The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Guardian

  • Court adopts settlement as Guardian, NSCDC commander resolve defamation suit

    Court adopts settlement as Guardian, NSCDC commander resolve defamation suit

    The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has adopted the terms of settlement between Guardian Newspapers Nigeria Limited and Mr. Attah John Onoja, a senior officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), marking the end of a high-profile defamation suit earlier instituted by the officer.

    Mr. Onoja, Commander of the Mining Marshals, sued the newspaper over a June 23, 2025 report titled “Community Alleges Involvement of Mining Marshals in Illegal Mining.” 

    He described the story as false and defamatory, seeking a public retraction, apology, injunction, and ₦2 billion in damages.

    The suit, filed as GWD/CV/177/25, was concluded after both parties submitted signed Terms of Settlement to the court.

    Under the agreement, Guardian Newspapers acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the publication and committed to delete the story, issue a retraction, and publish an apology on its website, social media platforms, and print edition. 

    The retraction, to appear prominently on page 2 or 3, will clearly state that the earlier report was unfounded and not intended to impugn Mr. Onoja’s integrity.

    The newspaper will also conduct and publish an exclusive interview highlighting Mr. Onoja’s professional contributions as Commander of the Mining Marshals.

    In a show of magnanimity, Mr. Onoja waived monetary compensation and discharged the newspaper from future claims related to the publication.

    The settlement, dated August 15, 2025, has been entered as consent judgment by the court, formally bringing the matter to a close.

  • Court dismisses libel suit against Vintage Press, others

    The Kogi State High Court sitting in Idah on Wednesday dismissed a libel suit brought against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation newspaper, Guardian and Punch newspapers, for lacking in merit.

    Justice Fola Ajayi in his judgment on the suit filed by the suspended Kogi chairman of APGA, Prince Ocholi Ameh, alleging defamatory imputations against him arising from publication of certain statements, dismissed the suit.

    Read Also:Alleged fraud: You have case to answer, court tells Dokpesi

    He said that it was clear that from the findings that the claims could not be substantiated as the alleged diversion of fund and anti-party activities upon which the publications were based had been proven.

    The defendants, including Mr. Ben Nweke, were alleged to have committed the offence sometimes in November, 2015.

    Ameh had averred that while preparing for the 2015 gubernatorial election, the 1st defendant (Nweke), a card-carrying member of the party and the other defendants had connived and made libelous publications against him.

    The publications, according to him, had alleged that he was suspended from the party for anti-party activities, diversion of funds, absenteeism and other acts inimical to the survival of the party.

    According to him, the publication therefore portrayed him as “a fraudulent, reckless and an irresponsible person,” all of which he claimed were false.

    The claimant stated that request by his solicitors for a retraction of the publication and an apology from the defendants was not heeded.

    In the judgment, Justice Ajayi held that the claimant had stated under cross examination that on October 26, 2015, the party gave him the sum of N1 million to organize the flag-off of campaign for the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

    He said that the claimant admitted that the campaign did not hold and neither was the money refunded just as no explanation was given to show how the money was appropriated, giving room for his suspension on November 11, in line with the party’s constitution.

    “I find without hesitation that the claimant has not proved that any offensive publication was made by the 1st and 2nd defendants against him to other person(s) in circumstances as to constitute libel.

    “It cannot be over emphasized that the isolated evidence of the claimant that the publication tarnished his good image and caused him to lose the respect and admiration of others is simply insufficient in law.”

    The court pronounced that in view of the clear findings, the defamatory imputations of diversions of fund and sundry anti-party activities alleged, were true.

    “The principle of law is settled by a long line of decided cases that if the defendant proves that the main charge or gist of the libel is true, the claim of libel fails.

    “The claimant need not justify the statement or comments which do not add to the sting of the charge. Accordingly, I find no merit in the claim and it is dismissed,” it declared.

  • Lagos rescues girl, 14 abused by guardian

    Lagos rescues girl, 14 abused by guardian

    Enforcement Officers of the Lagos State Ministry of Youths and Social Development have rescued a 14-year-old Unwana Emmanuel, who was physically abuse by her guardian in Mushin.

    Emmanuel, who came to Lagos from Akwa Ibom State in July 2016 due to her parents’ inability to fund her education, was living with the guardian identified as Mummy Chidera.

    She was battered by Mummy Chidera with scars all over her body

    Her rescue followed a text message by an anonymous person to the Child Protection Unit of the ministry.

    The girl was immediately taken to juvenile welfare centre.

    Commissioner for Youth and Social Development Agboola Dabiri said government has zero tolerance for child abuse.

    He said the woman has been charged to court.

    According to him, children have rights to education, shelter and good life, noting that their interest comes first whether under the influence of parents or guardians.

    Dabiri said: “Our law is very clear on it. Lagos State will not take it likely, be it parents or guardian, they don’t have the right to abuse any child under their care.”

    He advised parents and guardians to put thoughts first before action, as some actions can lead to death or injury.

     

  • MD Yusufu: Departure of a guardian angel

    MD Yusufu: Departure of a guardian angel

    SIR: The death of Alhaji Mohammed Dikko Yusufu on the first day of this month should have been a silly April fool’s day prank for me. But alas, it wasn’t. For many, the death of MD would have been another attestation of the mortality of man. But to me, MD Yusufu was not just another man who had attained high position of governance in Nigeria.

    During the most difficult personal challenges that came my way in the seventies, MD sprung up around my children and I like a guardian angel. There were few people that one could run to who could provide a bulwark against the torments of the heart and body that became my lot in the midst of the abuses I suffered in the seventies when he was Nigeria’s top policeman.

    As the Inspector General of Police, he worked with then Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed to provide succour to us because it was the right thing to do.

    MD’s gallant defence of my emotional and human rights was to be further displayed to the surprise of most Nigerians in the nineties when he defied all odds to stand against the political aspirations of the military rulers when he stood for the presidential elections.

    Many Nigerians at that time would have asked where MD got his spirit of boldness? Till today, I still wonder from where this former Police boss got his unusual boldness. I really cannot know. All I can recall now is the recoil and cringe that I saw in him at the first sight of injustice to men and women of all tribes and religions.

    At the height of the domestic violence and persecution I suffered, I regularly saw those cringes as he responded to alleviate our devastating situation.  His words and acts of encouragement easily dismissed the assumption that some in my position would have believed that all men who attain power abuse it.

    MD Yusufu was there for us at the critical time in my life when justice and due process needed to be applied and not power and opportunity.

    I hope his family is comforted in the legacy of good works he left behind as a kind hearted and truly detribalized Nigerian. He was a blessing to me and I am sure to many others he came across. His loss to Nigeria is unquantifiable.

    Heaven has indeed gained an angel while earth has lost a sweet soul. May his soul rest in peace.

     

    Mrs. Oluremi Obasanjo is wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

  • Ogbodo’s death: Ekweremadu visits The Guardian, family

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday, joined sympathisers, who thronged the Abuja Bureau of The Guardian newspapers, over the death of its Assistant Political Editor, Mr. John Abba-Ogbodo.

    Ekweremadu, who also visited the family of Ogbodo, described the late journalist as a consummate professional, who showed “patriotism and friendship in the discharge of his duties.”

    The Deputy Senate President who acclaimed the virtues of the late reporter, noted that Ogbodo maintained a good personal relationship without comprising his principles.

    He said: “Something very important I need to say about him is that he was very professional as he maintained a good personal relationship with people without compromising his principles. I also understand he was just promoted as Assistant Political Editor of The Guardian newspapers and it is a testimony to his competence and values.

    “I can imagine the bright future that was ahead of him, but which has come to such an abrupt end and I deeply understand what it means to lose a person of such great value”.

    He described the late Ogbodo as a member of the larger Senate family, who would be missed, not just by The Guardian and his family but also by the Senate and the nation in general.

    “I have therefore come for myself, for my office, and indeed for the Senate to express our heartfelt condolences to his family, to The Guardian, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and indeed to all those who would miss him.”

    Ekweremadu prayed for the peaceful repose of late journalist and fortitude for those he left behind to bear the irreparable loss.

    On ground to receive Ekweremadu was the Abuja Bureau Chief of the Newspapers, Mr. Madu Onuora.

    Onuora said the late Ogbodo was a hardworking employee, who distinguished himself professionally.

    He praised Ekweremadu for the visit and his concern, saying “We want to put it on record that you are a compassionate leader; you have been with us since the incident occurred. Your office has been with us and we appreciate your compassion”

     

     

  • The Guardian publisher’s siblings sue widow over Will

    A year after the publisher of The Guardian Alexander Uruemu Ibru died, his siblings and widow have gone before a Lagos High Court to challenge the authenticity of his final Will.

    Alex died on November 20 last year after a battle with cancer and related ailments.

    His siblings, Chief Felix Ibru, Ms Grace Ibru and Mrs. Mabel Okolie (nee Ibru), are urging the court to, among others, void a Will purportedly made by the deceased on September 8 last year, in a suit filed last Friday.

    Felix and others, in the suit they filed before the Lagos division of the court, for themselves and as executors and trustees of the deceased’s Will and Testament dated July 6, 1992, named the registered trustees of Omamo Trust, the widow, Mrs. Maiden Ibru and the Probate Registrar of the court as defendants.

    The plaintiffs, in their statement of claim, described Omamu Trust as “a trust purportedly created or founded” by the deceased; the widow, as “the wife of the second marriage” of the deceased.

    They averred that at death, the deceased had eight children from two marriages; three by his first wife, Ms. Helen Syrimis and five by Maiden.

    Felix stated that sometimes this year, he directed a firm of solicitors to search at the Probate Registry of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to ascertain whether his late brother left a Will.

    He said the search yielded result as he found out that his brother deposited two Wills at the registry, one dated May 1989; the other dated 1992.

    Felix added that shortly after his discovery, the second defendant (Maiden) allegedly wrote through her lawyer, protesting the reading of both Wills on the grounds that the deceased left another Will dated September 8, last year.

    Felix and Grace stated that although their brother was ill, received treatment and was admitted on several occasions at Nigerian and London hospitals between 2009 and 2011, Maiden allegedly frustrated their efforts to visit him.

    Mrs Okolie, described as the baby of the family, stated that she had access to the deceased while he was ill.

    She averred that a few weeks before his death, Alex’s health deteriorated and he could “not eat, urinate or defecate without being assisted.”

    “He could not talk or otherwise make any form of communication.

    “He had become easily irritable, unfriendly and most times, unusually quiet. His personality and world view had totally and suddenly changed.”

    The plaintiffs contended that in view of the late Ibru’s health condition, they “believe that the purported last Will and testament dated September 8, 2011 and purportedly signed by the deceased is contrived and not the true testamentary intentions of their deceased brother.”

    They contended that their late brother’s true testamentary and wishes are as contained in his last Will and Testament dated July 6, 1992.

    The plaintiffs, therefore, prayed the court to declare that the Will and Testament of September 8, 2011 purportedly made by the deceased is void and of no effect for want of the requisite testamentary capacity for a valid Will.

    They sought an order of mandatory injunction directing Maiden to account for her management of the deceased’s estate from November 20, last year until she is restrained by the court from so acting.

    They also urged the court to declare the deceased’s Will and Testament dated July 6, 1992 as his valid Will and Testament.

    The plaintiffs are equally seeking an order directing the court’s probate to admit forthwith, the July 6, 1992 Will as the valid one and an award of N10million against the defendants as cost of prosecuting the suit.

    The defendants are yet to respond to the suit instituted last Friday and no date has been fixed for the hearing.

  • Changes at The Guardian

    Changes at The Guardian

    Some changes are on the way at The Guardian, it was learnt yesterday.

    The changes, which “will be announced any moment from now”, will see the newspaper having a new editor.

    Former Abuja Bureau Chief, Mr. Martins Oloja, who has been the Acting Editor since October, will become the Editor.

    Erstwhile Editor Mr. Debo Adesina will be the Editor-in-Chief, according to sources who pleaded not to be named because they are not allowed to speak officially.

    Mr. Emeka Eluem Iseze is to retain his position as the Managing Director. Hitherto, Izeze combined the functions and responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief.

    The Guardian, which in its prime called itself the “flagship of the Nigerian press”, will turn 30 next February.

    The appointment, which was said to have caught all members of staff unawares, ended Adesina’s tenure as the longest serving editor. He became editor of the title in 1999.

    Before then, Adesina, 47, was the editor of the rested African Guardian magazine. Two years after he took over the title in 1992, it was rested. He was made Deputy Editor (News/Features) of the newspaper, following its de-proscription in 1995. In 1996, he was appointed the first editor of the Saturday title.

    Under him, The Guardian maintained its stature as the policy makers’ favourite.

    Mr. Oloja was, until his appointment, a Deputy Editor and Head of the Abuja Bureau.

    Oloja is a product of the University of Lagos. He hails from Ondo State.

    Izeze has held office as the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief for 13 years.

    Prior to that, he was Editor of The Guardian.