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Category: Law

  • Legal, corporate giants shine at ESQ Awards, seek reforms

    Legal, corporate giants shine at ESQ Awards, seek reforms

    There is a need for renewed commitment to reform, transparency and ethical conduct in the judicial and corporate legal systems.

    The call was made at the ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards 2025 in Lagos, where legal practitioners, business executives, academics and public policy leaders gathered to celebrate outstanding achievements in the profession.

    The event had the theme: “Celebrating the important contribution of lawyers to businesses.”

    It reflected the indispensable role of legal practitioners in shaping economic development, negotiating complex business deals and sustaining governance frameworks across different sectors of the economy.

    Founder of The Elevation Church, Pastor Godman Akinlabi, who gave the keynote address, stressed that Nigeria’s progress depends heavily on the integrity and leadership of its legal professionals, describing the legal system as the backbone of any functioning society.

    He said: “It is practically impossible to build a strong nation without a strong legal body. The foundations of our country are weakening, and the responsibility rests on everyone in the legal space to rebuild them with integrity, value-driven practice and ethical responsibility.”

    He expressed concern over the declining public trust in the judiciary, noting that the profession was once regarded as the guardian of justice and moral order.

    Read Also: Judicial impunity: ‘NJC being strengthened to bite harder’ – Kekere-Ekun

    “It breaks my heart that the legal profession, once one of the most respected in society, is increasingly being associated with corruption and political manipulation. Meaningful work that stands the test of time is built on values and legacy,” he lamented.

    Lere Fasola, Founder and Publisher of ESQ Legal Blitz and Convener of the Awards, described the Nigerian Legal Awards as the “Grammy of the legal profession”.

    He said the goal was not only to honour exceptional lawyers but also to emphasise the strategic role they play in enabling business growth.

    “Lawyers are the powerhouse behind major business transactions. They structure deals, conduct due diligence, ensure compliance and resolve disputes.

    “Without lawyers, many of the major investments and economic activities in this country simply would not happen,” he said.

    He acknowledged the challenge of sponsorship but urged companies and public institutions to support platforms that encourage accountability, innovation and institutional development in the legal system.

    Fashola added: “Our responsibility goes beyond recognition. It is to inspire a generation that will strengthen the rule of law and build institutions that endure.”

    The Awards’ judging panel, chaired by the head of Stephenson Harwood’s Africa and India groups, Kamal Shah, noted a steady rise in the sophistication and global relevance of Nigerian legal practice.

    “What we see emerging from Nigeria today is a legal market that is not only competitive but increasingly influential on the global stage.

    “However, young lawyers must broaden their knowledge, become commercially aware and seek mentorship to stay relevant.” he said.

    The awardee, Khadija Belgore Yusuf, Head of Legal and Compliance at Rendeavour/Alaro City, described the award as a testament to hard work and equal opportunity in the profession.

    “Gender, age or background should not be barriers. What matters is competence, focus and dedication,” she said.

    General Counsel of Zenith Bank, Michael Osilama, emphasised that legal reforms must remain continuous, particularly to address working conditions and remuneration for young lawyers.

    “The profession is evolving, and reforms must evolve with it. Mentorship is key to preserving the values of law as a noble profession,” he said.

    The evening celebrated outstanding achievements across the legal industry, with several notable recognitions presented.

    Olaniwun Ajayi was honoured as Law Firm of the Year in Project Finance and Intellectual Property.

    Aluko & Oyebode received multiple awards, including top recognition in Aviation, Banking & Finance, Immigration, Media & Entertainment, as well as a Regional Excellence Award.

    G. Elias & Co. was recognised for excellence in Mergers & Acquisitions, Labour & Employment, and Mining.

    Individual honours also highlighted exceptional leadership and contribution. Dr. Tolu Adeyemi received the Business Law Award, Bisoye Akoka received Business Law of the Year, while Albo was named Regulatory Team of the Year. Olakunle Williams received the Group Business Icon Award, and Rilwan Idris was awarded Managing Partner of the Year.

    Slingstone LP was celebrated as Law Firm of the Year, and Newswire took home the Law Blog of the Year Award.

    The Nigerian Legal Awards continues to serve as a symbol of excellence and a platform for advancing higher standards across the legal industry.

  • ‘Nigeria’s security policies  failing to protect citizens’

    ‘Nigeria’s security policies  failing to protect citizens’

    • By Adebisi Onanuga and Kafilat Alabi

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Prof. Yusuf Ali has said that the current national security policies have been deepening human suffering, and actively creating new categories of victims.

    Prof. Ali  said this was contrary to the objectives of the policy which was designed to curb terrorism and insecurity.

    He said this was why the policies have been vehemently criticised by legal and security experts for abandoning constitutional safeguards,

    Prof. Ali made this observation in his keynote address delivered at the 2025 Gavel International Annual Lecture and Awards held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCC1), Olowopopo Street, Alausa, Ikeja.

    The learned silk who spoke on the topic,: “The Impact of National Security Policies on Vulnerable Populations: A Human Rights Perspective,” warned that the nation’s counter-terrorism and law enforcement strategies have drifted perilously from their constitutional foundations, resulting in widespread violations against the very citizens they were meant to shield.

    Prof. Ali stated emphatically that the vulnerable, including the poor, women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), have become unintended, yet consistent, casualties of the government’s efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and separatist agitation.

    “The reality is that many of our security measures have turned citizens into victims. We have created a system where the people we are supposed to protect are being displaced, detained, or deprived of dignity under the guise of national security,” he declared.

    Read Also: FG vows swift rescue of abducted Kebbi schoolgirls, reaffirms duty to protect citizens

    The Senior Advocate stressed that national security cannot be pursued at the expense of human security. He urged policymakers to adopt a people-centred approach, where human dignity forms the bedrock of every security framework.

    “True security cannot be achieved by force alone. It requires the protection of rights, economic empowerment, and the strengthening of democratic institutions.

    “Where the state fails to uphold the rule of law or meet basic needs, insecurity will persist regardless of the number of guns or troops deployed,” he argued.

    Citing the acute humanitarian crises in the North-East and Middle Belt to support his view.

    Prof. Ali lamented that millions of displaced Nigerians face dehumanising conditions, are exposed to hunger, disease, and abuse.

    He pointed to the absence of accountability in security operations as a key factor fostering impunity among armed forces and police units, leading to a profound erosion of public trust.

    Prof. Ali specifically criticised provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, which allow for prolonged detention without trial.

    He warned that such measures contradict both the spirit of the Constitution and international conventions ratified by Nigeria.

    “Laws designed to fight terrorism should not themselves become tools of terror. We cannot detain people indefinitely or silence dissent in the name of protecting the state. The Constitution was made for times of peace and crisis alike,” he cautioned.

    The legal luminary called for mandatory human rights training within the military, police, and intelligence services, alongside stronger legislative checks on executive power.

    He advocated for inclusive policymaking that actively incorporates the voices of affected communities, such as IDPs, women’s groups, and traditional institutions, stressing that lasting peace is intrinsically linked to community trust and participation.

    He said that the legitimacy of any security policy hinges on its ability to protect, not punish, citizens.

    “Security must never be an excuse for injustice. When citizens lose faith in the fairness of the state, the battle for national security is already lost,” he declared.

    Major General (Dr) James Alilu Atagura who spoke on security.issues, identified corruption and the chronic absence of an effective system of punishment and reward as the core drivers of Nigeria’s pervasive insecurity.

    He lamented the collapse of justice and accountability, noting that widespread impunity emboldens criminality across the political landscape.

    “Can anyone genuinely go to court and expect justice without bias?” he asked.

    “We see election malpractice, certificate forgery, and corruption go unpunished. Governors finish eight years and vanish when the EFCC comes knocking, while their predecessors remain in court 15 years later. Without justice, society reverts to a state of nature,” he added.

    Major General Atagura also questioned the extensive deployment of the military for internal security duties, arguing that the army has been overstretched beyond its constitutional role, which should primarily be the responsibility of the police.

    “The military should not be embedded among civilians. When soldiers act outside their defined scope, they create more problems,” he said.

    He insisted that insecurity is a symptom, not the disease, and will persist unless Nigeria addresses root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and institutional decay.

    “Even if Boko Haram is defeated today, another group will rise tomorrow because the root causes remain unaddressed,” he said, calling for a swift, certain, and consistent enforcement of laws.

    Dele Adesina (SAN) in his contribution described Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as a fundamentally flawed document that actively undermines true federalism and effective governance.

    He cited scholars who have variously called the document a fraud and an illogical document.

    Adesina noted that despite Nigeria being a supposed federation, many of the constitution’s provisions are unitary, particularly concerning policing.

    He pointed to Section 214, which mandates only one police force, and Section 215, which restricts governors’ operational control over Commissioners of Police.

    “How can governors be chief security officers when they lack control over law enforcement?” he queried. He urged constitutional reform to correct these fundamental structural defects, insisting that no true federation operates a single, centralised police force.

    Earlier, the founder of Gavel International, Mustapha Adekunle Ogunsakin, said the lecture was conceived to draw urgent attention to the worsening security crisis and the government’s constitutional duty to protect its citizens.

    He lamented the political class’s indifference, urging leaders to rise above partisanship and unite against insecurity, which he rooted in poor governance, not religion.

  • Forgery: Court orders sureties to produce suspect December 19

    Forgery: Court orders sureties to produce suspect December 19

    A Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Tinubu square has ordered two men who stood sureties for a suspect, Kayode Adeyemi, facing  criminal trial to produce him in court on December 19.

    Chief Magistrate O.O. Olatunji issued the order following persistent absence of the defendant in court.

    According to the charge sheet, A/66/2025, Adeyemi, alongside others at large, is facing a three count charge offence bothering on forgery, conduct likely to cause breach of peace, forging deed of assignment document registered as 5/5/2632 in a property located at Maiyegun Family land, Maiyegun Village, belonging to Chief Cyril Okoye.

    He was also accused of conducting himself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by forging deed of assignment document registered as 5/5/2632 in a property located at Maiyegun Family land, Maiyegun Village, belonging to Chief Cyril Okoye and also constitute nuisance  on the said land.

    The offences are punishable  under section 411, 365(3) (h) and section 168 (d) of Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    When the matter came up for hearing on Friday, the prosecutor, ASP Ishola Samuel told the court that the defendant was absent in court the second time.

    Read Also: Judicial impunity: ‘NJC being strengthened to bite harder’ – Kekere-Ekun

    Defence counsels, Ernest Ukpai, leading Ayodeji Adekunle, apologised for the absence of the defendant saying, “he is indisposed but the sureties are here in court.”

    Chief Magistrate Olatunji who recalled that the defendant was also not in court at its last sitting. asked for the nature of illness.

    Ukpai said, “my Lord, it is typhoid. It is a complicated issue.”

    When Chief Magistrate Olatunji asked the prosecutor to confirm the nature of illness, he said he doesn’t have a copy of the defendant’s medical report.

    Upon being presented with a copy of the medical report, he said, “:Medical report dated August 12, 2025.  Defendant diagonised of  malaria and typhoid”. 

    Ukpai stated further: “though I am not a medical doctor, the defendant has been on and off of the hospital. At the moment, the doctor said he should have complete bed rest”, adding that there is a legal advice in respect of the matter.

    But the prosecutor responded that there are two conflicting legal advice  in respect of the matter and that his office has responded to them appropriately and urged the court to adjourn the matter for a month.

    Chief Magistrate Olatunji granted his request and ordered the sureties of the defendant to ensure the presence of Adeyemi in court at the next adjourned date.

    “If you have to carry him to court,  carry him. The sureties must bring him to court at the next adjourned date.

    Chief Magistrate Olatunji  adjourned further hearing in the matter to December 19.

  • Activists seek harmonisation of procurement laws, others

    Activists seek harmonisation of procurement laws, others

    • By Damola Kola-Dare and Fareedah Akanbi

    The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International Defence and Security have called for greater civilian oversight of defence budgets, amendment of the Audit Act to strengthen accountability, adoption of international principles for public disclosure of defence expenditure, and harmonisation of procurement laws.

    This was the crux of discussions at a capacity-building workshop for journalists in Lagos. The workshop was held with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

    It had the theme: “Enhancing Investigative and Reporting Capacity of the Media in Exposing Financial, Procurement, and Operational Activities in the Defence and Security Sectors.”

    It was aimed at equipping journalists with tools to investigate corruption, promote ethical journalism, and rebuild public trust in national security institutions.

    CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), hailed journalists for their role in promoting public accountability and urged them to use investigative journalism to expose corruption, inefficiencies, and rights abuses within the security establishment.

    Read Also: FG vows swift rescue of abducted Kebbi schoolgirls, reaffirms duty to protect citizens

    He emphasised that CISLAC has long worked to ensure transparency in defence procurement and noted that the sector’s persistent opacity has hampered Nigeria’s ability to tackle insecurity.

    He lamented that widespread corruption and mismanagement of defence funds have left security agencies under-resourced, with poor welfare leading to low morale among personnel.

    He also decried the depletion of Nigeria’s Excess Crude Account, originally created to stabilise the economy during oil price shocks, noting reports that about $500 million was allegedly spent on arms purchases between 2015 and 2023 equipment yet to be fully accounted for.

    He urged the government to institute transparent defence procurement processes, improve the welfare of security personnel, and empower journalists to hold public officials accountable in the interest of national security and good governance.

    Rafsanjani reaffirmed CISLAC’s commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Nigeria’s security architecture.

    CISLAC Programme Manager, Abubakar Jimoh, emphasised the need for greater transparency and accountability within Nigeria’s defence and security sector. He explained that while cost-related details of government agreements, such as the recent hardware production deal between the Ministries of Steel and Defence can be reviewed, the contents remain classified for national security reasons.

    He warned that excessive secrecy weakens governance, fuels corruption in procurement and personnel management, and erodes institutional credibility. He also cited challenges such as proxy contractors, politically influenced recruitment, cash-based transactions, and poor human rights compliance.

    Jimoh sought reforms to improve oversight, data integrity, and adherence to international standards. He concluded by urging a review of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to ensure a proper balance between operational secrecy and public accountability.

  • Ex-Abia Attorney-General leads call for Aba State

    Ex-Abia Attorney-General leads call for Aba State

    A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Abia State, Chief Theo Nkire (SAN), has joined political stakeholders from the Old Aba Division, comprising the nine local government areas of Ukwa-la-Ngwa, to call on the National Assembly members from Abia and Southeast states to support their agitation for the creation of Aba State.

    Nkire, a member of Aba State Movement, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for having the will to initiate the process of creating an additional state in the southeast, which they said previous democratic governments lacked the courage to consider as a priority in order to bring the Southeast at par with other regions.

    He said his group was confident that despite the nay sayers, the Tinubu Administration would be the first civilian administration that will create an additional state in the Southeast.

    The group, at a briefing, said the creation of Aba State was long overdue.

    Nkire, spokesman of the group, lamented that the agitation for the creation of Aba State has lasted for over 70 years, stressing that other areas in some parts of the country that started the agitation to become a state with Aba, have had their request granted.

    Read Also: Judicial impunity: ‘NJC being strengthened to bite harder’ – Kekere-Ekun

    “Aba has satisfied all constitutional requirements as listed in section 8 of our constitution. We have even gone further to move round the country.

    “We have visited 23 State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria and got their support which is the second stage after referendum.

    “We have visited the states to lobby them for support and they gave us their support. I am not saying that, that is going to carry us now because there are new Assemblies all over the place, but I am sure that we will be able to do that when the time comes.

    “The position of Aba is that, that sixth state which the National Assembly has set out to create in the southeast zone is Aba. We have invited you over to Aba to sell to you, our beautiful bride; Aba, the pride of the eastern Nigeria as the sixth state for the southeast zone.

    “The question now is, why Aba? Why not any other state? Our answer is simple, the case for Aba is different, distinct and unique.

    “Aba is the oldest demand in the nation. Our people first asked for a state in 1952 and made a presentation to the Willings Commission in 1957; that is over 70 years ago.

    “Aba has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements as stipulated by law; section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution. Aba was approved for referendum by both arms of the National Assembly in June 1983.

    “Almost all the states approved for referendum at that time have been created as a state in Nigeria, so why not Aba?

    “Aba was one of the four states recommended for the Southeast by the National CONFAB of 2014 under the government of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan regime.

    “Nineteen new states were recommended by the CONFAB for Nigeria, which would have brought the total number of states from 36 to 55.

    “Twice in our history, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has recommended Aba as the sixth state for the southeast, first, by a committee headed by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu of the blessed memory in 2015 and three years later by another committee headed by Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, a former deputy governor of Ebonyi State. In 2018, he was the deputy President General of our great organisation (Ohanaeze Ndigbo).

    “Aba is economically viable in commerce, industry, agriculture, etc. One of the reasons that Aba is called the Japan of Africa is because of the indigenous technology.

    “The area demanding Aba State has remained intact; the people united in their quest for over 70 years. There is no change in our boundaries and no single village has opted out in the 70 years. There is cultural affinity among us. The Ukwa and Ngwa people who constitute this area have remained as brothers.

    “The importance of Aba to the Igbo nation cannot be overemphasised because Aba is the centre of the eastern Nigeria. Aba is everything to not just the southeast, but eastern Nigeria. Most of our leaders wherever that they maybe today, at one point or the other in their lives, lived and work in Aba.

    “When we create a state called Aba, we will be creating a mini Nigeria

    “Our request is to the southeast caucus of the Senate and House of Representatives. Our request is first to them, and when we succeed there, we will return to the National Assembly where our case is very well known for over 40 years.

    Asked if their agitation for an Aba State was endorsed by Governor Alex Otti, Nkire said: “Our governor is with us. You will hear from him shortly. If the governor wasn’t in support, he wouldn’t have asked the elected councilors, local government Mayors and members of the Abia State House of Assembly to endorse our movement.

    “With that singular act, it shows that the governor is in support of the creation of Aba State.”

  • Group seeks end to rights abuses in Enugu

    Group seeks end to rights abuses in Enugu

    A civil society organisation, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State over what it described as widespread violations of citizens’ rights and systemic obstruction of justice at Magistrates’ Courts across the state.

    In a letter dated November 14, 2025, and signed by its President, Olu Omotayo, the group alleged that innocent citizens were being unduly remanded, case files deliberately withheld, and court orders abused, resulting in prolonged detentions and financial losses.

    The petition centred on two cases- those of Godwin Odey and Yusuf Omotara- which it said typified the “gross denial and frustration of justice” in the state’s lower courts.

    CRRAN said Odey, an OND graduate from Benue State, was arrested on September 20, 2025, in Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGA, during a routine police search for the killers of a Catholic priest in the area.

    According to the group, Odey had only travelled to Enugu for the traditional wedding of a friend and had never previously visited the state.

    Read Also: FG vows swift rescue of abducted Kebbi schoolgirls, reaffirms duty to protect citizens

    During the police stop-and-search, marijuana was allegedly found in the vehicle conveying Odey and his companions.

    Unable to pay for bail, he was charged alongside strangers for the murder of Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya and arraigned on September 24 at the Magistrate Court, Enugu, which remanded him in prison custody.

    CRRAN said it petitioned the Attorney-General, who formally requested the transfer of the case file for review.

    “Shockingly, the file has yet to be transmitted to the Attorney-General’s office,” the group wrote, adding that investigations revealed that several Magistrates’ Courts delay case file transfers for years, especially those outside Enugu metropolis.

    The practice, CRRAN said, hampers the Ministry of Justice from performing its statutory duties and results in prolonged detention of innocent persons.

    The second case involved Mr. Yusuf Omotara, a POS operator in Ogun State, who was allegedly arrested and detained for nearly a week, from June 26 to June 30, 2023, on the orders of a Senior Magistrate Court in Enugu.

    According to CRRAN, Omotara became a victim after some customers transferred N4,995,000 to his POS account and collected cash in return.

    Unknown to him, a third party in Enugu filed an ex parte application claiming the funds were mistakenly transferred.

    The organisation alleged that with the connivance of a court registrar and a lawyer, the court ordered Omotara’s arrest in Ogun State and authorised the withdrawal of the nearly N5 million from his account, despite him having no connection to the parties in the suit.

    CRRAN said petitions to judicial authorities to recover the funds or punish the indicted officials had not yielded results.

    The rights group urged Governor Mbah to order immediate reforms in the state’s Magistrates’ Courts, warning that the alleged irregularities undermine citizens’ trust in the justice system.

    “Magistrates’ Courts are the closest courts to the people. If abuses at this level go unchecked, the justice system collapses at its foundation,” the petition said.

    CRRAN called for urgent government intervention to ensure justice for Odey, Omotara and others who may be victims of similar systemic abuses.

    “We demand immediate action to ensure that no innocent citizen suffers for what he knows nothing about,” Omotayo wrote.

    The organisation acknowledged the state government’s efforts to strengthen the justice sector but insisted that decisive action was required to eliminate “illegalities and abnormalities” allegedly perpetrated by court officials.

    The Enugu State Government and the Ministry of Justice were yet to respond to the petition at the time of filing this report.

    Conflicting orders by coordinate courts raise concern

  • Court begins trial of land forgery suspect Nov 24

    Court begins trial of land forgery suspect Nov 24

    Chief Magistrate O.O. Olatunji of a Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Tinubu has fixed November 24, 2025 for the trial of a forgery suspect, Mujitabat Maiyegun, 71 years.

    Chief Magistrate Olatunji fixed the date after granting him bail in the sum of N5 million on account of his age.

    The court ordered the suspect to also provide two sureties who must be community leaders and have evidence of tax payments to the state for last three years.

    The suspect was arraigned before the court on a three count charge in a charge dated November 12, 2025 by the prosecutor ASP Ishola Samuel.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Counsel to the defendant, Ernest Ukpai, leading three other defence counsels, raised objection to the arrangement of Maiyegun by the Police.

    Ukpai told the court that the defendant was once arraigned  on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 before

    Magistrate Tella of Court  2, Ebute Metta and that the matter was still before the court.

    He said the defendant had earlier been arraigned in April 2024 before Ebute Metta court 7,  adding that the matter was still on-going at the court.

    He said the charge before the court was same as the one filed at Ebute Metta.

    The trial Chief Magistrates’ clarified that the one on trial before his court was “forgery and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, conspiracy and forceful entry.”

    Prosecuting counsel,  ASP Ishola Samuel countered the defence insisting that his submission was intended to mislead the court.

    Read Also: Judicial impunity: ‘NJC being strengthened to bite harder’ – Kekere-Ekun

    ASP Samuel expressed surprise at the submission of the defence which he said was intended to mislead the court .

    He told the court that the case at Ebute Metta has been struck off and that the defence has nothing to substantiate their claims before the court.

    ASP Samuel further clarified that there is no matter before Court 2.

    “It was when there was nobody on ground here that we went to Ebute Metta. Getting there, the court was not sitting there too.

    “We file a written report on the matter and attached CTC to show that the matter was still subsisting. If not so, it would have been struck out.,” he said

    Ukpai subsequently applied for bail for his client in liberal terms in the interest of justice.

    The prosecution, in his response to the bail request by the defence, said he would not object to bail application for the suspect informed the court that “ this suspect absconded while matter was at court 7,Ebute Metta, it took police to inject a lot of resources to arrest him.”

    He prayed the court to these fact presented by the prosecution before granting bail to the defendant  who he noted that was the head of high family by virtue of age.

    The Chief Magistrates’ Olatunji, after considering the submissions of counsels, granted his request and adjourned the matter to November 24.

    The charge dated November 12, 2025 stated that Maiyegun and others at large, sometimes in June, 2023 at Maiyegun family land, Maiyegun Village, Lekki Peninsula, with intent to defraud amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: forgery and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and thereby committed an offence.

    The defendant “with others at large, on same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did forge Deed of Assignment document registered as 5/5/2632 in a property located at Maiyegun Family Land, Maiyegun Village Lekki Peninsula, Lagos State belonging to Chief Cyril Okoye and thereby committed an offence.”

    The defendant and others at large were also said to have conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by for forging deed of assignment document registered as 5/5/2632 in a property located at Maiyegun Family Land, Maiyegun Village, Lekki Peninsula, Lagos State belonging to Chief Cyril Okoye and thereby committed an offence.

    The offences are punishable under sections 411,  365(3)(h), 168(d) of Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    Maiyegun, in another charge number BG/G39/2024 was also alleged to have conspired with others at large, conducted themselves in manner likely to cause the breach of peace by illegally and forcefully entering into the property of one Chief Cyril Okoye and thereby committed an offence.

    The defendant were alleged to have conducted themselves in manner likely to cause the breach of peace by illegally and forcefully entering into a plot of land belonging to one Chief  Okoye Cyril and begin to carry out construction work on it with an intent to cause the breach of the peace.

    They were in addition said to have without lawful authority did entered and occupy Chief Cyril Okoye land situated at Plot 20, Maiyegun land situated at Plot 20, Maiyegun Layout, Ologolo road, Maiyegun town in Eti-Osa Local Government area and thereby committed an offence.

    The offences committed are contrary to section 411, 168(d), 81 and section 4(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State and punishable under section 4(5) of the property protection of Lagos state 2015.

  • Judicial impunity: ‘NJC being strengthened to bite harder’ – Kekere-Ekun

    Judicial impunity: ‘NJC being strengthened to bite harder’ – Kekere-Ekun

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun has said the Judiciary under her watch was working on efforts to ease out bag eggs among its rank and boost public confidence in the judicial system.

    Justice Kekere-Ekun said such efforts include an ongoing measure to strengthen and reprganise the National Judicial Council (NJC) to make it bite harder.

    The CJN said although segments of the public hold a critical perception of the Judiciary, it was not in doubt that some judges still exist in the system that are unwilling to play by the rules.

    She added: “On the persistent issue of corruption, we can no longer afford to regard our institution as beyond scrutiny.

    “We must admit, with candour, that there are some within our ranks who have undermined the integrity of the Bench.

    “This must change. The National Judicial Council is being strengthened and repositioned to execute its constitutional mandate with greater vigour, efficiency, and accountability.

    “We must be the example we seek to inspire. The robe we wear must never be a cloak for impropriety but a symbol of incorruptible honour.

    “With collective will, renewed commitment, and divine guidance, we shall succeed in restoring the dignity of our noble profession,” she said.

    The CJN spoke in Abuja on Monday during the opening session of a weeklong “2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts,” being held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), with the theme: “Building a Confident Judiciary.”

    READ ALSO; Tuggar blames structural weakness for unconstitutional changes of govt, others

    Justice Kekere-Ekun said for the Judiciary to address the widespread notion that its processes are slow, inefficient and sometimes, vulnerable to external influences, it most take practical steps to improve on its infrastructure, human capital, among others.

    “We must confront this perception head-on, not with rhetoric, but with deliberate and demonstrable action that restores confidence in our courts.

    “A Judiciary that commands respect must be unwavering in upholding independence, firm in strengthening ethical standards, and resolute in eliminating inefficiencies in court administration.

    “We must address the persistent issues of outdated infrastructure, intellectual complacency, and
    corruption challenges that have hindered our efficiency and undermined public trust.

    “To build a confident Judiciary, we must rise above these obstacles and ensure that justice is dispensed with integrity, impartiality, and transparency,” she said.

    The CJN stressed the need for financial autonomy for the Judiciary to guarantee its independence and bolster its capacity to deliver on its constitutional mandate.

    She added, “We must also acknowledge a difficult but undeniable truth: the Judiciary continues to operate within a democratic framework where financial dependence on the Executive persists.

    “Without genuine financial autonomy, judicial independence remains fragile. True independence is
    the bedrock of justice; where it is absent, the temple of justice trembles.

    “Independence is not a privilege; it is a moral and constitutional obligation that guarantees fairness and equality before the law,” she said.

    Justice Kekere-Ekun acknowledged the court’s role in stabilising the nation’s democracy, but noted that more need to be done to deepen democratic culture in the land.

    “It is no exaggeration to state that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy has often hinged on the steadfastness of the Judiciary.

    “Our pronouncements, at critical junctures in our history, have preserved constitutional order and upheld the democratic will of the people.

    “Yet, at this stage, we must go further. Beyond merely defending democracy, we must deepen it, by ensuring that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to be done in every courtroom, across every jurisdiction, and in every case.

    “The Nigerian public, our ultimate constituency, expect and deserve nothing less.

    “Their perception of our work is shaped, not only by the outcomes of cases, but also by the processes we adopt, the pace at which we deliver justice, and the comportment we display as judicial officers,” she said.

    Justice Kekere-Ekun frowned at the practice where people criticise the Judiciary in the media and make unsubstantiated allegations against judicial offers.

    She said, “In recent times, there has been an unsettling trend of rushing to the media to castigate judges over their decisions, or at times preempt the outcome of a case, often without a proper understanding of the law or the facts of the case.

    “This development, if left unchecked, poses a grave danger to the administration of justice.
    The courtroom, not the media space, remains the lawful forum for ventilating grievances.

    “Judicial officers do not speak outside their judgments; they are bound by restraint, guided by
    evidence, and led by conscience. When unsubstantiated allegations are peddled, they corrode public confidence and imperil the sanctity of the Bench.

    “I must emphasize that while judges welcome constructive criticism grounded in reason and respect, they must not be deterred from performing their sacred duties by uninformed commentary or orchestrated attacks.

    “A Judiciary that fears public opinion more than the dictates of the law ceases to be the guardian of justice.

    “We, therefore, reaffirm that our fidelity lies not in applause or approval, but in the solemn oath we have taken to uphold the Constitution and dispense justice without fear or
    favour,” she said.

    Dwelling on the importance of the biennial conference in the light of current realities in the judicial system, the CJN said the Judiciary must not merely adapt to change; it must lead it, defining justice for our times and for generations to come.

    She added: “As judicial officers, our duty is solemn and sacred. We must rise above
    technicalities that obstruct substantive justice, ensuring that our decisions reflect fairness and equity.

    “Let our courts be sanctuaries of truth, not labyrinths of technicality. Let our judgments speak not just to the letter of the law, but to its spirit; anchored in conscience, compassion, and courage.

    “The Nigerian Judiciary must be remembered not for rigid adherence to formality, but for its unwavering dedication to the substance of justice and the protection of the rule of law.

    “Together, with dedication and purpose, we will build a Judiciary that our citizens trust, respect, and depend upon. A Judiciary that stands not in fear of criticism but in the strength of its convictions.

    “A Judiciary that history will remember as the stabilizing pillar of our democracy and the guardian of our nation’s moral conscience,” Justice Kekere-Ekun said.

    The Administrator of the NJI, Justice Babatunde Adejumo said the conference was part of his institute’s efforts to deepen ethical consciousness, enhance professionalism, integrated technology-driven learning and strengthen the adjudicatory competence of the nation’s courts.

    Justice Adejumo said the conference will offer participants the opportunity to interrogate critical issues that shape judicial performance and public trust.

    He added: “Over the next several days, we shall engage with questions of judicial independence and accountability; case management and court efficiency; technological innovations in justice delivery and the Judiciary’s constitutional role in sustaining democratic norms.”

  • Alleged terrorism: Nnamdi Kanu asks Appeal Court to prevent Federal High Court from delivering judgment

    Alleged terrorism: Nnamdi Kanu asks Appeal Court to prevent Federal High Court from delivering judgment

    Detained self-acclaimed leader of the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to stop the Federal High Court from delivering judgment in his ongoing trial on terrorism.

    Justice James Omotosho, who is the trial judge in the terrorism case, had on November 7 fixed judgment for November 20.

    Kanu’s request is contained in a fresh motion on notice, which he personally filed, praying the Court of Appeal to, among others, stop the High Court from further proceeding in the charges against him.

    His new motion was predicated on the ground that he had filed a notice of appeal against the September 26 ruling of Justice Omotosho, which dismissed his no case submission and ordered him to defend the terrorism allegations against him.

    Kanu, the self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is contending that the Federal High Court was wrong in dismissing his no case submission without going through the jurisdictional and validity of the charges he raised.

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    Among others, he argued that the lower court was wrong in upholding the charges because the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act had been repealed and therefore no valid charges against him.

    He also held that the Constitutional issue of jurisdiction was not addressed by the judge in the considered ruling on the no case submission.

    The ground of the motion was that Justice Omotosho did not evaluate the evidence of the prosecution witnesses and the cross-examination to determine whether the adduced evidence had been discredited.

    “That he sought to call 23 witnesses only when the issue of jurisdiction had been determined, but which the court refused to do and stated that such would be done in the final judgment.

    “That the Judge foreclosed his right to defend himself from the charges while refusing to rule on his objections to the validity of some of the counts in the charges.

    Kanu said that if his request to stop the judgment delivery was not granted by the Court of Appeal, he may be unlawfully convicted and sentenced to jail.

    Besides, he feared that if the November 20 judgment is delivered, his appeal against the no case submission would become a mere academic exercise, and a fait accompli would therefore be foisted on the Court of Appeal.

    The Biafra nation agitator submitted that neither he nor the Federal High Court would be prejudiced if the application is granted.

    In a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Kanu raised the issue of disobedience to the Supreme Court order on the validity of count 7 in the charges against him and the failure to apply the mandatory test under section 303 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 ACJA.

    According to him, the Supreme Court made it clear that count 7 was no longer an offence in Nigeria, having been allegedly repealed.

    In the affidavit he personally deposed to, he said that his pending appeal against the no case submission raised substantial, recondite and Constitutional issues of law.

    He specifically averred that counts 1 to 6 in the charges against him were predicated on a repealed statute; hence, no validity charges against him.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the motion on notice by the Court of Appeal.

  • Court postpones hearing in DSS’ N5.5bn defamation suit against SERAP to November 24

    Court postpones hearing in DSS’ N5.5bn defamation suit against SERAP to November 24

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has postponed further hearing in the N5.5billion defamation suit filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) against a group, the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), to November 24.

    The postponement was informed by the inability of the court to sit on Wednesday owing to the absence of Justice Halilu Yusuf.

    Defendants in the suit – SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare – were expected to open their defence on Wednesday following their failure to do so on October 16 when the case last came up.

    In the suit, marked: CV/4547/2024, filed in the names of two officials of DSS – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – the claimants accused the defendants of making a false claim that John and Ogundele invaded SERAP’s Abuja office.

    The claimant stated, among others, that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted its reputation and that of the two officials involved.

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    They also stated, in their statement of claim, that, in line with its practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite its new leadership for a familiarisation meeting.

    The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

    John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said that before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

    They said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle: @SERAPNigeria, that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

    The claimant added that “on the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a fall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).

    John and Ogundele stated that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN).

    “Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

    They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation, and are therefore incompetent and unprofessional.

    The claimants are therefore praying the court for the following reliefs:

    *An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

    *An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.

    *Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

    *AN order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50million as costs of this action.