ZYNGA NEWS

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, has nominated 22 Judges from state and federal high courts for promotion to the Court of Appeal.  The list of newly nominated justices, titled ‘Appointment of 22 Justices to the Court of Appeal,’ was signed by Justice Ariwoola on April 2, 2024, and marked FJSC/01/2024. The selected Judges were chosen from a pool of 89 nominees across all six geopolitical zones, following the retirement of several senior jurists.  The priority list was sent to President Bola Tinubu for appointment. Among the newly nominated Judges are: Justices Polycarp Tema Kwahar (Benue),  Ruqayat Ayoola (Kogi),  Ene Che Eleojo (Kogi),  Asmara Akanbi Yusuf (Kwara),  Abdullahi Muhammad Liman (Nasarawa), and  Abdu Dogo (FCT) from the North-Central region.  Justice Fadahu Umaru, a Borno State indigene, was the sole nominee from the North East. The North-West region saw the nomination of Justices Ishaq Mohammed Sani (Kaduna),  Zainab Bage Abubakar (Kebbi), and Abdulaziz M. An

In a democratic society like Nigeria, the right to free speech and expression is a fundamental principle that is protected by the Constitution.  However, this right is not absolute, and must be balanced against other rights and interests, such as the right of individuals and companies to protect their reputations from false or damaging statements. This delicate balance is at the heart of defamation laws in Nigeria.  Under the Defamation Act and common law principles, a person can sue another individual or entity for defamation if they make a false or damaging statement about them.  The law recognizes that defamation can cause real harm to a person's reputation and livelihood, and provides a remedy for those who have been unjustly harmed. However, the use of defamation laws can also be a double-edged sword.  While defamation laws are intended to protect individuals and companies from false or damaging statements, they can also be abused as a tool to silence legitimate criticism. htt

I believe it is important for us to honor our patriarch and one of the founding fathers of our state, Afe Babalola, by declaring a day in his name.  Therefore, I propose that we encourage our representatives in the state house of assembly to introduce a bill recognizing "Afe Babalola Day."  This would be a great honor for our representatives and a commendable initiative for our APC leadership caucus to pursue. In line with this idea, I have drafted a proposed bill which is attached for the consideration of our representatives, should the house approve.  Thank you for your attention to this matter. ATTACHMENT: A BILL TO DECLARE THE AFE BABALOLA DAY This bill shall be titled : Afe Babalola Day Recognition Bill Preamble: Whereas, Chief Afe Babalola is a distinguished Nigerian lawyer who, despite lacking formal education, attained degrees in economics and law, has practiced law for 60 years, and was awarded the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria title;  Whereas, Chief Afe Bab

For almost everyone who has seen the award-wining movie, ANIKULAPO: The Rise of the Sceptre, one of the biggest revelations of that superb flick is Bashorun, a role skilfully interpreted by Owobo Ogunde.  As it turned out, Owobo is the son of the legendary thespian, Baba Hubert Ogunde, the pioneer and doyen of the Nigerian Theatre.  For many days and weeks after the movie was released on Netflix, the social media was dominated by rave and critical review of Owobo’s powerful delivery of his role.  What is more surprising is the fact that almost everyone commended Owobo for being a true son of his father. Owobo is fortunate.  He is extremely fortunate that he is not a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar.  He is fortunate that he is not a second-generation lawyer [SGL].  His accomplishments as a professional notwithstanding, if he had been a lawyer, he would have been tainted with the brush of nepotism.  He would have probably been accused of getting the role by virtue of the fact that he c

The Body of Benchers has approved the nomination of 10 members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) into the august body. The body made the approval at it's meeting held during the week. The names of nominees approved include; Miannaya Essien SAN, CArb Ahmed Adeniyi Raji, SAN, FCIArb Sir Steve Ojomeko Zakar Adehi, SAN, FCIArb Olawole Fapohunda, SAN Chief J. Akingbola Akinola, SAN, FCIArb Linda Rose Bala (Mrs.) Adesina Adegbite, Esq. Amina Ka’oje Suleiman Ndukwe Nnawuchi, SAN Oluseun Mobolaji Abimbola, SAN The Body of Benchers by regulations provide for an increase in their membership, conferment of life membership on members, tenure of office of members, appointment of honorary members and the composition and quorum for their meetings.

Asiwaju Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN., has been sworn in as the new chairman, Body of Benchers (BoB). The Senior Advocate who took over from Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, (JSC, Rtd) as 52nd chair of the august body, who was a one-time Attorney General and commissioner for Justice in Osun State remark described as symbolic and a new call to service” the leadership of the body said the success of any chairman of the Body of Benchers is dependent upon the cooperation of all the members irrespective of status. He appreciated his predecessor, Justice Mary Odili, and extolled her style of inclusive leadership and entertaining consensus decisions of most members on all matters. "As chairman Body of Benchers, his Lordship involved her vice Chairman (my humble self) in all the decisions affecting this Body and taken at plenary". As vice chairman, I was not treated “as extra-tyre” to be rolled out to fill the punctured tyre.  I thank My Lord for kindness and respect for my p

A former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi CON has been called to the Nigerian Bar. Amaechi was a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a 2-time Governor of the oil-rich State and was Director-General of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation in both 2014/15 and 2018/2019. The former 'Super Minister' was born on May 27, 1965 in Ubima, Ikwerre LGA and studied English Studies and Literature at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating in 1987. On 19th November 2022, he announced he had graduated from the Baze University with a second class honours upper division in Law. Congratulations, to the new wig.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has assured Magistrates and Judges of the lower courts' of ongoing efforts at improving their welfare packages. Justice Ariwoola, who gave the assurance at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Hybrid Refresher Course for Magistrates and Judges of the Lower Courts in Abuja, commended the judges for their efforts at justice delivery, particularly at the grassroots. He said, proactive steps are being taken to ameliorate these difficulties and improve the overall welfare of Judicial officers and staff of these courts since this invariably has an impact on the quality and pace of their service delivery.”  Speaking further, Justice Ariwoola said, strategic positioning invariably gives the lower courts the most crucial and all-important role in the Justice system, that cannot be underestimated. He explained that the term ‘lower courts’, which is often used in reference to the Magistrate courts, Area courts, Customary courts, as w

  Speaking on behalf of Oyo state at the workshop, with the theme, ‘Transforming Borders from Barriers of Separation to Bridges of Cooperation and Integration, Oyo state deputy Governor, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, who also doubles as the State’s Boundary Committee chairman, said there is the need for a synergy between Nigeria and Benin Republic to bolster economic development and to strengthen our internal security system within the region noting that out of the 770km boundary, Oyo State has 85.3km stretch of the boundary, with Saki-west, Atisbo and Iwajowa local governments sharing boundaries with Benin Republic. This according to him is to fulfill one of the objective of Boundary definition which among others include the determination of the extent of a territory for economic exploration, administrative convenience, equitable distribution of resources and internal security and urged the National Boundary Commission to approach the parliament for an increase in budgetary al

“Now, we are seriously and genuinely wailing under pressure.  And, seemingly, no succour or help in sight!!!  Who is going to come to our aid and relieve us of the great pressure?” They are prominent Nigerians who have attained certain levels of influence in their chosen professions and careers.  They represented and were the voice of the people against oppression and all oppressive tendencies. Some of them have passed on to the great beyond…many of them are still alive…they mounted the rostrum…  They all stood up vociferously in their protest on 9th January, 2012 against the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the then President Goodluck Jonathan administration. Rightly or wrongly, they pontificated on the implications of such an action on the economy and its attendant negative ripple effect(s) on hapless Nigerians. The late reggae musician, Ras Kimono, loudly sang his popular tune, (Under Pressure), during the January 2012 protest.  Little did he knew that we were nowhere under pressu

The Federal High Court will proceed on its 2024 Easter vacation on March 22. A statement by the court’s spokesperson, Catherine Oby Christopher, said the vacation will end on Monday, 8th April, 2024, pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (b) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended). "The court resumes sitting on Tuesday, 9th April, 2024 in all Judicial Divisions". During the vacation period, the Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt judicial divisions shall remain open to the public only for cases of extreme urgency. “It is essential to stress that, during the vacation, only matters relating to enforcement of fundamental rights, arrest or release of vessels and matters that concerns dire national interest are to be entertained by vacation judges. “The Abuja judicial division will cater for cases from the Federal Capital Territory, North Central, North Western, and North Eastern parts of the country. “Lagos division will cater for cases from all t

Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), yesterday, declared that Nigeria's hunger crisis has reached an alarming state, saying the situation demands immediate attention and collective effort to ameliorate the sufferings of vulnerable persons. Secretary General of the body, Dr. Abubakar Ahmed Kende, who made the declaration in Abuja, said the organisation is deeply concerned about the escalating food insecurity in the country saying the rising fuel price has led to hyperinflation and the soaring of food prices, beyond the reach of many Nigerians. He said about 26.5 million Nigerians, including women and children, are currently facing acute hunger, and are in dire need of urgent assistance to prevent death and prolonged suffering. According to him, “More than half of the states in Nigeria are presently food insecure, and the hunger crisis has reached alarming levels.  Increased insecurity, inflation, extreme weather patterns, and global conflicts continue to drive hunger.” Kende declared,

Bakers and Caterers in Nigeria have announced a nationwide strike, effective 27th February 2024. The decision was announced by the Chairman of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, AMBCN, in Kogi state, Adeniyi Gabriel, on Tuesday, at a press conference in Lokoja. Adeniyi Gabriel informed that the National President of the Association, Mansur Umar, stated the position of the association on the ease of doing business in Nigeria and the notice of total withdrawal of their services. Gabriel said, “Due to the multifarious increase in the prices of baking materials such as-Flour, Sugar, Yeast, Vegetable oil, Petrol, Diesel (occasioned by subsidy removal and forex deregulation), multiple taxations from federal government agencies, the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria haven critically accessed the state of our business operation, consequently demand the following: “Liberalisation of flour and sugar importation, reduction or total removal of import dutie

Nigeria’s Supreme Court spent over 12 Billion in breach of financial regulations for five years, the latest audit report of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) has revealed. The funds should be recovered and remitted to the treasury by the Chief Registrar of the court, the audit report, released in December 2023, recommended. The report essentially covers the expenditures and finances of ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government for the 2020 fiscal year, but for the Supreme Court, it stretches forward and backwards to touch on some major payments and transactions executed from 2017 to 2021. The current Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hajo Sarki-Bello, assumed office in 2021, a year after the alleged infractions took place under Hadizatu Uwani-Mustapha. Mrs Uwani-Mustapha, who was the Supreme Court’s chief registrar for most of the period when the flagged transactions took place, retired from the court as Chief Registrar in June 2021. W

In a 100-day span ending January 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced that it recovered N70.6 billion, secured 747 convictions, mainly for cybercrimes, out of 2,657 accepted petitions. Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Okukoyede, made this revelation at a dialogue in Abuja, during an event themed, ‘Dialogue on Youth, Religion, and the Fight against Corruption’, held at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. According to Olukoyede, the recoveries were made between October 2023 and January 19, 2024. Details of the recovery outlined in an EFCC document titled, ‘Operations and Recoveries’ revealed that between October 2023 and January 19, 2024, the EFCC recovered N60,969,047,634.25, $10,522,778.57, £150,002.10, €4,119.90, making a total of N70,556,658,370.5 recovered by the anti-graft commission within the period. Within the same period, the EFCC received a total of 3,325 petitions, accepted 2,657 of the petitions, and secured the convictions of 747 persons for financi

Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja sexual offences and domestic violence court has sentenced a Nigerian cleric, Bishop Feyi Daniel, founder of I Reign Christian Ministry, to life imprisonment for “raping a church member”. The trial judge, on Friday, found the cleric guilty of rape and sexual assault of a female worshipper. Also, the court found Mr. Daniels guilty of the offence of sexual assault of two members of his church and sentenced him to three years in prison. Justice Rahman Oshodi in his judgement, said the court held the testimony of the complainant as well as other witnesses who gave direct evidence, none of which was contradicted at any point during the trial, despite the denials of the defendant. He said, prosecution had successfully proven all the ingredients of rape under section 260(2) of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2015. While discharging the defendant of the second count of allegedly raping another church member at his home in 2020, the court said the prosecution

Barring any last minute intervention, Nigeria is set to lose up to $21 million foreign assets with international financial giant, JP Morgan. This is following the filing of a notice for the withdrawal of the said sum in a United Kingdom (UK) judgment debt from Nigeria’s account with JP Morgan. The withdrawal notice was sequel to a rejection of Nigeria’s appeal against the judgment of a British Court, permitting the seizure of the assets from Nigeria’s account with JP Morgan, to offset the judgment entered against Nigeria about five years ago. Meanwhile, the law firm of Brown Gavalas & Fromm LLP and other lawyers hired by the government of President Bola Tinubu are currently challenging the withdrawal on procedural grounds. It was learnt that all parties have concluded their filings ahead of a decision to be made any time from now by the court. Recall that a British-Nigerian citizen, Emovbira Williams had dragged the federal government before a UK Court, over alleged fraud and abuse

  Oyo state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has written to the Board of Trustee chairman of the People's Democratic Party, Sen. Adolphus Wabara to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the position of the National Secretary of the party in the spirit of readiness and preparedness towards winning the 2027 general elections. It will be recalled that Makinde, Wike, and three other PDP Governor's pulled their support for the then presidential candidate of the APC Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu against the interest of the presidential flag bearer of the PDP Atiku Abubakar. Read Copy of Letter Below: Currently, little or nothing is known or heard of the then vibrant G-5 Governors led by former Governor of Rivers state, Nyesome Wike who is a major beneficiary of the effort of the G-5 Governors at ensuring victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 2023 polls except for the recent outburst of Samuel Ortom, the immediate past governor of Benue state who seem left out in the scheme of things

At a recent public function with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Tinubu where the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, was also in attendance, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba SAN, lamented the presence of a cabal in the Supreme Court that deliberately keeps senior lawyers away from being appointed to the bench calling on Akpabio to lead the federal lawmakers to make laws for the appointment of senior judges in the country. According to him, “I was the first, accompanied by my brother, Wole Olanipekun to apply because we thought we were qualified to sit at the Supreme Court. The mafia there threw us out.” Similarly, repeated effort by the Bar has been unsuccessful in getting senior lawyers appointed to superior courts of record, especially the Supreme Court. Despite the harsh criticism, Justices of the court below (Appeal court) are about to become the majority in the Supreme Court, once the 11 justices, cleared by the Senate on December 21, 2023, are

FOLLOWING a stinging rebuke of the quality of Judgments coming from the Court of Appeal, by the Supreme Court, judicial stakeholders are expressing worries about the future of the apex court, tribuneonlineng report. Sunday Tribune understands that the top Bench, since the return to civil rule, has been sourcing its judicial personnel, mainly from the intermediate Bench. But on Friday, while reversing the sacking of three governors by the Court of Appeal, the apex court descended on the lower court and berated the quality of its interpretation of the law in political cases. In reversing the Court of Appeal’s judgment that removed Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State, Justices Helen Ogunwumiju and Adamu Jauro excoriated the appelate court for shifting the burden of proof on the governor. “It was very wrong for the Court of Appeal to go into the issue of party congresses.  To make matters worse, the party challenging the issue is another political party,” Ogunwumiju remonstrated. A su