Makarfi recalled that the latest development followed an earlier attempt to vacate the position about two months ago, when he tendered his resignation on the PDP BoT WhatsApp platform. The move, according to him, was put on hold after Wabara and other BoT leaders persuaded him to remain in office pending the conclusion of the party’s national convention.
Christian Genocide: NIPR Demands Collective Action to Defend Nigeria’s Story
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), FCT Chapter, has called for a united national front to counter negative global narratives portraying Nigeria in distorted light, including what it described as misleading international depictions of conflict-related stories.
The Institute said correcting these damaging portrayals was a responsibility Nigerians must shoulder together, not one that would be left to the government alone to handle
Speaking in Abuja, yesterday, during a press briefing to unveil activities marking the chapter’s
35th anniversary, Chairman of the NIPR FCT Chapter, Stanley Ogadigo, warned that Nigeria’s image would continue to suffer if citizens failed to engage actively in shaping the country’s global reputation.
The United States President Donald Trump in October, designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing alleged genocide and severe persecution of Christians.
The move intensified global scrutiny of Nigeria’s religiousconflict narratives, prompting renewed calls from stakeholders for the country to take control of its own story and counter misleading portrayals.
L-R: First Lady, Ogun State, and Patron, JBS Elderly Care Foundation Africa, HE Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun; Member, Board of Trustees, JBS, Mrs. Ajoke Silva; Founder, JBS, Dr. Olutoyin Akande Ajala; and Member, Board of Trustees, JBS, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, during the sponsored walk in support of underprivileged elderly persons in Lagos…recently
Chuks Okocha in Abuja and John Shiklam in Kaduna
FG: Arme D Force S , In T ell IG ence A G enc
Osun 2026: APC Stakeholders Call for Disqualification of Omisore
yinka Kolawole in osogbo
Stakeholders and some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC),have called for the disqualification of Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, a governorship aspirant of the party, for the 2026 gubernatorial election.
In a petition sighted by our correspondent, which was dated Saturday, 14th
November, 2025 and addressed to the Osun APC Igbimo Agba (Elders’ Council), APC Osogbo, Osun signed by five individuals requesting a thorough investigation into serious allegations, controversies and unresolved questions surrounding the political and administrative conduct of Otunba Iyiola Omisore, particularly in view of his current governorship
Information Minister Applauds ARCON DG
Raheem akingbolu
Two years after the reappointment of Dr. Lekan Fadolapo as Director General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria(ARCON), the supervising minister of the agency and Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that the leadership provided by Fadolapo is the best thing that has happened to advertising growth and development in Nigeria. Speaking at the official
opening ceremony of the 5th National Advertising Conference 2025 in Abuja, the minister showered encomiums on the DG, describing him as a leader with exceptional work ethic and tenacity rarely seen among professionals of his generation.
Mallam Idris commended Dr. Fadolapo’s dynamic leadership and vision in institutionalising the conference as an annual flagship event for Nigeria’s marketing communications industry.
nomination within the party.
The five individuals are: Alex Eluwole (Ife Central), Victor Ade Siyanbola (Ife Area Office Modakeke), Cornelius Ogundiran ( Obokun), Chief George Adelaja (Oriade), Hon. Tiamiyu Ololade (Odo Otin) and Dr Mudasiru Oriola (Ejigbo).
The petition is titled, “Petition for a full investigation into the Eligibility, Conduct and recent history of Otunba Iyiola Omisore in relation to the APC Governorship nomination.”
The petition reads:” We the undersigned stakeholders and committed members of APC, respectfully submit this petition requesting a thorough investigation into serious allegations, controversies and unresolved questions surrounding the political and administrative conduct of Otunba Iyiola Omisore, particularly in view of his current governorship nomination within the party.”
A cleric, Prophet Moses Aladeolu has called on Christians in Nigeria and across the world to exercise restraint and leave vengeance to God in the face of alleged persecution and mass killings of Christians in the country.
Aladeolu, who is the Founder of the Christ Apostolic Church, Ori Oke Aanu, Ojoo, Ibadan, while speaking against the backdrop of alleged Christian genocide in the country, described the claim as “a sad reflection of the spiritual and moral decay of humanity,” warning that such situations, if true,
represents an existential threat to Christianity and peace in Nigeria.
The cleric, who also serves as the Patron of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ojo Branch, appealed for restraint, stressing that vengeance belongs to God alone.
He said: “As Christians, we must remember that
vengeance is not ours. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.”
“We are called to respond with prayer, not violence.” He noted that the response of Christians to persecution should always be guided by faith and forgiveness, not anger or retaliation.
Nigeria Leads Africa as NIP Attains Top Payment Maturity Rating
Nume Ekeghe
Nigeria has reaffirmed its leadership in Africa’s fastevolving digital payments landscape as the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) Instant Payment (NIP) platform was named the continent’s first system
to reach the ‘Mature’ tier on AfricaNenda’s IPS Inclusivity Spectrum.
The recognition announced at the State of Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (SIIPS) Africa 2025 Report Launch in Ezulwini, Eswatini positions Nigeria as the highest-ranked market on
the continent for inclusive, secure and interoperable real-time payments.
The three-day conference convened about 200 delegates, including centralbank governors, global IPS operators, fintech executives, regulators and media leaders, who examined policy tools
and technological innovations shaping Africa’s digital public infrastructure. Discussions were anchored around inclusive IPS design, system resilience, participation by non-bank institutions, and the strategic transition from access to measurable socioeconomic impact.
W I ke A n D O TH er M ATT er S
Wike’s problem is that he became delusional. He thought he could buy everybody and buy the party and dictate the future direction of the party. He ended up quarrelling with every Chairman of the party who refused to do his bidding or tried to show some independence: Uche Secondus (acting Chairman, 2015 -2016); Ali Modu Sheriff (2016), Ahmed Makarfi (Acting) – (2017); Uche Secondus (2017 – 2021); Iyorchia Ayu (2021 – 2023); Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum (2023 – 2025). He overreached himself in the 2023 Presidential elections when he tried to dictate who should be the Presidential candidate of the party, he personally zoned the position to the South and put himself up as the right candidate or at best a Vice Presidential candidate. He said he was fighting on the basis of principle but it turned out that he was more interested in his own ambition. He has since become an APC/Tinubu agent in the PDP.
He has practically turned Rivers state, a PDP state into an APC state, the Governor - Sim Fubara - is so battered and bruised, after a sixmonth suspension, that nobody hears from him these days. Wike has tried to do the same at the national level in the PDP. He has promised chaos and confusion if his commands are not obeyed. He shunned the reconciliation meetings led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu and declared that the PDP must not have a convention but set up a Caretaker Committee and that for the 2027 Presidential election, the PDP must not choose a Presidential candidate. The response from the party, from the same party leaders who used to
troop to Port Harcourt to pay homage to him was his expulsion from the party in Ibadan. The Convention, the highest decision-making body of the party, claims that the party’s Constitution frowns at indiscipline. But why now? Why is the party just waking up? And were the expelled persons allowed to defend themselves as the
party’s Constitution stipulates? Wike will fight back. His own faction will probably expel the same people who expelled him and others. He has a contract with the APC: to return Tinubu to power by frustrating the PDP from within. He will not give up easily. How did one man become so powerful in a political party in
Nigeria? Not even Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mallam Aminu Kano, or Mallam Waziri Ibrahim exercise such absolute powers!
It is Nigeria’s democracy that suffers in the long run. After 26 years, Nigeria’s democracy can no longer be described as nascent, or putative. It is long enough a period for our democracy to grow. But the big problem that we face is the threat of the emergence of a certain, curious, one-party state – the APC state. Only the other day in Plateau state, APC Chieftains received politicians defecting to the APC. This was against the background of farmers-herders clashes, unresolved killings on the Plateau and elsewhere, and America’s campaign against Nigeria. It is almost certain that the Tinubu for 2027 project has been sealed and delivered, but after that what next? Every democracy needs a robust opposition. Being in the opposition does not mean being anti-government: it simply means allowing a multiplicity of views, divergent and varied to thrive. This is what we need in Nigeria. In countries where totalitarianism or authoritarianism has been imposed on the people, such countries ended up with jeremiads and a crisis of national stability. We live in perilous times as the international community has seen in Nepal, Morocco, Mexico and even here in Nigeria, Winning or retaining power for its sake and by all means is not good enough. There is always the morning after. Ensuring national stability through a collective sense of ownership and belonging is more important.
Atiku Expresses Sadness as Terrorists Confirm Execution of Captured Military General
Ex-VP blames failure of political leadership over incident Says Tinubu only interested in decimation of opposition parties Advises president to resign if he cannot secure Nigeria Nigerian military mum on alleged murder of top officer
Emmanuel Addeh and Linus Aleke in Abuja
Former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, yesterday blamed the failure of Nigeria’s political
leadership for the capture and murder of a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Military, Musa Uba.
Atiku, in a statement posted on his X handle, stressed that
President Bola Tinubu was only interested in decimating the opposition political parties, instead of focusing on degrading the capacity of the terrorists.
The development came as
militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) said on Monday they had executed the senior Nigerian army officer captured during a deadly ambush on a military
COP 30: Ministers Urge Decisive Action on Methane Emissions, Warn of Gaps
Say implementation will prevent over 180,000 premature deaths annually by 2030
The Global Methane Status Report, launched yesterday on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, has shown that while considerable progress has been made since the launch of the Global Methane Pledge in 2021, more work is required to align with the level of ambition and action needed to meet the Pledge.
Produced by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Global Methane Status Report provides a comprehensive assessment of progress and remaining gaps in efforts to cut methane - a potent greenhouse gas responsible for nearly a third of current warming. Launched at COP26 the Global Methane Pledge (GMP), co-convened by Canada and the European Union, now
includes 159 countries and the European Commission, committed to cutting global methane emissions at least 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030, a goal aligned with keeping 1.5°C within reach while improving health, food security, and economies.
The report showed that although methane emissions are still rising, projected 2030 emissions under current legislation are already lower than earlier forecasts due to a mix of national policies, sectoral regulations, and market shifts. However, the report warned that only full-scale implementa- tion of proven and available control measures will close the gap to the Global Methane Pledge’s target of a 30 per cent cut from 2020 levels by 2030.
Urging decisive methane action to deliver the Global Methane Pledge, ministers attending the Global Methane
Pledge, stressed that the policies, technologies, and partnerships needed to meet the target are available but require rapid scaleup across the energy, agriculture, and waste sectors. Ministers also called for increased transparency from countries on ambition and action to track progress.
“The Global Methane Status Report offers the clearest picture yet of progress since the Pledge was launched, finding that:
Emissions are rising, but the outlook is improving: Global methane emissions are still increasing, but new waste regulations in Europe and North America and slower growth in natural gas markets between 2020 and 2024 have lowered current projected levels and are expected to reduce further by 2030 under current legislation compared with 2021 forecasts,” the statement added.
convoy, in what would mark an unprecedented escalation in the 16-year insurgency.
The convoy, led by Uba of the 25 Task Force Brigade, was returning from a patrol near Wajiroko village in northeastern Borno state late on Friday when it came under sustained gunfire, the army said. Four military personnel were confirmed killed.
A Reuters report stated that the army spokesperson did not immediately respond to its request for comment, but noted that an earlier statement denied reports that Uba had been abducted, describing them as “fake news” and urging the public to disregard unverified claims circulating online.
However, in a statement posted on its Amaq propaganda channel, ISWAP claimed responsibility for the ambush and said it had executed the
army officer identified as a brigade commander following an interrogation. Reuters said it could not independently verify the claim.
Borno state remains the epicentre of Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP. Despite military offensives, insurgents have repeatedly overrun army bases and communities this year, retreating only after reinforcements arrived. A recent surge in attacks has raised concerns over the safety of frontline troops and the effectiveness of counter-insurgency operations in the region.
But in the statement, Atiku stressed that General Musa’s death along with the deaths of some of the troops he was leading, was one death too many and a bold terrorist resurgence that the country cannot afford.
Nigerian Students on FG’s Sponsorship Abroad Seek Tinubu’s Intervention over Unpaid Allowances
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja
Scores of Nigerian students being sponsored abroad by the Federal government under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), and their parents on Monday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu
to intervene, and save them from harrowing experiences in foreign countries due to the non-payment of their allowances.
The protesting students and parents besieged the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Finance in protest
over the non-payment of allowances to the scholars for about 11 months.
The protesters scholars arrived the main gate of the ministry around 10am, bearing placards with various inscriptions, and chanting solidarity songs, while demanding urgent intervention by the federal government.
The BEA is a fully-funded initiative which allows Nige- rian students to study abroad in partner countries such as Russia, China, Hungary, and Morocco.
Turaki
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
mASS in mEmoRy of oGEAh’S pAREnTS...
The Ogeah
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TUESDAY
of their departed parents,
Dr
WITH REUBEN ABATI
PDP Crisis and National Stability
The crisis in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) came to a head over the weekend that just passed, November 15 -16 when a group of PDP elders, they refuse to be called a faction but that is what they look like, decided against the background of fierce legal battles, to hold the party’s elective conference in Ibadan, Oyo State. They were hosted by Governor Seyi Makinde, the PDP Governor of Oyo State. The build up to that convention was marked by battles in the Federal High Court and the Oyo state High Court with the judges in both courts cancelling each other out. On Friday, Nov. 14, to be specific, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court at about 8.30 am had ordered a suspension of the PDP Convention. Before him, Justice James Omotoso also of the Federal High Court had given a similar order. By 2. 30 pm on Nov. 14, the same day, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court gave a different ruling to the effect that the Convention should go ahead, and that INEC should oversee the elections at the convention.
Under the Electoral Act 2022, Section 84 (14), the jurisdiction for determining party conventions rests with the Federal High Courts. Where Courts within the same hierarchical order give the same orders, it is trite law that the latest in time prevails. By some display of cleverness, forum shopping and mischief, the faction of the PDP that gathered in Ibadan thus outsmarted the Wike faction for the want of a better label. They insist therefore that the PDP convention in Ibadan was validly conducted, and it stands. They point to the fact that the absence of INEC electoral observers was immaterial, not a required condition for the legitimacy of the exercise. Section 82 (1) of the Electoral Act states that a political party– “shall give the Commission at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting…” which the organisers of the Ibadan convention insist that they complied with. In Section 82(2) of the same may Act, INEC “may, with or without prior notice to the political party attend and observe any convention, congress, conference or meeting which is convened by a political party…” In other words, the absence of INEC observers at the Ibadan PDP Convention did not render the event invalid.
The major development at the Convention was the emergence of a new National Working Committee, with Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (KT) SAN, from Kebbi State, and former Minister of Special
Duties in the Jonathan administration elected as new Chairman of the party and Chairman of NEC., and Chairman of the Convention along with other new officials of the party. A total of 3, 131 delegates registered for the Convention, both statutory and elected. About 2, 745 were in attendance. Delegates from Taraba arrived after accreditation had been completed and voting had commenced so they could not vote. There were no delegates from Sokoto (Senator Aminu Tambuwal’s state) and Jigawa state (where former Governor Sule Lamido hails from) and just a handful of anti-Wike delegates from Rivers State. The Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara stayed away, the PDP Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke was represented by his Deputy. But the high point of the convention was when a voice vote was taken to expel 11 chieftains of the party on the grounds of indiscipline and anti-party activities. They include former Governor of Rivers State now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayo Fayose, and nine others who are well-known Wike loyalists in the party. The resolution was proposed by Chief Olabode George, a founding father of the party, and a would-be octogenarian (he turns 80 on November 21). He is also a former Wike ally. The proposal was put to a voice vote - a those who say Aye, and those who say Nay chorus and of course in Nigeria, the Ayes always have it, the organisers often likely to be selectively deaf. The expulsion of Wike and 10 others marked a turning point for
the PDP. It is also ironic that Wike, who is the major factor in that process was expelled under the watch of persons who were once his close associates in the lead up to the 2023 general election – the G5 Governors who betrayed Atiku Abubakar and the PDP - Seyi Makinde was a member of that group, Prof Jerry Gana too in the Integrity Group while Chief Bode George was a member of the Integrity Group also led by Chief Wike. Both groups have since imploded, with the point writ large that indeed in politics, there are no permanent friends. Politics is a shifting landscape of loyalties and disloyalties.
The Ibadan PDP convention was prefaced by courtroom dramas in Abuja and Ibadan. It will only get worse. Going forward, we may well witness more PDP-related cases in court, but also banditry, insurgency and full-blown terrorism among the ranks. The organisers of the Ibadan Convention insist that they have done nothing wrong. They rely on extant Supreme Court rulings in Jegede &Anor v. INEC & Ors; Nenadi Usman & Anor vs. Labour Party & Anor; Onuoha v, Okafor; Waziri v. PDP; Ufomba v. INEC; Dalhatu v. Turaki; and Anyanwu v. Emmanuel that the courts cannot interfere in the internal affairs of a political party. But the caveat here is that the same Supreme Court has ruled severally that where the political party violates its own rules, or behaves as it likes, the courts would interfere (see Agi v. PDP, PDP & Anor v. Lawal & Anor, Uzodinnma v, Izunaso; Peretu v. Gariga, APC vs. Moses) to defend fundamental human rights and the rule of law. In Section 82 (3), the Electoral Act further stresses that the affairs of a political party “shall be conducted in a democratic manner and allowing for all members of the party or duly elected delegates to vote in support of a candidate of their choice.”
The main grouse of Alhaji Sule Lamido is that he was excluded from getting a nomination form for the Chairmanship of the party, whereas the Ibadan faction insists that Lamido requested for the form after the deadline for the submission of applications had closed! Lamido can still force the legal issues and drag the matter all the way to the Supreme Court well aware that only the Supreme Court can reaffirm or reverse itself. The other field of battle is the expulsion of Wike and others. Wike and his allies have dismissed this as a joke – a case of “Detty December in November”. Wike has the support of the Governor of Adamawa State Governor –Adamu Fintiri,
incidentally the Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee who apparently was kept in the dark and was wrong-footed with the resolution on Wike and 10 others. The PDP Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang also disagrees with Wike’s expulsion. Dr. Agbu Kefas, Governor of Taraba State has announced that he is leaving the PDP on Wednesday, to pursue his personal ambition. Is it possible that the Taraba delegates to Ibadan deliberately arrived late because their Governor had his own plans? Apart from Wike, former Governor Ayo Fayose will certainly not like the 65thbirthday gift that he got from the PDP, on a day that others were celebrating him. To be humiliated on one’s birthday is the equivalent of a mortal sin. Fayose may well roar back as the likes of Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature, Mao Ohunabunwa, Chief Dan Orbih, George Turner, Adeyemi Ajibade SAN are also likely to. Senator Gabriel Suswam once warned that the PDP was already in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and that the then proposed Ibadan Convention would make or mar the party. His prediction has come to pass. Suswam probably has some local fortune tellers in his family line whose DNA he inherited. The party is on its way to the mortuary. The same party that was once touted as the largest political party in Africa, is now in urgent need of the Lazarus effect!
The principal undertaker is Minister Nyesom Wike, the one-leg-in-one-leg-out, chief fifth columnist in the PDP, the master of amphibious politics, neither PDP nor APC who is the main subject of the implosion of the PDP. Wike must be given some credit and some flak as well, with the conclusion that he had the current comeuppance coming. In fairness to him, when the PDP imploded in 2014 ahead of the 2015 Presidential election, with principal members of the party including Alhaji Sule Lamido, who stayed behind and worked against the party, and is now in the current film, also Senator Bukola Saraki, who exited the party in 2014, to work against it, to form the new PDP which fused into the APC. Wike stood firm. He not only stayed in the party; he funded it with Rivers State resources.
Other PDP Governors at the time were lukewarm. While Buhari’s APC was in power, party leaders trooped to Port Harcourt to collect hand-outs from Wike. He received them, fed them and gave them envelopes, brown and white.
PDP National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki
Family of Asaba celebrated
mass
memory
Ogbueshi
Francis and Mrs Titilola Ogeah (nee Fadipe). Seated from right to left:Ogbueshi Chike Ogeah, HRM, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Chibogu Epiphany Azinge SAN, CON, Dr Ngozi Onyia (nee Ogeah) and Mrs Ada Akpata (nee Ogeah) on Saturday
