The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • UITH health workers protest unpaid salaries

    UITH health workers protest unpaid salaries

    University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) yesterday protested  the stoppage of their salaries by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

    The health workers’ peaceful protest was also over their unmet demands by the Federal Government.

    The workers embarked on the protest after holding  an emergency congress at the union’s secretariat within the hospital’s complex .

    The health workers had embarked on an indefinite strike since  November 14, last year, forcing the government to invoke the “no work, no pay” order.

    Chairman of JOHESU at the UITH, Mr Oyelowo Olufemi, accused the Federal Government of insensitivity to their plight.

    Read Also: US suspends immigrant visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

    He said the government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the union since 2009, which indicates that the two salary structures of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) would receive due adjustment and recognition.

    He, however, lamented that the Federal Government reneged on the pledge to accord the same importance to CONHESS.

    He explained that the government has adjusted the CONMESS for the physicians thrice – 2014, 2017 and 2018 – while refusing to do the same for CONHESS.

    “That is the backbone of the strike actions. We are demanding that the government adjust CONHESS also.

    “We are appealing to the Federal Government to wade in and see what is going on in the Ministry of Health. They should do what is right for the health sector,” he added.

  • Tension in Delta community over suspected herdsmen attacks

    Tension in Delta community over suspected herdsmen attacks

    Tension is rising in Umeh, a riverine community in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, following allegations of attacks by herdsmen on residents and travellers.

    A community leader and lawyer, Akpovienehe Duncan Afahakor, raised the alarm yesterday in a post on the Facebook platform, Umeh Need Road, warning that the situation was fast deteriorating.

    In the post titled, “Umeh under attack,” Afahakor alleged that herdsmen had taken over farmlands and were attacking road users.

    “No one truly understands the intentions of the group. They have occupied the Umeh bushes, preventing our people from accessing their farms. Beyond this, they emerge from the bush to attack motorcycle riders along the Umeh bridge. Just two days ago, without any provocation, one of our youths was shot in the leg multiple times,” he wrote.

    According to him, the development has crippled farming in the agrarian community.

    Read Also: BREAKING: AFCON 2025: Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties to book final date with Senegal

    “As a result, we can no longer go to our farms to tend to our pepper, cassava, and plantain crops. The attacks have now extended to the road, and if urgent help does not arrive, there is real fear that the violence could spread into the community itself,” the post added.

    Umeh, which gained access by road during the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan following sustained advocacy on the platform, is mostly dependent on farming and riverine trade.

    The Isoko South Local Government Chairman ‘s Chief Press Secretary, Michael Akpodhoma said he would communicate its action on the matter by today.

    However, the state Police Command said it had not received any report of the alleged attack.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, told The Nation: “We don’t have that report.”

    Residents are calling for urgent intervention by the state government and security agencies to prevent further escalation.

  • Two killed as tanker collides with motorcycle in Lagos

    Two killed as tanker collides with motorcycle in Lagos

    Tragedy struck at Pokia Junction, inward Araga, on the Epe-Ijebu Road, Epe, Lagos, yesterday when an empty Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker collided with a commercial motorcycle, resulting in the death of the rider and his passenger.

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident, stating that the tanker driver had been arrested and was in police custody.

    According to the agency spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, preliminary investigations showed that the motorcyclist, carrying a male passenger, was riding against traffic on a prohibited one-way route when the tanker, reportedly moving at high speed, collided with the motorcycle.

    The impact proved fatal, resulting in the death of the rider and passenger.

    LASTMA operatives responded promptly, securing the scene, cordoning off the area to prevent secondary accidents, and notifying relevant authorities including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The tanker was later removed to restore traffic flow, and the remains of the deceased, along with the tanker driver, were handed over to the Noforija Police Division for further investigation.

    Read Also: ‘Why Nigerians will re-elect Tinubu in 2027’

    The Special Adviser to the governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, described the incident as a “sorrowful reminder of the deadly consequences of traffic violations.”

    He urged commercial motorcyclists and road users to adhere to traffic regulations, warning against dangerous practices such as riding against one-way traffic and competing recklessly with larger vehicles.

    “This unfortunate loss of lives was entirely avoidable. Had the motorcyclist remained within his lawful lane and observed a moderate speed, this fatal incident would not have occurred,” Giwa stated.

    He further reiterated the state government’s commitment to enforcing traffic regulations and protecting lives on the roads.

    LASTMA urged motorists to view traffic laws as life-saving measures rather than punitive rules, emphasising that compliance is essential for safety and orderly movement on roads.

  • Another face of armed robbery

    Another face of armed robbery

    It’s bad enough that police extortion of innocent citizens is no news in the country; however, the experience of a Lagos-based plumber, Nifemi Oyerinde, who fell victim to gun-wielding extortionist officers, takes the issue to a disturbing new level.

    Oyerinde narrated his ordeal: “I was on an Uber ride when they stopped the vehicle while the driver was turning onto CMD Road by Otedola Bridge. They told me to come down and took me to where their vehicle was parked. They opened my bag and checked everything. There was nothing inside apart from my clothes, charger and perfume.

    “They collected my phone and asked me to call someone to verify that I’m a plumber.”

    He soon realised that identity verification was merely a pretext; the officers were intent on extortion, and his actual identity was irrelevant. According to Oyerinde, the person he called – his boss – confirmed his profession to the officers, stating he is a plumber and “not into fraud.”

    That wasn’t enough to secure his release, as the officers had other plans.  “They said I should bring N1m or they would take me to the station,” Oyerinde said. It is a common threat used by rogue officers; the “station” is wielded as a weapon for blackmail rather than a place of justice, implying a more permanent and dangerous detention.

    Read Also: US suspends immigrant visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

    He described a grim scene of bargaining for his liberty: “I told them I don’t have such money. They later reduced the amount to N300,000 and eventually demanded N70,000 after prolonged negotiations.”

     It was finally time to pay for his freedom. “After I transferred the N70,000 from my second phone – because of the gun they were holding – they gave me back my phone and even followed me to the car before letting me go,” he recalled.

    There was a clear threat of violence, underscoring that he didn’t pay because he was guilty, but because he was effectively at gunpoint.

    Notably, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Taofeek Adekunle, issued a statement condemning the officers. He demanded their immediate identification, a refund of the extorted N70,000, and the prosecution of all those responsible.

    Interestingly, the state command spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed she was aware of the incident, stating: “The Complaint Response Unit is handling the matter.”

    The police must respond without delay; gunpoint extortion by police officers is, in reality, nothing less than armed robbery.

  • Rage therapy

    Rage therapy

    Apeople can grow weary of hope without knowing it. They begin to speak carelessly of fire and joke with the lexicon of extinction. They summon ruin as if it were a cleansing rain and call it banter.

    Somewhere between disappointment and rage, the tongue learns to flirt with death. And a nation, like the human body, begins to rehearse its own burial long before the blunt spade touches earth.

    Nigeria is doing this as you read. We have got the funeral habit. Some have called it disillusionment. But all I see is a civilisational failure; animal instinct overtaking everything human.

    Long before borders are breached and institutions collapse, ethics get rotten. Nigeria will not fall because our enemies are strong, it will fall because we desire our own unmaking. Too many citizens ignorantly suppose that implosion will give them relief. Like it did in Nepal? Or Bangladesh perhaps.

    History is pitiless on this point. When a people start invoking violence against themselves deploying death as a casual metaphor;  when civil war is romanticised with the bravado of anarchists who have never smelled a mass grave, external predators take note. Empires have always listened for this sound—the clang of an unlatched door.

    International law has become worthless as nuclear-armed states now act less like guardians of order and more like impatient gods, striking first and justifying later. “Might is right” gets validated with news features and hashtags.

    The United States, in particular, has demonstrated, through rhetoric and precedent, that it reserves the right to interpret reality however it pleases, and to act unilaterally when it suits its interests.

    Last year, the American President Donald Trump threatened to invade Nigeria ‘guns-a-blazing’ to protect Christians from genocide. Of course, he made good his threat though in coordination with local authorities. That incident revealed how easily Nigeria could be fabricated as a moral emergency requiring foreign “intervention.”

    Whether managed diplomatically or not, the undertone is unmistakable: Nigeria’s ability to prevent external force depends less on sovereignty than on the goodwill of those with superior firepower. Had cooperation been refused, who doubts that the bombs would still have fallen?

    This is the New World Order; one in which any nuclear-armed nation can storm an African country on the flimsiest pretext. Leaderships can be deposed and presidents abducted and prosecuted abroad like common criminals. Borders can be redrawn under threat of violence, all in the name of “security,” “humanitarian intervention,” or some other sanctified lie.

    Nigeria is not immune. No African country is. Imagine, for a moment, what Nigerians casually threaten themselves with when they speak longingly of collapse: terrorism escalating beyond containment and major cities falling under siege as the courts and constitution become irrelevant.

    Imagine if the anarchists have their day: neighbours will hack each other to death as rage forges prejudices into weapons. At breaking point, the corrupt leaders over whom many bicker and fight, online and offline, will not remain to share the consequences. They will flee to safe houses abroad. They will not queue for refugee status in Chad, Ghana or Niger. That will be the fate of over 200 million Nigerians.

    We shall remain the negligible indices in a state of war. Guns will seek out our lost boys and carnage will school them faster than any classroom ever could. People who once shared fences, marriages, and jokes will hunt each other to death. Old friendships will split like overripe fruit as many learn to think with the machete and speak with bullets.

    Nigerians will hound and hack to death, people with whom they used to be next door neighbours, in-laws and “best friends  simply because they are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani. Women will pay first. They always do. Rape will become a tool of terror and domination. Many will watch their mothers and wives, daughters and sisters become “comfort women” and voiceless courtesans to, at least, four or five soldiers or revolutionaries at a go.

     And when they are delivered of pregnancies that no man will take charge of, we shall name the poor, ‘regrettable’ fruits of their shame: Okwuoeimose (War is ugly), Okwoeinata (Not to be told), Okwoba (Red is the colour of war), Enitaiyeko (The one whom the world rejects), Enitan (Child of intrigue); Aiyeteminimowa (I have come to live my own life); Ogunbayoje (War has destroyed our joy) and so on. An entire generation will learn grief before it learns to walk.

    Millions of citizens will be reduced to mere statistics, blurred news footage and “developing situations.” Nigerians will embody the kind of suffering that must be hidden until it becomes too grotesque to ignore. Reason will evaporate and morality will be repurposed as a weapon. Every atrocity will be justified in the name of God, patriotism, tribe, or profit.

    Streets will rot with bodies and human innards will litter our sidewalks like discarded orange peels. Our journalists and poets will be hunted for showing the world the septic underbelly of our rage. Plantations will become mass graves and aid will arrive too late – only after the right images have been captured and the foreign weapons contractors have made profit.

    Through the sadism of it all, we shall accomplish the separation we love to talk about. The Igbo may have Biafra; the Hausa may have their Emirate; the Yoruba, Oodua Republic; and the South-south, Niger-Delta Republic. Every tribe shall have its nirvana; yet, in those hazarded homelands, the same old brutes will rule and the same greed will scorch the fertile soil. Violence does not cure itself by changing flags.

    This is how nations die. Rwanda taught the world this in 1994, when nearly a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered in a hundred days. Later, the horror was repackaged into award-winning films like Hotel Rwanda (2004), viewed safely in distant cinemas. The carnage became narrative and the trauma nourished art.

    Read Also: BREAKING: AFCON 2025: Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties to book final date with Senegal

    If Nigeria implodes, there will be big budget movies. The same powers that nudged, armed, or watched will fly in actors and film crews. Oscars will be won and performative tears will be shed on the stage. Our dead will be immortalised by people who goaded them into mass graves – all for a profit.

    This is the obscenity Nigerians flirt with when they summon destruction in anger. The ingredients for implosion are already abundant: ethnic bigotry, religious absolutism, greed dressed as grievance, and a reflexive “us versus them” mentality.

    Nigerians are skilled at inventing enemies, especially when disappointment needs a face. Elections, football matches, private quarrels—everything becomes a battlefield of blame and identity. The literate and semi-literate alike now traffic in incitement, mistaking virality for truth and cruelty for courage.

    They imagine they will be spared when Nigeria burns to a rubble. They forget that the matchstick is indifferent to which house it burns. Those who inflame will be consumed and those who cheer will choke on fumes. There is no safe corner in a country on fire.

    Our differences must be resolved through dialogue. Not the selective kind that flatters tribe, but the hard memory of what war actually does to ordinary bodies. Then we must learn restraint; the discipline to refuse dehumanising language even when angry.

    Grievances must be pacified, not armed. Nigeria won’t thrive by toxic taunts or a resort to aggression. Violence begets death and destruction. To summon death upon our country is to invite strangers to nourish on its corpse.

  • BREAKING: AFCON 2025: Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties to book final date with Senegal

    BREAKING: AFCON 2025: Morocco beat Nigeria on penalties to book final date with Senegal

    Hosts Morocco sealed their place in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after edging Nigeria 4–2 in a dramatic penalty shootout in the semi-finals.

    The high-stakes encounter ended level after regulation time, with both sides locked in a tense and physical battle that produced few clear-cut chances. Nigeria pressed aggressively in search of a breakthrough, while Morocco remained composed, drawing strength from a vocal home crowd to stay in contention.

    Read Also: US suspends immigrant visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

    With neither team able to find a decisive goal, the match was settled from the penalty spot. Morocco showed greater composure, converting four penalties, while Nigeria missed twice to hand the hosts a crucial advantage and send them into the final.

    The shootout victory sets up a blockbuster final between Morocco and Senegal, who earlier secured their place in the showpiece match by defeating Egypt in the other semi-final.

    Nigeria, meanwhile, will face Egypt in the third-place playoff as both sides look to finish the tournament on a high after falling short of the final.

  • EFL Cup semi-final: Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-2 to take first-leg advantage

    EFL Cup semi-final: Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-2 to take first-leg advantage

    Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez made errors that contributed to two of Arsenal’s three goals in a dramatic Carabao Cup semi-final first leg – but Alejandro Garnacho scored twice to keep Chelsea in the tie.

    Sanchez failed to claim Declan Rice’s corner, allowing Ben White to head in Arsenal’s seventh-minute opener from close range – and the goalkeeper let a cross squirm through his fingers shortly after half-time for Viktor Gyokeres to make it 2-0.

    Garnacho pulled one back 12 minutes into the second half, but Martin Zubimendi’s brilliant shimmy and finish restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage.

    Read Also: 10 Nigerians arrested as Spain, Germany crack down on criminal network

    The former Manchester United winger then volleyed in his second of the match after Kepa Arrizabalaga’s clearance dropped at his feet.

    Chelsea’s hopes of reaching Wembley to face either Newcastle or Manchester City remain alive, but they must overturn a one-goal deficit at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on 3 February.

    BBS SPORT

  • FULL LIST: 15 qualified countries for FIFA World Cup 2026 affected by US visa restrictions

    FULL LIST: 15 qualified countries for FIFA World Cup 2026 affected by US visa restrictions

    Concerns are mounting ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following reports of expanded U.S. visa suspensions and stricter immigration controls affecting citizens from several countries already qualified for the tournament. 

    While FIFA has received assurances that players, officials, and accredited team personnel will be granted entry under special exemptions, the situation poses serious challenges for fans, media workers, and non-official delegations hoping to attend matches hosted in the United States.

    Below is a breakdown of the qualified countries reportedly affected and the implications for each.

    1. Algeria

    Algeria have secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup and remain one of Africa’s strongest representatives. However, Algerian citizens are among those facing tighter U.S. visa scrutiny. Although the national team is expected to receive full clearance, supporters and independent media personnel could experience prolonged visa processing or outright denials.

    2. Brazil

    Brazil, one of the first teams to qualify from South America, is also affected by visa processing suspensions applying to several countries. While Brazil’s football federation and players are expected to be protected by tournament exemptions, the restrictions may significantly limit the number of Brazilian fans able to travel to U.S. host cities.

    3. Cape Verde

    Cape Verde’s qualification marks a historic achievement for the island nation. Despite this milestone, travel limitations for Cape Verdean citizens could dampen celebrations, as supporters may face challenges securing visas to attend matches in the United States.

    4. Colombia

    Colombia have returned to the World Cup stage but are also listed among countries affected by visa-related suspensions. Fan groups and football tour operators have already raised concerns over uncertainty surrounding travel approvals ahead of the tournament.

    Read Also: 10 Nigerians arrested as Spain, Germany crack down on criminal network

    5. Côte d’Ivoire

    The Ivorian national team booked their place at the expanded 48-team World Cup. However, visa restrictions affecting ordinary citizens could prevent large numbers of supporters from traveling, potentially reducing African fan presence at U.S.-based fixtures.

    6. Egypt

    Egypt’s qualification ensures the presence of one of Africa’s most followed teams. Still, Egyptian citizens may encounter administrative hurdles under current U.S. immigration measures, creating logistical difficulties for fans planning early travel.

    7. Ghana

    Ghana’s return to the World Cup has been met with enthusiasm, but visa challenges may restrict supporter turnout. The situation is particularly sensitive given Ghana’s large football-loving diaspora that typically travels in large numbers for major tournaments.

    8. Haiti

    Haiti’s qualification is considered historic, but it comes amid existing U.S. travel and immigration restrictions affecting Haitian nationals. This could severely limit fan attendance and non-official participation during the tournament.

    9. Iran

    Iran qualified early for the 2026 World Cup and are among the most impacted nations due to longstanding U.S. travel bans and restrictions. While the team is expected to enter under FIFA and diplomatic exemptions, Iranian fans face some of the strictest barriers to attending matches in the United States.

    10. Jordan

    Jordan’s qualification represents a major footballing achievement. However, visa processing pauses affecting Jordanian citizens could complicate travel for supporters and football stakeholders outside official team delegations.

    11. Morocco

    Morocco, semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup and now qualified again, are also affected by visa policy changes. Concerns have been raised that Moroccan fans, who are known for strong international support, may be underrepresented at U.S. venues.

    12. Senegal

    Senegal’s qualification continues their recent World Cup consistency. However, visa restrictions affecting Senegalese nationals could prevent many supporters from attending, prompting concerns from fan associations and diaspora groups.

    13. Tunisia

    Tunisia have once again reached the World Cup but face similar challenges, with visa processing suspensions potentially limiting travel for fans and independent media.

    14. Uruguay

    Uruguay’s qualification from South America is not in doubt, but visa complications affecting Uruguayan citizens could reduce fan turnout, particularly for matches scheduled in U.S. cities.

    15. Uzbekistan

    Uzbekistan have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their history. Despite the significance of the achievement, visa restrictions could prevent many supporters from witnessing the historic moment in person.

    Overall implications

    FIFA and U.S. authorities have indicated that players, coaches, match officials, and essential tournament staff will be granted entry under special provisions. However, the broader impact on fans, supporters’ groups, journalists, and football tourists remains a major concern. With the United States hosting the majority of matches, visa accessibility may play a significant role in shaping the atmosphere, attendance, and global inclusivity of the 2026 World Cup.

    As the tournament approaches, pressure is expected to mount on U.S. authorities and FIFA to clarify exemptions and ensure that the world’s biggest sporting event remains accessible to supporters from all qualified nations.

  • Court dismisses defamation suit against Anglican Archbishop

    Court dismisses defamation suit against Anglican Archbishop

    The National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan has dismissed a defamation law suit brought by a former Priest of the Ibadan North Anglican Diocese, Reverend Oluwadamilola Ebenezer Kosemani against the Archbishop of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, the Most Rev. Williams Aladekugbe. 

    Rev. Kosemani had asked the Court for diverse reliefs which included judicial quashing of the letter dated the 11th of November, 2024 written by Bishop Aladekugbe to the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, a retraction of the letter and an order for apology from Bishop Aladekugbe to the Priest. 

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    The Reverend also asked for the sum of N100million as general and aggravated damages for defamation. 

    However, in a judgment delivered by Hon Justice J. D. Peters, the judge after examining the reliefs held that the National Industrial Court, being a specialised Court cannot expand its jurisdiction beyond that given it by law. 

    The Judge upheld the submission of Counsel to the Archbishop, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye, SAN, who led Sir Oyewale Akinrinade, Chief Olusola Orobode, Oyewale Oyegoke, Esq and Miss Toluwani Ogunbanjo that the National Industrial Court has no jurisdiction to entertain actions in defamation at all. 

    The trial judge after an extensive review of all the current legal authorities on the matter, threw out the entire action and dismissed same. 

    Speaking after the judgment, the lead Counsel, Kalejaye, SAN expressed deep satisfaction with the outcome and praised the Court for following the path laid by the Court of Appeal in similar matters. 

    He also alluded to the fact that the Primate of the Anglican Communion had set up a committee to arbitrate in the matter but the junior priest Rev. Kosemani, rebuffed the efforts of the Primate.

    Contacted, Archbishop Aladekugbe refused to comment but thanked God for a successful conclusion of the matter and expressed appreciation to the Primate who set up a committee of senior Priests to arbitrate, which was shunned by the Junior priest.

  • NJC okays appointment of 35 judges, Oyewole for Supreme Court

    NJC okays appointment of 35 judges, Oyewole for Supreme Court

    Sets up committee to examine the request for review by nine dismissed Imo State judges

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of 35 judges for courts across the country and the elevation of Justice Joseph Oyewole of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court.

    The NJC took the decision, among others, at its  110th Meeting held on 13 January 2026, and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

    A statement by the NJC’s Deputy Director (DD) Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said besides Justice Oyewole, who currently presides at the Enugu division of the Court of Appeal, the NJC approved 27 candidates for appointment as judges of various High Courts.

    They include six for Borno State High Court, four for Niger High Court, one for Benue, one for Taraba, six for  Plateau, four Delta and five for Ekiti HIgh Court. 

    The NJC also recommended the appointment of six kadis for appointment to the Sharia Courts of Appeal in Niger, Taraba, and Katsina states.

    It recommended the appointment of three kadis for Niger, two for Taraba and one for Katsina. The NJC also recommended the appointment of two judges to the 

    Customary Court of Appeal in Delta State.

    The statement said the “recommendations followed a rigorous screening process, including the consideration of public complaints and interviews conducted by a seven-member Interview Committee, in line with the 2023 Revised NJC Guidelines and Procedural Rules for the Appointment of Judicial Officers.”

    The statement gave the names of those recommend for appointment as judges, to include: (for Borno State) – Mustapha, Mallam Babagana, Mustapha, Hadiza Grema, James, Peter Bwala, Zannah, Tijjani Babakura, Alkali, Alhaji Umar Dunoma and Yahaya Alhaji

    For Plateau State High Court, the NJC recommended Maikai, Andrawus, Kparbong, Tongret Nanman Nkwap, Diane Ngummai Mantu, John Ishaku Bature, Gavou Musa Mallan and Kingsley Mangai

    For Ekiti High Court, it recommended: Adegoke, Olanike Caroline Bamise, Julius Sunday Bamidele Ajibare, Julius Akinyede, Stephen Rotimi Anoma, Adefunke Helen

    For Niger, the NJC recommended: Abubakar, Adamu Ahmed, Bala Ndajiwo Gambo, Sa’adatu Abubakar Wushishi, Sulaiman Buhari

    Delta has four recommendations: Otite, Jonah Akporuaro Sam-Oligida; Jereoma Ukuli, Boeye Irene Adamidenyo and Otome Benjamin.

    Taraba has one – Babagari, Mansura Mohammed as a judge of the High Court, while Niger State has three kadis:  Aboki, Usman Abdulrahman; Mohammed, Ya’aba Muhammad, and Nasir Ibrahim.

    For the Taraba State’s Court of Appeal, Yakubu, Muhammad and  Aliyu, Yahaya Abubakar were appointed as kadis, while Mutawakkil, Mustapha Salis was appointed as kadis for the Katsina State Sharia Court of Appeal.

    For the Delta State Customary Court of Appeal, Ojeikere, Bridget Onome and Okah, Stella Ovuorieroro were recommended for appointment.

    The statement further reads: “The Council recommended extension of the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua by three (3) months just as it called on the Governor of Imo State to immediately commence the process of constituting the State Judicial Service Commission, to enable the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge of Imo State. 

    “The NJC stressed the imperative of prompt appointment of the substantive Chief Judge to ensure stability, safeguard judicial independence, and promote the effective administration of justice in the State. 

    “Meanwhile, the Council has cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, of all allegations bordering on financial recklessness, diversion of funds, and judicial misconduct.

    “The Council took the decision after considering and upholding the report of a three-member Investigation Committee constituted to probe several petitions filed against the Chief Judge. 

    “The petitions were initiated by a staff member of the Osun State Customary Court of Appeal and Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Mr. Eludire G. Kunle, alongside three others. 

    “Similar petitions were also filed by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbediran; Mrs. Temitope Opeoluwa Fasina; and a joint petition by the Osun State Attorney-General, Hon. Oluwole Jimi Bada, together with four purported members of the State Judicial Service Commission.

    “The petitioners alleged, among others, unilateral suspension of judiciary staff, selective promotion of staff, stoppage of training programmes, disobedience of court orders, and misappropriation of funds, including an alleged diversion of ₦7.4 million meant for judges’ and magistrates’ retreat, ₦5 million robe allowance, and proceeds from e-affidavits.

    “The committee sat on several occasions. All parties were represented by counsel and called witnesses in support of their respective cases.

    “The committee ruled that the petition filed by the Attorney-General and others on behalf of the State Judicial Service Commission was incompetent, as issues relating to their membership were already pending before a court of law. 

    “However, it held that the remaining petitioners had the requisite locus standi to institute their petitions.

    “It found that the suspension of judiciary staff followed due process, having been recommended by the appropriate disciplinary committee, and did not constitute misconduct. 

    “The committee further held that matters relating to staff training and promotion fall within the statutory responsibilities of the State Judicial Service Commission.

    “It also found no evidence that Hon. Justice Ojo diverted robe allowances, misappropriated funds meant for a foreign retreat, withheld proceeds from e-affidavits, or personally benefited from any of the financial transactions complained of. 

    “The Committee concluded that none of the allegations amounted to judicial misconduct or a breach of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

    “Accordingly, it recommended that all the petitions be dismissed—a recommendation the Council accepted in full.

    “In a related development, the National Judicial Council has dismissed a petition filed against a Judge of the Delta State High Court, Hon. Justice Gentu E. Timi, over allegations of professional misconduct arising from a chieftaincy dispute.

    “The petition, filed by Prince Mbanefo Nwoko (KSC), accused the Judge of misapplication of the law and abuse of court process in a dispute concerning the ancient stool of Idumuje-Ugboko.

    “However, before the three-member Investigation Committee of the Council could commence sitting, the petitioner formally withdrew the petition on February 17, 2025, citing the resolution of the dispute following the presentation of the staff of office by the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, to his client.

    At its sitting, the Investigation “Committee considered the withdrawal and resolved that there were no issues warranting further consideration by the Council, and accordingly recommended the discontinuation of the matter.

    “Meanwhile, the council has reversed the one-year suspension without pay earlier imposed on Hon. Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division.

    “Hon. Justice Inyang had been suspended after being found in breach of Rule 3(5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, following findings that he abused his office by granting inappropriate ex parte orders for the sale of a petrol station and other businesses belonging to Udeme Assets Limited at the interlocutory stage of proceedings.

    “The acts complained of occurred while His Lordship presided over Suit No. FHC/UY/CS/46/2023 at the Federal High Court, Uyo Judicial Division, prior to his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

    “However, upon a review of the matter, the Council found that the decision forming the basis of the petition was already the subject of an appeal at the time the petition was filed. 

    “The council further noted that the petition was instituted outside the six-month period stipulated by its policy for the filing of complaints.

    Read Also: US suspends immigrant visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

    “In view of these findings, the Council resolved to set aside the suspension. The council also considered and upheld the reports of its two preliminary complaints assessment committees.

    “Out of a total of 39 petitions reviewed, the committees dismissed 26 for lacking in merit, recommended seven for further investigation, issued cautions to two judicial officers. 

    “One of the judicial officers was cautioned for delivering judgment in a case outside the constitutionally prescribed 90 days contrary to the provisions of Section 294(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and for the uncouth language he used in his response to the petition against him.

    “In another development, the Council reiterated its earlier warning to Judges against indiscriminate grant of exparte orders.

    “Council also advised Heads of Court to be circumspect in assigning complex matters to newly appointed Judges.

    “Furthermore, the council has constituted a Committee to consider the request for review submitted by the nine (9) dismissed Judges of Imo State Judiciary. 

    “The council, however, declined to entertain a fresh petition against the Acting Chief Judge of the Imo State High Court, Hon. Justice I. O. Agugua, having previously considered and disposed of the same issues more than once.

    “Retirement of Judicial Officers: The council approved the voluntary retirement of the following Judicial Officers: Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi, Acting Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Plateau State and Hon. Justice Obientobara Owupele Daniel-Kalio, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Asaba Division

    “However, the Council noted with regret that Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Abdullahi passed away shortly after submitting his notice of voluntary retirement.”

    The NJC announced the death of judges that died  between November and December 2025, who are Justices Oluwayemisi Ikeolupo Adelaja (a Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Kubwa, Abuja) and U. I. Abdullahi (who was the acting grand jadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Plateau State).