Category: News

Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, made this known in a statement, noting that the legislations reflect Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance, equitable progress, and Nigeria’s emergence as a global powerhouse.

“By signing into law the establishment of the South-West and South-South Development Commissions, President Tinubu has reaffirmed his role as a transformational leader who prioritizes regional empowerment, economic expansion, and infrastructural excellence.

“Building on the foundation of his earlier assent to the South-East and South-West Development Commissions, it is evident that President Tinubu is deliberate in bringing development across all regions,” he said.

Lado said the commissions would serve as catalysts for industrial growth, job creation, and social advancement—ensuring that every corner of Nigeria benefits from his administration’s progressive vision.

He added that Nigeria’s Anti-Doping Bill, 2025, solidified Nigeria’s commitment to fairness, excellence, and integrity in global sports.

“By domesticating the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sports, his administration has safeguarded the future of Nigerian sports, protecting our athletes from unfair practices while reinforcing our global reputation as a country that upholds integrity,” the presidential aide said. Channels TV

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has expressed worry over the practice of law in Nigeria and lamented the downturn in the adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession.

She noted that strict adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession was not only dwindling but facing serious challenges.

The CJN stated this on Wednesday at the public presentation of the report of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee held at the Body of Benchers’ Complex in Abuja, Nigeria’s political capital.

To address the trend, Justice Kekere-Ekun canvassed an urgent need for law practitioners to recommit themselves to the fundamental values of ethics, discipline, and professional responsibility.

The CJN also recommended enforcement of professional discipline among legal practitioners, through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), which must be pursued with fairness, transparency, and unwavering resolve.

She said, “It is instructive to note that the Body of Benchers as the apex institution of the legal profession in Nigeria is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in this regard.

“The responsibility of upholding the legal profession’s sanctity rests heavily on its shoulders, and I have no doubt that the body will continue to rise to the occasion.

“The enforcement of professional discipline among legal practitioners, through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), is a vital function that must be pursued with fairness, transparency, and unwavering resolve.”

The CJN, who chaired the inaugural edition of the Body of Benchers annual lecture and the public presentation of the Body of Benchers Law Report, applauded the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and the entire members of the body for their foresight and dedication in initiating the lecture.

She said that the lecture was not only a testament to the progressive evolution of the body but also a much-needed platform for intellectual engagement, practical discourse, and introspective reflections on the role of the Body of Benchers within the legal profession in Nigeria.

According to the chief justice, the lecture initiative was conceived as an annual event to serve multiple purposes, including illuminating the workings of the Body of Benchers both nationally and internationally to foster greater understanding
of its critical role in legal practice and professional discipline; providing a forum for robust, critical, and well-researched discussions on the successes.

The CJN added further that the lecture would address the challenges and prospects of the body, evaluating the ethical standards of the legal profession in Nigeria to ensure the highest levels of discipline, integrity, and professional responsibility among lawyers; presenting a forward-looking agenda for strengthening the legal profession while enhancing public confidence in the judiciary and legal practice.

She requested that the initiative be sustained and expanded and should not only serve as an avenue for reflection and discourse but also as a mechanism for setting clear benchmarks for professional ethics, continuous legal education, and justice sector reforms.

The maiden edition of the annual lecture has its theme as: ‘Half-A-Century of the Body of Benchers: The Past, The Present, and The Future of Maintaining the Ethics of the Legal Profession in Nigeria’. Channels TV

The appellate court also stayed actions previously delivered against the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

In a unanimous ruling delivered by a three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, the court upheld the withdrawal of the application filed by the Kano State Government after the transmission of the record of appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Kano State Government had reinstated Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. The same law validated the removal of Aminu Ado Bayero as the 15th Emir, along with four first-class emirs appointed by the former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Meanwhile, on Friday, March 14, 2025, Justice Okon Abang in a ruling ordered a stay of execution of the Appeal Court’s earlier judgment validating the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The judge also ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum as well as the sheriff of the court and trial court, preserving the position as it was before the trial court’s decision delivered on 13 June 2024.

Dissatisfied with Justice Abang’s ruling, the respondents faulted the ruling, describing it as a gross misinterpretation of constitutional provisions, noting that an appeal had already been filed at the apex court.

Responding to the notice of application, counsel for the appellant, Abdul Fagge (SAN), who did not oppose the notice, told the court that the respondents acted within constitutional provisions.

At the resumed hearing on the enforcement of its earlier orders, counsel to the Kano State Government, Ibrahim Wangida, informed the court of a notice of appeal filed against a stay of execution order issued on Friday, 14 March 2025.

Wangida stated that all necessary legal actions had been completed, including the transmission of the record to the Supreme Court.

The transmission of the record of appeal to the Supreme Court, by implication and as established by judicial precedent, operates as a stay of any action on the ruling of the Court of Appeal of March 14, 2025.

Upon his submission, the court ordered parties to exercise caution pending the hearing of their appeals before the Supreme Court. Channels TV

Garba, a politician, businesswoman and administrator, represented Adamawa North Senatorial District in the Senate from 2015 to 2019 and served in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2011, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Spokesman, said in a statement.

The other members of the Governing Council are: Prof. Joseph Sanya, Mr Efe Emefienin Emmanuel, Dr Joyce Ogunyemi and Alhaji Dahiru Ruma.

The Principal Officers appointed for the university are Prof. James Aribisala as Vice-Chancellor; Mr Oluwole Dada as Registrar; Mrs Adeniyi Ajayi as Bursar; and Prof. Isaac Busayo as Librarian.

President Tinubu acknowledged the commendable efforts of Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader, in advocating the establishment of the new university in Iyin Ekiti.

He encouraged the appointees to leverage their extensive leadership experience and commitment to steer the university toward academic excellence, innovative research and development.

The new university will admit its first cohort of students in September.

In addition, President Tinubu has appointed Prof. Muhammed Audu as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue.

Audu succeeds Ohieku Salami. He is an academic and administrator with vast experience in Nigeria’s university system.

“A professor of Mathematics at the University of Jos, he previously served as Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, where he led transformative initiatives that enhanced academic and infrastructural development,” said the statement.

(NAN)

Ibas, in a statement on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, announced the appointment of Professor Ibibia Lucky Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG).

He stated that Worika’s appointment followed careful consideration of his credentials, extensive experience, and performance during rigorous selection process.

The sole administrator stressed that the appointment reflects the administration’s commitment to harnessing the great human capital of the Rivers’ people to work with him to achieve the much-needed peace, stability and security.

In another development, Vice Admiral Ibas announced the resignation of the state’s Head of Service, Dr. George Nweke.

Ibas expressed sadness over Nweke’s resignation while appreciating the former Head of Service for his immense contributions to the administration in the state within the short period he served.

While wishing him well in his future endeavours, the sole administrator announced the appointment of the Permanent Secretary, Welfare in the Office of the Head of Service, Dr. Mrs. Iyingi Brown as the acting Head of Service.

He congratulated Dr Brown on her appointment and assured the people of the state of his commitment to neutrality, peace and stability. Leadership

The new allowance, which was raised from N33,000 to N77,000 in September 2024, has not yet been implemented despite previous assurances.

The increase in allowance has faced several delays, leaving corps members uncertain about when they will receive the new amount.

However, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, confirmed that the government will pay the backlog.

Olawande assured that serving corps members, as well as those who were part of the scheme when the announcement was made, will receive the backdated payments.

Olawande noted the government’s commitment to paying the delayed allowance but explained that the process would take time.

“The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate but it will happen,” he said during the interview.

Reports inform that Olawande’s statement follows similar comments from the Director General of NYSC, Olakunle Nafiu, who had recently told corps members to expect the payment in March.

Olawande clarified that the delay in the allowance payment stemmed from budgetary issues.

“I’ve explained this several times. Some people said, I always say ‘It is a process. It is a process.’ But it’s seriously a process. It’s a government line,” the minister stated.

He further noted that the increase was not initially included in the budget when the president announced it, and therefore required budgetary allocation before it could be paid.

“Before anybody can approve anything, you must have a budgetary allocation for it. But the budgetary allocation has been done now. We are done with the process and it has been approved,” Olawande said.

NYSC members eager for implementation of new allowance 

The increase in the NYSC allowance was initially met with excitement by corps members, as the government’s decision aligned with the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.

However, after several months of waiting, the delay has caused frustration among those serving and those who were part of the program when the announcement was made in September 2024.

Despite the long wait, the Federal Government’s recent assurances offer some hope that the issue will soon be resolved and corps members will begin receiving the new allowance as promised. Nairametrics

Seven out of the twelve escaped prison inmates of Koton Karfe Correctional Service in Kogi State have been rearrested.

The Acting Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service, Sly Nwakuche disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday at the Koton Karfe Correctional Service in Kogi State.

Nwakuche regretted that one of the officers of the correctional service was killed by the escaped prison inmates.

He vowed that the remaining escapees will be apprehended.

The Acting Controller called on the public to provide security agencies with all the needed information that will lead to the arrest of all the escaped inmates.

Recall that twelve inmates escaped from the Federal Correctional Center in Konton-Karfe in the early hours of Monday.

An officer with the Correctional Center confirmed that one of the escapees have been rearrested and providing valuable information to law enforcement agents.

Meanwhile, the Kogi State Government has vowed to work with security agencies to uncover the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak. Leadership

Kogi State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, described the incident as “unfortunate” and assured citizens that the government, working with security agencies, would take steps to prevent a recurrence.

According to him, law enforcement agencies have re-arrested one of the escapees.

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.

“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” Fanwo said.

The commissioner said Governor Usman Ododo has asked security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.

“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority,” Fanwo added. Channels TV